Competition and the need to stand out is forcing smartphone makers to consistently improve and look for new ways to differentiate. Obi Worldphone has
recently launched two devices SF1 and SJ1.5 that are being talked for their design value. Particularly, Obi Worldphone SF1 makes a
claim to have combined unique design with no-compromise on technology at exceptionally attractive price point. SF1 had its global launch in San Francisco this year followed by regional launches in East Asia(Vietnam, Thailand), Middle East(Dubai, Saudi Arabia) and lately in India. Therefore, in this review we are focusing on
Obi Worldphone SF1 to see what all it comes with.
Look & Feel
In the very first look SF1 takes no time in impressing you with its elegant design and the ‘Designed in San Francisco’ engraving at the back sort
of indicates why. Apparently, the device has been designed by the renowned SFO-based design firm Ammunition Group. Its black metallic body with rounded edges and slightly raised glass is both classy and also comfortable to hold in one hand. With 146x74x8mm dimensions, the smartphone weighs just 147g which is quite light for your pocket.
Display
The 5 inch screen of SF1 puts you into surprise when you see your fingers easily moving from one edge to another. The raised screen, which
gives the device its unique look, has the latest Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection. The full HD (1080 x 1920 pixels) resolution would
ensure visual experience of sharp and rich colour images. Moreover, even when you are under direct sunlight, you have the advantage of still being able to
read the screen well.
Performance
SF1 is tightly packed with specifications that make you doubt its price. It runs on Android 5.02 (Lollipop) OS powered by 1.5 Ghz Octa-Core Qualcomm
MSM8939 64-bit Snapdragon 615 processor. The octa-core does not just mean eight cores, but four 1.7GHz cores and four 1Ghz cores, which means processor
keeps moving between high capacity and low capacity cores depending upon the load facilitating both high performance and power savings. The device comes in
two 3GB (32GB storage) and 2GB (16GB storage) variants, can be further expanded to 64GB using microSD card. It also comes with Adreno 405 GPU 64 bit, which
makes HD gaming experience exceptional due to its compatibility with 2D and 3D games. Furthermore, SF1’s dual SIM tray comes along with the MicroSD card
tray, making it a single address from where one can reach out to the world and also let entertainment stuff get into your device.
Additional Features
Cameras:
SF1 has 13 MP back camera and 5 MP front cameras. Despite of there being LED flash on both the sides, the front-facing LED flash takes the lead with its
just so apt placement for a perfect selfie lightning. The professional touch in its output comes through its Sony IMX214 Exmor sensor and Qualcomm
ChromaFlash, UbiFocus and OptiZoom. Its hybrid auto focus enables split-second perfect focus in any light through phase-detection technology.
Battery:
Obi Worldphone SF1 is equipped with a Quick Charge 3000 mAh Li-Po battery that gives up to 20 days of standby time, up to 28 hours of talktime, up to 10
hours of video playback time and up to 100 hours of music playback time. The quick charge technology allows the battery to get charged in much lesser time
than normal.
Audio:
SF1 also comes with superior audio. Its Dolby Audio Surround Sound interprets your playlist in a powerful, real and clear version. Moreover, its noise
cancellation facility through dual microphones ensures high quality sound even in noisy settings.
Final Take
Going by its premium design and superior technology, it is clear that the device has got immense potential. Furthermore, its indicative price of USD199
makes the device even more attractive. Although the device was launched in San Francisco on 26th August 2015, it is still not out in the market
for sales in any country. However, this is certainly a device whose performance would be carefully watched once it is out due to its association with some
prominent industry names.
