Allview Viper E Comprehensive Guide to Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Introduction to Allview Viper E

The Allview Viper E, released in September 2014, marked its presence in the mobile market as a budget-friendly smartphone option. Designed for users seeking basic functionality without compromising on essential smartphone features, this device offered a balanced blend of hardware and software capabilities. Throughout this comprehensive overview, we will delve into its various specifications and aspects, highlighting both its strengths and areas that might not meet modern expectations.

Design and Build

The Allview Viper E boasts a compact and sleek design. With dimensions of 131 x 65 x 7.8 mm and a weight of 122.5 grams, it is highly portable and can be easily handled with one hand. The smartphone is available in two classic colors: Black and White, catering to traditional color preferences. The device's build is accentuated by its slim profile, offering aesthetic appeal and comfortable grip. Despite being discontinued, the Viper E’s design remains a testament to Allview's approach to balancing simplicity and elegance.

Display

Featuring a 4.5-inch IPS LCD screen, the Allview Viper E provides a modest display experience. The screen resolution of 480 x 854 pixels translates to approximately 218 ppi density, which, while not exceptionally sharp, is adequate for basic smartphone activities. The display is protected by Asahi Dragontrail Glass, known for its durability and resistance to scratches, enhancing the device's resilience in everyday use. The screen-to-body ratio, standing at roughly 65.5%, ensures a decent size for viewing content without excessive bulk.

Performance

Under the hood, the Allview Viper E is powered by a Mediatek MT6582 chipset, built on a 28 nm process. Its CPU is a quad-core Cortex-A7 clocked at 1.3 GHz, paired with a Mali-400MP2 GPU. This combination ensures sufficient performance for basic tasks such as browsing, media consumption, and light gaming. With 1GB of RAM, the device may struggle with heavy multitasking or demanding applications, reflecting its positioning in the entry-level segment. Overall, it provides satisfactory performance for users with moderate expectations.

Camera Quality

The camera setup on the Viper E includes an 8 MP main rear camera equipped with autofocus and LED flash. This setup allows for the capture of reasonable quality images in well-lit conditions, with features like HDR enhancing dynamic range. It also supports 1080p video recording at 30fps, catering to basic video capture needs. The front-facing camera is 2 MP, suitable for casual selfies and video calls, though it may not impress users accustomed to higher-resolution front cameras.

Storage Capacity

The device offers 8GB of internal storage, which, while limited for today's standards, can be expanded with a microSDHC card, accommodating additional storage needs for media and apps. Given the operating system and pre-installed apps take up a portion of this space, the external storage option is a valuable feature for users wanting to keep more content on their device.

Battery Life

Equipped with a removable Li-Ion 1800 mAh battery, the Allview Viper E offers moderate battery life. The device ensures up to 225 hours of standby time and approximately 9 hours and 15 minutes of talk time. This capacity suffices for a day's worth of light to moderate usage, though heavy users might need to charge the device sooner. The removable nature of the battery also allows users to easily replace it if necessary.

Connectivity and Network

The Viper E supports GSM and HSPA network technologies, catering to both 2G and 3G bands, specifically GSM 900/1800/1900 and HSDPA 900/2100. It provides adequate speed for its class with HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, suitable for basic internet activities. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP and EDR, GPS for navigation, FM radio, and microUSB 2.0. It, however, lacks NFC support, which may be a consideration for those who frequently use contactless payment systems.

Sensors and Additional Features

The smartphone is fitted with essential sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass. These enable the functionalities required for basic smartphone operations and applications. However, the absence of more advanced sensors, such as a gyroscope or fingerprint scanner, aligns with its entry-level market positioning. Still, within its range, it provides a satisfactory set of features.

Software

The device runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop, a version that, at the time of its release, brought significant improvements to the Android ecosystem. Although outdated by current standards, it offered a user-friendly interface and a range of features that enhanced user experience during its prime time. Regular software updates have ceased since its discontinuation, which may impact security and the ability to run newer applications smoothly.

Conclusion

In summary, the Allview Viper E stands as a testament to budget smartphones from its era, delivering essential features required for everyday use. While it lacks the advanced capabilities found in more recent models, it serves its purpose for users with basic needs. For those valuing simplicity, ease of use, and a compact form factor, the Viper E remains a viable option if one can find it on secondary markets. Its fundamental strengths lie in its decent design, acceptable performance for its class, and essential connectivity features.