DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce review: the smallest 8-core smartphone in the world

    Hello! Really unusual smartphones fall into my hands extremely rarely. Just because no one really releases them. Here you listen to the presentation of the next manufacturer within the IFA, CES or MWC, you will be imbued with its new model, and then take it into your hands over time ... and you will understand that, despite a lot of beautiful words, it turned out to be something ordinary. About the same as others. It is all the more pleasant to realize that unusual smartphones are still found. Rarely, but - are found. I declare with all responsibility that the hero of this material - DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce - is just that. That is unusual.



    When I was offered to test this smartphone and sent a list of its characteristics, I first looked at the display diagonal on the machine. I saw the value of "4 inches" and decided that testing these things is not very interesting. Yes, small budget devices are in demand, the benefit is cheap. But walking with them for two weeks to write a review is frankly boring. Simple screens, an interface slowing down due to the small amount of RAM (usually 512 MB of RAM, although DEXP usually puts 1 GB), terrible cameras, weak 2- or 4-core "stones", 1 battery 500-1 700 mAh ... However, a more thoughtful study of the DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce specifications made me raise my eyebrows in surprise. This is not just another 4-inch smartphone. This is a 4-inch smartphone with an 8-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera, a powerful 3,000 mAh battery and a bunch of other small things. Moreover, this is generally the first compact (that is, 4-inch) smartphone with an 8-core “heart” on the market. Or, if you like, the smallest 8-core Android device. Today, such a diagonal is considered exclusively budgetary, and no one makes compact models with powerful fillings, preferring to create them in form factors of 4.5 '' or more. But in DEXP, as they say, they got confused. And it turned out ... yes it turned out very curiously, chesslovo. By the way, the design of DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce was developed in Vladivostok, the iron was also selected by specialists from DEXP in accordance with the wishes of consumers. So in China, in fact, only the device is being assembled. this is generally the first compact (that is, 4-inch) smartphone with an 8-core “heart” on the market. Or, if you like, the smallest 8-core Android device. Today, such a diagonal is considered exclusively budgetary, and no one makes compact models with powerful fillings, preferring to create them in form factors of 4.5 '' or more. But in DEXP, as they say, they got confused. And it turned out ... yes it turned out very curiously, chesslovo. By the way, the design of DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce was developed in Vladivostok, the iron was also selected by specialists from DEXP in accordance with the wishes of consumers. So in China, in fact, only the device is being assembled. this is generally the first compact (that is, 4-inch) smartphone with an 8-core “heart” on the market. Or, if you like, the smallest 8-core Android device. Today, such a diagonal is considered exclusively budgetary, and no one makes compact models with powerful fillings, preferring to create them in form factors of 4.5 '' or more. But in DEXP, as they say, they got confused. And it turned out ... yes it turned out very curiously, chesslovo. By the way, the design of DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce was developed in Vladivostok, the iron was also selected by specialists from DEXP in accordance with the wishes of consumers. So in China, in fact, only the device is being assembled. preferring to create them in form factors of 4.5 '' or more. But in DEXP, as they say, they got confused. And it turned out ... yes it turned out very curiously, chesslovo. By the way, the design of DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce was developed in Vladivostok, the iron was also selected by specialists from DEXP in accordance with the wishes of consumers. So in China, in fact, only the device is being assembled. preferring to create them in form factors of 4.5 '' or more. But in DEXP, as they say, they got confused. And it turned out ... yes it turned out very curiously, chesslovo. By the way, the design of DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce was developed in Vladivostok, the iron was also selected by specialists from DEXP in accordance with the wishes of consumers. So in China, in fact, only the device is being assembled.

