Huawei gr 5. Smartphone Huawei Y5 II Black (CUN-U29) - Reviews
Huawei Y5 2017 is a truly budget smartphone from a famous Chinese brand. The global announcement of the device took place in April 2017, and the manufacturer officially presented the gadget for the domestic market in June. The main difference between the new product and its predecessor is the presence of a more powerful 3000 mAh battery. There are also certain innovations that relate to the filling and design.
Appearance and ergonomics
The plastic case of the Huawei U5 2017 has a stylish metal frame. This makes the body more elegant and beautiful. The back panel is corrugated, which allows you to use the device with special comfort. There is also a camera and flash on the back. The front part is occupied by the screen, front module, LED flash and speaker. The classic design is complemented by rounded corners. Available colors: pink, grey, blue, gold and white. Dimensions: height - 143.8 mm, thickness - 8.4 mm, width - 72 mm, weight - 150 g.
Display
The Y5 2017 smartphone is equipped with a 5-inch IPS screen that displays up to 16 million colors. The resolution of this display is 1280 by 720 pixels, which is the standard modern value for such a diagonal. At any angle the picture remains readable, but in the sun the image seriously fades. Color rendition is close to natural, there is enough brightness reserve for many situations.
Hardware and performance
U5 2017 has a quad-core Mediatek MT6737T processor with Cortex-A53 cores and a clock frequency of 1400 MHz. Graphics processing is handled by the Mali-T720 MP2 accelerator. The device also has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. There is a useful option to increase the amount of free space up to 128 GB using MicroSD cards. The smartphone runs Android 6.0 and has its own Emotion UI 4.1 interface. The gadget is hardly suitable for games, but it still copes with everyday tasks.
Communication and sound
It is very important that Huawei Y5 2017 supports high-speed LTE networks, and is also able to function in Dual SIM mode. The sound quality of the speaker cannot be called outstanding, but for undemanding users its level will not be bad. As for ordinary conversations, the interlocutor can be heard very well.
Camera
The Huawei U5 2017 has an 8-megapixel main camera with aperture 2.0, autofocus and dual flash. There are basic settings that diversify the shooting process. Particularly noteworthy is the front 5-megapixel camera, which has a separate LED flash. This makes it possible to take self-portraits even at night.
conclusions
The inexpensive Y5 2017 model is designed for unassuming users who have little experience using smartphones. For 8 thousand rubles, the buyer receives a modern mobile gadget with the ability to access the Internet at high speeds, take high-quality photos, use various applications and much more.
Pros:
- Excellent battery life.
- Two high-quality cameras with flashes.
- Practical and elegant design.
- Support for LTE networks.
- Very low price.
Minuses:
- Quite modest performance.
- Not very loud sound.
Technical characteristics of Huawei Y5 2017
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Model | Huawei Y5 2017, Huawei Y5 3, Huawei Y5 III MYA-L02, MYA-L03, MYA-L22, MYA-L23 |
| Date of announcement/start of sales | April 2017 / June 2017 |
| Dimensions | 143.8 x 72 x 8.4 mm. |
| Weight | 150 g. |
| Case color range | Gold, grey, white, blue and pink |
| Number and type of SIM cards | Dual SIM |
| operating system | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) |
| Communication standard in 2G networks | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| Communication standard in 3G networks | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| Communication standard in 4G networks | LTE |
| Display | |
| Screen type | IPS LCD capacitive, 16 million colors |
| Screen size | 5 inches |
| Screen resolution | 720 x 1280, 294 ppi |
| Multitouch | There is |
| Screen protection | |
| Sound | |
| 3.5mm jack | There is |
| FM radio | There is |
| Additionally | Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones |
| Data transfer | |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 |
| Satellite navigation | GPS (A-GPS), GLONASS |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, LE |
| Internet connection | LTE, HSPA, EDGE, GPRS |
| NFC | No |
| Platform | |
| CPU | Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| GPU | Mali-T720MP2 |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| Inner memory | 16 GB |
| Supported memory cards | microSD up to 128 GB |
| Camera | |
| Camera | 8 MP, f/2.0, autofocus, dual-LED flash |
| Camera functions | Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection |
| Video recording | 720@30fps |
| Front-camera | 5 MP, LED flash |
| Battery | |
| Battery type and capacity | Li-Ion 3000 mAh |
| Additionally | |
| Sensors | Proximity, light, accelerometer, compass |
| Browser | HTML, HTML5, CSS3 |
| IMAP, POP3, SMTP | |
| Other | — MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player — MP4/H.264 player — Photo/video editor — Document viewer |
| Equipment | |
| Standard equipment | Y5 2017: 1 USB cable: 1 User manual: 1 Warranty card: 1 Charger 5V/1A: 1 |
Prices
Video reviews
The Chinese company Huawei has long been entrenched in the mobile phone market. It is constantly among the top five most popular brands for the production of smartphones and tablets all over the world, second only to such giants as Samsung, Apple and others.
