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Review Huawei Ascend G600 Smartphone

Large display, low price. The Ascend G600 is a lower-end version of the D1 Quad XL. Both smartphones from Huawei feature a 4.5-inch IPS display - but while the D1 Quad XL caters to the high-end market, the Ascent G600 is a mid-level phone. Does the difference in hardware translate into a vastly different user experience?

For the original German review, see here.

The Chinese manufacturer Huawei intends to increase their market share for both tablets and smartphones - at least that is what their ever-increasing portfolio of products seems to indicate. At the time of writing, Huawei is poised to launch five smartphones and is trying to push into the Windows Phone 8 market with the Ascend W1.

The Ascend G600 has been available for a few weeks now. On paper, the phone doesn't feature very exciting hardware components: the SoC - a 1.2 GHz Snapdragon S4 Play MSM8225 - is sourced from Qualcomm and has access to 768 MB of system RAM. The 4.5-inch display uses IPS technology and features a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels (gHD). Both the specs and the MSRP of 299 Euro (~$390) indicate that this is a middle-class phone. Whether or not the large smartphone is a worthy daily companion is the subject of our review.

Case

Decent build quality - but low-end materials.
Decent build quality - but cheap materials.

We reviewed the Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL last December. The first time we handled the Ascend G600, we couldn't help but notice the striking similarities: both the form factor and the materials used differ only minimally. Like the D1 Quad XL, the G600 weighs in at 145 grams (5.11 ounces) - about 12 grams (0.42 ounces) more than the Samsung Galaxy S3. This result is a bit surprising, since the G600 is entirely made from plastic. Since the phone measures 134 x 67 x 11 millimeter (5.28 x 2.64 x 0.42 inches), it is actually neither light nor small.

The back of the phone is polycarbonate; the various control buttons are integrated into the cover. The display is surrounded by a matte chrome border, which is raised slightly to protect the screen against scratches. The build quality is pretty good: the phone resists twisting and pressure well. Only localized pressure in the middle of the display results in discolorations of the screen. The smooth back of the case could potentially be an issue, as the G600 easily slips out of the hand.

The smartphone is available in two colors: "mysterious black" and "pure white".

Connectivity

No surprises here. The right side is home to the power button and the rocker switch for the volume control right underneath. On the other side, a Micro-USB port is provided to charge the phone or connect it to a computer. The 3.5 millimeter jack on the top can be used for headphones or external speakers. The back cover hides the spot for the SIM card (standard size) and the MicroSD card reader, which allows the storage to be increased by up to 32 GB.

Left: Micro-USB port
Left: Micro-USB port
Bottom: microphone for telephony
Bottom: microphone for telephony
Right: power button and volume rocker switch
Right: power button and volume rocker switch
Top: 3.5 millimeter jack
Top: 3.5 millimeter jack
Solid GPS lock.
Solid GPS lock.

Communication & GPS

The Ascend G600 supports all current standards and also features an NFC module - typical for this price class. LTE functionality is not provided, but UMTS allows for a maximum connection speed of 7.2 Mbit/s. The WLAN module supports standards 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 is also available. DLNA allows the user to share digital media across compliant devices.

The aGPS module was able to acquire a signal even inside, although the accuracy suffered a bit. Outside, we got very accurate position information. We never experienced any disconnects or issues with any of the communication modules.

Software

Huawei is introducing their first Windows Phone with the upcoming Ascend W1 - which also means that their current phones feature an OS from Google. The G600 uses 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) - not the most current version of the software. The user can only hope that Huawei is going to offer an update down the line.

The G600 comes with its own launcher, which allows for some level of customization - for example, a "power-savings mode" is one of the available options.

Cameras & Multimedia

The G600 features two cameras: the main camera on the back has a resolution of 8 MP and features an LED flash for low-light conditions. The spec sheet does not shed any light on what quality settings are used for video recordings. The camera software also allows the creation of HDR photos and panoramas. The front camera only features a 0.3 MP sensor and is primarily used as a webcam for video conferencing. The main camera has some issues inside under low-light conditions and pictures get slightly noisy. Since the sensor is small, the photos are quite a bit darker than the ones we took with our reference camera. The LED flash doesn't help a lot in those scenarios. Photos taken with the front camera are downright mediocre - not really surprising, since the resolution is so low. Outside, the 8 MB camera captures good pictures with enough detail and colors that seem accurate enough, albeit a bit washed out.

