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Dare to be Different – FSL Fast Review
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Introduction
After entering the tablet market with Windows 7 proves to be little success, FSL, the Shenzhen based Chinese tech company starts to covet after the fast-growing market for Android tablets. It has recently launched its first Gtab called “Fast”, which uses a 9.7 inch IPS display manufactured by LG, an RK3066 dual core 1.6GHZ processor, and 1GB of DDR3 ram.
The market has seen dozens of tablets with 9.7 inch IPS displays since the end of last year, almost all falling into the category of iPad copycats. Well, bigger plans have been made for “Fast”, as FSL engaged a Korean team of expert designers to tailor the contour of the Fast, making sure that it’ll be unique and fashionable.
Key Features
◇9.7” 16M-color IPS display of XGA resolution (1024X768 pixels)
◇Weighs 580g, 263.9mm*173.9mm*9.8mm in size.
◇RK3066 chipset: Dual-core 1.6GHZ ARM Cortex-A9 processor; 1GB of DDR3 RAM; Mali-400MP4 GPU
◇Stock Android 4.1 JellyBean
◇16GB of built-in-memory
◇2.0MP front facing camera; 2.0MP rear-facing camera
◇Stereo speakers
◇HDMI TV-out
◇USB host
◇Bluetooth 2.0
◇Micro SD card slot
◇Standard 3.5mm audio jack
◇Adobe Flash 11 support
◇1080p videos of all formats
◇8000mAh Li-Po rechargeable battery
1. Retail Package
The FSL Fast comes in a gigantic paperboard box that’s much thicker and wider than the tablet itself. It holds the charger, a USB cable, a 3.5mm headphone and an OTG cable, along with the user manual as well as the warranty certificate.
The tablet is packed in a smaller and much slimmer sub-box in the package.
The only impression this gives you is that the whole package is unreasonably humongous for such few fittings.
2. Design and Build Quality
As is mentioned above, “Fast” features a 9.7 inch XGA IPS display manufactured by LG. Yet, there’s nothing special about the resolution, especially as some 9.7 inch tablets have already pushed the pixel density to above 260ppi. If you did the math already, you’d know that “Fast” is far behind at only 132ppi.
However, this LG IPS display, which has already had great success in supporting the dominant iPad2, does have impressive viewing angles, great color saturation, deep black, infinite contrast, nice outdoor visibility, much better than most ordinary IPS display seen on other Chinese tablets and smartphones.
And yet, despite all the superlatives it deserves, the screen won’t be the Fast’s key selling point. The role is most definitely reserved to its unique design by a professional Korean team. The black border surrounding the white bezel can easily help u spot the Fast among a bunch of 9.7 inchers.
The Fast, just like the rest of the Android gang, has very few hardware controls. With all the navigation done on the screen itself, there’s no need for hardware buttons on the front panel. All you get there is the 2m pixel video-call camera.
Unlike the iPad, the Fast is designed with lateral use in mind, you can identify that with where the video-call camera is located. Of course four-way screen rotation lets you use the tablet however you like, but the lateral seems to be the default orientation.
The back of tablet is also quite cool. The steel-colored aluminum, with a porcelain plastic trim for where your fingers rest when you hold it of its back cover gives the Fast all the exclusivity it needs. The stereo speakers and a 2 mega-pixel rear-facing camera are on the back, exactly where they are needed. The two speakers are quite far apart, creating stereo effects while playing music and videos, the volume is quite ideal, too.
Also notable is the Fast’s impressive complement of ports and slots. Along the right edge (when holding the tablet in lateral orientation), you have a Micro-HDMI port, a charging connector, a micro USB data port, a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB host connector, and a TF card slot that supports card up to 32GB, which could easily accommodate most people. The reason why the Fast needs to separate USB host and USB data port into two connectors remains mysterious.
As is mentioned above, Android tablet doesn’t need many hardware controls. Having said that, along with the power/standby key & volume rocker which all tablets have, the Fast is also equipped with a physical back button, this is a very considerate addition as the status bar can be faded to dots while the display is showing pictures or videos.
3. Software
After lots of tablet makers’ efforts in improving the experience with customized UI turned out to be setbacks, many people would rather have a stock Android tablet than any skin, full stop. And FSL listens to many people. No customization has been done to the original Jelly Bean user interface, no icons changed, no color scheme tweaked….In a word, nothing has been changed.
The taskbar at the bottom of the screen is designed from ground up for tablet use, the navigation keys are in the left corner: Back, home and Task Switcher. The notification area is on the right corner, tapping it brings up the notifications box, which includes quick controls for turning on/off Wi-Fi, Flight mode, and screen rotation lock, among other features, plus you can access the brightness setting on the fly and tap into the full settings menu.
The search shortcut (voice and text) are in the top left corner of the home-screen, while the app drawer stay in the top right. There’re no dots or other shapes on the screen indicating the number of available homescreen panes and the current selection.
There are a few additions, though, including a customized FSL free market app which offers thousands of free applications for FSL users, a PDF reader which allows you to view PDF documents with the page-flipping effects, a Gaming center where you can download games compatible for this tablet. A voice assistant app which is a cool improvement from the famous Google voice search function.
The biggest improvement of Jelly Bean over its predecessor is the function of “pop-up play”, which enables you to watch videos in a floating box on the screen, and you could do some reading or even gaming simultaneously. I did play “Fruit Ninja: Puss in boots” while I was watching a clip of Adele “Set Fire to the Rain” in that floating box, and I scored more than 400 points in that game, pretty impressive, huh?
4. Performance
Rockchip RK3066 is inside of many tablets I’ve tested in the last few months, and they pretty much all work the same. The Fast is really fast and responsive, and is particularly adept for playing games – as it is powered by the impeccable Mali-400MP4, which is also used by the famous Samsung Exynos 4410. I am getting really good at “Virtua Tennis” and “Star Warfare” as I test more and more tablets. And they are as smooth and impressive on the Fast’s display as any I’ve tried.
With Android4.1, the performance has been improved in many ways: the screen rotates much faster, scrolling is smoother, and every animation happens slightly faster. I ran some traditional benchmarks on the Fast. Obviously, processing power is the last thing to worry about in this tablet – there are few dual core android tablets that can outdo the Fast in most tests.
Below are the benchmark scores of the Fast in comparison with some of the Mainstream dual core Android tablets:
If you are a fan of videos, then the Fast won’t disappoint you in anyway. The RK3066b processor in it can support all formats of videos to at least 1080P, all local videos in my mobile disk and all online HD videos I tested can be streamed smoothly on the Fast.
Below are the videos I’ve tested on the Fast:
5. Connectivity
According to the findings of testing many other tablets, metal back cover can lead to poor data reception when a tablet is connected through WIFI. Unfortunately, this is also true on the Fast. Data reception heavily depends on the performance of your WIFI router, if your Fast is a wall and more than 6 meters away from a weak WIFI router, you probably will not be able to stream online videos, and even loading the mobile version of a web page can take quite some time. At least that's what I've experienced.
However, the Fast does support a 3G network card through an OTG cable, a very cool addition since FSL doesn’t seem interested in producing a 3G version of this gorgeous tablet.
6. Battery Life
This tablet includes an 8000mAh battery, and this should be sufficient for most users. The Fast lasted more than 8 hours during my 720p video-playback stress test (with 50% display brightness and full volume), which is better than any Chinese Android tablet I’ve tested during the past several months, it even beats Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9’s 7 hours. Impressively, the Fast’s charge can last several days when the tablet is not being used, even with WIFI turned on and automatically receiving some emails. This is quite great for non-intense users.
7. Cameras
FSL includes two 2-megapixel cameras in the Fast, one in the front and one in the rear side. Both cameras did a better job than I had expected, especially the front-facing camera, very ideal for video chatting, and the camera in the rear side can shoot images clear enough to share on Twitter or Facebook. But that doesn't mean I will suggest you to take it out as a digital camera.
Front-facing Camera Shot
Rear-facing Camera Shot
8. Browsing and Reading
Most android tablets come in with a widescreen, which is ideal for watching movies. But the advantage in browsing and reading of the 4:3 standard screen which are mainly seen on the iPad, doesn’t get talked about enough.
All browsers, even the stock one on Android 4.1 can offer up-tabbed browsing experience. Thanks to the powerful RK3066 dual core 1.6GHZ processor and 1 GB of ram, loading and scrolling of the web-page happen very fast, even with lots of flash contents on it. And the 9.7 inch XGA display shows just the right size of all the contents on that page, you don’t have to zoom to see them clearly.
