Overview

The Gionee S10 smartphone, announced in May 2017 and released a couple of months later, is a mid-range phone that aimed to capture attention with its dual camera setup both on the rear and the front. Gionee, a Chinese smartphone maker, has put forward this model into the competitive market with an emphasis on photography and an expansive display for multimedia consumption. Though it has now been discontinued, the Gionee S10 still holds an appealing spec sheet for users who value photographic prowess.

Design and Build

The Gionee S10 boasts an elegant design with dimensions measuring 155 x 76.8 x 7.4 mm and a weight of 178 grams. It features a sleek body that neatly houses a hybrid dual SIM slot (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by). The device was available in a selection of colors—Cherry Gold, Dark Black, Indigo Blue, and Primrose Green—to suit different aesthetic preferences. The front of the S10 is dominated by a 5.5-inch display, and below sits the fingerprint sensor, which is front-mounted for added security and convenience. The build quality reflects a premium feel, typical of Gionee’s approach to its smartphone lineup.

Display

The smartphone features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 401 ppi. The screen-to-body ratio stands at around 70.1%, providing ample space for viewing content, whether streaming videos or playing games. The full HD resolution ensures that images and videos are rendered with sharpness and clarity.

Performance

Under the hood, the Gionee S10 is powered by the Mediatek MT6757T Helio P25 chipset, built on a 16 nm process. Its CPU is an octa-core configuration, consisting of 4x2.5 GHz Cortex-A53 cores and 4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 cores, which balances performance and power efficiency. The Mali-T880MP2 GPU handles graphic duties, making it capable of running casual to moderately demanding games. With 4GB of RAM, multitasking is smooth, allowing users to switch between apps with minimal lag.

Storage

The device comes with 64GB of internal storage, which is ample for storing apps, photos, and videos. For users who require additional space, the Gionee S10 offers a microSDXC slot, though it uses a shared SIM slot, meaning users will have to choose between a second SIM or additional storage.

Camera

One of the standout features of the Gionee S10 is its camera setup. The rear features a dual-camera system with a 16 MP main sensor and an 8 MP secondary sensor, equipped with autofocus, LED flash, HDR, and panorama features. This setup supports 1080p video recording at 30fps, allowing for good quality video capture.

On the front, the phone also sports a dual-camera system. The primary front camera is a remarkable 20 MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, complemented by an 8 MP secondary sensor. This unconventional setup for the time ensured sharp selfies and might have appealed greatly to the selfie-centric consumer base.

Battery

Powering the Gionee S10 is a non-removable Li-Po 3450 mAh battery. This capacity is fairly typical for mid-range devices and should provide a full day of use under moderate usage conditions. Daily tasks such as browsing, streaming, and gaming should not pose a battery issue for this device.

Software

The device runs on the Amigo 4 skin, which is based on Android 7 Nougat. Amigo OS is known for its customization options that allow users to tailor their experience. While Android 7 does show its age compared to current Android versions, it still provides features such as improved notifications, split-screen mode, and a visual overhaul that enhanced user experience at the time of release.

Connectivity

The Gionee S10 supports a range of connectivity options. It features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with dual-band and Wi-Fi Direct capabilities, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, FM radio with recording, and microUSB 2.0 with OTG capabilities. A point worth noting is the lack of NFC, which might be a downside for users who prefer contactless payment solutions.

Audio and Additional Features

Accommodating audio needs, the device comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a loudspeaker for hands-free functionalities. Other sensors onboard include an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass, contributing to its overall functionality.

Conclusion

Summing up the Gionee S10, it is a device that focused heavily on bringing advanced camera capabilities to a broader market. The inclusion of dual cameras on both the front and rear was an ambitious feature that set it apart from many of its competitors at the time. Coupled with a robust design, decent performance specs from the Helio P25 processor, and a vibrant display, it made a compelling choice for photography enthusiasts. Despite its discontinuation, it serves as a testament to Gionee’s innovation in enhancing smartphone photography and the company's commitment to meeting consumer demands for tech-forward devices.