Modern day cheap Chinese branded phones - mainstream phone killers?

LVVilf on 21/04/2014 - 13:12
Last edited 21/04/2014 - 13:35

I discovered some very nice spec'd chinese phones on Gearbest.com - particularly the Mpie 809T

Mpie 809T
CPU: Octa Core, 1.7GHz, Cortex-A7
GPU: Mali-450MP
RAM: 2GB
ROM: 16GB
Frequency: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz WCDMA 850/2100MHz
Screen size: 5.0 inch
Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Back camera: 13.0MP, with flash light and AF
Front camera: 13.0 MP
Battery: 2500mAh Battery
Dimensions: 147 x 73 x 7 mm
http://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_18534.html#.U1P8rfmSy…

I am aware that mainstream branded phone prices are quite inflated and usually do not represent the true value of the components and labour costs in building them (to be fair they run expensive marketing campaigns that add to costs). I have heard stories of Chinese branded phones not living up to users expectations, but is this the exception rather than the rule? I know the chinese phone brand Huawei is well respected and sold in Australia.

The Mpie 809T can be had for US $247 from Gearbest, a very attractive price indeed.
I couldn't find any in depth reviews of the Mpie 809T, however I did find plenty of positive reviews on the ZOPO ZP980+ which has almost identical specs, also available from Gearbest at US $281.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhCvKOVx4EA

As for Octacore it seems like the way forward in reference to several upcoming mainstream processors (Samsung Xenos X / LG Odin / Huawei K3V2 / ect).
I myself am a student in building mobile apps and I'd like a future proof phone that can run 8 core optimized apps.

I realise there are probably tiers of quality when it comes to Chinese phone brands - however Mpie and Zoppo seem to be of a higher quality and have released other models previously - which makes me feel safer about them having ironed out software/hardware issues.

What do you guys think of the Mpie?
Do Chinese branded phones deserve more respect in their ability to deliver better value for money compared to mainstream phones?

Mobile

Comments

  • stevednj48 on 21/04/2014 - 13:43
    +1

    i had a no1 s6 which was a clone of the s4 the only problem i had was it a very weak wifi signal otherwise phone was excellent no lag no other issues battery life was 2-3 day with heavy use which really impressed me as most androids i have had struggle to make it through the day you need to be careful of what network bands you need as the majority are only suitable for telstra or others are suitable for optus not telstra ect.

    and as for the model you listed be careful when buying as there are differant versions some with 1gb ram others with 2gb ram i would not hesitate to buy these Chinese phones again after my no1 s6 the build quailty is excellent also these days

  • c64 on 21/04/2014 - 13:56
    +1

    yeah, there is a huge range of cheap (compared to australia) high-spec phones available from chinese sites. still there is some risk involved:

    • will it actually arrive in the mail,
    • will it work when you turn it on,
    • does what you receive actually match the specs (fake memory, overclocked cpus etc )
    • will it work reliably without crashing all the time
    • will it work for a year or two since you won't have any warranty

    also the chinese phones tend not to support optus' 2100mhz 3g frequency

    • Adz81 on 21/04/2014 - 14:17
      +1

      I think you mean the 900mHz 3g frquency? Finding one that supports that was tough, at least it was for me, almost all of them support the 2100mHz if memory serves…

      • scrimshaw on 21/04/2014 - 14:31
        +3

        Some phones lie about 3G support and only do 2100mhz 3G (single band) as opposed to lacking 2100mhz.

        Your mileage will greatly vary when you buy a off-brand phone. Because there is virtually zero customer support, and no hotfixes or OTA updates to your phone, there will be bugs galore with the firmware as well as shoddy quality control (higher rates of defects).

        Huawei phones however are pretty good value for the money, and ASUS is also getting into the good-bang for buck territory with their Zenfone lineup. And if you don't need that much storage, $200 gets you a dual sim Moto G.