Reading with the Fast’s 4:3 display is even more of a pleasant experience. All screen resource can be fully utilized, and 9.7 inch is just the right size for reading a full scanned copy of magazine. Of course you can zoom it a little bit just in case the contents are not big enough for your eyes. Flipping of the page also happens very fast, even with a 300MB full color PDF magazine of National Geographic, I experienced no lag at all.
Fast's standard display compared to Tab8.9's widescreen in reading
9. Accessories:
One of the iPad’s biggest advantages doesn’t get talked about enough: It has a wide range of accessories that complement and improve the device. For a company that’s still in its early stage, there isn’t going to be an ecosystem for its tablets any time soon. But FSL did smartly release a protection case specifically designed for the Fast. The case is nice, a thin and light rubbery material with a cord for keeping it closed. Unlike most covers which only uglify the tablets in them, this case, which comes in many colors, is a rather nice decoration for the Fast.
Verdict
Like:
The design and the build are pretty close to ideal. It doesn’t reach the high point of iPad4 or Nexus 10, but it’s a solid and unique piece of gear at a super low price (@USD 160.00). The Korean team of experts has done a remarkable job in making the Fast one of a kind, and most importantly, gorgeous.
The LG IPS display is impressive in view angles, color saturation, contrast ratio and outdoor visibility. Although the 132ppi density is now far behind most other tablets, you will still appreciate it if you are a Magazine subscriber or comic reader, you can read those stuffs full screen here.
The fast-growing Shenzhen tech powerhouse has also managed to pack in a slew of ports and slots for the Fast, saving the cash you might have to spend on other tablets which need adapters to work the OTG or HDMI output.
Dual cameras and dual stereo speakers also help the Fast to stand out from its Chinese competitions. 8000mAh of Li-Polymer battery and more than 8 hours of 720P video playback is probably most of a Chinese tablet needs to have now!
Dislike:
I haven’t found anything that I particularly dislike about this tablet. If I really have to count one, it should be the startup company LOGO, which looks very poorly-designed and should only appear on the archways of a lame grocery store in some very remote villages.
Besides, if FSL wants to make it big, WIFI connectivity needs to be improved in the next generation of its tablets.
The Fast is one of my favorite tablets so far, and I can tell you it’s because of its gorgeous design, you will find nowhere in the world another tablet that looks exactly the same as the Fast, for that alone, it’s a device worth having.
Below are the scores according to the scale I’ve designed for tablet products and the chart showing the comparison with scores of other tablets I’ve tested.
google play
VERY GOOD REVIEW!!!!!!!! But now I have only but one question can you install the play store on this device and have it work?
jupiter2012 said:
Verdict
Like:
The design and the build are pretty close to ideal. It doesn’t reach the high point of iPad4 or Nexus 10, but it’s a solid and unique piece of gear at a super low price (@USD 160.00). The Korean team of experts has done a remarkable job in making the Fast one of a kind, and most importantly, gorgeous.
The LG IPS display is impressive in view angles, color saturation, contrast ratio and outdoor visibility. Although the 132ppi density is now far behind most other tablets, you will still appreciate it if you are a Magazine subscriber or comic reader, you can read those stuffs full screen here.
The fast-growing Shenzhen tech powerhouse has also managed to pack in a slew of ports and slots for the Fast, saving the cash you might have to spend on other tablets which need adapters to work the OTG or HDMI output.
Dual cameras and dual stereo speakers also help the Fast to stand out from its Chinese competitions. 8000mAh of Li-Polymer battery and more than 8 hours of 720P video playback is probably most of a Chinese tablet needs to have now!
Dislike:
I haven’t found anything that I particularly dislike about this tablet. If I really have to count one, it should be the startup company LOGO, which looks very poorly-designed and should only appear on the archways of a lame grocery store in some very remote villages.
Besides, if FSL wants to make it big, WIFI connectivity needs to be improved in the next generation of its tablets.
The Fast is one of my favorite tablets so far, and I can tell you it’s because of its gorgeous design, you will find nowhere in the world another tablet that looks exactly the same as the Fast, for that alone, it’s a device worth having.
Below are the scores according to the scale I’ve designed for tablet products and the chart showing the comparison with scores of other tablets I’ve tested.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, u can, but it will be limited to only free apps.
Sent from my XT910 using xda premium
Not Impressed
I bought one of these as an impulse buy after my old tablet smashed on a hard floor. A glance of the specks looked ok, and I could have one in my hands in under 24 hours. Big mistake. Cost me 25 Euro to return it.
It may have a decent cpu, but for the price, the screen and build quality are terrible. That black rubber seal you see around the edge (along with some plastic clips) is what holds the the whole thing together, so the front actually creaks and moves around against the plain (slippery) metal back case. the one I tried was also developing air bubbles under the screen (NOT a screen protector - the actual screen) after a few days.
The screen quality makes reading the internet a blurry frustrating experience that will give you a headache in 20 minutes, movies were very dark and hard to watch on the brightest settings, and the touchscreen is very...very.. poor and unresponsive. You are forever repeating actions to try and get the response you want. The peripheral sockets also feel very weak and poorly made. It felt like a gamble each time you plugged in a usb as to whether it was going to break.
It seems to be a tried and tested formula used by smaller 'fly by night' ****ester computer builders. Stick in a good cpu and more central noteworthy components, but match it up with the very cheapest more peripheral components you can find to build a complete lemon. You know you'll sell enough before going down on the core specification alone.
(I sent it back and got a pipo m1 for the same price. I am now a happy man - and what a huge difference in all round quality)
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CUBE has released two new models last month, but it seems the attentions all went to the Talk 79 (U55GT), which has a 7.9-inch IPS display, a quad-core processor and full phone functionalities, that very few people actually noticed the U39GT. However, I am a much bigger fan of this slate, which sports a 9 inch FHD Samsung PLS display, and owns features such as the peppy RK3188 chipset, 2GB RAM, Bluetooth, etc.
Key Features:
◇9 inch 16M-color PLS display at WUXGA resolution (1920X1200 pixels), 256PPI
◇Rockchip RK3188 SoC., 28nm quad-core 1.6GHZ Cortex-A9 processor, Mali-400MP4 GPU, 2GB DDR3 RAM
◇Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS with heavy customizations
◇16GB of built-in-storage
◇2MP front facing camera, 5.0MP rear-facing AF camera
◇AAC Stereo speakers
◇HDMI TV-out
◇Bluetooth 2.1
◇Anti-rolling frame
◇USB host
◇MicroSD card slot
◇1080p video playback
◇5200mAh Li-Po rechargeable battery
Design
The U39GT looks just like a smaller version of its larger, and older brother: the U30GT2. There’s sufficient amount of bezel on either side of the screen, so you can use it in any orientation. When you're holding the device in landscape, it's really comfortable, but the 16:10 device is so long and skinny that it feels top-heavy when you pick it up in portrait. The iPad's much more amenable to being held both ways — in portrait for reading and browsing, landscape for movies and games — while the U39GT is very clearly designed to be held sideways and used in landscape.
Of course, the front is dominated by a 9-inch PLS display made by Samsung. A 2MP front-facing camera sits comfortably on the upper left corner, which can be used for online video chatting. But the intelligent light sensor, which helps the tablet to automatically adjust the display brightness, is nowhere to be found.
All the keys and connectors are hosted on the left edge. You will find a power button, a volume rocker, a Micro HDMI port, a MicroSD card slot, a 3.5mm audio jack and a 2.5mm DC port there. The metal trim around the sides gives the tablet a solid feel.
The AAC stereo speaker gates are hosted on the right edge.
The back of the U39GT is magnesium aluminum alloy, which is not only good-looking, but also very durable. The frosted texture also helps to avoid slippage, and provides a welcome contrast from the glass front. It’s completely bare except for the Brand and regulatory logos, and the 8-megapixel camera in the top right corner.
The Chassis doesn’t have a single screw on it, so it feels even more solid!
Its 8.9mm thick body also guarantees a solid hold and great portability.
Display
As much as the superlative the design deserves, the most impressive feature of the tablet has to be its display. Boasting a Full HD resolution of 1920x1280, the slate's 9-inch PLS LCD panel offers effective color reproduction and clarity from virtually any viewing angle, making it the ideal choice for hosting everything, from video content to 3D gaming apps.
