List of Chinese 6.3, 6.4 & 6.5 inch smartphone phablets
As far as I’m aware, this list of large screen Chinese phablets is the most comprehensive available. It’s a work in progress and more phones will be added.
In this article:
- New phones yet to be added to list
- THE LIST
- Notes & Tips on Chinese Phones
- Shipping
- Be careful where you buy
- Tell us about your Chinese phone
Phones not yet on list + latest prices:
My list won’t include all the new octa-core processor phones (they are still being released). These links list the latest full range of phones offered by stores I’d be prepared to use:
- DX (DealExtreme): custom search for 6.3 to 6.5 inch smartphones (21 phones)
- Merimobiles: search for 6.3 inch phones | 6.44 inch phones | 6.5 inch phones
- Banggood: 6.3 inch page | 6.5 inch page | custom search for 6.44 inch (12 phones)
- Pandawill: Homepage only
N.B. The above links are ordered by number of phones offered. However; based on customer feedback I would choose i. Banggood first; ii. Merimobiles or DX (whichever is cheapest); and iii. Pandawill only if the phone isn’t available from the other 3.
Phones are listed by Processor type and size.
Descriptions are based on store provided information (I cannot guarantee their accuracy). The lists may contain errors (I’m human) and specifications may change; so ensure you read the stores full description before buying.
1. MTK 6589 (1.2 GHz quad-core processor)
This lowest spec chipset in the list. I haven’t seen any independent reviews of phones with this processor but this store promo video may give you an idea of speed and performance.
| 6.3 inch display, 1280 x 720 resolution, main camera 8MP, front camera 2MP 1GB RAM & 16GB internal storage. Android 4.2.2 2G frequencies: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz. 3G frequencies: see below. |
|
| Tengda B9202 & S4 B9202 (these are probably the same phone with different branding) | |
| 3G | WCDMA 2100MHz ONLY |
| Reviews | YouTube (store promo video). |
| Full details: | DHgate  $199 / £131. (Feb 2014 prices) |
| Comments | The “GT-i9200” below handles 3G on 850MHz & 2100MHz making it suitable for use in more countries |
| GT-i9200 | |
| 3G | WCDMA 850/2100MHz (see notes at bottom of page) |
| Full specification & price from: | Pandawill  ($194 / £121 ) |
2. MTK 6589T (1.5 GHz quad-core processor phones):
With faster processor and GPU. My Elephone P6 (see my review) uses this processor and I am delighted with its performance. Its Antutu Benchmark is very close to Google’s Nexus 4. If you want a phone with performance benchmarks in the same zone as the high end Nexus 5 or Galaxy S4 check out the octa-core phones in the next section.
Unless otherwise stated all these phones:
- are available in both 1GB RAM/16GB internal storage &2GB/32GB versions
- are dual SIM, and have a micro SD card slot
- 2G frequencies: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
- 3G: WCDMA 850/2100MHz (see notes bottom of page for what this means)
| 6.3 inch display, 1280 x 720 HD resolution, main camera 8MP, front camera 2MP. | |
| Elephone P6 | |
| OS | Android OS 4.2.2 |
| Reviews | My Elephone P6 review. |
| Full details: | Banggood  $215 / £134.(Price as at Feb 2014 for 1GB RAM version) |
| Comments | White or black. This phone is also available as the P6S with the latest new faster octa-core processor and GPU ($248.99 / £157.18). |
| W9025 (may be called/”branded” Doogee or Star W9025 ???) | |
| Comments | 8MP/5MP camera. 1GB RAM/16GB storage only. Android 4.2. Price and specification: DHgate $240 / £158. |
| 6.40 to 6.45 inch displays, 1080×1920 FHD resolution. | |
| Umi Cross (6.44 inch) | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 8MP | OS | Android OS 4.2.1 |
| Reviews | Gizchina review. |
| Full details: | Banggood $350 / £216; Merimobiles $324 / £198 DX $357/£xxx. (Feb 2014 prices for 1GB RAM version) |
| Timmy T1 (6.44 inch) | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| Comments | Android 4.2 Full details: Banggood $286 | Merimobiles $290 | DX $319 |
| Firefly V65 (6.45 inch) | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| Comments | 1GB RAM/16GB storage only. Android 4.2.1 Full details: orientdeal $288 / £200 | DHgate $324 / £214. |
| Goophone S4 Mega (6.4 inch) | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| Comments | Android 4.2 Full details: goophoneshops $310 |
| Carpad T65 (6.45 inch) | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| 3G | 2100MHz ONLY |
| Comments | Android 4.2 Full details: Merimobiles. |
| 6.5 inch display, 1080×1920 FHD resolution. | |
| iNEW i6000 | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 3MP |
| OS | Android OS 4.2.1 |
| Reviews | GizChina review. |
| Full details: | Banggood $260/ £162 | Merimobiles $260/ £158 | DX $300 (Prices as at Feb 2014 for 1GB RAM version) |
| Comments | This forum post on xda-developers has feedback from users of this phone. |
| Ulefone U650 (U650) | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| Comments | Android 4.2.2 Full details: Merimobiles $258 / £156. Also DX . 2GB/32GB versions are also available. |
| DOOGEE Max DG650 | |
| Cameras | main camera 16MP, front camera 8MP |
| Comments | Android 4.2.2 Full details: Banggood $320 / £197 | Merimobiles $320 / £xxx. DX . (2 GB versions) |
| Green Lemon G18 | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| Comments | Android 4.2 Full details: Merimobiles $380 / £xxx |
| Verne V7 | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| Comments | Android 4.2.2 Full details: Merimobiles $370 / £xxx |
| ThL W300 | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 8MP |
| Comments | Android 4.2 Full details: DX $338 | Merimobiles $338 |
| More Fine S6 | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| Comments | Android 4.2 Full details: Merimobiles $288 |
| Star(?) Q6599 | |
| Cameras | main camera 12MP, front camera 8MP |
| Comments | ONLY 4GB internal Storage. Android 4.2.1 Full details: DX $245 / £xxx. |
| HiLive HI6 | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| Comments | Insufficient information e.g. No details of 3G (or even 2G) frequencies. No info on SIM or SD slots. HiLive $300 / £xxx (plus delivery, USD only?). |
3. MTK 6592 (1.7 GHz octa-core processor phones):
With faster processor, GPU & memory.
