For those not in the know, BenQ (yes the maker of those awesome gaming displays and projectors) also makes phones. And recently, the Taiwan brand introduced two smartphone products to the Malaysian market — the BenQ F5 and BenQ T3, both feature-packed Android-powered 4G LTE-enabled devices. We got our hands on a F5 review unit, so we thought we’d do a quick unboxing and give you a short rundown on our impressions of the device.
What’s in the box
- BenQ F5 smartphone
- Screen protector
- USB wall charger
- USB cable
- Earphones
- Manual & Warranty Card
Playing the value game
So, the F5 is somewhat of a performer and it’s jam-packed with goodies. It sports the venerable, mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chip and a healthy 2GB RAM. Storage is more than decent at 16GB, with an option to expand further via microSD (up to 64GB). It’s 4G LTE-enabled, and can house a single-SIM. It boasts a 13MP BSI camera (from Sony) coupled with BenQ’s proprietary 4x Ultra Sensitive Mode that captures four times more light than conventional sensors. So expect some good photos, even in low light conditions. You’ll also get a 2MP front camera for selfies and video chats. The cameras come with Smile Detection Mode, Voice Control Shutter and a nifty HFR (High Frame Rate) mode that helps you capture action shots in slow-mo.
Design-wise, the F5 looks pretty good and although it has a plastic build, the soft resin backing makes it non-slip and very comfortable to hold.
What’s great also is that it runs Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box, with almost a plain vanilla Android experience.
At RM699.00 it’s really hard to fault, especially with 4G LTE to boot.
Nice one, BenQ.
Enjoy the unboxing pics.
