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Archos 50 Power Smartphone Review

French Power for everyone. Archos' 50 Power features a superb configuration in the form of a strong battery, 5-inch IPS HD screen, quad-core processor and 16 GB of internal storage plus 2 GB of working memory - all this at an entry price of 150 Euros (~$167). However, it has to pass through our test course before we give it a purchase recommendation.

For the original German review, see here.

With the 50 Power, the French manufacturer Archos launches a 5-inch mid-range smartphone with an IPS HD panel and quad-core processor alongside 2 GB of working memory. The 16 GB of internal storage can be expanded via micro-SD card. Alternatively, Archos 50 Power supports dual-SIM, and LTE provides an up-to-date connectivity.

Archos' 50 Power has to compete against multiple rivals from the 150 Euro (~$167) price range. Among them we find some very decent smartphones. The direct field of opponents for this test is compiled as follows: UMi TouchMicrosoft Lumia 550Leagoo Shark 1 and Coolpad Porto S.

Archos 50 Power (50 Series)
Processor
Mediatek MT6735 4 x 0.988 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
2048 MB 
Display
5.00 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel 294 PPI, capacitive, multitouch, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
, 11.09 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm jack, Card Reader: micro-SD cards max. 64GB (formatted in Fat32 standard), Brightness Sensor, Sensors: light and proximity sensor, G sensor, OTG, WiFi Direct, Miracast
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, GSM / GPRS / EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz); 3G/ WCDMA (900/2100 MHz); LTE (800/1800/2100/2600 MHz); HSPA + 21 Mbps / 5.76 Mbps, Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9 x 145 x 72 ( = 0.35 x 5.71 x 2.83 in)
Battery
4000 mAh Lithium-Ion, Talk time 3G (according to manufacturer): 15 h, Standby 2G (according to manufacturer): 380 h, Standby 3G (according to manufacturer): 380 h
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop
Camera
Primary Camera: 13 MPix AF + flash LED, video @720p
Secondary Camera: 2 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: mono speaker, Keyboard: virtual QWERTY keyboard, Keyboard Light: yes, stereo headset, USB cable, USB power supply 7.5 watts, SIM tool, quick start guide, warranty conditions, Archos Video and Files manager; Chrome, Gmail, Calendar, Hangouts, Maps, Play Music, Play Movies, Play Books, 24 Months Warranty, SIM slots: 1x micro-SIM + 1x nano-SIM or 1x micro-SIM + micro-SD card
SAR / DAS: head max.: 0.526 W/Kg; body max.: 1.150 W/Kg
, fanless
Weight
148 g ( = 5.22 oz / 0.33 pounds), Power Supply: 70 g ( = 2.47 oz / 0.15 pounds)
Price
149.99 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The matte-black casing of Archos' 50 Power is made of plastic, and Corning Gorilla Glass protects the 5-inch screen. The back soon looks a bit grimy as it is quickly covered with fingerprints; it is, however, easy to clean.

The review sample's size still makes a relatively handy impression. Only Coolpad's Porto S and Microsoft's Lumia 550 are even smaller. Together with the Microsoft's Lumia 550 it is the tallest handset in the comparison at 9.2 mm (0.36 in). The camera in the center protrudes a bit so that the casing rocks marginally when laid down.

All gaps are spaced evenly, and the trays for the micro-SIMs or micro-SD card have been fitted impeccably. However, the latter juts out slightly and palpably. The volume control and power button do not give much reason for complaint, either. Only their pressure points could be a bit more precise.

The handset fares quite well in terms of stiffness and it can hardly be twisted although it then creaks audibly. Medium pressure on the screen is enough to cause discolorations. The battery is fixed and cannot be replaced.

158.6 mm / 6.24 inch 82.8 mm / 3.26 inch 8.5 mm / 0.3346 inch 241 g0.531 lbs154.5 mm / 6.08 inch 76 mm / 2.99 inch 8.8 mm / 0.3465 inch 199 g0.4387 lbs145 mm / 5.71 inch 72 mm / 2.83 inch 9 mm / 0.3543 inch 148 g0.3263 lbs143 mm / 5.63 inch 72 mm / 2.83 inch 7.6 mm / 0.2992 inch 125 g0.2756 lbs136.1 mm / 5.36 inch 67.8 mm / 2.67 inch 9.9 mm / 0.3898 inch 142 g0.3131 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

The entry-level MediaTek MT6735P quad-core SoC based on the ARM Cortex A53 only clocks at 1 GHz in contrast to the standard MT6735, and finds support in 2 GB of working memory. The system storage of 16 GB (gross: 10.08 GB) can be expanded by up to 32 GB according to the manufacturer. However, a 64 GB SanDisk Ultra memory card was identified without issues in the test. Unfortunately, apps could not be moved to the SD in the test. The micro-USB 2.0 port on the handset's lower edge can be used for recharging and data sharing. Furthermore, it supports USB OTG, and thus flash drives or peripherals like mice can be connected via an adapter. Wireless data transmission via Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi Direct is also possible, and an FM radio that can be used with the included stereo headset is also on board.