Huawei devices attract the attention of consumers not only with their interesting design and good characteristics, but also with their prices. Today, she has gadgets in stock for any price segment, including budget models that are increasingly gaining popularity and becoming relevant.
I would like to talk about just one of these models today - this is the Huawei Y5 2017 smartphone. Reviews, current prices and much more will be in today’s review dedicated to this phone. Well, let's get started.
Review
Before we begin our review of the Huawei Y5 2017 smartphone, I would like to briefly tell you what exactly will be reviewed. First of all, we will get acquainted with the equipment of the device, its appearance, design and ergonomics. Then we'll take a closer look at the display, specifications, operating system and performance. The article will conclude with an introduction to multimedia functions, camera, battery life and reviews of the Huawei Y5 2017 smartphone.
Equipment
So, the phone comes in a small rectangular box of bright orange color. On the front there is only the name of the manufacturer and model, but on the back the main characteristics of the Huawei Y5 2017 smartphone are already listed: GB of internal memory, 2 GB of RAM, 5-inch screen, 3000 mAh battery, 4G support, etc. We will get acquainted with the device specifications in more detail in a separate section of the article.
Inside the box itself you can find the following: Huawei Y5 2017 smartphone, instructions, warranty card, charger unit, micro-USB cable, headphones and a protective film for the phone screen. Overall, a pretty good package for a budget device.
Of course, I would like to get some kind of silicone case in addition, but even without it everything is just fine.
Appearance
The appearance of the Huawei Y5 2017 smartphone is chic, even despite the plastic body. By the way, the plastic used here is of very high quality and pleasant to the touch. Only the frame is made of metal, which emphasizes the stylish appearance. The 2016 model had no metal elements at all.
On the back of the smartphone is the Huawei logo and the camera lens, which has a metal edge and protrudes slightly from the body. Next to the camera there is a double LED flash and a microphone hole that records sound when shooting video.
The corners and edges of the device are rounded, making it comfortable and pleasant to hold in your hand. I would also like to note the corrugated structure of the back cover of the phone, which looks just great.
On the right side, traditionally, there are volume keys and a power/lock button.
The company's proprietary "smart" button - "Easy key" - is located alone on the left side. You can manage it through the settings menu. For example, you can set that after pressing a button, a screenshot or something else will be taken.
Looking at the front panel of the device, it becomes a little sad. The large side frames around the five-inch display are very disappointing. There are also no touch control buttons; they are displayed on the screen, taking up some useful space.
At the top of the screen you can see the earpiece hole, light and proximity sensors, a 5 MP front camera and an LED flash so that selfies can be taken anywhere and at any time of the day.
At the top end of the phone there is only a 3.5 mm headphone jack. On the bottom edge there are a pair of speakers on the sides and a micro-USB connector in the middle.
