We came to review a smartphone from the beginning of 2016 from the budget price segment - Prestigio Grace Q5. The recommended retail price is 6,490 rubles. What does the Prestigio brand offer us for such a low price?

Specifications:

Screen	5" touch screen with resolution 1280x720
CPU	Spreadtrum SC7731 with a maximum clock speed of 1.3 GHz, quad-core
operating system	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
RAM	1 GB
Inner memory	8 GB, microSD/microSDHC memory card slot
Net	GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900), UMTS (900, 2100), 2G 2, 3.5G (HSDPA, HSPA), 3G UMTS/WCDMA, GPS
SIM	Dual SIM support
Main camera	8 MP
Front-camera	5 MP
Connections	Bluetooth 4.0; Wi-Fi 802.11b,g,n; 3.5mm audio jack; microUSB 2.0 connector
Battery	3200 mAh
Size	(WxHxD, mm): 70.9 x 142.5 x 8.3
Weight	155 g

Contents of delivery

Prestigio Q5 comes in a cardboard box with an image of the smartphone on the front side. From the right side you can quickly go through the characteristics of the smartphone.

Upon opening we are happily greeted by the Prestigio Grace Q5. The package package of the Q5 does not shine with its richness: a user manual, a charger with a microUSB-USB cable, a removable 3200 mAh battery and a protective film.

I would like more, for example, a second removable cover of a different color, which is often practiced in this price segment, but what is not there is not there.

Ergonomics and design

The materials used in the smartphone are suitable for the budget price segment. This is a removable back cover made of soft-touch plastic and a plastic frame painted to look like metal. But despite all this, the Q5 stands out from other brands. Pleasant dimensions (70.9 x 142.5 x 8.3), which will easily fit in a woman’s hand, convenient positioning of the mechanical keys, and with all this, the smartphone does not seem like an ordinary rectangular block. Its edges are smoothed, and the top frames seem to float onto the screen, making it one with the phone.

The arrangement of the body elements is good, with the exception of the audio input on the top, but this is a matter of habit.

On the front side of the Q5 there are three main touch buttons: menu, home and back. On top is the earpiece, to the left of it is the front camera, and to the right is a barely noticeable proximity sensor.

There is a lone microphone on the bottom of the smartphone.

The right side has two mechanical keys: the smartphone lock/power button and the volume rocker.

The top end has a microUSB connector and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The left end is empty, since the connectors for two SIM cards and a microSD/microSDHC memory card are located under a removable cover. There we will also see an 8 megapixel camera, a single LED flash and a speaker.

Interfaces and pre-installed software

The Prestigio Q5 comes with Android 5.1.1 out of the box, so when you turn it on for the first time, we are happily greeted by the stock Android shell.

Allows you to select the WiFi network you are using and connect your Google account.

Unfortunately, there are no OTA updates. Lollipop without any additional intervention, just a couple of pre-installed programs. Below, I will give a couple of screenshots of the shell and the programs themselves.

Many people will like that in addition to your smartphone you get good protection in the form of Kaspersky Internet Security.

There is also EREADER PRESTIGIO, with which you can organize your books in one place.

In addition to this, there is a built-in store from Prestigio - MultiStore, as well as a third-party dialer TrueCaller, which will allow you to organize your contacts more deeply.

The set also includes two toys - Evolution and Jungle Heat.

Processor and performance

You don’t often see or hear about the manufacturer of Spreadtrum processors, and this is true, because it is used exclusively in the budget or entry-level mid-price segment (for example, Samsung Galaxy J3). But, one way or another, I ask you to love and favor - Spreadtrum SC7731G.

This is a quad-core ARM-Cortex A7 processor with a maximum clock speed of 1.3 GHz. The Mali-400 MP is responsible for the graphics part. Quite weak characteristics both for the android itself, which can affect performance even when moving around the shell, and for most applications; surfing in the browser can be torture, but let’s put our imagination aside and turn to the tests.

First up is AnTuTu Benchmark 6.2.6
The data from the mobile version of the benchmark is not enough to compare our smartphone with the others. According to data from the official website, our Q5 with a result of 23426 parrots is between HTC One and Sony Xperia Z. Further tests confirm this.

Vellamo - speed in Chrome browser, Single-core (Metal), Multi-core.

Our Prestigio is located between last year's Lenovo A7000 and Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

In the single-core test, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Lenovo A7000 also hold their positions, only now the MX4, the two-year-old flagship of Meizu, has joined our trio.

The situation did not change in the multi-core test.

On Epic, Citadel showed an average fps of 39 at a resolution of 1280x720.

Unfortunately, 3DMark never launched on this smartphone. Neither Ice Storm Unlimited, nor Ice Storm Extreme, nor even the recommended Ice Storm, even started. Well, let's move on to the next test.

