Price and specifications of BLU Life One X (2016) advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview of BLU Life One X (2016)

The BLU Life One X (2016) was launched at the tail end of 2015, establishing itself as a solid mid-range smartphone option. It was designed to offer strong performance, a competitive set of features, and affordability in a market dominated by high-priced handsets. While it has been discontinued, understanding its attributes can provide insights into how mid-range smartphones have evolved and what consumers can historically expect from devices in this category.

Design and Build

At 149.5 x 73.6 x 8.6 mm and weighing 141 grams, the BLU Life One X is a compact and lightweight smartphone. It sports a rather classic design with smooth curves and a comfortably narrow 5.89 x 2.90-inch body. The device is available in two basic colors; Black and White, catering to users who appreciate simplicity.

The device offers a dual SIM capacity that supports Micro-SIM cards, with dual standby. This is especially useful for individuals who travel frequently or require separate lines for work and personal calls.

Display

Equipped with a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display, this phone delivers a 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution at approximately 424 ppi density, making it a sharp and vibrant display for its time. One of its distinguished features is the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, adding durability and resistance to scratches – a significant advantage in maintaining the screen's integrity over time.

Platform and Performance

Initially running on Android 5.1 Lollipop, the operating system was upgradeable to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, providing users with more features and improved system performance. The BLU Life One X is driven by an octa-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU combined with a Mediatek MT6753 chipset, delivering smooth multitasking capabilities for everyday use.

The integrated GPU, the Mali-T720MP3, was capable of handling graphics processing needs for mid-level gaming and media consumption, ensuring that casual gamers had satisfactory phone performance. Despite the limitations of the 2GB RAM by today’s standards, it was sufficient during its release for routine app usage and moderate multitasking.

Camera Capabilities

One of the primary selling points of the BLU Life One X is its photography capabilities. The rear camera is a 13 MP shooter, equipped with autofocus and features such as LED flash, panorama, and HDR support. It is capable of shooting 1080p video at 30fps, which was quite competent for capturing day-to-day moments at a decent quality.

The device also includes a 5 MP front-facing camera, supported by an LED flash, making it a reasonable choice for selfies and video calls. This addition was particular to users who desired versatility in lower-light settings.

Storage and Memory

The BLU Life One X comes with 16GB of internal storage, expandable via a microSDXC card slot. This expandability was essential for users wanting to store more photos, apps, and multimedia, particularly when internal storage was not ample by heavy usage standards. The 2GB RAM supported smooth operation for most applications, though heavy applications could occasionally push the device towards its performance limits.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a non-removable Li-Ion 2900 mAh battery. While this capacity was balanced for the hardware’s requirements, it granted the device decent longevity with up to 15 hours talk time on 3G and substantial standby time – up to 625 hours on 3G. Power users might find it necessary to charge more frequently, but average users could expect the phone to last a full day under moderate usage conditions.

Network and Connectivity

Supporting GSM, HSPA, and LTE technologies, the BLU Life One X provided versatility in connectivity. It was equipped with LTE Cat4 offering download speeds of up to 150 Mbps. This capability ensured users could enjoy fast internet speeds within compatible network areas, an appealing aspect for those needing reliable mobile data for streaming or browsing.

Other connectivity features include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, microUSB 2.0 port, and an FM radio, though NFC is notably absent, which might be a consideration for some users who require contactless payment functionalities.

Additional Features

The smartphone is equipped with essential sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors enhance the user experience by providing responsive control and navigation, alongside regular functionality.

Conclusion

Though the BLU Life One X (2016) has been discontinued, it remains a device that showcases how mid-range smartphones have balanced performance, design, and budget. Its primary allure was rooted in delivering all necessary smartphone functions within a reasonable price bracket. While it doesn’t stand up to modern high-end device standards, its value at the time of release underlined a consumer demand for practical and affordable smartphone options, reflecting the continuous evolution in the smartphone market’s landscape.