Trekstor WinPhone 5.0 is a well built mid-range smartphone with Windows 10 Mobile

If there's one thing Windows ten Mobile hasn't e'er actually had, information technology's good, premium mid-range hardware. Mostly, you'd only ever find Windows 10 Mobile on either extremely low-end devices, or high-end flagship smartphones. There hasn't ever been a comfortable middle ground, and that's a real shame. For a lot of people, mid-range smartphones are more plenty, unremarkably being inexpensive while non sacrificing much in performance.

The lack of mid-range Windows x Mobile hardware may before long change, however, as High german manufacturer Trekstor is hoping to release its ain mid-range Windows telephone early next year. The WinPhone 5.0 is a €249 Windows ten Mobile handset that's smack-bang in the mid-range tier, packing a run-of-the-mill Snapdragon 617 along with 3GB RAM. This is a device that'due south as mid-range as you can get, that to me that's incredibly exciting.

Unfortunately, the availability of the WinPhone v.0 LTE is going to depend heavily on y'all as this device is a crowdfunded project. If it doesn't reach its goal of €500,000 before the end of this week, the device volition not be funded and as such; won't proceed auction. We've been using a pre-release model of this device over the last calendar week, and wanted to give our early on impressions before you make up one's mind to put your hard-earned cash down for ane.

Run into WinPhone v.0 at Indiegogo

WinPhone 5.0 specifications

Category	Features
Display	5.0-inch 1280x720 IPS Gorilla Glass 3 Display
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 617
Memory	3GB RAM
Internal Storage	32GB
Expansion	microSD
Camera	13MP rear-facing camera 5MP front-facing camera
Ports	3.5mm headphone jack MicroUSB port
Dimensions	71.6 x7.6 ten 142.4 mm
Battery	2250mAh

WinPhone 5.0 design

I really similar the blueprint and build quality of this phone. It's your typical glass sandwich, with an aluminum frame around the sides keeping everything together. I wouldn't say this telephone pushes any boundaries when it comes to appearance, simply information technology certainly isn't a bad looking phone. In fact, it looks and feels a lot like the iPhone 4, which is a compliment amidst itself. I was a huge fan of the iPhone 4'southward design back in 2022, and I'thou still a huge fan now.

This is a phone that will toll just €249, so this pattern is more than fine for what y'all're paying for. It looks and feels more premium than the Lumia 550, 650 or 950 series, thanks to the glass and aluminum combination that then many people love. I appreciate these materials over plastic, which and so many mid-range phones often become for to salve on cost. Now, since it is glass, information technology does selection upwardly fingerprints fairly piece of cake. It's non as slippery equally other drinking glass-phones, all the same.

Information technology looks and feels a lot like an iPhone 4, which is a compliment amongst itself.

On the back, nosotros find a couple of logos, along with the photographic camera module in the superlative left that sits flush with the glass. So many phones these days often have a camera module that protrudes slightly, which I loathe. So I'yard delighted with the all-smooth back on this device. I volition say there does appear to be an abnormal amount of logos and marking on the back, however. Very noticeable FCC markings, and writing along the bottom which would look ameliorate if they were better hidden.

Moving around to the sides, we're rocking an all-metal frame which feels and looks great. It's silver and common cold to the touch, which I'one thousand a huge fan of. It also has clicky buttons, but the buttons themselves are a little loose sitting in the frame. What I mean past this is if I shake the device, you tin can hear the metallic buttons bumping against the metallic frame. Keep in heed we are using a pre-release model, and yet, it doesn't touch usage in any way. The buttons all the same feel great to press down on, which is all I care about.

On the front, we're rocking a 5-inch 720p IPS LCD, which is fine. Information technology's nil spectacular past any means, and since information technology's non OLED, blacks aren't true blacks and colors don't pop as much. It's not a bad brandish, still, and still looks crisp enough thanks to its small screen size. The biggest problem I have with the front of this device is the screen-to-torso ratio, which is just absurd. Information technology has a huge mentum and forehead, which are wasted space. There'southward so much room, Trekstor could've put capacitive buttons below the brandish, but they didn't. It's but an empty space, used for absolutely nothing.

I'1000 not asking for an eighteen:ix display, since I don't think Windows ten Mobile fifty-fifty supports that aspect ratio, but at least minimize the bottom and top bezels a bit. It makes this phone feel way bigger than it actually is, which is never good. It'south about the same size as my Lumia 950, simply equipped with a smaller display.

In addition to the poor use of space, the touch on-screen itself will sometimes miss taps. Information technology doesn't happen all the time, but sometimes the sensitivity of the bear upon-sensor volition drop and will cause me to accept to press down harder on a push button or when I'yard typing something on the keyboard for the touch sensor to option information technology up. Again, this could simply exist due to this device existence pre-release, only it must be noted.

WinPhone 5.0 Windows 10 Mobile

There's not much to say about Windows 10 Mobile in 2022. It exists, but it isn't exactly doing anything. Microsoft has already confirmed it is no longer focused on building new features or functions for Windows ten Mobile, and volition just continue supporting the platform with bug fixes and security updates. This means there will exist no more big features or innovations coming to Windows telephone. What we've already got is all we're going to become.

This means that over time, Windows 10 Mobile volition exist left backside. As Windows 10 on PC continues development, Windows x Mobile will remain on an older release, and equally such will somewhen begin missing out on new apps and existing app updates. Microsoft will continue to support native apps, merely at that place's no guarantee any new features or designs will brand their style to Windows 10 Mobile.

Microsoft has abased this platform, and that'due south a existent shame.