Software

Archos' 50 Power is based on the Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system. An update to a newer version has not yet been announced. Archos has not modified the system.

Archos' software tries to install third-party apps right after the smartphone's initial setup. The apps "Modern Combat 4 Zero Hour", "Office Suite", "Puzzle Pets" and "Spiderman Ultimate Power" are among these. Subsequently, the user only has 9.95 GB of storage of maximum 11.09 GB left, i.e. the system uses approximately 5 GB in Archos 50 Power. This installation process can be stopped and only the file manager and Archos' video player are installed, and the user then has 10.08 GB of storage available. Naturally, stock Android comes with the known Google applications like Chrome.

Communication & GPS

GPS indoor test
GPS indoor test
GPS outdoor test
GPS outdoor test

The dual-SIM smartphone connects to the Internet with up to two SIM cards - micro-SIM and nano-SIM. However, the user has to decide whether he wants to use a micro-SD card or the dual-SIM functionality. Only the first SIM slot supports LTE Cat.4 with transfer rates of up to 150 Mbit/s (downstream; 50 Mbit/s upstream). Furthermore, quad-band GSM and dual-band UMTS are present. The reception was acceptable in a rural area. The Wi-Fi module supports the 802.11 b/g/n standards in both the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz networks. The connection quality was always sufficient at a distance of approximately 10 meters (~33 feet) to a Telekom Speedport router.

Archos' 50 Power uses A-GPS for localization. Satellites were found after only 30 seconds with an accuracy of five meters (~16 ft) near a window indoors. The precision improves to four meters (~13 ft) outdoors thanks to more satellites. We compared Archos' 50 Power with Garmin's Edge 500 bike computer to test the accuracy. The smartphone cuts the total route by 120 meters (about 400 ft) - a decent rate that allows occasional navigation.

Archos 50 Power
Archos 50 Power
Archos 50 Power
Archos 50 Power
Archos 50 Power
Archos 50 Power
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500

Telephone & Call Quality

The call quality of Archos' 50 Power is characterized by slightly audible background noise. We did not observe any disruptions in the test. The speaker offers an acceptable volume, but the included headset is rather makeshift. The phone app corresponds to the unmodified stock Android design and provides all important features. Dual-SIM preference can also be set.

Phone app
Phone app
Keypad
Keypad

Cameras

The rear-facing primary camera in Archos' 50 Power has a resolution of 13 megapixels, and features an LED flash besides an auto focus. Videos are recorded in 720p. The webcam has a resolution of 2 megapixels.

The camera app provides multiple settings, for example white balance, ISO rate or even an image stabilizer. The front camera's photos disappoint with little details, pale colors and relatively visible image noise. The primary camera does a considerably better job. However, its color reproduction is not really accurate and also quite pale. Furthermore, the sensor's light sensitivity is somewhat weak and thus details seem a bit blurry. The sharpness primarily decreases visibly toward the edges. Its low-light performance is mixed; although the brightness is acceptable, details blur and image noise increases sharply. Nevertheless, it is acceptable for occasional snapshots.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images

Accessories & Warranty

In addition to the smartphone, Archos includes a USB charger alongside its cable, SIM tool, stereo headset, quick start guide and warranty conditions in the box. Archos also offers diverse optional universal accessories, such as micro-SD cards or power supplies, for the 50 Power. The manufacturer ships the 50 Power with a 2-year warranty.

Input Devices & Handling

The capacitive multi-touchscreen detects up to five fingers at a time. Its gliding qualities are decent. Inputs are identified reliably up to the edges. The Android buttons are implemented as onscreen icons and thus reserve a part of the screen. The physical keys respond reliably and have a decent pressure point. The installed keyboard corresponds to stock Android. Of course, other keyboards from Google's Play Store can be installed optionally.

