Elephone U5 : test / review
Category: Tests / ReviewsI have tested a lot of Chinese smartphones over the last few months and it is the Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco trio that wins in almost every test I do. [b][b]I wanted to try and find alternatives by looking for smartphones in the same price range with similar features. In the end I chose the Elephone U5 which is positioned as a competitor to the Redmi Note 9.[b][b]Elephone is not a new brand, the company was created in 2014 but it hasn't yet reached the popularity of other Chinese brands like Xiaomi or Huawei. [b][b][b][b]Manufacturer web site: https://www.elephone.hk/[b]Site where I have bought the Elephone U5: https://s.zbanx.com/r/VEFDYxbiGGGY[b]
Structure of my tests
I test the phones according to a pre-established structure (see below) to provide you with as much information as possible. Unfortunately, this takes a long time. Some tests like network performance tests take several days and for photo tests I sometimes have to wait until the weather is suitable to take pictures in good conditions. I am therefore obliged to publish the tests step by step, so I invite you to come back if the test is not complete at the time of your visit.[b]How are my tests different from others on the web?
- I usually buy the devices with my own money, so price is just as important as you are!
- I keep the devices for at least a few weeks (sometimes more) to see what they are worth in real conditions.
- I answer (when possible) your questions to help you decide before you buy
- no one pays me to do these reviews, so I'm completely neutral and independent...
- My pages are not filled with ads
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10: test / review
Redmi 9A test / review
Nokia 5.3 Test / Review
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite test / review
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T: test / review
Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite : test / review
Redmi 9C test / review
Umidigi A9 Pro test / review
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro : test / review
Poco M3 : test / review
Price Elephone U5
The list below shows the prices for the Elephone U5 from more than 50 sites around the world. If you are not satisfied with any price, you can subscribe to a price alert to be the first to be notified when the price drops.[b]Ulefone Note 8P Android 10 4G Teléfono Móvil, 5.5 '' Waterdrop Pantalla Smartphone, Quad Core 2GB ...
2021-03-04 02:04
88 EUR
Elephone PX Smartphone ohne Vertrag, Pop-Up-Kamera-Design 16 MP + 16 MP, 6,53 Zoll FHD + Vollbild-Bi...
2021-03-04 01:23
150 EUR
New ELEPHONE U5 4GB 128GB Smartphone 48MP Quad Rear Cameras 6.4inch FHD+ Screen Helio P60 Octa Core ...
2021-03-03 15:33
190 USD
ELEPHONE U5 4GB 128GB 48MP Quad Camera Octa Core Android NFC Smartphone Unlocked...
2021-03-03 21:10
173 EUR
TOP!! ELEPHONE U5 Android 10 Smartphone 4GB+128GB 48MP Octa Core Dual Sim...
2021-03-03 21:20
180 EUR
ELEPHONE U5/E6008 6.4"4GB+128GB 4000mAh Punch-hole Screen Android 10 MTK6771 4G...
2021-03-03 21:20
196 EUR
The above links are affiliate links from companies such as Amazon, Gearbest, Aliexpress,... If you appreciate my work, I would be grateful if you could purchase these products through these links. It costs you absolutely nothing but I get a small commission that allows me to buy the material I test. Thank you very much!
Timeline
10/11/2020 order the Elephone U5 on the official website[b][b]Why this phone?
