[Device Reviews and Information] Deen0X:
[REVIEW] Much/Snail W3D (Smartphone/Gaming Console)

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Nota: Hay una versión en español de este artículo en este enlace

Note: Due the extension, this article is a summary from the original located here.

Usage of this review

Author give permission to use this review, part of this or by a link reference, to anybody wants to use it, with only one condition that you must keep the author of this article, and the original source, that is on my blog.

For any update for the content of this article, i suggest to visit the link avobe.

Acknowledgments

To Shop-Oye store for send me an unit of their product Snail W3D to test it and write this review.

Agreement

I am not responsible for any problems caused by the implementation of procedures or guidelines indicadated in this article. Any modifications you make in the device (such as a flash ROM, change bios, software installation, configuration, poorly assembled, etc) will be at your own risk.

Presentation of the received product[/i]

As usual withhin this manufacturer, their products come in a very well presented package, and for their star product will no be less.

The box come with an external cover with a photo of the device and their logo (in 3D representation, of course)

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On the back, we found general info of the device.

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The sides of the cover show to us the W3D logo too.

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When get the box out of the cover, we found the real box where the device come. This box come with the logo again on their surface (raised and silvered print).

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Once opened, we found directly the device (with an extra screen protector)

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Under the device there is a User guide with the shape of the device itself. I really like this detail, because last time manufacturers (in general speaking) are avoiding these kind of elements of their products.

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Finally, under the device there is a section divided on 3 parts, where come the rest of the accesories of the device.

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The care of the presentation of the product give a very good first impression, and take away from any concept of "Chinese product" that people may have about this kind of product.

Package ContentsUnboxing y full description of the package contents

When the package is opened, we found the following elements thats, i understand, are part of any standard shippment for this product.

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User guide (in chinese)

Snail W3D device

MicroUSB Cable for data and charge

Wall Charger

Extra Screen protector (the device come with one installed from factory)

Note: I get stranged becaause there is no Headphones included as part of accesories.

Product informationSpecs of the device

According with the manufacturer, or searching info on web pages, we can found many sources of information about the device and sometimes these information may be not consistent (may be different from one web page to other), and this may cause some confusion for anybody that wants to get info about this product.

On this section i will post the info i get from the manufacturer (or is not possible, the web page that i consider more reliable), listing only the relevant points for a tech analysis of the product, and omit these points that don´t get any relevant info about the device (as many time we found on many pages, things such video capabilities, mail capabilities, etc, that really are software based features that we can install on the device, and not a real feature of the device itself)

CPU: MediaTek MTK6592 Octa-Core, 2.0 GHz

GPU: Power VR Series6IMG Rogue G6200 600 MHz

RAM: 2 GB de RAM LPDDR3 @ 933 MHz

Storage: 16GB

Operating System: Amdrpod 4.4.2

Screen Size: 5.5"

Screen resolution: 1920x1080 (FullHD)

Screen feature: 3D Glassfree

Rear Camera: 13 MPx

Front camera: 5 MPx

Stereo loudspeakers

SIM Slots: Dual

External storage: MicroSD

Supports: TD-LTE, LTE FDD, TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, GSM.

Battery: 4000mAh

Wifi: 802.11 ac / aban

Antutu Benchmark System Info

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Benchmarks

Normalized tests for comparing with another similar devices.[/i]

For people that don´t know about these programs, i can tell (in short words) that a benchmark is a program or normalized test that runs on a device. These tests give points (usually, averaging many results) the performance of a device, in the way that the final total point may be useful to compare, in a simple and direct way, the general performance between many devices.

There are so many benchmarks on Google Play Store, but in my test usually i use the most populars.

For the running of these benchmarks, the initial conditions of the device are:

CPU Frequency: 2000 MHz

CPU Governor: Interactive

Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 (FullHD)

Firmware: Official overseas update (including Google Playstore)

3DMark - The Gamer's Benchmark

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Gaming performance

As usual, the most common way to show the performance of a device is running and playing games, android natives and emulated (roms) using emulators.

In the following lines i will show some games and emulators running on the device, and some comments with relevant info.

Android native games

Android games are specific for touch screens, and may use another device sensors such tilt sensor, and most of them show on screen controls to interact with the game, but only few of them have native joystick/gamepad support.

For now, there are some alternatives that we can use to bring these kind of support (joysticks/gamepads and other devices) on these games, bringing another way of playing using physical controls. Most of these alternatives are based on emulating the events and mechanisms that the device originally support for interact with the games. Most of these events are touch screen based, then this kind of apps will "emulate" these touches, linking physical controls (buttons, sticks) to screen locations.

Soulcraft

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/arTaxSKbtc0[/YOUTUBE]​

Dokuro

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/VQN79oPV_vo[/YOUTUBE]​

Savant

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/pcILrhQ3p9c[/YOUTUBE]​

Chaos Legends

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/X9pD_vda9QE[/YOUTUBE]​

Taichi Panda Heroes

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/KmJkGu7xSoM[/YOUTUBE]​

Call of Duty Strike Team

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/LyToeFtghSU[/YOUTUBE]​

Kingdom Warriors

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/m2P6m4V1XWU[/YOUTUBE]​

Grand Theft Auto

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/kM-qIqVt3Jw[/YOUTUBE]​

Age of Whushu

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/itdibo4emqE[/YOUTUBE]​

Iesabel

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/7uFnryJ9p1k[/YOUTUBE]​

The King of Fighters'97

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/EYT17T4RN6k[/YOUTUBE]​

Gangstar Vegas[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/mEp6HnbpTSA[/YOUTUBE]

EmulationRetrogaming

In the same way that Android games are an important way of testing the performance of a device, emulation is another factor to get in concern, and most important, for systems that are quite hard to be emulated, because with these emulators/roms we can see differences between devices. (most of times, the pure power of a CPU/GPU can run better a game in a device, and get poor performance in another device)

In Android, we get many emulator alternatives (emulated systems) that we can recreate on the device that we are testing. We can use emulators of old computers, videogame consoles, and is possible to run some x86 system (MS DOS, windows 9x but so limited), and we can run most modern systems such Nintendo64, Playstation one (PSX), both of these emulators are consider the top of the current frontier of emulation, but this is not limited to these systems. There are new emulators that most probably will become the new top/frontier, with emulation of PSP that many games currently are playables with near of 100% of speed, or Nintendo DS, that currently is able to run many titles.at full speed (or near to)

This way, we can say that the emulators are important than Android games en terms of entertainment, and for this reason are a big and important part of any testing planning of any device.

