Gionee, at MWC 2016 changed its brand logo and launched S8 smartphone with 3D touch. We have already seen a number of premium smartphones from the the Chinese smartphone maker including its flagship Elife E8 at Rs 34, 999. The recent focus of Gionee however has also been big battery compact phones. The first in the series was Gionee Marathon M5, which was launched with a massive 6, 020 mAh battery. Gionee Marathon M5 Lite is a lighter version of its predecessor that comes with a 4, 000 mAh battery and is here to make its way into the mid-budget segment.
Gionee Marathon M5 Lite
Gionee Marathon M5 Lite will once again focus on delivering overall performance with battery being the USP. Gionee Marathon M5 Lite packs a huge 6, 020 mAh battery, but priced lower than its predecessor, the Marathon M5 at Rs 20, 000. This one comes with a 5-inch HD screen and a minimalistic design. Here is our review.
Gionee Marathon M5 Lite packs a huge 6, 020 mAh battery, but priced lower than its predecessor, the Marathon M5 at Rs 20, 000.
Specs: 5-inch HD display | Quad-core MediaTek MT6735 CPU | 3GB RAM | 32GB ROM ( expandable up to 128GB) | 8MP rear camera + 5MP front | 4, 000 mAh battery | Android Lollipop based Amigo 3.1 UI |
Price: Rs 12, 999
What is good?
Gionee has got the first and the basic thing in any smartphone right, a sharp display. The visibility is decent, even under bright sunlight. The phone may be a bit heavy given the large battery, but is not slippery, even without the plastic cover that came along with it.
The 8MP rear camera in the Gionee Marathon M5 Lite does a decent job while clicking pictures in ample light. The result in bright outdoors is decent, but in you are in for disappointment when you zoom into the pictures. The picture quality isn’t great enough to bring out the photographer in you, but it is okay for average use. The front camera too manages to shoot some decent selfies where there’s ample light. The camera comes with various modes such as HDR, Magic Focus, Panorama and Take Anytime that lets you pick the best shot.
The 8MP rear camera in the Gionee Marathon M5 Lite does a decent job while clicking pictures in ample light. ( Click on he image to see in full resolution)
Gionee has placed all its bets on Marathon M5 Lite’s battery and it does tend to last for a day and a half, but not as much as you would expect it to be. M5 comes with a 4, 000 mAh battery that lasts for two days on minimal usage, which is great for an average user. Also, the smartphone did not disappoint us on the performance front. The UI is smooth and the processor allows easy multi-tasking, without letting the smartphone heat up.
Gionee Marathon M5 Lite will disappoint you if you try clicking selfies in low-light but again this is not something that we would expect in a phone a this price. ( Click on the picture to see it in full resolution)
The Smart Gestures feature is something that I liked except that one needs to be careful for it to work. You need to tame the gestures for them to work accurately on your phone. Also, you need to be accurate to keep your palm aligned with the screen, while using palm gestures. Otherwise it won’t work. While some smart gestures are useful like Pause Alarm, Black screen gestures, others can be used as per convenience or mood.
What is not good?
Gionee Marathon M5 Lite does not feature a very impressive design. The phone is bulky at 183 gm. The smartphone has broad bezels at both the top and bottom, which uses up the screen size and does not look very good. This is not a very stylish phone and feels heavy too.
Gionee Marathon M5 Lite does not feature a very impressive design. The phone is bulky at 183 gm.
The Gionee Marathon M5 Lite take a very long time to get fully charged given the large battery. The device does not come with fast charging technology and is hence not recommended for people who are always on the run as it may take too long before your smartphone is ready to use again after full battery drain.
Verdict
Whi