Plum Optimax 12 Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview

The Plum Optimax 12 is a budget-friendly tablet introduced in 2018. It's designed to cater to users looking for basic functionalities without the premium price tag. Despite its entry-level status, it provides a range of features that make it a viable option for light users who need a reliable device for daily tasks.

Design and Build

The Plum Optimax 12 measures 188 x 107.5 x 10.3 mm and weighs about 272 grams. It's crafted with a focus on portability and ease of use. The tablet features a Dual SIM slot, which is a great addition for users who need multiple networks. The design is simplistic, available in three distinct colors: Black, Silver, and Rose Gold, appealing to a variety of aesthetic preferences.

Display

This piece of hardware sports a 7.0-inch TN TFT display with a resolution of 600 x 1024 pixels. While this isn't the highest resolution on the market, the size and clarity are sufficient for basic browsing, reading, and casual gaming. The screen-to-body ratio of approximately 68.2% indicates fairly average bezel presence, but the display remains adequately immersive for its category.

Performance

Under the hood, the Plum Optimax 12 is powered by a Mediatek MT8321 chipset featuring a Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU and a Mali-400 GPU. While this setup is not designed for heavy-duty gaming or resource-intensive applications, it performs competently for everyday tasks like browsing, video streaming, and light multitasking.

Memory and Storage

The device offers 1GB of RAM paired with 8GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSDHC card. The RAM may limit the number of applications that can run seamlessly in the background. However, with considerate app management, users can maintain smooth operation for the device's intended purposes.

Camera

The camera setup on the Plum Optimax 12 is barebones, featuring a 5 MP main camera equipped with an LED flash, capable of capturing 720p video at 30fps. The selfie camera is 2 MP, adequate for video calls. While it won’t replace a dedicated camera, it serves functional photographic needs in good lighting conditions.

Battery Life

The device carries a Li-Ion 2400 mAh battery, offering up to 132 hours of standby time and about 3 hours of talk time. For typical usage—web browsing, social media, and occasional media consumption—the battery can last through the day. However, users might need to charge it more frequently with heavy usage.

Operating System

It operates on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This OS version might lack some of the latest features and security updates found in newer iterations of Android, but it retains the essentials and is optimized for performance on low-spec devices like the Optimax 12.

Connectivity

The Plum Optimax 12 supports GSM and HSPA network technologies with specific bands for 2G and 3G. It provides Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, GPS, FM radio, and a microUSB 2.0 port. However, it lacks NFC features which are usually unnecessary for its target market.

Audio

The audio capabilities include a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and a built-in loudspeaker. These features support audio media consumption with adequate sound quality, making it suitable for listening to music, podcasts, or broadcasting radio through its FM capabilities.

Additional Features

The Plum Optimax 12 includes basic sensors such as an accelerometer, enhancing its functionality for various applications and games that rely on motion detection.

Conclusion

The Plum Optimax 12 is a decent entry-level tablet suitable for users requiring basic functions at an affordable price. While its performance and feature set are not designed to compete with high-end devices, it adequately serves the needs of its target audience with practicality and fundamental technology inclusion. It's a reasonable choice for people seeking a secondary device for light use, children, or those new to the world of tablets.