Budget Chinese smartphones with premium features are pretty commonplace these days, but this device from new company Vernee deserves a mention.
The Vernee Apollo Lite is their newest handset to join the fray and at just $229.99, it’s already beaten most of the competition on price alone.
The design is quite similar to what we’ve seen on the recently leaked OnePlus 3 and other Chinese OEM devices. A metal uni-body wraps the majority of the device, while a rear fingerprint sensor sits just under the camera sensor. One the front, the Apollo Lite comes with a 2.5D display that’s backed up with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for added durability.
Power performer
In terms of hardware, the Vernee team appear to have spent a lot of time debating what it takes to create solid handset, as the Apollo Lite has most bases pretty well covered. Processing capabilities are backed up by the MediaTek Helio X20 and 4GB RAM which, aside from the odd overheating issue, is pretty comparable in performance to the last generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 810.
The screen is a 5.5-inch 1080p display which uses a Sharp IGZO panel, delivering better power consumption and efficiency versus the typical IPS display. There’s also a 16 megapixel Samsung sensor on board for the camera, which features the electronic giant’s latest ISOCELL technology for enhanced picture quality, though there’s a noticeable absence of laser autofocus. This is in addition to the 5 megapixel front camera sensor (also from Samsung) and large 3,180mAh battery.
Small things make a big difference
USB-C has also been included with support for quick-charge technology dubbed ‘Pump Express’. Vernee claims that 5 minutes of charge is good for 1 hour of talk-time. The device will run on version 6.0 of Android Marshmallow, with Open Kernel Code, meaning modders and hobbyists can cry a little bit with happiness.
The Vernee Apollo Lite is available for pre-order now through retailers such as GearBest, with the company running a global pre-sale deal until July 30th where customers can get a $30 discount coupon from the Vernee Facebook page.
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