Onscreen keyboard (portrait mode)
Onscreen keyboard (portrait mode)
Onscreen keyboard (landscape mode)
Onscreen keyboard (landscape mode)

Display

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid

The 5-inch IPS panel in Archos' 50 Power has a resolution of 1280x720 pixels in a 16:9 format. That equals a pixel density of 294 PPI. The rivals Leagoo's Shark 1 and UMi's Touch have more to offer with Full HD resolution. Therefore, contents sometimes do not look quite as razor-sharp in Archos' 50 Power. This is not restrictive in everyday use.

The maximum brightness on a pure white image is 348 cd/m². An average of approximately 311 cd/m² is achieved and 304 cd/m² with enabled sensor. The brightness drops to 300 cd/m² when dark and bright image sections are distributed evenly (APL50). The illumination of just 83 percent is relatively poor; only Leagoo's Shark 1 presents a slightly more heterogeneous illumination.

291
cd/m²
289
cd/m²
311
cd/m²
290
cd/m²
304
cd/m²
330
cd/m²
301
cd/m²
331
cd/m²
348
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 348 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 310.6 cd/m² Minimum: 11.37 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 83 %
Center on Battery: 304 cd/m²
Contrast: 981:1 (Black: 0.31 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.9 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.6 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.51
Archos 50 Power
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
UMI Touch
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.50
Microsoft Lumia 550
IPS, 1280x720, 4.70
Leagoo Shark 1
IPS, 1920x1080, 6.00
Coolpad Porto S
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Screen
-7%
-0%
-29%
-20%
Brightness middle
304
424
39%
536
76%
471
55%
407
34%
Brightness
311
415
33%
535
72%
465
50%
403
30%
Brightness Distribution
83
91
10%
95
14%
82
-1%
92
11%
Black Level *
0.31
0.54
-74%
0.62
-100%
0.9
-190%
0.5
-61%
Contrast
981
785
-20%
865
-12%
523
-47%
814
-17%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.9
6.9
-17%
5.81
2%
7.1
-20%
7.9
-34%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
14.3
10.9
24%
12.3
14%
17
-19%
18.2
-27%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.6
6.8
-48%
7.72
-68%
7.5
-63%
8.9
-93%
Gamma
2.51 88%
1.99 111%
2.18 101%
2.23 99%
2.46 89%
CCT
7088 92%
8131 80%
8701 75%
8261 79%
8332 78%

* ... smaller is better

On the other hand, Archos' 50 Power clearly outruns all of its rivals with a low black level of 0.31 cd/m² and the relatively high contrast of 981:1. Subjectively, the screen does a good job and content looks sharp and, thanks to the superb black level, quite appealing.

Among other things, different profiles are found in the menu item MiraVision of Archos' 50 Power. It enables customizing the reproduction to some extent.

We measured overall average rates with the photospectrometer and CalMAN analysis software in both standard and vivid display mode. Clear aberrations to the sRGB color space are visible especially in the green-yellow field. In standard mode, we measure an average of 5.9 (colors) and 4.6 (grayscale). The latter noticeably deviates from the target in the darker fields, and exhibits a minor bluish cast. Some colors are also too saturated. Although the image makes a somewhat cool impression, it is quite attractive particularly in vivid mode.

CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space: sRGB), vivid display mode
CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space: sRGB), vivid display mode
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (target color space: sRGB), vivid display mode
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (target color space: sRGB), vivid display mode
CalMAN Grayscale (target color space: sRGB), vivid display mode
CalMAN Grayscale (target color space: sRGB), vivid display mode
CalMAN Colorspace (target color space: sRGB), vivid display mode
CalMAN Colorspace (target color space: sRGB), vivid display mode
CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space: sRGB), standard display mode
CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space: sRGB), standard display mode
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (target color space: sRGB), standard display mode
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (target color space: sRGB), standard display mode
CalMAN Grayscale (target color space: sRGB), standard display mode
CalMAN Grayscale (target color space: sRGB), standard display mode
CalMAN Colorspace (target color space: sRGB), standard display mode
CalMAN Colorspace (target color space: sRGB), standard display mode

The brightness is sufficient for decently reading the screen even outdoors. However, the highly reflective surface naturally makes it difficult in direct light. Thanks to the IPS technology, the viewing angles are very good; only a minor brightness loss is visible when tilting the screen. Clouding in very dark images stays within acceptable limits.

