Explay N1 smartphone review: first among equals
Such a great demand for “smart dialers” is largely explained by the fact that the segment of budget smartphones, i.e., devices costing up to 3,000 rubles, has expanded significantly. Thus, we can say that smartphones have become a consumer product. Many manufacturers are bending over backwards to bring to market a device that is truly accessible to the masses of consumers. True, not everyone succeeds. But today we will talk about those who succeeded: the Explay company and the new model of the budget smartphone Explay N1.
Explay N1
Quo licet Jovi, non licet bovi
First, let's look at who is producing smartphones in the price segment up to 3,000 rubles. The first thing that comes to mind is little-known Chinese brands or “sub-brands” of large companies that decided to disguise themselves and throw a stunted device onto the market without damaging their reputation. In both the first and second cases, users who receive such smartphones very soon become disappointed and send rays of hatred to negligent manufacturers. Negative reviews about products of this type can be found on any forum dedicated to mobile devices.
The third case is smartphone models released by cellular operators. They are really cheap and of very acceptable quality. There is just one catch: when purchasing such a device, a mandatory condition is to connect to a certain tariff, the cost of which can be equal to the cost of the smartphone itself or even exceed it. That is, everything seems to be fair, the smartphone on the counter really costs less than three thousand, but in fact, you will have to pay all five for it.
Explay N1 original packaging
Unlike the others, Explay managed to release a truly budget smartphone, at an honest price of 1,890 rubles, without any marketing gimmicks. At the same time, the device looks quite decent, meets all the needs of a modern user and has a quality guarantee, the key to which is the established reputation of Explay.
Now let's take a look at the device itself.
Ex pedum Herculem
First the appearance. After all, first of all, it is the design that the buyer pays attention to. A device with a red casing arrived at our laboratory and simply cannot help but attract attention. We can also say that today the following body color options are available: black, white and purple. The screen is edged with a plastic frame.
Small but bright screen of Explay N1
Explay N1 is like Chichikov, not exactly thin, but not thick either. It will not take up much space in your pocket, as it is made in the form factor of a 3.5-inch device. At the corners, the body of the device is smoothed, has smooth rounded shapes, the edges are also sloping from the “back” to the screen.
Explay N1 top edge interfaces
The location of the hardware elements on the case is convenient. On the top edge there are two connectors: microUSB, used to connect to a PC and charge the battery; next to it is a standard 3.5 mm audio jack. On the right side is a screen lock button, which also turns the smartphone on/off. On the left, in the upper part, there is a volume rocker.
The buttons are seamlessly molded into the Explay N1 body
On the back wall you can easily find the peephole of the rear camera with a resolution of 1.3 megapixels. Let us note right away that apart from the fact that there is a camera, there is practically nothing to say about it. That is, this is a standard camera, controlled by a standard Android application with a full set of corresponding functions, filters, shooting modes, etc. The quality of pictures obtained when using the camera, of course, is far from ideal, but, obviously, the Explay N1 is not bought to replace a digital "soap boxes".
Test photos of Explay N1
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Having admired the appearance of Explay N1? Let's open the back cover and see what interesting things await us there? First we see a 1300 mAh battery, how viable it is will be discussed below. Under the battery, three slots open to a careful eye. At the top, closer to the camera, there are two slots for SIM cards, and just below there is a slot for a microSD memory card. It is strongly recommended to acquire one for full use of your smartphone.
The table will better tell you about the hidden, invisible capabilities of a smartphone and characteristics that are not covered by a critical eye:
Technical characteristics of Explay N1
| Model |
Explay N1 |
| operating system
|
Android 4.2.2 |
| CPU |
1000 MHz |
| RAM |
256 MB |
| Storage device |
512 MB |
| Screen |
3.5" 320x480 |
| Wireless connection |
GPRS; Wi-Fi; Bluetooth |
| Camera |
1.3 MP |
| battery |
1300 mAh |
| Size |
109x116.3x62.8 mm |
| Weight |
109 g |
| Price |
1890 RUR |
ZOOM.CNews
We will move directly to the capabilities of Explay N1.