Assassin's Creed BloodlinesPPSSPP - PSP Emulator

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/MSSAFizOJHc[/YOUTUBE]

Tekken Dark ResurrectionPPSSPP - PSP Emulator

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/W5YHaWauNt8[/YOUTUBE]

Tekken 6PPSSPP - PSP Emulator

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/4Cm8qB-cb28[/YOUTUBE]

TMNTDrastic - Nintendo DS emulator[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/tlJGrzunpkY[/YOUTUBE]

Mario Kart DSDrastic - Nintendo DS emulator

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/2HfGxrdxtqI[/YOUTUBE]

New Super Mario BrosDrastic - Nintendo DS emulator

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/ayECUWNismY[/YOUTUBE]

Soul CaliburReicast - Dreamcast Emulator

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/89l0clF2Z30[/YOUTUBE]​

Capcom vs SNK 2Reicast - Dreamcast Emulator

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/V1yScv8ydEg[/YOUTUBE]

This game have some graphic glitches in all devices and emulator versions of android.

Ms PacmanMupen64+ AE (Nintendo 64 Emulator)[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/eLJlogoc32w[/YOUTUBE]

Conker Bad Fur DayMupen64+ AE (Nintendo 64 Emulator)

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/B6zP5yMPUjk[/YOUTUBE]​

Mortal Kombat 3 Ultimate EditionMAME4droid

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/ZnpvKbcXieQ[/YOUTUBE]

Marvel Superheroes vs Street FighterMAME4droid

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/B7FmPcquDm4[/YOUTUBE]

Pros, contras y mejoras

As in every product, there are pros and cons points that are good to mention in a clear way. These points will help to us to decide if the device features are enough for what the user are looking for in a device of this kind.

Pros are based on features that highlight, comparing the device with another similars, or these features improve the experience of the user.

In the another hand, the cons are these points that worse the experience, or the feature is not enough for fulfill what we expect from the device.

Finally, the improvements pints are some features or specs that i think must be improved in a supposed new version of the device, and will generate a better experience in my opinion.

Cons

The screen of the device have a refresh rateof 58.78Hz. This may mean a problem if you want to execute a precise emulation of some systems.

There is no physical buttons for Select and Start. Now these buttons are virtuals but, for a gaming user is more reasonable these buttons must keep as physicals

The touch screen did not include L2 and R2 buttons

The gamepad driver, for some reason is not so much compatible with android games, and for this reason is preferred to use the on screen mapper than try to configure direct gampead controls in game.

There is no way to enable 3D feature when we want. The device will determine when this feature may be used, and in some cases such some youtube videos that are 3D enabled (side by side) that may be watched on the device, is not possible to activate the 3D screen.

the L1/R1 & L2/R button positions are not so much ergonomics, and most for people with big hands.

The product price is high from the manufacturer, and for this reason the final prince on stores is high too.

Improvements

I think may be a very good point if the device come with a double back camera, for taking 3D photos (the same way as 3DS do)

Counting that the device can add virtual buttons such Select and Start, may the mapper can include the L3 and R3 buttons, needed for some games (such GTA for completing some missions)

Conclusion

From a gaming point of view, there is a improvement about the previous version of the device, but there are some points was dropped on this evolution such Select and Start buttons.

There is missing other buttons from android system, but now these functionality are included on the gamepad via KeyDIY app, but is not the same in my opinion than the previous device.

The design was improved from previous version, and now we have a device that don´t spin on the table (thanks for this). The back of the device is flat and this help a lot to stabilize the device for a normal usage when is on a table.

The 3D screen is especially remarcable. I get so impressed with this feature. Is very similar to Nintendo's 3DS screen, but with better result and resolution.

Watching a 3D movie is simple, and do not get tired as playing on 3DS.

My conclusion is, if you will use and enjoy watching 3D contents (movies) then this device will be worth, because there are not so much devices similar to this (and there is none similar, if consider gaming controls and 3D screen, all in one)

If you have the W1 and don´t get interested on 3D feature, then may not worth this device for your needs, because basically is a very similar device and don´t feel a big difference running apps and emulators on it, but i figure most of people interested on this device come from a non gaming device, then for all of them may be interesting consider this as your new phone/gaming console.

I must recognize that i did not a fan for this device when announced, because i did not get clear about what to expect from 3D screen, but after testing it i can confirm that is something for considering, even for wathching movies, if what are you looking for of course.

Final words

First of all, apologize my english. I did my best on trying to explain my experience and bring all this info directly in english, but is not my primary language and i'm aware that my level is so basic and rude. Even so, i think most of this article is undestandable because is based on data captured from the device, and this will help to you to get a general idea about this device.

I'm so happy for test this device and their 3D feature. I hope that Snail get success with this device and, with this, get more devices from this manufacturer.

Hope this review help to you to get info about this device, and apologize if there are more aspects that i forgot on mention on this article.

Zalu2!

Deen0X​