As for the build quality, Huawei smartphones usually have no problems with this. Even though the Y5 is a budget model, it is built with high quality. All parts fit closely together, there are no creaks, pressing or crunching noises here.
Screen
The Huawei Y5 2017 smartphone has a 5-inch display. The matrix is made using IPS technology, resolution 1280x720, pixel density per inch is 294 ppi, which is generally standard.
There are some minor comments regarding the quality of color rendering. The gamma is clearly slightly shifted towards cool shades. You can correct the situation using the “Color temperature” item in the settings menu. If we talk about clarity, it is at its best here. Text, small details in photos, pictures - everything is visible very well.
The viewing angles are not bad, but there is a problem with many IPS matrices - when deviated in one direction, the screen turns yellow, in the other it turns violet. You can tell from the display that it clearly lacks good factory calibration.
In multi-touch mode, the display simultaneously recognizes up to 5 touches.
Characteristics
The technical characteristics of the Huawei Y5 2017 smartphone are as follows:
- Processor - with a frequency of 1400 MHz.
- Graphic video accelerator - Mali-T720 MP2.
- The amount of RAM is 2 GB.
- Built-in memory capacity - 16 GB + support for memory cards up to 128 GB.
- Camera - 8 MP, autofocus, dual LED flash.
- Front camera - 5 MP, LED flash.
- Screen - 5 inches, IPS, 1280x720, 294 ppi.
- Number of SIM cards - 2.
- - nano + micro.
- Battery - 3000 mAh.
- Additionally - light sensor, proximity sensor, compass, voice dialing.
Overall, quite good, for a budget model. Particularly pleasing is the possibility of expanding the internal memory using a separate slot for microSD.
Connection
If we talk about connection quality, the phone handles the network quite confidently. The volume of the external speaker is good, the interlocutor can be heard well, the voice is not distorted. As for support for wireless technologies, the Huawei Y5 2017 smartphone has 4G and 3G. GSM standards are fully supported: 900/1800/1900. Bluetooth in the device is version 4.0.
operating system
In the box, the smartphone comes with the Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) operating system. The shell uses the proprietary Emotion UI 4.1. The likelihood that this device will receive version of Android 7.0 is very small, but it is still a budget option.
As for the interface itself, the outer shell is quite pleasant and convenient to use. Optimization also does not fail. Flipping, opening and various transitions occur smoothly, without jerking. There was also no noticeable slowdown.
Performance
The processor in the Huawei Y5 2017 smartphone is not branded Kirin, but from MediaTek, version MT6737T. I don’t want to say anything special about this “pebble”, because it is installed in almost every third device from other manufacturers. The processor operates at a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz, which is more than enough for the budget segment.
The video accelerator is also not some cool Adreno, but a Mali-T720 MP2. Its performance is quite good and allows you to play most mobile games without much difficulty, including such as Asphalt, NFS, WoT.
In Antutu, the phone scored 40754 points, which is quite good considering its class. This figure is noticeably superior to the 2017 model from Samsung - Galaxy J3. And if you also compare the prices of both devices, then Huawei clearly has the advantage.
Several games were launched for the graphics test: Riptide 2, Asphalt 7/8, Modern Combat 5, Real Racing 3, Inhustice 2. The result was pleasantly surprising. In some games, the graphics settings were set to maximum - no drops in fps were noticed. However, for a comfortable game of the same Injustice 2, NFS, Asphalt 8, the settings still had to be lowered.
Camera
Huawei Y5 2017 has two cameras - an 8 MP main camera and a 5 MP front camera. The quality of the pictures, as for a budget employee, is very good. White balance is set correctly in most cases, but focusing and exposure are often missed.
As for the front camera, everything is perfect here. Sharpness is good, white balance, exposure - everything is on point. The photos come out high quality. Perfect for selfies and blogging.
The smartphone can record video in Full HD 1920x1080 30 fps. The sound is recorded in stereo, which is good news. The quality is not perfect, but at a high level.
