09.02.2015
Don’t forget to remove the branded green wallpaper from your smartphone, which is installed by default here, because they are terrible. Better put some cats.
Brief, formal...
Lyrical introduction
MegaFon decided to try to conquer the world once again. This time by flooding the market with super-cheap, but very reasonable in terms of their characteristics, phablets called MegaFon Login+.
I love phablets, especially in the cold season. So the new product interested me very, very much. Unfortunately, it was not possible to receive the device for testing. I had to take money out of the piggy bank and go to the store. Well, maybe it's for the better. There was no need to rush testing too much. Plus, you can probably win Login+ in one of our competitions in the future. Don't know. I haven't decided yet. Let's think about it in our spare time.
MegaFon - credit. The attempt is very strong. For six thousand rubles you get a decent device. Not without its drawbacks. But the shortcomings are very distinct. So everyone can weigh everything themselves and decide how critical they are for him. No glitches or other subtle troubles.
In general, I thought that the main disadvantages would be the low battery capacity and weak camera. But perhaps not. I was really pleased with the camera. There are still some questions regarding the battery, but in general it is tolerable. What is much more saddening is the inability to install applications on the memory card. The smartphone is very nimble, even heavy and solid toys can be used on it. But they're all big, damn it! You simply won’t have anywhere to put them!
Synthetic tests:
The built-in flash memory is 4 GB, of which about two and a half are initially free. There is support for Micro-SD memory cards, but installing applications (or at least parts of them) there is impossible. Why this was done is unclear. There is a completely normal, generally accepted way. If the built-in memory is not enough, make sure that installed card memory logically replaced the internal flash drive (i.e. it became the /sdcard/ directory, if you know what I mean).
But no, we will go with a rake in a big way. This is even more offensive, because... The power of the smartphone is quite enough for “heavy” games, each of which can easily require 1-2 GB of vital flash space.
However, there is hope that MegaFon will still change something in latest firmware(if there are any). Also, theoretically, you can try to get root access (it seems that this is already possible for Login+) and then try to hack it. Relevant recipes can be found on the Internet. But because I myself haven’t tried to have fun with this, but I don’t see any specialized recipes tailored specifically for Login+... In short, at your own peril and risk. If anyone succeeds, please share the information.
Sensors: No frills. Only accelerometer, light sensor and proximity sensor. There is no gyroscope, no compass, not to mention a barometer and thermometer.
Communication with the outside world
Alas, no LTE. Yes, yes, I understand. The chip does not support. Although, of course, you can install a separate modem... But in general it’s somehow strange. I expected that MegaFon would eventually begin to popularize LTE through its Login series smartphones in order to even more actively get people hooked on Mobile Internet. But no, for some reason this has not happened yet. Maybe next time. They will release some MegaFon Login++ 4G.
3G works as it should, no problems. As well as Wi-Fi (b/g/n, single-band, sensitivity slightly below average).
Connecting to a computer via USB is only in MTP mode.
There is support for Bluetooth version 4.0.
There is nothing more. No NFC, no ability to connect external USB devices (USB-OTG), no MHL-HDMI.
Screen
5.5" is a typical phablet screen diagonal.
The resolution is modest, only 540x960 pixels. Will it not be enough? Perhaps yes. HD resolution on such a diagonal is nicer, of course. However, I can’t say that such a resolution greatly interferes with the use of the smartphone. Well, yes, the letters, especially small ones, will not be clear enough. At first glance, it may be unpleasant, but not fatal. The eye quickly gets used to such things and you stop noticing.
Matrix - IPS. Obviously inexpensive, but, nevertheless, it is a full-fledged IPS with good viewing angles, etc. Colorful temperature, however, as much as 12700K... (6500K is considered the norm).
The screen is very bright and contrasty - quite unexpected for a device for such modest money. 470 cd/m2 with a contrast ratio of 940:1 is a result worthy of a flagship rather than a budget product.
By the way, such a bright screen with such a modest battery is a strange decision. It is clear that there are situations when you turn the brightness to maximum. For example, when you use your smartphone as a navigator in the bright sun. What will happen to the barateyka? That's right, it will begin to discharge many times faster. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if I encountered a deliberately dim screen in Login+ - 200, well, maximum 250 cd/m2. This would be logical - to prevent the user from draining the battery too quickly. But 470?! For what?!
Alas, the minimum brightness for a white screen is insanely high - as much as 45 cd/m2. Using a smartphone in the dark is uncomfortable; you can’t read it under the covers.
The sensor is good, problem-free. Five simultaneous touches.