From the photos above, it is obvious that the U39GT crushed the Beneve Miracle One (Dolphin), which uses the same LG display featured by the iPad2, in both colors and pixel density.
However, the brightness is not really satisfactory enough, outdoor viewing would be difficult.
Audio
CUBE boasts that the AAC technology enhances any audio played through the device, but the stereo speakers on the right side of the U39GT produced average audio. Regardless of what is played -- from Alicia Key's "Brand New Me" to Usher's "Scream" --the sound was not loud at all, as if I was listening to someone's radio from a few meters away.
Interface
The U39GT ships with Android 4.2.2, and adopts a WIN8-like launcher that is exquisitely designed by CUBE, it offers five home screens including a Start home screen, a Social Networking home screen, a Gaming app home screen, an Office app home screen, and a home screen of Other favorite applications. Even the application drawer has been designed very metro-like, and all the shortcuts and widgets will change to cubes once they are dragged onto the home screens to fit the interface.
Performance
The U39GT is powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core rk3188 CPU, backed up by 2GB of RAM. Although this is not really the most cutting-edge SoC. for Android devices, it is still incredibly smooth in day-to-day operation, with almost no performance hiccups, and smooth scrolling in home screens, menus and apps alike. The RK3188’s beefy Mali-400MP4 GPU also means you’re well-equipped for graphic-intense games.
In our benchmark tests, the U39GT scored at the front of the tablet charts without blowing away the competition. Not simply because it’s powering too many pixels, but more capable chipsets such as Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8064 are now used in tablet products.
1) Antutu
Although the 15,648 overall Antutu benchmark score is dwarfed by the APQ8064 powered Sony Xperia Tablet Z’s 20,259, it does handily beat the 13,989 notched by the Exynos 4412 powered RAMOS W30HD.
2) Geekbench
In the Geekbench test, the U39GT doesn’t really shine, its 1,205 score bottomed the 4 devices we use for comparison.
3) Quadrant
The Quadrant score of the U39GT is also not that satisfactory, almost on par with the snatch of the should-have-been-weaker RAMOS W30HD, and lags greatly behind the Sony Xperia Tablet Z.
4) 3D Mark & An3D XL
In both the graphic-focused 3D Mark and An3D XL tests, the U39GT notched quite decent scores.
5) Vellamo and CF-Bench
Vellamo is by far my favorite Benchmark application, the scores of certain device are very consistent, regardless of the version of the software. Again the Tablet Z topped the charts, but the U39GT also more than held its own against most of the other quad core tablets.
In the CF-bench test, the U39GT also notched a pretty impressive score.
In the real world use, the slate is particularly well-suited for viewing PDF books and magazines, with colors displayed vividly and text appearing crisp and clear. It's also well-equipped for handling most gaming apps with minimal compromise, including demanding 3D games like “NFS” and “Asphalt 7”.
Not everything's perfect yet: scrolling in the browser can still be stuttery at times, and for some inexplicable reason the screen still takes really a while to rotate. But apps don't crash nearly as often, and general slowness and lag is even closer to being totally eradicated.
CUBE has done a good job with multimedia support and features for its tablets. For video, the U39GT supports MP4, RM, H.264, DivX, Xvid, and WMV files at up to 1080p resolution. For audio you get MP3, AAC, FLAC, OGG, WAV, and WMA support. You can also mirror your screen using Miracast with supported HDTVs or connect the slate with an HDMI cable.
The tablet has 16GB built-in storage, as well as microSD support that can add up to 32GB of additional storage to what is already on board.
Connectivity
Probably due to the metal back it uses, the U39GT disappoints in Wi-Fi connection, at a few meters and wall away the data reception could be severely crippled, a strong Wi-Fi tether is strongly recommended if you are going to own this tablet. The addition of Bluetooth V2.1 means you could connect your tablet to things such as input devices, headphones or sound boxes without the annoyance of cables. I only realize the value of Bluetooth when I want to play SEGA Virtua Tennis with my friends!
Cameras
Let’s be honest — most tablet cameras are pretty crappy. The kinds of shooters you’ll find on even a high-end Android tablet are roughly equivalent to the cheap, blurry, grainy cameras found on low-end smartphones. And the U39GT is no exception, neither the 2MP front-facing camera nor the 5MP rear-facing camera delivers high quality shots, even though the rear-side camera has Auto Focus support. If you just need to use them for video chatting or scanning D-bar code, it does get the job done.
Photos snapped by the rear facing camera.
Battery Life
The U39GT’s 5,200mAh battery is relatively small for a tablet with a 9 inch FHD display, even the much smaller and thinner ICOO ICOU Fatty2 (7.85 inch display, 7mm thick) packs a bigger 5,500mAh battery. Well, shame on CUBE!
However, thanks to the 28nm process and PMU, the longevity of the tablet is better than the battery figure suggests.
It takes about four hours to charge the U39GT from zero to full, and roughly 7-8 hours to drain it dry. Actual battery life will, of course, depend on how we use the tablet, and variables like high brightness and heavy downloads or streaming will zap the battery a little quicker, but we found it comparable to other 9-inch competitors.
Battery rundown test 1:
Single-looping a 720P MP4 video, the U39GT held its ground for 9 hours and 36 minutes, this was a much better result than what the battery capacity suggested.
Battery rundown test 2:
Streaming an online TV sitcom consecutively, the slate stood up for 7 hours and 48 minutes. Although this is no iPad4 level yet, it is enough time even for the heaviest users in a day.
Verdict
The U39GT is far from being one of the best Android tablets currently, I would give that honor to the waterproof SONY Xperia Tablet Z, the eye-watering Google Nexus 10, and the stylus-enabled Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1.
However, with dozens of Chinese tablets coming into the world every day, the U39GT still stands out by simply being the only one sporting a 9 inch PLS display at FHD resolution. At the budget end of the market there are few better alternatives to the U39GT. The device offers solid specs and an impressive screen resolution, costing less than the 8.9-inch PIPO M7pro it is in direct competition with.
The Good:
High quality chassis, no screw design.
Fabulous display.
Solid Performance.
Reasonable Price.
The Bad:
Uninspiring outdoor visibility.
5,200mAh battery.
Poor Wi-Fi reception.
Incapable cameras.
great and awesome news, but we need root information
About this tablet and mostly for the u55gt / talk79
do you have root information about them?
ozp said:
great and awesome news, but we need root information
About this tablet and mostly for the u55gt / talk79
do you have root information about them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't found a way to root this slate yet, thne standard rk3188 root method doesn't work with this one.
Thats sad, and since the releases of new CPU and new models are very fast, the community foruns cannot cope with this.
You search for a community forum about android, and you find topics and sub-foruns about old products....
Very nice review.
My advice, do not buy the U39GT-3G version. I own it and it has been sent to me by this shop http://www.cube-tablet.com with an incorrect IMEI number. I cannot connect to the internet using my data SIM card.
The incorrect IMEI nummber of my device: 111111111111111 (15 times 1).
I am so fed up by this shop, I only wanted to have this device because it has a 3G SIM card slot and now this, do not buy this product with the 3G SIM card slot. The WiFi only version may be fine, but avoid the 3G version.
Good review, chinese tabs are good for prcie but I am worried about the OS upgrades! is there any custom rom development on cube tabs?
On one hand sorry for ressurecting a relatively old thread on another the reviewer made an embarrassing mistake, one which would avert a would be buyer. The aspect ratio of the slate is 3:2 , not 16:10, which makes it the opposite of "too tall", in fact it's the only android tab I know which is not "long", everybody else use this damned 16:10 ratio which is only good for movies and mediocre for anything else (pretty much for anything that tablets are good for).
To sum up, if this tablet's build quality was not suspect I would forgive it's low battery and recommend it to anyone. Android manufacturers take cues, abandon this "phone like" aspect ratio and start releasing more square, less...oblong tabs. Ergonomically android tabs are rubbish and there is a reason why iPads still reign supreme, in fact if it was not for the abysmal aspect ratio androids would have been taking over long ago in tablets.
Anyway hope tabs like this will be more part of the news...
great tablet, maybe ill get one :d
Cube U55GT rooted + CWM
ozp said:
great and awesome news, but we need root information
About this tablet and mostly for the u55gt / talk79
do you have root information about them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I received my new U55GT today from TD.
Stock firmware (20131021) was (partially?) rooted, installing SuperSU (using MTKdroidtools) completed the rooting.
