Gadget review: Le 1s

While the world's biggest smartphone makers battle it out over patents, screen sizes and latest innovations, the actual fight might be taking place somewhere else. With budget phones pushing the envelope by offering top-notch features at increasingly competitive prices, consumers shopping in this segment are often spoilt for choice. LeEco's Le 1s is the latest entrant in this category.

What's good: The device's metal body is sleek and adds a touch of class. Though we aren't fans of screen sizes getting bigger with each passing month, it seems to work for the Le 1s. This is because its overall dimensions ensure that it is comfortable to hold and use. The device runs on eUI 5.5, LeEco's operating system.

The user interface looks neat, and the colours are bright and balanced. Since it is a new interface, there is a learning curve involved in picking up the phone's many shortcuts and tricks. But the device is rather intuitive and easy to master.

When it comes to performance, the phone delivers. Apps and games load fast, and multitasking is a smooth experience. One could essentially use the device for quite a while without experiencing any lags or the phone heating up.

What's not: The fingerprint sensor, something that every second phone today offers, is a bit of a disappointment. The phone takes a while to recognise the registered finger and, at times, multiple attempts are needed to unlock the phone.

Another drawback is the camera. Considering that smartphone makers these days are going all out to woo selfie lovers, the images taken with this phone lacked in terms of clarity. And, while we are not saying that the 13MP primary camera is bad, it is pretty standard — it does well in well-lit environments, but the quality tends to dip in low light conditions.

Verdict : The phone is a great budget buy. However, whether it will deliver in terms of longevity and services remains to be seen.

Quick specs

What: Le 1s

At a glance: 5.5-inch screen with 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera, 2.2 GHz Octa-core MediaTek Helio X10 processor and 3GB RAM

USP: Premium features in budget smartphone

Best buy: ₹10,999 on flipkart.com

Rating:3/5