Symphony GoFox F15: A long way to go

Display

The 3.5 inch TFT HVG display is no retina display but it will render all details fluidly enough. Small lettering while browsing the net appears slightly jagged but very readable. The brightness works well even in bright sunlight. 

Processor

The single core 1GHz processor doesn't stutter from the regular usage. By regular we mean updating the BYTES Facebook page regularly, attacking all the statuses on social media and listening to music. Then there's calls.

Camera

The snapper on the back is a 3.2 MP basic camera that struggles to take pictures in low light. The front facing camera is 0.3 MP unit which isn't particularly recommended for flattering selfies.

Shape

The shape is a timeless design. Simplicity is key here. The back side has a light rubberized texture that also comes with an extra glossy cover. The phone is easy to hold. The minimalist design consists of a simple power button on the right and a rocker button for volume on the left.

Apps

Apps are limited but slowly increasing in numbers. All the necessary items are there so that you can stay connected. More on that in our OS feature. We found the drawer app that slides down form the top to reveal the Bluetooth, wifi and other functions to be a little laggy.

Memory

There's 512MB of ROM and 512MB RAM with an expandable memory of upto 32GB. That should serve well enough for what this phone is – a good everyday music device. Store all you music or just aces the radio. The ear pods fit snugly and the sound is loud and clear without distortion. 

Battery

The 1450mAh Li-ion battery may sound small by today's behemoth standards, but it is quite the power pack considering the low power consumption from both the processor and the display. We've easily managed to pass an entire day with Wi-Fi usage. As expected, 3G does takes a toll but only if you're constantly on Facebook which is a big data and power hungry app.

The ‘Firefox OS’

Firefox OS is the newest Linux kernel-based open-source OS in Bangladesh.  It is being developed by Mozilla, the non-profit organization famed for its Firefox browser. Symphony GoFox F15 comes with the Firefox OS 1.4. The UI in this version is not exactly the most “up-to-dated” one, but with time this web based OS will definitely grow on you. Most smartphone functionality is present in this version but still a few are missing. To sum up, Firefox OS might feel a bit undercooked considering Android is in its 5th iteration and iOS on its 8th. But we see a strong future for Firefox OS. Most of the high profile apps are already in. And with the growing amount of apps development particularly in Bangladesh we believe the app famine will soon come to an end.

VERDICT

The GoFox F15 is a budget phone that has the usual features wrapped around something a little different. How different? The Firefox OS is new and it serves as a web interface that is capable of launching other web apps directly from the interface. Also the release cycle matches closely with the desktop version.
The phone has average specs wrapped up in an attractive price and a decent design. It should serve well as a fuss-free, rugged device for people on the go. It performs excellently as a music device and serves to while away the time as a browser.

Price: Tk. 4650/-