This review is written in used for about 3 weeks more of Blackview Alife S1. It is focused to using software in real life. Alife S1 CPU is Chinese MediaTeck’s MT6752 64bit 4 cores ARM works 460MHz to 1.4GHz. Of course its android not compiled for 64bit. (Actually it doesn’t matter to work on virtual machine like android dalvik.) It’s acceptable to using in real life. It’s fast to enough for enjoying most of android apps in Google market even heavy 3D games like most of fast faced racing.
Antutu benchmark app scored 31754 in about 3 times repeated. It’s really enough fast than my devices that used Qualcom snapdragon 600 series.
External T-Flash (micro SD) limited up to 32GB. bigger size of TF couldn’t recognized and displays to “need format” as like Windows system. Speed of writing filesystem is not bad among used eMMC flash NAND component, it’s good evolution of Chinese device producers. Specially I will give good score than most of android devices in South Korea, Japan or USA like LG, SONY and Motorolla.
Specailly Alife S1 has no bloatware like preinstalled useless app without protecting privacy and data-saving. These useful apps are helping saving my money to leaking data usage in most of android devices.
Default launcher is little bit strange than normal, there’s no app drawer – it is like iOS or MIUI. Only installed app appears its icon on default launcher page. and sensitivity is too tight to control move icon or putting in folder. I was need adapted to train sensitivity.
Additional functional pages like control music and camera and video is helpful. It was comfort to use even I don’t like most of android widgets.
Alife S1 has good hardware level function is IrDA Rx/Tx – It means you can use Alife S1 as a multi-in-one remote controller that has education mode. I can make my own remote controller page and it should be edited, manually education modes. I can control my OTT box and TV with google Chromecast in one smartphone like LG devices.
If you are living in Asia except China, or Europe, don’t expect translation words are comfort to read. some words in default app is not understand like “Auto” in camera app – it was translated to meaning of “Car” in South Korean.
Battery life may be a main problem in use for long term – 2000mAh is still big capacity in iOS devices, but not in androids. If you are using phone in default setting, it should be going drain quickly its battery by stand by radio channels if SIM used only one – it maybe a bug of Blackview android.
Blackview had changed default android 4.4.4 permission of external memory write. So I don’t needed to get root account for getting permission to writing external memory. There’s no malware or spyware in system by checking most of all anti-virus apps in Google market. There’s no leaking TCP ports in check by its internal shell terminal as using netstat.
I am recommend Blackview Alife S1 to using as secondary or for childrens. It much enough good for light weight, good price and good functions. And must be considered if you need NFC – it doesn’t support NFC.
Plus one minus point is outter shelter: It is white plastic originally, so any scratch will remove paints and you can see white color in coated layer.