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THL W3 - Catch up and overtake brands!


This Tuesday, we have on the table a top-end phone from the Chinese company THL, which according to its characteristics can compete with much more expensive branded phones. In the review - photos, tests, and of course the autopsy.



About model THL W3 + - big brother

Already after I bought this phone, another phone began to appear on the virtual shelves (it is called differently, W3 +, W3s, W3 Dual) - all the same, but with the only difference - it is built on the 6577 processor, instead of the one used in this 6575 chip phone. Screen, memory, case and equipment are identical, firmware, however, do not fit.
Due to the fact that the new processor is compatible with the contacts (well, practically, the minimum modification of the board is still needed), Chinese developers can take the old board, fix a couple of tracks on it, installing a new processor and rebuilding the android, in fact, get a new phone.
Just like the I9220 from Haipai, the “big brother” appeared after a while - the X710D, and in THL W3 a new processor was added, receiving a new phone. It costs, however, another $ 20-30 more expensive (which is an obvious payoff of stores “for topiness” - the processor costs not much more than 6575).

All of the following in the review is applicable to the new version, with the exception of the “characteristics” clause regarding processor tests. There for version 6577 there is a separate screenshot.

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Packing and packaging

The phone comes in such a colorful box:

With back features:

And on the sides:

The iphone-style box opens, the upper part is removed completely.
Kit (another battery, one, but I forgot to pull it out of the phone):

Manual, warranty, headphones, wire, charging with an adapter, battery and telefon. No cases and pouches. Consider more:
A regular USB-MicroUSB cable, white, not very thick. With company logo.

Headphones:

Finally sane headphones! Not only are they metal (!), The case of the plug and the headphones themselves are aluminum. So they also sound good. Not HiFi of course, but at a sufficient level to listen to music. By the way, there is still a microphone and a call reception button.
They also have a logo:

Warranty (by the way, a copy of the warranty from ZOPO. It seems I know who copies it from someone):

Power supply at 500ma

And the battery for 2000mahov, quite thick, so that the capacity is not in doubt:

Also, I put a plastic bumper for free:

Packaging and equipment on: 7 points out of 10
The equipment is not bad, all brand-name and high-quality components - you can put a fat plus only for headphones. It is a pity that the battery is only one.


Build quality and appearance

The phone looks like this:

Impressions? A heavy, smooth brick with skimped edges. In the hand is comfortable enough, does not slip. It feels nice in the hand, perhaps, from the latest Chinese phones - this one is the most pleasant (:
The back cover is made of smooth plastic:

The mechanism is classic - moves down. After zp100, I became a fan of “rubber” rear covers. Compared with the usual - there is no backlash and any cracks. There is no backlash, but a slight creaking when pressed into the center of the lid is observed. The advantage of the "classics" is a higher reliability of the lid with constant opening and closing.

The sides, as well as the upper and lower part - soft-touch. Honestly, I don’t really like sprayed coatings, because after a year and a half they start to wear off. But it looks good, and it's nice to hold it in your hand.
On the upper side, everything is standard - an audio connector and a power button. They are located on the contrary, when compared with the Zp100:

Due to the desire of designers to make all the corners with a sleek audio jack, it is as if not fully inserted when viewed from the back:

This does not affect the functionality.
On the right is a single sound adjustment button. It has a very soft and short stroke, and there is no tactile response when pressed. When wearing the bumper to use it is very uncomfortable.

In general, I would have liked such a volume button, if it was ONLY the volume button - it would not accidentally click in my pocket or when the phone was taken out of the case. But, considering that these are the only buttons on the case, I have to use them as a page list. But this is really inconvenient to do in the bumper.
On the bottom is only a microphone hole:

On the left - microUSB plug:

In the bottom part there is a transcript of the company name:

And above - the camera window and speaker, as well as the LED backlight:

There are 4 classic buttons on the front panel, with the same layout as in ... well, you know.

Above the screen is a camera window, a logo, a conversational speaker, and two sensor windows:

The sensors under the glass, because of which it was necessary to make for them "windows" in the coating. This phone has more thoroughly approached the question than in the i9220, and the sensors can be seen only in bright light, and they do not look alien.

The side volume buttons are on the back cover, the power button on the case itself.

The camera window is also on the back cover. On the one hand, with this solution it is easier to stain the glass or the lens, but on the other hand, in case of pollution it will not be difficult to wipe.