A posteriori
Before talking about the experience of using a smartphone, it is best to understand what exactly we are using? The Explay N1 smartphone is built on the basis of a dual-core processor with a clock frequency of 1 GHz, manufactured by Mediatek, which in principle is not surprising, since the products of this Taiwanese mobile chip developer are found in almost every budget device. Apparently, Explay engineers decided not to experiment or reinvent the wheel, but to follow the beaten path, which, of course, should be given credit to them.
Explay N1 case available in several colors
The RAM on board the smartphone is only 256 MB, the built-in memory is 512 MB. Of course, not much, but that’s what the memory card slot is for, so you can increase the volume to 32 GB. As for RAM, and therefore the speed of solving problems assigned to a smartphone, let’s look at the results of testing the smartphone.
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As you can see, despite the records, the results of Explay N1 are not so bad. Of course, the device has to compete with world celebrities in synthetic tests. It is unlikely that the developers of our today's test subject went so far in their ambitions.
In fact, that is, when you actually use the smartphone, there are practically no complaints about the operation of the device. As you can already see, Explay N1 runs Android 4.2.2. As is customary, in the default firmware the user will find many pre-installed services and applications from Yandex. We won’t complain about this; most of them are actually very convenient and work great on a smartphone. By the way, Explay N1 supports the following wireless protocols: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.
Ecce spectaculum
The multimedia functions of a smartphone are always worthy of special attention, because a smartphone is not bought for calls alone, otherwise a Nokia 3310 would be enough.
There were no difficulties with Internet surfing. Pages open quite quickly even when using the standard Android browser and other programs.
As mentioned above, Explay N1 is equipped with a 3.5” display, the resolution is 320x480 pixels. Again, not rocket science, but in this particular case it looks pretty decent. The screen is characterized by good viewing angles; in bright light it behaves the same as any other device with a glossy screen - it goes blind, but not to critical levels.
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Of the smartphone's out-of-the-box capabilities, note the pre-installed FM radio. By the way, Explay N1 is equipped with a fairly powerful speaker so it can easily act as a portable audio or video player.
Simple games also ran on the smartphone without any visible difficulties, slowdowns or freezes, apparently thanks to the good Mali-400 graphics subsystem. So at the hour when the user wants to chop up a hundred other fruits, feed candy to a cute little frog, or run through underground labyrinths, Explay N1 will be ready for these services.
Post scriptum
So, to summarize, I would like to say that despite the fact that we have before us a fairly simple smartphone from the budget segment, it is still a kind of innovative device. Explay has managed to create a smartphone that is functionally and technically not inferior to higher-ranking competitors, the cost of which is currently the lowest on the market.
2 years ago
Android, Fast, battery,
2 years ago
Very low price Good performance
2 years ago
convenient, weight 109 g, 2 SIM cards, cheap and so on.
2 years ago
Normal screen, battery, communication, radio, fast interface, two SIM cards, lightweight, well assembled.
2 years ago
Good battery life +2 SIM cards+Lightweight+Not big +Fast+And most importantly, cheap smart)
2 years ago
Price, excellent speed, long work on a single charge, build quality, Android version 4.2.2, display resolution 320x480.
2 years ago
Ability to install applications. After q231, this is a breakthrough. Games with applications. I installed an 8 gig memory card and configured saving to it1. Having installed the ultrasound volam buster, the volume of the sound increased. 2. I removed the browser (Yandex), stopped Opera with the mode of several simultaneously running windows. 3. Installed ICQ. 4. Installed a mushroom picker's directory, 5. Removed their calendar and installed another one in its place. 6. I set up a blacklist and now I don’t receive advertising SMS or calls from hidden or unknown numbers. 7. Installed caller ID. It indicates mobile operators and the city and region. 8. I installed Office Suite Pro and now I can work with Word files. 9. I installed Notepad and now I can work with Notepad files. 10. Installed spyphone (hidden camera). 11. Installed a chess pattern
2 years ago
Gentlemen! And the phone turned out great! get a smart phone without glitches and slowdowns! It’s not that my fifth-grader son is delighted. But before, the explay simply didn’t recognize it as a phone brand! I answer, it’s better for a child to take it than a Nokia S-5.e-52. used ones are 2 times more expensive and glitchy!
2 years ago
1.Excellent price/quality combination. 2. Good battery (With active use it lasts about 2 days. 3. Software from Yandex (I’m used to using Yandex, so this is a plus). 4. Very fast. 5. Not a bad camera for its price (Less than $200). 6 .DeadTrigger 2 with cache works very well, decide for yourself whether it’s + or -.