The camera's settings are rich and can take a long time to figure out, so we won't consider them.
Autonomy
The smartphone's battery life is excellent. With more or less intensive use, the phone easily survives until the evening. If you limit yourself to only calls, SMS, a couple of hours of surfing and online video, then the charge will remain until the next day.
Prices
Huawei smartphones have always been distinguished by their slightly inflated price compared to other manufacturers. This model was no exception, although if you look at the characteristics of the device, its performance and capabilities, the price tag is quite justified.
Today, the Huawei Y5 2017 Gold or White smartphone can be bought for 6700 - this is the lowest price. For comparison, the same Galaxy J3 (2017) starts at 10 thousand.
Buy original Huawei GR5 in the official store
You also probably know that most cases are brought from there: they are ordered much more willingly because they are cheap, and delivery is almost always free. If you want to buy a case for Huawei GR5, then look for it on Aliexpress! For convenient selection by model, we have made a special page on our website, and choose.
If you have decided on the amount you are willing to spend on buying a smartphone, but you don’t really like the Huawei GR5, then in our catalog you can look at other models from the same price category: below we have listed models at the same price.
Xiaomi Mi Mix3 10/256GB Android 9.0 Pie 2 SIM screen 6.39" camera 12MP RAM 10GB memory 256GB battery mAh
Motorola P30 6/128GB Android 8.1 2 SIM screen 6.2" camera 16MP RAM 6GB memory 128GB battery 3000mAh
Samsung Galaxy S10+ 12/1024GB (Snapdragon 855) Android 9.0 Pie 2 SIM screen 6.4" camera 16MP RAM 12GB memory 1024GB battery 4100mAh
Nokia 8 Sirocco Android 8.0 1 SIM screen 5.5" camera 13MP RAM 6GB memory 128GB battery 3260mAh
Vivo Y83 Pro Android 8.1 2 SIM screen 6.22" camera 13MP RAM 4GB memory 64GB battery 3260mAh
Huawei P20 Pro Android 8.1 2 SIM screen 6.1" camera 40MP RAM 6GB memory 128GB battery 4000mAh
Detailed specifications of Huawei GR5
In this section we post detailed technical specifications of Huawei GR5. Here you can learn about the hardware (components) of this device and the functions that the gadget is equipped with.
General characteristics
- Type - smartphone
- OS version - Android 5.1
- Case type - classic
- Case material: metal
- Controls - On-Screen Buttons
- Number of SIM cards - 2
- Weight - 158 g
- Dimensions (WxHxD) – 76.3×151.3×8.15 mm
Screen
- Screen type: color IPS, touch
- Touch screen type - multi-touch, capacitive
- Diagonal - 5.5 inches.
- Image size – 1920×1080
- Automatic screen rotation - yes
Multimedia capabilities
- Camera - 13 million pixels, LED flash
- Camera Features - Autofocus
- Aperture - F/2
- Video recording - yes
- Front camera (on the front panel) - yes, 5 million pixels.
- Audio - MP3
Connection
- Standard - GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE
- Support for LTE bands - model KII-L21: FDD B1, B3, B7, B8, B20; model KII-L22: TDD B40, FDD: B1, B3, B5, B7, B8, B28; Model KII-L23/HUAWEI KII-L03:FDD B2, B4, B5, B7, B28
- Interfaces – Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.1, USB
- Satellite navigation - GPS/GLONASS
- A-GPS system - yes
Memory and processor
- Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939
- Number of processor cores - 8
- Video processor – Adreno 405
- Built-in memory - 16 GB
- Volume of RAM (RAM) - 2 GB
- Memory card slot - yes
Nutrition
- Battery capacity - 3000 mAh
Other features
- Speakerphone (built-in speaker) - yes
- Controls - voice dialing, voice control
- Airplane mode - yes
- Sensors – light, proximity, compass, fingerprint reading
Additional Information
- Contents: smartphone, charger, USB cable
Info
Other Huawei models:
HUAWEI Y5 (2019) 16GB Android 9.0 Pie 2 SIM screen 5.71" camera 13MP RAM 2GB memory 16GB battery 3020mAh
HUAWEI Y5 (2019) 32GB Android 9.0 Pie 2 SIM screen 5.71" camera 13MP RAM 2GB memory 32GB battery 3020mAh
HUAWEI Y6 Prime (2019) Android 9.0 Pie 2 SIM screen 6.09" camera 13MP RAM 2GB memory 32GB battery 3020mAh
Huawei smartphones are gaining more and more popularity among users every day. This is due to good build quality, good performance, and reasonable cost. Of course, phones from the Celestial Empire have a number of disadvantages, for example, on budget models you can find not the highest quality displays and cameras, but in general, even cheap smartphones will do an excellent job as a “dialer”. The Huawei Y5 phone is a representative of devices in the mid-price range. Nevertheless, this model is in great demand and popularity.
