In the reviews presented hereunder, we talk about users’ honest experience of the reviewed products based on usage. The reviews do not by any means represent endorsement or rejection of the products.
Review Of Apple’s iPhone 6
iPhone 6 has continued to enjoy prominence despite recent models with supposedly improved efficiency. Like iPhone 7, it measures 4.70 inches in screen. The touch screen display is bright and clear with the same resolution as iPhone 7 – 1334 x 750 pixels – which encourages use for photographic and video purposes.
The rear camera makes pictures of 8 mega pixels while the selfie (front camera) can make pictures of up to 1.2 mega pixels. It is convenient to take multiple shots with this model given the presence of the Burst (Continuous Shooting) Mode option. This allows one to take as many pictures as possible automatically, each shot coming about every half a second. This is enabled by holding down the shutter icon or one of the volume keys. It produces stellar motion pictures with its 60FPS (frames per second) and SLO-MO option for slow motion videos. Pictures and videos can also be duplicated before editing so that you can have the original after editing. Isn’t this a great feature? By the way, some of the special features of the phone cannot be experienced by merely taking calls and pinging. You got to surf the phone’s potentials and unravel the numerous features configured therein.
With its 8.0 iOS, performance is sure to be fast and enjoyable. The Touch ID, Apple’s fingerprint recognition feature, is noticeably quicker when unlocking the phone. Zipping through menus and opening apps are as slick an experience as breathing, when you are hale and hearty anyway. If you’re a bit of a mobile gamer then you’ll really enjoy playing the latest 3D games with all the extra graphical effects on the larger screen. The only issue noticeable in the performance has to do with certain apps. The Facebook app, for example, jerks and judders sometimes when in use.
In addition, the storage capacity is equally large. Although it has no MicroSD card slots, like all iPhones, it has relatively enough memory. The RAM is 1GB and the storage is 16GB. To assist in the use of this storage space, various connectivity options are provided. Some of them are WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, 3G, 4G, AirDrop, etc. But for contacts, you have only one SIM card to accommodate them. You can push extra contact numbers to the phone memory however.
The battery, built-in rechargeable lithium-ion, lasts longer in relation to the operations it performs. It has a capacity of 1810mAh and measures 138.10mm × 67.00mm × 6.90mm. It weighs 129.00 grams. It will interest you to know that, unlike in iPhone 6s and 7, the battery is easily removable, as in Nokia 3310. Remember this phone? We have really walked a long way, talking about phones.
The Reachability option on the phone makes usage convenient. This option allows you to use one hand consistently on the phone. This means that you could make options far at the top of the screen come down closer to allow you to select/click on them. Know this too: you can even customize the vibrations, not just the ringing tune. I mean vibration, such that you could know who is calling by the special sound of the vibration. Awesome! Right?
As for privacy, iPhone 6 scores high. Everything can be passworded including Notes. Your instagram messages, Facebook and Whatsapp chats, pictures and videos can all be securely passworded. This is not to say that the phone is for criminals or unhelpful at emergency.
On the contrary, the smartphone is emergency-conscious. Its Medical ID feature is the best emergency consideration in phones, as far as I know. This feature allows a user to input certain medical records about themselves in the phone such as blood group, allergies, emergency contacts, etc. This is programmed in such a way that all choice information can be accessible through the lock-screen on the Emergency function. Isn’t it assuring?
Newer versions of Apple iPhones abound and also presuppose improved performance but iPhone 6 has not ceased to be a great innovation. Whereas it may be outperformed by the succeeding models, it has not been shed of its great features and uniqueness.
Bignedu
Review Of Apple’s iPhone 6s
iPhone 6s, like iPhone 6, comes in four different colours, namely, rose gold, silver, space gray and gold. But I would always go for space gray. Don’t ask me why.
The device has prominent antenna bands, soft rounded covers and a curved glass screen that melts into its thin body. Part of what wows in the design is its fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. Although its water resistant capability is low, it does not easily yield to water. It comes strong and durable, haven been made of 7000 series aluminum alloy.
The display is clear and sizeable with a resolution of 1334 × 750 pixels. The phone weighs 143 grams, is 7.1mm thick, 5.44 inches in height and 2.64 inches wide. The polarizer in this model makes outdoor viewing better.