The Elephone U5 has been marketed at a price of less than €150 and offers a theoretical performance level equivalent to Redmi Note 9. These two elements make it a good candidate to be tested.[b][b]Beyond price and performance, there are other features that caught my attention. The Xiaomi is quite heavy and bulky, the Elephone is a little smaller and lighter and offers a higher screen occupancy. The Elephone is made of metal where the Redmi uses plastic.[b][b]The big weakness of the Redmi Note 9 is its colour treatment for photos. If the Elephone U5 obtains a better result, it will undoubtedly seduce those who will have been disappointed by Xiaomi.[b][b]Unpacking
Not yet available / tested[b][b]Length : 157
Width : 75.9
Thickness : 8.5
Weight : 180
Jack output : No
USB Type : Type C
Infrared port : No
Width : 75.9
Thickness : 8.5
Weight : 180
Jack output : No
USB Type : Type C
Infrared port : No
First configuration
Not yet available / tested[b][b]Finish
Not yet available / tested[b][b]Specifications
[b]The information below comes from the Device Info HW application. The application provides detailed technical information about the tested phone.Not yet available / tested[b][b]CPU / GPU Performance
CPU : MediaTek Helio P60 (MT6771)
GPU : ARM Mali-G72 MP3 700MHz
Memory (RAM) : 4 Gb
Storage : 128 Gb
GPU : ARM Mali-G72 MP3 700MHz
Memory (RAM) : 4 Gb
Storage : 128 Gb
Benchmark Antutu/3DMark
Not yet available / tested[b][b] [b]Top 10 - performance ranking based on Antutu1. Oppo Find X2 Pro - 605184
2. Oneplus 8t - 595000
3. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro - 581650
4. Oneplus 8 Pro - 579417
5. Xiaomi Mi 10 - 579114
6. Poco F2 Pro - 569559
7. Samsung Galaxy S20 Fe - 565000
8. Samsung Galaxy S20 - 503905
9. Huawei P40 - 466765
10. Huawei P40 Pro - 466765
Number of smartphones in the ranking:116
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:0/116
Note: this ranking only contains the phones I tested as well as a few others that I added for reference.
[b]Gaming[b]To test the performance in game, I download the mobile PUBG game and evaluate the in-game experience, graphics level and depth of vision. This game is quite demanding and should help you evaluating the performance of a phone.Not yet available / tested[b][b]
Network performance
Not yet available / tested[b][b]3G frequencies : B1 (2100), B5 (850), B8 (900)
4G frequencies : B1 (2100), B3 (1800), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B8 (900), B20 (800), B28 (700), B38 (TDD 2600), B40 (TDD 2300), B41 (TDD 2500)
Bluetooth : Bluetooth 5.0 LE
Volte : Yes
NFC : Yes
4G frequencies : B1 (2100), B3 (1800), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B8 (900), B20 (800), B28 (700), B38 (TDD 2600), B40 (TDD 2300), B41 (TDD 2500)
Bluetooth : Bluetooth 5.0 LE
Volte : Yes
NFC : Yes
Choose your country to check if your phone is compatible:
The frequencies displayed below will allow you to see if this phone is compatible with your operator or if you will be able to use it in the country where you are going on vacation.
The frequencies displayed below will allow you to see if this phone is compatible with your operator or if you will be able to use it in the country where you are going on vacation.
Signal 4G (before december 2020)[b]The ability to pick up the network correctly is an essential element for a phone but it is only very rarely measured. To measure a phone's ability to pick up the network, I perform a large number of measurements on the same cells to be able to compare phones under similar conditions. The signal is measured in dBm, a value of -90dBm indicates a worse signal than -70dBm. These measurements are therefore taken under real conditions and not in a laboratory, they are not scientific but give a good indication of performance. [b][b]Network signal sensitivity rating
| Phone tested: | Average signal (dBm) | Number of measurements: |
| Xiaomi Mi 9t Pro | -88 | 1600 |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 | -91.305 | 600 |
| Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite | -93 | 788 |
| Samsung Galaxy A70 | -94.511 | 1975 |
| Nokia 5.3 | -94.98 | 531 |
| Realme 6 | -95.14 | 2301 |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | -95.922 | 1599 |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 | -95.95 | 1000 |
| Huawei Y6 2019 | -95.95 | 1199 |
| Doogee S58 Pro | -96.22 | 856 |
| Redmi 9a | -96.48 | 1000 |
| Meizu Note 9 | -96.68 | 937 |
