First Vivo Xplay 3S batch released: Quad HD screen, camera samples and battery life get a review

posted by Daniel P. / Feb 28, 2014, 5:54 AM

First Vivo Xplay 3S batch released: Quad HD screen, camera samples and battery life get a review

Vivo unveiled the first phone with a Quad HD (1440x2560 pixels) display, to much fanfare not long ago, and the Xplay 3S is now gradually trickling down to early reviewers. The handset has been thoroughly examined by a Chinese tech blog, with somewhat unsurprising results.

While the reviewers praise the 6" Quad HD screen's brightness, clarity and sharpness, they say that the difference between a "regular" 1080p display, and a 1440p one, is not at all visible when watching video, for instance. That's not hard to explain, given that most videos you'd load on or stream, are of the HD 720p, or at most the 1080p variety, so they can't do the 1440p screen justice.

When zooming in on elaborate details, like the Chinese writing on the right, the 490ppi pixel density presented a more noticeable difference, mention the reviewers. Apart from the screen, the phone houses other top-shelf components, like a quad-core Snapdragon 800, which scored 35724 on AnTuTu, as well as 3 GB of RAM. The 13 MP camera on the back apparently offers plenty of shooting modes, too, like HDR photography, but also adds manual controls, like managing the shutter speed, for instance.

As usual, Vivo went the extra mile with the audio experience on its phone, equipping it with dual rear stereo speakers. Not only that, but those are powered by a really high quality audio chip - the ESS ES9018 - supplemented by a professional-grade OPA2604 amp, so HTC One and Xperia Z2 might have a powerful competitor on their hands.

The site also reviewed the battery life with the 3200 mAh juicer, and the heating characteristics of the phone. Vivo Xplay 3S demonstrated very good standby times, and about 5-6 hours of intensive screen-on time, like playing games, or watching streaming video, which is on par with the average for the category. They also noticed that the phone heated a bit in the mid-section, where probably the processor is located, but nothing really unbearable.

Unfortunately, if you are mulling whether to grab one of those, the first batch of 1000 preordered Xplay 3S units was released today, and sold out immediately. You can put a preorder for $656 now, and hope you will fit in the next release batch, if you absolutely have to have the first phone with Quad HD display in your hands.

Vivo Xplay 3S Review

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source: Digi.tech.qq.com via GizChina & JSXLtech

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21 Comments

1. chunky1x

Posts: 270; Member since: Mar 28, 2010

I did saw a LG OLED curve display tv with 4k video playing(the scene was a cityscape) and unless your gonna watch it less than a meter, your not be able to spot the difference from full hd. That is a big ass TV by the way. Just saying.

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 6:04 AM 5

2. Ashoaib

Posts: 3309; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

Thanks God they finally released it, I was thinking of another postponed... its a beautiful phone, rivaling the design of Htc one... I will surely buy it when it will be available in quantities...

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 6:12 AM 1

5. Ashoaib

Gizchina states that first batch of released was only 1000 units.... it is quite ironic that vivo only released 1000 phones? thats nothing compared to other manufacturers... vivo should hurry up n capitalize on 3s hype otherwise once the dust will settle down, it will become difficult to sell in huge numbers and I dont want such beautiful n elegant looking phone to get hidden in corner like what happen to Acer liquid S2... other manufacturers have already announced great phones in MWC, leaving consumers with more choices...

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 6:49 AM 0

13. SAYED-EJAZ

Posts: 225; Member since: Oct 10, 2013

Really dude .. but that tv is 'awsomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' !! :O :O That city landscape video beautifully done :D just 4.3mm thick i was just amazed and out of the word by seeing that tv. a bit of tears came to me by seeing that kind of a tech . LG just rocks with their worlds first CURVED OLED :D :D

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 7:58 AM 0

16. chunky1x

TV was great. Great performer but 4k is kind of meh. Still gonna buy that TV if I win the lottery.

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 8:25 AM 0

22. Ashoaib

http://multicorechina.com/vivo-xplay3s-review/

posted on Mar 04, 2014, 12:29 AM 0

3. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

Nice piece of kit. I'd rock that over a Sammy. Fan boys be damned.

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 6:18 AM 1

19. MistB

Posts: 581; Member since: Jul 07, 2012

I'd rock the S3 over the Xperia Z2, no joke. Samsung may be predictable but Sony have offered very little change over the Z1 from the Z2. Sorry, but both the Z2 and S5 suck.

posted on Mar 01, 2014, 3:18 PM 0

4. josephnero

Posts: 788; Member since: Nov 16, 2011

I prefer FHD screen with better color production and lower power usage to QHD screen without proper SOC to run butter smooth anyday. for me SD805 is minimum for QHD screen

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 6:20 AM 3

11. aksa123

Posts: 368; Member since: Jan 30, 2014

Agree. I'm not impressed at all by those pics.

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 7:47 AM 2

6. ScottSchneider

Posts: 336; Member since: Dec 06, 2011

The screen is so big it could have had the on-screen buttons...

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 6:58 AM 0

7. toink unregistered

That's why the LG G Pro 2 trumps this.

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 7:07 AM 0

15. Ashoaib

Your comment sounds like a dosh bag to me... lg is already an established brand, for sure lg will trump it regardless of how good G pro2 is or not... be fair and compare gpro2 with note 3 then you'll see how lg sucks...

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 8:10 AM 0

14. Ashoaib

Onscreen buttons eat precious screen space and make the display smaller... I dont like onscreen buttons at all

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 8:06 AM 2

18. SuperMaoriBro

Posts: 533; Member since: Jun 23, 2012

I Second that

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 9:48 AM 0

8. mas39

Posts: 80; Member since: Jan 17, 2013

It probably won't even get released in europe/UK which is a shame.

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 7:12 AM 0

9. Nabil2511

Posts: 152; Member since: Jan 27, 2014

the display will kill the battery despite its 3200mAh battery..

posted on Feb 28, 2014, 7:43 AM 0

10. xfire99

Posts: 1207; Member since: Mar 14, 2012

Dont think I can afford Historys most expensive phone: 429897996366937,152 kr (chosen Sweden currency, same with others). Thats alot of digits. >_> hmm..15 digits = Quadrillion?