    As I already said, the battery of the DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce is as much as 3,000 mAh, which is twice as much as the average 4-inch smartphone (they usually have from 1,500 to 1,700 mAh, depending on the greed of the manufacturer) . In fact, the model in question belongs to the first of its kind “long-playing” line of DEXP smartphones. Together with the Ixion XL240 Triforce, it already includes not 10, but 11 models (versus 1-2 from other manufacturers who decided to try their hand at smartphones with powerful batteries). The devices from this same line of DEXP Ixion batteries with a capacity of 3,000 to 5,200 mAh, and these smartphones cost from 4,490 to 13,990 rubles. Specifically for DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce they ask for 6 990 rubles.

    Appearance


    The DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce smartphone is offered in four color options: blue, yellow, black and white. I have seen the last two. They differ not only in the color of the plastic, but also in the color of the frame around the front panel. In the black version it is golden (fashion trend, yeah), and in the white - silver. I am wary of everything gold, so I'm glad that I received exactly the white version with a silver frame for testing. Although, however, in fact it is black and white. After all, the front panel of all four options is black.



    The housing cover can be described as a very high-quality dense soft-touch. Yes, he is easily soiled. But this problem is solved by branded covers, which are available in 4 colors. Here I’ll say that the black version is a little different: it resembles to the touch ... a stone. In about the same way, the black version of the notorious OnePlus One smartphone is felt in the hand.


           
    DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce is small, but not thin. Nevertheless, a 3,000 mAh battery dictates its own rules, and it did not work out to make the device thinner than 14 mm. I like it - I never liked thin devices, and the same iPhone 6 in my hand is not very pleasant to hold. Build quality DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce can be rated at five out of five. Really nothing to complain about. Again, a pleasant surprise for the B-brand and the budget segment!

    Of the nuances of the design, I note the volume buttons (by the way, separate) and the inclusion located on the right side. They are integrated in a removable back cover. Therefore, if for some reason you try to adjust the volume when there is no rear panel on the smartphone, it will be difficult to do this. I emphasize that this is not a drawback, but simply, let's say, a description of the features of the smartphone.



    Above the display, there was a place for the front camera (2 megapixels), light and proximity sensors, as well as a conversational speaker taken up by a metal mesh. The latter is able to convey the voices of the interlocutors cleanly, I praise.



    Under the display are three standard touch-sensitive keys for Android smartphones with very bright and uniform (which is rare in low-cost devices) white backlight.



    At the top is a 3.5mm headphone jack and a MicroUSB port. The location of the latter is not very good, since talking with a connected cable (for example, from charging) on ​​a smartphone will not be very convenient.



    The rear panel carries a camera (8 megapixels) with a single-section LED flash, as well as a multimedia speaker. It has a fairly high volume, but I do not recommend counting on special sound purity. She is, so to speak, average.





    Under the back cover there is a removable 3,000 mAh battery, a microSD card slot (without hot swapping) and two SIM slots, MicroSIM and SIM.





    In general, the exterior of the DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce makes a very good impression. Non-standard materials, a brilliant frame, accurate proportions ... And the realization of how powerful iron is “stored” inside. A wolf in sheep's clothing is right for you.

    Screen


    Not every day you see an IPS matrix in a 4-inch smartphone of the 2015 model. But in DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce it is installed. Color reproduction "by eye" is accurate, viewing angles are wide. There are no resolutions higher than 480 x 800 in such displays, so you can guess what resolution the DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce has. Overall, a normal display. And even more than that. I honestly admit that the diagonal is unusual, yet over the past five years we have been actively accustomed to larger models. However, I willingly believe that in nature there are enough fans of small diagonals. And for them, the DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce can be a real find.



    Hardware platform and communications


    Everything is very interesting here. The MediaTek MT6592 chipset exists in three versions: the MT6592 itself (up to 1.7 GHz), as well as the MT6592T (up to 2 GHz) and MT6592M (up to 1.4 GHz). The DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce uses the latter, that is, the least powerful. But do not despair immediately. Let me remind you that this line of chipsets is designed primarily for devices with a screen resolution of HD and Full HD, while the DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce has only 480 x 800. And therefore, the MT6595M version (8 Cotrtex-A7 cores with a frequency of up to 1.4 GHz and graphics Mali-450MP4) enough for his eyes. And the same AnTuTu smartphone is gaining 28 thousand points. This is only a couple of thousand less than models with more powerful modifications MediaTek MT6592. Well, another example: usually 4-inch devices in the same AnTuTu have 12-15 thousand.