The memory is large enough despite the fact that it does not allow external storage card. There are two options of the model as a result of difference in RAM capacity. One is iPhone 6s with 32GB storage and the other is iPhone 6s with 128GB storage.
iPhone 6s promises great visual and audio experience. The main camera can produce pictures of 12 megapixels while the selfie makes pictures of 5 megapixels. The True Tone Retina Flash lights up the display of the phone before capture so as to ensure clearer image quality. In iPhone 6s, Apple fulfills the expected improvement in camera performance without degradation to the image quality. Even without the Optical Image Stabilization, one is assured of great image output. The Live Photo option adds a sense of vitality and life to still photos. As for the video, one cannot expect anything less than the best. It records 4k videos at 30FPS. 240FPS goes for SLO-MO and Time-Lapse videos. The sound effect is also impressive. It allows both personalized vibration and ringtones in addition to the proprietary packages on them. The loud speaker is responsive and has 3.5mm jack. The phone allows multiple connectivity such as WiFi, Bluetooth, LTE, dual-band, hotpot, GBS, NFC, etc. The LTE runs with a speed of about 300mb/s while WiFi runs at 866mb/s.
iPhone 6s has poor battery history. It was known for its unexpected shutdown but it has been recently resolved. Hence, most of the earlier ones may show this failure. Otherwise, the battery life is satisfactory. The 1715mAh battery lasts for 14 hours on calls and 10 days when not in use. When it is on internet use, it lasts depending on the connectivity: for 3G and LTE, you will expect 10 hours; for WiFi, it is 11 hours. If the phone is used for video, it can last for 11 hours while if it is used to play music, it stays for 50 hours. This statistics is certainly not an assurance that yours will have the battery life; it is an observation based on single use. You cannot have an iPhone and play only music with it. Usage that combines other things may lessen the life span. The battery is built-in and therefore non-removable.
Some other features that endear the phone to users include the 3D Touch which measures pressure levels; the Quick Action which allows urgent manipulation of apps (which unfortunately can also be taken advantage of by non-owners). There is also the fast Touch ID for finger print recognition in place of password.
Like every other product in the market, iPhone 6s has its own shortfalls, but it serves right when used right. You can go for it.
Bignedu
Review Of Apple’s iPhone 7
The first attractive feature of the improved iPhone 7 is that jet black colour that gives off impressiveness. I learnt there is another colour, grey or so, but jet black is surely bam. There was the hype and wow that welcomed it but it’s worth all of it. It surely would be scam-like to go for anything less than the price it came out with, about $549. With its outstanding features, you still wonder why another version would come after it. Producers won’t stop making money, anyway. And that is why Apple has other products.
The shape and size are even sexier than, no, i wouldn’t say curvy babes, some macho dudes. Don’t rush me! You would love the portability of the 4.7 inches piece. The screen which could be made bigger by double tapping the home button is brighter than the preceding models even though it is said to have the same resolution of 1334 × 750 pixels. The home button is quite solid although it requires skin contact. The intensity of its vibration when pressed can be reset to taste in the Settings menu. Have I told you that the phone is water resistant? You don’t fear any rain or deep dive during swimming whatsoever. So you have no reason to keep it unsafe away from yourself.
The operating system is so designed that it comes online once the phone is picked up, without any finger touch. With the 32GB internal storage and 3GB RAM, you are encouraged to continue taking those beautiful pictures. The sensor for main camera is about 12mp and the selfie has 7mp; that means bigger pixels. The optical image stabilization (OIS) makes it possible for the phone to produce sharp and clear pictures even when taken in dull or poorly lit scenes. It has f/1.8 aperture: that’s capable of making great focus and capture. There is that beautifully designed camera bump beside the Quad-LED adjustable flash light. The iPhone 7 is definitely designed with taking snap shots in mind. What else could be the reason behind the possibility of taking pics even when the phone is locked with password? Only a swipe right on the portrait-laid screen or up/down swipe if on landscape gets the camera ready. This however does not allow access to the gallery. You would still unlock the passworded phone to see the pictures in the gallery. So, it is privacy-guaranteed while being emergency friendly.
The absence of headphone ports on the phone does not mean bad sound result. The speaker produces sharp and distilled sounds. The lightning port however allows normal headphones to be connected using a certain adapter that comes in the pack. The Airpods also provide wonderful accompaniment for great audio effect.
