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Gigaset GS160 Smartphone Review

Gigaffordable. The GS160 is Gigaset’s cheapest smartphone so far. The manufacturer has even installed a fingerprint scanner for under 150 Euros (~$160). But is the device anything special or just another low-cost smartphone? Find out in the test report.

For the original German review, see here.

Gigaset attempts a comeback: Until now, the manufacturer's smartphones were built under license. However, Gigaset is now developing its own devices, even though they are still manufactured in the Far East. The previous smartphones by Gigaset were situated in the mid-range and convinced just with their design. Apart from minor flaws, the handsets were also quite recommendable otherwise. Gigaset expands its portfolio downward with the GS 160 and launches an entry-level smartphone for just under 150 Euros (~$160) on the market. The rear-sided fingerprint scanner that is quite unusual for this price range catches the eye at a first glance. Nevertheless, the GS160 offers other category-typical advantages, such as a removable battery, dual-SIM, and an expandable storage. We closely examine the smartphone in this in-depth test.

Identically priced and sized devices from the competition will be used for the comparison: Both Lenovo's C2 and Lenovo's Moto G4 Play convince as balanced total packages. Huawei's Y6 II Compact with a small performance advantage and the colorful Wiko's Lenny 3 are also included in the comparison.

Gigaset GS160 (GS Series)
Processor
Mediatek MT6737 4 x 1.3 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
1024 MB 
, LPDDR3
Display
5.00 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel 294 PPI, capacitive touchscreen, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
, 10.87 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5-mm, Card Reader: micro-SD max. 128 GB, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: accelerometer, proximity meter
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, GSM (850/​900/​1800/​1900), UMTS (900/​2100), LTE (B1/​B3/​B7/​B20); band width (download/​upload): 150Mbps/​50Mbps (LTE); SAR rate: 0.408 W/kg (head), 1.450 W/kg (body), Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9.5 x 144 x 72.3 ( = 0.37 x 5.67 x 2.85 in)
Battery
9.5 Wh, 2500 mAh Lithium-Ion, removeable, Standby 3G (according to manufacturer): 440 h
Operating System
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Camera
Primary Camera: 13 MPix auto-focus, f2.2, LED flash
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: rear-sided speaker, Keyboard: virtual keyboard, charger, USB cable, 24 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
139 g ( = 4.9 oz / 0.31 pounds), Power Supply: 41 g ( = 1.45 oz / 0.09 pounds)
Price
149 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Unfortunately, Gigaset's GS160 does not feature the high-quality materials of Gigaset's ME or ME Pro. However, the device costs only a third of Gigaset's ME. The rear is made of plastic that at least offers a light glitter effect. The handset is available only in black with a dark-gray bezel.

The back yields under pressure, particularly in the center. Pressure on the screen immediately causes wave formation in the liquid crystals. The device can be warped quite significantly, which is accompanied by very audible cracking noises. The GS160 does not make a particularly high-quality impression with this. At least the smartphone should withstand drops from up to 1.4 meters (~4.6 ft) as Gigaset uses the same test criteria for its smartphones as for its DECT phones.

The back cover can be removed and the battery can be exchanged. In terms of weight and dimensions, the GS160 is on category average.

Size Comparison

145 mm / 5.71 inch 73.1 mm / 2.88 inch 9.9 mm / 0.3898 inch 177 g0.3902 lbs144.4 mm / 5.69 inch 72 mm / 2.83 inch 9.9 mm / 0.3898 inch 137 g0.302 lbs144 mm / 5.67 inch 72.3 mm / 2.85 inch 9.5 mm / 0.374 inch 139 g0.3064 lbs144.2 mm / 5.68 inch 72.5 mm / 2.85 inch 8.95 mm / 0.3524 inch 140 g0.3086 lbs143 mm / 5.63 inch 71.4 mm / 2.81 inch 8.6 mm / 0.3386 inch 139 g0.3064 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

Gigaset's GS160 is not badly equipped with 16 GB of storage. Some devices from this price range have just 8 GB of storage. However, the RAM of 1 GB is rather low since 2 GB is actually standard now. The smartphone cannot serve with many interfaces: It does not have NFC, the USB port supports only USB 2.0 speeds, and the older Bluetooth 4.0 standard is used. This is not unusual in this price range, which is also the case with dual-SIM support. Fortunately, the microSD slot is dedicated, making it possible to insert two SIM cards plus a microSD card. MicroSD cards can be formatted and used as internal memory, but apps cannot be moved to the external storage media.