    DEXP turned out to be a small gaming smartphone. Personally, it’s not very convenient for me (personally to me!) To play on a 4-inch device, but I strongly suspect that this is only a matter of habit. Here I will add that the RAM in the smartphone is 1 GB, which is quite enough for most situations.







    I played these toys, and have never encountered brakes.










           
    I can describe the quality of communication with the phrase "everything works and there is nothing to complain about." This also applies to voice / data transmission in networks of the second and third generations, and even more so the work of Wi-Fi in the arms with Bluetooth. There were doubts about GPS, since devices with MediaTek chipsets often have navigation problems. But no, satellites were found in 15 seconds and were not lost in the process of pedestrian and car movements.



    Cameras


    Usually, budget smartphones are photographed so that ... it would be better if they did not do this at all. Whether the case is DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce with its 8-megapixel camera. The module is not cheap: Samsung S5K4H5YC . The pictures are quite worthy. Even the macro device succeeds - pay attention to the photo with flowers. In short, the DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce is perhaps the only current 4-inch smartphone with a really decent camera. (Except for the old iPhone models that are still for sale.)



















    Well, an example of a "self-shoot" on the front 2-megapixel camera:



    Software


    DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat. The choice in favor of this version is made for the reason that Android 5.0 for chipsets of the MT6592 family is currently very unstable. Changes to Kitkat’s interface are minimal. For example, the icons in the settings are not solid, but colored. These things cannot be called a “shell”, just pleasant (for my taste) little things. There is support for updating firmware over the air and a bunch of pre-installed software. There are no complaints about the stability of the work, especially to its speed. The device’s hardware is really “seasoned”.









    Autonomy


    A typical 4-inch smartphone with a 1,500 mAh battery lasts about a day. Sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. Against this background, the DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce looks great, even though it has a much more powerful 8-core “heart”. In normal mode (calls, the Internet, a few photos, the screen brightness is 50%), the device asks for a power outlet at the beginning of the third day. If you really call a lot, then at the end of the second. If we evaluate the operating time in specific situations, the following results are obtained:
           
    1. Video - 9 hours 54 minutes (just like an iPad, huh)
    2. Reading - 11 hours 2 minutes.
    3. 3D games - 6 hours 40 minutes.

    This, again, is two times more than most 4-inch Android devices.

    Equipment


    Briefly about it: a charger unit, a USB cable, a manual, a warranty card, plus a transparent film of sane quality glued to the screen in the factory. There is no headset. If you need it, you have to buy it. The lack of complete ears, as I understand it, is a branded feature of the entire DEXP Ixion line, I agree with this position of the manufacturer, since no one would put quality headphones in a box with the device for 6,990 rubles. And to increase the price tag by a couple of hundred rubles because of cheap headphones, which are usually usually idle anyway, is not the right way. Better to let the user buy something that suits him personally.



    A smartphone is for sale in this box:





    Conclusion


    The device really turned out to be unusual. Oddly enough, it has a number of flagship features (by the standards of local brands, of course): powerful iron, a very good camera, a body firmly knocked down and made of expensive materials. By the standards of ordinary compact Android smartphones, the DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce looks like a king at all. None of them offer such components. So ... I’m not sure that this is a mass model, since by the end of 2015, most people have already become accustomed to the 4.5+ diagonal. But if you are a fan of small forms, then the option is excellent. Well, the role of the second tube DEXP Ixion XL240 Triforce is also suitable. If the main one is discharged, then you will not be left without all the benefits that powerful modern smartphones offer today.

    Thank you all for reading my review. Ready, as usual, to answer questions and give further clarification in the comments.

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