A few weeks back, the rumors flying around about Tecno R7 were confirmed. The 5.5-inch display smartphone – or rather phablet with a hexa-core processor is the first of such release from Tecno. And again, this brand which has gained a strong foothold already emphasizes its position in the Nigerian mobile market. The device is really a turning point for Tecno as it seems they actually listened to their users and added features not seen yet in previous devices, even the cool Tecno Phantom A3 that also came out with a bang back then.
A hexa-core processor for a smartphone sounds like a really big deal as only quad-core is the common thing we normally hear. Improving its hardware, this device also comes with the much-talked about Gorilla glass.
What’s New in Tecno R7?
I’ve been using this device for quite a while now and so far, the most impressive thing is the speed. The processor, coupled with a 2GB RAM performs magic. The beautifully redesigned user interface is also commendable. And at last, Tecno finally introduced OTA update! I was greeted with a prompt to upgrade the device after setting it up and connecting to a Wi-Fi network. I normally install Nova Launcher on each new Android device I lay my hands on but in the case of Tecno R7, I haven’t seen any need to do that. The UI is rather colorful and there are different themes to choose from the display options.
Display & Camera
Tecno R7 comes with a 5.5″ screen protected with Gorilla glass. This is the first Tecno device with this toughened glass that protects your device from scratches. The wide screen is particularly great if you love watching movies and playing games on your device. The screen has a resolution of 720×1280 with a density of 320 dpi. The display is rendered by Mali-450 MP GPU. Tecno R7 has a 13MP rear camera equipped with a flashlight coupled with a front-facing 5MP camera great for taking selfie. Equipped with features mostly found in 3rd party apps to fine-tune you shots, using the camera can be fun as the 13MP camera produces great looking images with high resolution.
Operating System and Memory
Tecno R7 runs Android 4.2.2 and with the OTA (over the air) update now available, it may support newer versions of Android OS. As previously mentioned, this device has a hexa-core MediaTek (MT6592) processor with ARM Cortex-A7 architecture. It has a 2GB RAM, twice that of Tecno Phantom A3. The device has a 16GB ROM (and there’s also a 8GB version) which is expandable to 32GB.
Build and Size
The battery is removable as it comes with a glossy plastic cover at the back. The device is pretty slim with a dimension of 158 x 78.5 x 8.4mm. This device comes with a free smart view cover with “smart wake-up” feature. This cover automatically wakes your device or puts it to sleep depending on whether the cover is opened or closed.
Battery Life
The battery has a capacity of 2430mAh but I’m yet to max it out to see how well it performs. The standby time looks good based on my observation though but I had 3G turned off the whole while. A 6-core processor is expected to be power-hungry but there’s a free 5,200mAh power bank you can carry around to charge your device on the go. It comes with a torch that can last up to 70 hours.
Network and Connectivity
Tecno R7 is a dual-SIM 3G device that supports GSM900/DCS1800/WCDMA2100MHz network bands. It supports 3.75G, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS.
Pre-installed Applications
As with other Tecno phones, this phablet comes preloaded with a bunch of useful applications including BBM, WhatsApp, Youtube, Messenger, Facebook, UC Browser, Google+ and more. There are also a number of games included: Green Farm 3, Danger Dash, Real Football 13 and Fashion Icon. The Assistant application also included lets you install more useful apps for free.
Performance
If you have the habit of running lots of programs on your device at a time, Tecno R7 is definitely for you. The 2GB RAM makes you do lots of things at a time without other apps force-quitting. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas played flawlessly even at high graphic settings.
Price and Availability
The device is now available in Nigeria. It’s priced at 45,000 NGN ($275.00) on Konga.
Final Thoughts
Tecno R7 came as a big surprise from Tecno and personally, I’m impressed. The speed is awesome the performance is very good. The slim design and redesigned UI make the phone stand out. I was hoping to see Tecno’s first KitKat device but this device came with Jellybean. Anyway the OTA update is a good thing… the update might come through after all.
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