DTC Mobile GT5S Astroid Junior Review: Second String

Anjie lou delos Reyes
16
DTC Mobile GT5S Astroid Junior

INTRODUCTION:


The GT5S Astroid Junior was made to cater to the lower segment of the local mobile market. DTC Mobile released this device so that even those people with limited budget can have a smartphone of their own.
The GT5S runs on a single core Speadtrum SP6820A chipset which has 1GHz Cortex-A5 CPU, Mali-300 GPU coupled with 256MB of RAM.

Key Specs:

  • Quad Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (No 3G)
  • Dual SIM , Dual Standby 
  • 3.5" capacitive HVGA touchscreen display, 2-point multi-touch
  • Android Gingerbread 2.3.6
  • 1GHz Cortex-A5 Single Core CPU, Mali-300 GPU, Speadtrum SP6820A chipset
  • 256MB of RAM
  • 512MB internal, expandable up to 32GB via microSD
  • 2MP main camera without LED Flash
  • 1.3MP secondary camera
  • WiFi 802.11
  • 3.5 Audio Jack
  • Stereo FM Radio
  • Multi Media Player
  • Micro USB 2.0
  • Bluetooth 
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity and Sound
  • 1500mAh removable battery 
  • Nice solid build

Main Disadvantages:
  • Relatively low RAM
  • No GPS (as opposed to what is printed on the box)
  • Outdated Android version



UNBOXING:

The retail package includes the unit with screen protector installed, another spare screen protector, micro USB/chrager combo, wired headset (iPhone headset inspired), manual and warranty card.

Retail Package

The front is mainly covered by the 3.5-inch HVGA screen with the secondary camera, earpiece and proximity sensor above it. The menu, home and back capacitive keys are below the display.

Front of GT5S

There is only 3.5mm audio jack at the top.

3.5mm audio jack at the top

At the bottom you will find the micro USB port.

Micro USB port at the bottom

The left side houses the power key.

Power key at the left side

The volume rocker can be found at the right side.

Volume rocket at the right side


At the back resides the 2MP main camera without flash, the loudspeaker grill and DTC logo.

Back of GT5S

Once the back cover is removed, you will find the 1500mAh battery, micro SD and SIM slots.

Battery, micro SD and SIM slots

The phone build quality is good, the curves at the back makes it look slimmer. The back cover is glossy plastic and nice to touch.


INTERFACE:

The Astroid Junior is running on a bit outdated Android Gingerbread O/S, to unlock the device you swipe the padlock icon to the right. If you have a notification like a message the volume icon will be replaced by SMS icon and you can swipe it to the left to go there directly.

Lockscreen

There are six pages in homescreen by default but you can increase it up to nine if you desire so. The icons are similar to Samsung TouchWiz UI but the widgets borrowed its look to HTC Sense.

Homescreen

The apps have 4x4 layout while the widgets are arranged by 2x3. You can sort icons by time installed, app name or frequency of use.

Apps and Widgets


The notification panel can be opened by swiping from the top going down. It also includes system shortcuts such as WiFi, Bluetooth, Data Connection etc.

Notification area



BENCHMARKS:

The GT5S Junior uses a lesser known Speadtrum chipset and this is actually the first time I encountered it.

CPU-Z Device Info

It scored 4223 in Antutu benchmark which is to be expected for a single core device.

Antutu, 4223


In Quadrant it managed to grab 1229.

Quadrant, 1229


In Nenamark2 benchmark it scored 18.3 fps.

Nenamark2, 18.3 fps

As of this writing I still do not have idea whether the benchmark scores are typical of not for a Speadtrum chipset.


DUAL SIM SETTINGS:

Under Dual SIM Settings, you can disable or enable the SIM card and set which one to be used for voice call or MMS.

Dual SIM settings


TELEPHONY:

The dial pad does not have smart nor speed dialing. If you have two SIM card inserted it will ask which one you will use for the call. Once the call is connected it will automatically lock the screen to avoid any accidental tap (to unlock you need to double tap on the screen).

Telephony
The call quality is loud and clear, no dropped call or stuttering encountered during the call.

 
PHONEBOOK:

Under the phonebook, you need to enable first which account you want to be displayed. If you have long lists of contacts you can either search them or use the letter on the right side to go to the first letter of the contact you are looking.


Phonebook


MESSAGING:

The messaging app accepts both name and number inputs. If you want to have multiple recipients, you need to click the contact icon. To attach anything on the message you need to press the capacitive menu key and select attach. Once there is attachment, the SMS will be converted to MMS.

Messaging




EMAIL:

The GT5S has both stock email app and Gmail app which both works well. 

Email & Gmail


MULTIMEDIA:

Gallery:

The gallery will list all the pictures and videos you have in your device including those saved in the Google cloud. You can share them via Bluetooth, email and social accounts if needed.

gallery

Video Player:

The video player has limited codec support, it can only play .3GP and .mp4. I tried playing 480p .mp4 music video and it works just fine.

