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Today we’ll talk about the little-known Apollo Lite device from the still little-known company Vernee. It reads like Verni, but not Verni, or rather :) Since the smartphone is unknown, we will try to tell you everything about it that we managed to find out ourselves while we were testing it. It should be noted that the device surprised us, but first things first. Let's start with TX:
- Case materials: Metal;
- Operating system: Android 6;
- Screen: 5.5″ IPS, 1920 x 1080, Corning Gorilla 3, 2.5D 401, PPI;
- Cameras: 16 MP + 5 MP;
- CPU (processor): Helio X20 (MT6797), 10 cores up to 2.3 GHz;
- Video processor: Mali-T880 MP4;
- RAM (random access memory): 4 GB;
- ROM (built-in memory): 32 GB (free 24.5 GB), + MicroSD up to 128 GB;
- Communication: GSM / 3G / 4G;
- SIM cards: 2 SIM (the second slot is combined with MicroSD);
- FM radio: Yes;
- Data transfer: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
- GPS/GLONASS/BDS: Yes / No / No;
- Battery, mAh: 3180;
- Real battery test: 5 hours, 36 minutes of video at maximum brightness;
- Dimensions, weight: 152 x 76.2 x 9.2 mm, 175 grams;
- Features: Fingerprint scanner, USB Type-C, ability to swap control buttons (back, menu), notification sensor;
The manufacturer will be revealed by his generosity when filling the delivery set. In the case of Apollo Lite, the kit also included USB cable Type-C and fast charger. That is, the kit, like that of flagships, is minimal, but nothing affected the increase in the price of the smartphone. There was also a film glued to the screen, but it is absolutely not needed here, since there is an oleophobic coating and protective glass.
On the right side of the case there are metal power and volume buttons.
On the left there are two trays, one for microSim, the second is combined.
At the bottom end there is a speaker, quite loud, a microphone and USB input Type-C. The headphone jack is located on top. The sound in the headphones is great.
We liked the display. Large, beautiful, with a huge margin of brightness. We won’t call it the best on the market, but we’ll count it 100% as a plus. Settings color temperature is present here, although you can get used to any screen, in my opinion.
The brightness of the screen is excellent, the resolution is high, 401 pixels per inch.
The smartphone body itself is entirely metal, with the exception of two plastic inserts at the bottom and top. They are needed for good network reception. The metal of the case is incredibly pleasant to the tactile sensations. Somewhat reminiscent of silk. Silk, as you know, is a slippery material, and here the coating is quite slippery, so it’s worth thinking about a cover, although you don’t really want to hide such beauty.
Vernee Apollo Lite runs on Android 6. It uses its own launcher, similar to standard Android, but for some reason it works a little crookedly and is a little slow. Therefore, we were forced to install the Google Start launcher here and the smartphone began to sparkle with new colors. The photo below shows a standard launcher.
In addition, since unpacking and first switching on, two updates have arrived, that is, the company takes care of its consumers. So, for example, the updates fixed incorrect operation fingerprint scanner.
Among the features, we can highlight the change in touch control buttons, as in the one we recently reviewed, and in other LG smartphones.
There is an FM radio with the ability to record broadcasts.
GPS reception is poor. All other networks performed well, at least in Moscow.
The undeniable advantage of Apollo Lite is its performance. The power it contains is fantastic. This can be seen without our comments, you just have to look at specifications processor installed in Apollo Lite. The test results are simply amazing:
And games run just great on our hero, any games:
The device has quite a lot of memory - 32 GB of internal memory and 4 GB of RAM! For comfortable use random access memory more than enough. The built-in memory can be expanded, this is not a problem for this model.
There are two standard cameras. The main one is 16 MP, the front one is 5 MP. We were not impressed with either camera. Yes, you probably shouldn’t wait inexpensive smartphone level photos, for example. In my opinion, the cameras shoot the way smartphones in this price range should. There's nothing fancy about the camera app other than 4K video recording.
Examples of photos:
Video example:
The battery of the device is average. The autonomy indicators are generally average and our test showed an average result and in live use the result is also average. Enough for a day maximum. It’s better not to write this down as a disadvantage; now most smartphones have such autonomy indicators.
