I’ve just noticed some Mediatek MT6592 octa-core Android smartphones are selling for a little over $100. The cheapest phones seem to be THL T6 Pro and AXGIO Neon N2Q both selling for exactly $116.99, the former on sites like GeekBuying or BuyInCoins, and the latter only selling on Tinydeals, so AXGIO may be a re-branded phone. Let’s compare both phones.
Since most phones now look pretty much alike, we’d better look at the hardware specifications instead to eventually decide is better value for money.
| ThL T6 Pro | AXGIO Neon N2Q | |
| SoC | Mediatek MT6592M Octa core Cortex A7 @ 1.4 GHz with Mali-450MP4 GPU | |
| System Memory | 1 GB RAM | |
| Storage | 8 GB + micro SD slot (up to 32GB) | |
| Display | 5.0” IPS display, 1280×720, 5 Points multi-touch | 5.0” IPD display, 960 x 540, 5 points multi-touch |
| Cellular Connectivity | GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz WCDMA: 900/2100MHz GPRS/HSPA/EDGE Dual SIM Card |
GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz WCDMA: 850/2100MHz GPRS/EDGE/HSPA/HSPA+/ Dual SIM Card (1 Micro SIM) |
| Wireless Connectivity | 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi Bluetooth 4.0 GPS/AGPS FM Radio |
|
| Camera | 8.0 MP Rear camera with flash-light 2.0 MP front-facing camera |
5.0MP rear camera (interpolated 8.0MP) with flash-light 2.0 MP front-facing camera |
| Sensors | Proximity Light Direction |
Proximity Light Gravity |
| Interfaces | 3.5mm earphone jack Micro USB port |
|
| Battery | 1,900 mAh | 2,100 mAh |
| Dimensions | 143.5 x 71.6 x 8.2 mm | 146 x 71 x 7.5 mm |
| Weight | 155 grams (with battery) | 131 grams (with battery) |
| Accessories | Battery, earphones, USB cable, power adapter, back case, and user’s manual | Battery, earphones, USB cable, power adapter, protective case, protective PU leather case, and user’s manual |
Both phones runs Android 4.4.2, but the AXGIOS Neon N2Q has an option to run “Neonato UI with OTA support, multiple themes, and more personalized features”, which could mean you are more likely to get firmware update for Neon N2Q, although I would not hold my breath for long term updates… Any both phones are pretty similar, but ThL has a better display, and possibly a better camera (TBC), whereas Neon N2Q has a slightly larger battery and somehow is about 24 grams lighter.
Sellers may also offer some gifts with the phone, but I still find the better 720p display should mean ThL T6 Pro is a better product, at least on paper. Having said that, I’ve owned a ThL smartphone, namely ThL W200, for over a year, and I’ve been disappointed with GPS and the camera not working reliably over time. But maybe that’s something to expect with lower cost phones.
Thanks to Onebir for the idea.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Do they respect the GPL (i.e. provide source-code for the Android kernel) ?
@ade
Any Chinese manufacturer worth its name, makes it a badge of honor not to respect the GPL… 😉
Another question out of curiosity: Can we trust Chinese phone in terme of privacy? i.e, are they really out of malware, spyware…?
@embedded_geek
It depends if you prefer being spied on by the NSA, or the Chinese government,
But seriously I don’t really know. I guess brands like ThL who not try it, because of the possible backlash, but who knows.
One solution would be some app that monitors connection and asks the user if the server is trusted, each time a new server would be accessed. That would certainly be an hassle though.
@embedded_geek
FYI -> http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/18/chinese-smartphone-samsung-amazon-ebay-malware-google-play
there are those kind of app here: http://www.esecurityplanet.com/views/article.php/3901686/Top-20-Android-Security-Apps.htm
I’m not sure if it’s really good actually. Because if I wanted to put a spyware on a phone I would not put on the Android side… I would maybe just modify the network stack on the Kernel and here I’m pretty sure no Android App would detect me.
@embedded_geek
yes, some of those apps are important. Installing apps from within those apps may also help.
But I’ve owned many cheap Chinese phones and the real way to stay safe is by not using them as your main device (in fact you should not do anything very “important” regarding data or finances on any phone. period. Important stuff should always be done in your main home computer. I even have a linux partition just for that.)
I use these cheap phones more like tablets, install a security app and “disable” anything weird or with too many permissions. I also avoid anything that wants too many permissions even on the official google play app.. and if you want you can even have a secondary gmail account.
@manny
All of this should be writen in a Notice attached to every handeld devices sold!
price is not bad. but I already got a 512/dual and then 1gb/ quad core phone on pandawill. So naturally i’ll wait for when 2gb phones lower a bit more. 😀
you can get very good prices on happy hour, but don’t expect to be on the first 5 for the best products.
@embedded_geek
haha yes.
Been a security freak ever since moving away from an infested win XP install :p
But that doesn’t stop me from enjoying good bargains, cuz I take the same measures on both expensive or cheap; eastern or western. Humans are the weakest link, so on your own actions is where you need to focus the best security practices 😀
@manny
I’ve always heard that the biggest security leak is behind the keyboard 😉
In the u.s. everything is migrating towards lte (aws 1700/2100 band).. so finally the gsm/cdma hspa+/wimax should be a thing of the past. Some non-Verizon carrier companies still lock the network to the phone, but that’s another story.
But what about europe and elsewhere? is there a converging technology such that one phone fits all?
Another octocore on presale; $100 with LDL550 coupon (until 20/11):
http://www.tinydeal.com/landvo-l550-octa-core-phone-si-2769.html?
I found this phone last week when skiing.
Does anybody knows how to unlock the startingscreen when not having the right code ( sorry for my bad English, i’m from belgium).