Archos 50 Power...
Archos 50 Power...
...outdoors.
...outdoors.
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
37 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14 ms rise
↘ 23 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 94 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
64 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 28 ms rise
↘ 36 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 97 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18100 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Performance

The MediaTek MT6735P 64-bit capable quad-core SoC based on ARM Cortex A53 is situated among entry-level processors. In contrast to the MT6735, it clocks at just 1 GHz. The integrated ARM Mali-T720 MP4 graphics unit is responsible for graphic tasks. Subjectively, the available performance was always sufficient for this price range - not least thanks to the total of 2 GB of working memory. Although minor stutters were sometimes observed during multitasking, it did not affect the performance. However, it is almost always defeated by stronger rivals in the comparison field, and is only roughly on par with Coolpad's Porto S in this competition.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
23996 Points
Coolpad Porto S
25415 Points +6%
Leagoo Shark 1
34261 Points +43%
UMI Touch
38617 Points +61%
Microsoft Lumia 550
25825 Points +8%
Geekbench 3
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
471 Points
UMI Touch
626 Points +33%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
1331 Points
UMI Touch
2798 Points +110%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
3001 Points
Coolpad Porto S
3028 Points +1%
Leagoo Shark 1
5568 Points +86%
UMI Touch
6795 Points +126%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
2581 Points
Coolpad Porto S
2590 Points 0%
Leagoo Shark 1
4920 Points +91%
UMI Touch
6186 Points +140%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
6981 Points
Coolpad Porto S
7413 Points +6%
Leagoo Shark 1
10325 Points +48%
UMI Touch
10368 Points +49%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
122 Points
Leagoo Shark 1
278 Points +128%
UMI Touch
291 Points +139%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Leagoo Shark 1
232 Points
UMI Touch
241 Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Leagoo Shark 1
890 Points
UMI Touch
1045 Points
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
8.6 fps
Coolpad Porto S
4.8 fps -44%
Leagoo Shark 1
8.7 fps +1%
UMI Touch
12 fps +40%
Microsoft Lumia 550
5.24 fps -39%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
4.9 fps
Coolpad Porto S
8.6 fps +76%
Leagoo Shark 1
8.9 fps +82%
UMI Touch
12 fps +145%
Microsoft Lumia 550
3 fps -39%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
3.6 fps
Coolpad Porto S
1.6 fps -56%
Leagoo Shark 1
3.9 fps +8%
UMI Touch
4.5 fps +25%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
1.6 fps
Coolpad Porto S
3.6 fps +125%
Leagoo Shark 1
4.2 fps +163%
UMI Touch
4.5 fps +181%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
2.5 fps
Leagoo Shark 1
2.2 fps -12%
UMI Touch
2.9 fps +16%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
0.87 fps
Leagoo Shark 1
2.5 fps +187%
UMI Touch
2.9 fps +233%
PCMark for Android - Work performance score (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
2824 Points
Coolpad Porto S
2893 Points +2%
Leagoo Shark 1
3398 Points +20%
UMI Touch
3787 Points +34%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
176 Points
Coolpad Porto S
458 Points +160%
Leagoo Shark 1
597 Points +239%
UMI Touch
717 Points +307%
Microsoft Lumia 550
265 Points +51%
System (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
911 Points
Coolpad Porto S
905 Points -1%
Leagoo Shark 1
1195 Points +31%
UMI Touch
1343 Points +47%
Microsoft Lumia 550
529 Points -42%
Memory (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
643 Points
Coolpad Porto S
467 Points -27%
Leagoo Shark 1
515 Points -20%
UMI Touch
787 Points +22%
Microsoft Lumia 550
685 Points +7%
Graphics (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
173 Points
Coolpad Porto S
173 Points 0%
Leagoo Shark 1
418 Points +142%
UMI Touch
429 Points +148%
Microsoft Lumia 550
190 Points +10%
Web (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
9 Points
Coolpad Porto S
599 Points +6556%
Leagoo Shark 1
611 Points +6689%
UMI Touch
576 Points +6300%
Microsoft Lumia 550
72 Points +700%

Legend

 
Archos 50 Power Mediatek MT6735, ARM Mali-T720 MP4, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Coolpad Porto S Mediatek MT6735, ARM Mali-T720, 8 GB eMMC Flash
 
Leagoo Shark 1 Mediatek MT6753, ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
UMI Touch Mediatek MT6753, ARM Mali-T720 MP4, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Microsoft Lumia 550 Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 MSM8909, Qualcomm Adreno 304, 8 GB eMMC Flash

The browser-based benchmarks also present a mixed impression. Archos' 50 Power is also surpassed by most rivals here. However, browsing via Chrome browser was possible without prolonged delays or loading times in routine use.

Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
2116 Points
Coolpad Porto S
2088 Points -1%
Leagoo Shark 1
2992 Points +41%
UMI Touch
2562 Points +21%
Microsoft Lumia 550
2170 Points +3%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
18481 ms *
Coolpad Porto S
32901 ms * -78%
Leagoo Shark 1
14788 ms * +20%
UMI Touch
13953 ms * +25%
Microsoft Lumia 550
21884 ms * -18%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
13.16 Points
Coolpad Porto S
14.17 Points +8%
Leagoo Shark 1
17.24 Points +31%
UMI Touch
17.61 Points +34%
Microsoft Lumia 550
13.01 Points -1%

* ... smaller is better

In the storage benchmarks, the review sample can still outperform Coolpad's Porto S to some extent in sequential write and read of large blocks, but particularly UMi's Touch is far up front. It can catch up a bit again in reading small data blocks (4K), and only lets Leagoo's Shark 1 pass. Unfortunately, we could not test the integrated card reader since AndroBench did not identify our reference card. However, the review sample's performance is subjectively on a good level; prolonged waiting times were not observed.

AndroBench 3-5
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
8.78 MB/s
Coolpad Porto S
13.95 MB/s +59%
Leagoo Shark 1
6.4 MB/s -27%
UMI Touch
14.63 MB/s +67%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
26.47 MB/s
Coolpad Porto S
22.52 MB/s -15%
Leagoo Shark 1
29.6 MB/s +12%
UMI Touch
19.88 MB/s -25%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
41.43 MB/s
Coolpad Porto S
39.99 MB/s -3%
Leagoo Shark 1
39.6 MB/s -4%
UMI Touch
72.5 MB/s +75%
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Archos 50 Power
199.7 MB/s
Coolpad Porto S
168.2 MB/s -16%
Leagoo Shark 1
264.1 MB/s +32%
UMI Touch
219.3 MB/s +10%

Games

The ARM Mali-T720 MP4 graphics chip integrated in MediaTek's SoC is a member of the lower mid-range and enables acceptable gaming performance. Very demanding games stuttered slightly and sometimes their graphic settings had to be lowered. "Angry Birds 2" did not cause problems. The touchscreen and position sensors functioned impeccably, and all inputs were always implemented quickly and accurately.

"Angry Birds 2"
"Angry Birds 2"

Emissions

Temperature

The surfaces of Archos' 50 Power remained within an acceptable range in the test - in particular the smartphone's rear. We measured a maximum of 39.4 °C (~103 °F) on some spots even during full load. The heat is distributed very evenly, especially on the rear, on average.

Temperature development: Maximum load (front)
Temperature development: Maximum load (front)
Temperature development: Maximum load (rear)
Temperature development: Maximum load (rear)
Max. Load
 34.6 °C
94 F
34.9 °C
95 F
38.7 °C
102 F
 
 35.7 °C
96 F
35.9 °C
97 F
39.4 °C
103 F
 
 35.5 °C
96 F
35.4 °C
96 F
38 °C
100 F
 
Maximum: 39.4 °C = 103 F
Average: 36.5 °C = 98 F
33.4 °C
92 F
33.7 °C
93 F
34 °C
93 F
33.6 °C
92 F
34.4 °C
94 F
35.4 °C
96 F
33.4 °C
92 F
34.8 °C
95 F
36.4 °C
98 F
Maximum: 36.4 °C = 98 F
Average: 34.3 °C = 94 F
Power Supply (max.)  29.9 °C = 86 F | Room Temperature 21.9 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.5 °C / 98 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 39.4 °C / 103 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 36.4 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 32.3 °C / 90 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speaker

Although the rear-sided mono speaker is not exactly a musical sensation, it is sufficiently loud at approximately 85 dB(A). Its distorted and tinny sound, especially at higher volumes, also disappoints. Very little bass is audible, and not much is heard from the mid-range, either. In return, the speaker is quite linear in trebles. The visible peaks in the Pink Noise diagram are likely the reason for the slightly tinny sound. Audio playback sounds much better when using the 3.5 mm jack or Bluetooth; a little base noise is then present.

