OS, Apps, and UI
Running on the handset is the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It’s bare and as stock as it can get. There’re not many apps out of the box — just the essentials plus key Google apps like Gmail and Maps. You basically get a home page where you put your shortcuts and widgets, and an app drawer.
To navigate around the UI, you have to rely on the single capacitive key below the display. One tap is for back, double tap is for home, and holding it for about 2 seconds will show your recent apps. It takes some time to get used to it but if that is too cumbersome you can opt for the on-screen navigation buttons by activating it inside Settings.
We initially hoped that they just made this similar to Android One devices, but the goal here is to let users install their preferred launcher or even ROM, if compatible. Elephone did include some nifty features like off screen gestures, three fingers motions, and other options tucked in the settings.
Camera
Perhaps where the Elephone P9000 shines through during our usage is in the camera department and that’s due to the fact that it has a primary 13-megapixel Sony IMX258 sensor with an f/2.0 lens and coupled with a Laser autofocus. While the hardware aspect is quite an impressive feat, its software counterpart, the camera UI, is short of any enhancements but that doesn’t get in the way.
Daylight shots with the main camera are notable – there’s plentiful of details, good saturation, and has great quality overall. Although, when indoors, noise tends to spike up and the image gets smudgy. Also, shutter speed is quite slow and can’t capture moving objects pretty well.
Here are some samples:
The 8-megapixel front camera is an ideal companion for those who like to take selfies. It’s wide and captures plenty of details in good lighting.
Here’re a couple of samples:
Video recording, on the other hand, is the same as for the stills. Given that the scenario is bright and has sufficient light to process, you can get good results. The recording is maxed at 1080p and there’s a slow-mo feature captured at VGA resolution.
Here a 1080p clip taken by the bay:
The camera sensors on the Elephone P9000 are capable shooters for bright scenarios. While indoor lighting affects overall quality, it’s still a good camera for casual users and maybe even better than most in this range.
Hahahah….natawa ako sa title nitong article nato, Elephant P9000:-)