| Motorola G8 Power | -96.88 | 1032 |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 | -97.01 | 1430 |
| Redmi 9c | -97.04 | 1000 |
| Umidigi S3 Pro | -97.13 | 1200 |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 | -97.34 | 879 |
| Samsung Galaxy A21s | -97.78 | 1000 |
| Umidigi F1 | -97.82 | 298 |
| Ulefone Armor 7e | -98.7 | 1000 |
| Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite | -99 | 1000 |
| Honor 9x | -99.14 | 899 |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s | -99.4 | 1860 |
| Poco F2 Pro | -99.8 | 1247 |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 | -100.79 | 1785 |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g | -100.88 | 1198 |
| Poco X3 | -101.19 | 821 |
| Umidigi F2 | -101.47 | 712 |
| Phone tested: | Measurements | Avg signal (reference) | Avg signal (phone) | Min/Max (reference) | Min/Max (phone) |
| Samsung Galaxy S10+ | 457 | -93.06 | -97.39 | -89 / -98 | -97 / -99 |
| Xiaomi Mi 9t Pro | 669 | -93.69 | -95.84 | -90 / -95 | -92 / -98 |
| Poco F2 Pro | 1438 | -91.02 | -94.99 | -89 / -94 | -94 / -96 |
| Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g | 1645 | -90.77 | -95.02 | - 88 / -98 | -95 / -100 |
| Poco X3 | 821 | -94.89 | -103.19 | -91 / -97.7 | -101 / -104 |
| Umidigi Bison | 2343 | -92.71 | -96.46 | -90 / -99 | -94 / -102 |
| Oukitel C21 | 1101 | -92.04 | -94.99 | -90 / -97 | -92 / -95 |
| Poco M3 | 1116 | -92.09 | -91.74 | -88 / -98 | -90 / -99 |
| Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro | 1071 | -90.61 | -94.03 | -88 / -94 | -94 / -96 |
| Umidigi A9 Pro | 981 | -90.40 | -94.01 | -88 / -95 | -93 / -95 |
| Redmi Note 9t | 1201 | -92.149 | -91.71 | -90 / -97 | -91 / -97 |
1. Samsung Galaxy S20 D:351Mbps U: 20Mbps
2. Poco X3 D:232Mbps U: 55Mbps
3. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g D:223Mbps U: 52Mbps
4. Poco F2 Pro D:207Mbps U: 53Mbps
5. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite D:153Mbps U: 68Mbps
6. Xiaomi Mi A3 D:150Mbps U: 60Mbps
7. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s D:150Mbps U: 60Mbps
8. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite D:149Mbps U: 60Mbps
9. Samsung Galaxy A21s D:147Mbps U: 51Mbps
10. Huawei Y6 2019 D:145Mbps U: 61Mbps
Number of smartphones in the ranking:30
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:0/30
Note: the theoretical maximum speed of a telephone is often limited by the configuration of the mobile network and the congestion of the network at the time of the measurement. So maybe you could get a higher speed on another network
[b][b]
Wifi performance
To test a phone's ability to receive the network properly, I take measurements near my router and then remotely (and always at the same place). This gives me an average in dBm where a value of -90 dBm indicates poorer performance than a value at -30 dBm.[b]Wifi frequencies : 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11n 5GHz
Wifi signal[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]Top 10 - wifi sensitivity ranking1. Poco F2 Pro -11dBm
2. Samsung Galaxy A21s -13dBm
3. Redmi Note 9t -15dBm
4. Poco X3 -17dBm
5. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro -18dBm
6. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s -18dBm
7. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro -19dBm
8. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite -19dBm
9. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g -19dBm
10. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 -19dBm
Number of smartphones in the ranking:36
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:0/36
[b]Download/Upload speed[b]To test the speed in Wifi, I connect to my router in 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (if available) and use the Ookla application to measure the speed.[b]Top 10 - wifi download speed ranking
1. Samsung Galaxy S20 351Mbps
2. Poco F2 Pro 341Mbps
3. Redmi Note 9t 332Mbps
4. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 319Mbps
5. Umidigi Bison 306Mbps
6. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g 300Mbps
7. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite 260Mbps
8. Poco X3 251Mbps
9. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 250Mbps
10. Umidigi F1 220Mbps
Number of smartphones in the ranking:35
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:0/35
Note: I have a 400Mbps line and a modem capable of delivering higher speed, but I can never be sure how much bandwidth is available when doing a test.