2 years ago
Price, design, Android 4.2.2.
2 years ago
Low RAM
Very little built-in memory is not suitable for games.
2 years ago
Short service life
2 years ago
the memory is terribly small, it doesn’t support large games such as Asphalt 8:7 and other versions, shadowboxing 2, it doesn’t really slow down very much on strong sites.
2 years ago
The touch buttons are sometimes dull and may freeze occasionally
2 years ago
No camera, only one speaker, when typing in the browser it slows down terribly, very little memory, no GPS, bought it for 2 days, the lock button broke, Wi-Fi turns on by itself, the Internet is weak, takes a long time to think.
2 years ago
The only serious negative is the viewing angles of the screen (45-50 degrees). And there is no camera, no 3G or GPS, little memory for installing programs (but this can be solved, see below)
2 years ago
little system memory, weak battery, weak camera, one core.
2 years ago
for 1980 rubles there are none - everything is fast and clear (unless, of course, you leave 6 tabs open in each browser) and then tel. will remind you of this!
2 years ago
1. The cover is slightly pressed down to the battery.
2. Sometimes it may not see installed applications (fixed by rebooting).
3. One speaker. Used for conversations and music.
2 years ago
Lack of Google play, small memory, camera sucks, dirty cover and volume.
Sales of a budget smartphone started on October 28 Explay N1. It would seem like just another state employee, how can it interest the buyer? To be honest, we thought exactly the same thing, but our opinion changed when the opportunity arose to try it out. In fact, fierce competition is not only in the middle and hi-end segments. In the initial stage, no less passions boil.
Attentive readers may recall our review of Megafon Login. At that time, despite the apparent simplicity of the smartphone, this little guy received a large number of comments and questions. But all these operator smartphones have one significant drawback - they are tied and cannot use the services of other operators. Moreover, even if you are happy, this can have a negative impact while traveling, when in order to save on calls you will not be able to insert a SIM card from a local operator.
Explay N1 is devoid of these conventions; the buyer is free to choose, and it is possible to use two SIM cards at once. And hardware cannot be called powerless and formal; this level was literally 7-8 months ago in the region of 5000-6000. As you understand, we could not ignore this attractive smartphone; we are pleased to present you with one of the first materials on the Internet about this new product.
Availability of Explay N1
The recommended price for Explay N1 is 1890 rubles. For comparison, MegaFon Login (RUB 3,945) and MTS 970 (RUB 2,290).Explay N1 equipment
The device comes in a compact box with a set of technical information on Explay N1, this is the familiar “Eco-pack”.
Along with the smartphone, the buyer receives: a network adapter with a USB connector, a USB-micro USB cable, headphones and instructions with a warranty card. Everything you need to get started is included in the kit; ideally, I would also like to see a case.
Everything you need to get started is included in the kit; ideally, I would also like to see a case.
Explay N1 appearance
The Explay N1 dimensions are 116.3 x 62.8 x 14.3 mm and weighs 109 grams. The body is compact, it easily fits both in a pocket and in a tiny woman’s palm.
As expected, the main body material is plastic. There is a choice of white, black, red, purple versions. We are testing the red version.
The front side is made of glossy black plastic, the main area of which is the display.
Compared to the new products of the summer, including the mid-range and budget segments, the N1 smartphone has unusually large frames at the top and bottom. Advanced Android users will need to get used to the layout of the touch buttons. They are located noticeably above the bottom edge; one gets the feeling that they do not respond to pressure. In fact, the finger pads simply do not reach them. But this is all a matter of habit.
The back cover is made of matte plastic, fingerprints are not visible on it. I was surprised, but thick plastic is used here; there is no creaking, play or sagging of the back cover. You even have to make an effort to remove it.
The volume rocker is located on the left; it is colored in the color of the side frame. I would like to note separately that the frame itself is darker in color than the lid; the overall design looks very organic.
On the right is the power button, traditional location. The cover is removable and provides access to the battery, micro SD slots and two SIM cards.
Explay N1 display
A TFT matrix with a diagonal of 3.5 inches and a resolution of 320 by 480 pixels is installed. When I turned on this smartphone for the first time, nostalgia rolled in; my first Android had exactly the same resolution, but a slightly larger diagonal. But I can’t help but note that the Explay N1 has noticeably better brightness. The picture looks fresh and juicy.