Using MTKdroidtools I managed to install CWM too, exactly the same way I previously did on my Ainol AX1 poseidon.
Just google for the correct procedure.
After that I made a backup and removed Chinese bloatware.
I'm impressed by U55GT's build quality, stereo sound and the very clear and crispy IPS display.
GPS is fully functional in the Netherlands (out of the box, no modifications needed).
Henk S. said:
I received my new U55GT today from TD.
Stock firmware (20131021) was (partially?) rooted, installing SuperSU (using MTKdroidtools) completed the rooting.
Using MTKdroidtools I managed to install CWM too, exactly the same way I previously did on my Ainol AX1 poseidon.
Just google for the correct procedure.
After that I made a backup and removed Chinese bloatware.
I'm impressed by U55GT's build quality, stereo sound and the very clear and crispy IPS display.
GPS is fully functional in the Netherlands (out of the box, no modifications needed).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, did you try using this U55gt on Att 3G data? I'm planing to buy one, but I would like to know whether it is compatible with Att.'s 3G network frequency 850 and 1900 MHz ?
Thanks,
Andy
Henk S. said:
I received my new U55GT today from TD.
Stock firmware (20131021) was (partially?) rooted, installing SuperSU (using MTKdroidtools) completed the rooting.
Using MTKdroidtools I managed to install CWM too, exactly the same way I previously did on my Ainol AX1 poseidon.
Just google for the correct procedure.
After that I made a backup and removed Chinese bloatware.
I'm impressed by U55GT's build quality, stereo sound and the very clear and crispy IPS display.
GPS is fully functional in the Netherlands (out of the box, no modifications needed).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cube stuff has much better quality than PIPO or Vido.
来自我的 LG-F240L 上的 Tapatalk
Andy805888 said:
Hi, did you try using this U55gt on Att 3G data? I'm planing to buy one, but I would like to know whether it is compatible with Att.'s 3G network frequency 850 and 1900 MHz ?
Thanks,
Andy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if it is WCDMA, it should work fine.
来自我的 LG-F240L 上的 Tapatalk
Cube U39GT - Disappointing!
Stock ROM is very uncomfortable and unstable. Very often crashes. Is not so beautiful (personal opinion). The biggest problem, however, is poor coverage of the wireless connection! I'm not sure that really supports standard N, as written in the description ! When the router is about 1.5 meters without walls or other obstacles, the network is stable, but the speed is very low - around 500-1000 Kbps (compared to the speed of my phone is about 5-6Mbps HTC Desire, my laptop - 50-60Mbps)! When the router is in the next room, the network becomes very unstable and occasionally interrupted, rarely exceed 200kbps speed (for comparation with the phone - the network is stable, and the rate is about 2-3 Mbps). HTC Desire does not support N standard and compared to newer phones network is quite low! I do not think this is normal and I would not buy again a device of this class! I root because I thought the problem may be software, I found only two custom Rom on the internet, but the problem remain!
I advise people who want to take advantage of the tablet using an internet connection, do not buy this device right! If you do not use the tablet for work on the internet, which I very much doubt, then no problem, but the cost of a device without an internet connection is very high!
Cube vs iFive vs Pipo
Henk S. said:
I'm impressed by U55GT's build quality, stereo sound and the very clear and crispy IPS display.
GPS is fully functional in the Netherlands (out of the box, no modifications needed).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Henk, still content with your cube tablet? do you have no complaints at all?
i'd also like to buy a low budget device, but i find myself oscillating too much between the one above and some other two with very similar specs, namely iFive mini 3gs from FNF and P8 from Pipo.
after guglin' a lot these days, i still cannot make up my mind...
any advice?
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What is the CUBE Talk 5H?
The Talk 5H (A5300) is CUBE’s first smartphone product, which is made as a rival to the Xiaomi Hongmi phone and Lenovo A850. A phone tasked with getting CUBE into the smartphone industry, it features an array of competitive innards. It has a 5.5-inch IPS display at 1280*720 pixels, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU and an impressively large 2,500mAh battery. Priced at RMB999 ($164), it really gives the nobody-is-able-to-buy Xiaomi Hongmi phone a run for its money!
Video Review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHiI7qamN9Q
Pros
1. Vivid and rich colors from the 720p IPS display.
2. Good for multimedia
3. Eye-dazzling MIUI, thousands of themes to choose from
4. Smooth performance from the MT6589 quad-core processor
5. Strong loudspeaker with clean sound.
6. Great battery life.
Cons
1. The cheap feel from the plastic shell
2. Incapable cameras
3. Only 4GB of internal storage
4. 200g weight does feel a little heavy for a phone
Key Features:
5.5-inch IPS Capacitive Panel, 1280*720
MIUI V5 (Android 4.2.1)
MT6589 quad-core Cortex-A7 [email protected], 28nm process, SGX544 GPU
1GB RAM
4GB ROM
FM Radio
Bluetooth V4.0
GPS
Wi-Fi 802.11n/b/g
WCDMA: 2100MHZ / GSM: 900MHZ + 1800MHZ
Front-facing 1.3MP camera and rear-facing 8.0MP camera with auto-focus support
High quality stereo speaker
Vibration
Light Sensor, G-sensor, Proximity Sensor
Dual SIM
2500mAh Li-Po battery
Design and Build
Continuing the trend of ever-growing screen sizes, the CUBE Talk 5H pairs a 5.5-inch 720P IPS display with a dramatically reduced bezel. This combination maximizes the amount of on-screen real estate while keeping the phone’s overall footprint small. Above the display are a 1.3MP front-facing camera for video calls and a proximity sensor along with the telephone receiver.
The CUBE logo can be found in the middle of the phone’s back, where there are also an 8MP rear-facing camera with LED flash. You will also find the stereo speaker in the lower left corner.
The 3.5mm headphone jack and the Micro USB port are the only connectors to be found along the edges of the Talk 5H, you could only get access to the SIM slots (One standard-sized, one micro) and Micro SD card slot when the battery cover is removed.
The placement of the physical keys (power/standby button & volume rocker) on a phone accommodating a large 5.5-inch screen is understandably a bit inconvenient. I had to shuffle the phone around in the palm to use them on many occasions, and a lot of the time I couldn't use my thumb to hit the whole of the screen without jiggling the phone up and down.
Like many of the cost-efficient smartphones, the CUBE Talk 5H is let down by a plastic body that feels flimsy in parts. The battery cover just never feels as solid as those installed on Samsung smartphones, I am almost having a heart attack each time I have to remove it. What’s more, the gloss finish on the plastic body is a magnet for fingerprints and grime, further causing the Talk 5H to look even cheaper.
At 9.5mm thick, the Talk 5H is far from the most svelte smartphone offering. It's a lot thicker than the Lenovo K900 (6.9mm), but it is on par with the 9.4mm thick Samsung Galaxy Note2 and 9.45mm thick Lenovo A850. And at 200g, the CUBE Talk 5H is also a little heavier than the Note2 (180g), A850 (184g) and K900 (165g). Despite this, the Talk 5H never feels bulky or uncomfortable in the hand, with a slight curvature to the phone’s rear giving it an ergonomic fit.
The thing that I love about the Talk 5H’s design is that it’s one of a kind, although you could find a bit of the OPPO Find5 and Sony phones in it, it is still a distinct design. I personally believe it is the best-looking smartphone under RMB1000 ($165).
Screen and Sound Quality
The 5.5-inch IPS display of the Talk 5H is bright and vibrant, offers very good viewing angles, and strong color saturation. Even when you put it next to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, the Talk 5H is not blown out of the water. Actually, you would find sometimes the IPS panel works even better than the HD Super AMOLED screen. For instance, I would prefer to see the umbrella image on the Note2, but I love the sunflower image better on the 5H.
Unfortunately, the CUBE Talk 5H’s screen quality is not without the odd blemish. The display is a little on the reflective side, with outdoor conditions producing an unwanted amount of glare. But the price could easily help you forget about this slight issue.
The speaker of the Talk 5H is also very nice, producing high-volume sound for gaming and videos, my only issue is that even when you turn the volume all the way down to the lowest possible, the sound can still be a little loud for certain occasions.
Software
The CUBE Talk 5H is an Android phone with a custom-made MIUI interface on top. Building on Google’s Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean OS, the MIUI interface has all the features and functions you would want and expect from a high quality smartphone. It is not as overloaded as the Samsung's Touchwiz interface, but is more exciting with thousands of elegant and colorful themes.
