SUMMARY
The InFocus EPIC 1 mobile features a 5.5 inches (13.97 cm), Full HD, 401 PPI, IPS LCD display and runs on Android v6.0 (Marshmallow) operating system. The device is powered by a Deca Core (2 GHz, Dual core, Cortex A72 + 1.9 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A53 + 1.4 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A53) processor paired with 3 GB of RAM. As far as the battery is concerned it has 3000 mAh, Fast Charging, USB Type-C port. Over that, as far as the rear camera is concerned this mobile has a sensor and the front snapper is powered by a sensor.MARKET STATUS:AVAILABLEMRP:₹ 12,999CRITIC REVIEW
InFocus Epic 1 review: The power of 10 speaks
A 5.5inch LTPS display, 16MP rear camera with phase detection and auto-focus, 3GB RAM, deca-core processor and price tag of Rs 13,000 - wouldn't you want a handset which has all of these features? Well then, here's one from American manufacturer InFocus. In a segment crammed up with the likes of Vivo, Lava, Oppo, Lenovo and others, InFocus has so far managed to hold its own ground. But does the performance of the company's latest smartphone match up to the impressive specs it offers? Read our detailed review to find out..
Design and display:
From the looks of it, the Epic 1 sports a form-factor akin to handsets manufactured by Chinese handset-maker OnePlus, especially its first release - the OnePlus One. The only difference being in the fact that Epic 1 has an all metal body. The handset comes with a 5.5inch full LTPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The front panel houses 8MP front camera, light and proximity sensors, and LED notification/battery indicator. It also houses a receiver which is a bit different in shape than used by most manufacturers - being circular in shape with a perforated dais similar to what found in modern-day speakers.
The left edge of the device has the nano-SIM cum hybrid SD card slot, whereas the right edge houses the volume rockers and the power button. At the bottom is a micro-USB Type-C charging port with the microphone placed to its left and the speaker to the right. However, unlike other devices in the category, the Home, Back, and Toggle buttons are embedded inside the front display are light up when the screen is switched on.
Coming to the rear panel, this is the one which packs all the ammo for the Epic 1. From top to bottom, in that order, it houses a 16MP Dynamic AutoFocus PDAF camera, a secondary microphone, dual-LED flash, and the fingerprint sensor. At the centre of the rear panel is the InFocus branding and towards the bottom, a removable sticker with essential product barcodes and other software information.
A 3.5mm headphone jack is present at the top of the device. The rear panel is detachable only when taken to an authorised service centre. It is not otherwise physically removable.
Performance and functionality:
The Epic 1 is a heavily-loaded smartphone. With its highlight being the deca-core MT6797M processor which is coupled with a Mali T880 GPU, the handset packs a 3GB RAM to further punch up performance and interactivity.
It comes pre-loaded with Android Marshmallow 6 over which there's the company's custom-built InLife UI 2. The interface works well with intra-app transitions. Though an app-drawer is non-existent, it only adds value to the UI. The design and placement of iconography seems to have undergone an overhaul from past versions. Users are also provided with an option to change the style in which app icons appear - Horizontal, Jag, Binary Star, and Cube amongst others. Users also have an option to Quick Boot the handset, a feature which further lessens the time taken for the device to start up.
By virtue of the sensors present on the device, the display works well in low and ample light conditions alike. It automatically adjusts according to the prevalent availability and gives the user ample viewing angles. A special Blue-light filter which is inbuilt further makes the display easy on a customer's eye. Coming to the vibra-touch functionality, the handset responded well to multi-tasking with the occasional lag being attributed to the build-quality of the relevant application being used.
The handset is powered by a 3,000mAh battery which easily lasts for an entire day with average to medium high usage. During our tests, we played heavy graphic games such as Need for Speed, as well as basic ones like Clash of Clans and Sim City. The handset did heat up mildly, but was not too hot to handle. Even with Wi-Fi and 3G on, we managed a decent 22.5 hours of backup. However, the battery life expectancy oscillates from user to user.
Coming to the storage capacity, out of the 32GB offered, about 22GB is available for users at boot. This can be attributed to the bloatware present on the device - in the form of extra apps such as BeautyPlusMe and Xploree amongst others all of which can either be disabled or deleted. The device storage can be expanded with the help of a microSD card up to 128GB.
The camera is another highpoint in the Epic 1. As mentioned earlier, the camera on board the handset is a combination of a 16MP PDAF Fast Focus rear camera along with an 8MP front snapper. It also has a dual-tone natural flash with an f/1.8 aperture. The rear camera has an AIS or auto-image stabilisation feature. The best part about the camera is its focusing speed which is pretty quick. Colours captured are as close to reality as it can get and with that excellent daylight photography is possible. Though the capturing takes a hit at night or in low-light areas, the images are almost clear. The camera app on board, the device offers other functionalities such as picture-in-picture and multiple mode reproductions.
Design and display:
From the looks of it, the Epic 1 sports a form-factor akin to handsets manufactured by Chinese handset-maker OnePlus, especially its first release - the OnePlus One. The only difference being in the fact that Epic 1 has an all metal body. The handset comes with a 5.5inch full LTPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The front panel houses 8MP front camera, light and proximity sensors, and LED notification/battery indicator. It also houses a receiver which is a bit different in shape than used by most manufacturers - being circular in shape with a perforated dais similar to what found in modern-day speakers.