The frame of the plug is quite wide:

Because of what the cable comes with a slightly longer plug (white):

Ordinary wires are also suitable, but they are held loosely due to their length. Actively using the phone with a non-native wire is problematic - it falls out. With the white wire from the kit, everything is fine.
The battery is inserted "upside down" relative to the normal position of the phone:

A SIM card and memory card - at the bottom of the phone, but not at the top.

It is caused by placing the motherboard below (we will see later).
The bumper disappointed me. In terms of protecting the phone from scratches, it copes of course, well. But due to the fact that it is covered in a small hole - you will have to forget about protection from dust or water. In addition, it protrudes too much over the volume buttons, and prevents them from pressing.

Another problem (not a problem, of course, just insults my sense of beauty):

Not too accurate dimensions, with the result that in the upper part it is slightly bulged out.
Appearance on: 7 points from 10
It is pleasant to hold the phone in your hand, despite the plastic cover. It looks quite stylish and beautiful, it is also well assembled - the company simply cannot afford to leave a backlash or some shortcomings in a top model.


Screen

Oooh! No not like this. OOOOO! As I once admired the screen in zp100, so now I am happy about this screen. Again, a significant step forward, although it would seem, for the Chinese, the last screen was a good achievement. The screen size is 4.5 inches, and the resolution is 1280x720. PPI screen 326, which still allows him to be called a Retina-display (329). For comparison, the zp100 PPI is 256, and the I9220 - 182.
View full-size screenshot from the screen.

He also did not fit in your screen?

In direct sunlight, the screen remains readable. Among the shortcomings it should be noted a small range of brightness adjustment, I would like a little less brightness for darkness and a little higher for sunny days. On the other hand, the auto brightness works fine, it always correctly determines the level and does not switch the brightness levels noticeably to the eye. Moreover, it works over the entire range - at the sun, the level of the sublight is maximum, and at night it is minimum.
The screen can be seen in the sun satisfactorily:

With a very bright sun at a certain angle it is possible to see the points that make up the multitouch sensor and the conductors between them. The display does not affect.

By the way, about the touch panel. The first impression is “somehow too sensory.” Compared to the Zp100, it is much more responsive, and I had to get used to it. I do not know if such an effect arises due to a modified design or due to system settings, but it definitely exists. Pros - the accuracy of “tapa” has increased (in chrome I began to get more precise through the links).
When comparing the screen with the rest of the phones, there is a certain “yellowness” - the white color is not bluish-white, and I have a clear shade of yellowish. Initially, I solved this problem. Screen Adjuster, added the blue channel +3. At the first reboot, this setting disappeared, but I was sure that the image was “normal”, and the yellowness stopped worrying about me.

When viewing photos the difference is felt especially - the photos look much more juicy and bright.
Screen on: 8 points out of 10
Very good screen, one of the few screens of this resolution and quality available in the Chinese market.


Interiors, mods and maintainability

So, the most interesting. An autopsy showed that the patient died as a result of the autopsy .
On one of the bolts there is a sticker with the company logo:

Is it such a tamper protection? You can pry it with a needle, and then just put it back in place.
Turn off the 4 screws:

After that, snap off the plastic fasteners with a mediator, and begin to lift the panel from the back, moving it down (relative to the phone, i.e., to the buttons (how difficult it is to describe it with words)):

Before us appears to pay:

And the back:

Separately, it is worth noting the interesting design of the card reader (by the way, next to it is the “BIOS” battery), and the white patch - the wet sensor:

And SIM card plugs:

Camera and flash:

WiFi and GPS antennas are at the top, GSM / 3G are at the bottom (they are subscribed to the board):

MT6620, which includes Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and FM radio.

The board is mounted on two screws:

And 4 snaps. We will not open and unscrew from it - as everything stands very firmly, and was afraid to damage something.
Insides on: 5 points out of 10
Made with high quality, but the disassembly is difficult. It is very easy to break something without experience.


Characteristics, work speed

All the same platform is MT6575, so you should not expect any special changes. However, if you pick up version 5677 ...
AnTuTu and Quadrant


By the way, what AnTuTu shows when running on W3 +:

Agree, quite a nice performance boost. Of course, my next machine will be at 6577. Let's go back to our W3 rams .

Linpack:


Sensors and multitouch:

Accelerometer, light and proximity. Gyro and magnetic sensor or not, or they are not involved in the current firmware.

GPS:

Well, that's what, eh? Really it was impossible to put the cheapest ceramics? Again a foil antenna. Works, but do not expect miracles.

Vellamo:

The low result is due to the fact that two tests from the set refused to run at this screen resolution. Despite this, browsing speed is acceptable.