Besides the elegance, the MIUI also makes the Android easier to use. Lots of the customized Xiaomi apps and widgets handily enhance the overall experience, and the rearrangement of the pull-down status bar and Android setting makes everybody aware of what needs to be done.
The wonderful Micloud service can be used for backing up all the important data of the phone.
Another advantage of the MIUI is its incomparable smoothness. Browsing through the homescreens happens incredibly fast, uninstalling an application only takes less than a second, sometimes it makes you feel as if you are on iOS instead of Android.
Performance
The MTK MT6589 quad-core chipset is probably the most popular choice for entry-level smartphones now. But the performance of the Talk 5H is by no means entry-level. Above are the benchmark scores of the device and the comparison with the notches of some other quad-core smartphones.
In its real world performance, the 1.2GHZ quad-core Cortex-A7 processor and the PowerVR SGX544 GPU easily generate enough power to run everything smoothly on the Talk 5H, including some of the most graphic-intense games such as the “Need for Speed: the Most Wanted” and “Virtua Tennis”.
Video content also benefits from the large screen and graphics partnership, with motion blur and image lag now a thing of the past. The only issue I have with the Talk 5H is its pitifully small built-in storage, I only have 1.6GB storage usable after the system files and ROM taking up most of the 4GB flash disk. Thankfully there is a Micro SD card slot on board, and everyone using this phone will have to need it!
Even loading those most image-heavy websites, hiccups and lags were rare.
Call Quality and Connectivity
The Talk 5H features 2G and 3G connectivity and performs admirably across both network types. Connections proved strong during call and online use, and I suffered no unexpected signal loss or dropped calls during my time with the phone. Call quality was sharp and clear and volume was easily managed using the volume rocker on the left edge.
Cameras
The cameras on the Talk 5H don’t live up to today’s smartphone standards. Although the MIUI does give the Talk 5H a lot of shooting options.
Normal shootings
Panorama Mode
The 8MP F/2.8 rear-facing camera is probably one of the worst 8MP cellphone cameras I have ever seen. Sharp and clear photos can only happen while the ambient light is just right, but the colors of those snaps are still far less good-looking than those from the market-leading flagship phones. The LED flash does help with shooting in low light, but you should not put your expectations too high, either.
The front-facing camera is not even nice for video calls, and I would not recommend you to use it for selfies.
Battery Life
The Talk 5H packs a 2,500mAh Li-Po battery. Judged by smartphone standards, the Talk 5H delivers decent battery endurance. Two days of regular, 3G-powered use are a perfectly reasonable expectation from this device. After 3 hours of nonstop heavy use — involving some benchmarks, web browsing, several phone calls, and online video playback — I was left with 64 percent of battery power remaining.
In our standard TR battery tests, the 5H gives an 8 hours, 12 minutes run time in 720P video playback, it also streamed an online TV show for 7 hours and 49 minutes.
If you are willing to sacrifice some performance for longer use, you can turn on the “CPU Power Saving Mode” in the settings.
Even better, the phone’s power supply is removable, meaning a spare battery can be carried for emergencies or heavy business use.
The Verge
With the help from MTK, lots of the entry-level smartphones are now equipped with quad-core processors, and have relatively strong performance. I can easily list a dozen of those phones under the price of RMB1000 ($165) without even thinking.
The CUBE Talk 5H is a brilliant device. Unlike most of the entry-level smartphones which have the MTK quad-core SoC., but the stock or poorly customized interface, the CUBE Talk 5H runs the MIUI, which I personally consider to be the best customized Android OS. This greatly enhances the users’ experiences of this phone. There are some setbacks, as you can imagine from such a low-priced device, including poor cameras, but none of them denies how wonderful the 5H actually is.
I bought the Talk 5H as a birthday gift for my dad, but now feel reluctant to give it to him. The MIUI, the big HD screen, and the compact design are all too nice to give away, and I bet anyone ever uses this phone should feel the same way, too. At RMB999, it is arguably the best choice for smartphones below the price point of RMB1000.
Pretty brilliant device, hope people enjoy it.
I also liked the phone, but THL W100S looks better than it.
Lindsay02 said:
I also liked the phone, but THL W100S looks better than it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THL devices also have decent quality and are reasonably priced, but the one thing special about the 5H is the MIUI it runs, pretty brilliant!
Lindsay02 said:
I also liked the phone, but THL W100S looks better than it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thl has released a new phone, with octa-core processor, and pretty nice-looking, too, wanna buy one!
jupiter2012 said:
thl has released a new phone, with octa-core processor, and pretty nice-looking, too, wanna buy one!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You said THL T100 eight-core phone? I booked a THL T100 on the www thlmobilestore com website, Do not know when I can receive phone?
EvangelineX said:
You said THL T100 eight-core phone? I booked a THL T100 on the www thlmobilestore com website, Do not know when I can receive phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have u got it, how is it?
Introduction
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Cube’s line of 3G tablets have always been a delightful bunch, not only for the affordable cost attached to them, but also for the fact that they’re normally very well-made. It all started with the original Talk 79 back in the summer of 2013, followed subsequently by the release of the Talk 5H, the Talk 9X. Each tablet, of course, proved that it didn’t require consumers to fork over huge sums of money to pick up and own a high-performing unit.
Cube isn’t one of the pioneering Chinese manufactures that produce Intel-powered Android tablets, although it enjoyed enormous success in marketing their Windows 8 tablets such as the Cube iWork 10 and the Cube iWork 8, which are, of course powered by Intel processors.
The Cube i6 is actually Cube’s first Android tablet ever to feature an Intel processor. Is it better than other ANTEL tablets currently on the market, let’s find out?
Cube i6 main specs:
• OS: Android 4.4
• Display: 9.7-inch IPS, 10-point multi-touch, IGZO
• Screen Resolution: 2048 x 1536 (4:3)
• CPU: Intel Atom Baytrail-T Z3735F Quad-core Processor
• CPU Frequency: 1.8GHz
• GPU:Intel HD Graphic
• RAM / Storage: 2GB / 32GB
• Function: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, A-GPS, OTG, Miracast, FM Radio
• WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi hotspot
• 3G: WCDMA 900MHz, WCDMA 2100MHz
• 2G: Network Frequency: 900MHz, 1800MHz
• Camera: 5MP back camera , 2MP front camera
• Battery: 8000mAh
• Extend Port: TF Card Slot, SIM Card Slot, Micro USB Port, 3.5mm Earphones Port
• Weight & Size: 500 g / 237 x 170 x 8.8 mm
The package contains:
• Quick Reference Guide
• Product Warranty Brochure
• Micro USB cable
• SIM Tray Removal Tool – which is unnecessary
Design
First and foremost, the i6 is a 9.7-inch tablet. For those who are still not sure about the differences among tablet sizes, above is a photo to show you that.
The overall design of the i6 is simplistic, with strong resemblance to the more popular Cube Talk 9X. The i6 is obviously not made to stand out in the design department, with most attention being paid to the optimization of the Intel Z3735 processor inside. With that said, it does feel right at home in your hands.
The front of the i6 is simple and uncluttered, dominated by a 9.7-inch IPS retina display.
The slate also features a metallic rear which feels very smooth to the touch.
Along the sides you will find all the buttons and ports – a 3.5mm audio jack and a Micro USB port on the top side, and a power/standby key, a volume rocker, a SIM slot as well as a Micro SD card slot on the right side.
The tablet has an overall footprint of 237*170*8.8mm, pretty compact for a 10-incher, but still not as thin as the 7mm thick Talk 9X. As for the weight, the i6 weighs only 500g, even lighter than the 580g 9X.
Although it looks like a thicker version of the Talk 9X, there are still some other minor differences in the i6’s design. The SIM slot is a very meaningful upgrade from previous models. You can pull out the SIM tray by your own finger, without the need of an awkward removal tool.
You have all the sensors you would expect in a modern Android tablet, along with a 2MP front-facing camera on the business side, and a 5MP camera with auto-focus around back. They are both ordinary tablet cameras — so don't expect miracles. We'll talk more about the cameras in a separate section.
Overall there is nothing too exciting about the Cube i6’s design, it is neither very thin nor very light. The missing of an HDMI port or the support for MHL is quite a shame, so as the absence of an IR blaster, which we see more often now on some of the leading flagship Android tablets and smartphones. However, with Cube being the manufacturer, you can always rely on the great build quality and trustworthy after-sale support.