The downsides are poor viewing angles and color accuracy, which is typical for TFT.
The maximum brightness level is acceptable; the level can only be adjusted manually.
Explay N1 filling
Underneath the Explay N1 body is a MediaTek MTK6572 processor with an operating frequency of 1 GHz. The chip works in tandem with Mali-400 graphics. I’ll immediately upset the skeptics - these are not leftovers from the warehouse left over from last year, but a solution presented in the spring of this year. The chip was created specifically for the budget segment, under the hood there are two ARM Cortex-A7 cores with a declared maximum frequency of 1.2 GHz. I think that enthusiasts and experts can quite successfully overclock the processor frequency at the expense of power consumption.
256 MB of RAM is available, yes, you heard right, that’s exactly how much, this will be the main weak point of this smartphone. Launching complex applications can be difficult; we can only recommend keeping an eye on the list of running applications.
Internal memory is also modest, only 512 MB, but it can be expanded using microSD cards up to 32 GB. The card will need to be installed. The camera refuses to work without it, and applications cannot be installed on the internal camera.
Explay N1 camera
The camera here is also pragmatic, only 1.3 megapixels. You can shoot in good light, but surprisingly the quality of the images can compete with what most tablets are capable of.
Battery Explay N1
A battery with a capacity of 1300 mAh is installed. Not so much, but it has an energy-efficient processor and a low-resolution screen. In reality, it lasts for about 2 days of normal use as a phone for conversations, messages and viewing mail, but games will eat up the charge in about 5-6 hours.
Antutu Explay N1
- Explay N1 - 6732
- Megafon Login - 4514
- MTS 960 - 2311
Velammo Explay N1
- Explay N1 - 6732
- Megafon Login - 4514
- MTS 960 - 2311
Communication Explay N1
Supports two full-size SIM cards. There is no 3G support. Additionally, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 are supported. No problems were found during operation, the connection is reliable.
Explay N1 software
The Google Android 4.2 operating system with pre-installed software is installed, mostly Yandex applications.
Let me note right away that there is no Google Play here, there are two options for users: download programs and install from a memory card or use Yandex.Store. We can expect that in the future, enthusiasts will prepare an unofficial patch and it will be possible to independently add support for Google Play. Otherwise, both options above almost completely cover all needs.
Games and media Explay N1
It is worth considering that there is limited RAM; to watch movies comfortably, I recommend pre-compressing the video to the display resolution, this will also save internal memory. You can watch about 3 movies on one charge.
But with games, you can only play casual ones, yes, there is still the same memory of 256 MB, but lovers of coins and birds will find something to occupy their free time on the Explay N1.
Separately, we can note the FM receiver, which is becoming increasingly rare in modern smartphones.
Video review of Explay N1
Explay N1 results
Explay N1- This is a smartphone for the “proletariat”, an interesting solution for a limited budget. In the range below 2500, the choice was previously limited to either purchasing gray smartphones from China, or purchasing budget phones tied to an operator. ExplayN1 will compete primarily with them on the market; in our opinion, there is a foundation for a successful start. Surprisingly, the manufacturer did not treat the development negligently; the model is really well built and balanced in terms of filling. But it has not only advantages, but also disadvantages. Pros - cost, compactness, light weight, build quality, appearance, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, Android 4.2.2, two SIM cards. Cons: small amount of RAM and internal memory.
Conditional disadvantages - weak camera, lack of 3G, viewing angles, color rendition, lack of Google Play, lack of GPS.
But it’s not for nothing that the disadvantages have been identified as conditional; we look and evaluate smartphones with an eye to the flagships of the market, and the price tag on them is far from 1,890 rubles. At the moment there are no comparable offers in Russian retail.
Explay N1 receives a well-deserved award "Hit..
The budget Explay N1 tablet is designed to always be with you thanks to its compactness and simplicity. The device is equipped with everything necessary for viewing multimedia files, and its main advantage is an attractive and affordable price.
The device attracts users with its accessibility and simplicity
The Explay brand is known for its inexpensive but quite functional tablets that are perfect for many users. Let's find out what makes the N1 so special, what features it offers and why it has such a low price.