Last up is GeekBench.

In the single-core test (Single-core) our smartphone received 396 points, in the multi-core (Multi-core) 1031 points

It occupies a position between the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in single-core and between the Samsung Galaxy S4 Duos and Sony Xperia SP in multi-core. Not a bad position for a budget phone.

Next, a thirty-minute stress test of the processor was carried out to reveal its real temperatures at maximum loads:

After the designated time has passed, you can notice that the processor has dropped the frequencies from the maximum 1300 to 1200, and the temperature has increased to 44.7°C. Let's turn to CPU Spy to understand how much time our processor worked at maximum frequencies before throttling. 18 minutes, a remarkable indicator, and the effect of throttling itself is not so noticeable, since the drop in frequencies by 100 MHz is not felt at all, nor is the temperature increased by five degrees. The smartphone also feels comfortable in the hand; there is no desire to immediately cool the smartphone.

Games

Oddly enough, on the Prestigio Grace Q5 you can play all modern games with some relative comfort. Of course, you won’t get 60 fps and high graphics, but is it so important, provided that you have a budget smartphone in your hands? Only GTA:SA did not start, which is very resource-demanding and sometimes even flagships cannot cope with it properly.

Dead Trigger 2
Produces an average of 20-30 fps. You can play, but in cases of a particularly large influx of zombies, you will have to work hard to emerge victorious from the current situation.

Real Racing 3
Still the same 25-30 fps. But there won’t be any significant drawdowns, because basically the entire gameplay flows smoothly.

Asphalt 8
We are met with higher system requirements, as a result of which fps does not rise above 25. During particularly intense minutes of the game, drops of up to 15 fps occur, which overshadows the gameplay.

Camera

One of the main shortcomings of this phone is the camera module. There is an 8 megapixel sensor on the back and a 5 megapixel sensor on the front. It is possible to record video in a resolution of 1920x1200. The menu and shooting options are sparse. Once you log into the application, you will see seven icons. From left to right: timer, frame positioning grid, HDR mode, flash, change to the front camera. And at the bottom there is a snapshot button.

That's it, there are no other camera capabilities provided. The remaining settings are located far away in the camera settings.

When shooting in the daytime, in excellent lighting, the pictures are quite good; of course, they cannot be compared with the flagship lines of current smartphones, but at least the sensor can do something. The situation in a room that, for example, has black walls is saddening. A lot of colored noise immediately appears. A similar situation occurs on the street in the evening. As a result, we can say that the camera is just for show.

Display

The Q5 has a 5-inch display made using IPS technology with a resolution of 1280x720. It is quite enough for everyday tasks, the low PPI count does not irritate, and such a screen consumes much less energy, which allows the batteries to last much longer. But when watching a video at maximum brightness, you can notice a separate grid of pixels. The viewing angles match the IPS display - they are large. The matrix loses a little color when you tilt the smartphone from above (it turns yellow), when you tilt it down (it turns blue).

Autonomy

What budget smartphones do really well is battery life. The low-power processor and energy-efficient display make the most of the 3,200 mAh battery found in our Q5. After walking with it for five days, using it for calls and surfing the Internet, I didn't charge it even once. In standby mode, the phone shows an incredible 45 days, thanks to the fact that the processor cores go into the so-called deep sleep. In HD video viewing mode at maximum brightness, the smartphone was able to withstand about eight hours.

conclusions

The main idea is that the Prestigio Q5 fully justifies its cost. Elements of our own design are present, a long-lasting battery is present, one of the latest software is present. The little-known processor fully tests its capabilities in synthetic tests. Yes, there is not enough RAM. The smartphone cannot hold a large number of programs and simply closes them. The quality of the camera, albeit an 8 megapixel module, is disappointing. But all this is offset by its cost. Let me remind you that the average market price (using Yandex.Market data) is 6000-6500 rubles.

Pros:

• Modern design
• Energy saving processor
• Long battery life
• Low cost

Minuses:

• Small amount of built-in memory
• Mediocre camera

The budget phone market is expanding with enviable frequency. Many manufacturers often did everything as a carbon copy, creating identical pieces of plastic and not often bothering to update even the platform. What was also alarming was how thin the line is in principle between a “budget phone” and an “entry-level” gadget. After all, almost everything is the same. But the world is changing, and with it the gadget industry.

China has seriously shaken the position of market leaders, and the most painful blow was dealt to the public sector class. “It’s time,” thought Prestigio, and rolled out their answer to the world - Prestigio Grace X3. Let's find out how caustic the rebuff turned out to be.