Video

Music Player:

The music player use tabbed interface, you can view them by Artist, Songs, Albums or Playlist. If a certain song has an album art it will be displayed accordingly.

music player

FM Radio:

The FM Radio needs a wired headset to work, when you use it for the first time, it will search all the available channels. You can play the broadcast on loudspeaker or record them if you want to.

FM radio

Camera/Video:

The main camera can shoot 2MP still and VGA video and they share the same interface. I was not able to test it thoroughly because I have issues with my unit. It tells me that my storage is full even though it still have plenty remaining.

Sample Pictures





Sample Video



Browsing:

The browser works OK, but due to the low screen resolution I suggest you view the mobile version when surfing the net.

browser


Gaming:

Casual games like Pou and Candy Crush are working well without any issue.


Pou

Candy Crush
I was able to install Temple Run 2, and it is playable but the fps is low and you will encounter some hiccups from time to time.

temple run 2


CONNECTIVITY:

The GT5S has no high speed internet connection, so if you do not want to be frustrated with its EDGE connectivity better use its WiFi capability.

The 3.5mm audio jack, micro USB and Bluetooth complete the list of connectivity.


SENSORS:

The device has accelerometer, proximity and sound sensors.

sensors


PRODUCTIVITY:

There are productivity applications pre-installed like Calendar, Sound Recorder, Clock, Calculator and ES File Explorer to assist you from your everyday work.








CONCLUSION: SECOND STRING


The GT5S Astroid Junior overall build quality is OK and it looks nice. I used it for two days and it works well as a secondary phone, no issues or whatsoever when used for call and text. Casual gaming is also welcome.
 
This phone may not be a powerhouse in terms of performance but it still can get the job done.

Side Note:
 
You may ask why Gingerbread? I asked that myself and based on the information I read on the web the Speadtrum chipset mainly supports or shall I say optimized for that Android version. 


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16Comments

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. madali po ba tong masire ilang araw po bago malowbat?

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  3. gud day po,pano po ma e unlock ang lock screen nito,,,kase po nka limtan kopo kase?

    ReplyDelete
  4. gud day po,pano po ma e unlock ang lock screen nito,,,kase po nka limtan kopo kase?

    ReplyDelete
  5. gud day. ano po ang dapat kong gawin para makapagdownload ako ng mga games...sa una may mga games na akong nadownload pero biglang may nagpop-up na no space available na daw tapos accidentally na press ko yong unmounted sd card...ang nangyari na erase lahat ang games...tapos hindi na ako maka download ulit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. pwd po mag ask bkt bles ma low-bath ang batery kopo wla pa pong 1 mont po. ang beles po mag charge ako beles ma full pos after 1 hour low bath naman kahit gna charge ko 4 hrs. ano po yan? ask lang po brand ng cp ko po Dtc gt5s

    ReplyDelete
  7. pano po ang screen shot??

    ReplyDelete
  8. panu po e unlock if too many pattern attempts?
    indi din kasi makapasok sa gmail kasi nga off pa ang wifi setting kasi nga lock.

    ReplyDelete
  9. GT5s po ang phone ko. tnx paki answer naman po

    ReplyDelete
  10. tanong ko lang po paano po aayusin yung settings (preferred application storage) for DTC mobile GT5S model kasi po , kapag po nagda-download ng apps, laging may nagpa-popup na "storage full" at nung tiningnan ko po sa storage settings, sa internal memory lang po dumidiretso lahat ng dina-download na apps, at pili lang ang pwedeng ilagay sa sd card samantalang , marami pang free space sa sd card.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Magandang araw sa inyo, TecknoGadyet. Nun friday ng gabi ay bumili ako nitong DTC GT5S celfone sa DTC kiosk sa SM Bicutan @P1,988.00 cash. Pero, bago ako bumili ay nag search ako sa internet ng mga reviews sa Android OS celfones available sa market ngayon. Mula sa branded hanggang sa generic Android OS celfones ay parang magkakamukha ng problema ang bumili ng mga units. Sa palagay ko ay, "Mukhang mataas ang 'expectations' ng mga buyers ng Android OS celfones sa unit nila"..*@:-) Isa kayo, TechnoGadyet sa nabasa ko na ang reviews at maraming salamat sa inyo at nakapili ako ng Android 2.3.6 celfone na kailangan ko. At maraming salamat din sa 2 sales lady ng DTC kiosk SM Bicutan sa pag demo nila sa akin ng DTC GT5S at sinagot nila ang lahat ng tanong ko tungkol sa celfone na ito..*@:-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Good Day po, Tanong ko lang po kung paano tangalin ang users name, napasok po kc ng virus GT5S ko, yung seller ko po, xa po ang nakalagay sa users name, nakalimutan po nya ang password kaya di po ako makapagdownload ng antivirus para sa phone

    ReplyDelete
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