Display
I'll cut straight to the point: The Cube i6's display is gorgeous. Like the rest of the 9.7-inch tablets recently produced, the i6 boasts an impressive 2,048 x 1,536 resolution, topping out at an impressive 264 pixels per inch. Icons and images are so crisp and lifelike that they look painted on. Further, the i6 utilizes an IPS LCD, which results in natural colors and wonderful viewing angle.
This was especially apparent when we used the i6 to browse graphic-intense web pages or read PDF magazines. The tablet's 9.7-inch screen’s sharpness and clarity made it a downright pleasurable experience. However, watching movies or YouTube videos is not equally as pleasant, since most of the videos come in widescreen, there is a great percentage of unused area on the display. Also, most of Android applications are designed for a widescreen, using them on a 4:3 display may result in some awkward distortions. But as the all new Google Nexus 9 and the highly anticipated Nokia N1 both choose to feature a display at 4:3 aspect ratio, it is totally sensible to expect more tablet applications optimized for this aspect ratio.
But when we compare the i6’s display to the one on the more celebrated Talk 9X, we notice some differences. Color temperature of the i6’s display seems too warm compared to the more natural colors on the iPad Air panel used on the Talk 9X. Also the black on the i6 feels a little grey next to the real deep black shown on the Talk 9X.
Overall, the i6 has a very nice display, but certainly not the best we have seen on a Chinese tablet.
Sound
The i6 has dual rear-facing speakers, which are normal for a tablet, but we have to say we do prefer front-facing or side-facing speakers as the sound won’t be blocked it you lay the slate on a table. The i6’s speakers are quite average among Cube’s higher-end tablets, the sound is loud enough for videos and movies. To my non-audiophile ears, I also found them perfectly acceptable for listening to tracks from Spotify. I wouldn't replace your best Bluetooth speakers with them of course, but they'll do in a pinch.
System & UI
The Cube i6 runs stock Android 4.4.4 out of the box, bringing head to toe Android Kitkat experience to the users, whether it will receive the Android Lollipop upgrade remains unknown.
Performance
With a beastly Intel quad-core Z3735 processor and 2GB of RAM, the i6 theoretically offers plenty of power.
As you can see from the table above, the i6 stands up well to other flagship tablets in synthetic benchmark tests such as Geekbench, Quadrant, AnTuTu and CF-Bench, its 3D Mark score even trumped most of the high-end ARM-powered flagship tablets. Its Vellamo HTML5 score, meanwhile, though not the highest, was very respectable as well.
And after spending some serious quality time with the tablet, I have to agree. Swiping and flipping around the tablet's various apps and screens felt gloriously smooth for the most part, and launching most software took mere seconds. For example, in just under two seconds, I was able to launch the camera app and start taking photographs. Snapping pictures is practically instantaneous as well, which is great if you need to capture that perfect moment. The occasional lags and stutters we once found on the Talk 9X were almost absent from the i6.
Common applications such as Facebook, Instagram, Skype, Tweetdeck, and YouTube all ran without issue. But there are a very small percentage of applications not compatible with the X86 structure, and that didn’t go unnoticeable on the i6. “Minecraft: Pocket Edition” could not be opened, Mobo Player crushed every now and then. Fortunately, most of the previously incompatible apps now have optimized X86 versions. The 4:3 aspect ratio itself also presented some of the compatibility issues, even more noticeable than the problems with the X86 processor.
Despite some compatibility issues, gaming on the i6 was still a pleasant experience, as the extremely powerful Intel HD Graphics Gen7 GPU worked like a beast most of the time. “Call of Duty: Strike Team” ran smoothly. Frame rates of the “Crazy Cars” were higher than ever, and the i6 remained extremely responsive to my touch all the way through.
Battery
The Cube i6 has an 8,000mAh battery, which is a slightly smaller than the Talk 9X's 10,000mAh power pack. In our standard battery test where we play a 1080P video on loop with 50 percent brightness while having notifications for email, Facebook and Twitter turned on, the i6 lasted for seven hours and 13 minutes. That's substantially less than the Talk 9X and though it's about on par with the older Cube U30GT2, it fares much worse than the iPad Air or Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5, both of which lasted well over 10 hours.
Based on what I'm seeing, things are working as designed. You have a big screen (both in size and pixels) and a power-hungry processor. When you let them eat as much delicious battery as they want, the plate empties fairly quickly. When you dish out the juice with a bit of sense, things last longer. This is also one of those things that will get better as the software matures and updates come along.
I'll call it a day-long battery, If you use your tablet like a tablet, by which I mean surfing the web, playing casual games, reading a book or comic, social media, etc. — and the battery life is not bad. With on-again, off-again use like this, the 8,000mAh battery will last you through a day, and likely well into another day. That's going to depend on how many hours you have the screen on.
Cameras
I don't like using a tablet as a camera, not even a little bit. But I realize that tablets aren't just made for me, and plenty of people want or need to do just that. I won't hate on them.
The good news is you have the very same Google Camera application that everyone seems to love installed on the Cube i6, complete with all the bells and whistles that come along with it. The bad news is that it's still an average tablet camera.
You'll get pictures you can use, and if the lighting is just right you'll get some great pictures. Just don't expect too much from a camera on a tablet. Here are a few examples:
Verdict
Long-time readers here at cngadget know I love the Cube brand. I like the bare feel of the stock Android OS, I like the significantly better build quality than products from other Chinese brands such as Onda, Vido or Teclast, and I like the fact that they do care about oversea markets.
I also like the i6, but I don’t love it as much as I love the Talk 9X, which remains as my favorite tablet from a Chinese brand to date.
The performance of the i6 is great, the display is good, and the battery life is okay. I like the future-proof internals such as the Intel processor and 32GB of built-in storage, and it is arguably the best Intel-powered Android tablet from a Chinese brand. I am just not a fan of the overall design, and I know there’re other products out there that suit me better.
With that said, I cannot really pinpoint one thing that I particularly dislike, though. Maybe I am just too caught up in comparing it to the Talk 9X, everything seems like a step back except for the performance.
I guess it is all going to come down to the dollar. If you don’t have a tablet yet or your tablet is more than 2 years old, $162 should be a worthy investment on the powerful and all-around Cube i6. On the other hand, if you have a Talk 9X or something like the LG G Pad 8.3, and have no glaring issues that make you want to get rid of it, your money could probably be better spent elsewhere.
Overall, the i6 is a very well-made tablet, definitely a much better product than high-profile but mediocre devices like the Teclast P98 Air. As I already own my Cube Talk 9X and love it, I would not buy the i6, although I do admit that I was constantly seduced by its stronger performance while testing it. Still, the unnecessary outweighs the necessary.
This is a real powerhouse tablet, have used it for days and it has been amazing!
jupiter2012 said:
This is a real powerhouse tablet, have used it for days and it has been amazing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just received mine but it has wifi issue. The connection is slow and drops frequently. Unusable, I will send it back!
Could you please post androbench results? Many Chinese tablets have sloooow flash memory which hurts day to day use..
kzkz said:
I just received mine but it has wifi issue. The connection is slow and drops frequently. Unusable, I will send it back!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had problem about wifi too, even if i claim for new one but still have problem.
Looks nicely, but can't understant why cube don't put hdmi in any their models
tamahos said:
I had problem about wifi too, even if i claim for new one but still have problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will report this issue to Cube, although I didn't experience any wifi issue during my time with it.
jupiter2012 said:
I will report this issue to Cube, although I didn't experience any wifi issue during my time with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now i'm using window 8.1 and don't have wifi problem anymore.
tamahos said:
now i'm using window 8.1 and don't have wifi problem anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you install Windows to Cube i6? Is everything working with it? 3g, GPS?
Thanks in advance!
kzkz said:
How do you install Windows to Cube i6? Is everything working with it? 3g, GPS?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All from this link http://bbs.51cube.com/thread-98624-1-1.html
Download all file from http://pan.baidu.com/share/init?shareid=1366428227&uk=288410357
password : ztyo
This is instruction including in downloaded file but i'm using google to translate it.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kgHgzqF1ZkCg1t0hbEKxZnTOsxWNvK3IBT7kYaBbf7Y/edit?usp=sharing
Do you have mirror link?
