At this point everyone will be aware of the trend of mobile phones without bevels, whether in the style of the iconic Xiaomi Mi MIX or the formidable Samsung Galaxy S8. This time we will be looking at a smartphone inspired by the latter called Cubot X18, which comes from the hand of a trusted Chinese manufacturer: Cubot. This company, by the way, does not intend to copy any rival brand, but to introduce mobile with 18 – 9 aspect ratio to the low-end segment, since, although in the Western market still not fully embraced the idea of mobile phones without bevels, history is the opposite in the Asian market, where almost all Smartphone manufacturers are in love with this line of design and are working on their models.
Turning to today examine the Cubot X18, a mobile with HD + 5.7-inch screen and aspect ratio 18 – 9, which also is equipped with a very decent price specifications (3GB RAM + 32GB ROM). It also incorporates a 16MP primary camera with Sony sensor, as well as a 13MP Samsung front camera and other exciting features, all for a small base price of 120 dollars or 100 euros.
Cubot X18 – Unboxing
The Cubot X18 comes in a white box with the following accessories to enjoy it to the fullest:
- Charger
- USB Cable
- Plastic case
- Quick Start Guide in English
- Warranty Card
Design and Build of Cubot X18
To be a budget Smartphone that sits just slightly beyond the $ 100 threshold, the Cubot X18 is not bad at all. It looks exquisite, and its shiny surface pleases quite a lot in view, but unfortunately, the construction is not Premium since the body is made of plastic in its entirety and the back cover is an annoying fingerprint magnet. In his defe7nce, we can say that he feels good in his hand and that the grip is decent.
The first impression that gives us this terminal is excellent, the screen is awesome, and despite measuring 5.7 inches, this feels smaller, which means that the use of space has been optimized, achieving a longer display and a relationship 18 – 9 aspect ratio. The advantage of all this is that, without sacrificing the gripping experience, a larger screen has been achieved and suitable for single-handed operations.
In detail, this terminal consists of the following dimensions of size – 15.90 x 7.40 x 0.85 cm and weights 170 grams.
On the front side are located three soft buttons in the lower section. On the left side, you will not find anything, while on the right side are located the respective volume and power buttons.
On the back is the primary camera accompanied by a LED flash and a fingerprint sensor quite responsive (has a successful unlock rate of 97%), which can store up to 5 prints at a time. Unfortunately, the surface is quite prone to capture our tracks and spots.
The back cover is removable, by removing it we can access the slots for SIM and Micro-SD cards, as well as the 3200mAh battery, which is also removable.
Display with aspect ratio 18 – 9
The screen is the main incentive to buy the Cubot X18, as it offers a convenient 18 – 9 aspect ratio (The new industry standard according to Philippe Starck – Designer of the Mi MIX) and a more than satisfactory experience for the price. We are dealing specifically with a 5.7-inch screen with 2.5D curved glass and HD + resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels, which has a viewing angle of 178 degrees, multi-touch capability and a bright light.
We must say that the quality of the image is good in general terms, but the colours seem a little washed or opaque, but it makes up for it with good mink angles, as well as a good tactile response. It is also essential to mention that it has a scratch resistant glass, but it is not Corning Gorilla Glass technology, so it is not as durable as you would expect.
Hardware and performance
When we talk about Hardware, we must say that the Cubot X18 is not a flagship or power exponent. This comes equipped with a modest MediaTek MT6737 processor, which consists of 4 ARM A53 cores set at a frequency of 1.5GHz and a Mali-T720MP2 GPU running at 600Mhz. To support this, we have 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 32GB of internal storage (expandable up to 128GB through a Micro-SD).
The Cubot X18 obtained 37871 points in the AnTuTu test.
Although probably not a flagship, the Cubot X18 can offer a decent performance in everyday applications, as well as games such as Asphalt 8, which works properly on this device. Yes, be prepared to lower the visual options to medium and wait for some omitted paintings, but in our experience the result is enjoyable. They may have been fixed in the scores obtained in the various Benchmarks programs, which support our arguments.
In Geekbench, 1809 points were obtained in the multi-core test and 637 in the single-core test. We must say that for a terminal of 119 dollars is not bad, but it does not cause for praise either.
Operating system and connectivity
The Cubot X18 comes with a pure version of Android 7.0 Nougat, so we will not find any custom layer, themes or Widget that could be detrimental to the performance of the device or deter potential buyers who are not used to the Chinese ROM.
In short, the result is sublime, and the system is highly responsive during its use, even when having several applications open in the background.
Therefore, casual or not very demanding users will have an excellent experience manipulating this terminal.