        • Adz81 on 21/04/2014 - 15:05
          +1

          Thanks Scrimshaw, looks like you've set me on the path to looking up Asus phones at work :)

          "I won't buy another Chinaphone.." I say, then it's: "I'll just look at this Chinaphone…"

  • Adz81 on 21/04/2014 - 14:14

    At this stage and from what I've experienced? Not so much… I've tried two Lenovo's, both were spec'd as advertised, both worked a treat… However I got maybe 8 months out of my first one before the screen died (completely died, had power going to it, but nil display) and I think my current phone is headed that way after maybe 6 months… I'm not likley to fork over another two to three hundred dollars when my argument for buying my first cheap one was, "Just something to tide me over until I find a phone I like as much as the Galaxy 2…", I'll probably just look at the S5 next… I've had some pretty runs with Samsung phones…

  • zorrt on 21/04/2014 - 14:57
    +1

    apparently they chinese themselves prefer the likes of the iphone so go figure.

    • scrimshaw on 21/04/2014 - 15:47
      +6

      From the perspective of a rich-cashed up Chinese person who isn't tech savvy, they see iPhone / apple product as status of wealth, rather than going for the iPhone because of product features they are most likely interested in aesthetics and brand image.

      Why do you think Chinese companies try so hard to create Apple lookalike devices few years ago.. because an iPhone is the equivalent of gold-plated bling. But nowadays there's also a lot of interest in their own national brand, namely Xioami and Meizu.

    • iChopstick on 21/04/2014 - 16:21
      +2

      This Chinese infatuation with brand and materialism. Was on the news a couple of years years ago, a teen in China sold one of his kidneys to buy an iPhone and an iPad.

      • Baghern on 23/04/2014 - 09:42

        They're just playing catch up, I'm pretty sure there would plenty of those stories if we had the option here.

        I go to western Sydney all the time, jobless westies with iphones and are a common sight.. priorities

  • johnn on 21/04/2014 - 19:04
    +6

    Have owned several chinese-branded phones in the past and quite honestly I would say that in the long-run they are definitely not worth it.

    Depending on how often you use your phone obviously, and what you expect from it, but I've found a myriad of problems would develop over time, including:

    • Horrible camera (doesn't matter if they say 8, 13 or even 50 MP. They will always be plain horrible)
    • Battery capacity is almost always less than stated, and would often degrade much quicker than other branded batteries
    • Weak Wifi/GPS modules, which have trouble connecting even with clear line of sight
    • Generally poorer screens than equivalent branded counterparts
    • Lack of software support and firmware issues/bugs
    • Trouble finding readily available replacement parts

    I have had too many headaches regarding these phones, and have vowed never to buy them again nor recommend them to anyone. It is simply not worth dealing with the many problems that WILL come up. There are plenty of cheaper alternatives from respected brands such as the Moto G, although Huawei being the exception for chinese-designed phones. Granted, there are no cheap octacore phones around yet, but if you really needed one I would save up for an imported S4 I9500

    • altomic on 21/04/2014 - 20:15
      +5

      i disagree to some extent. I've bought 3 quad core china phones.

      the first "died" due to a faulty micro usb connection (I've got the replacement part but I've been lazy to repair it). it was a great phone for 6 months. this same issue can happen with any phone.

      the second I bought for $88. it is only 2G, but I only use it to -shock horror- make phone calls and play candy crush. I actually didn't notice this in the discription but it hasn't hampered the phones usability. it is a little lacking in the camera description (slow shutter speed) but extermely thin

      the third phone is the gem of the 3. an Ipegtop Z26. it is pretty awesome. cost US$100. the camera is sharp and quick. wifi great. screen -good res. I bought this for Mrs Altomic and would buy one for myself…but I'm cheap and the second phone is still very function.

      China phones can be hit and miss but I, for the cost and specs compared to what is available in aus, prefer them. I need a phone to make calls, play games, interwebz, text and that is it. I do not need a phone to check my blood pressure, interface with a satelite, adjust the screen brightness due to humidity and spiciness of the food I'm eating

      besides, this is Ozbargain. S5 or S5 clone? or let me rephrase that- S5 with features that are overly cosmetic/unneccesary, $800 and beyond the needs of a normal person or S5 clone with features that are usable and $125?

