Overview

The Plum Optimax 8.0 was a mid-range Android tablet, announced in March 2016 and released in April 2016. Although it is now discontinued, it was a device that offered a balance of essential features suitable for light to moderate tasks. With an 8-inch display and a simple, straightforward design, this tablet aimed at providing basic functionality for everyday use.

Design and Build

The design of the Plum Optimax 8.0 is characterized by its modest dimensions and lightweight build. The tablet measures 210.6 x 121.7 x 8.7 mm and weighs approximately 305 grams, making it relatively easy to handle for an 8-inch device. The structure supports dual SIM cards, making it versatile for users who need to manage multiple numbers. The body is available in classic colors of black and white, offering a simplistic yet aesthetic appeal.

Display

Featuring an 8-inch IPS LCD screen, the Plum Optimax 8.0 provides a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 72.4%. The display resolution is 800 x 1280 pixels, offering a 16:10 ratio and a pixel density of about 189 ppi. This configuration ensures decent clarity and color reproduction for media consumption and web browsing, though not as sharp or vibrant as higher-end devices.

Performance

The tablet runs on a Mediatek MT6580 chipset coupled with a quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU and a Mali-400MP2 GPU. These specifications are adequate for handling basic applications and tasks such as browsing, social media, and light gaming. However, the device might struggle with more demanding applications or multitasking due to its 1GB RAM.

Storage

Plum Optimax 8.0 comes with 8GB of internal storage, which can be considered limiting by today's standards, especially with modern applications occupying more space. Nevertheless, it does offer a dedicated microSDHC slot for expandable storage, allowing users to increase their storage capacity to accommodate more apps, photos, and videos.

Camera

In terms of photography, the Plum Optimax 8.0 is equipped with a single 5 MP primary camera. Features include HDR and panorama mode, offering basic camera functions for capturing everyday moments. The camera can record video at 720p resolution at 30 frames per second. On the front, there is a 2 MP camera suitable for selfies and video calls under adequate lighting conditions.

Battery Life

An essential aspect of any mobile device is battery longevity. The Plum Optimax 8.0 is powered by a non-removable 3400 mAh Li-Po battery. It offers a standby time of up to 875 hours on 2G and up to 775 hours on 3G, with a talk time of up to 24 hours on 2G and up to 14 hours on 3G networks. This battery life makes it a reliable choice for extended use without frequent recharging.

Connectivity

The device covers basic connectivity options, including GSM / HSPA network technologies and support for 2G and 3G bands. Additionally, the tablet provides Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n for wireless internet, Bluetooth 4.0 for short-distance data exchange, GPS for navigation, and an FM radio for entertainment. However, it lacks NFC capabilities. For physical connectivity, it includes a standard USB 2.0 port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Additional Features

The Plum Optimax 8.0 comes equipped with essential sensors such as an accelerometer, gyro, and proximity sensor, enhancing the device's functionality for various applications and games. Although it runs on the outdated Android 5.1 Lollipop, the operating system still supports a wide range of applications from the Google Play Store that are compatible with the hardware constraints.

Conclusion

In summary, the Plum Optimax 8.0 is a basic, user-friendly tablet that offers fundamental features for users seeking a budget-friendly device for everyday activities. Its limitations in terms of processing power and storage are evident, but for the target audience looking for a simple tool for web browsing, social media usage, and basic photography, the Plum Optimax 8.0 served as a practical option at the time of its release.