Characteristics of Prestigio Grace X3

What is in the box

The company decided that there is a line of tradition that should not be crossed. The box, as always, is full of red with silver lines. The phone itself lies modestly inside; under the cardboard there is a power supply and a USB cable. Everything is standard, except that there is no headset. Although the absence of headphones is also a standard among manufacturers recently.

Appearance, build quality

Here they really tried, no matter what anyone says. Previously, not particularly distinguished by their design, all the company’s phones could be recognized by the sparkling logo on the back cover. Now the emblem is no longer so striking, the phone itself becomes more attractive to the eye. And even though the design is similar to the former flagship from Samsung, it even does it credit. To some extent, of course. The body is made of pleasant textured plastic, on which they tried to imitate leather - it doesn’t look very similar, but it feels nice to the touch. The side edges are framed with silver metal-like plastic with notches. Above the screen from left to right: flash, light sensor, proximity sensor, camera eye and a neat speaker grid. Which, by the way, quite unexpectedly has a blue notification indicator built into it. Together it looks higher than its price and makes the phone stand out from its competitors.

The case itself is quite compact, and by modern standards even small. The frames around the display are thin, the screen takes up quite a lot of space, and working with one hand is realistic and convenient. But what I don’t really like is the backlighting of the function buttons located under the display. The area under the screen is constantly illuminated, and while during daylight hours it is practically unnoticeable, in the dark it interferes. At least, this bothered me, but such illumination may seem useful to someone. You decide.

As for the assembly. It’s good, the body doesn’t play or creak, although I didn’t bother to twist it too much. Few people abuse their gadget this way, and those who do this won’t even be satisfied with the build quality of their flagships. Again, there is only one thing that confuses me: the body is collapsible, and the cover will have to be removed at least once or twice. To pry it off, there is even a special gap. But the lid itself is very thin and flimsy. The two times I took it off, I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I applied a little more force, it would shatter into small pieces. Perhaps that's all.

Screen and color rendering

The screen is the main complaint. I found only one plus here, and to sweeten things up, I’ll tell you about it at the end.
The first thing that may scare you away from purchasing is the screen resolution - it is tiny. Small text, for example, on Twitter is practically unreadable; you have to increase the font size, and this already entails the inconvenience of using different applications. I strongly do not recommend reading on such a display to preserve your vision. But blaming the resolution alone is also not the point. Much depends on the quality of the matrix installed in the device. And here we move on to another point - color rendition. The colors are not just unnatural, they don't even match the real ones. The Play Store is not green, but pale lime green. Blue is pale blue, and even black is not that black. The minimum screen brightness does not allow you to comfortably do anything with the phone in the dark. And the maximum one makes everything readable even in direct sunlight.

And now a plus, pay attention - the display is covered with plastic, but fingerprints are almost impossible to collect. And those that remain can be easily erased. And this is good.

Iron

Here we come to a section that made us pleasantly surprised. The phone is equipped with 1 gigabyte of RAM, 8 gigabytes of permanent storage, of which, surprisingly, only 5 GB is available. The heart and brains of the phone is the quad-core MTK MT6582 with a clock frequency of 1.3 GHz and a Mali-400 MP video accelerator standard for these processors. The power of the phone turned out to be, by definition, not up to par. Here you just had to turn on ART, and the desktops were flipped through smoothly, and the menu did not slow down. Pages in the browser loaded quickly and scaled just as well. And even though the test scores are modest, is this still important to someone? The main thing is how the phone behaves in real conditions. However, below you can see the results of the most popular benchmarks.

Well, now the sweetest part - the phone is definitely omnivorous. Having installed Modern Combat 5 on it, I expected to see something terrible and something incomprehensibly twitching - but no, the stable, albeit low fps allowed me to play comfortably. Ate the phone and the new Mortal Combat. The toy itself is so-so, but has decent hardware requirements - and these requirements are fully satisfied by Prestigio engineers.

Interface

Bare Android 4.4.2 with the ability to upgrade to 5.0 (according to the vendor). There are also proprietary applications. However, nothing unusual.

Camera

Both cameras show mediocre results. Although the phone clearly hints at those who like to take pictures of themselves. The front camera module has a resolution of 5 megapixels and is even equipped with a flash, which in theory should help you take good photos even in places with poor lighting. But the front camera is not capable of taking a high-quality photo; everything comes out a little blurry. The only thing that clearly works is the “beautiful face”, although the mode is implemented somewhat strangely. In those phones where we encountered this popular decoration method, it was possible to tighten the elements manually, but then you have to rely on the operation of the machine and the result does not always live up to expectations.

The main camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels, but you can shoot in full resolution only in 4:3 format. All other photos come with maximum quality of 5 megapixels. Focusing is fast. Examples of pictures are below.