Well, about the bad. Oleophobic coating. More precisely, its absence. The screen quickly becomes covered with greasy fingerprints. And it’s difficult to wipe them off - only with a specially trained cloth.
Yes, I forgot to say. Initially, a protective film was glued to the screen. But because, firstly, it was not glued very well. And, secondly, I don’t like films at all, so I immediately peeled them off mercilessly.
Operating system and other software
operating room Android system 4.4.2 KitKat in its pure form plus some specific stuff software- antivirus from Kaspersky, plus MegaFon goodies. I immediately demolished everything I could, only a few places. Alas, some things are not demolished - all sorts of Herbs, Look+, Replace the Horn...
What's funny is that phablets with two different versions firmware - V018_20141126 and V022_20141209 (I have V022).
What’s even funnier is that literally a couple of days after purchasing the device, an over-the-air update number V023_20141222 appeared, which was available only to owners of firmware V022. However, it turned out to be impossible to install this update. After downloading the update, the smartphone happily reported “Your system is damaged, wireless update is not available” - and that’s it.
There is a pre-installed file manager with which you can copy files to a memory card (as many probably remember, thanks to the latest innovations from Google, third-party file managers they cannot do this).
Battery
Battery capacity - 2000 mAh. Not much for a device with so much big screen. And besides, such a bright screen.
I have to admit that even though I’ve had the device for a whole week, I haven’t been able to fully conduct battery tests yet. I will continue them, after a while I will update this section of the review. So far the average result is slightly less than 100% of the standard (Galaxy S4). 10 hours of screen time at standard brightness 150 cd/m2 (for Login+ this is 29% of maximum brightness). 5-6 hours of video, etc. Actually, it's not that bad. I was afraid it would be even worse.
Why were there problems with testing? Because the battery behaves strangely. Firstly, his discharge schedule is uneven. The first percent run away at the speed of a sprinter; towards the end, in the last percent, the smartphone, on the contrary, is able to “hang” for a long, long time. But okay, uniformity is not a problem, the case is quite common. I know how to deal with such things, how to analyze them. “Secondly” is worse. Because, secondly, discharge schedules can be very different under the same conditions. Roughly speaking, once per test" White screen"For me, Login+ showed a result of 8 hours, the other - 10 hours. At the same time, the discharge schedules were frankly different.
This is the first time I’ve encountered this behavior and I can’t explain it in any way. Either under some conditions the smartphone does not charge completely, although it shows full charge, or something else. MegaFon is threatening to release a firmware update that will fix the problem with the battery indication. Well, let's see. I hope the situation becomes clearer.
Update dated February 14, 2015.
The battery tests finally came together. Total - 94% of the standard. What you should pay attention to.
1) Relatively decent operating time under load - video, games.
2) Extremely short operating time when the screen is not lit - telephone, music.
3) Turning the brightness to maximum is madness, the operating time will be reduced very much.
In general, I was afraid that it would be worse.
But I liked the video quality much less. Theoretically, the camera can even shoot in FullHD. But, judging by what happens, it’s better to limit yourself to simple HD (1280x720, 30 frames per second).
The front camera couldn't be more modest, 0.3 MP (640x480). But, you know, the quality is also quite reasonable. Well, maybe not for full-size selfies, but for video calling it will do.
MegaFon Login+ as a GPS navigator
Devices based on MediaTek chips behave very differently as navigators. Login+, unlike... let's not point fingers... no problems incompatible with life were found. The top track - with the SIM card installed - is generally surprisingly smooth. The lower one - without a SIM card - for the most part, nothing either. But, as you can see from its left side, at some point the device began to wobble in a way that was frankly unchildish.
Contents of delivery
- Smartphone
- Battery Li-Ion 2000 mAh
- Screen Protective Film
- Charger with USB cable
- Wired stereo headset
Specifications
- Android 4.4.2
- Screen 5.5 inches, 960x540 pixels, IPS, automatic adjustment backlight
- RAM capacity 1 GB, built-in 4 GB, memory cards up to 32 GB
- Processor MediaTek MT6582, 4 cores up to 1.3 GHz, Mali-400MP graphics coprocessor
- microSIM, one card
- 2G/3G
- FM radio, with the ability to record broadcasts
- Front camera 0.3 megapixels, main camera with LED flash, autofocus, 5 megapixels
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, Bluetooth 3.0
- Dimensions - 155x77x9 mm, weight - 153.4 grams
Positioning
From the very first days, the line of devices under the name Login was positioned as the most affordable products from MegaFon, with an emphasis on minimal cost. Moreover, the minimum cost meant that you could not find anything at that price from other operators or manufacturers. The success of the Login line, both in smartphones (two generations) and tablets (three generations), can be considered unconditional. Sales of each device amounted to hundreds of thousands of units, they reformatted the market and forced other operators and manufacturers to respond. Thus, MTS began the practice of selling phones with a zero markup from B-brands, just to be present in the same segment as MegaFon. With the advent of the crisis, this practice is gradually becoming a thing of the past, since it is necessary to include subsidies on other people’s products, which is practically impossible and means direct losses. It is necessary to create your own products, but this cannot be done overnight.
