Elephone U Pro 128GB

[TeaLeaf]

After four and a half years of faithful service I have finally put my Nexus 5 phone out to pasture.    

It has been replaced by an Elephone U Pro (Blue version) which I picked up on a pre-launch offer (plus a little bit more of discount from Gearbest), so total cost was about £250.  It arrived this morning from HK with no customs charge to pay (although that might have been something to do with the fact that they had listed the contents as worth $20). Only just unboxed it and set it to charge, but it feels really nice in the hand and the blue is stunning.   Will report back when had further use, but the price point for a bezel-less/curved screen phone of this spec seems excellent.  

Elephone U Pro Mobile Blue :
Material: CNC Aluminum frame+3D curved glass (Corning Gorilla Glass 5)
OS: Android 8.0
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660,Quad-Core
GPU: Adreno 512 up to 650 MHz
RAM: 6GB
ROM: 128GB
Sim Card: Nano SIM + Nano SIM / TF
Service Provide: Unlocked
Resolution: 2160*1080 FHD+
Size: 5.99 Inch
Camera: 8MP front camera,13MP+13MP（ArcSoft Algorithm）(dual rear camera)
Sensors: G-Sensor,P-Sensor,L-Sensor,Hall,Gyrometer,E-compass
Extend Card: up to 128GB TF Card (early testers say the 1TB card also works)
WIFI: 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4GHz/5GHz
Fingerprint & Face Recognition: Yes
Multi-Touch: Support 10 point
Material: aluminium alloy
Multi-Language: Support
PDAF Focus: Support
Rear Flash: Support
Front Flash: Support
Touch Focus: Support
Battery: 3550 mAh lithium polymer battery (build-in)
Quick Charge: Support
Wireless Charging: Yes
Earphone jack : Type-C (3.5mm adapter provided)
Bluetooth: BT5.0
GPS: GPS/Glonass/Beidou
AGPS: Yes
OTG: Yes
NFC: Yes
Size: 154*72.5*8.35mm (i.e. 5.99")
weight: 166g
Certification: G-sensor、P-Sensor、L-sensor、Gyro、Compass、hall、Fingerprint

[lionheart]

Ordered one of these myself TL, same colour as well. Ordered on 9th so hoping it will be here soon.

[Chaosphere]

What is it that's pulling you to them guys? The price alone? Storage options? Something else?

I'll be looking for a new phone soon, but I'm not sure I can live without a decent res AMOLED screen... I'm worried it'd be too much of a step back.

[lionheart]

My current phone is an Elephone p9000 which has been great, always said I'd upgrade after two years so I've had no qualms ordering this. Not sure you can beat it for the money. The days of me paying big bucks for a phone are now long gone.

[Chaosphere]

Yeah this is why I'm asking.. I'm keen to spend less, as I don't need the fastest chip or the best camera out there. Just needs to run basic stuff like chrome and email with ease, really.

Like I say though I'm a little concerned about screens, as I spend a lot of time looking at it

[TeaLeaf]

Ordered one of these myself TL, same colour as well. Ordered on 9th so hoping it will be here soon.

Yep, I ordered on 8th Feb and it arrived this morning.  As usual with Elephone, I got a tracking number that was never updated and the item arrived before the website said it had been despatched.

[TeaLeaf]

Like I say though I'm a little concerned about screens, as I spend a lot of time looking at it

The screens are very good.   And it is a decent res AMOLED screen.   Ok it is not 4K, but then who the hell needs 4K on a phone?  This is 403ppi which should be more than good enough unless you view your phone from microscope distance.  But don't believe me, believe some random reviews from the completely believable interweb:

Elephone U Pro has a smashing 6 inches FHD+ display, thereby signalling a screen resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. The pixel density of the smartphone controls screen clarity well at its 403 PPI. The AMOLED screen panel got employed just as it was employed in the Elephone U. An aspect ratio of 18:9 and a screen-to-body ratio of 83% gives the screen super large viewing area. Multi-touch input that allows up to 10 fingers is an added feature of the smartphone’s display.

