BLU Life Play S Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Introduction to BLU Life Play S

The BLU Life Play S was a mid-range smartphone released in January 2014. It offered a cost-effective solution with a set of appealing features for the time, notably its slim design and practical specifications. Although it has been discontinued, it remains a topic of interest for technology enthusiasts who appreciate the value of budget smartphones in the earlier years of Android's expansion.

Design and Build

The BLU Life Play S features a sleek design with dimensions of 137.5 x 67.5 x 7.8 mm and a weight of only 109 grams, making it comfortable to hold and light to carry. The phone's body is crafted to support dual SIM functionality, catering to users who require the convenience of two lines in one device. Available in Blue and White colors, it offers a simple yet elegant aesthetic that appeals to a diverse audience.

Display

Sporting a 4.7-inch IPS LCD display, the BLU Life Play S delivers vibrant visuals with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels and a pixel density of around 312 ppi. This display setup ensures that users can enjoy bright and clear visuals, whether browsing the web, watching videos, or navigating through apps. The screen-to-body ratio is approximately 65.6%, maximizing the display area for user interaction.

Performance

Under the hood, the BLU Life Play S is powered by a MediaTek MT6582 chipset. This includes a quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU and a Mali-400MP2 GPU, balancing performance and efficiency for daily tasks. The device runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, providing a user-friendly interface for apps and settings. With 1GB of RAM, this phone was intended for basic multitasking and general applications suitable for the time of its release.

Memory and Storage

The phone comes with an internal storage capacity of 4GB, which can be expanded using a dedicated microSDXC card slot. This flexibility allows users to increase storage for more apps, photos, and media files, addressing the common limitation of internal storage for smartphones of that era.

Camera Capabilities

BLU Life Play S is equipped with an 8 MP autofocus main camera featuring an LED flash and HDR capabilities. It can record 1080p videos at 30fps, making it suitable for capturing moments in decent clarity and detail. For selfies and video calls, a 5 MP front camera is available, which was relatively competitive among smartphones in the same category in 2014.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a non-removable Li-Ion 1800 mAh battery. As per the manufacturer specifications, it offers up to 780 hours of standby time on 2G networks and up to 700 hours on 3G. The talk time is estimated to be up to 18 hours on 2G and 16 hours on 3G, providing ample battery life for daily communications and moderate usage.

Connectivity and Network

The BLU Life Play S supports GSM and HSPA technology, offering connectivity on various 2G and 3G bands. With a speed capability of HSPA 21.1/11.5 Mbps, it handles internet browsing and online activities efficiently for its time. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, FM radio, and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

Additional Features

The smartphone includes standard sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, enhancing its usability for various applications. However, it lacks NFC, which was a growing feature in competing models at that time.

Conclusion

The BLU Life Play S served as an affordable and effective smartphone choice in its release year, targeting users who needed essential smartphone functions without high-end expenses. Its balanced design, practical features, and reliable performance made it a favorable option within its price segment. Although technology has advanced significantly since its release, the Life Play S stands as a representation of the mobile technology trends in the early 2010s and the ongoing evolution of budget-friendly smartphones.