Almost any video review of a model begins with a description of the appearance. The design of the mobile device immediately hints at the budget model. The phone, compared to more high-end smartphones, seems quite thick. The case is made of cheap plastic, despite the fact that the back cover does not bend when squeezed, it seems that a little more and it will break. Around the display you can find a rather thick frame.
The front of the phone is completely covered with glass. Above the display, as usual, you can find the earpiece, as well as sensors and the front camera eye. Features of the device include the presence of a flash LED on the front panel.
The 2017 Huawei Y5 smartphone is distinguished by the absence of mechanical function buttons on the front panel. They are implemented in touch form and appear on the phone display when you need to use them. The “software” design of the buttons allows the user to customize them “for themselves.” Under the display of the device, on the front panel, you can find the company name.
On the back side there is a peephole of the main camera and a dual flash.
On the left side of the device there is an Easy Key button. With its help, you can configure a number of parameters that allow you to quickly activate certain functions of the device. For example, the key allows you to take a screenshot, take a photo, start a voice recorder, or turn on a flashlight. In addition, you can use it to activate any application installed on your smartphone.
On the right are the functional mechanical keys for volume and turning on (locking) the device.
At the bottom you can find a multimedia speaker grid, and a connector for recharging and synchronization with a PC. At the top there is a noise-canceling microphone (another “feature” that is not inherent in budget smartphone models), as well as a headphone jack.
Display
The Huawei Y5 2017 screen has a diagonal of 5 inches and a resolution of 720 by 1280 pixels. The display density is 294 Ppi. The device has quite good color rendition and viewing angles. In addition, the device's screen is quite bright, which allows you to use the device in bright light. This is where all the advantages of the display end. The disadvantages include the insufficiently high sensitivity of the sensor, as well as the oleophobic coating of poor quality. As a result, fingerprints quickly begin to appear on the display, which are difficult to wipe off. 
Rules for protecting the smartphone screen indicate that the display is highly susceptible to mechanical damage, especially if you use the smartphone carelessly. The Huawei Y5 phone does not have any protective glass or film. To protect the display, they will have to be purchased separately.
Sound
A description of the 2017 Huawei Y5 smartphone would not be complete without an overview of the capabilities of the device's speakers. The main volume will allow you to easily hear an incoming call, alarm clock or notification, however, the sound quality remains quite average. The speaker's capabilities allow you to watch any video, but listening to music will not bring proper satisfaction.
The situation changes dramatically when good headphones are connected; the sound output volume may not be sufficient. It is worth noting that the smartphone does not belong to the category of “music” phones, so the average maximum volume in the headphones cannot be considered a disadvantage of the model.
As for the conversational speaker, it has quite a good volume level, and there are no complaints about the quality of speech transmission of the interlocutor. The timbre of the voice is well conveyed, there is no interference, extraneous noise or wheezing.
