Comprehensive Review BLU Life One XL Specs Prices & Features

Design and Build

The BLU Life One XL features a sleek and contemporary design, measuring 156 x 78 x 8.3 mm and weighing 151 grams. Its weight is reasonably distributed, offering ease of handling despite its relatively large size. The phone supports Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by), which is a convenient feature for users managing multiple numbers. The build quality is robust, offering a sturdy feel, available in a range of colors including Black, Blue, White, Gold, and Pink, offering something for everyone's taste.

Display

With a 5.5-inch IPS LCD, the BLU Life One XL provides an adequate display size for media consumption and everyday tasks. The screen offers a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 267 ppi. Although not the sharpest on the market, it offers satisfactory clarity and color reproduction for regular use. Additionally, the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, adding a layer of durability against scratches and everyday wear.

Performance

Under the hood, the BLU Life One XL is powered by the Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 chipset, featuring a Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and an Adreno 306 GPU. While these components are not cutting-edge by modern standards, they provide sufficient performance for basic tasks such as browsing, social media, and light gaming. Paired with 1GB of RAM, multitasking is limited, but the device remains capable of handling a couple of apps running simultaneously without major hiccups.

Memory and Storage

The phone comes with 8GB of internal storage, which is rather limited for today's standards but can be expanded via a microSDXC card, allowing users to increase storage capacity as needed for apps, music, photos, and more. The available RAM of 1GB, while restricting for heavy multitasking, facilitates adequate performance for fundamental smartphone functions.

Camera

The BLU Life One XL is equipped with a 13 MP rear camera, complete with autofocus and LED flash. It offers decent performance for capturing everyday moments and can record videos at 1080p@30fps, providing clear and usable footage for casual users. The 5 MP front-facing camera serves well for selfies and video calls, delivering satisfactory image quality given its specifications.

Battery Life

The phone is powered by a removable Li-Ion 2820 mAh battery, providing a reasonable amount of uptime. In terms of longevity, it offers up to 710 hours on standby and approximately 28 hours of talk time on 2G networks and up to 17 hours on 3G networks. This level of performance ensures that the phone can last through a typical day of usage without requiring frequent recharges.

Network and Connectivity

Supporting GSM, HSPA, and LTE technologies, the BLU Life One XL ensures connectivity through various bands, making it compatible with a range of network operators. It can achieve speeds of HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps and LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps, supporting efficient web browsing and streaming.

Operating System and Software

The device initially runs on Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) but is upgradable to Android 5.0 (Lollipop). This allows users to access a range of apps through the Google Play Store, although the older Android version limits access to certain newer features and apps. Nevertheless, the user interface remains intuitive, with an array of customization options common to Android devices.

Additional Features

The BLU Life One XL includes basic sensors such as an accelerometer, gyro, and proximity. It supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, and functions as a hotspot. Bluetooth 4.0 enables easy pairing with wireless devices, while the inclusion of a stereo FM radio adds a traditional media option. However, it lacks NFC support, which means it doesn't cater to contactless transactions directly. The device also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, accommodating traditional audio peripherals, and relies on a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.