[Android General] KloNom:
Read the whole review in a nicer formatting and with newest updates on my new blog ;):

http://klonom.com/thl-w200c-review/

Here goes my review about the ThL W200C, a smatphone with 5″ HD display, octacore processor and 1 GB of RAM. It is the third generation of the ThL W200. The phone was kindly supplied from Antelife shop. You can get it with delivery from Germany, duty-free , two years warranty and delivery within 24-48 hours from here.

First, let's get to the details of the device.

Specifications:

-Android 4.4.2

-5″ HD IPS Display (1280×720)

-Gorilla Glass (according ThL)

-MTK6592 Octa Core processor

-1 GB RAM

-8 GB ROM

-MicroSD-Card slot

-8 MP back camera, 5 MP front camera (both according Thl)

-USB OTG

-2000 mAh battery (according label)

-GPS

-Wifi, Bluetooth

-Dual SIM

-Sensors: Acceleration, Proximity und Light Sensor

About the device:

Already before I actually hold the W200C in my hands, I had quite high expectations, since I used the model of the first generation (the W200) for a longer time as a daily mobile and I was fully happy with it.. untill one fatal day where I placed a crate of beer on my pocket where the W200 was inside and the display cracked. That’s why it died and I was very much interested in the follow ups. According to the specifications, the ThL W200C is a W200S with reduced memory as far as I see.

Unboxing:

[YOUTUBE]49tfInVP1cM[/YOUTUBE]

First Impressions:

The ThL W200C is delivered in a ThL typical white carton box with silver text. Beside the mobile which is placed in an opaque plastic bag, the following components are also in the box: A halftransparent plastic back case, a USB wall plug (5V, 1A), a USB data/charging cable, a Headset (interesting looks, ribbon cable), an additional pack of screen protectors, a flip cover as well as a quick start guide. A screen protector was already applied bubble-free.

I was surprised and at the same time very interested in the flip cover: I used to have a flip cover for my old W200 (originally from ThL), but never used it, because it stank too much extremely like plastic (no exaggeration here, I had NEVER smelled something that stinks that pungent like plastic). To give a little shortcut here: It stinks remarkably less than my old one, but still strong enough that I do not want to use it at daily base. That is really a shame, since it looks quite nice.

The W200C outer appearance is 1:1 like the original W200. It seems, that the same cases have been used here. The design of the ThL W200C is nothing extra special, it has a black case with a silver stripe on the sides that gives the impression of brushed metal, in which the volume and the power button are embedded. The phone has a nice size in my opinion, that’s why I already got the W200 in the first place.

On the left side the W200, in the right the W200C. The Volume rocker is placed on the top left side, the power button on the top right side. Both have a chrome look. On the back side the camera is in the upper middle, while the speaker sits on the bottom.

The USB port is placed like the headphone jack on the top. Unfortunately ThL did not change this, since it is sometimes unhandy to use the phone while charging.

The W200C uses two normal sized SIM card (mini) and a MicroSD card with up to 32 GB capacity (tried with 32 GB, maybe larger ones also work). To change the microSD card, you do not need to take out the battery.

UI/Android:

The W200C comes, despite the information of many shops, with Android 4.4.2 KitKat, not with the old Jelly Bean. It uses the normal KitKat stock launcher without any special themes or similiar, so pretty vanilla. #Like.

Performance:

Since the stock launcher is used, the menu obviously runs smooth and without any stutters. I did not play especially much with the W200C yet, just the PSX emulator FPSE and a 3D racing game to try out (both can be seen in the review video). Both worked flawlessly and completely smooth. Just the racing game stuttered at the beginning for a few seconds, but then not anymore. To determine the performance a bit more in an objective way, I ran the Antutu 5 benchmark. The result were roughly 27000 points, not bad for a device under 120€.

Memory:

The memory has a capacity of 8 GB according to the specifications. Actually usable is around 6 GB in the receiving state. The division between internal memory and phone storage is about 2 GB to 4.3 GB. By default, roughly 1.76 GB can be used for apps. Comparably just few unnecessary bloatware is preinstalled, no China apps at all. The memory can be extended with either a microSD card (32 GB using myself), or with an external USB memory. I tried the USB OTG and it is working.

Camera:

...check my blog post for the pictures ;)

Display:

The ThL W200C has a 5″ IPS display with a resolution of 1280×720. From the look I would say that it is an OGS. In contrast to the W200, the transition between the border and the display can hardly be seen while turned off display at the W200C. Typically for IPS displays, the viewing angles are stable from nearly all sides (you can see that at the end of the review video). In my personal opinion an HD resolution for a 5″ screen is totally enough, I can not see any pixels. But everyone has different taste ;) .

Sensors:

The ThL W200C has the “typical” sensor equipment of an upper budget smartphones: Light-, proximity-, acceleration- and magnet sensor. Let’s start with my experiences of the light sensor: The same old problem as with my old W200 or the T6S, the sensor itself works without problems, but the function “Automatic Brightness” is not usable. It seems like averaging is made over a too small time base, the brightness changes from bright to dark several times in a few seconds while dusky light. So not really usable. The proximity sensor works without problems, the display turns off reliably while calls. The magnetic sensor has downsides again. Also after initializing it is not really usable. While using navigation apps, the orientation jumps wildly-although driving steadily in one direction. It seems like there is a quite big noise on the signal.

GPS:

Let’s come from the magnetic sensor towards the GPS. This works like I was used from the W200 well, even directly out of the box. The first fix came after less than 5s and the accuracy went down to 3m in the next 15s. I was surprised in a positive about the speed of reactions. While driving with the car, I hardly noticed any drifting while stopping. Except of the compass function, the ThL W200C can be nicely used as a navigation system.

Reception:

I did not notice any special things on the receiption. I do not have less receiption anywhere than I am used to. Also internet via HSDPA works nicely. WiFi and bluetooth receiption also work without downsides yet.

Misc:

The ThL W200C has a red notification LED at the top right (you can see it in the review video), which can be used as a notification for apps out of the box. The mobile was delivered unrooted. I did not try to root it yet. Google Apps are preinstalled. The phone has HW Android buttons, which light up in light blue if touched. The battery has 2Ah according to the label and is enough for me to use a full day while mobile internet, bluetooth and WLAN usage. Often I have more than 50% at the end of the day.

Review Video:

[YOUTUBE]X8nheq7Udk8[/YOUTUBE]

Conclusion:

The ThL W200C is a worthy grandchild of the W200 in my opinion. The phone seems mature and I did not notice any blooper or similiar while using. The octacore in combination with the 5″ HD display suits the W200C well as an everyday phone. Small downsides like the magnetic sensor are due to the small price I guess. All in all it is a well-made budget phone in my opinion.