SKK Mobile Neo Review: Dual Core Reloaded

Anjie lou delos Reyes
63
SKK Mobile Neo

INTRODUCTION:


Dual-core devices dominated the high-end smartphone market once, and they are ready for another conquest, this time the low-end segment. Introducing the SKK Mobile Neo, a dual-core device for an incredibly amazing price of Php1999.
The Neo's computing abilities are processed by the MediaTek MT6572 which has dual-core CPU clocked at 1GHz each, an ARM Mali-400 GPU coupled with 256 of RAM.

Key Specs:

  • Dual SIM , Dual Standby 
  • 3.5" capacitive HGA touchscreen display, 3-point multi-touch
  • Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2
  • 1GHz Cortex-A7 Dual Core CPU, Mali-400 GPU, MediaTek MT6572 chipset
  • 256MB of RAM
  • 256MB internal, expandable up to 32GB via microSD
  • 5MP main camera without LED Flash, 720p video recording
  • 2MP secondary camera, VGA video recording
  • WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi Hotspot, WiFi Direct
  • 3.5 Audio Jack
  • Stereo FM Radio
  • Multi Media Player
  • Micro USB 2.0
  • Bluetooth 
  • Sensors: Accelerometer and Sound
  • 1100mAh removable battery 
  • Nice solid build

Main Disadvantages:
  • Relatively low RAM
  • No GPS
  • Low battery capacity



UNBOXING:

The box is made of hard cardboard with blue motif, inside it are the unit with screen protector installed, USB-charger combo, wired headset, manual and warranty card.

SKK Mobile Neo Retail Package

The front housed the 3.5-inch screen, the earpiece and secondary camera above it while the 2-capacitive buttons and hardware home-key button are below it.

Front of SKK Neo

The 3.5mm audio jack and the micro USB port can be found at the top of the Neo.

3.5mm Audio Jack and Micro USB port at the Top of  SKK Neo

At the opposite part, there is nothing except for the microphone pin hole.

Mic at the Bottom of  SKK Neo

The left side has the power key button while the right side has the volume rocker.

Power button at the Left of  SKK Neo

Volume Rocker at the Right of the SKK Neo


The back cover is a textured plastic which we first saw on the SKK Titanium, it is not prone to fingerprints and smudges. What you can see on the picture below is not really the camera sensor, it is just a design on the back cover to make it look like one. The NEO branding is printed but the SKK mobile tag is a sort of sticker.

Back of SKK Neo

Removing the back cover will reveal the 1100mAh battery, micro SD and SIM slots. If you will notice the camera lens is a bit small for a 5MP sensor.

Battery, SD and SIM slots of SKK Neo

The build quality is nice and solid, the phone is built around a metal frame and does not look cheap.


INTERFACE:

The Neo supports multi-touch and has 3-point contact to be exact. The viewing angle is not wide, colors simply washed out once you tilt it.

3-point Multi-touch

It is running Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 and has stock UI. In a lockscreen dragging the padlock icon to the right will unlock the device while swiping left will open the camera interface. If you have a missed notification you can drag it inside the circle to view it without unlocking the device.

Lockscreen

The Homescreen has five pages by default but you can reduce it or increase it up to nine. There are 5 shortcuts below, the middle always opens the app drawer while the remaining four can be customized the way you like it.

Homescreen

The apps are arranged in four rows by four columns while the widgets have 2x3 layout.

Apps and Widgets


The notification panel has collapsible info, for example you can directly call back or send a message for a missed called. The system settings shortcuts are also present.


Notification



BENCHMARKS:

The SKK Neo is based on the MediaTek MT6572 chipset which has dual Cortex-A7 cores clocked at 1GHz each. In Antutu, it scored 9547 which is quite high for a dual core device.

Antutu Device Info

Antutu, 9547


There is nothing spectacular in the quadrant score but it is quite notable that the refresh rate is more than 61Hz.

Quadrant, 2494


It scored 45.9 fps which is even higher than the Cherry Mobile Flare 2x.

Nenamark2, 45.9 fps
 
The Vellamo HTML and Metal results are great, even better than those with quad-core chipset.

Vellamo, HTML 1367 & Metal 464
The benchmarks results are more than expected especially that the device has 256MB of memory. However I just want to point out that benchmarks are just benchmarks.


DUAL SIM SETTINGS:

Under SIM management you can disable or enable the SIM cards and they are also color coded. You can also choose which SIM will be your default for calling, SMS and data connection or you can set it to always ask.

SIM Management


TELEPHONY:

The dial pad under telephony accepts both name and number inputs, for a faster way to call your favorite contact you can use the speed dial. The call log shows all your recent calls and can be filtered by outgoing, missed or incoming.

Telephony Interface
 
The call quality is good, the Neo has no proximity sensor but the screen automatically turns off once a call is connected.

 
PHONEBOOK:

The phonebook contacts and groups can be synchronized with your online accounts such as Google. In the same manner creating a new contact or group will prompt you to where you want it to be saved.