Cameras
The review of Huawei Y5 (2017) should be continued with a description of the capabilities of the device’s cameras. Interestingly, the main camera in this model takes pictures worse than the front one. The rear one has a resolution of 8 megapixels, however, you won’t be able to boast about photos taken with its help. The disadvantages of the camera include low focusing speed, as well as the resolution of the resulting photos. The situation is not helped by the presence of an outbreak. As for the front camera, it has a resolution of 5 megapixels, and makes it possible to take good photos and record videos. However, the capabilities of the front camera do not allow it to be used instead of a video camera. However, it will appeal to selfie lovers.
The user manual states that the device's cameras are suitable for both photos and videos. In fact, only the front camera can boast of acceptable image quality.
Performance and autonomy
The manufacturer can boast that the 2017 Huawei Y5 has acceptable battery life. The company claims that after 800 charging cycles of the device, the battery will retain 80 percent of its original capacity. In addition, the advantages include a battery capacity of 3000 mAh, this will allow you to actively use the device for 1.5-2 days of active use of the device.
The characteristics of the Huawei Y5 (2017) phone are typical for a device located in the budget segment. Thus, the device is equipped with an eight-core processor with a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz. In addition, the phone boasts 2 GB of LPDDR3 RAM, as well as 16 GB of built-in flash memory, which can be expanded up to 128 GB if necessary.
It is worth noting that Huawei produces different modifications of this smartphone for different regions. Thus, the Y5-2017-3G (MYA-U29) model has a different platform and differs from others in the lack of support for 4G, Glonass, and compass.
As for the performance of the model, in a synthetic test conducted in the antutu benchmark, the model scored 32 thousand points. Of course, the result cannot be called outstanding, but to perform standard tasks, the device’s capabilities are sufficient. It is worth adding that the device will operate on Android 6.0, together with the graphical shell from Huawei EMUI 5.0. However, the manufacturer does not exclude the user from installing more recent operating system updates. 
Results
To summarize, it is worth saying that the Huawei Y5 2017 turned out to be a rather controversial model. On the one hand, the phone has quite acceptable characteristics, good sound quality of the earpiece, and a functional operating system. The advantages include support for 3g, 4g and lte networks. The features of the L22 model include the presence of a smart button, the functionality of which can be customized by the user. On the other hand, the device does not allow you to take high-quality photos from the main camera (at the same time, the front camera is capable of taking good photos); the phone does not have the highest resolution screen. Disadvantages also include poor performance indicators and a body made of cheap plastic. As for the package, apart from the charger, a cable for synchronizing with a PC, an instruction manual, a paper clip for removing the memory card tray and SIM card, as well as a warranty card, there is nothing there.
In general, the model is the simplest version of smartphones from Huawei, allowing you to access the Internet, use simple applications and programs, listen to music (however, the volume level in the headphones leaves much to be desired). The device supports Russian language. The quality of the plastic “hints” that the device will not be able to be used for several years. For a user who needs an inexpensive and relatively high-quality phone, the Huawei Y5 2017 is quite suitable, since the model is capable of solving everyday tasks.
Price varies from 6,700 to 8,640 rub. The average cost for autumn 2017 is 7989 rubles.