      • theStinge on 22/04/2014 - 17:28
        +3

        Why the negs to this response?

      • johnn on 23/04/2014 - 20:20

        Fair enough, I'm glad you were able to receive phones you were happy with :)

        I've just been burnt too many times in the past to recommend them, but I'm sure there's plenty of people out there happily using these phones.

        I wouldn't personally recommend anyone getting the S5 right now anyway (unless they're suuuuper keen on new tech), but I think the Moto G for ~$200-250 and Galaxy S3 for ~$300 (or even less used) are good mid-range alternatives for those who were planning to spend $150-250 on chinese-branded phones anyway.

  • jzdhgkd on 21/04/2014 - 20:04
    +1

    Samsung GS5 costs ~US$250 for to build for parts alone. This doesn't include labor, research and development, marketing etc. iPhone 5S costs around $200 IIRC.

    When a Chinese phone sells retails for less than another phone's basic material cost, you can imagine how it would compare.

    If you want a cheap phone then I'd suggest you go for a budget offering from the mainstream brands (e.g. Moto G for $250 - very capable phone) rather than a Chinese phone unless you don't mind the headaches you might get trying to troubleshoot bugs.

    • altomic on 21/04/2014 - 20:53

      …than a Chinese phone unless you don't mind the headaches you might get trying to troubleshoot bugs.

      I don't understand this statement.

      what sort of bugs?

      can you provide some details (aside from GPS for MTK phones -which does work)

      • jzdhgkd on 22/04/2014 - 12:44

        Bugs of all sorts. They may be fixed eventually but until that time you'll just have to deal with it.

        Quick search on google:

        One,two,three (Ainol seem to have wifi problems all the time - so I got an N7 instead) etc

        Anyway I know mainstream manufacturers such as Asus/moto/samsung and whatnot have their problems too but at least they're more likely to be fixed (officially or via XDA)

        And then you have problems such as this ("problem solved" he claimed… and wasn't really solved)
        which is more of a design flaw than a bug.

        End of the day if you're willing to spend time troubleshooting then it's probably worth the $$$ saving. Think of it as the "hardcore" version of Android ;)

  • spychiatrist on 21/04/2014 - 21:41

    Mpie, p0rn fone?

  • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2014 - 00:46

    SAR levels of some (maybe many) China home-market phones, can, apparently, be very high.

    Most Chinabrand phone models only find their way into Australia, Europe and the U.S. by way of grey import - and on the basis of a few things I've read, many would fail Western (FCC, etc.) SAR standards, with others only just scraping in.

    If you're planning on buying one, maybe plan on only ever using it hands-free…

  • Tcm9669 on 22/04/2014 - 09:43

    One thing to look out for is, maybe research xda forums to find if there are any roms (trust me, if your a tech guy, you WILL find and hate bugs in China roms).. Especially if your gonna do app development!

    Another thing to look at, make sure it has google apps. I bought a China tablet and google apps wouldn't work on it. No play store!!

    So yeah, just do some research.

  • altomic on 22/04/2014 - 11:42
    +1

    The Mpie 809T can be had for AUS$243.53 delivered from Ahappydeal.com

  • wtfnodeal on 22/04/2014 - 11:55
    +1

    Me: "I just bought you a new phone". Wife: "what brand is it?". Me: "HTC". Wife: "don't buy me those cheap Chinese branded phones". Me: "……."

    • puskar on 22/04/2014 - 15:05
      +5

      Sounds like you didn't get a good deal on your wife lol..

      • wtfnodeal on 22/04/2014 - 23:14
        +1

        Yeah luckily there is a lifetime change of mind policy.

  • samba on 22/04/2014 - 13:28

    Interestingly, have a look at this page:

    http://www.droidforums.net/forum/coolicool/265455-m-pie-809t…

    Posted only a week or so ago, listing the same model number of phone, looking identical, except for the specs. It's a "2.0GHz Octa-core" instead of a 1.7GHz, and the screen res is "1280x720" compared to the "Full HD 1920x1080" as mentioned on the GearBest website.