The Force Touch is one feature that is kinda bitter sweet. It means a continued press on the phone to make some option pop up. If for instance a message enters the phone while it is locked, a long press on the message notification opens it for view. This means that anyone could read a new message on your phone even when it is locked. The good thing about it is that it saves time. A long press on the email icon, for instance, pops up options like ‘send message,’ ‘inbox’, etc.
Unlike with previous iPhones, users are now at liberty to uninstall any app they don’t fancy. The iPhone 7 allows user to delete instead of storing compulsorily in the Crappie folder to free up space. Talking of space, contacts can be shifted to the phone memory because it allows only one SIM card – nano size.
I am not surprised that the battery which is in-built (although replaceable with lots of technical requirements) can only do for about six hours of constant use. What else would you expect of such optimally performing phone with a lot of things going on in the operating system at once? The good thing nevertheless is that it charges up fast; it takes about 90 minutes to hit 100% from 0%. What is more, the battery hardly drops charge when not in use.
There are impressive improvements in the phone from what we had in previous iPhones. Like every human product, it has both sides of plus and minus. Of course, the former outweighs the latter. You can go for it, if you have the wherewithal. Get this? It’s not for all. Your pocket has to permit you!
Bignedu
Review Of Itel iNote Prime it1701
Three years into my ownership of this Itel 1701 with android version 4.4.2, it has continued to serve me right. I needed something bigger for my studies and researches, and its 7 inches by 4 inches screen was just what I needed for both video and scripted materials. I gladly parted with the #18,000 which I learnt from a friend who got the same phone at #29,000 was too cheap.
The packaging is welcoming as it has with it a dark leather shockproof cover. This not only promises longer life to the phone but gives it a gorgeous outlook. The size which competes with iPad leaves the phone appropriately for hand carriage instead of purses or pockets. It has a generally brilliant display.
The design is mature and forces any user to act accordingly. For instance, the risk of using earpiece while charging the phone is already averted by the designer as both ports are too close at the head of the phone to be used at the same time. What is more, it has that dull but elegant colour of black and lambent metallic white.
The screen size is not just good enough for reading and viewing videos but is also convenient for typing. I typed this piece with it with a speed I can hardly maintain while using my laptop. Of course, I can’t forget to tell you that I typed the chapters one and two of my undergraduate long essay with it. That reminds me to tell you that the storage capacity is wow. It is about 8GB. Did I tell you about the sound? Oh! The speaker is just perfect even when I listen to radio with the earpiece as just the antenna. My bae would rather share a song I don’t have to me just to listen to it with my phone. And the Itel phone is good on this.
I however have some reservations with the phone. Yea, I do. I must confess that the major problem is peculiar. The battery life. I recently confirmed that the battery doesn’t last long because I have not been using the specified charger for it. I lost the charger the phone came with very early and I never tried to get another with the same specification. I use any charger I see around. This seems to have affected the battery badly; it now takes longer time to get completely charged up and runs down with the speed of lightning. That’s actually a bit of an exaggeration. But the truth is that it takes less than two days to strike zero percent especially when the data connection is on. Three of my friends got the same phone about the same time I got mine. I tried to find out from them if they have the same poor battery satisfaction. But I couldn’t. One lost his phone too early to find out and the other rough handled his, so it broke down. Trust civil engineers. He made calls with it while having his hands full of cement. Sometimes, the phone was handled like one of the bricks he laid. LOL! Engr. Peter can be very funny anyway. Sr. Jane, like me, rarely uses hers for anything other than reading and surfing the internet. Since 2015, I only used it for calls when I lost my small phone – that lasted for about four months, anyway. Jane, until we parted last year, never complained about the battery.
Another minus about the phone is its photo quality. Nah! That’s really poor I must admit. Sr. Jane complained about photo quality too. So, I think the camera is just poor. Even when one tries their hand with other refined camera apps, the story doesn’t change. I don’t know what the 8.0MP written by the camera’s eyes means. Whatever claims it makes, I don’t like the picture quality. It can only produce a fair image under heavy light especially the sun. The live focus is not better either. When it displays a good image you would wonder why it can’t produce one. I take it for granted that the phone (I prefer to call it tablet anyway) is designed for scholars and writers like us.
You can go for it if you need something portably large for screen related purposes. But you may not want to go for it if you are a photo freak. There is no snapchat, and you can’t lock your chats and messages for privacy reasons. Improved versions of the phone will be appreciated with good image quality, advanced privacy options especially on messenger app.
Guest Writer
