Haier announces bargain mid-range handsets

Haier introduced two new handsets at MWC 2016 today; the Voyage V6 and Leisure L56.

Both are squarely aimed at the budget end of the market, with the V series carrying the more premium position. Haier is a company that is still relatively unknown in the UK, with their primary footprint being mostly within Asian markets. The company started releasing European handsets just three years ago but has managed to create its own footprint with cheap, premium looking smartphones.

The L56 is the cheaper of the two but there’s little compromise on physical aesthetics. A brushed metal finish complements the overall sleekness of the handset, while the subtle 2.5D screen curve gives it a nice feel in the hand. We were impressed by just how premium the devices feel, even if they bore significant resemblance to certain competitors. In fact, the the L56 looks very much like a refined Honor 7, with less angles and more smooth comfortable edges. Inside the L56, there’s a decent amount of power underneath. The 5.0-inch 720p display sounds a bit underwhelming, but in PPI terms it only just misses on that 300 standard. The 1.3GHz MediaTek processor is a good mid-range chip capable of moderate performance while also not costing the price of a Qualcomm. It’s also backed by 2GB RAM and slightly a low 2,200mAh battery€¦ But it was somewhat expected for a mid-range/budget handset. Still, we would’ve like to see more.

Moving onto the more powerful device of the two, we have the V6 which has a slightly faster MediaTek processor clocked at 1.5-1.8GHz and 3GB RAM. This device is much more comparable to the likes of the Honor 5X, though the benefit of Android 6.0 and those premium materials arguably puts it ahead. The custom UI+ Android Launcher bolted on top felt pretty nice during our brief test, though it was difficult to really put it through the paces since the software wasn’t quite finished. On the design front it’s pretty much business as usual, with the V6 looking like a bigger brother to the L56. 2.5D glass gets carried over, as does the premium metal finish. You’ll also get the benefit of a 5.5-inch FullHD resolution this time around which uses ‘Incell’ technology for a much thinner panel and a fingerprint sensor for those who enjoy unlocking devices with the push of a button. Battery life gets a bump to 2,900mAh, putting it almost on a par with the heavyweights in terms of overall juice. Hot Knot technology by MediaTek will also be included in the V6, which is a nice touch and allows fast data sharing for things such as documents. Both devices house the same cameras; a 13 megapixel rear sensor with Phase Detection Auto Focus and a 5 megapixel fixed focus front shooter.

Speaking to Haier Consumer Product Manager for Europe Ying Briand, she confirmed that the company will be primarily targeting Eastern Europe first with the west shortly following. Briand said that both handsets will be released roughly Q3 2016 in select European markets, though couldn’t give an exact release date. She did however assure us that they will arrive in the UK at some point, so keep your eyes peeled. Chances are, you’ll only be able to pick them up through select online retailers.

For more on Haier, visit What Mobile’s dedicated Haier page.