Hands on review: The Gionee S5.1
A sudden wave of anorexia is sweeping the smartphone space. In 2014, Chinese handset manufacturer Gionee unveiled the S5.5, a 5.5mm thin Android device which was then the world’s slimmest phone. Since then at least three devices have come fresh off the treadmill with slimmer frames and at 4.75 mm the Vivo X5 Max is now the thinnest mobile device you can buy in India. Gionee’s slim phone mantle has now passed to the S5.1 and just like its predecessor it sparks the same question: is slim necessarily better?
A sudden wave of anorexia is sweeping the smartphone space. In 2014, Chinese handset manufacturer Gionee unveiled the S5.5, a 5.5mm thin Android device which was then the world’s slimmest phone. Since then at least three devices have come fresh off the treadmill with slimmer frames and at 4.75 mm the Vivo X5 Max is now the thinnest mobile device you can buy in India. Gionee’s slim phone mantle has now passed to the S5.1 and just like its predecessor it sparks the same question: is slim necessarily better?Smartphones are always about first impressions; the S5.1 clearly wins that round with a groovy form factor – clean lines and a minimalist design. It feels incredibly light in your hands – you can be forgiven for thinking that the battery is missing! It’s one of the only devices in its class that is under the 100g threshold (just 97g) and as you might have guessed is 5.1mm thin. The front and rear are reinforced with Corning Glass 3 while a metallic rim hugs the corners – the white variant with a gold rim is clearly the pick. The volume rocker and power button sit on the left spine while the headphone socket and standard micro USB are placed at the base. The device manages to make room for a 3.5mm headphone socket despite its ultra-slim frame, you don’t have to leave your favourite headphones at home. At a time when handset manufacturers barely throw any goodies into the box, Christmas is a year-round affair with Gionee – two sets of front and rear protective films, two cases (A flip case and a silicon back case), a USB OTG cable, as well as the customary headset and charger.
What we liked:Great form factorIncredibly lightDecent battery life and front facing cameraWhat we didn’t like:User experience courtesy Amigo Custom UILow-light photographysluggish when pushed even slightlySpecifications:Display: 4.8-inch AMOLED, 720 x 1280 pixels (306 ppi)Memory: 1GB RAM, 16GB storage (No external storage)Camera: 8MP main with LED, 5MP front facing Processor: Mediatek MT6592. Octa-core 1.7GHz Cortex A-7 Price: Rs 18,999