The recently announced Elephone U Pro has got us very excited here at Camp Review Hub! with some of the best specs we’ve seen on an import device yet, it feels like Elephone was sent a wishlist of all the features that users want, and they decided to make a phone that has them all! Featuring a great CPU. gorgeous screen, the latest version of Android and generous RAM and storage- along with a ‘familiar’ design- the Elelphone U Pro is looking like an early contender for ‘Most Surprisingly Awesome Import Smartphone of 2018’. Before I talk you through the main features, let’s have a look at the pros and cons below.
Pros:
- Ships with Android 8
- Powerful Snapdragon 660 CPU
- AMOLED display
Cons:
- very expensive for the brand
- Only has 3550mAh battery
- No 3.5mm jack
Design, Display and Build Quality:
Elephone have always had an affinity for Samsung’s designs, and it would be fair to say that the Elephone U Pro bears more than a passing resemblance to the Galaxy S8. The U Pro is dominated by the 5.99 inch AMOLED display, which we’re expecting great things from. Few import phones have made the leap to using AMOLED technology as yet, but this has a number of benefits over LCD screens. The main bonus is increased power efficiency and excellent contrast.
In an AMOLED screen, each pixel generates light. So, unlike an LCD screen, no backlight is required and darker colors use less power. This also means that black pixels use no power at all, as they are simply ‘switched off’. Build quality is a bit of an unknown. I’ve not used an Elephone since 2015’s rather an agriculture P6000. Reviews of their more recent devices such as the S8 and P8 Max suggest that this is an area in which they have been making steady progress.
Screen Tech Specs:
5.99 inch 18:9 Display, 2160 x 1080 resolution, 403 PPI, Gorilla Glass 5, 10 point multi-touch.
Hardware, Performance, and Software:
This is where the Elephone U Pro is getting me very excited. Reading through the spec list it’s clear this is an import phone that ain’t gonna take no prisoners! The Snapdragon 660 is a great choice of CPU that delivers exceptional performance. It’s already been used in other premium phones such as the Xiaomi Mi note 3 and Oppo’s R11 series.
Initial estimates suggest that the Elephone U Pro will easily score more than 100,000 in Antutu, so this will be a smartphone that handles everything you can throw at it, and comes back for more. With 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable memory, the U Plus backs up its flagship level credentials. Another Major positive is that the U Plus will ship with Android 8, Oreo, from day one it’s been nearly 4 months since it was released but there are still very few devices running the latest version so Elephone must be congratulated on that.
CPU: Snapdragon 660 – 4x 2.2 GHz + 4x 1.8 GHz
GPU: Andreno 512 (770 MHz)
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
Expandable: Yes
Camera and Photography:
The Elephone U Pro has dual 13MP main cameras which are arranged vertically, like the iPhone X. Much like the system used by Huawei, the U Pro will have one color and one monochrome sensor. This generally leads to improved performance in low light. What is very reassuring is that Elephone has partnered with Arcsoft to boost the U Pro’s imaging capabilities. Many other brands such as Samsung, Xioami, and Huawei have utilized Arcsoft’s expertise in getting the most out of a dual camera setup, so Elephone is definitely aiming to put themselves in good company.
Rear Camera: 13MP + 13MP, Dual LED Flash
Battery Life:
We’ve seen some phones announced recently with crazy battery life. Yes, I’m talking to you Vernee X and Ulefone Power 3. I’m still very confident that the Elephone U will prove to be a 2-day phone at least. Despite Mediatek making great advances recently, it’s a truism that the Snapdragon CPUs are still more efficient than their Helio counterparts, and being built on a 14nm process means that the Snapdragon 660 in the U Pro will be uber-efficient. Coupled with the reduced power consumption required by the AMOLED display. I’d expect the Elephone U Pro to last well into the 2nd day before needing to be charged.
Conclusion:
Make no bones about it, this is going to be a fantastic device. With a winning combination of a beautiful display and monstrous hardware the U Pro is poised to stake up the import phone market and will worry a lot of the major players. Of course, the ‘Elephone in the room’ is the price. It’s not cheap. But in terms of the hardware that’s offered, it seems pretty reasonable. As long as they can deliver a decent camera and reliable build quality to back up the other specifications then Elephone have made a massive statement and the U Pro will catapult them into the major league.