Video review of Huawei Y5 (2017)
Full technical specifications
| Main characteristics | |
| Model code | Huawei Y5 2017, Huawei Y5 3, Huawei Y5 III MYA-L02, MYA-L03, MYA-L22, MYA-L23Y5-2017-3G (MYA-U29) |
| Shell | EMUI 5.0 |
| Housing material | plastic |
| SIM card type | Nano-Sim |
| Number of SIM cards | 2 (Dual Sim) |
| SIM card operating mode | alternating |
| Dimensions (WxHxD mm) | 144mm x72mm x 8.4mm |
| Weight (g) | 150 |
| Screen | |
| Screen type | IPS |
| Diagonal (inches) | 5' |
| Screen resolution | 720 * 1280 |
| Pixels per inch | 294 |
| Memory | |
| Built-in memory | 16 GB |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| microSD memory card support | yes, up to 128 GB |
| Platform | |
| OS | Android 6.1 |
| CPU | MediaTek MT6737T |
| Number of Cores | 4-core processor |
| Maximum processor frequency | 1.4 GHz |
| Video controller | Mali-T720 MP2 |
| Photo/Video camera | |
| Main camera (MP) | 8 MP |
| Main camera aperture | F/2.0 |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Flash | Yes |
| Face recognition | Yes |
| Video recording | Yes, in HD |
| Front camera (MP) | 5 MP |
| Wireless network | |
| 2G | 900/1800/1900 MHz |
| 3G | 900/2100 MHz |
| 4G | 4G LTE, LTE-A Cat. 4 |
| LTE frequencies | bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28 |
| WiFi | 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0LE |
| Audio Video | |
| Playable audio formats | AAC, AMR-NB, WAV |
| Playable video formats | H.263, H.264, MP4 |
| Sensors | |
| Illuminance | Yes |
| Approximations | Yes |
| Compass | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Location determination | |
| GPS | GPS/A-GPS/Glonass |
| Calls | |
| Ringtones type | Polyphonic, MP3 |
| Vibration alert | Yes |
| Nutrition | |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 3000 mAh |
| Battery mount | removable |
| Additional Information | |
| USB | Micro-USB |
| Announcement date | 2nd quarter 2017 |
| Set | |
| Telephone Sync cable Charger Documentation Warranty card; SAR - no data. | |
Chinese manufacturers have been seized by a real mania for relatively inexpensive phablets that have, if not top-end, then very decent hardware. In 2015, companies from the Middle Kingdom released quite successful devices like Meizu M2 Note and M1 Metal, or Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 and 3. Huawei also did not stand aside and created a similar device, Honor 5X or GR5. It turned out to be somewhat more expensive (from 200 to 300 dollars, depending on the version and market), but compared to competitors from Japan or Korea, this price tag looks attractive. The new product was announced in October 2015, but it appeared on the European market only in the new year.
A review of Huawei GR5 will help you figure out what the smartphone has that is not available in the mentioned competing models, and whether it’s worth overpaying about a hundred dollars for these advantages.
Huawei Honor 5X differs from other Chinese smartphones in that it is built on a chipset not from MediaTek or the Kirin core developed by Huawei itself, but from the American Qualcomm. Whether this is a plus or a minus, let’s try to figure it out.
Appearance
The device has a metal body, available in three colors: silver, gold and white. Externally, the smartphone differs little from its analogues. These are the same straight lines with slightly smoothed corners, a glass panel on the front, an aluminum cover with inserts, a fingerprint scanner and a camera. 
It hardly differs from other phablets in its class either in size (151x76x8.2 mm versus 150x76x8.7 mm for RedmiNote 3) or in weight (158 g versus 164 g for competitor Xiaomi).
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 is an eight-core solution from an American manufacturer that belongs to the middle class. The processor consists of two quad-core clusters operating at 1.2 and 1.5 GHz, respectively. Both units have Cortex A53 architecture. For graphics processing, the SoC is equipped with an Adreno 405 video chip. In the AnTuTu synthetic test, the chipset scores about 34 thousand points, which is not so much.
Of course, for everyday tasks the performance will not be enough (even in budget-level quad-core processors there are no complaints about this). But in a gaming load, some users will find the power not enough. For example, in WoT on maximum graphics you can get 30 FPS without problems, but drawdowns and rare freezes are possible.
Memory
There are modifications of Huawei GR5, equipped with 2 and 3 GB of RAM. In both cases, this volume is enough for comfortable operation of the system, heavy applications and maintaining several programs in the background.
The built-in memory in all versions is 16 GB, of which about 11 are available. A separate MicroSD slot (which is not available in any version of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3) supports modules up to 128 GB.