Featuring a great CPU, gorgeous screen, the latest version of Android and generous RAM and storage â€" along with a ‘familiar’ design â€" the Elelphone U Pro is looking like an early contender for ‘Most Surprisingly Awesome Import Smartphone of 2018*’

The 6-inch screen on the Elephone U Pro sports a Full HD+ display with a resolution of 2160×1080 pixels and a pixel density of 403 PPI, which work well together to massively improve the screen’s clarity. Like the Elephone U, the U Pro also uses an AMOLED screen panel and offers an aspect ratio of 18:9. This coupled with the 83% screen-to-body ration makes for a super large viewing experience. Taking the multi-touch input feature to a whole new level, the U Pro allows for up to 10 fingers to be accommodated for inputs.

Let's talk about that display: it looks gorgeous, with punchy colors and deep blacks, and the curvature is just right. Elephone has also implemented some really effective palm rejection software, so I didn't suffer from erroneous palm touches like I did on early Samsung Galaxy phones that had curved screens.

TLDR:
I don't believe any phone is worth £600-£800.
I bought the Nexus 5 as it offered £800 premium features for a budget price.    
I did not buy the later Nexus phones, or the latest Pixel phone as to get the premium features you had to pay £600-£800.
I  bought the Elephone U Pro as it offered premium features for a budget price.

[Chaosphere]

Useful info, thanks TL. I wasn't sure it was an AMOLED as the first spec list didn't mention the display type. I wouldn't want to move to a non-amoled display, as I'm a big fan of these screens.

The resolution, well you have to hold it to really know, right?  You may well be right, that moving down slightly (my now quite old Samsung is 577ppi) may not mean any difference.. But until I have the phone in my hand, I can't tell! I 100% can notice the difference with some 1080p screens I've held.. But that isn't necessarily all down to pure pixel density alone.

It's a bit like pc monitors and refresh rates. You can tell the difference from 60 to 144 hz, but 144 and 250? That's a bit more individual, from what I've heard.

Still, be interested to hear your thoughts, may nudge you a few months after you get it for an update on prolonged day to day use. Does seem to be quite a lot of phone for the money...

[TeaLeaf]

Come back for the LAN and all questions will be answered when you hold one in your hand......!

[Chaosphere]

Come back for the LAN and all questions will be answered when you hold one in your hand......!

I'd have to think of a better story than that to drag the girlfriend away from Asia, or replacing my phone would be the least of my worries! :roflmao:

October, though, I'll be on the hunt for a new phone for us both, so the LAN may provide a research opportunity! See, dMw has you covered whatever the need

[smilodon]

I think that unless your mobile phone comes as part of a two year lock in deal and you're happy to spend £30+ a month with a carrier then 2017 - 2018 really is the time of the mid tier, high spec, low price OEM phone. Elephone, Wiley Fox, Motorolla, Heuwiwieweiw and others all make very decent phones in the £150 to £250 bracket so we're spoilt for choice again. Where we once had Google's Nexus phones we now have these companies. Even LG, Samsung etc see the sense in decent spec mid level phones as they all make them as well.

Spending £700+ for a phone every few years isn't an option for mortals. Finding a carrier to get a contract phone from which offers stock Android or close to stock, regular updates and most importantly security patches delivered as Google release them is rare..... they may actually be non existent? So buying a stock phone is for me the only sensible option.

I'll be looking to replace my Nexus 5x at the end of the year so this phone looks very interesting, cheers.

[BrotherTobious]

I am looking at the oneplus5t as my nexus 5x has developed a great way of the power not keeping connected when plugged in.

Also it comes with a headphone jack built in which I need as I have good headphones and cba with a adaptor.

[Chaosphere]

Tad more expensive, the one plus 5T. Main difference I can see is the chip. Its an 835 ('top of the line') in the one plus, versus a 660 in the elephone, a more budget / second tier processor.

Edit - here is a spec comparison.

https://www.devicespecifications.com/en/comparison/4ca8f267a

Unless the power of the chip is key, you may be better off saving some pennies toby, and looking at the elephone, if these chaps are happy with theirs. Can always get a cheap Bluetooth to 3.5mm adapter for your cans... Neither will have top tier amps in anyway tbh... - Just read you don't fancy that! Oh well, one plus it is!

I get the idea of ditching the headphone jack.. But it's a bit of a headache!

[BrotherTobious]

It's monkey see monkey do and sometimes the first monkey jumps in a volcano, it's not always a good idea.

[BrotherTobious]

Also I won't be paying that much for it