[b]
GPS performance
[b]To test the quality of the GPS signal I use the Offline Maps application and I make the same train trip in pedestrian mode. Why? In pedestrian mode, the GPS does not artificially correct the signal to stick to the road, it has no markings, so you can see the actual position. I then use an application to measure the accuracy of the signal. Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]Top 10 - GPS accuracy ranking1. Oukitel C21 1m
2. Redmi 9a 1m
3. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 1m
4. Redmi 9c 2m
5. Umidigi Bison 2m
6. Redmi Note 9t 2m
7. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g 3m
8. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro 3m
9. Umidigi A9 Pro 3m
10. Samsung Galaxy A21s 4m
Number of smartphones in the ranking:12
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:0/12
Note: An accuracy of 3 meters or less can easily be corrected by a good GPS application. Phone performance also plays a role in how fast your display updates, so good accuracy could be compromised by too slow a display.
[b]
Battery range
Capacity : 4000
Fast charge : Yes
W max : 10
Not yet available / tested[b][b]Fast charge : Yes
W max : 10
Photo camera test
To test the quality of photos produced by a phone, I do a technical test (resolution, sharpness, chromatic aberration,...) in studio (identical conditions) to evaluate the technical part objectively. From the second half of 2020, I built my own laboratory to take completely objective technical measurements. I then take pictures in real conditions to see how the camera performs. I then evaluate these photos according to my criteria but I publish the photos so that you can evaluate the result according to your criteria.[b]Hardware
Selfie / resolution : 24
Resolution : 48
Not yet available / tested[b][b]Default app[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]Resolution : 48
Photoquality
Photo test / studio[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]Photo test / sunny[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]Photo test / cloudy[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]Test photo / night[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]Video quality
Stabilisation[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b]Video normale conditionsNot yet available / tested[b][b]Video low light[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b]Audio quality
To test the quality of the phone's audio output, I connect the device's audio output to a measuring tool, then play sounds on all frequencies and measure the differences between the original sound and the sound produced by the phone. In this way I measure the phone's ability to correctly reproduce all sounds.[b] Frequency Response[b]This test is intended to test the device's ability to correctly reproduce all frequencies. The white line in the middle of the graph is the ideal situation and the other colors come from tests on different phones. A deviation from the reference line indicates a deviation from the ideal situation. To see good sound at all frequencies, it is therefore necessary to get as close as possible to the reference line. Not yet available / tested[b][b]Dynamic Range[b]This test is designed to test a phone's ability to play sounds at different volume levels. Here too, the phones must be as close as possible to the reference.Not yet available / tested[b][b]Noise Level[b]This test aims to identify if the device under test is able to reproduce sounds without too much noise. A high score indicates a low parasite rate, a lower score indicates a higher presence of parasites.Not yet available / tested[b][b]Concert recording[b]The purpose of this test is to measure the recording quality of the phone when there is a lot of ambient noise. Since I don't have the opportunity to go to a concert every time I test a phone, I simulate the noise of a concert in a closed environment.Not yet available / tested[b][b]Screen quality
To test the screen, I use a colorimetric probe that measures the color accuracy of a screen, as well as other parameters to see if a screen is able to correctly reproduce an image. I also test the brightness level to determine if the screen will be able to display an image in full sunlight.[b]Screen size : 6.4
Resolution : 1080 x 2310
Ratio : 19.5:9
Type : TFT LCD
% occupancy : 86
Colorimetry[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]Top 10 - ranking of the best screens by colorimetryResolution : 1080 x 2310
Ratio : 19.5:9
Type : TFT LCD
% occupancy : 86
1. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g dE = 0.73
2. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro dE = 0.83
3. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 dE = 1.2
4. Samsung Galaxy S20 dE = 1.4
5. Poco M3 dE = 1.4
6. Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite dE = 1.46
7. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s dE = 1.47
8. Honor 9x dE = 1.5
9. Poco F2 Pro dE = 1.73
10. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite dE = 1.91
Number of smartphones in the ranking:36
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:0/36
Note: the colorimetric difference is measured in dE. After three, the human eye will perceive a colorimetric difference, so the dE should be the lowest. The tests were all carried out with a colorimetric probe.