Battery
The Huawei GR5 battery is non-removable and has a capacity of 3000 mAh. For a phablet, this figure is quite typical, but the Redmi Note 3 also has a 4000 mAh battery. The battery lasts for 3-5 hours in games, up to 10 when playing videos. With moderate use, the charge will last for the whole day, and if you don’t particularly load the smartphone, then two days is realistic.
Camera
The camera is equipped with a 13 MP matrix with F/2.0 aperture optics. Compared to the F/2.2 background of Xiaomi, the image quality should be slightly higher. In good light conditions this is indeed true, but at dusk the sensor also loses ground. But this is not a disadvantage of a specific model, but a disadvantage of mobile cameras in general. The diode flash saves the situation at close range, and in such a situation parity is established between competitors.
The 5 MP front module, on the contrary, is weaker. Limitations are imposed by the optics, which have an aperture ratio of F/2.4 and a small sensor area. But the front camera is quite suitable for selfies, and even more so for Skype.
Screen
It’s impossible to say anything non-standard about the Honor 5X screen. The 5.5-inch matrix with a resolution of 1920x1080 is no different from its competitors. The IPS display pleases with good viewing angles, decent brightness and adequate color rendition. The multi-touch sensor is ten-finger, the touch itself is glass.
Connection
When trying to figure out the list of networks supported by a smartphone, you can easily get confused. There are at least 8 modifications of smartphones on the market, differing not only in memory capacity, but also in compatible communication ranges. In general, we can safely say that Huawei GR5 supports 2G, 3G and LTE.
Depending on the region for which a particular version is intended, 3G can be represented by either WCDMA (popular in Europe) or TD-SCDMA (common in Asia). It's the same with 4G: there are models for TD-LTE and FDD-LTE. It is important to take this into account when ordering a smartphone from China, so as not to buy Huawei GR5 without support for local networks.
All common data transfer protocols are present in the smartphone: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), navigator with GPS and GLONASS support.
Sound
The smartphone has a fairly loud speaker, the grille of which is located at the bottom. The playback quality is at an acceptable level and compares favorably with its closest competitors. It’s pleasant to listen to music with headphones; even an inexpensive headset demonstrates good quality. Using the five-band equalizer, you can adjust the frequencies to suit your taste. The smartphone can play uncompressed FLAC audio without installing additional codecs and players. FM radio works only with connected headphones and demonstrates reliable reception of the terrestrial signal.
Two microphones allow you to achieve normal voice transmission in conditions of increased noise levels (for example, in the subway or near a busy highway).
operating system
Huawei GR5 OS – Android 5.1 Lolipop, with EMUI 3.1 shell. Externally, it is very similar to MIUI from Xiaomi. All program and feature icons, like iOS, are located on home screens; there is no dedicated application menu. Not everyone will like this solution, but a third-party launcher will help solve the problem of a non-standard interface. The system works smoothly, there are no brakes or glitches.
Pros and cons of Huawei GR5
Huawei GR5 stands out from its main competitors with several advantages:
- good main camera;
- separate slot for Micro SD;
- high-quality display;
- fingerprint scanner;
- good sound.
Not without its drawbacks:
- the price is higher than that of competitors;
- the battery is not the most capacious;
- Adreno 405 video processor is significantly slower than PowerVR G6200;
- The variety of versions makes it difficult to navigate.
Our review of Huawei GR5
Huawei GR5 is an attractive smartphone on the outside and functional on the inside. The review showed that it is able to compete adequately with similar devices from other companies. The price tag is higher than that of Xiaomi and Meizu, but compared to Sony and Samsung it does not look big.
The target audience of the device may be music lovers who like to keep an extensive audio library at hand. The ability to use a memory card, high-quality sound, normal battery life in player mode – these are the main advantages of the device. It is worth noting the stylish appearance of Huawei GR5. Those who may be disappointed in the purchase are game connoisseurs. The eight-core processor is generally good, but in terms of graphics performance it lags behind the MT6795.
In general, Huawei GR5 can be called balanced, and its price is justified.