Unless otherwise stated, all these phones:
- have 2GB RAM & 16GB internal storage
- are dual SIM, and have a micro SD card slot
- 2G frequencies: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
- 3G: WCDMA 850/2100MHz (see notes bottom of page for what this means)
| 6.3 inch display, 1280 x 720 HD resolution, main camera 8MP, front camera 2MP. | |
| Elephone P6S | |
| OS | Android OS 4.2.2 (or 4.3.1?) |
| Reviews | My Elephone P6/P6S review. |
| Full details: | Banggood $240 / £xxx | Merimobiles $237 / £xxx |
| 6.5 inch display, 1080×1920 FHD resolution. | |
| iNEW i6000+ | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 8MP(?) |
| Full details: | Merimobiles $290 |
| Ulefone U692 (U650) | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| Comments | Android 4.2.2. Merimobiles $280. |
| M pai MP-i9200 | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| Comments | Android 4.2.3 Full details: DX $325 / £xxx |
| HiLive Hi6x | |
| Cameras | main camera 13MP, front camera 5MP |
| Comments | Insufficient information e.g. No details of 3G (or even 2G) frequencies. No info on SIM or SD slots. HiLive $283 (plus delivery, USD only?). |
Notes & Tips
Chinese Phones
- 3G: These phones were designed for the Asian market and handle 3G on 850/2100MHz. In the UK 2100MHz is allocated for 3G and my Chinese phablet works great. These frequencies are used for 3G in many parts of the world including (I think) most of Europe, Russia, Australia etc. Check with your network provider. In the US a mix of 850, 1700 & 1900MHz are used and depending on your network you may be limited to partial 3G coverage or 2G GSM only.
- GPS: Apparently problems such as a long time before GPS locks on to satellites are common on these quad-core phones. These issues are usually solvable by changing phone settings as described by GizChina & DroidChina. When Gizchina reviewed the Elephone P6 they found it had “fast working GPS right out of the box”. This was the model I bought, it didn’t need any changes to settings; and I’ve used it for SatNav in the car without problem.
Customs/Taxes: if you use an “express delivery company” like DHL they will handle all customs paperwork and bill you for any taxes (for my phone taxes plus DHL admin charge amounted to £19). If you use free delivery you might avoid taxes but if your packet is intercepted you could have long delays sorting out tax payment before you recive the phone.
Certification Marks: Some countries require imported phones to be marked with an appropriate “safety certification” logo e.g. the CE mark in Europe, and the FC mark in the US. Although the above phones are primarily produced for the Chinese market; most do have “CE”/”FC”/other marks (genuine or not). Logos are usually printed in the battery compartment or on the back cover; and you can often see these in a store’s pictures of the phone. I assume “Customs” will be more interested in sample checking bulk consignments to suppliers, and due to the massive volume of imports I guess you would be very unlucky if your package was checked – but I’d opt for a phone with appropriate marking.
Be wary which supplier you use
: Banggood, DX, & Merimobiles. In some circumstances I’d also consider using Pandawill even though it has a low TrustPilot rating.
My article on Chinese Stores explains why these were shortlisted and provides quick links to enable you to check their latest Review Site ratings.
Links marked are either sites I would not use, or ones I haven’t checked out (there are hundreds of Stores). The store article also gives tips on how you can identify websites to avoid.
The article also covers shops on Ebay & Amazon and Chinese Marketplaces DHgate & AliExpress
Like Amazon & eBay, other stores have affiliate partnerships for sites linking to them. I decided to affiliate with the ones shortlisted. It won’t affect the price you pay, but I’ll earn commission if you buy from them – and start to cover the costs of my website. I’ve not affilliated with any site I would not be prepared to use myself.
Your Chinese Phablet
If you have one of these phones your views on it would be much appreciated. If you want to post a comment (below) please provide your email address (not published) this helps me ensure you are not a supplier plugging your own phone and enables me to contact you for more information.
If you fancy doing a full blown review feel free to contact me.
Can you do some recommendations for 4G (LTE) ‘Phablets’ please?
As far as I am aware the largest “Western” compatible currently announced are 5.5 inch. I intend to write on this in 3 or 4 months time when things have started to settle.
China’s licensing of 4G was later than the US/Europe and roll-out has only recently started. So cheap Chinese phones with 4G have only started to appear in the last few months.
To complicate matters; as I understand it, much of their 4G network uses “homegrown” TD-LTE on 2500MHz so many (but not all) of the announced Chinese 4G phones may be incompatible with non Chinese networks.
if ordering from banggood shipping is usually free. Dont oder items together as this will mean a bigger package mor likely to get stopped by customs. One item at a time will still get there. Shipping is slow. About a month to uk.
Comments Closed