Getting to know a little-known Chinese company and its product Vernee Apollo Lite gave us positive emotions. We have a good inexpensive device in a nice building and very powerful processor. There are also some shortcomings, but you can completely come to terms with them and live with them.
Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.
Design
Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.
| Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 76.2 mm (millimeters) 7.62 cm (centimeters) 0.25 ft (feet) 3 in (inches) |
| Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 152 mm (millimeters) 15.2 cm (centimeters) 0.5 ft (feet) 5.98 in (inches) |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements. | 9.2 mm (millimeters) 0.92 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.36 in (inches) |
| Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 175 g (grams) 0.39 lbs 6.17 oz (ounces) |
| Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. | 106.56 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 6.47 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | Grey Silver |
| Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body. | Metal |
SIM card
The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.
Mobile networks
A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.
| GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often called a 2G mobile network. It is improved by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies. | GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz |
| W-CDMA W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) is an air interface used by 3G mobile networks, and is one of the three main air interfaces of UMTS, along with TD-SCDMA and TD-CDMA. It provides even more high speeds data transfer and the ability to connect more consumers at the same time. | W-CDMA 900 MHz W-CDMA 2100 MHz |
| LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent technology development is called LTE Advanced. | LTE 800 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz |
Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds
Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.
Operating system
An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.
SoC (System on Chip)
A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.
| SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation. | MediaTek Helio X20 (MT6797) |
| Technological process Information about technological process, on which the chip is made. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor. | 20 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications. | 2x 2.3 GHz ARM Cortex-A72, 4x 1.85 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, 4x 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 |
| Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors. | 64 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv8-A |
| Number of processor cores The processor core performs program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel. | 10 |
| CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 2300 MHz (megahertz) |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. IN mobile devices ah it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc. | ARM Mali-T880 MP4 |
| Number of cores GPU Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications. | 4 |
| GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 780 MHz (megahertz) |
| Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random Access Memory (RAM) in use operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted. | 4 GB (gigabytes) |
| Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device. | LPDDR3 |
| Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels mean higher data rates. | Dual channel |
| RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data. | 800 MHz (megahertz) |
Built-in memory
Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.
Screen
The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.
| Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends. | IGZO |
| Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches. | 5.5 in (inches) 139.7 mm (millimeters) 13.97 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 2.7 in (inches) 68.49 mm (millimeters) 6.85 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 4.79 in (inches) 121.76 mm (millimeters) 12.18 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.778:1 16:9 |
| Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail. | 1080 x 1920 pixels |
| Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail. | 401 ppi (pixels per inch) 157 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device. | 72.23% (percentage) |
| Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics. | Capacitive Multi-touch Scratch resistance |
| Display manufacturer - Sharp Corning Gorilla Glass 3 2.5D curved glass screen 1000:1 contrast ratio 450 cd/m² Viewing angle - 178° |
Sensors
Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.
Main camera
The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.
| Sensor model | Samsung S5K3P3 |
| Sensor type | ISOCELL |
| Sensor size | 4.74 x 3.56 mm (millimeters) 0.23 in (inches) |
| Pixel size | 1.029 µm (micrometers) 0.001029 mm (millimeters) |
| Crop factor | 7.29 |
| Diaphragm | f/2 |
| Focal length | 3.5 mm (millimeters) 25.53 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile device cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes produce softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting. | Double LED |
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image. | 4608 x 3456 pixels 15.93 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with the device. | 3840 x 2160 pixels 8.29 MP (megapixels) |
| Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video shooting and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p. | 30fps (frames per second) |
| Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality. | Autofocus Continuous shooting Digital zoom Geographical tags Panoramic photography HDR shooting Touch Focus Face recognition White Balance Adjustment ISO Setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode |
| Phase detection 6-element lens |
Additional camera
Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.
| Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the photo sensor used in the device's camera. | Samsung S5K5E8 |
| Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device. | CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) |
| Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically cameras with larger sensors and lower pixel densities offer more high quality images despite the lower resolution. | 2.9 x 2.15 mm (millimeters) 0.14 in (inches) |
| Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photosensor allows more pixels per unit area, thereby increasing resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size may have a negative impact on image quality when high levels photosensitivity (ISO). | 1.133 µm (micrometers) 0.001133 mm (millimeters) |
| Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the dimensions of the full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the dimensions of the device's photosensor. The indicated number represents the ratio of the diagonals of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor specific device. | 11.99 |
| Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means the aperture opening is larger. | f/2.2 |
| Focal length Focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. The equivalent focal length is also indicated, providing the same field of view with a full frame camera. | 3.5 mm (millimeters) 41.95 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| Image Resolution Maximum Resolution Information additional camera when shooting. In most cases, the resolution of the secondary camera is lower than that of the main camera. | 2560 x 1920 pixels 4.92 MP (megapixels) |
Audio
Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.
Radio
The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.
Location determination
Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.
WiFi
Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.
Headphone jack
This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Connecting devices
Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.
Browser
A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.
| Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser. | HTML HTML5 CSS 3 |
Audio file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.
Video file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.
Battery
Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.
| Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours. | 3180 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. Exist different types batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries most often used in mobile devices. | Li-polymer |
| Adapter output power Power Information electric current(measured in amperes) and electrical voltage(measured in volts) supplied by the charger ( output power). Higher power output ensures faster battery charging. | 5 V (volts) / 2 A (amps) 7 V (volts) / 2 A (amps) 9 V (volts) / 2 A (amps) 12 V (volts) / 1.5 A (amps) |
| Fast charging technology Fast charging technologies differ from each other in terms of energy efficiency, supported output power, control of the charging process, temperature, etc. The device, battery and charger must be compatible with fast charging technology. | MediaTek Pump Express 3.0 |
| Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics device battery. | Fast charging Fixed |
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.
| Head SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device next to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard established by the CENELEC Committee in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the ICNIRP guidelines of 1998. | 0.23 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards. | 0.966 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
Vernee is a young brand that has existed for no more than a year, but has already managed to introduce several very successful devices. One of them is the budget model Thor, which has weak characteristics but also a low price, and the second is Apollo, which acts as a flagship and is designed to compete with A-brand products. Although in reality it surpasses them only in terms of price, which does not exceed $200. The Vernee Apollo review showed that the smartphone is really good if you consider it exclusively in its price category- stunning QHD display, 10 nuclear processor Helio X25, optimal memory capacity and average battery.
Specifications of Vernee Apollo Lite:
- Processor: 10-core Helio X20 (MTK6797) with a maximum core clock speed of 2.3 Ghz
- Graphics: 4 core Mali-T880, 780MHz
- RAM: 4GB
- Built-in memory: 32GB, expandable up to 128GB
- Screen: - 5.5 inches, IPS, 1920x1080, SHARP IGZO - Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. - Oleophobic coating.
- Camera: - Main: 16 megapixels, F/2.0, RGBW light-sensor technology, PDAF. Possibility of recording video in 4K resolution (30 frames per second) and Full HD at 60 frames per second. - Front: 5 megapixels.
- Networks: 2G: Gsm 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900MHz 3G: Wcdma 900 / 2100MHz 4G: Fdd-lte 800 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600MHz
- Available slots: 1 micro SIM+1 nano SIM / TFcard
- Additional features: - USB type C, - Fast charging PUMP EXPRESS 3.0 - Fingerprint scanner, - Dual-band WiFi
- Battery: 3180mAh
- Operating system: Android 6.0
- Dimensions: 152 x 76.2 x 9.2mm
- Weight: 175 g
Equipment
The Vernee Apollo Lite smartphone is sold in a neat black package, inside of which there is only everything you need: network adapter and a USB-C cable, on which there is no information regarding the manufacturer. They are also included with most other Chinese devices. There is also documentation and a protective film already glued to the screen.
By tradition, we begin our review of the Vernee Apollo x 25 with its appearance. You can buy the device in one of two color options - white or black. The colors are classic, although the black has an inconspicuous purple tint.
The back and mechanical keys are made of metal, and to improve the quality of communication there are small plastic inserts at the ends. During testing there were a few small scratches on the back, so the case is highly recommended. It will also eliminate another problem - there are small joints between the plastic inserts and the metal into which dust gets clogged.