Unfortunately, Windows x Mobile is i of this telephone'due south biggest allow downs, simply that's not Trekstor's fault. Microsoft has abandoned this platform, and that's a real shame. However, if you're more than fine with Windows 10 Mobile today, and don't mind the fact that Microsoft won't be releasing any new features or big updates, then Microsoft's lack of focus on here should be a non-outcome for y'all.

There is also no double-tap to wake option, and there isn't fifty-fifty an "extras" expanse in Settings for additional options. There'due south no Glance screen and no real hardware specific customization. The double-tap to wake thing is not of much concern to me, and a lack of Glance is obvious considering Glance is exclusive to Lumia devices. Trekstor could release a firmware update down the line with support for double-tap to wake, however, then not all is lost.

Exterior of those issues, the software on the WinPhone 5.0 LTE is relatively stock. In fact, it's the near stock version of Windows ten Mobile I've e'er seen, with no 3rd party apps installed by default. That was a nice surprise, and 1 I promise remains if the device always does ship publicly.

The Start screen is easily still the best home screen experience on any smartphone; it's just so customizable and skillful looking. I also really beloved the Notification Center on Windows 10 Mobile. To me, it's better than the notification center experiences on Android and iOS, which says a lot. And that keyboard. Hands down, the Windows 10 Mobile keyboard is still the all-time in the business.

WinPhone 5.0 operation and battery life

In my time using the WinPhone five.0 LTE, I've had no real issues when it comes to performance. The Snapdragon 617 is a very capable processor, and equally such handles Windows 10 Mobile with ease. App load times are fast, animations are shine, and everything performs without much of a hitch. The addition of 3GB of RAM helps when it comes to multitasking and keeping apps in memory likewise, which ways apps resume from sleep chop-chop. I'yard glad Trekstor opted for 3GB over 2GB or 1GB like you detect on most other Windows phones, and the difference is really apparent.

The Snapdragon 617 also supports Continuum too, which means you can wirelessly project your telephone up to a Television or monitor, connected a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and use your phone like a PC. Of class, Continuum isn't as fully fledged as a existent desktop feel, but it'due south still handy for when you need to edit a Give-and-take document or Excel spreadsheet on the go. The feel performed well. While not every bit fast as a Snapdragon 810 or 820, there wasn't any real performance issues that I encountered.

Gaming is a bit of a different story. Some games would operate merely fine, simply others would meet noticeable framerate drops. I wouldn't buy this telephone if you're planning to play whatever heavy mobile games, which is fine because this phone is aimed at businesses and as such isn't equipped for big, demanding games anyway.

Battery life is fine. It's zip spectacular for 2022, getting me through a full day with a relatively boilerplate amount of use throughout; checking Twitter, Instagram, GroupMe, Reddit, and listening to a chip of music. I've used phones with better bombardment life, but as long as you're home in fourth dimension for bed every day, you should be just fine.

The worst function most the battery is the fact that it doesn't support whatever class of quick-charge, pregnant information technology takes hours to accuse from 0% to 100%. If you lot forget to charge your phone before you head to bed, you're going to exist in a spot of bother the next day. I'd go so far to say quick-charge is a necessity for all phones in 2022, and unfortunately, the WinPhone 5.0 LTE doesn't have it. Likewise, it uses MicroUSB, gross.

WinPhone 5.0 camera and sound quality

I'll be brief; don't buy this phone for its 13MP camera. Information technology's not practiced. In fact, it's easily the worst matter near this phone. The photographic camera itself is pretty slow, and depression-lite photographs are zippo but offensive to the optics. Photos in well-lit scenarios are passable, just they're definitely not not bad. The forepart-facing camera is also rubbish. The photographic camera can only practice 720p video at 30fps, and at that place's no optical prototype stabilization to go on your video overnice and steady either.

The downwards-firing single speaker is zip to be excited about either. It's tinny, and sounds bad when the volume is turned up. You lot'll want to use a pair of headphones with this device, which is lucky because it does include a 3.5mm headphone jack. Overall, the sound and photographic camera quality on this phone isn't keen. If the photographic camera on a smartphone an important characteristic to you, I'd await elsewhere.

WinPhone 5.0 final thoughts

I really like the WinPhone five.0 LTE. I'1000 not a huge fan of smartphone photography anyway, so the terrible camera is a non-issue to me. I like this phones build quality and design, and the Snapdragon 617 forth with 3GB of RAM is also an excellent addition to a phone that costs just €249. Unfortunately, since this is running Windows 10 Mobile, I can't recommend this phone to any normal consumer.

However, that doesn't mean I can't recommend this phone at all. I admittedly recommend this phone to Windows phone users who are still using a device with a Snapdragon 2xx and aren't planning to switch to a rival platform. If y'all must remain on Windows 10 Mobile and aren't bothered much nearly the camera, the WinPhone v.0 LTE is probably the best new Windows phone you can go for without breaking the bank.

A good mid-range phone for those who have decided to remain on Windows 10 Mobile.

The only people who I expect volition want this telephone is business users with specific needs, and Windows phone enthusiasts who won't let Windows x Mobile go. If y'all fit into any of these groups, then I recommend y'all requite the WinPhone 5.0 LTE a shot. For the toll, you're getting a phone that feels smashing in hand with adept functioning. The camera still sucks though.

Equally a reminder, the WinPhone 5.0 will only become on sale if it reaches its crowdfund goal of €500,000. And so if you do want to grab one of these, yous better get your order in before December fifteen.

See WinPhone 5.0 at Indiegogo

Pros:

Premium build quality.
Good amount of RAM.
Great performance.

Cons:

Terrible camera.
No quick-accuse.
Abandoned platform.

It'south hither

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