Connectivity
Regarding wireless connectivity, we have the usual: Wi-Fi b / g / n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and A-GPS. It is worth mentioning that the Cubot X18 can connect to more than 13 available satellites and offers good performance and precision when talking about geolocation, navigation with Google Maps and any other application or service that requires knowing our location.
When we talk about compatible networks, we have a 4G LTE terminal with two dedicated Micro-SD slots with Standby mode support. The terminal itself can be connected to the following bands and frequencies:
- 2G GSM – 1800, 1900, 850, 900 MHz
- 3G WCDMA – 2100, 850 MHz
- 4G LTE – 1800, 2100, 2600, 800, 900 MHz
We must say that it has a decent performance when talking about LTE networks, reached an average speed between 45-55 Mbps and good signal reception at all times.
Battery
The Cubot X18 is equipped with a removable 3200mAh battery that offers an autonomy of a whole day with regular use. Due to the low consumption of the SOC and the optimisation of the system itself, this mobile can satisfy the needs of an average user regarding duration.
Of course, do not expect any extra incentive in this department, such as fast loading, because as we mentioned earlier, we are dealing with an economical phone of 120 dollars.
Camera Cubot X18
The mobile is equipped with a Sony 13MP sensor with 5-piece lens and aperture f / 2.2, which has a pixel size of 1.12um and the ability to capture images with up to 16MP (Interpolation), as well as the possibility of filming a video in FHD at 24FPS. There is no double camera this time, so forget about the precious Bokeh effect.
Regarding the quality of the photos, well, we have to say that taking beautiful photos is relatively easy in the light of day, and the same applies to video capture. The autofocus is decent, and the LED Flash fulfils its purpose.
However, the problems appear when we deal with photos at night or with low lighting, which is not a surprise for anyone since all budget mobiles fail when it comes to taking pictures in the dark.
When it comes to low lighting you can see the appearance of digital noise, low ISO and frames per second reduced when recording videos.
The front camera is based on a 8MP interpolated 13MP Samsung sensor, which has the same advantages and disadvantages as the primary camera. It is worth mentioning that said camera has a soft LED flash, this works properly at distances of up to 80cm, but if the subject is further away from that, then the results will be poor in the dark.
Table of specifications of the Cubot X18
| Basic information | |
| Brand: | Cubot |
| Kind: | Phablet 4G |
| Unlocked: | YES |
| SIM card slot: | Dual SIM with standby mode |
| SIM Type: | Micro-SIM |
| Display and dimensions | |
| Display Type: | Capacitive |
| Screen size: | 5.7 inches |
| Screen resolution: | 1440 x 720 (HD +) |
| Dimensions | 15.90 x 7.40 x 0.85 cm |
| Weight | 170 grams |
| Hardware | |
| CPU: | MediaTek MTK6737T |
| Core: | Quad-Core at 1.5Ghz |
| GPU | Mali-T720MP2 |
| RAM: | 3GB |
| ROM: | 32GB |
| External memory: | Expandable up to 128 GB |
| Connectivity | |
| Band Technologies | 2G GSM – 1800, 1900, 850, 900 MHz
3G WCDMA – 2100, 850 MHz 4G LTE – 1800, 2100, 2600, 800, 900 MHZ |
| Wireless Connectivity | Wi-Fi – 802.11 / b / g / n /, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, A-GPS |
| Interfaces | Nano SIM slots, 3.5 mm audio port, USB. |
| Wristwatch | |
| Main camera: | 13.0MP camera (Interpolation to 16MP) |
| Front camera: | 8.0MP (Interpolation to 13MP) |
| Battery | |
| Battery Capacity | 3200mAh |
| Removable | Do not |
| Package content | Phone, USB cable, screen protector, charger, manual. |
Conclusions about the Cubot X18
For only 120 dollars it is possible to obtain a smart and 18 – 9 aspect ratio, the Cubot X18 is the living proof of that. This terminal also incorporates a modern design that resembles that of some of the best high-end mobile phones that exist (Galaxy S8), and its features are enough to satisfy the average user. Among the positive aspects, we can highlight its screen, its battery and its excellent performance.
But not everything that shines gold, since as you would expect, the Cubot X18 makes some sacrifices to keep the price tag affordable to everyone. First, we must note that the body is built of plastic, coupled with this is the camera, which meets during daylight, but leaves much to be desired at night or under low light conditions.
However, we have concluded that its price-quality ratio is in point. Therefore, it is a recommended purchase for Android users who want an affordable mobile, but do not skimp on features or beauty.
Availability and price of the Cubot X18
You can purchase the Cubot X18 through the online stores of Gearbest, AliExpress and Banggood starting at $ 119.99 or € 102.04.
Buy Cubot X18 in Gearbest
Buy Cubot X18 at Banggood
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hello, please where can i get this phone in lagos apart from online stores like jumia and konga