Front camera: 0.3 MP
Front camera: 0.3 MP
Main camera: 8 MP
Main camera: 8 MP
Reference camera: Canon EOS, 18 MP
Reference camera: Canon EOS, 18 MP
Front camera: 0.3 MP
Front camera: 0.3 MP
Main camera: 8 MP
Main camera: 8 MP
Reference camera: Canon EOS, 18 MP
Reference camera: Canon EOS, 18 MP

Accessories

Aside from the phone itself, the modular power adapter, the headset, and various pamphlets, nothing else is included in the box, which is not that unusual: even higher priced phones - like the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S3 - don't come with a lot of accessories.

Warranty

The phone is covered by a standard 12 month warranty. In EU countries, electronics are automatically covered by a two-year warranty, so the buyer can always request repairs or replacement if the phone is faulty or does not work as advertised.

Input Devices & Operation

Touchscreen operation is very precise.
Touchscreen operation is very precise.

The capacitive TFT touchscreen works well and can recognize five fingers at the same time. Inputs are registered quickly and precisely, although we noticed slight micro-stutters during operation. Application also don't quite load instantaneously. Hopefully, Huawei can fix some of these performance issues with a software update.

One negative aspect of the virtual QWERTY keyboard is the fact that more than 50 percent of the display is hidden in landscape mode. There is also noticeable lag when turning the G600 90 degrees before the content catches up.

Display

The G600 has the same size display as the D1 Quad XL - it's a 4.5-inch TFT IPS touchscreen. This is where the similarities end, however. Our review model features a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels (qHD) with approximately 244 DPI. The more expensive D1 Quad XL has 326 DPI, and the Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus 217 DPI.

220
cd/m²
258
cd/m²
235
cd/m²
220
cd/m²
259
cd/m²
235
cd/m²
225
cd/m²
245
cd/m²
230
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
TFT tested with Gossen Mavo-Monitor
Maximum: 259 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 236.3 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 85 %
Center on Battery: 259 cd/m²
Contrast: 835:1 (Black: 0.31 cd/m²)

We recorded a maximum display brightness of 259 cd/m² in the middle of the screen, and an average of 236.3 cd/m². The D1 Quad XL, which has a very bright display, reached 411.2 cd/m² and the HTC One SV managed 387.8 cd/m². While the Galaxy S2 Plus has a near perfect brightness distribution, our review model only manages 85 percent. Using the brightness and the black value (0.31 cd/m²), we can calculate the contrast of 835:1 (D1 Quad XL: 1010:1, Galaxy S2 Plus: ∞).

Outdoor use.
Outdoor use.

Although the screen of the Ascend G600 is sufficiently bright, outdoor usability is somewhat restricted - especially when the sun is out. The Galaxy S2 Plus has similar brightness levels, but uses a Super AMOLED Plus display, so the values can't be compared directly. Matters are complicated further by the fact that the G600 has a highly reflective glare-type screen, which makes its use outside difficult at times.

Viewing angles Huawei Ascend G600.
Viewing angles Huawei Ascend G600.

At increasingly shallow viewing angles, the display starts to darken significantly and the colors get washed out. All in all, the IPS screen does its job well, although there are displays on the market which use the same technology, but offer better viewing angle stability.

Performance

Huawei frequently uses their own hardware for their phones. The SoC in the D1 Quad XL, for example, is sourced from HiSilicon - a sister company. The G600 uses tried-and-tested hardware from Qualcomm in form of the Snapdragon S4 Play MSM 8225 - a dual-core CPU with a core frequency of 1.2 GHz. An Adreno 203 GPU, 768 MB RAM, and 4 GB of internal storage round out the hardware. Should the internal storage not be enough, more can be added using a MicroSD card (up to 32 GB).

To compare the performance of the phone to the competition, we first run synthetic benchmark tests. The Ascend G600 trails all other smartphones by a fair margin (up to 200 percent) - only when running Linpack, our review model does slightly better.

