Swipe Konnect 5.0 is the first smartphone in Swipe Konnect series and with this device, Swipe aims to lure in budget conscious buyers looking for a decent android experience. With tier one manufacturers jumping in it’s tough time for all new vendors and amidst this turmoil does Swipe Konnect 5 manage to distinguish itself from the crowd? Let’s take a look.
Swipe Konnect 5.0 Quick Specs
- Display Size: 5 Inches IPS LCD OGS touch screen with 960 x 540 resolution, 220 PPI
- Processor: 1.3 GHz MT6582 Quad core with Mali 400 GPU
- RAM: 1 GB
- Software Version: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean upgradeable to Android 4.4 kitkat
- Primary Camera: 8 MP camera with LED flash
- Secondary Camera: 3.2 MP
- Internal Storage: 8 GB
- External Storage: 32 GB MicroSD
- Battery: 1950 mAh battery Lithium Ion
- Connectivity: 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth with A2DP, aGPS, 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio
- Others: Dual SIM – Yes (Both MicroSIM),
- Sensors: Gravity, proximity, light
- SAR: at 900 0,495 w/Kg @head ; 0.736 w/Kg @Body; At 2100 0.836 w/Kg @head 1.266 w/Kg @Body
Swipe Konnect 5 Unboxing, Full Review, Benchmarks, Camera, Software and Overview [Video]
Design, Build and Display
Swipe Konnect 5.0 has a polished plastic design which feels good in hand thanks to the tapered edges- which also impart a slim demeanour to the device. A flipcover has been bundled in the box which you should use as the device is prone to scratches both on front and back. Back cover is removable and the rear camera has a chrome ring around it which looks good as well.
Both MicroUSB port and Audio Jack are present on the top edge. Overall the Swipe Konnect 5 has nice design thanks to the tapered edges but it doesn’t feel very sturdy or durable.
The display is 5 inches in size with 960 x540 pixel resolution. Low pixel density is noticeable on the 5 inch size, but Spice has done a good job with the display. Display brightness and viewing angles are good. Sunlight visibility is average. Auto brightness is supported.
Processor and RAM
Processor used is 1.3 GHz MT6582 quad core which worked well in all day to day operations. We didn’t notice any UI lag in our time with the device. Nenamarks 2 Score was 51.75 fps and it didn’t respond well to gaming. Gaming wasn’t smooth and we could notice frame drops as well.
Swipe Konnect 5.0 scored 17,865 on Antutu, which is again pretty decent. RAM capacity is 1 GB out of which more than 700 MB was free on first boot. The chipset can efficiently play full HD and HD videos.
Camera and Internal Storage
The rear camera has an 8 MP sensor can capture some great shots but colors are not very accurate. The camera performance can be termed inconsistent. Some low light shots showed abundant noise while others were good enough. The camera performance is very sensitive to ambient light condition but we will rank it as an above average 8 MP shooter in this price range.
The front camera also gives good performance. Internal storage is 8 GB out of which 5.3 GB is available at users end. Apps can be installed on SD card as well.
User Interface and Battery
The interface is stock Android 4.2 jelly bean with some preloaded apps, some custom launcher animations, but nothing much. Video calling option is present on the dialer. Swipe has already rolled out Android 4.4.2 Kitkat update for Swipe Konnect 5.0
Battery capacity is 1950 mAh and the phone could make through one day with average usage. With some heavy usage, the backup suffered drastically and we had to plug in mid day. We weren’t impressed with the battery backup. For most users, the phone will struggle to last one day.
Sound, Video Playback and Connectivity
The loudspeaker was average, not very loud. The headphones bundled in the box look good but are again of average quality. GPS connectivity with AGPS worked fine.
Swipe Konnect 5.0 Photo Gallery
Conclusion and Price
Swipe Konnect 5 strives hard to differentiate itself from rest of the budget Android crowd which provide more or less the same user experience, but it does not succeed in this attempt. The hardware is quite decent but competition is stiff. With likes of Zenfone 5 and Xiaomi Redmi 1S hovering in the same price range, Swipe Konnect 5.0 is a tough recommendation at 8,999 INR. A better battery would have definitely made it much more alluring.