Phonebook Interface
 

MESSAGING:

Under messaging app, if you have an unread message there will be a number appearing in the upper right hand corner and that number corresponds to the number of unopened messages. The message threads are color coded blue for you and gray for the recipient.

Messaging Interface

The recipient input also accepts name and number entries, if you will attach any file to your message it will be converted to MMS. You can assign a different ring tone for the message notification but it will be for both SIM cards.



EMAIL:

The email and Gmail apps are just stock Android applications which have the same functionality to the previous device we reviewed. Both accept multiple account and can be synced depending on your needs.

Email and Gmail


MULTIMEDIA:

Gallery:

Under gallery you can find your pictures and videos which you can arrange by Albums, Location or Times and can be shared via Bluetooth or online accounts like Facebook.

Gallery Interface


The photo editor app is pre-installed as part of Android Jelly Bean and it works just fine with SKK Neo.

Photo Editor

Video Player:

The Video department really amazed me, it played all the files I threw at it - .avi, .3gp, .mp4, .flv and .mkv. It can even play 720p videos without any stuttering (1080p videos are also playable but with some hiccups).

Video Interface


Videos with different file extensions

Music Player:

The music player interface is pretty much a Jelly Bean standard, musics can be listed by artist, albums or songs. It has an equalizer with presets which can be turned on or off. When you are playing a song and you minimize it, you will have a mini player under the notification panel.

Music Interface


FM Radio:

A wired headset is a necessity for the FM radio to work, you can automatically scan all available channels or do it manually. If you like a certain broadcast you have the option to record it.

FM Radio Interface

Camera/Video:

The camera and video share the same interface, at the left portion you will find the shooting mode. On the upper right the recent photo/video taken, below it are the shutter keys and settings button.

Camera Interface

Camera Settings
 
As indicated on the app info of benchmarks the camera can shoot 5MP still and 720p videos, I checked their details and as you can see below it has indeed that kind of resolution.

Image and Video Details

Sample Pictures





Sample Video


720p, Day

The camera and video performance are way below if compared other device with the same resolution. As you saw in the unboxing part of this review, the lens is small for the a 5MP. Therefore we believe that  software enhancement is made to reach the kind of resolution.

Browsing:

The browser is stock Android and it works just fine, website loads quickly even those with pictures or Flash. It supports up to 16 tabs but I doubt you would use that much, it also has Incognito Mode for untraceable browsing.

Browser

Opera Mini is also pre-installed if in case you are looking for a secondary browser.

Opera Mini

Gaming:

Games like Pou and Candy Crush works just fine. However when playing games like Temple Run 2 there are times you will encounter a hiccup which is probably because of low RAM.


Pou

Temple Run 2

I downloaded Dungeon Hunter 4 to test and it is playable but the FPS is way too LOW for you to enjoy the game.

Dungeon Hunter 4


The Neo has only 179MB of on- board storage for apps and games but the good thing is that if you have an SD card installed it will become the default storage.

Storage


CONNECTIVITY:

The SKK Neo does not have HSPA connection, the mobile internet speed will max out at EDGE which is a bit low for today's standard, so better use its WiFi connectivity.
 
WiFi Signals, Neo at the left, A818g at the right.
 
The Bluetooth is present for your file sharing needs and there is also a 3.5mm jack for private listening.


SENSORS:

The Neo has only Accelerometer and Sound sensors.

Sensors


PRODUCTIVITY:

There are productivity applications pre-installed and all of them are stock Android apps.

Calendar

Clock

Calculator

Sound Recorder

File Manager

ToDo



BATTERY:

It has a miniature battery with 1100mAh capacity but it just works OK when use as secondary phone.  We already know that with this size you can never expect it to last longer when you play games or watch videos.

Battery Stats




CONCLUSION:DUAL CORE RELOADED


The Neo uses the latest dual-core chipset from MediaTek, and it was able to perform well especially in the Video department. There are things you hope they should improve like the battery and RAM but it could mean a price increase.

The camera and video performance are below average, maybe they know that already since they do not put it in their marketing perspective. Overall, it is still a better option compared to device with the same price range (2000 pesos) and only has a single core chipset.

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63Comments

  1. SOBRANG PANGET! mukhang laruan mabibili mo sa bangketa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MyPhone ka ba o Cherry Mobile?

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    2. i beg to disagree.. cheaper yet very useful.. although xcept for the cam (low quality sya) pero the whole package, sobra-sobra pa for only P2K..:-) haha i love the phone, try to look the feature first before judging it..super ok sya for 2K..hindi kana talo.

      Delete
    3. ^agree. infairness naman, maganda sya for a P2000 phone. just got one yesterday

      Delete
  2. Does the wallpaper is changeable?? please reply po.. :D

    -Jerry

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  3. does the plastic housing feel cheap?

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  4. Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter and other social media and visit these websites: http://skkmobile.com.ph/ http://www.teknogadyet.com http://prizesandpromos.blogspot.com/

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  5. tlga po bang 2k po cya???

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  6. the casing is decent enough though its plain plastic. You've got to hold one to appreciate this phone. Couldn't add more to the review cause its all been said well. I got mine @1.5kphp when they launch it in SM Cebu last week.