The main camera protrudes greatly beyond the body, and this despite the fact that it already has a considerable thickness of 9.2 mm. It would be fine if the glass was at least recessed relative to the protective rim, but no, it sticks out, which means that without a bumper it will be very easy to damage it.
The left side is occupied by a tray for micro + nanoSIM or microSIM + microSD. I would like to see a separate slot for a memory card, but this is not such a significant drawback, because 64 GB of internal memory will be enough for most users.
On the right side there is a power button and a volume rocker. They work well, but they have some slack.
The central space on the bottom edge is occupied by USB-C port, on the sides of which two slots are symmetrically located - for the main microphone and speaker.
The fingerprint scanner is located on the back; it only works well if you enter the same fingerprint into several slots in the database. There are 5 of them in total. On average, we have 8 successful operations out of 10 - a result typical of cheap devices.
Vernee Apollo helio x 25 review shows that the front panel is covered with Gorilla Glass 3 with a slight rounding at the edges. Over the course of several months of use, you should expect small scratches to appear on it, and this is subject to careful use. In this regard, for greater reliability, it is better to stick on protective glass from the first days. What is pleasantly surprising is the presence of an oleophobic coating, which is of quite high quality.
The speaker grille is slightly recessed relative to the glass, which is why it becomes clogged with dust as it is used and needs regular cleaning. To the left of it there is an LED event indicator, a front camera and the usual set of sensors.
The Vernee Apollo Lite smartphone was equipped with soft navigation keys, so the space under the display is simply empty.
The build quality can be given a four, deducting a point for the play of the mechanical keys and the poor design of the main camera.
Display
Vernee Apollo Lite review moves on to the characteristics of the screen, which the manufacturer focused on. We are offered a chic IPS matrix with QHD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels), which with a 5.5-inch diagonal gives a phenomenal 534 ppi. But the increased resolution cannot be called a huge advantage, because the difference with FullHD will not be noticeable to the average user, but performance and autonomy will suffer. The higher the screen resolution, the more processor resources are required to process tasks.
Of course, with such characteristics it will be impossible to examine individual pixels. The brightness reserve is also pleasantly impressive - it is comfortable to use even in bright sunshine. Viewing angles are close to ideal - the picture fades only a little at extreme tilts. If for one reason or another you are not satisfied with the factory calibration, then using the MiraVision software you can set your own settings. The Vernee Apollo Lite display is highly responsive and supports up to 5 simultaneous touches. In general, the impressions from the screen are wonderful, the only annoying thing is the large frames around its perimeter. The bottom frame could have been removed altogether, because there are no functional elements on it, and the side indents are very noticeable.
Performance Vernee Apollo Lite
Vernee Apollo Lite specifications are based on one of the most famous MediaTek Helio X25 processors, built on 10 cores. Of these, 4 are frequency limited up to 1.4 GHz, the same number up to 2 GHz and 2 more cores up to 2.5 GHz. This, combined with the GPU Mali-T880 graphics accelerator, allows you to count on decent performance when running daily tasks. But in games, not everything is so smooth. The picture is spoiled by the high resolution, due to which games such as Nova 3 or Asphalt 8 run only on minimum graphics. They didn’t skimp on the RAM either - 4 GB combined with 64 GB of internal memory. This is standard for modern flagships, although Lately it is increasingly found in devices in the mid-price category. Bandwidth RAM - 6 GB / s - a good result, but it is far from the flagships. The same applies to the speed of reading information from the built-in drive - 174 MB/s, writing speed reaches 137 MB/s.
Vernee Apollo Lite synthetic test results
Throttling practically does not appear - after half an hour of play, the smartphone only warmed up to 38 degrees. This is normal for its hardware and body materials. If performance is important to you, then at the same price you can pay attention to the Xiaomi Mi A1 or LeEco Le Max 2, the heart of which is the Snapdragon 820 processor.
Wireless communications
Vernee Apollo 2 review The review showed that the smartphone supports dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4th generation, GPS, as well as GLONASS. Connecting to satellites is fast, there are no problems with determining location and signal stability. A digital compass helps you navigate the terrain. Vernee Apollo Lite copes well with the functions of a dialer: the speaker is loud and conveys the voice of the interlocutor without distortion. Both cards can work in 3 and 4G networks, so there are no problems when using them. The interlocutor hears you well, but we did not find an additional noise-canceling microphone on the body.