A gigabyte of memory is great. Finally, Chrome stopped closing the “extra” tabs, and the programs began to load faster if they were already running.


The weight of the phone with the battery is 155g:

Which is a bit heavier than the zp100 (137g) and I9220 (130)
Characteristics on: 6 points from 10
For me, disappointment is not a very good GPS - I just can not find a phone that has all the advantages. It was a pleasant surprise that the system as a whole works faster, despite the high resolution. The processor is the same, the graphics are the same. I do not understand, but the fact that faster - a fact.


Photo and video

The camera is good. And the resolution of the sensor is higher, and the backlight is bright, and in poor light the pictures are obtained ... well, at least they are obtained.

One problem - in the afternoon, with a complex frame with alternating shadows - sometimes makes mistakes with white balance:

Macro shoots normally:

Including at dusk:

The light sensitivity of the matrix is ​​good, in conditions of poor quality lighting it is not worth waiting for, but the pictures are:

And even quite good (for the phone):

The test with a sheet of text the camera passes (shot with a flash, with sunlight, the quality will be slightly better):

Photos and videos for: 8 points out of 10
Very good camera. Honestly, I was expecting the worst. A good flash and a light-sensitive matrix make it possible to shoot even in low light. I think about the fact that both cameras are working in Skype do not need to talk, any problems with this are in the past, along with 6573.


Operating system firmware

How to flash:
1) Download the toolkit. Driver and firmware program
2) Download the firmware. Here is the official + rekoveri (you can not install it if you are not going to use it) , and here it is separately rekoveri . But the latest firmware is 0.4 , and the update is 0.5 .
3) Run the program (Flash_tool.exe) on behalf of the administrator, press the Scatter-loading button, select the txt file in the folder with the unpacked firmware (or just retrieve), which stores information about the addresses for which the firmware should be uploaded. Click Download. The phone is not connected!

2) Turn off the phone, remove-insert the battery, hold down the Volume-button, insert the cable. The system swears at the new device, we slip (if necessary - by force) the driver from the first paragraph. As soon as the driver is installed, the program will find the phone, flood the preloader with it (via com-port emulation, slowly - a red bar), and then launch it. Having started, the bootloader will get used to the phone, raise a full-fledged high-speed USB interface, to which the system, as always, will ask for the driver. Perhaps they will deliver them automatically, then skip the next item.
2.1) If the counter in the program counted, but did not find a new interface. Go to the device manager, see an unidentified device, install the same driver for it from the first item. Then, repeat paragraph 2.
3) If everything went well, the program will find the USB interface, then the flash driver will load (lilac stripe), which will already accept the firmware and stuff it into the phone’s memory (yellow stripe). After that, a window pops up with a green circle - that's it. We distort the battery, press the power button.
If you were flashing an official, this can be finished. But I don’t see the point in this, at first it is worthwhile to flash only recoveries, and then install firmware 0.4.
4) Copy the archives from item 1 to the memory card (ThL.W3.120714.6575.ICS.COM.RUS_v0.4.zip, ThL.W3.120714.6575.ICS.COM.RUS_v0.5.zip), go to Settings - About phone - Reboot Recorery. We make Wipe All just in case, then Install zip from SD card, and first select 0.4, then 0.5. The first download is long. Ruth inside.

It is a little sad that the “Developer Parameters” has nothing but three points, I constantly turned off the animation there.
Sound profiles cannot edit standard profiles, just create your own:

PO on: 6 points from 10
ICS, works without glitches. It is worth making a discount on the fact that the phone is relatively new, and the heaps of firmware have not yet appeared.


Working hours:

The large battery significantly increased the operating time, which now without any problems allows not to charge the phone in the middle of the day. Given the cover, which is not threatened with breakage, I would buy another battery, but with one all is more than good:


Two battery tests:

Work time on: 9 points out of 10
There is a certain progress, the devices have already begun to live out until the evening. Why can't the battery be made bigger? i9220 did it, why only in one phone? Well, at least it has come to someone that one and a half amper hours is too little.


Summary:

An interesting and ambiguous machine. I rather liked it, and I replaced the zp100 with it - I could not resist the screen and the camera.
Of course, any technique is imperfect, but it is still very interesting to follow the progress of Chinese industry. What awaits us in a year, I can not even imagine.

Related Links:
Topic on w3bsit3-dns.com
Forum section on china-iphone.ru

View all photos from the review (and many not included) in the original resolution can be in the Picasa-album . You can also ask a question or leave a comment.

And you can subscribe in order not to miss new reviews on the company’s page and in my profile (“subscribe” button)

Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/149776/

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