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While the last couple weeks have been spent reviewing 1080p phones – the Zopo ZP980+ and H9008, we now have a couple of 720p offerings on the way. The first of which is the newly released THL T200C.
The MT6592 THL T200C is a giant 6″ LCD phablet. While the THL T200S is 1080p, the THL T200C scales things down slightly by decreasing resolution to 720p and decreasing storage to 16GB.
Looks
If you’re a Samsung fan, you won’t be disappointed. The THL T200C doesn’t present anything interesting or striking about it. It carries the same design as the THL T200S.
We do like that it’s more Note 3ish than Note 2ish. That is to say, it’s more square. Thanks be to whatever you believe in that Samsung switched up the terrible rounded corners of the Note 2.
So Samsung squared things up a bit and the clones are bound to follow, as it is with the THL T200C.
The THL T200C has the requisite silvery plastic trim and textured back. That isn’t to say it’s bad looking. Square and slim, it presents a fine appearance.
RAM and Storage (ROM)
Great the THL T200C has 2GB of RAM and big 16GB storage. It also includes an SD slot for memory expansion.
Resolution & LCD
The LCD on the THL T200C is a giant IPS 6.0″. The resolution is 720p. That’s a PPI of 245, which is approximately 20% lower than 720p on a 5.0″ (296).
Some resolution hounds may instantly dismiss the T200C because of it’s size and resolution. Having ‘retina’ or a near-retina picture does really offer something extra pleasant, but that being said, a PPI of 245 is easily nice enough to look at. For us, it’s no problem.
The other side of the lowish resolution coin is that you should get better battery life due to the SoC moving less pixels. Our experience with battery life with MT6592 and 1080p has not been so great – giving us around 3-4 hours on screen. That should get most users through the day, but it wouldn’t win any extended play awards. We’ll delve a bit more in to battery life a bit further down. Regardless, users will certainly achieve better performance in regards to 3D and perhaps even with navigating Android due to the 720p LCD.
Frequency support
As is standard with most THL mobiles, the THL T200C supports 850/900/1800/1900 GSM and 850/2100 WCDMA. We’d like to see quad-band WCDMA as is included in the big-screened H9008. It would add huge value, but it’s not to be.
Battery
The battery could be the Achilles heal of the T200C. As reported at most shops, the battery is 2500mA. This is not too bad considering that standard for 5.0″ is 2000mA, but we’d like to see 2700-3000, even if it meant fattening the phone up by a mm.
Let’s not count it out yet though. The 720p resolution could considerably increase battery life. We’re hoping for at least 5 hours on screen. Let’s see if it meets the prediction.
Price
This is another positive about 720p phones compared to 1080p. Given other aspects of a phone being the same, the cost can be reduced by approximately $30-50. The THL T200C is now showing up in shops for about $260. For a THL phone with the given specs, it’s a fair price.
Extra Features
While we hesitate to call OTG ‘extra’, as it’s about par for the course for decent phones in 2014, it’s still a relatively new thing for OTG to be included in phones, so let’s call it ‘extra’ for the near future at least. No exception here, the THL T200C includes OTG.
THL T200C also includes NFC.
THL T200C review specification verdict
What’s not to love. Some may want a higher resolution LCD, but a PPI of 245 is fine for us and provides more benefits than it does negatives. That is a significantly decreased price, better battery life and increased performance.
The looks are fine. Thankfully more square than rounded. OTG and NFC are part of the package. A big 2GB RAM and 16/32GB storage. The THL name. All in a $260 package? We’re sold.
It’s not often our interest is piqued by huge phablet phones, but this one has us intrigued. Let’s see if it can live up the high expectations. If we can get 5 hours on-screen and the firmware is clean, it’ll be a winner. Looking forward to getting into the nitty gritty with this phone later this week.
EDIT: The 2500mA battery has been performing phenomenally.
Further viewing and reading
– This THL T200C acquired by www.androidcarts.com. They are currently offering 5% off everything in their shop to Gizbeat readers with coupon code ‘giz’.
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