The external speaker sounds quiet and lacks low frequencies and at least some sense of volume. In headphones, it sounds on par with price competitors - there is enough volume reserve, there is no noise that interferes with listening enjoyment. There is an FM radio that only works when a headset is connected.
Autonomy
Vernee Apollo 4g lte review shows that the built-in battery capacity is 3180 mAh. You can count on one day of autonomous use, if you do not load it with resource-intensive tasks. According to the manufacturer, the autonomy is enough for 3-4 hours of display activity. The result is not very good; even in this price category you can find better offers. The main problem is that 3180 mAh is clearly not enough for the power-hungry processor and QHD display resolution.
At real testing autonomy turned out to be an order of magnitude worse - you have to charge it every 10-12 hours with a couple of hours of screen activity. Another problem that we identified while reviewing the Vernee Apollo Lite is that when installing some applications, the smartphone stops going into sleep mode when the screen is locked. It was not possible to understand the reasons for what was happening even with ROOT access. We can only hope that the situation will be corrected in the coming updates.
MediaTek PE+ fast charging technology is supported, which works when using the included charger with parameters of 2 A at 5.7, or 9 W, as well as 1.5 A at 12 W. A full charge takes about 70 minutes. If you use a smartphone at the same time, it heats up to 45 degrees.
Cameras Vernee Apollo Lite
Vernee Apollo review and the camera specs aren't particularly impressive. The smartphone uses a module from Samsung - a 5 MP front camera and a 16 MP main camera with f/2.2 aperture. If during the day you can still get more or less tolerable pictures, then at night and in low light artificial lighting You can forget about the camera. All objects in the frame are hidden behind noise.
Focusing doesn't always work accurately - there's a lot of blur at the edges of most shots.
The front panel is a little better than the main module, but you shouldn’t pin your hopes on it. A high-quality photo can only be taken in bright daylight.
Conclusion
Vernee Apollo Lite turned out to be a very controversial device, the advantages of which include the screen, performance when performing everyday tasks, the presence of a fingerprint scanner and fast charging. It has no less shortcomings - not the most successful design (in particular, the protruding front camera lens, which is very easy to damage), damp firmware, problems with autonomy and performance in games, disgusting cameras and a quiet main speaker. The Vernee Apollo Lite retails for around $200. For this money you can find a more suitable device for Snapdragon processor 820, which will be better in every way.
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Vernee is another new brand that invites us to get acquainted with such a smartphone as Vernee Apollo - Helio X25 processor and 21 MP main camera.
Initially, Vernee was a manufacturer of components for smartphones, but at the moment, apparently, they decided that they were able to make high-quality phones with a reasonable price tag. They already have three smartphones:
- budget Thor;
- the younger version of this model is Apollo Lite;
- flagship Apollo.
At the conference where the presentation of two processors Helio X20 and X25 took place, the two above-mentioned smartphones Thor and Apollo were also noticed. In the photo below, one of the managers of Mediatek, Yenchi Lee (on the right), is holding Vernee Thor in his hands, and on the left we can see the Apollo model
Buy Vernee Apollo for $225.64 GearBest
Design
The first pictures to appear online were the front panel of the smartphone, and the most interesting thing you can see on them is the size of the side frames. Just 2 mm is a pretty good indicator for a smartphone; moreover, the screen-to-body ratio of the smartphone is 80%.
This is the first smartphone in the world that has a thickness back cover 2 mm and it is made of titanium alloy. Thus, Vernee has raised the quality of an all-metal smartphone to a new level.
But there is one peculiarity - the back cover of the Apollo is about 2-3 times heavier than any other metal smartphone cover.
3D visualization of a smartphone, from the manufacturer
The design of the back cover of the Vernee Apollo will be slightly changed. Using CNC machining and nano-inserts to mold the anodized metal backplate to provide better resistance to corrosion and premature wear.
Last week, MediaTek was present at the Dubai exhibition - GITEX 2016. Apollo was also present here and received a lot of attention from the media and visitors.