The fact that the Login line would include a phablet became known back in the summer of 2014; company representatives did not hide the fact that they see a growth point in the market in the segment of devices with a large screen diagonal, from 5 inches and above. The task was then outlined extremely simply - to create a phablet that would have a decent design, good body materials, sufficient performance and low cost so that it could be sold in large quantities, like previous devices of the family. The crisis partially mixed up plans, as they changed price segments, they have not yet reached new levels in Russia. However, it is Login+ that acts as an indicator product; other players will focus on it and set the cost of their models based on its price level. It's funny to see how the emergence of the Login line greatly changed the market, as other players were forced to take these products into account and build their strategy around them.
Let's return to Login+. This product is intended for those who want to get an Android smartphone with a large screen, normal performance and at the same time spend a minimum of money. In the second half of 2014, a dozen similar products appeared on the market, but their price in dollars was at least 2.5-4 times higher than that of Login+. In current realities and taking into account that there are still models from old supplies on the shelves, the gap is 1.5-2.5 times. This is still a very big difference that cannot be leveled out. Even if you find a model with similar characteristics in China, you will get the same price on the shelf as Login+, forgetting that it needs to be brought to Russia, to earn something for retail, and so on. There is no chance that Login+ will have any serious competitor in the next couple of months. This allows us to say that this product will become a bestseller. Inside MegaFon they do not say that this is an anti-crisis proposal, since formally it has not changed in any way since last summer in terms of the idea embedded in it. But this device will be perceived by many as exactly that - an anti-crisis smartphone, cheap and cheerful, and most importantly - profitable. What can I say, MegaFon involuntarily got into the flow even more than he expected.
In no case should Login+ be perceived as an ideal product from a technical point of view, production inexpensive smartphones for a minimum cost is always a compromise in something. But this is a product that has the best price/quality ratio in its class. Let's see why this is so.
Design, dimensions, control elements
MegaFon spent a long time searching for its own style, trying to find what consumers liked in the Login segment. The first devices were ordinary - plastic, glossy plastic, one of thousands that did not have a face of their own. For example, look at the photos of two smartphones – Login 2 and Login+. I am sure that the first one will be difficult for you to remember after ten minutes, the second one is better remembered due to the characteristic metal back.
Compared to Login 2
For the first time such a back was used in the Login 3 tablet; consumers liked this solution - they perceived it as a competitive advantage. And almost no one said that the edges of Login 3 could wear out and expose metal. Several times I even came across reviews that the metal that appeared is, on the contrary, good that they weren’t deceived and it’s not plastic. Therefore, it is no wonder that in subsequent models the company decided to adhere to this solution - for example, in Login+ the back has an insert made of exactly the same metal. But there is no bending, so mechanical abrasion was avoided; the panel can be scratched by hard objects, such as keys. But this does not happen instantly.
Matte plastic is of high quality, it does not wear out, and is pleasant in the hands. The build quality of the device is good, this can be assessed by the way the back cover opens; you need to make an effort. And it's not thin at all, although the device's weight of 153 grams is typical for such devices.
The dimensions of the phone are 155x77x9 mm, fits well in the hand, not thick. These are also average figures for this type of device, quite comparable to the same Note 4. From the point of view of the phablet segment, Login+ came out as a typical and understandable device.
Compared to Samsung Galaxy Note 4
On the left side there is a paired volume key, on right side- on/off button. They are a little recessed, you have to feel them to press them, but this does not cause problems. At the top end there is the usual 3.5 mm connector, and there is also a microUSB connector. But there is only one microphone in the device and it is located at the bottom end.
Under back cover you can see the battery, as well as a slot for a microSIM card, and there is also a slot for a memory card. The device has a front camera and a light sensor. I will make a reservation that video calling over 3G networks is not supported; the front camera can only be used in third party programs, for example, Skype. The quality of the picture for the interlocutor leaves much to be desired.