[b]Brightness / Contrast[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b]Light Absorption/Reflection[b]The smartphone screen reflect light and sometimes turn them into a real mirror. This mirror effect makes it harder to read. [b][b]The absorption index below indicates the percentage of light absorbed by the screen. The readability of a screen is better when the absorption index is high.[b][b]
| Phone tested: | % light absorption |
| Samsung Galaxy S10+ | 58 |
| Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro | 52 |
| Honor 9x | 65 |
| Redmi Note 9s | 55 |
| Motorola G8 Power | 60 |
| Realme 6 | 54 |
| Umidigi F2 | 48 |
| Poco F2 Pro | 52 |
| Redmi Note 9 | 56 |
| Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite | 53 |
| Samsung Galaxy S20 | 47 |
| Samsung Galaxy A21s | 53 |
Biometry
Not yet available / tested[b][b]Operating system
[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b]Encoutered bugs
Not yet available / tested[b][b]Accessories Elephone U5
To better enjoy your experience with your smartphone, I offer links to all kinds of accessories that you might find usefulProtective cover / case elephone u5
Screen protection film elephone u5
Memory card elephone u5
USB Cable / Charger elephone u5
Headphones elephone u5
Bike rack elephone u5
Compare Elephone U5 with the others
I assigned a score of 1 to 10 for each test that determines the strengths and weaknesses of a product. I am using 0 for criteria that have not (yet) been tested. A score of 1 to 3 indicates poor performance (and yes, it does), a score of 4 to 6 indicates average performance, a score of 7 to 8 indicates good performance, and a score of 9 and 10 indicates exceptional performance. .The score is calculated based on my measurements and when there are no measurements, it is a subjective opinion based on my experience.
The scores are not static, they change over time because the performance of new products changes and this must be taken into account.
| Elephone U5 | ||
| Finish quality | 0.00 | 6.00 |
| Battery performance | 0.00 | 8.00 |
| CPU performance | 0.00 | 6.5 |
| GPU performance | 0.00 | 6.5 |
| Screen quality | 0.00 | 7.00 |
| Photo quality | 0.00 | 5.00 |
| Video quality | 0.00 | 5.00 |
| Wi-Fi performance | 0.00 | 7.00 |
| Mobile download speed | 0.00 | 5.00 |
| Mobile network sensitivity | 0.00 | 6.00 |
| Frequency coverage | 0.00 | 7.00 |
| Audio quality | 0.00 | 6.00 |
| GPS performance | 0.00 | 6.00 |
| Operating system | 0.00 | 8.00 |
| Overall score | 0 | 89 |
1. Samsung Galaxy S20 112 / 140
2. Poco F2 Pro 111 / 140
3. Samsung Galaxy S10+ 107 / 140
4. Xiaomi Mi 9t Pro 106 / 140
5. Poco X3 102 / 140
6. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g 101 / 140
7. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite 101 / 140
8. Redmi Note 9t 100.5 / 140
9. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 100 / 140
10. Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite 98 / 140
11. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s 98 / 140
12. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 97 / 140
13. Poco M3 95.5 / 140
14. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 94 / 140
15. Realme 6 93 / 140
16. Umidigi A9 Pro 92 / 140
17. Umidigi Bison 92 / 140
18. Oukitel C21 89.5 / 140
19. Nokia 5.3 89 / 140
20. Xiaomi Mi A3 89 / 140
21. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 89 / 140
22. Motorola G8 Power 89 / 140
23. Honor 9x 88 / 140
24. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite 86 / 140
25. Meizu Note 9 86 / 140
26. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 85 / 140
27. Umidigi S3 Pro 83 / 140
28. Umidigi F2 82 / 140
29. Samsung Galaxy A21s 82 / 140
30. Redmi 9a 81 / 140
31. Redmi 9c 80 / 140
32. Ulefone Armor 7e 80 / 140
33. Doogee S58 Pro 78.5 / 140
34. Honor 8x 78 / 140
35. Umidigi F1 77 / 140
36. Huawei Y6 2019 74 / 140
37. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro 57 / 70
38. Elephone U5 0 / 0