Leagoo T5c Smartphone Specifications and Features
The Leagoo T5c is a cheap midrange smartphone like many other thousand midrange smartphones out there. But what is unique about this guy, is the presence of the latest SpreadTrum SC9853i, and in this article I’ll be giving you a detailed review of the Leagoo T5c, But before we get at it, let have a run through the specifications and features of this device.
- OS: Android 7.0 (Nougat) Underneath Leagoo UI
- SIM Type: Dual Nano-SIMs
- Network Type: 2G/3G/4G
- Screen Size : 5.5-inch Full-HD IPS display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution (401 PPI)
- Processor Type: 1.8 GHz SC0853i octa-core 64-bit CPU
- Storage: 32 GB + 3GB RAM
- External Storage: MicroSD slot, with support up to 128 GB
- Camera: 13MP+2MP dual rear camera with Dual-LED Flash and 5MP front-facing camera with LED flash
- Front-placed Fingerprint scanner
- Battery: 3000mAh Non-removable Battery
- Price: $99 (Around N36,000)
Leagoo T5C Major Drawbacks
- No Stock Android
- A bit too bulky
Leagoo T5C Review: Hardware and Built Quality
The SpreadTrum SC9853i is built on a 14nm 64-bit Intel Airmont architecture, featuring 8-core CPU clocked at 1.8Ghz, along with Mali-T820 GPU. This means, despite being cheap, users can still experience processing prowess similar to high-end smartphones.
Spreadtrum even claims that the processor on this device is better than the Meditatek MT6750 Octa-core processor. Fortunate enough, I have a device running Mediatek MT6750 CPU, and I will be doing a very detailed comparison with this device in another video, so don’t forget to subscribe to my channel.
Along with the processor is a 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage, expandable up to 128GB via SD card.
As for the design and built quality, the device features a 5.5-inch screen with Full-HD resolution. Above the display, there is a 5-megapixel front snapper, an LED flash and the speaker grill.
There is a multi functional fingerprint sensor below the screen, which can function as a fingerprint scanner, a back button as well as the home key.
At the right handside, there is the power button and the volume rockers, while the Hybrid SIM slot is kept at the left handside of the device.
While top of the device is completely empty, leagoo decided to keep the base of the device totally busy with the Microphone, a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB 2.0 port and the Loud speaker opening.
At the back, there is a dual rear camera sensor along with a dual LED flash. Leagoo also made use of some plastic coverings below and above the rear metal panel to ensure that nework reception quality is not compromised.
I have seen better built quality on midrange phones lately, but the built quality on the Leagoo T5c is not the worst. Inspite of the plastic top and base of the phone, the device still feels generally sturdy and comfortable to hold.
The display on this device is a 5.5-inch full-hd screen built into a 2.5D curved glass. Uhhhh….ok, I’m just gonna be straight here: smartphone displays are meant to allow users interact with their devices right?, Ok, that’s exactly where the display on this device stopped.
Remember, the device has a Full-HD panel, so generally, Icons and text are very sharp, and color reproduction is Ok, but the display brightness is just too, I mean too low for a device of this range. Among all midrange devices currently under review, the Leagoo T5c happens to have the weakest display brightness. But for reasons unknown to me, outdoor use is still possible, but don’t expect stela display under direct sunlight.
Hardware
The selling point of the Leagoo T5C is the processor. The device is the first smartphone to feature spreadtrum SC9853i Octa-core processor clocked at 1.8Ghz, coupled with Mali-T820 GPU and 3GB of RAM. As mention earlier, the CPU is a 64-bit Processor, built on Intel Airmont 14nm architecture. As a result, I was expecting the performance of the Leagoo T5c to top the performance of other smartphones within similar price range, and sure enough, I was not disappointed.
Putting the device through Antutu Benchmark gave some scores below 50,000 which is a stela performance considering the fact that the device retails around 100 dollars. Real life performance simulations was also very impressive. Downloading and installing apps and games from google play store wasn’t an issue at all.
Infact, this device is the best buy for you, if you plan getting a smartphone capable for most android games yet at a very affordable price tag.
One of the major challenge of intel mobile processor is overheating. This is why this CPU is built on a 14nm architecture along with Mali-T820. But despite that, I still noticed that the LEagoo T5c still do warm up during heavy use, however, the temperature is not out of the ordinary.
Leagoo T5C Review: Camera
As for the Camera, I’m not just going to say much because I was extremely disappointed. But that doent mean this device is got no cameras. For the record, there is a 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual sensor with dual flash at the back of the device, and a 5-megapixel upfront.
Outdoor shoots in full brightness are just decent, and not in anyway at par with phones of similar price range. But that is not even the major issue yet,
The phone becomes more annoying when shooting indoor or low light photo. At times, the device struggle completely in capturing low light image as most images are completely blured out due to too much noise. At a point I was wondering if there is even a real 5-megapiexel sensor at the back of the phone talk more of a 13-megapixel sensor. The dual rear flash is of no help either as the brightness is just not enough.
The dual rear camera is also a shame. When I tried using the bokeh function, the smartphone just blurs out almost everything leaving just few details on the point of focus which is far worse than what I saw on the Ulefone mix 2.
One thing that got my attention on the leagoo t5c is the loud speaker. The speaker produces fairly rich sound due to it notable mids and lows. But I would have loved it more, if the speaker is a bit louder.
The fingerprint sensor below the screen on the other hand did it job pretty well. It can unlock the device right from standby and also function as the back navigation key as well as the home button. But I observed that while using the fingerprint sensor worked seamlessly, the other two functions gave a mixed result. Sometimes, a single touch will take you a step backward, other times, it takes you directly to the home screen, and yet another time, you get the recent app screen.
Leagoo T5C Review: Operating System
As for the operating system, the device is running on Android 7.0 with a Leagoo customize user interface similar to MIUI. While I would have preferred a stock android 7.0, the customized user interface is not a deal breaker either.
One thing I like about the Os is the fact that Leagoo did not load it with too many bloatwares, and to add to that, you are also getting all Google stock apps including Chrome, Google play store among others out of the box.
The OS is also well optimized, and thanks to the 3GB RAM and the SC9853i Octa-core processor, I could multitask between 8 to 10 apps comfortably without running out of memory.
Connectivity wasn’t an issue on this device as well. The device support 4G VoLTE connectivity. Data trasmissions and call quality are also fair. However, I would have loved it more supposed the earpieces grill is a bit louder.
As for the battery performance, the device host a 3000mAh battery. This unit performed satisfactory in my test. I could loop a single HD movies continually for above 5 hours with full brightness and 100% volume.
And when you run out battery, you can charge up the device under one and a half hour, due to the fast charging support.
So if you plan on getting this device, then you might need to brace yourself up, and expect mix performance. If you are looking for a well performing affordable smartphone in terms of cryps display or outstanding camera performance, then the Leagoo T5c is not for you.
But if you are a heavy android user and loves playing games on your android phone, yet with a very tight budget, then the Leagoo T5c is for you.
In all I have no much issue with the Leagoo T5c especially with the performance of the Spreadtrum SC9853i processor. My only issue is the fact that Leagoo’s effort to save cost on the T5c is a bit too obvious especially in the Display and Camera department.