GLBenchmark 2.5
Egypt HD Fixed Time (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
6.9 fps
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
28 fps +306%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
19 fps +175%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
18 fps +161%
1920x1080 Egypt HD Offscreen Fixed Time (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
3.8 fps
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
12 fps +216%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
11 fps +189%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
13 fps +242%
AnTuTu v3 - Total Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
6956 Points
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
10977 Points +58%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
6575 Points -5%
NenaMark2 - --- (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
28.5 fps
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
60 fps +111%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
58.9 fps +107%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
65.1 fps +128%
Linpack Android / IOS
Multi Thread (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
83.9 MFLOPS
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
258.3 MFLOPS +208%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
79.7 MFLOPS -5%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
144.4 MFLOPS +72%
Single Thread (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
50.1 MFLOPS
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
150 MFLOPS +199%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
46.3 MFLOPS -8%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
47.31 MFLOPS -6%

The browser-based benchmark tests are - as the name implies - browser specific. The G600 uses the standard Android browser. Here the smartphone fares better than during the synthetic tests...but the tendency is still pretty clear: the G600 lags behind the competition.

Google V8 Ver. 7 - Google V8 Ver. 7 Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
901 Points
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
1174 Points +30%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
1643 Points +82%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
1302 Points +45%
Browsermark - --- (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
1311 points
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
1366 points +4%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
1291 points -2%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
1742 points +33%
Sunspider - 0.9.1 Total Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
1807 ms *
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
1474 ms * +18%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
1434 ms * +21%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
1528 ms * +15%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
354 Points
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
416 Points +18%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
553 Points +56%

* ... smaller is better

Finally, let's take a look at the internal flash storage. Yet again the G600 falls behind the competing smartphones, which generally feature much faster read and write speeds. Only the random read speeds are similar - except for the Galaxy S2 Plus, which is faster than the others.

AndroBench 3-5
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
0.22 MB/s
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
0.28 MB/s +27%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
0.74 MB/s +236%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
0.56 MB/s +155%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
7.89 MB/s
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
7.84 MB/s -1%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
12.22 MB/s +55%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
7.77 MB/s -2%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
6.3 MB/s
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
6.94 MB/s +10%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
15.34 MB/s +143%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
9.51 MB/s +51%
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend G600
Adreno 203, S4 Play MSM8225, 4 GB Flash
31.16 MB/s
HTC One SV
Adreno 305, S4 Plus MSM8930, 8 GB SSD
38.59 MB/s +24%
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus
VideoCore-IV, BCM28155, 8 GB SSD
47.42 MB/s +52%
Huawei Ascend D1 Quad XL
GC4000, k3v2 Hi3620, 8 GB SSD
36.61 MB/s +17%

To check multimedia performance, we played two video titles from the internal flash module. The pre-installed player is able to handle the FullHD 1080p videos (data rate 6100 kBit/s) without any issues. We also experienced no delays when playing MKV container files.

Gaming Performance

The fact that the results of the benchmark tests are underwhelming, does not necessarily translate into inadequate performance. Earlier, we determined that the video performance is more than sufficient even for FullHD material. When we tested different games from Google Play, we saw similar results. Two well-know 3D titles - "GTA III“ and "Need For Speed Hot Pursuit“ - show that the hardware is capable enough to handle even current and demanding games.

"Need For Speed Hot Pursiut"
"Need For Speed Hot Pursiut"
"Where's my Perry"
"Where's my Perry"
"GTA III"
"GTA III"

Call Quality

We had no problems with the call quality, as both call partners had no issues understanding each other, although the G600 does not filter loud background noises really well. We never had any calls drop and the sound of the speaker phone is adequate.

Emissions

Temperature

Compared to the current-generation quad-core CPUs, the dual-core processor produces less heat. Consequently, the temperatures are well controlled. Under full load, the front of the Ascend G600 did not exceed 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The D1 Quad XL (37.6 degrees Celsius / 99.68 degrees Fahrenheit) and the One SV (36 degrees Celsius / 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit) get a bit warmer. During idle, the temperature decreases by about 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit). The G600 now runs about as cool as the Galaxy S2 Plus (27 degrees Celsius / 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The modular power adapter reaches 33.4 degrees Celsius (92.12 degrees Fahrenheit) - absolutely uncritical.

