Price and specifications of Gionee Marathon M5 enjoy advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Design and Build

The Gionee Marathon M5 Enjoy comes with a robust design featuring dimensions of 155 x 76 x 9 mm and weighing 200 g. The phone supports dual SIM functionality which accommodates Micro-SIM cards. Its physical build suggests durability with a slightly heavier weight which tends to imply a solid construction. The absence of modern aesthetics is marked by its 9 mm thickness, making it obvious that the focus was more on housing a robust battery.

Display

Sporting a 5.5 inches TFT display, the phone achieves a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. This results in a pixel density of approximately 267 ppi, which delivers decent sharpness for daily usage, though not placing it among the retina-searing displays in the market. The screen-to-body ratio stands at around 70.8%, which was standard for phones released in the same era, adding to the phone's ability to present adequate viewing experiences for multimedia consumption.

Performance

Under the hood, the Gionee Marathon M5 Enjoy is powered by a Mediatek MT6735 chipset with a quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU. Multimedia processing is managed by a Mali-T720MP2 GPU. While these specifications might seem modest today, they handled typical applications and functions with efficiency back at the time of its release. Paired with 3GB of RAM, the phone could smoothly transition through multiple applications, providing a satisfactory multitasking experience.

Operating System

The device operates on Android 5.1 Lollipop, layered with Gionee's custom Amigo 3.1 interface. This combination offered users a distinct experience with tailored applications and enhancements specific to Gionee's approach towards user interface design. The Amigo UI was known for its vibrant icons and unique customization capabilities, although it might feel a bit dated by current software standards.

Storage

Gionee Marathon M5 Enjoy comes with 16GB of internal storage. This might pose as a limitation for users hoarding multimedia files or numerous applications. However, the presence of a dedicated microSDXC card slot offers relief, enabling expanded storage options as the card slot supports additional memory to cater to the user's needs.

Camera Performance

Main Camera

The primary camera is rated at 8MP, complete with autofocus and aided by features such as LED flash, panorama, and HDR to help in capturing photos under different lighting conditions. While high-grade photography wasn't its forte, the camera performed well in capturing decent shots for daily use.

Selfie Camera

The front camera features a 5MP sensor, enabling users to take standard-quality selfies. Designed for practicality, it provides a sufficient tool for video calling and casual photography.

Sound

Gionee made sure to include a 3.5mm headphone jack, ensuring traditional audio support that accompanies its built-in loudspeakers. This inclusion adds to the user's freedom in selecting privately immersive or openly shared audio experiences.

Connectivity

Connectivity options are varied, including Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, and hotspot capabilities alongside Bluetooth 4.0. Though lacking NFC, it covers essential communication protocols like GPS for navigation and microUSB 2.0 for charging and data transfers. The FM radio inclusion serves as a source for entertainment and information, maintaining users' connection with broadcast mediums.

Security and Sensors

The Gionee Marathon M5 Enjoy comes with a front-mounted fingerprint sensor, which adds a security layer for traditional unlocking methods. Furthermore, it incorporates necessary sensors like accelerometer, proximity, and compass that enhance the multi-functional usability of the phone.

Battery Life

The standout feature of this device is its massive Li-Po 5000 mAh non-removable battery which is arguably the phone’s significant selling point. The phone promises an impressive standby time of up to 775 hours and up to 52 hours of talk time, positioning itself as ideal for users requiring prolonged usage without frequent recharging. This battery performance aligns with the “Marathon” branding of the device.

Price and Availability

Initially released in December 2015, the Gionee Marathon M5 Enjoy was priced at approximately 340 EUR. Over time, as technology evolved, the device has been ultimately discontinued, limiting its availability primarily to second-hand markets.

Conclusion

The Gionee Marathon M5 Enjoy might not rival today's flagship devices, but it cemented its place during its era as a reliable, enduring companion for those valuing battery life and essential smartphone capabilities over cutting-edge technology. Its balance of features made it particularly useful for users needing sustained usage across extended periods without the requirement for constant accessibility to charging facilities.