Contents of delivery
The scope of delivery is minimal; the device comes with only the essentials - a power adapter, documentation to help you understand it, and a USB cable for connecting to a computer.
In principle, nothing else is needed for such a tablet - you get everything you need thanks to its internal filling. You can choose other accessories, such as headphones or a case, entirely at your own discretion, which is even better than paying for additional components that you don’t like.
Design
Externally, Explay N1 immediately attracts attention because it is very compact and extremely light - it weighs less than 300 grams, has dimensions of 116x191x10 mm, and this makes it an excellent companion for any trip. The thin case is designed in black or white, there are no elaborate solutions in it - it is precisely this simplicity and rigor that attracts buyers.
Thanks to this design, it will look good in any setting, be it a business meeting or a trip to another city by train. In addition, you can always carry it with you, and this is an important factor when choosing such equipment.
Screen
The screen diagonal of the Explay N1 model is only 7 inches - this is quite justified by its size and internal content. These sizes will allow you to conveniently use the Internet, watch movies and open work documents. The screen resolution is low - 800x480, the viewing angles are far from maximum and, if you look closely, you can see pixelation, but all this is justified by the cost of the tablet. When it is needed for everyday use, recreation and travel, such a screen is more than enough, but you will not overpay for high resolution or other nuances that are often invisible when working with the device.
Performance
A gigahertz processor complete with 512 MB of RAM is a modest set that is enough to work on the Internet and with applications on . This kind of stuffing is not enough for voluminous and resource-intensive games, but, as a rule, fans of the latter know that for such purposes they should choose tablets in a completely different price category.
In addition, an “average” processor will cope well with everyday tasks, but on the other hand, it will not overload the system and, what is important, drain the battery too quickly.
Multimedia capabilities
A review of the tablet's internal contents makes it clear that it will do an excellent job of playing music, movies and other multimedia content - it's convenient to watch videos and play games on the 7-inch screen. The dimensions make it possible to combine compactness in it, but at the same time, the diagonal of the screen allows you to fully enjoy the use when working with multimedia files or documents, reading books and browsing web pages.
The internal memory of Explay N1 has a capacity of 4 GB, it can easily be increased using a card up to 32 GB in size - this amount of information can be read and processed on the tablet without any problems, while its performance remains at the same optimal speed.
Battery and operating time
If you take into account all the functions and contents of the tablet, it becomes clear that a 2300 mAh battery is a completely reasonable solution for this device. Its battery life is about 5 hours, but, as you know, such indicators are relative, since everything depends on the specific tasks of each device.
To use the Internet, read books and view photos, such a battery will last for more hours. But, of course, if you play or watch movies, you shouldn’t count on a long operating time without recharging.
Camera
Affordability as the main feature of this model means that it does not have expensive additions in the form of a multi-pixel camera, which as a result still does not provide the same quality as when shooting. There is no regular camera in the Explay N1, but it’s hard to consider this a drawback considering the overall functionality of the device and its final price.
However, this model has a front camera with a resolution of 0.3 MP, which is enough for video communication and taking pictures.
Operating system and programs
Since the tablet has the Google Android 4.2 operating system installed, it comes with all the basic necessary applications for work - mail, browsers, notepads, etc. Thanks to the flexibility and practicality of the software, you can install all the necessary applications at your discretion, especially since most creators develop separate versions of programs for such mobile devices. As a result, you will be able to use familiar applications, but they themselves will require much less resources than when installed on a computer or other equipment.
Competitors
In its price category, Explay N1 has no competitors, because practically no manufacturer produces similar models at such a price. If you choose a device with the same or a slightly better set of functions, you should pay attention to the following analogues:
- Irbis HIT 7″ 3G 4 Gb - it costs a thousand rubles more, offers the user a screen with a resolution of 1024×600 and multi-touch function, it already has a 2 MP main camera, and the battery has a slightly larger capacity. Otherwise, this model is not much different from the Explay N1 we reviewed.
- Digma Optima 7001 - a tablet that costs about 3 thousand rubles, compared to the model from our review, has a larger amount of built-in memory - 8 GB, and a better screen resolution - 1024x600. Otherwise, it is similar in function and appearance - compact, lightweight and simple in design.
