Gionee, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has launched its next offering, the Gionee X1 in the budget segment, bearing a price tag of Rs 8,999 and it comes with a host of features which are expected to make Gionee X1, one of the best buys under the sub-Rs 10,000 category.
If we go by Gionee X1’s on paper specifications, it has been focused towards multimedia consumption with a lightweight processor to help users go through their day-to-day lives without worrying about lags and frame drops.
However, there exists a tough competition in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment as the likes of Xiaomi Redmi 4, Karbonn Aura Note Play and YU Yureka Black which, during in our reviews, have turned out be one of the best-packaged smartphones ever seen.
So, whether Gionee X1 be able to make its mark in this already crowded segment, or will it become just another failed attempt to attract the growing customer base? Let’s see.
Gionee X1 Specifications
- 5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS display with 2.5D curved glass, unidentified protection, offering 277 ppi
- 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737 64-bit processor coupled with Mali-T720 GPU
- 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD
- Android 7.0 (Nougat) with Amigo 4.0 UI
- 8MP auto-focus rear camera with PDAF, LED Flash, 1.4″ sensor, 1.12μm pixel size, and f/2.0 aperture
- 8MP front-facing camera with fixed focus and f/2.2 aperture
- Dual SIM and a fingerprint scanner at the rear
- 3000mAh battery with fast charging
- 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio
- 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Micro-USB port, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
- Gionee X1 measures 144.3×72.2×8.8mm
- Color Options: Black and Gold
What we like the most about Gionee X1 is the fact that it comes with a dedicated microSD card slot, so users won’t have to choose between an extra SIM or external storage. As far as the design is concerned, the Gionee X1 comes with a tried and tested design theme with perfect curves and great grip.
The uni-metallic body feels premium but so is the case with some of its competitors, however, what makes the Gionee X1 stand out is the front 8MP camera that offers good detailing and sharpness.
That being said, the lack of image stabilization will definitely make its absence feel in case of the rear camera as the pictures tend to come out blurry and it is advised to keep the camera stable because the shutter takes some time to perfectly capture the image.
Under the hood, Gionee X1 comes with a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737 64-bit processor and 2GB of RAM, which makes the smartphone decently fast but it is nothing compared to that of a Snapdragon SoC under heavy operation.
However, the 3000mAh battery will surprisingly have enough juice for a full day of heavy usage and Amigo 4.0 UI won’t feel much cluttered because simplicity is what makes it one of the best User Interfaces currently present in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment.
Is the Gionee X1 worth a try?
Well, in order to better current segment ruler Xiaomi Redmi 4, Gionee X1 had to offer much more than just a better front camera because this is the only department where it shines. At the same price, Redmi 4 offers, a better SoC, more RAM and internal memory as well as class-leading battery backup.
And unless a front camera has to be your ultimate deal maker, Xiaomi Redmi 4 is still a better smartphone than Gionee X1.