 

Max. Load
 34.3 °C
94 F
31.7 °C
89 F
29 °C
84 F
 
 36.8 °C
98 F
31.4 °C
89 F
28.7 °C
84 F
 
 35.7 °C
96 F
31.6 °C
89 F
28.7 °C
84 F
 
Maximum: 36.8 °C = 98 F
Average: 32 °C = 90 F
28.5 °C
83 F
31.4 °C
89 F
32.8 °C
91 F
28.4 °C
83 F
31.9 °C
89 F
35.2 °C
95 F
28.4 °C
83 F
31.7 °C
89 F
35.7 °C
96 F
Maximum: 35.7 °C = 96 F
Average: 31.6 °C = 89 F
Power Supply (max.)  33.4 °C = 92 F | Room Temperature 22.6 °C = 73 F | Voltcraft IR-350
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 32 °C / 90 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.8 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 35.7 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.2 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speaker

The Ascend G600 suffers from the same problem as a lot of other smartphones: the speaker is on the back and is covered up as soon as the phone is put down. This changes the sound quality drastically and the output becomes muffled. To alleviate this problem, HTC chose to implement a new speaker design for their flagship phone, the One. Huawei seems to put quite a bit of emphasis on sound quality, as the "dts" logos on the front and back are substantially larger than those of most competitors. Despite the choice of the speaker location, we have to admit that the sound quality is quite convincing and the maximum volume is extremely high - although distortion is an issue near maximum levels. All in all, the sound output is surprisingly good, even though lower frequencies are somewhat underwhelming due to the form factor.

Energy Management

Lower temperatures normally suggest an SoC which remains fairly cool. Coupled with low power consumption - which is the case with the G600 and this normally guarantees long battery life. Using a Voltcraft VC 940, we recorded values between 0.4 and 1 watts during idle. The HTC One SV used about as much power, the Galaxy S2 Plus needs up to 1.8 watts, and the D1 Quad XL, with its quad-core SoC, requires 2.4 watts.

Under load - for example during multimedia playback - the power consumption increases to between 1.7 and 2.8 watts. The One SV is a bit more power hungry and needs between 2.8 to 4.2 watts in the same scenario.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.4 / 0.8 / 1 Watt
Load midlight 1.7 / 2.8 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Life

We subject the smartphone to different tests to get an idea of the battery life. We use the application "Stability Test" to determine the minimum batter life. With both the CPU and the GPU under load, the battery with a rated capacity of 1930 mAh (7.1 Wh) lasted for 4 hours and 42 minutes - about 90 minutes longer than HTC One SV. To find out the maximum run time, we deactivate all radios and Wi-Fi and turn the display down to its minimum brightness. The phone shut down after 21 hours and 12 minutes. A full charge takes 2 hours and 58 minutes. For a real-life scenario, we use our WLAN test. We turn the display brightness to 150 cd/m² and activate a script which loads different types of web pages every 40 seconds. The G600 shows its longevity yet again and lasts for a very commendable 9 hours and 30 minutes before shutting down.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
21h 12min
WiFi Surfing
9h 30min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 42min

Verdict

Reviewed: the new Huawei Ascend G600.
Reviewed: the new Huawei Ascend G600.

The Huawei Ascend G600 (MSRP: 299 Euro / ~$390) is designed to compete in the middle-level segment of the smartphone market. Users who don't need the latest and greatest hard- and software should be quite satisfied with Huawei's offering. Even though the G600 doesn't fare well in the benchmark tests, it doesn't mean that the phone is not capable of handling every-day tasks as well as other competitors. Multimedia performance - videos and 3D games, for example - is always adequate and the playback is smooth without any lags or stutters. The main camera is capable of good pictures, although the quality could be even better. The fact that Huawei ships many of their phones with Android 4.0.4 might be a reason for concern, as it is unclear when and if there are going to be updates to a newer version of the software. An update might be able to fix the micro-stutters we encountered while navigating the app drawer.

In summary, the G600 is a solid piece of equipment with a large IPS display, long battery life, and sufficient performance. We can recommend the 299 Euro / ~$390 smartphone to potential buyers who are looking for a large and sturdy smartphone with a good price to performance ratio.