The height of the smartphone is 152 mm, width 75.6 mm, thickness 9.3 mm. Weight - 188 grams.
Equipment:
- Charger;
- USB cable;
- user guide;
- needle for removing the SIM card tray;
- glasses for virtual reality(VR Box).
OnePlus 3T vs Vernee Apollo design comparison
Both models are very similar in terms of build quality and the materials they are made from. Front 2.5D display, all-metal back panel, thin lines of antennas and a body that is 98% metal. In addition, both of them use 360-degree sandblasting during production, after which the smartphones receive a unique matte texture. Among the differences, one can highlight the more rounded corners of the OnePlus 3T smartphone.
Specifications Vernee Apollo
- 5.5-inch 2.5D display with 2K resolution, Fource Touch and 541 PPI pixel density;
- ten core processor Mediatek Helio X25 clocked at 2.5 GHz;
- Mali T880 GPU;
- 4 GB of RAM;
- 64 GB of internal memory expandable with a memory card up to 128 GB;
- 21 MP main camera with Sony IMX230 sensor, PDAF, F/2.2 aperture, 4K video recording capability;
- 8 MP front-camera with wide-angle lens 84 degrees;
- two SIM cards micro SIM + nano SIM;
- Bluetooth 4.0, GPS+A-GPS, WIFI 802.11a/b/g/n/ac;
- USB Type C port, OTG support;
- rear-mounted fingerprint scanner;
- 3180 mAh battery with support for fast charging (in 30 minutes from 0 to 50% charge);
- OS Android 6.0.
Supported networks:
- 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz;
- 3G: WCDMA 900/2100 MHz;
- 4G: FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600 MHz.
Apollo is positioned as the first Mediatek-VR flagship. A high resolution 2560 x 1440 pixels and a high pixel density of 541 PPI make the smartphone ideal for use with VR headsets. In addition, it is quite possible that Vernee will release its own VR headset in the near future.
Tests
IN Antutu smartphone scores just over 102,000 points
Fingerprint's scanner
Vernee employees claim that Apollo can be unlocked within 0.1 seconds and to confirm this result they recorded a video comparing the unlock speed of Apollo and iPhone 7 Plus
Comparison with OnePlus 3T
In terms of design, both flagships are very similar - an all-metal body, thin lines of antenna strips and a rather angular design, these are the main points that you pay attention to when you first see the smartphones. But in terms of characteristics they have differences. Comparison table:
Processor comparison
Processors SD 821, MTK Helio X25 are quite productive and powerful. But as a Vernee company representative says, Helio X25 has its advantages. It can easily run heavy 3D games and play 2K/4K videos, thanks to the tri-cluster base, it ensures more efficient task distribution for optimal performance and longer battery life.
In any case, for standard everyday use you don't need that much performance, so you simply won't feel much of a difference between the Snapdragon 821 and Helio X25.
Display comparison
Another important factor is the display. The OnePlus 3T has a 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED display and while standard 5.5-inch screens have a pixel density of 401 PPI, the OnePlus 3T has a pixel density of only 323 PPI due to PenTile alignment technology. When you look closely at the display, you can still see the "roughness" of the letters. The Vernee Apollo has a 2K resolution display that has standard RGB alignment, with a density of 541PPI.
Below you can watch a comparison video that shows the superiority of an IPS LCD display over a PenTile matrix AMOLED display.
This Vernee Apollo Lite smartphone is no longer new, but it’s not old either. At the start of sales it cost about $200, now you can get it much cheaper, which is exactly what I did. And what’s most interesting is that on the Russian version of the store the price was 130 green, on the English version $149. True, the offer was only for the black version of the smartphone.
It’s a pity there weren’t enough points accumulated, it cost $121
Specifications Vernee Apollo Lite
Apollo Lite comes in the same black box with a matte finish as the Vernee Apollo X. The equipment is standard.
USB Type-C cable
- paper clip for removing trays
- charging from 5V to 12V
- instructions
In my case, the smartphone is dark in color, more precisely dark purple. At the time of ordering, silver ones cost 20 bucks more. The body, except for the two upper inserts, is made of aluminum alloy, which is pleasant to the touch and does not particularly attract fingerprints. In terms of case materials and design, there are no complaints at all; it looks stylish and modern.
