Overview

The NIU Niutek 4.0D is a discontinued smartphone that was announced in December 2013 and released in January 2014. Despite its relatively low specifications by today's standards, it served as a functional device for its time, targeting users seeking basic smartphone functionalities at an affordable price point.

Network Capabilities

The NIU Niutek 4.0D supports GSM/HSPA technology, offering connectivity across 2G bands (GSM 850/900/1800/1900 for both SIM slots) and 3G bands (HSDPA 850/1900 for either SIM slot). The device is capable of providing HSPA speeds of up to 21.1/5.76 Mbps, which were moderately sufficient for everyday mobile tasks during its heyday.

Design and Build

The phone's dimensions are 127 x 62.9 x 9.9 mm, and it weighs 131 g, making it relatively lightweight and compact. The dual SIM (Mini-SIM) feature allows users to utilize two different phone numbers or carriers, which is a handy feature for separating work and personal contacts or for international travel.

Display

The display is a 4.0-inch TFT screen with 256K color offering. It approximates 57.0% screen-to-body ratio and supports a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels at a 5:3 ratio, resulting in approximately 233 ppi density. While modest, it allows for clear and sharp enough visuals for basic tasks like web browsing and viewing photos.

Performance

Running on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), the phone is powered by a Mediatek MT6572 chipset with a Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU and a Mali-400 GPU. Its performance is oriented towards delivering basic multitasking and functionality for apps and services that require less intensive processing.

Memory and Storage

The NIU Niutek 4.0D includes 512MB of internal storage with 256MB RAM, which is quite limited by today's standards. However, it does support storage expansion via a dedicated microSDHC card slot, allowing users to store more photos, songs, and other media.

Cameras

The phone is equipped with a 3.15 MP main camera, featuring an LED flash, and is capable of capturing 720p video at 30fps. The selfie camera is 1.3 MP. While these specifications offer only basic photography capabilities, they are suitable for snapping quick memories in reasonable lighting conditions.

Audio and Connectivity

A loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack ensure basic audio playback and connectivity options. For wireless connectivity, the phone includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n with dual-band and hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, and GPS. However, it lacks NFC but does feature a stereo FM radio for on-the-go entertainment. It includes a microUSB 2.0 port for wired connectivity.

Battery Life

The device houses a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery, offering up to 630 hours of stand-by time on 2G and up to 415 hours on 3G. Talk times are up to 15 hours on 2G and up to 8 hours and 30 minutes on 3G, which were solid figures for a device of its class.

Additional Features

The Niutek 4.0D is equipped with essential sensors like an accelerometer and proximity sensor. It was available in several color variants including Black, Blue, Green, White, and Yellow, providing users with some level of personal customization.

Conclusion

While the NIU Niutek 4.0D does not compare to modern smartphones in terms of specifications and performance, it remains a reminder of the evolutionary path of mobile technology. The device catered to users who required a simple, cost-effective smartphone for daily tasks without demanding modern and resource-intensive applications.