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  7. may google apps ba yan??plz reply

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  8. may skype? pls reply asap

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  9. Yung Lock Screen Di napapalitan -.-

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  10. pwedi kaya tung ma screenshot? paanu?

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  11. pwede po, press power button at volume down ng sabay.

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  12. pwd pa help po kasi bat di ako maka send ng massage pag mag unli ako for example mag send ako sa 8888,221 or 4545 hnd maka pag send pero sa mga contacts ko nakaka send ako plzzz help po....

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  13. how can i change the lockscreen design?? please reply asap! :)

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  14. download ka ng apps na pang screenshot.

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  15. by default hindi po. you need to download go locker or similar application

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  16. It doesn't come with skype but you can download it at playstore.

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  17. Uhm . Hello im from technoz baboy and this phone is great because it has dual COrtex A7 most chips from 2012-2014 .. so the power of cortex A7 or CA-7 is great but not quietly good enough its has low quality due to some MT processors inside but again this phone can handle in medium quality and it run so SMOOTH and no lag on Dungeon Hunter 4 so when i play it on HIGH its has minimal lag like bug and teleporting but in MID FPS its OUTSTANDING . on the DTrigger 2 it is quitly llag on MID but you can root your phone so theres no LAG on Games and after ROOT DL the chainfire 3d on googleplaystore and the plugins!! so this is a great phone the skk givi it tom me on i think mid of nov or oct ..

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  18. maybe You need to REPORT on SKK MOBILE CUSTOMER SUPPORT it or just FACTORY RESET and if its not sending repeat it after repeat and nothing happen maybe youll neeed to buy a new SIM CARD . Hope that helps

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  19. So pwede sya . pero wag GO LOCKER kasi and GO LOCKER ay nagpapalag maliban if QUAD CORE gamit mong Smartphone

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  20. No no no . Just Hold the power button and home button if nothing happens press vol. up and vol. down and the power key and the home key again if nothing happens pres bol. up and the power key and the BACK button !!

    ReplyDelete
  21. My Phone is the STARMOBILE DIAMOND X1 so it given to me yesterday and yet starmobile they give STARMOBILE Dx1 to the publisher and the BLOGS for phones and review ! it is PERFECT
    it has all the sensors 7 MULTI TOUCH NO BUGSSS !!!! 6 inch !
    and 2 gb ram i think 8 or 16 gb PHONE MEMORR and i think it has 2.0 or 23 to 19 GHZ OCTACOREEE !! it is phablet 6 Inch ! so very affordable its only 13,990 !!!! in nationwide kiosk ithin !

    ReplyDelete
  22. You can change it simply using ROMS or ROOTING it !
    by the way this is JK:symbian768 my 2nd account on TNZBABOY !

    ReplyDelete
  23. Nope by CHOOSING RIGHT COLOR ! again GOOD CELPHONE IS NOT CHEAP ! CHEAP CELPHONE IS NOT GOOD . so pick the correct color for you so no regrets !

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  24. hahahaha . wag naman pong ganyan ser :)) baka po nabili nyo tas maliit kaya panget . wala po yun sa laki nasa SPECS yan ser !

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  25. Yes sir its DOWNLOADABLE !

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  26. But for no CLOSE to 1.XXX

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  27. mabilis po ba ito malobat? :/

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  28. same price pa din po

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  29. mabilis po ba ito malobat? pls reply

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  30. kung normal call and text matagal naman sya.. For gaming or browsing not sure..

    ReplyDelete
  31. Magkano po yan c.p na yan

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  32. paano po ba tanggalin yung likod nito d ko mabuksan eh

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  33. screenshot press power and volume key ng sabay. nakabili ako nito maganda naman ang phone. madaling iroot para expand RAM. malinis ang sound.

    wall paper napapalitan at lockscreen.

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  34. sir pano ba mag change ng Screenlock ng mobile neo ?

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  35. oo nga sir pano mapalitan ng screen lock

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  36. sir pano ba mag change ng lockscreen design ?

    ReplyDelete
  37. oo nga e , pano ba mag change ng lockscreen design ?

    ReplyDelete
  38. may screen shot po ba to

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  39. ayaw naman po eh\

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  40. sir ? pano ba mapalitan yung lock screen wallpaper ?

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  41. narereformat po ba ang skk neo. nilaro kasi ng anak k un sa pattern.

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  42. napapalitan po ba yung case nyan? REPLY PO KAYO, ASAP. :) SALAMAT

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  43. Downoad Mo Ung GO Locker . Ayun Magaganda .

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  44. sir, paano mo ma-unlock ang Loct Pattern,,, pinaglaruan hnd na maunlock

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  45. Sir yong guest ko kasi naka on at may password hindi ko po ma open..

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  46. Pano palitan ang message ringtone sa ringtone mula sa memory?

    ReplyDelete
  47. na erase ko app nya skk bigla na lang po di na makasagap ng wifi tell me wat to do

    ReplyDelete
  48. sir bkt po pag nag reregister ako ayaw po ma register

    ReplyDelete
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