CES is here. Yesterday saw the opening keynote addresses from companies like Nvidia y LG. However, the best was yet to come. Sony has unveiled its new Xperia Z, one of the jewels we expected for this event. But it has not been the only thing we have already seen. The Huawei Ascend D2 has also officially seen the light of day for the eyes of the Las Vegas public. The device is just as we expected, a real flagship that could impact the market.
Full HD IPS+ display and rugged body
If we have to highlight something about the device, we would have to start with its screen, without a doubt, according to the commercial images. It differs from current flagships such as the Galaxy S3, Nexus 4, and iPhone 5 by the resolution of its panel. We are no longer just referring to the fact that it has a five inch screen, which is not bad at all, but also has a 1920 by 1080 pixel resolution, so it is Full HD, which leaves us with a pixel density of PPI 443. In addition, it uses technology IPS+ LCD, so it's in line with the iPhone, but much better. Additionally, the screen is protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass, as it could not be otherwise. And all this without forgetting its protection against dust and waterWe won't have to buy another phone if a glass of water falls on it.
For context, the panel boasts an aspect ratio 16:9, color depth of 24 bits (16,7 million colors) and an approximate frontal utilization of 70 %, offering good sharpness and viewing angles. Huawei introduced it commercially as a display “Super Retina FHD IPS+”, with fast touch response and scratch-resistant glass. The durability certification is IPX 5/4 (splash and dust resistant, not submersible), ideal for demanding daily use.
13 MP camera with BSI sensor and 1080p video
The camera is another of the pillars of this Huawei Ascend D2. This has a 13 megapixel BSI sensor, so it is backlit, which means that all the circuitry is housed on the back of the sensor, so that it does not obstruct the passage of light. It is notable that a manual management of color temperature with a wide range of options, thus seeking to provide professional features to the camera of this smartphone.
Expanding data, the optics have aperture f / 2.2, autofocus y LED flash, in addition to functions such as HDR, face detection and geotagging. In video, it records at 1080p is 30 fps with good compression, and the front camera offers 1,3 SM with capture up to 720p is 30 fps, enough for clear video calls.
K3V2 Performance, Memory and Software
El Huawei Ascend D2 has a processor as its heart K3V2 manufactured by the brand itself, quad-core, and capable of reaching a clock speed of 1,5 GHz. It is another of the pillars of this device, although as there is not much data on this chip, we will have to wait to see it in operation after being discovered in a benchmarkHowever, it looks very good, especially considering that Huawei is one of the most prestigious component manufacturers in the world.
On a technical level, the SoC is the HiSilicon K3V2 (Hi3620) manufactured to 40 nm, with CPU ARM Cortex‑A9 (32-bit, ARMv7‑A) and L1 caches of 32KB + 32KB and L2 of 1 MB. In graphics, it integrates a Vivante GPU GC4000 a 480 MHz, designed to run the 2D/3D interface and games of its time with ease. It is accompanied by 2 GB of LPDDR2 RAM dual channel (around 500 MHz effective) and 32 GB internal storage. It does not have a slot for microSD, so it is important to manage space well.
In software, it comes with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) personalized with Emotion UI Huawei's browser, which simplifies menus, provides themes and saving options, and integrates Google services (Gmail, YouTube, Maps, etc.). The browser supports HTML5 and messaging includes SMS/MMS, email and push mail.
3.000 mAh battery with fast charging and QPC/ADRX efficiency
An element such as the battery draws a lot of attention. The Huawei Ascend D2 It has a battery with a capacity of 3.000 mAh, which is pretty good. According to the company, it can stay on standby for six days, although these figures are always under unusual conditions. However, the Chinese company has developed many technologies related to this aspect. For example, they claim that energy consumption is reduced when a decrease in data network usage is detected, something they can easily do since they are primarily dedicated to manufacturing devices related to the world of telecommunications. To top it all off, they own a technology that allows charge batteries 30% faster than other smartphones, under the same electrical conditions. All of these technologies have been applied to the Ascend D2.
In terms of figures, the manufacturer declares up to 144 hours standby in 2G/3G, and highlights two key systems: QPC (Quick Power Control), which turns off transmission when there is no data, and ADRX (Automated Discontinuous Reception), which adjusts the DRX cycle according to the network to reduce standby power consumption by more than 20%. The battery is non-removable lithium-ion and supports charging by microUSB.
Design, materials and audio
Its design is quite good. It is made with a aluminum body and a metal ring that surrounds the smartphone. It weighs only 170 grams, and has a thickness of 9,9 mm. Includes the function Super Hands-Free, which allows us to control it by voice within a radius of 1,5 meters, and is capable of recording stereo sound, with audio system Dolby Surround.
The dimensions are completed with 140mm high y 71mm wide, a comfortable balance in hand for its 5-inch diagonal. For clearer calls, it incorporates active noise cancellation with a dedicated microphone. In terms of color, Huawei offers Pure White y Crystal Blue, both with good finish and solid feel.
Complete connectivity and sensors
On mobile networks, it supports GSM Quad-band (850/900/1800/1900) and UMTS (850/900/1900/2100) with HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps download and 5,76 Mbps upload, plus GPRS / EDGE. Use card micro‑SIM. In local connectivity, it offers Wi‑Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n with dual band, Wi ‑ Fi Direct, DLNA and function of resort of choice.. For accessories, integrate Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, EDR y LE. Recharging and data transfer is done via microUSB 2.0 with mass storage support. Positioning is handled by GPS with A‑GPS.
The range of sensors includes accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, light sensor y proximity, sufficient for browsing, gaming, and automatic brightness management. In multimedia, the terminal plays video formats such as H.264/MPEG‑4, DivX/Xvid, WMV o REVIEWS, and audio as MP3, AAC+/eAAC+, WMA y WAV. Dispose of computer synchronization, OTA, tethering and productivity tools (document and image/video editor). Depending on the region, some configurations included FM radio, although it is not present in all markets.
Availability and variants
El Huawei Ascend D2 will be released in white version and blue, and also in a secondary version with 4,7 inch. It will initially do so in China, and later in JapanIt is expected that in the Mobile World Congress a version for the European market is presented.
The Ascend D2 brings together Full HD display, 13 MP camera, 3.000 mAh battery and a complete set of connectivity, wrapped in a durable metal design and with variants such as the Ascend D2 Mini. A profile that places it as a solid option for those who prioritize autonomy, Finished and a polished Android experience with Emotion UI.