The left edge of the device has the nano-SIM cum hybrid SD card slot, whereas the right edge houses the volume rockers and the power button. At the bottom is a micro-USB Type-C charging port with the microphone placed to its left and the speaker to the right. However, unlike other devices in the category, the Home, Back, and Toggle buttons are embedded inside the front display are light up when the screen is switched on.
Coming to the rear panel, this is the one which packs all the ammo for the Epic 1. From top to bottom, in that order, it houses a 16MP Dynamic AutoFocus PDAF camera, a secondary microphone, dual-LED flash, and the fingerprint sensor. At the centre of the rear panel is the InFocus branding and towards the bottom, a removable sticker with essential product barcodes and other software information.
A 3.5mm headphone jack is present at the top of the device. The rear panel is detachable only when taken to an authorised service centre. It is not otherwise physically removable.
Performance and functionality:
The Epic 1 is a heavily-loaded smartphone. With its highlight being the deca-core MT6797M processor which is coupled with a Mali T880 GPU, the handset packs a 3GB RAM to further punch up performance and interactivity.
It comes pre-loaded with Android Marshmallow 6 over which there's the company's custom-built InLife UI 2. The interface works well with intra-app transitions. Though an app-drawer is non-existent, it only adds value to the UI. The design and placement of iconography seems to have undergone an overhaul from past versions. Users are also provided with an option to change the style in which app icons appear - Horizontal, Jag, Binary Star, and Cube amongst others. Users also have an option to Quick Boot the handset, a feature which further lessens the time taken for the device to start up.
By virtue of the sensors present on the device, the display works well in low and ample light conditions alike. It automatically adjusts according to the prevalent availability and gives the user ample viewing angles. A special Blue-light filter which is inbuilt further makes the display easy on a customer's eye. Coming to the vibra-touch functionality, the handset responded well to multi-tasking with the occasional lag being attributed to the build-quality of the relevant application being used.
The handset is powered by a 3,000mAh battery which easily lasts for an entire day with average to medium high usage. During our tests, we played heavy graphic games such as Need for Speed, as well as basic ones like Clash of Clans and Sim City. The handset did heat up mildly, but was not too hot to handle. Even with Wi-Fi and 3G on, we managed a decent 22.5 hours of backup. However, the battery life expectancy oscillates from user to user.
Coming to the storage capacity, out of the 32GB offered, about 22GB is available for users at boot. This can be attributed to the bloatware present on the device - in the form of extra apps such as BeautyPlusMe and Xploree amongst others all of which can either be disabled or deleted. The device storage can be expanded with the help of a microSD card up to 128GB.
The camera is another highpoint in the Epic 1. As mentioned earlier, the camera on board the handset is a combination of a 16MP PDAF Fast Focus rear camera along with an 8MP front snapper. It also has a dual-tone natural flash with an f/1.8 aperture. The rear camera has an AIS or auto-image stabilisation feature. The best part about the camera is its focusing speed which is pretty quick. Colours captured are as close to reality as it can get and with that excellent daylight photography is possible. Though the capturing takes a hit at night or in low-light areas, the images are almost clear. The camera app on board, the device offers other functionalities such as picture-in-picture and multiple mode reproductions.
On the connectivity front, the handset offers VOLTE, 4G/3G GSM capabilities, along with WCDMA, FDD-LTE, and TD-LTE. Apart from these, the device is compliant with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and even infra-red. We used a Reliance Jio SIM inserted into its primary slot and we didn't face any issue. The people on the other side could hear us pretty loud and clear - which can be attributed to the HD-voice capability provided with the SIM. However, reception and signal strength also depend on a cellular service provider's individual network positioning. It uses a USB type-C connectivity for charging and syncing duties which may turn out to be a positive with the increasing number of handsets adopting a similar format.
The fingerprint sensor was alright to be honest. The company claims a response time of less than a second to unlock the device. However, apart from the initial few instances when the handset unlocked fast, further instances were successful only on the fourth to fifth attempts. Furthermore, should you have wet or sticky fingers, we would advice using an on-screen lock pattern.
Verdict:
At its price, the Epic 1 has all the qualities of a must-by. From the looks of it, the build quality comes across as a sturdy one with the capacity to accommodate a couple of falls from waist-length height. A deca-core processor, clubbed with a 3GB RAM, a 16MP auto-focus rear camera, and VOLTE - what are you waiting for? It is among the best smarphones in this segment
The fingerprint sensor was alright to be honest. The company claims a response time of less than a second to unlock the device. However, apart from the initial few instances when the handset unlocked fast, further instances were successful only on the fourth to fifth attempts. Furthermore, should you have wet or sticky fingers, we would advice using an on-screen lock pattern.
Verdict:
At its price, the Epic 1 has all the qualities of a must-by. From the looks of it, the build quality comes across as a sturdy one with the capacity to accommodate a couple of falls from waist-length height. A deca-core processor, clubbed with a 3GB RAM, a 16MP auto-focus rear camera, and VOLTE - what are you waiting for? It is among the best smarphones in this segment
INFOCUS EPIC 1 SPECIFICATIONS
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