And yet, none of them, no matter how affordable they are, can be compared in cost to Explay N1 - their price is always higher by at least a thousand rubles. So why pay more?
Advantages and disadvantages
After the above review, we can conclude that the main advantages of Explay N1 are:
- Low cost with basic functions for using the Internet and working with files.
- Convenient sizes.
- Light weight.
This is where all the advantages end, and this tablet has only one common disadvantage - weak parameters. The model should not be required to work quickly when launching several applications or support games - for all this and other, more labor-intensive tasks, a powerful processor and more RAM are required.
Conclusion
The Explay N1 tablet will be an excellent companion for those who use it for the initial tasks for which such devices are created - accessing the Internet, watching movies or photos, reading and working with documents. Therefore, the tablet is perfect for everyday tasks, and what is especially noteworthy is that it costs much less than analogues from other brands.
Another significant reason to think about buying it is its dimensions. The tablet is large enough to be comfortable for reading without putting unnecessary strain on your eyesight, but also compact enough to carry it with you always and everywhere.
If you expect to get everything and even more from a compact mobile device, you want to have a colorful picture with high resolution, use games with beautiful graphics, this price category is definitely not suitable for such purposes - to purchase a high-quality and powerful product, you need to pay a little more. The only thing I can recommend before buying such equipment is to think about what tasks you need a tablet for, and after that you can understand what parameters you need to focus on when choosing it.
And Explay N1 will always find its fans among users who are looking for an affordable device that is not burdened with a large number of unnecessary functions.
- Smartphone
- Accumulator battery
- USB cable
- Headphones
- Network adapter
- Manual
- Warranty card
Introduction
Going out to buy a loaf of bread and a packet of milk, I returned with a brand new smartphone in my hands... Of course, this is a little exaggerated and exaggerated, but partly corresponds to our realities of life: some smartphones have become so cheap that another trip to the store can encourage you to spontaneously purchase a “smart” phone . This is not entirely correct, given the understanding of the impact of intrusive advertising, but indeed, when you see that an Android device costs the same as a dialer, you involuntarily begin to think: “Shouldn’t I buy a smartphone, just in case, it might come in handy?” more for that kind of money? For example, for Explay N1 they ask only 1,890 rubles, and many people call such purchases “for change.”
Design, dimensions, control elements
The device looks exactly like any other budget smartphone. The only pleasant difference is the multi-colored rear panels. The manufacturer promises that N1 will go on sale with red, white, black and even purple caps. In all cases, except Explay with a white panel, the front side and edging are black. I had a gadget with a red cover in my review. It is matte, does not “collect” fingerprints, and is pleasant to the touch, although a little slippery. In any case, it’s good that such an inexpensive smartphone can be bought not only in black.
Dimensions - 116x62x14 mm, weight - 109 grams.
One part (closer to the front panel) is made of glossy plastic, the other – matte. The screen is also protected by plastic, so be careful - scratches on the surface will appear very quickly: in a couple of weeks the screen has become quite worn. The price, of course, is small, but it’s still unpleasant when a device quickly loses its marketable appearance. In general, the easiest way is to stick on a protective film, since the form factor is standard.
On top of the front panel there is a speech speaker (it also serves as a speakerphone). Its volume is average, the sound is clear, the interlocutor can be heard clearly, high frequencies are mainly heard, there is no echo, there is no extraneous noise, the speaker does not rattle. Not bad for a budget phone, but generally excellent for a smartphone. Somewhere next to the speaker is a proximity sensor. It responds quickly and accurately, and no false screen activations were observed.
Below the display are “Back”, “Home” and “Menu”. The buttons are touch-sensitive, painted silver, there is no backlight, which entails certain inconveniences in using the device at night.
The microphone is located at the bottom, and micro-USB and a standard 3.5 mm jack are at the top. The volume key is on the left, slightly extending to the back. At the top right is the power button, convex, has a soft press, medium travel, and is generally comfortable. On the back there is a camera that rises slightly above the body.
To remove the back cover, you need to pry it out of the notch on the lower left corner. Under the battery there are two slots for SIM1/SIM2, below is a slot for a memory card.