Left: No interfaces
Left: No interfaces
Lower edge: USB port
Lower edge: USB port
Right: Standby button, volume control
Right: Standby button, volume control
Upper edge: 3.5-mm audio jack
Upper edge: 3.5-mm audio jack

Software

The Android 6.0 runs on Gigaset's GS160, but the security patches are dated early October 2016 and are thus quite outdated. A newer version of the operating system was not available at the time of testing, and this will probably not change: Gigaset's GS160 is a very low-cost smartphone and therefore, it is not easy for the manufacturer to budget for software updates.

Looking at the preloaded apps, it seems that Gigaset has cooperated with Ströer Digital. The company now belongs to the Internet portal T-Online. Consequently, the T-Online app as well as some other apps from this company, such as the cheapest gas station and weather, have been installed. A help function that can be quite useful and a file manager are also preloaded.

The storage is encrypted by default, and thus the PIN has to be entered for unlocking prior to start.

Communication and GPS

LTE has become standard even in low-cost smartphones; only the frequencies and the speeds are usually more limited than in more expensive devices. This is also the case in Gigaset's GS160: The smartphone offers just two UMTS bands, but at least four GSM and LTE frequencies. The maximum download speed is 150 MBit per second and 50 MBit per second in upload. Gigaset has made cutbacks in the UMTS bands; the user will not get far in foreign countries. Perhaps it was considered that the mobile network providers would like to see the UMTS network shut down as soon as possible. The reception quality in the German Vodafone network was quite good in an urban area; we usually had a full to almost full signal indoors.

The user has to be satisfied with the Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n standards. Thus, communicating in the 5 GHz network is not possible, and the high-speed 801.11ac standard is absent, which is normal in this price range. The transmission speeds in our standardized Wi-Fi test were satisfactory, but receiving data was much slower than in comparable devices. We noticed that we had to wait a bit for pages to load, even within the immediate vicinity of the router. The reception quality fluctuated between 3/4 and 1/2 at a distance of 10 meters (~33 ft) and through three walls. However, loading times were quite similar.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo C2
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6735, 8 GB eMMC Flash
53.3 MBit/s +11%
Gigaset GS160
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
48.2 MBit/s
Alcatel Shine Lite
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
42.3 MBit/s -12%
iperf3 receive AX12
Lenovo C2
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6735, 8 GB eMMC Flash
50.5 MBit/s +51%
Alcatel Shine Lite
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
46.5 MBit/s +39%
Gigaset GS160
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
33.5 MBit/s
GPS test indoors
GPS test indoors
GPS test outdoors
GPS test outdoors

The GPS module could not locate us indoors. On the other hand, it was quite fast and the achieved maximum accuracy of 3 meters (~10 ft) in the GPS Test in the outdoors. We take both the review sample and Garmin's Edge 500 professional navigation system on a ride with our mountain bike to check whether Gigaset's GS160 is suitable as a tracker.

The Runtastic screenshots show that the GS160 logged an approximately 350 meters (~383 yd) shorter route. This can be acceptable in view of an overall distance of 12 Kilometers (~7.5 mi). It is quite obvious that the GS160 sets considerably fewer measuring points than the professional navigation system, and that it often draws a straight line over longer distances, even if they run through rivers or houses on the map. This is perfectly acceptable when using the smartphone for occasional navigation. However, a dedicated device or at least a very high-quality smartphone is the better choice if exact tracking is required.

GPS Garmin Edge: Overview
GPS Garmin Edge: Overview
GPS Garmin Edge: Crossing
GPS Garmin Edge: Crossing
GPS Garmin Edge: Bridge
GPS Garmin Edge: Bridge
GPS Gigaset GS 160: Overview
GPS Gigaset GS 160: Overview
GPS Gigaset GS 160: Crossing
GPS Gigaset GS 160: Crossing
GPS Gigaset GS 160: Bridge
GPS Gigaset GS 160: Bridge

Telephone and Call Quality

The unmodified Android app is used as the phone app. This is not a bad choice as it offers many functions and is clearly arranged.

