[Device Reviews and Information] Alberto96:
Review (new format)

For those following my reviews you will notice that this one (and all other that might be released in the future) is different. Why? I don't want my reviews to be all the same anymore, so i am adopting this new format that is shorter, easier to read and without lots of photos.

Starting from the packaging, just like all CUBOT devices also this one features the same bundle of accessories with no extras. The TPU cover is shock-proof (reinforced angles). Unfortunately there is no screen protector preinstalled neither included in the package.

The device is well-made with a relatively nice glossy plastic back cover (really easy to scratch). It is easy to handle thanks to the 18:9 aspect ratio and a limited weight, plus it doesn't feature really big bezels, a bit smaller compared to the X18 (not Plus).

Something worth to be reported is the fact that the gorgeous screen, with a FHD+ resolution, is covered by the classical Gorilla Glass but it lacks AT ALL an oleophobic coating so be ready to say hello to fingerprints. A proper screen protector with an oleophobic coating pre-applied is almost necessary.

Anyway, it is still a really nice screen, with an excellent color calibration and sufficiently high brightness, nothing to complain about its quality.

Thankfully some companies are finally starting to ship Mediatek Devices with Oreo preinstalled and, as far as i know, this should be the second Mediatek device ever released with it, or at least available to be purchased outside China.

Of course the most important question is: does it support Project Treble?

The answer is: Yes, BUT it has been released without any GMS certification so i am not sure whether this is a false alarm or not. CUBOT said me that it is under certification so...we need to wait. Currently there isn't any Stock ROM available either so it would be impossible to "play" with the ROM without risking to soft-brick it.

Honestly i don't think the software is quite ready yet for the public since, at least both review units i got (the first one was faulty) have a really annoying touchscreen bug that causes it to stutter while scrolling vertically. If you scroll a menu (or anything else) slowly, it won't happen, but if you increase the speed it starts to appear. This bug has been already reported to CUBOT and i am waiting for a solution, it may be one of the reasons why the GMS-certified firmware is not available yet (maybe).

As regards its performance, the device feels really snappy but the really high resolution with this chipset really make the GPU to struggle while doing some intensive tasks. Sometimes animations are not 100% smooth, but it is not a software issue, just a performance limit.

Benchmarks are, well, just OK. Some of them are slightly higher than what i got with the same chipset on Nougat thanks to some nice optimizations provided with Oreo.

Follow this link to check all benchmarks: https://imgur.com/a/zvUGBgp

For some reason, CUBOT decided to ship this device without a Magnetometer/Compass and/or a Gyroscope. Considering that this screen would be almost-ideal for VR, this is a bit disappointing.

Nothing to report about the GPS quality, it is accurate and supports GLONASS. (indoors on the left, outdoors on the right)

The device's WiFi chipset supports 5.0GHz connections (no WiFi AC though) and it is able to reach the maximum speed possible from my internet connection. Also the 4G connection is well-handled, with reasonably high speeds (considering my area) and really-high signal.

Following most Mediatek devices released in the past few months, also the X18 Plus comes with a Samsung 16MP rear camera sensor that provides some decent shots as long as you don't turn on the HDR that i found to be bugged (colors get washed out and the noise gets really high). A software update is required to optimize the camera.

Finally, the battery. CUBOT declares a battery capacity of 4000mAh and, at least based on my testing, it appears to be real. I know that the result provided by PCMark might not seem really high, but the chipset is not power efficient plus it is heavily stressed due to the high-res screen so i find it to be a reasonable result. Of course it can't be compared with Qualcomm devices, a whole different world.

In conclusion, is the X18 Plus a real upgrade to the X18 (not Plus)? And, is it worth to be considered? Well, it is a really big upgrade compared to the first X18, that's for sure, but CUBOT, in order to not lose the oppurtunity to be one of the first brands to release a Mediatek-based Oreo device, placed on the market a device with a questionable software quality.

I was expecting to receive an OTA update while reviewing the device in order to see some fixes, but unfortunately nothing happened. In this precise moment, i can recommend this device only to those who want to risk in getting something that is not really ready yet. Since the Project Treble thing is really interesting, i won't stop following this device.

Maybe it will become the most-affordable and most customizable device ever released? Hopefully yes.

Device Rating: 7+

Pros: Android Oreo; Great Screen; Solid

Cons: Immature Software; Not certified yet; No Magnetometer/Compass & Gyroscope​