Pink Noise speaker test
Pink Noise speaker test

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The power consumption of Archos' 50 Power is considerably higher than that of the comparison devices in the category comparison. Solely Leagoo's Shark 1 sometimes consumes a bit more. The review sample only places itself before UMi's Touch during full load with a maximum of 4.34 watts. Coolpad's Porto S and Microsoft's Lumia 550 are overall considerably more frugal. The 7.5-watt power supply always has enough reserves for the requirements.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.01 / 0.04 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.66 / 2.88 / 3.46 Watt
Load midlight 3.96 / 4.34 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Gossen Metrahit Energy
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.
Archos 50 Power
4000 mAh
UMI Touch
4000 mAh
Leagoo Shark 1
6300 mAh
Coolpad Porto S
2000 mAh
Microsoft Lumia 550
2100 mAh
Power Consumption
17%
-20%
23%
18%
Idle Minimum *
1.66
0.89
46%
0.59
64%
1.16
30%
0.55
67%
Idle Average *
2.88
2
31%
3.22
-12%
2.21
23%
2.69
7%
Idle Maximum *
3.46
2.1
39%
3.45
-0%
2.24
35%
2.93
15%
Load Average *
3.96
3.87
2%
6.93
-75%
3.34
16%
3.94
1%
Load Maximum *
4.34
5.79
-33%
7.59
-75%
3.95
9%
4.24
2%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

The non-removable 4000 mAh battery enables very long runtimes. Despite its much bigger 6300 mAh battery, Leagoo's Shark 1 cannot quite keep up here. UMi's Touch also shuts down earlier. Archos 50 Power needs an outlet after almost 10 hours in our Wi-Fi browsing test (150 cd/m², Wi-Fi script) - a very good time. Full HD videos can be enjoyed for 15:22 hours at the same brightness in flight mode, which is enough even for long flights. A normal workday of mixed load should easily be possible since the review sample lasts over 10 hours even during full load and maximum brightness.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
34h 05min
WiFi Websurfing
9h 52min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
15h 22min
Load (maximum brightness)
10h 39min
Archos 50 Power
4000 mAh
UMI Touch
4000 mAh
Microsoft Lumia 550
2100 mAh
Leagoo Shark 1
6300 mAh
Coolpad Porto S
2000 mAh
Battery Runtime
-7%
-53%
-8%
-15%
Reader / Idle
2045
1024
-50%
H.264
922
416
-55%
WiFi v1.3
592
553
-7%
445
-25%
542
-8%
504
-15%
Load
639
129
-80%

Pros

+ long battery life
+ high-capacity system storage
+ good configuration
+ bright IPS panel
+ LTE Cat.4
+ dual-SIM

Cons

- poor camera modules and speaker
- no App2SD
- WiFi b/g/n only
- mixed call quality

Verdict

In review: Archos 50 Power. Review sample courtesy of Archos.
In review: Archos 50 Power. Review sample courtesy of Archos.

Archos' 50 Power offers a lot for approximately 150 Euros (~$167). It is all in the name - at least in terms of battery life since the 4000 mAh battery enables up to two days of marathon-like runtimes. The installed MediaTek quad-core SoC is not as strong. Although it does not allow using extremely demanding apps, some up-to-date 3D games or excessive multitasking, it ensures smooth routine use thanks to 2 GB of working memory in conjunction with the Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system. 16 GB of system storage (gross approx. 10 GB) is also part of the bundle. It can be expanded via a micro-SD, but apps cannot be moved to it. Dual-SIM functionality is then not available since the micro-SD and nano-SIM have to share the slot. In return, the first SIM slot supports up-to-date LTE Cat.4. The relatively bright 5-inch IPS panel is decent and has a sufficiently high resolution. Most rivals from this low price range have the listed shortcomings in common. The camera modules' and speaker's rather weak performance can also be included in this. We would wish for an update to Android 6.0 soon, just like one or two different colors for the casing. The biggest points of criticism are likely the mixed call quality and photo performance.

Despite the named cons, Archos' 50 Power belongs on the shortlist of everyone looking for an affordable smartphone. Buyers who place importance on better photos and an even rounder total bundle should take a closer look at the somewhat cheaper UMi Touch.

Archos 50 Power - 06/21/2016 v5.1(old)
Michael Moser

Chassis
76%
Keyboard
66 / 75 → 88%
Pointing Device
79%
Connectivity
41 / 60 → 68%
Weight
92%
Battery
94%
Display
81%
Games Performance
6 / 63 → 9%
Application Performance
25 / 70 → 35%
Temperature
89%
Noise
100%
Audio
55 / 91 → 60%
Camera
58%
Average
66%
79%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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Michael Moser, 2016-07- 1 (Update: 2018-05-15)