Sound

The speakers in the phone are located in a fashionable way, on the bottom end. On the one hand, this is a practical solution that does not muffle the sound if you put the phone on the table. But if you take the phone in landscape orientation, it turns out that one speaker grille is closed. Fortunately, the second one is obtained in a “bath” from the palm, which is why the sound resonates and is actually directed at the user. The speakers sound good - there is enough volume reserve to not miss a call in a crowded place. But you won’t really enjoy the music; it’s better to listen with headphones. There are some nice moments in this audition scenario. The software enhancer works as it should, without it the sound is lifeless, but once you check the box in the settings, the sound immediately becomes more rich and voluminous. The output is very decent sound, which can also give shape to some higher-end phones.

Autonomy

The autonomy really pleased me. From one full charge at 1650 mAh, the phone will work for two full days in mixed mode (30 minutes of games, social networks, listening to music). Above all praise. At the same time, the brightness was always above average, and on the street we had to turn it on to maximum. You can rely on your phone in this sense, and you even remember the times when your phone didn’t charge every day. Almost shed a stingy tear.

conclusions

The Prestigio Grace X3 has clear advantages, but also disadvantages. A few years ago, such characteristics could have been flagship, and if this smartphone had come out at a different time, it would have been a clear recommendation for purchase. Now it’s hard to clearly perceive the phone. There are more attractive devices at the same price, and there are also those that are scary to look at. You can compare as much as you like - no one offers unambiguous solutions in any segment of the mobile market. Who would I recommend this phone to? Probably for those who want to get their first experience of communicating with a smart phone (don’t laugh too much, there are quite a lot of them). Adequate price and capabilities make it stand out against the gray background of most similar devices. Add design to this - and there are practically no equals. Those who decide to make this purchase will be able to get as much pleasure from the user experience as the phone has to offer.

What I liked:

• Design and build
• Autonomy
• Performance

What I didn't like:

• Screen
• Back cover material
• USB socket location

All images in this article were taken with the Sony a5100, the best entry-level compact system camera of 2015.

Prices in online stores

It is possible to display similar models if this one is not in the catalog for your region.

Sometimes you can find pretty good phones from little-known brands. What attracts people in such devices is cost and functionality. But is it worth buying such smartphones?

Design

The appearance of Prestigio devices is quite interesting and remarkable. Each device has its own design and stands out among its peers.

The only thing that confuses the appearance is the great similarity with It seems that for its devices the company takes several parts from well-known models and combines them.

For example, the Grace X3 design resembles many devices from the well-known Samsung company. Moreover, if you remove the company logo, then the Prestigio cell phone will be quite difficult to distinguish from a more popular brand.

Of course, such similarities only benefit a budget device. Essentially, the Prestigio phone implements the design of flagships in the cheaper segment of the market.

It will be difficult for users to blame the company in this regard, because the devices turn out to be quite interesting in appearance and bear little resemblance to those made in China.

Camera

Apart from design, the Prestigio phone sometimes imitates its more advanced brothers in other aspects. The cameras installed on the device periodically imitate the same market leader, Samsung. Thus, the 5453 Duo device acquired an 8 megapixel eye, but in fact it is an analogue of five megapixels from a well-known company.

Sometimes a Prestigio mobile phone is equipped with more powerful cameras, as in the case of the 3530. It has as much as 13 megapixels installed, and the front one will also please the owner with the presence of 5 megapixels.

Naturally, there are exceptions. The 3453 model has only 2 megapixels, but given its cost, this does not seem particularly important.

It is impossible to say that the cameras in the company’s devices are their weak point; on the contrary, it is one of the strongest points of the company’s smartphones. Few can boast of such characteristics.

Filling

For example, Grace 7557 is capable of surprising many users with its filling. This smartphone, quite noticeable both in design and in capabilities, will satisfy many needs of even sophisticated users.

The device has as many as eight cores, each of which has a frequency of 1.7 GHz. Naturally, the MTK processor is used, as in most Chinese devices. Despite its origin from the Middle Kingdom and low cost, the part used has proven itself very well.

In addition to an excellent processor, the smartphone has as much as 2 GB of RAM. For a representative of budget devices, this is an excellent indicator.

Of course, there are cheaper devices with lower specifications. Although Grace 7557 has a low price, it can rightfully be considered one of the company's flagships.

The company sells high-quality hardware even in the cheapest devices. An example of this is the 3503, which has 1.2 GHz and 512 RAM.

Perhaps many smartphones released by the company do not reach the 7557 in terms of hardware, but they will still be able to satisfy many of the owner’s needs.

Display

The weakest point in the cheapest representatives is the device screen. And the point is not in the small diagonal, but in the resolution. When setting even 4 inches, the company sometimes neglects other parameters.

Thus, the Prestigio 3453 phone was equipped with TFT technology. And everything would be fine, but the lack of pixels leads to grainy images.

