The pandemic made everyone become extra careful by equipping ourselves with protective gear. Nowadays, we wear face masks and face shields and bring alcohol or hand sanitizers wherever we go. Others go the extra mile by bringing a Pulse Oximeter to make sure their SpO2 are in the right levels. Body temperatures are always checked before entering establishments as it’s one of listed symptoms of the virus. Now what if we tell you there is a smartphone that has a built-in Infrared Thermometer to check your temperature? To our surprise, there is such a smartphone that exists. Here’s our review of the UMIDIGI A7s.
UMIDIGI A7S REVIEW UNIT SPECS:
| OS: | Android 10 Go |
|---|---|
| Processor: | 1.25GHz MT6737 Quad-Core processor |
| Display: | 6.53" HD+ with 20:9 In-Cell Display |
| Wireless Connections: | 4G, Bluetooth 4.0, 801.11 a/b/g/n/ac, A-GPS |
| Memory: | 32 GB Internal Storage expandable with a Micro SD card, 2GB RAM |
| Connectors: | Type-C USB |
| Cameras: | 13 Megapixels f/1.8 + 8 Megapixels 120 degrees Ultra-Wide angle + 2 Megpixels Depth (Main Camera), 8 Megapixels f/1.8 (Front) |
| SIM Card Slots: | 2x Nano SIM Cards required |
| Battery: | 4,150 mAh |
| SRP: | P3,990 |
THE UNBOXING
The box of the UMIDIGI A7s review unit came in a white, minimalistic box.
Inside the box are the UMIDIGI A7s review unit, Type-C USB Cable, USB Charger, Silicon Case, SiM Card ejector and a User Manual.
THE LOOKS AND FEEL
Dimensions of the UMIDIGI A7s are measured at 164mm x 77.14mm x 9.45mm. It weighs 195 grams which is not that heavy to hold.
One the left side of the A7s are the SIM Card and an Infrared Thermometer Button. The A7s can accommodate two Nano SIM Cards and a Memory card all at once, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice a SIM card for a memory card like what other phones do.
On the right side are the power button and volume rocker.
At the bottom are the Type-C USB port and speaker grille.
On the top is a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Here’s the part I liked about the A7s. Normally, entry-level phones have cheap-looking designs that turns me off most of the time. The A7s is different. It is made of a 3D Unibody Design that has a different texture to prevent accidental slips as well as fingerprint smudges. For its looks, you might mistake it for a higher entry-level price. The camera module houses its triple-camera system, LED flash and the Infrared Thermometer.
Thanks to its 3D Unibody Design, the phone looks stylish and comfortable to hold. Not bad for an entry-level phone. Available colors are in Granite Grey, Sky Blue and Peacock Green. Our UMIDIGI A7s review unit is in Sky Blue and it looks great!
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THE DISPLAY
The UMIDIGI A7s has a 6.53″ IPS LCD display with HD+ resolution and 20:9 aspect ratio. Nothing much to expect in this area since IPS displays most often produce fine colors for budget-priced phones. If you wish to binge-watch on Netflix and YouTube, then the A7s will definitely suffice. Bezels are a tad thick for my taste but it’s not that bad. The phone applies a 2018-teardrop display which houses an 8 Megapixel selfie camera on top.
THE PERFORMANCE
The UMIDIGI A7s is equipped with a MediaTek MT6737 1.25Ghz Quad-Core processor. This chipset is typically found in entry-level phones for the past few years, and it seems that it will not go away. We have reviewed smartphones before powered by this processor so we already had an idea what to expect with its performance. Nevertheless, we still did some benchmarking tests which were not done before to measure the A7s performance. Here they are:
The A7s runs on stock Android 10 Go. We think having this OS is a positive side for the A7s. First, having a stock OS means there are no bloatwares pre-installed on the phone, and second, having Android 10 Go means you have an entry-level phone that runs on the lite version of the latest OS. Rather than buying a second-hand phone with an outdated processor, you’ll be better off with a new phone with the latest OS. Navigating the phone isn’t buttery smooth but it would do fine. So far, Android 10 Go didn’t freeze during our evaluation period.
Now, if this is your first time to use Android Go, you have to understand that some of the pre-installed Google apps aren’t the full versions found in most Android phones. Being on a lite Android Go version means some of the Google apps features are limited. For example, you can use Maps Go to find a location but you cannot use its navigation feature. You have to download the Google Maps app from Google Play to enjoy this feature.
The A7s comes with 32GB of internal storage and 2GB of RAM. In recent years, Android Go phones I’ve reviewed have a measly 8GB of storage which, honestly speaking, is not decent enough to install a couple of apps. The 32GB of storage will surely be appreciated by its users and they can install at least few of their favorite or important apps. I tried out two mobile games on the A7s: Mobile Legends Bang Bang and PUBG Lite. These two games are playable on the phone as long as the graphics or video settings are set to the lowest. Adjusting their settings to max will just slow down the smartphone and might crash too. Sadly, Call of Duty Mobile is not available for download on Google Play, but you can try to download its apk if you really insist on playing the game.
UNIQUE FEATURE
As I’ve mentioned in the beginning, the UMIDIGI A7s comes with a built-in Infrared Thermometer. To use the thermometer, you just press the left button of the phone and it will activate the Thermometer app. Hold the device between the forehead for around 1-3cms. then tap on the Measure button. The actual temperature will be shown on the screen. It is also capable of checking the temperature of an object. Simply tap on the Object tab then click Measure. The IR Thermometer seems to work as all my temperatures registered normal. I tried it on my work laptop and even registered a cooler temperature. I would like to think it is accurate since I am in an air-conditioned room.
The thermometer app stores records of the registered temperatures. I wish they made it more visually appealing like adding charts or graphs. I also wish there is a way to export them in an excel file or share them via email or social media.
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THE CAMERAS
The UMIDIGI A7s has a triple-camera system composed of a 13 Megapixel, 8 Megapixel and 2 Megapixel depth sensor. Using the cameras under daylight worked well and definitely usable for social media postings. It also has a portrait mode but you have to calculate your subject’s position to make it work. Photos taken at night can be a challenge. Some appeared washed-out when there aren’t enough lighting in the area.
Check out these sample photos by the UMIDIGI A7s:
THE BATTERY LIFE
The UMIDIGI A7s’s battery is rated at 4,150 mAh. With my usual daily tasks involving calls, social media activities, multimedia playback and gaming, I average around 11-12 hours a day.
DR’S CONCLUSION
For its price of P3,990, the UMIDIGI A7s is a good buy for a new entry-level phone. The Infrared Thermometer can be useful if you want to check your temperature regularly, but even if you don’t use the feature, the phones other features can stand for itself and can be a good alternative for users looking for an entry-level smartphone.
PROS:
- Stylish textured unibody design
- Infrared Thermometer
- Latest Android OS
CONS:
- Thermometer app needs improvement
- Cameras take poor images at night
- Some users might prefer a full Android OS than Android Go
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