Starmobile KNIGHT Vision hands-on, first impressions

For those who just can’t miss their favorite TV shows while still being on-the-go, you may want to check this out. Starmobile’s KNIGHT Vision sports a large screen for your daily browsing needs as well as watching local channels. Here’s our quick hands-on experience with it.

The KNIGHT Vision flaunts a 5.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 and a pixel density of 267ppi. Undoubtedly, the primary function of its spacious screen is for watching videos and shows from its Digital TV app.

Measuring at 8.5mm, the KNIGHT Vision is considerably slim, but not as slim as the Cherry Mobile Flare XL that we recently got our hands on. It is also a bit heavier on the hand than the Flare XL which is understandable, as it has additional hardware like the extending antenna.

The phone uses a metal strip that runs around the entire device, attempting to go for a premium (iPhone-like?) look. Lying along this strip on the right side are the volume rocker and power/lock screen button which possess the same material.

The back is a solid piece of plastic cover with all the components pushed to the left side.

Starmobile seems to be gunning for an elegant look with its rounded corners. Indeed, it actually works and not only does it look more appealing, but it also makes the device sit comfortably on the palm of the hand when using it.

Its 13-megapixel rear shooter was also given attention to, since it’s equipped with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) — it has its own physical mechanism inside which counteracts minor shakes while holding the smartphone, allowing for sharp images and smooth videos. In addition, the KNIGHT Vision’s optics are also powered by a Sony Exmor sensor.

The 3.5mm audio jack along with the microUSB port for transferring files and charging the phone are both located up top and pushed towards the left edge.

The KNIGHT Vision employs on-screen buttons and does away with capacitive ones. This makes us wonder what the empty space below it is for.

Its back cover can be popped open where it reveals its 2,450mAh battery, dual SIM card slots, and a microSD slot to expand your storage.

At the top-left corner is where the antenna is hidden. Simply pull to extend it and get better reception for the digital TV function.

Finally, we quickly launched its Digital TV app and we were able to receive transmission for 19 channels on-the-fly. Initial impressions on the video quality were positive since we got a fairly good signal. Stay tuned for our full review.

Starmobile KNIGHT Vision specs:
5.5-inch HD IPS display, 267ppi
1.3GHz MediaTek MT6582 quad-core CPU
Mali-400MP2 GPU
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage
up to 64GB via microSD
13-megapixel AF Sony IMX Exmor RS rear camera w/ f/2.0 aperture, OIS, and dual LED flash
8-megapixel AF Sony front camera
Dual-SIM (Regular + Micro), Dual 3G Standby
3G HSPA+
WiFi
Bluetooth
ISDB-T Digital TV (over 10 free channels as of Feb 2015)
FM Radio
GPS, A-GPS
OTA Update support
Android 4.4 KitKat
2,450mAh battery
154 x 78 x 8.5mm
161g
Price: Php9,990