    So.. which is it? That's enough for me to doubt the phone's specs on either site.

    Edit: Also, on that link posted up there for AHappyDeal.com, the phone is listed as having the 1.7GHZ Octa, with the 1280x720p res. So, three different sites, three different specs.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2014 - 16:58
    +3

    I'll give you something cheaper with the same specs
    http://www.pandawill.com/newman-k18-ultrathin-smartphone-mtk…
    Only $199 for a FHD screen and MT6592, It's a pretty damn good deal.

    One really bad thing about Chinese no brand phones is that you simply can't resell them, so if you keep all your used phones then they are a good deal for you - but if you like to sell the phones you don't use, then I'd say just save your money and get something that will have at least 50~60% resell value after a year (assuming that you keep it in good condition).

    • samba on 22/04/2014 - 21:45

      That's actually not bad… Comes with full playstore access and some googling around has shown that there are updates from the manufacturer and also that there is root access available. Might not be the worst choice if you're still looking at chinese phones.

      • altomic on 23/04/2014 - 21:16

        Newman is a known china brand. very very tempting.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 21:36

          It also comes with a Sony camera, too.

  • errorius on 22/04/2014 - 17:33

    Had an experience with S4 clone. All stated specs were false. Somehow they make the ROM display specs that are not true and antutu shows double the amount of benchmark. And the quality is sh*t. My dad drop it once and it just died forever.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2014 - 17:54

    Yeh from all the threads and exposure of people complaining i don't know why people still take the plunge.

    If something goes wrong how do you claim warranty? ??

    anyhow i know zopo is a big brand and we'll Huawei but mmmmmm still a gamble ( not for Huawei as they have marketed outside).

    I'll stick to my locally over priced quality handsets which have local warranty and customer support also a most definitely a big aftermarket support for cases batteries parts and even software like roms for android.

  • porsche26c on 22/04/2014 - 21:16

    i would stick to mainstream phones, you can get great phones for no more than $100 more than what your quoting. the cameras will be better, much more durable and best of all warranty.

    most of the parts are knockoffs

  • Bunnyburger on 23/04/2014 - 01:39

    Oppo and Xiaomi are pretty reputable chinese phone manufacturers, but they're more expensive than what you mentioned…

  • HoracePinker on 23/04/2014 - 10:01

    I had a few imitation phones, couldnt upgrade no playstore access, but the biggest killer is no spare parts ie if you crack your screen no matter how good the phone was, its a paperweight without a replacement screen.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 10:17

      A replacement screen is probably gonna be as expensive as the phone anyway, so why bother?
      If I had a no brand phone that's cheap enough and I crack the screen, I'd just throw it away and buy a new one.

      • altomic on 23/04/2014 - 14:05

        it depends on the phone. some imitation phones have spares available. my S3 clone . as referred to as the 1st phone, has parts readily available on aliexpress,dhgate,focalprice,ebay.

        the mini-usb circuit board cost $5 delivered. a new screen would cost $32.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2014 - 14:24

          It probably depends on the part's quality as well, there's a lot of them that have Sharp branded Full HD IPS screen with OGS technology, if that's the case then it will cost more than just $32.
          I was talking about just the screen itself though, these phones nowadays seem to focus more on the screen and use bad quality parts for everything else in the phone, which is understandable I think… as people do stare at the screen more than anything else.

  • jennkei on 23/04/2014 - 17:03

    My no-brand phone (http://www.dx.com/p/d2-dual-core-android-4-2-wcdma-bar-phone…) is probably far from future-proof but it works really well for me. Like someone says, battery life is pretty good. Screen only cracked because I tend to be really careless with my phones. (It actually dropped a few times with no problem..also got gnawed by dog like chew toy. Sigh.)

    Came bundled with several Chinese apps but that's alright, I could access Playstore and change language to English with no problem.

  • TRD on 23/04/2014 - 22:35

    The new OnePlus One phone is a modern phone with specs better than the big brands such as HTC, Samsung and Sony for a relatively cheap price. You can find out more here. http://oneplus.net/

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