Archos 55 Cobalt Plus Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Revealed

Overview

The Archos 55 Cobalt Plus, released in March 2016, was introduced as a mid-range smartphone with a focus on providing essential features at a budget-friendly price. Featuring a 5.5-inch display, dual SIM support, and a 13 MP rear camera, the device aimed to cater to a broad audience looking for practicality without compromising on essential smartphone functionalities.

Design and Build

Encased in a sleek body measuring 152.5 x 77 x 8.3 mm, the Archos 55 Cobalt Plus exhibited a modern look with a blue/gray finish. At just 130 grams, it was light and easy to handle. The device housed dual micro-SIM slots, which supported dual standby, making it an attractive choice for users requiring multiple phone numbers in a single handset.

Display

The smartphone boasted a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 267 ppi. This setup provided decent viewing angles and acceptable color reproduction for media consumption and general usage. While not as crisp as Full HD panels, the display was adequate for the device's target market.

Performance

Powered by the Mediatek MT6735P chipset with a quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and Mali-T720MP2 GPU, the Archos 55 Cobalt Plus offered balanced performance for everyday tasks. The combination of 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage, expandable via microSDXC, ensured that the phone could handle multitasking and basic applications efficiently.

Camera

The main camera featured a 13 MP sensor with autofocus, LED flash, HDR, and panorama modes, capable of capturing 720p video at 30fps. It provided satisfactory results in well-lit environments, though low-light performance was less impressive. The 2 MP front-facing camera was suitable for video calls and casual selfies but limited in quality compared to contemporary standards.

Battery Life

The Archos 55 Cobalt Plus came with a non-removable 2700 mAh Li-Ion battery, offering reasonable endurance. Officially, it supported up to 450 hours of standby time and up to 27 hours of talk time, suggesting that light to moderate users could expect a full day of usage on a single charge.

Connectivity and Network

Supporting GSM, HSPA, and LTE bands, the Archos 55 Cobalt Plus offered 4G connectivity for faster internet speeds. Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and a microUSB 2.0 port completed the connectivity suite, while the stereo FM radio provided entertainment options without data usage.

User Interface and Software

Running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out of the box, the device came with a relatively stock version of the operating system, minimizing bloatware and offering a more genuine Android experience. This allowed for smooth navigation and compatibility with a wide range of apps available on the Google Play Store.

Add-On Features

Additional features included an accelerometer, gyro, and proximity sensor, expanding the device's interactive capabilities. The 3.5mm audio jack ensured compatibility with a wide range of headphones, while the loudspeaker facilitated hands-free calls and media playback.

Conclusion

The Archos 55 Cobalt Plus was a well-rounded smartphone that struck a balance between functionality and affordability. Its sensible design, competent performance, and extensive connectivity options made it a viable option for budget-conscious consumers and those new to smartphones. While it did not boast cutting-edge specifications, its features were more than sufficient for the demographic it targeted.