Because I'm unable to download image file, I cannot register to baidu, because I cannot type the chienese verification code
New dualOS firmware:
http://www.51cube.com/ch/DownShow.asp?ID=305
If you can download, please make a mirror, because I cannot register to baidu THX
kzkz said:
New dualOS firmware:
http://www.51cube.com/ch/DownShow.asp?ID=305
If you can download, please make a mirror, because I cannot register to baidu THX
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Successfully updated to dualOS firmware, but the wifi is still bad. When I use windows the wifi is better that under android, but I think it's not only a software issue, because the reception is worse when I hold the tablet in my hands.
There are two antennas under the hood. One for GPS/WIFI and one for GSM. The wifi antenna is smaller. Maybe it is undersized...
Cube i6 1.05 and DualBoot
kzkz said:
Successfully updated to dualOS firmware, but the wifi is still bad. When I use windows the wifi is better that under android, but I think it's not only a software issue, because the reception is worse when I hold the tablet in my hands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here it is -
yadi.sk/d/QxwQ8x3ueP3hk
Working (but not easy) root method:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=55099649&postcount=265
Root is Easy !
kzkz said:
Working (but not easy) root method:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=55099649&postcount=265
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For Root you just need adb drivers and next step install Kingo Android Root on PC
thats all, just confirm some options in kingo.
HDMI
jupiter2012 said:
This is a real powerhouse tablet, have used it for days and it has been amazing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does it support MHL?
I'm considering buying one of these with the sale on, but would people say the WiFI issue is so bad it's not worth it?
Also, has anyone tried USB OTG yet?
rhx123 said:
I'm considering buying one of these with the sale on, but would people say the WiFI issue is so bad it's not worth it?
Also, has anyone tried USB OTG yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also interested to hear how bad the WiFi issue is.
A tablet without proper Wifi connectivity is pointless.
Thanks
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Cube offers what can seem like a bewildering array of tablets, including the standard Wi-Fi only Android tablets, the business-oriented iWork series and the cellular and phone-equipped Talk ranges. The T9 and the T7 are the latest offerings from the Talk series, although Cube did simplify their communication names. The 9.7-inch T9 reviewed here delivers a strong set of features and is a serious competitor for the Xiaomi M1 Pad and the Samsung Tab Pro 10.5. With 32GB of internal storage and full phone functionalities, the T9 costs only RMB1,499 ($244).
Cube T9 main specs:
OS: Android 4.4
Display: 9.7-inch IPS, 10-point multi-touch, IGZO
Screen Resolution: 2048 x 1536 (4:3)
CPU: MediaTek MT8752 octa-core processor (8 cores of 64-bit Cortex-A53)
CPU Frequency: 2.0GHz
GPU: ARM Mali-760MP2
RAM / Storage: 2GB / 32GB
Function: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, A-GPS, OTG, Miracast, FM Radio
WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi hotspot
GSM: band2, band3, band5, band8
TDS: band34, band39
WCDMA: band1, band5
TDD: band38, band39, band40, band41
FDD: band1, band3, band7
Camera: 5MP back camera, 2MP front camera
Battery: 10,000mAh
Ports: TF Card Slot, SIM Card Slot, Micro USB Port, 3.5mm Headphone Jack
Weight & Size: 610 g / 237 x 170 x 8.9 mm
Design
The Cube T9 isn’t exceptionally thin and light, measuring 8.9mm thick and weighing 610g, it is much thicker and heavier than its predecessor – the Cube Talk 9X, which measures at 7mm and weighs only 560g. This certainly doesn’t give the T9 an immediate appeal, if you're making comparisons on these grounds. The reason why the T9 is so thick and heavy is that Cube uses both die casting roll cage and metal anti-roll frame, which are designed to protect the internals of the tablets from collision and impact.
The screen sits in a relatively thin bezel, which can result in unintended selections when holding the tablet in portrait mode. But while you hold it in landscape mode, there is enough bezel to rest your fingers on. The 2MP front-facing camera is located above the display, along with a tiny light sensor to help auto-adjust the brightness of the display.
The edges of T9 are silver-colored, which looks unappealing on our black review sample. In portrait mode, the top edge is home to the 3.5mm headphone jack and a micro SD card slot. The power button, the volume rocker slot are located on the top of the right edge of the slate, while the SIM tray is located on the bottom of the right edge.
The side-facing speakers are located on the right end of the bottom edge, which is pretty smart design as the speaker gates won’t be easily blocked by your hands however you hold the tablet.
The stippled plastic rear, which looks exactly like the back of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, does the T9 no great favors, either. Although Cube insists that this design is inspired by the surface of a golf ball, and improves the grip of the tablet, still, we are not impressed.
The 13MP camera and an LED flash is located on the upper left corner of the rear side.
Overall, the T9 lacks the premium appeal the Cube Talk 9X was once famous for.
Display
The 9.7-inch IPS LCD screen is the same 2,048-by-1,536 resolution with 264ppi as the iPad Air, we can’t say we are astonished with this amount of pixel offering anymore as we have already seen lots of tablets from China with 9.7-inch Retina displays by now, and there are also lots of tablets with much higher pixel density on the market at the moment.
Unfortunately, the quality of the T9’s display isn’t as amazing as Cube advertised. The contrast ratio doesn’t match it is on the super clear PLS display on my Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 and, with an explosion-proof film on top of the touchscreen, the display looks annoyingly grainy at times, especially when you are viewing a web page with white background color.
With that said, it is far from being a terrible display. Colors are a lot more relaxed than those seen on some of Samsung’s AMOLED devices, and viewing angles are also quite amazing.
The T9’s screen is fairly bright that we only need the brightness slider set at 30% or lower most of the time, the auto-brightness option works well too.
Sound
The side-facing stereo speakers are one area where the T9 under-delivers. They are quite loud, but the sound quality is disappointing, especially when compared to the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro or the iPad Air. This is a pity as it means the tablet isn't really up to delivering music and movies without the help from an external audio system.
System and apps
The Cube T9 runs stock Android 4.4.4 Kitkat OS, with limited customizations made to the icons. Preinstalled applications are kept to the minimum as well.
App selection is the biggest reason to hesitate about the T9. It isn't bad by any means, and is no better or worse than any other Android tablets, with the Google Play Store's solid selection on board. It's just that when you compare it to the iPad's App Store, you'll see that the Play Store's tablet selection still has some catching up to do. Unlike those 7-inch tablets, which still works and looks perfectly fine running smartphone apps, The T9’s spacious 4:3 display can make some applications look distorted and unappealing.
Performance
Inside the Cube T9, there're a 1.7GHz, 64-bit MediaTek MT8752 octa-core processor and 2 full GB of RAM. Although it by no means the most cutting-edge design, it is still a very beefy set-up.
Benchmarks tell the story. The T9 scored 40,272 on the Antutu system benchmark and 3,401 on the Geekbench3 processor benchmark, as compared with around 30,000 and 2,117 for the Cube i6, and 34,810 and 2,296 for the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4.
On the Vellamo HTML5 benchmark test, the tablet scored an impressive 2231, which is in the same class as the even the highest end of Android devices.
In the 3DMark Ice Storm graphics benchmark, the T9 scored 8,768 points, clearly no match for the MAXED OUT performance the Intel powered Cube i6 presented. This did tell the true story that the Mali-760MP2 GPU didn’t compare to the cutting-edge offerings such as the Qualcomm Adreno 330 or the Imagination PowerVR 6xxx series, but it was still a great improvement over the Mali-450MP4 GPU used in the last generation of MediaTek octa-core chipsets.
Tablets and phones that run stock Android often provide day-to-day performance that’s better than the devices with heavily customized interfaces. The slate performs like a champ most of the time -- as long as there are lot too many apps running in the background. There are some minor, intermittent pauses before the contents of menus pop up, but little-to-none of the very basic interface scroll lag we’ve seen in those entry-level tablets and smartphones. It does take a while to come out of standby at times, though, which can get annoying.
During mass auto-updates, updates would freeze mid-download like frozen apps mid-download. Even though it has a zippy octa-core CPU and 2GB of RAM, it is still easily overwhelmed when pushing its performance to maximum. But it is more of a problem of the multi-tasking enhanced Android operating system rather than a defect of the Cube T9.
Reading and browsing
The squarer 9.7-inch display is perfect size for browsing content-heavy webpages and reading E-magazines, and the capable MT8752 processor doesn’t disappoint. Loading graphic-intense web-pages happens fairly quickly, dragging and zooming the page itself feels as smooth as silk, There are little to none lags in turning pages of even the most gigantic PDF file.