It remains to be said about the screen. It has a protective film that is installed at the factory. There are scratches left on it, and you will probably remove it in a week or two. The protective glass itself does not have the sonorous markings of a famous manufacturer, but is in no way inferior to them - if scratches appear, they are usually small and unnoticeable. At the same time, the screen is recessed a little less than a millimeter deep, you can safely put the phone face down, nothing will happen to it.
The bottom line is that I like both the assembly and the thoughtfulness of the design. For a budget device, the design of the case is excellent.
Display
The large screen diagonal of 5.5 inches evokes thoughts of what could be here high resolution, However, it is not. The screen resolution is 540x960 pixels, which allows you to run any toys and applications on Android, but does not guarantee that you will see all the details. I'm sure that critics of this device use the screen as its weak point, since the resolution is low. But for its price group it is almost an ideal choice. The IPS matrix reproduces colors well, behaves well in the sun - in a word, the screen turned out to be quite good for a product of this level. There is automatic backlight adjustment, it works correctly. I used the device at about half the backlight level, which is quite comfortable.
Battery
The Li-Ion battery capacity is 2000 mAh, which by modern standards is nothing and brings sad thoughts. MegaFon did not indicate the operating time in different modes, so let’s try to correct this shortcoming.
First, I looked at how long the device could play video (100% brightness, sound off, HD video in MX Player). The result was discouraging - just under 3 hours. Therefore, I used the device in everyday life with great apprehension, but everything turned out to be not so scary. The model is quite suitable for calls and SMS - with an hour of calls and two dozen SMS, the phone works from early morning until late evening. There are no problems here. When using social networks and web pages, everything depends on the operation of the screen and its settings. On average, during the day I squeezed out about 2 hours of display operation while maintaining the number of calls.
For those who play a lot on their phone, this model is definitely not suitable, although you can buy a second battery, and then life will become more fun, but switching batteries is still a pleasure. For users who are sitting in in social networks and browser from time to time during the day, do not spend your whole day there, this device will be quite comfortable. Thinking about whether consumers of the Login line are such people, I can confidently say that yes. And you need to keep this fact in mind before using a general yardstick to estimate battery life. It’s definitely not enough for me, but my needs are completely different. It’s interesting that the creators of the phone tried to ensure that its operating time was maximum in standby mode; the device works quietly for about 3-3.5 days in this mode and with minimal user activity.
The total battery charging time is just over 2 hours.
Performance, memory, chipset
For this kind of devices, the standard has become the use of the MediaTek MT6582 chipset, it has 4 cores up to 1.3 GHz, good performance interface. And in this device we see exactly the same thing. The amount of RAM is 1 GB, built-in memory is 4 GB, and there is support for memory cards up to 32 GB.
In synthetic tests, the device shows a predictable result, which looks typical for this class of devices.
Communication capabilities
The smartphone works in cellular networks 2G (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and 3G (900/2100 MHz). Speed HSDPA – up to 21.6 Mbit/s, HSUPA – up to 5.76 Mbit/s. Available Bluetooth version 3.0 HS (with A2DP stereo profile). Connection of external wireless speakers does not cause any problems - everything works perfectly.
Present wireless connection Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz). The device can be used as an access point (Wi-Fi Hotspot) and file transfer ( Wi-Fi Direct). In the settings there is an item “Modem and access point”.
USB 2.0 is also used for file transfer and data synchronization. When connected to a PC, it is defined as a USB-Flash device (MTP) or a camera (PTP).
Camera
The main camera has an honest 5 megapixels, which gives a good picture on a clear, sunny day. The camera is not the fastest, focusing sometimes occurs with a slight delay, especially if the day is cloudy. The quality of the images is typical for such products; they look good on the screen, but noticeably worse on the PC. But overall, the camera can be rated as slightly above average.
Software features – pre-installed programs
The device comes out of the box with Android 4.4.2 - there are no add-ons. Over-the-air updates are provided, so there will be no problems getting new versions. There is no point in expecting this product to receive Android 5; it contains a chipset that does not support this version of Android.
Let me start with good news: MegaFon has stopped saturating smartphone software with identical programs that duplicate each other and confuse users. Cooperation with Yandex remains as an alternative to the built-in Chrome browser, an analogue from Yandex is offered, but it can be removed. There are no other applications from Yandex, which creates the feeling of pure Android.
However, the operator chose well native applications, they are quite functional. That's it Personal Area MegaFon, where you can see the remaining balances of services in packages, change the tariff, and so on. In a word, control your phone.
