It is not everyday that you meet a well-designed forward-thinking Android smartphone that is at the entry level. you are probably getting the best deal with the Tecno Boom J7 than you can get elsewhere. As far as Android devices go that is.
Here are the technical specifications of the Tecno Boom J7:
- Display: 5 inch HD (720p)
- Memory: 16 GB internal storage; 1 GB RAM
- Camera: 8 MP back; 2 MP front
- Processor: Quad-core MediaTek MT6582 clocked at 1.3 GHz
- Operating system: Android 4.4.2 KitKat
- Battery: 2020mAh
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Network: 2G, 3G
- Other: Dual-SIM
While music is what the Tecno Boom J7 is meant to be all about, we are sure anyone considering buying this device will be interested in knowing how it fairs in other areas as well like the camera or the battery. If music is all you want, you can see what I experienced in my three weeks of testing the device, else kindly read on.
Design
I’ve followed Tecno from the sidelines and when I look at the Boom J7 and remember the days when they introduced another interesting affordable smartphone (the N3 and the N3S), I can see progress. While I think they can do a lot better with their offerings at the flagship level, they are definitely killing it at the entry-level. The Tecno Boom J7’s design refines everything there is to know and like or hate about Tecno as a brand. It’s well done. From the red accents of the speaker grille and the camera at the back to the slim sideways bezels on the front, the device is a beauty.
I also applaud the decision to omit the Tecno logo from the front of the device. It makes it positively hideous and it stands out.
I am not a big fan of soft buttons like my peers seem to be but Tecno nailed it on the Boom J7 at least with the home button. It comes to life and blinks continuously when you get notifications. I’d actually pick such over blinking LED notifications at the top any day. Bring such a feature with the ability to change colours depending on notification type and you have a winner. Probably on a high end model as this is too much to ask for on a budget device.
Display
It’s decent. That’s the most I can say about it. It may not be as popping as what you find on other HD displays but it’s much better than the Infinix Hot Note’s display by comparison. The 5 inch display is also brighter than the display you find on the Wiko Getway which is even pricier but packing almost similar specifications. It is half-decent outdoors even at full brightness.
Camera
Both cameras on the Tecno Boom J7 are horrible. I am sorry to say this but I struggled to get good shots all the time. I am not a professional photographer but I can easily tell which photo I want to go straight to my Instagram feed and which one will never see the light of day beyond an internal trash folder. Taking selfies in low light is a pain in all the wrong places you can imagine. Using the bigger 8 megapixel sensor at the back of the phone doesn’t change things. Yes it won’t be bad all the time but you can actually count the number of times it produces really incredible shots. You’ll also need to be in brightly lit surroundings. You really have to struggle to get a better shot. Good luck doing that if you have shaky hands. Tinkering with the settings won’t get you much.
Battery
Like I noted during the preview, I was able to get very impressive battery life when I stayed away from cellular data but then again that is not always the case. I managed to get at least 8 hour battery life when using the phone mildly on Wi-Fi. 6 hours was the standard when cellular data was on with the occassional Whatsapp, email and the like. Over three and a half hours of screen on time are guaranteed if you just stick to using your office or home hotspot. Good luck doing over 1 hour and 40 minutes when you’re using 3.75G.
Posts
