Huawei’s new GR5 2017 is coming to Australia on 17 April and is the only dual, rear camera anywhere near the $399 price.
The GR5 2017 is essentially an updated Honor 6X with dual camera and it is aimed at millennials who want it all, especially a great camera, but can’t afford it.
Huawei is already at number three spot in Australia behind Apple and Samsung. Globally it had 10.6% of the market and is considered one of the few Chinese manufacturers with a chance to knock off the market leaders.
A phone at $399 is bound to have some compromises, but in most respects, this sets new boundaries for mid-range specifications (usually found in $500-799 devices) at mass-market prices.
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Huawei GR5 2017 (Australian website)
- Screen: 5.5”, LTPS IPS LCD, 1980 x 1020, 403ppi, 71.8% screen to body ratio
- Processor: Kirin 655, eight-core (4 x 2.1GHz and 4 x 1.7GHz), i5 smart co-processor and Mali-T830MP@ GPU
- RAM/Storage: 3GB/32GB/microSD to 256GB (uses second SIM slot)
- Rear Camera: Dual lens 12MP+2MP, 1/2.9" sensor size, 1.25 µm pixel size, combined resolution 3968 x 2976, phase detection autofocus, HDR, LED flash, up to 1080 @30fps record
- Front camera: 8MP, 1080 record
- Wi-Fi N, Wi-Di, Bluetooth 4.1, fingerprint sensor
- Audio: DTS and ANC microphones, FM radio
- Battery: 3340mAh, 84-hour endurance rating, micro-USB, 5V/2A charger for 2.5hr charge, OTG support
- LTE: Cat 6, 300/50Mbps (bands unspecified but appear to be 1, 3, 7, 8, 38 and appears to have support for another five bands depending on market)
- Size/Weight: 150.9 x 76.2 x 8.2 mm x 162g
- Android: 6.01 plus EMUI4.1 (expected update to Nougat Q2)
- In the box: Handset, charger, USB Cable, no earphones
The screen, processor, camera, and battery all exceed mass-market specs and typical of those specs there is no Wi-Fi AC, NFC, USB-C, and IP rating.
Camera
International reviews say the dual camera is not like the Leica V2.0 used in the Mate 9 but a 12MP RGB (colour) sensor and a 2MP mono for gathering depth information used in bokeh effects. “Even so, choosing a dual-sensor setup over a single one is worth even for the wide-aperture mode alone as it works remarkably well,” states GSMAreana.
The website adds that it takes excellent shots in daylight and good ambient indoor light and as to be expected was less so in lower light where flash was preferred over HDR.
It will be available on 17 April from Vodafone.
