(Updated!) Xolo Q800 – A review with pros and cons

UPDATE: Whatever is written below applies for the Xolo Q800 phones with MTK6589 chipsets. The Q800s with MTK6589M chipsets may or may not qualify for what is written down here. (I think that the phones which costed less than 12k have the MTK6589M chipsets. )

Android smartphones are everywhere these days. They run the latest operating system and they are all identical. You try out different brands and they all have the same android. At the time of this blog post, it is Jelly bean.

So, what makes a smartphone different from another. They all have IPS screens, HD playback, ble... all sorts of common stuff.

Difference?

Xolo Q800 is a smartphone and here is where the difference is.

1. There are absolutely no bloatware in the device. The device is pure stock Jelly bean. There is one app called Xolo care which just sits silently in the corner helping you to check updates to the operating system and contact customer care. Too bad I don't have to root it now to remove the bloatware.

2. The camera has a BSI and CMOS sensor which helps in brilliant photoshoots. The front camera in the device is way better than the rear camera of many low end devices. The rear camera in Xolo Q800 records 1080p with ease and picture taking seems effortless. (Please note that the new Xolo Q800 with MTK6589M chipset can record only in 720p)

3. Xolo Q800 has a 2100 mah battery, a bit better than the other phones in the same category.

4. The phone packs with a premium quality scratch guard. Now, that's hospitality.

System Specifications :

http://www.xolo.in/q800

(You thought I would waste my time typing?)

Disadvantages:

1. USB OTG doesn't work by default (at least for the time being). You have got to root the phone to make it work. Hey, XOLO Q800 has WLAN DIRECT. What else do you need? For devices with out Wi-Fi direct, you can use an app called, fast file transfer. Fast file transfer helps you to transfer files through Wi-Fi hotspot without any internet connection requirement.

2. No camera button. I wonder why they didn't have a camera button for a device which is so good in taking pictures. I would have really loved it, if it had a camera button for clicking.

3. No LED notification light. I didn't find this to be of any inconvenience at all. I hated the light glaring at eyes every time a message comes, disturbing me from doing stuff which I had to do, in my previous phone. I am just penning it down for those who think that it would be the end of the world without it.

4. It has a 4.5 inch display, compared to the other 5 inch phones. I almost wanted to delete this from the disadvantages. It is way more handy to have around, and saves on battery, which means, long time no charge.

Rooting methods and several custom ROMs have already crept in for this device. All you have to do is Google.

So there you go. Xolo Q800 is fast, very fluid, superb display, excellent camera, and worth the money spent.

For XOLO Q800 specific tips and tweaks : http://theexasperatedman.blogspot.com/2013/06/Xolo-Q800-All-in-one-guide-Rooting-Applications-Underclocking-Updates-1080p.html