Comparative sizes:
Explay and Nokia Lumia 1020
Display
This model has a display with a diagonal of 3.5 inches. Its physical size is 49x73 mm. The resolution is more than decent for the price of 1,890 rubles - 320x480 pixels, density 164 pixels per inch. The matrix is TFT (TN), its quality is mediocre: very small viewing angles (when the screen is tilted towards itself, the colors are sharply inverted, and away from it the contrast drops), color rendition is not the best.
The brightness is high and can be adjusted within a wide range manually. There is no light sensor. The touch layer is capacitive, the sensitivity is good, there were no problems. Supports up to two simultaneous touches.
Battery
The Explay N1 smartphone has a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1300 mAh, 3.7 V, 4.81 Wh. Considering the not-so-power-hungry chipset, low screen resolution and simple matrix, the device’s operating time is more or less normal: the battery runs out after about 5 hours of talk time, 2 hours of video viewing, 6 hours when using only a Wi-Fi connection , in 7 hours in reading mode at medium brightness. In general, a full charge was enough for me for 5-6 hours of not the most active use.
Communication capabilities
The phone only works on 2G cellular networks (900/1800 MHz). Available Bluetooth version 4.0 for file and voice transfer. There is a wireless connection Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g/n. The device, of course, can be used as an access point (Wi-Fi Hotspot) or modem. In the settings, this item is listed as “Modem mode”. There is no GPS satellite navigation system here; location determination is carried out via Wi-Fi and mobile networks.
Memory and memory card
This model has 256 MB of RAM. Of this amount of RAM, on average, about 100 MB is free. Of course, not a lot, but for that kind of money you shouldn’t expect more. It is quite enough for simple tasks.
Built-in memory 512 MB, available for storing data and applications 125 MB. There is a slot for a microSDHC memory card up to 32 GB. However, you can only save data, photos and videos to it. In general, there is enough space for basic applications, but nothing more.
Camera
A camera can be a nice addition, since for less than 2,000 rubles, not even all regular phones have it. The module is very simple - 1.3 MP, but probably interpolated from 0.3, or even less. There is no front camera, and neither is there a flash. The quality of the photographs is as expected – extremely low. But the video boasts a high resolution - 864x480 pixels, number of frames - 10. Oddly enough, the sound is also good - 128 Kbps, mono, 48 kHz.
Sample photos:
Performance and Software Platform
This model uses the same chipset as the teXet X-Basic, but does not have 3G or GPS. Either this is a stripped-down version of the MediaTek MT6572, or the manufacturer specifically disabled these functions. The Cortex-A7 processor is made using 28 nm technology, two cores operate at a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz, and a fairly powerful Mali-400MP is responsible for the graphics. Nothing slows down or glitches.
The device runs on the Google Android operating system version 4.2.2. It is important to know that Explay N1 does not have Google Play and Google services. Yandex Store is used instead. It has almost all the basic programs and even toys. Theoretically, Google services can be installed as an apex, but I have not tested the functionality.
The telephone part is no different from similar N1 devices running Android 4.2.
brief information:
Quadrant performance test
Multimedia
The device has standard multimedia applications for playing music, radio and video. The volume in the headphones is slightly above average, the quality is good (mostly the mid frequencies are heard, there are few lows, the highs are a little overwhelmed). The volume of the ringing speaker is low, since the speaker is also a conversational one. Videos can be played in resolutions up to 800x600 pixels.
Conclusion
I repeat once again that the Explay N1 smartphone has already begun to be sold at a price of 1,890 rubles. What do you get when purchasing this device: firstly, a full-fledged smartphone with the ability to install almost any application; secondly, a fairly large high-resolution touch screen (when compared with various kinds of “dialers”); thirdly, the N1 has good music and video players, as well as a radio; fourthly, pleasant little things in the form of two SIM cards, a slot for a memory card, a camera and several color options for the back covers.
A few words about the disadvantages: there is no Google Play, GPS and 3G, the quality of the screen matrix is poor, the camera takes poor pictures too, there is only one speaker (it is both conversational and for speakerphone).
Main competitors:
Fly IQ238 Jazz. Costs about 2,000 rubles. Screen 3.5 inches, resolution 320x480 pixels, camera 3.2 MP. Cons – the processor is single-core, and the operating system version is the oldest – 2.3.
MTS 970. Costs 2,290 rubles. Everything is the same as the Fly, only a 2 MP camera and Android version 4.1. By the way, there is 3G!
Roman Belykh (