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In Review: Huawei Ascend G600
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Specifications

Huawei Ascend G600
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Play MSM8225 2 x 1.2 GHz, Cortex-A5
Graphics adapter
Memory
768 MB 
Display
4.50 inch 16:9, 960 x 540 pixel, capacitive, TFT, IPS, Corning® Gorilla® Glass, glossy: yes
Storage
4 GB Flash, 4 GB 
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 millimeter jack, Card Reader: MicroSD slot, Sensors: Position sensor, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 3.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 11 x 67 x 134 ( = 0.43 x 2.64 x 5.28 in)
Battery
7 Wh Lithium-Ion, 2000 mAh, Talk time 2G (according to manufacturer): 720 h
Operating System
Android 4.0
Camera
Webcam: Front: 0.3 MP; Rear: 8 MP
Additional features
Speakers: DTS speaker, Keyboard: Virtual, 24 Months Warranty, DLNA, Near-Field-Communication, 8 MP main camera with LED flash, 0.3 MP front camera;HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz, GSM Quadband 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, available colors: Mysterious Black and Pure White.
Weight
145 g ( = 5.11 oz / 0.32 pounds), Power Supply: 95 g ( = 3.35 oz / 0.21 pounds)
Price
299 Euro

 

The Huawei Ascend G600 comes with...
The Huawei Ascend G600 comes with...
..but is quite affordable at 299 Euro (MSRP). It handles most
..but is quite affordable at 299 Euro (MSRP). It handles most
The G600 is a middle-class smartphone that's not very flashy...
The G600 is a middle-class smartphone that's not very flashy...
Performance is never an issues.
Performance is never an issues.
Multimedia is the G600's strong suit:
Multimedia is the G600's strong suit:
and is capable of very decent sound.
and is capable of very decent sound.
The large speaker supports "dts"...
The large speaker supports "dts" technology...
The back cover houses the NFC module.
The back cover houses the NFC module.
The battery is replaceable.
The battery is replaceable.
...but the front camera is more or less unusable.
...but the front camera is more or less unusable.
The main camera is capable of decent pictures,...
The main camera is capable of decent pictures,...
Outdoors, reflections are very noticeable.
Outdoors, reflections are very noticeable.
The IPS display has issues with viewing angle stability.
The IPS display has issues with viewing angle stability.
and a low-quality headset (not an in-ear design).
and a low-quality headset (not an in-ear design).
Included in the box: the modular power adapter...
Included in the box: the modular power adapter...
but can be expanded using the Micro-SD card slot.
but can be expanded using the Micro-SD card slot.
The internal storage is only 1.10 GB...
The free internal storage is only 1.10 GB...
...Google Android 4.0.4 pre-installed.
...Google Android 4.0.4 pre-installed.
tasks well...but doesn't offer much beyond that.
tasks well...but doesn't offer much beyond that.

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Devices with Same Screen Size and/or Weight

Links

  • Manufacturer's Information

Price Comparison

Pros

+Long battery life
+Temperatures are well controlled
+IPS display with good contrast
+qHD resolution
+Near Field Communication
+Good speaker
+Replaceable battery
+Storage can be expanded (MicroSD)
+Adequate performance
 

Cons

-Low internal storage
-Shipped with Android 4.0.4
-Design is not very creative
-Navigation exhibits micro-stutters
-Very heavy
-Case is very slippery

Shortcut

What we like

The benchmark results are underwhelming - but the G600 doesn't suffer from performance issues despite its middle-class hardware. Only the app drawer has some issue with micro-stutters.

What we'd like to see

Even though the phone features an IPS display, deviations from the vertical lead to changes in color accuracy and diminishing contrast. The polycarbonate material used doesn't appear to be of high quality.

What surprises us

The combination of low power consumption and a large battery lead to a very long battery life.

The competition

HTC One SV

Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus

Windows Phone 8S

Rating

Huawei Ascend G600 - 08/05/2013 v3(old)
Daniel Schuster

Chassis
80%
Keyboard
48%
Pointing Device
90%
Connectivity
40%
Weight
100%
Battery
97%
Display
75%
Games Performance
27%
Application Performance
46%
Temperature
88%
Noise
100%
Add Points
70%
Average
72%
85%
Smartphone - Weighted Average
Daniel Schuster, 2013-03-17 (Update: 2018-05-15)