A similar drawback was corrected in more advanced models. Already 7557 uses modern Super Amoled technology and better resolution.

When choosing a device, you should definitely study the screen characteristics. Because not all devices can be satisfied with the quality of the display.

Battery

The main problem with smartphones produced by this company is the battery. At first glance, the batteries used in the devices have considerable capacity, but the operating time is let down.

Using a not particularly demanding processor from MTK should have solved this problem, but it still exists.

The device discharges incredibly quickly, although the battery parameters correspond to those of Lenovo. The approximate capacity of even the weakest phones is 2000 maH, but it seems that in reality it is only 1500.

Accordingly, the operating time during active use is only 3-4 hours. It may seem that this is quite normal, but it is not always possible to additionally charge the device.

Compared to the same Lenovo, which has more advanced hardware and a similar battery capacity, the operating time is simply ridiculous.

Repair

An unpleasant situation that the owner of a Prestigio may encounter is a breakdown. However, the problem is not the damage to the device itself, but the search for spare parts for it. Most workshops simply do not have parts for devices from this company.

The only way out of this situation is a long wait for the required item to appear in the warehouse or an order from abroad.

Advantages

If you evaluate the most successful devices from the model range, you can form an idea about whether it is worth becoming the owner of Prestigio.

It is worth noting the interesting design of the devices. And no matter what the cost of the device, each smartphone stands out, and this is already pleasing. Even among popular mobile phones it is difficult to find such a wide variety. The catchy appearance, as well as the individuality of each phone, distinguishes the brand from the general background.

Having a good camera will be no less pleasant. In top models, such as 3530, this will be as much as 13 megapixels. Moreover, the Prestigio phone has all the necessary data that improves the quality of pictures.

It is quite difficult to ignore the screens of some devices. The use of modern technologies and attention to detail allow the display to compete with already well-known brands.

And a more significant advantage of Prestigio is the price set for the phone. Almost all models can be confidently classified as cheap devices worthy of attention.

Flaws

There are also disadvantages that slightly worsen the overall picture.

For the most part, this is an incredible drain on battery life. It seems that the standard battery for everyone does not satisfy all the needs of the device. Constant dependence on charging darkens the impression of the company's smartphones. Perhaps replacing the battery with an analogue one with a larger capacity will solve the problem, but a standard battery is not enough.

The pain point in the lowest priced devices is their screen. Outdated technology and noticeable pixels do not improve the user experience. Behavior in the sun will also not delight the owner.

Prestigio Grace X3 | Introduction

Smartphones with large screens are now gaining popularity, but manufacturers do not forget to release models with smaller displays, so today we will look at the Prestigio Grace X3. The smartphone does not have any innovations, but a quad-core processor, 2 SIM cards and, most importantly, a low price give it a “place in the sun.” Read the review for all the details.

Main characteristics of Prestigio Grace X3
Products webpage	Official page Prestigio Grace X3
Retail price	About 7.5 thousand rubles
Screen	4.5", 480×854, IPS
Processor (CPU + GPU)	Quad-core MediaTek MT6582 (1.3 GHz), Mali-400MP4
OS	Android 4.4
RAM	1 GB
Memory	8 GB, supports micro-SD memory cards up to 32 GB
Camera	Rear: 8 MP with autofocus and LED flash Front: 5 MP with LED flash
Sensors	Proximity sensor, light sensor
External interfaces	micro-USB 2.0, 3.5 mm mini-jack
Battery	Li-Ion 1650 mAh
Dimensions	134x65x8 mm
Weight	118 g

Below are the specifications shown by the CPU-Z utility.

Prestigio Grace X3 | Packaging and accessories

The smartphone arrived in a small, durable box. To protect against scratches, the phone was initially protected with a sticker, which we immediately removed.

The smartphone is neatly laid out in the box, with accessories underneath:

• Prestigio Grace X3
• Power adapter
• USB cable
• Technical Guide

Prestigio Grace X3 | Appearance

The design of the smartphone is unremarkable: it almost completely replicates the appearance of Samsung’s budget line. However, even this modest design seems pleasant. Due to its dimensions and light weight, the Prestigio Grace X3 fits perfectly in the hand.

The main part of the front side is occupied by a 4.5" display. Above the screen there is also a front camera with a flash and sensors. The earpiece and LED indicator are hidden under the mesh. Below the display there are three classic control buttons.

The side edges are made of silver plastic, “metal-like”. On the left there is a volume rocker and a power button. The buttons are easy to press.

The right side remained free.

At the top there is a headphone input and a micro-USB connector.

Below, under the grille, there is a microphone and speaker.

Under the cover of the smartphone there are two slots for SIM cards and a slot for a micro-SD memory card. The back cover fits quite tightly.