Gaming
As long as we kept background apps to a minimum, gaming performance was fast and smooth. Large games like NFS 17 opened quickly and levels loaded within a few seconds. While playing Riptide, the tablet reacted quickly, making tight turns and sharp movements in real time.
Video Playback
A screen with 4:3 aspect ratio isn’t really ideal for video playback, as most video files come in widescreen, which result in a lot of wasted screen real estate when we play 1080P videos on the T9. Fortunately, with Cube’s rich experience in making MP4 players, the T9 has incredible video codec support.
Almost all media files with basic video codecs (i.e. DivX). MKV, AVI (XviD) and MP4 videos play smoothly through T9’s video player. You can change the zoom mode (100% or fit to screen with and without affecting the video's aspect ratio) and there's a pinch zoom too, in case you want to get close up on a specific part of the action.
If subtitles are available, the video player will automatically find and load them. You can also manually load subtitles, if the video and subtitle file names don't match.
Connectivity
The T9 features dual 4G support (FD-LTE & TD-LTE), which means you get up to 150Mbps of downlink and up to 50Mbps of uplink speeds. It also covers dual 3G (WCDMA & TD-SCDMA) and 4 bands of GSM.
It also features Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac support, with 2.4GHz and 5GHz band compatibility. Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA support are also available as well as GPS and FM Radio. Bluetooth 4.0 is available for local data transfer, too.
There is a micro SD card slot as well, on top of the 32GB of internal storage.
The T9 naturally supports USB-on-the-go, but you will need to buy an additional adapter for that. The tablet can work with USB storage, USB mice and keyboards. Of course, you can always hook up a Bluetooth mouse or keyboard to the slate without relying on the cable connection.
You can also mirror your tablet screen on the bigger HDTV via Wi-Fi Direct and the widely supported Miracast protocol - that would even allow you to play mobile games on the biggest screen in your living room.
Just like the T7, the T9 supports OTA firmware upgrade, you will receive the notification whenever an update is available.
Battery life
First and foremost, the T9 is a brilliant tablet for battery life with a very large 10,000mAh capacity inside, full stop.
Untouched, the device will last a really long time as it holds its charge extremely well. When you do use it, it doesn't jump off a cliff like a brainless lemming either. You'll get about 9 hours of screen time. This is an average, as it depends on how bright you set that super high-res screen. You'll get less if you ramp it up but even more at lower levels.
Either way, it's a great performer in this area and means the T9 is a good choice for those wanting to travel without their tablet dying on them half way through a flight or a car journey where the tablet is entertaining kids in the back.
In our standard cngadget battery test, where we play a 1080P video on loop with 30 percent brightness while having notifications for email turned on, the T9 lasted 9 hours and 5 minutes, which is almost on par with the longevity the Talk 9X could deliver. Neither tablet can come anywhere near the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5, though, which gives you two more hours of screen use between charges.
Cameras
The T9 has two cameras, the norm for any high-quality tablet. It uses a 13-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front camera.
We think a tablet like this is much too big to be used as an everyday camera, but otherwise it offers pretty good shooting. There’s very little shutter lag, focusing is snappy and you get a few additional modes. There’s HDR, panorama, beauty face and object tracking.
While not up with the best smartphones in terms of image quality, they're much better than the tablet average. Here are a few samples:
The T9 also has an LED flash, which some tablets lack. The T9’s front camera isn’t too bad either – you don’t need more for standard video chat, although some phones are starting to use higher-resolution 5-megapixel front cameras for better selfies.
Conclusions
There is no doubt that T9 is one of Cube's best tablets yet, and, though it is not so stylish and record-breaking as its predecessor – the Cube Talk 9X, it's still a great slate with solid specs and excellent build quality.
Back in 2012 when Rockchip’s RK3066 dual-core A9 processor dominated the tablet industry in China, a few tablet makers already began to sell tablets with 9.7-inch retina display. The struggling performance and recurrent lags from those offerings lead to a generally negative impression of Chinese tablets with a high-resolution display. But powered by enhanced processors coming out in 2013 and 2014, high-res tablets are finally good.
With dozens of tablets released this year, Cube certainly hasn't made choosing a tablet easy. Is the T9 enough to make Talk 9X or i6 users to switch? Certainly not. However, unless you've already bought a tablet in 2014, the T9 will give you plenty of reasons to go for it and the beefy processor is just one of them.
If you like the T9’s specs but not the size and weight, you can also go smaller with the Cube T7, which has almost identical internal set-ups, aside from a smaller 7-inch screen and significantly smaller battery to fit into the tinier body.
The good
Solid build quality.
Amazing battery life.
Smooth performance delivered by the beefy processor and 2GB RAM.
32GB internal storage with Micro SD card support.
A nice rear-facing 13MP camera.
OTA upgrade.
The Bad
Not slim or light by today’s standards.
No HDMI on board.
The explosion-proof film on top of the touchscreen makes the display look annoyingly grainy.
Hi, but the Cube T9 4G tablet support LED flash?
Annie Y said:
Hi, but the Cube T9 4G tablet support LED flash?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cube T9 support LED flash, you can look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y93zqo0sJo
man!
got this one today, but can't root it!
even drivers for windows (debug mode) aren't available...
anyone any ideas?
Cant root t7 either
Tried oneclickroot
Root genius
iroot formerly vroot
Kingo root too
Doomlord please help I'll send ya my tablet to root if you fancy a challenge
Sent from my GT-I9305 using XDA Free mobile app
Yo dude!
I've just rooted it with vroot (iroot)
Just get google debug drivers and install them manualy
And itoot will do the rest
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
awesome
Does it play Hearthstone?
root cube t 9 4g
Hi,
you got it!! nice one.
could you explain how you did it?
filiphch said:
Yo dude!
I've just rooted it with vroot (iroot)
Just get google debug drivers and install them manualy
And itoot will do the rest
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My contribution:
The good
Battery
Smooth performance
OTA upgrade
4G
The Bad
The screen lacks much precision !!!! may be due to proof film ???
Only 2 Go allowed to internal storage (system and app) can't install app on the rest or on sd card ::> http://forum.zopomobileshop.com/thread-1412-1-1.html ????
bug
Reboot alone
Seems great
This tablet seems great for my use, however the screen precision mentioned in this threat, worries me a bit. Could you confirm it?
The battery life is really a selling point for me.
ferdyfist said:
This tablet seems great for my use, however the screen precision mentioned in this threat, worries me a bit. Could you confirm it?
The battery life is really a selling point for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got totaly no problem with precision
i can click any small detail on screen without error
realy nice tablet
just be aware of 2gb limit of app space
otherwise tablet is super!
So no screen issue? All clear and such?
Can you confirm the battery life as well?
And the small app storage should be able to be repartitioned, I hope.
I btw saw somewhere, that this was able to record in 4k? Not that I believe it, but is the camera good, both for video and photos?
ferdyfist said:
So no screen issue? All clear and such?
Can you confirm the battery life as well?
And the small app storage should be able to be repartitioned, I hope.
I btw saw somewhere, that this was able to record in 4k? Not that I believe it, but is the camera good, both for video and photos?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope -> I <- have got totaly no issues with the screen...
My previous tablet was Onda v975m, and the battery life is a tyni bit longer now
Let's hope together then for repartitioning
4k? Nah...
Camera is realy wierd... only default camera software gave me the ''full hd'' video... android camera could do it only in low res.
Photos of front camera are the same as other chinese tablets
I wouldn't buy it for camera xD
But if you need to take a photo outside in bright daylight, it will be ok with hdr turned on
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Just read
http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?20643-Cube-T9-64bit-octacore-A53-4G-beast
Deleted.
I have mine for about a week now and all is working great..no screen issues at all and no inner film as some have reported and the screen just looks very clear and detailed..no graininess at all..i have not tried a sim card in it yet to try the phone part, but this is a real nice tablet and fast.
I have had mine for 2 week's now and it's been very good. Had a few dramas earlier with trying to upgrade firmware. The only real problem for me is the 5ghz WiFi band. It's really unreliable and keeps dropping out, the 2ghz band is reliable. Hopefully it's just software related and they fix it. Has anyone had the 4g signal working. I tried my mobile 4g sim and was only picking up 3g
Mine 5GHZ wifi is stable...
Maybe you should check your router?
Amazing Review
Thankyou for posting such an extensive review.. This seems to be a nice device to carry.. But I wonder about the explosion proof film. They could have done better I suppose.