The MegaDisk service offers to automatically save all files to the cloud from MegaFon, quite convenient and simple.
The Trava.ru service provides access to various music from MegaFon, Look+ - viewing sporting events on the phone, and the Radar function allows you to search for other subscribers on the map - an excellent service for parents.
The phone also comes pre-installed Kaspersky antivirus Internet Security, for some this will be an advantage.
I repeat that the device and its menu do not give the impression of clutter, like previous models, and this is excellent. It can be seen that MegaFon drew conclusions from the reviews of both users and journalists.
Built-in FM radio supports broadcast recording. Otherwise the functionality is familiar. In terms of multimedia, this is a standard and omnivorous Android, you can watch any video, listen to any music.
Impression
There are no complaints about the quality of communication with this device. I meticulously studied its capabilities in different conditions, and it copes well everywhere. The downside is that the included headset is inexpensive and can make noise in the wind. Otherwise, everything is fine - the call is loud, the vibration alert is above average in strength and is well felt.
The cost of this device depends on the region, sales begin on February 1 throughout the country. The price is indicated as 4,990 rubles, subject to the purchase of an Internet package from one to four months. For example, in Moscow, when connecting to the Internet S tariff for 2 months, the cost of the phablet will be 5,690 rubles. In the new market realities, this price looks not just adequate, but very low, which will make sales of the device extremely high.
For example, released in the summer Alcatel POP C9 costs about 7-7.5 thousand rubles (it was sold at 7,990 rubles), these are leftovers that are not widely represented. Functionally similar to Login+, but has two SIM cards and a slightly larger battery.
In the phablet segment you can also find 6-inch devices (480x854 pixels in this case), for example, Fly Era Style 2. The model still costs about 7,000 rubles, but the price will be revised, or it will completely disappear from the market. It would take a long time to list models from different Chinese companies; there are more than a dozen of them in total. With similar characteristics, they cost from 7,000 rubles (and this is today, prices will apparently change further). A little best characteristics, for example, an HD screen already starts at 8,000 rubles. But the question is that all these models do not have any advertising support, the mass consumer does not know about them, and they are not represented throughout the country, as is done for Login+. And from here follows another conclusion: Login+ will become number one in sales in the segment of phablets with a 5.5-inch screen. These will not be models from Samsung, Apple or anyone else, but this particular device. And for a couple of months it will definitely become a sales leader, and then the volume planned for MegaFon will simply run out. It's possible that the model will reappear, but maybe it won't. In any case, you only have a couple of months to be guaranteed to buy this device, after which it may be difficult.
For its price, the device turned out to be interesting and good, the biggest drawback is solely the operating time. But it is offset by the fact that for the target audience the usage scenarios are somewhat different from constant games and being online. Perhaps this is why the phone is not very suitable for children who love to play, but for an older audience this is an interesting offer. And I can say for sure, this is a bestseller that will repeat the success of previous models in the Login line.
Not everyone can afford to buy both a phone and a tablet. It is interesting that this approach to the consumer was carried out by the company OJSC Megafon Retail, releasing the Megafon Login Plus phone. This gadget combines the functions of a smartphone and the size of a tablet, which is essentially more convenient and functional for the client.
Books, films, navigator - this is Megafon Login Plus
Indeed, this phablet has everything required characteristics for daily, no, hourly use:
- operating system phone - Android 4.4, excellent standard version;
- GSM connection 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, WCDMA 900/2100 MHz, WI-FI network, Bluetooth, GPS;
- number of phone SIM cards - one, works only in the seller’s network, not suitable for other operators - this is an original Megafon call for other companies;
- camera properties - front 0.3 MP, main 5 MP with LED flash, which will provide both good photos, and selfie pictures;
- display 5.5 inches, touchscreen, very bright, great for watching movies and videos in HD quality, reading books, etc.;
- RAM 1 GB, inner memory 4 GB, slot for microSD up to 32 GB, number of cores – 4, enough even for capacitive applications;
- 2000 mAh battery, normal for fairly frequent use;
- size 77x155x9 mm, weight 153 g, fits comfortably in your hand, fits in your pocket.
Megafon Login Plus is made in black, which is already a recognizable brand for Login devices. The equipment is standard.
Price is the main advantage of the phone
Having analyzed the cost of the phablet, we can conclude that the price ranges from 4,500 to 5,500 rubles, depending on the region. If you pay attention to other phones with similar characteristics, you can see that the price is too high, which is again a plus for the Megafon company. Simplicity, convenience, cost - Login’s motto. See also description.
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