The assembly does not cause any complaints. There are no cracks or backlashes.

Prestigio Grace X3 | Screen

We also liked the screen of the Prestigio Grace X3. Of course, the resolution of 480×854 is not quite enough for a 4.5" screen. The pixels become noticeable from a short distance. I was pleased that the smartphone has an IPS matrix, so it has good viewing angles. And the brightness is enough to use the smartphone on street.

The tactile sensations from the screen are pleasant, Prestigio Grace X3 quickly responds to touches. During testing, no scratches appeared on the screen.

Prestigio Grace X3 | Software

Prestigio Grace X3 runs on Android 4.4, but the traditional shell from Prestigio is installed on top of the system.

There were some programs pre-installed on the smartphone. For example, out of the box you can use ES Explorer, Chrome, eReader Prestigio, McAfee Security, as well as the traditional package from Google.

Prestigio Grace X3 | Browser

The built-in browser is standard for Android; it works well on the Prestigio Grace X3, pages load at full size. Flash Player 11 and HTML 5 are supported, you can watch videos directly in your browser. Logging into your Google account allows you to synchronize your browser data (bookmarks, history, etc.), which is actually very convenient.

The Chrome browser is also pre-installed.

Prestigio Grace X3 | Music

To listen to music, you can use the standard Music application, which automatically searches for audio files on the device, sorting them by albums and artists. Of course, you can use the player that you like best.

The speaker disappointed us a little; it is quite quiet and also rattles at high volumes. It is clear that the sound quality leaves much to be desired.

Prestigio Grace X3 | Video

We tested support for smartphone video formats using the Antutu Video Tester program.

Prestigio Grace X3 coped well with the task. The smartphone played almost all test videos up to 2K, which is a good indicator.

Prestigio Grace X3 | Camera

The smartphone is equipped with an 8 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front camera. The camera interface is similar to the classic Android version.

The shooting quality of the rear camera leaves much to be desired. Even on a sunny day the picture seems dim. Full-size pictures can be viewed in our gallery.

The front camera gave even worse results, although this will be enough for video conferencing. Full-size pictures can be viewed in our gallery.

Prestigio Grace X3 | Performance

CPU performance

We tested the performance of the 4-core processor of the Prestigio Grace X3 smartphone using Linpack. Results are in millions of floating point operations per second (MFLOPS).

Here the smartphone shows excellent results, beating many models of a similar price category. Prestigio Grace X3 is second only to eight-core smartphones.

Overall system performance

We used Smartbench 2012 1.0 to evaluate overall system performance. This test is very similar to the 3DMark and SysMark suites in that it provides simple and easy-to-use performance indexes for two categories: productivity applications and games. On the other hand, a synthetic test may not accurately reflect the actual performance of applications and games.

You can compare the results with other smartphones and tablets at http://smartphonebenchmarks.com/

Prestigio Grace X3 delivers good performance, which is not surprising due to its relatively powerful processor. Gaming performance also did not disappoint, but it is worth remembering that this is due to the low resolution of the smartphone.

AnTuTu

The smartphone again demonstrated excellent results for its price category. The processor performance is again at the level, and the phone should handle games without difficulty.

3DMark

The result is quite acceptable; due to the low resolution, the Prestigio Grace X3 can easily compete in gaming performance with more expensive smartphones.

JavaScript Performance

SunSpider is a JavaScript benchmark that demonstrates both the performance of the tablet's JavaScript engine and (to a lesser extent) the processing power of the hardware. A poor implementation of JavaScript on a very fast tablet can ruin the overall performance of the platform. And at the same time, an excellent implementation of JavaScript will allow you to effectively use even slow systems. However, today the main implementations of JavaScript engines are becoming closer to each other, and developers are borrowing all the best ideas. JavaScript tests are single threaded due to the nature of browsers. SunSpider correctly evaluates CPU-sensitive tasks found in real web applications.

Below are the results of SunSpider 1.0 on Android tablets and phones. Android devices use Google's V8 JavaScript engine.

The smaller the result, the better. And here the smartphone produces good results. We can say with confidence that web surfing will not slow down, and you will be able to quickly load even “heavy” pages.

Network Bandwidth

We tested network performance using the IxChariot test, as well as an 802.11 b/g/n router with 1 Gbps ports. The tablet was located about 1 meter from the access point. We tested the maximum available network mode (802.11g or 802.11n), at this time there were no other active transmissions, and no pronounced interference was detected in the network coverage area.

The throughput of the Prestigio Grace X3 was 35.7 Mbit/s. This speed should be sufficient for the vast majority of users.

Epic Citadel

We have added the Epic Citadel gaming test, which is a demonstration of the capabilities of the Unreal engine from Infinity Blade for Android OS. The test has different .apk and cache for different GPUs, so you need to take your versions for the test. The test was carried out in High Quality and Ultra High Quality modes. You can see the results below.

