Everyone knows the clamshells made by Samsung, offered to Chinese customers for some fabulous money. It would seem that a phone with last year's iron and lower-resolution screens should be cheaper than the currently sold flagships. In fact, the opposite happens: these folding beds are happy to buy up, sometimes even creating a shortage.
Some local manufacturers have decided that there are fans of this form factor who do not want to pay more than $ 1,000 for a mobile device. The market began to replenish with such models. For example, Vkworld with its T2 decided not to stand aside. Well, a review will show what came of it.
Packaging and equipment
The mobile phone is delivered in a traditional cardboard box, which is quite thin but wide. Seen from above, it looks like a blue square with information about the manufacturer and model. In the lower left corner there is some more information that does not bear any practical benefit.
Inside, you can find the traditional substrate on which are placed: a clamshell smartphone, a charging cable, a network adapter, an English user manual, a screen protector and a battery. Yes, it is removable here and lies separately in a box, waiting in the wings. There are no headphones, which has already become a familiar practice.
Appearance
The model from Vkworld is similar to the Korean version of the modern clamshell. Both parts of the case are made of metal, glass and plastic. When folded, it looks like a regular smartphone from 2009: the dimensions of a typical 4-inch device, however, are half a centimeter thicker than usual.
Another thing is the condition unfolded. This gives access to the second display, the earpiece is located where it is usual, and the lower half, in addition to the touch keys for system control, is equipped with a digital unit, a la clamshell from the 2000s. It looks old school, similar to Samsung.
All physical elements, such as power volume control buttons, 3.5-mm jack connectors and USB ports, are located on the bottom half of the device, in the same place as the keyboard unit. Actually, the entire filling is located there, and the halves are connected to each other through a conventional hinge that opens 170 degrees.
The external “backs” of the mobile phone, according to the manufacturer, are made of tempered glass. Perhaps this is true, but the reverse is likely. Otherwise, the Chinese would not put a protective film in the kit. One way or another, the phone looks in the spirit of the Korean counterpart: a glossy back panel, a screen on the front. The Chinese do not need more.
Screen
More precisely, screens. There are two displays, both have the same diagonal: 4.02 inches. Resolution - 480 × 800 pixels, the most standard for the same 2009. True, it is worth noting that, in contrast to the end of the zero, there is an IPS matrix. The manufacturer failed to get rid of the air gap, so the thickness of the upper half of the phone is almost equal to the one where the entire filling is installed.
Nevertheless, the image looks good, as for a low-resolution screen. Bright sunny weather will not become an obstacle to reading information, which is important for both screens. Color reproduction is normal, but could be more natural. The device of the external and internal modules is slightly different: only the external one is equipped with touch buttons. The inner one functions thanks to those on the lower half of the device.
As for glass, it really feels tempered. Outside is so accurate. The inside is most likely under transparent plastic, due to which it will quickly become scratched.In both cases, the multi-touch supports up to five simultaneous touches, which will definitely be enough with such a diagonal.
Performance
Iron, frankly, is weak here: the MediaTek MTK6780 processor, 1 gigabyte of RAM and the Mali 400MP graphics chip. Smartphones had the same parameters 3-4 years ago, and even then such a filling was considered average. Support for LTE, NFC, the latest versions of Bluetooth and other new interfaces are not available for Vkworld T2. Only WCDMA and GSM, combined with Bluetooth 4.0.
The internal memory here is only 8gb. It is unclear how to save pictures and music to memory, because this volume is not enough even for applications. The memory card slot saves the situation: here you can install a Micro-SD-card, up to 32 gigabytes. I wonder why the manufacturer installed so little memory, releasing a rather interesting phone?
In Antutu Benchmark, his result will be quite modest: about 22,000 points. It only says that there is no performance here. Games are better not to run. And who will do this on the cot? Confirms the Epic Citadel hypothesis: around 30 FPS in High Quality. The result is low, unacceptable for a full-fledged smartphone in 2019.
The shell is laced with that in old Samsung. All icons, menu buttons, settings items are almost 1: 1 copied from the Korean shell. Not to say that it looks awful, but you could leave pure Android 5.1 Lollipop, it would be much better. Most users don't like TouchWiz.
Camera
According to the tradition of the genre, there are two cameras. The rear has a resolution of 13 megapixels and can take more or less decent pictures with good light. The front, 5-megapixel, is placed on the internal panel, next to the earpiece, and photos on it are obtained in medium-low quality. Not surprising, especially with such iron.
A full-fledged test of the camera cannot be done yet, since the device is very rare. But now its approximate capabilities are known: it will be able to record video in 720p, frame rate up to 60 per second. Stabilization is not stated here, so there is a high probability of getting a blurry picture.
Battery
A similar story with the battery: for now, you can confidently talk only about the value of capacity. It is 2050 mAh. How long T2 will live on a single charge, time will tell, it will also show how long the battery itself will turn out, how quickly it will lose the declared values of capacity, current output and voltage.
findings
In order to objectively talk about the justification of the cost of this device, you need to summarize the review of Vkworld T2.
- An interesting package, equipped with all the standards of Chinese smartphone manufacturing. Yes, there are no headphones, but their presence could increase the cost.
- An interesting design, made in the manner of the latest Samsung smartphones, complemented by an unusual form factor revered in China, makes an ambiguous impression. Great for riveting fans.
- With two screens with the lowest possible resolution for a 4-inch diagonal and a 5-point touch, it makes the same impression as the form factor. There is little use, but there is more than enough attention.
- With performance, of course, trouble. Weak characteristics of the beginning of the tenths, perhaps, will not cope with all modern tasks. But is it necessary, given the form factor? Most probably not.
- The cameras here are more for show than for full shooting. Small screens, inconvenient location, control oddities and weak software will not allow you to get a high-quality picture.
- Nothing is clear with the battery: the capacity is 2050 mAh, but how long it will live on a single charge is a mystery.
You can now buy Vkworld T2 on Aliexpress and Gearbest, and the price is about 7,000 rubles. Some resellers offer options in Russia, but the price is almost 2 times higher: 11,000 rubles. Well, does a dual-display phone cost that much money?
Definitely not. At least the price tag in our country is very high.11,000 for a meaningless device that can surprise only with the form factor - too much money. For 7000 you can still think. But you should always remember: such experimental devices rarely give pleasure to use.
There is an improved version of it - Vkworld T2 Plus - Dual-Screen-phone in the same form factor, but slightly improved in all plans. It should appear on sale from day to day, so you should definitely pay attention to its specifications.