On the back side there is the main camera, which protrudes slightly from the body, and a fingerprint scanner.
The front surface of the smartphone is occupied by 2.5D glass with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. There is also a speaker, front camera, sensor and event indicator. The indicator itself is not particularly bright, multi-colored and not customizable in any way, at least standard means systems.
The lower part of the screen can be called empty, since touch buttons were not delivered to the this smartphone, buttons on the screen on the display, which in terms of convenience is quite a controversial point. The buttons are customizable and can be hidden at will. This way you can move an additional notification curtain button to the bottom of the screen and quick access, so as not to stretch to the top of the screen.
On the right side of the smartphone there are power and volume buttons
On the left side there are two trays for a SIM card or a SIM card and a flash drive.
The bottom edge has a USB Type-C connector, as well as holes for the speaker, there is only one speaker, with right side The holes are purely for symmetry. USB Type-C gives us increased file transfer speeds and fast charging capabilities.
The audio jack is located on top.
The length of the smartphone is 151 mm, the width is 76 mm, the body is 8.5 mm and weighs 175 g. The smartphone cannot be called light, but this does not cause any discomfort when using it, it just feels great in the hand, like a native one. But this is in the palm of my hand, maybe the smartphone will cause different sensations for someone.
Vernee Apollo Lite display
Equipped with an excellent FullHD IGZO display from Sharp with OGS, multi-touch for 5 touches. These displays boast good bright images and low energy consumption. Oleophobic coating is present. Excellent readability in the sun.
To say that the screen was somehow surprising, I can’t say; I didn’t notice any difference from IPS
Performance Vernee Apollo Lite
Apollo Lite today still has the current 10-core 2.3 GHz Helio X20 Mediatek. Graphics accelerator Mali T880 and even by today's standards, just a solid supply of RAM - 4 GB. The user memory is 32 GB, only 25 GB is available to us.
An hour of playing racing, the flight is normal. The smartphone got a little warm. but that's pretty normal.
But common sense says that it is better to have a well-optimized and refined Android 6.0 than to chase all the updates.
Pure Android, only the most necessary applications are present:
Instead of the typical touch keys in smartphones, Vernee uses on-screen buttons that eat up part of the screen, but they are customizable and can be hidden.
2G, 3G and 4G (LTE) frequencies supported: 2G: GSM B2/3/5/8 3G: WCDMA B1/8 4G: FDD-LTE B1/3/7/8/20/40
You can uncheck the boxes that are not used in your region, if of course you know which ones, you can check with your operator.
The first start of the GPS was quite long, probably about three minutes the smartphone worked until it reliably picked up the satellites.
WiFi operates in two bands - 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Within the apartment - the level of reception is excellent, I didn’t go any further :)
Camera Vernee Apollo Lite
The main module samsung cameras, model S5K3P3: CMOS ISOCELL, 16 MP, pixel size 1 micron, six-lens optics, Blue Light filter, phase focusing, aperture f=2.2. Autofocus is fast. Double led flash. It takes good photos, but nothing more; during the day, all the pictures turn out to be detailed, with rich colors. Well, at night everything becomes as usual with smartphones, the pictures are lousy.
The front camera is 5 MP, the photos are quite good, colorful, without sudden changes in exposure.
A standard Android application is used to work with the camera; if desired, you can install another one at your discretion.
Apollo Lite shoots video in Ultra HD (4K) resolution at 30 fps, which is pretty good for a smartphone.
Examples of photos from the Apollo Lite camera
Well, from personal observations, the smartphone was fully charged in about 2 hours, which is also a pretty good result. The charge is quite enough for a day of intensive use; I personally have the habit of charging it before going to bed, so I am not in danger of a discharged battery.
PC Mark showed the following results in the battery test - 7 hours 40 minutes.
Let's summarize the smartphone
Metal body and excellent build and stylish appearance cannot but rejoice. A good amount of RAM and a fairly powerful processor, and of course fast charging- these are undoubtedly the advantages of Apollo Lite. You can look for disadvantages, they exist, but they are not so significant. Although for this money, you can get it even a little cheaper Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X, where the battery will certainly be better.
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