An excellent result, you can be sure that the Prestigio Grace X3 will cope even with heavy games.

Battery life

We tested the phone for battery life in different usage scenarios. We tried to bring testing conditions as close as possible to real ones. Measurements were carried out at medium brightness level, Wi-Fi turned on and one working SIM card. When watching a movie, the sound was played through headphones at medium volume.

Unfortunately, the small battery capacity was a fly in the ointment. Of course, in everyday scenarios, the Prestigio Grace X3 is enough for two days, but you won’t be able to watch a movie or play for a long time.

Prestigio Grace X3 | Conclusion

Prestigio Grace X3 is an excellent smartphone, what is called a “workhorse”. Yes, it does not have an outstanding design, a high-resolution screen, a high-quality camera, or much more. However, good hardware that allows the smartphone to cope with any application, not to mention web surfing, makes you forget some of the shortcomings. You get used to the low resolution and pixelation over time, especially since the viewing angles of the Prestigio Grace X3 are quite wide. Naturally, the smartphone has many shortcomings that we had to accept for the sake of the low price, but you quickly get used to them. In the end, it turns out that the Prestigio Grace X3 is a good price/quality ratio, so when buying a budget smartphone, you should not bypass the Prestigio Grace X3.

Advantages of Prestigio Grace X3:

• High performance
• Wide viewing angles
• High quality build
• Nice price
• Dual SIM cards

Disadvantages of Prestigio Grace X3:

• Discreet Design
• Small battery capacity
• Low screen resolution

There are already many attractive offers in the class of compact, inexpensive smartphones. Nevertheless, the Prestigio Grace X3 is still worth a closer look. If only because for only $153, this two-SIM phone offers the user pretty good hardware, including a 4-core processor and 1 GB of RAM, and what’s most interesting is a 5MP front camera with LED flash. What else can a Prestigio Grace X3 user count on? We'll talk about this further.

Contents of delivery

As befits a budget model, the equipment of the Grace X3 is very modest: the smartphone itself, a microUSB-USB cable, a charger adapter, a user manual and a warranty card.

Design and functional elements

In short, outwardly Grace X3 does not try to seem more expensive or more beautiful than it actually is. And in this sense it is harmonious.

Like many budget models from Samsung's Galaxy line, it has rounded edges and a wide metal-look plastic bezel surrounding the side edges. It houses most of the functional controls: on top there is an audio jack and a microUSB port, on the bottom there are two grilles hiding a microphone and a multimedia speaker, and the right “side” is given over to the volume rocker and the power button. By the way, the last one is very small, and therefore there is a high probability of missing.

The design of the tested handset is simple and neat, and the most notable element is the plastic back cover with a fine mesh texture that shimmers beautifully in the sun. The material is not easily soiled, and most importantly not slippery. However, it is unlikely that you will drop the Grace X3 often - the 4.5-inch screen and compact dimensions - 134x65x8 mm, not only allow you to securely hold the smartphone in one palm, but also control it without any problems with the fingers of one hand.

Returning to the location of the controls, I will note the presence on the back panel of the Grace X3 of an 8MP camera eye framed by a metal ring, an LED flash, a noise-canceling microphone and the manufacturer’s logo.

On the front panel above the 4.5-inch display there is a neat grille that covers the LED indicator and the earpiece. To the left of it there is a peephole of a 5MP camera with flash, proximity/light sensors. A little below the screen there are three touch buttons - “Menu”, “Home” and “Back”.

As I mentioned earlier, the Grace X3 case is collapsible; using a special gap to remove the battery cover, it’s quite easy to get to the slots for a memory card, SIM cards and the gadget’s battery.

The build quality deserves special mention - nothing wobbles, there is no play, there are no creaks. The device is well built, the removable back cover is fixed very tightly.

Display

The 4.5-inch IPS screen of the Grace X3 with a resolution of 480x854 pixels may suffer from grainy images, but OGS technology is used here, which means there is no air gap between the touchscreen and the display panel. Thanks to this, the smartphone boasts fairly wide viewing angles, good color rendition and brightness margin, as well as good readability in bright sunlight.

The sensitivity of the touch layer, which supports up to 5 simultaneous touches, is quite enough for comfortable work with a smartphone. The finger glides well over the surface, although the manufacturer does not mention the oleophobic coating of the screen, as well as the protective glass.

Memory

Of the 8 GB of officially declared internal memory, about 5 GB are available to the Grace X3 user.

If necessary, it can be expanded using microSD cards with a maximum capacity of up to 32 GB or using free 200 GB in MultiCloud cloud storage. But connecting flash drives in OTG mode is not supported.

Equipment and performance

The Grace X3 is powered by a 4-core MediaTek MT6582M processor clocked at 1.3 GHz and Mali-400MP4 graphics. The amount of RAM is 1 GB.

The $153 Grace X3 showed good results in numerous performance tests, and in practice it showed a good level of performance – it plays Full HD video and copes well with “heavy” games like Asphalt 8 racing.

Communications

In terms of communication modules and interfaces, everything here is typical for any budget Android smartphone: Wi-Fi with access point function and Wi-Fi Direct technology, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS.

In addition, there is support for two SIM cards that can work simultaneously in standby mode, and the ability to transfer images from the device to an external screen using the Miracast standard.

Autonomy

Grace X3 is powered by a 1650 mAh battery. Considering the presence on board of the smartphone of a processor built on the energy-efficient Cortex A7 architecture and a relatively small diagonal screen, one full charge of its battery was enough for me for a full day of work with average activity - calls, web surfing, a minimum of music, videos and games.

If you set the screen backlight to maximum and do not turn off the Wi-Fi connection, then from one full battery charge the Grace X3 will work for 4 hours in Full HD video playback mode or for 2.5 hours playing Asphalt 8.

Cameras and speakers

The main 8MP camera of the smartphone is complemented by an LED flash.

There are also a large number of settings and photography modes, including HDR, Auto Scene, Smile, Face Detection, Focus on Object, Voice Recording and many others.

Autofocus is quite fast, but the image quality is mediocre. The camera is best at shooting close objects, but the panoramas are not detailed. In low light there is noise.

- Test photos of the main camera

- Test photos of the front camera

- Test video

The main photo module records video in the maximum Full HD resolution. When shooting video, electronic image stabilization and manual autofocus are available.

But the main highlight of the Prestigio Grace X3 is its 5MP front camera with a back-illumination matrix. Actually, this is not a unique offer on the market, but it is still a rarity for a 153-dollar smartphone, which confirms the positioning of this budget phone for the youth segment.

Another plus of the front photo module is the LED flash. Thanks to it, selfies of fairly decent quality can be taken both during the day and at night or in a dark room. It shoots video at the maximum resolution – VGA.

As for the handset's speakers, the quality of conversation is at a high level, the sound is quite clear and loud.

But the multimedia one has an average volume reserve and rattles a little at maximum sound.

Competitors

Even despite the peak in popularity of selfies, there are still few smartphones with front-facing flashes on the mobile market. Moreover, among the two-sim cards in the middle price segment, they can be literally counted on the fingers of one hand.

Parameter	Prestigio Grace X3	Prestigio MultiPhone 5508 DUO	Sony Xperia C3	Prestigio Grace X5
OS	Android 4.4 KitKat	Android 4.4 KitKat	Android 4.4 KitKat	Android 4.4 KitKat
Display	4.5", IPS, 480x854	5", IPS, 1280x720	5.5", IPS, 1280x720	4.7", IPS 1280x720
CPU		8 cores, MediaTek MT6592, 1.7 GHz	4 cores, Qualcomm MSM8926 Snapdragon 400, 1.2 GHz	4 cores MediaTek MT6582M, 1.3 GHz
Graphic arts	Mali-400MP4	Mali-450 MP4	Adreno 305	Mali-400MP2
RAM	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB
ROM	8 GB+ microSD	16 GB+ microSD	8 GB+microSD	8 GB+ microSD
Camera	8MP, 5MP front. with flash		8MP, 5MP front. with flash	13MP, 5MP front. with flash
Battery	1650 mAh	2300 mAh	2500 mAh	1800 mAh
Dimensions	134x65x8 mm	142.5x70.8x8.3 mm	156x78.5x7.6 mm	137x68x8 mm
Weight	118 g	129 g	150 g	137 g
average price	$153	$160	$335	$229

BY

Grace X3 runs Android 4.4 KitKat operating system out of the box. The manufacturer's own shell is installed on top with many proprietary applications and utilities from third-party developers, which are presented in the screenshots below.

Prestigio, by the way, also promised an official update to Android 5.0 Lollipop, but the exact release date for the “candy” for the tested model has not yet been announced.

conclusions

Well, the new Prestigio Grace X3 is a smartphone primarily for young people who like to spend time communicating on social networks, sharing their photos, surfing the Internet, playing games and watching high-quality movies. For this, there is everything you need: fairly efficient hardware, a high-quality display, and even a 5MP front camera with LED flash.

But, of course, for the sake of an affordable price tag, we had to sacrifice something, for example, the resolution of the screen and the sound quality of the speakers, but the price is still justified.

Approximate price:$153 (11.03.2015)

Product provided by the press service of Prestigio in Ukraine

Alena Lazauskas