Gigaset describes the call quality as "outstanding", but we would not go that far. Actually, the opposite is true: the earpiece hums slightly and voices sound quite treble-heavy. The microphone records quiet voices with interruptions and we also sound very far away. A cracking noise is also heard in the speaker during a call. Although Gigaset's GS160 allows making reasonably intelligible calls, it is not very enjoyable.

Cameras

Front camera photo
Front camera photo

A 13-megapixel primary camera and 5-megapixel front camera are decent in the entry-level category. The primary camera features an auto-focus and LED flash, but the image quality is quite obviously situated in the entry-level sector: The auto-focus does not always function properly and the photos do not have to be zoomed in order to see that they are not as sharp as photos from higher-quality smartphone cameras. Details often look artificial. Large color areas tend to pixelate quickly. The low-light performance is not at all bad: Although a visible color noise can be seen, we like the sharpness. Videos can be recorded in 720p. The auto-focus also has problems every now and then here, and the exposure sometimes needs quite a while to respond to changed light conditions. Otherwise, the sharpness and color reproduction are quite satisfactory. Gigaset also advertises a time-lapse function; here photos are simply shot every few seconds and compiled into a video. Thus, movements are not smooth, although some nice effects are created.

The front camera shoots relatively decent selfies, and the exposure is acceptable. Subjectively, the color saturation looks a bit too weak.

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

We look at the primary camera more closely in our lab under defined light conditions. We see that the edges of color surfaces look very inaccurate in our reference photo. Otherwise, the image sharpness and color reproduction are not bad. Apparently, the camera has problems with colored surfaces in general, as a photo of the ColorChecker color card shows: Colored surfaces look extremely pixelated here.

Screenshot: Reference card
Screenshot: Reference card
Test photo section
Test photo section
Screenshot of ColorChecker colors. Original colors are displayed in the lower half of each patch.
Screenshot of ColorChecker colors. Original colors are displayed in the lower half of each patch.

Accessories and Warranty

Only a charger, SIM card adapter, USB cable and instructions are included. However, a small flyer with optional accessories and a 25-percent discount for Gigaset's shop is found in the box. The latter can be used, for example, in connection with Gigaset's Mobile Dock or Smart Home products. The Mobile Dock is not only for the GS160 but can be used with every other Android smartphone and is worth a look: Being a cordless DECT expert, Gigaset compiles its knowledge and allows using the dock for redirecting calls to a DECT phone or connecting the smartphone directly with the landline. Of course, the smartphone can also be recharged at the station. The Mobile Dock, which is also available for iPhones, costs almost 70 Euros ($75).

A screen protector or cover for the smartphone priced at 10 Euros (~$11) each is also listed in the shop. A new battery compartment cover costs just as much. A secondary battery is available for 25 Euros (~$22). We deem the availability and relatively low prices of these spare parts as very positive.

Gigaset includes a 24-month warranty on its smartphones. In addition to this, retailers based within the EU are subject to the legal warranty period of 24 months. Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices and Handling

Gigabit does not experiment with the virtual keyboard: The Android keyboard has to suffice, and it usually does. The some other app in Google's Play Store might offer more customization options, but generally all important input options, such as swipe, language, and suggestions from the dictionary, are present.

The touchscreen is very accurate even at the edges and in the corners. However, the surface attracts dust and fingerprints and therefore, the surface often feels uneven.

The rear-sided fingerprint scanner is a minor highlight. It functions quickly and accurately, and the device can be reactivated from standby. Gigaset has implemented an extensive selection of gestures and motion controls: Drawing a letter on the screen in standby opens apps. However, only the lock screen is opened and the smartphone has to be unlocked before opening the app depending on the settings. Also a bit unfavorable: Only lowercase letters can be drawn, although they are illustrated as uppercase in the description - that has to be clarified first. Different functions can be triggered via the fingerprint scanner, for example, opening the camera or ending a wake-up call.

Keyboard landscape mode
Keyboard landscape mode
Keyboard portrait mode
Keyboard portrait mode

Display

Subpixel screenshot
Subpixel screenshot

The 5-inch screen has the category typical resolution of 1280x720 pixels, but a high brightness of 470 cd/m². Only Huawei's Y6 II Compact can boast with an even brighter screen. The illumination of 95% is also very homogeneous, so brightness differences are hardly visible even on large color surfaces.

466
cd/m²
492
cd/m²
478
cd/m²
469
cd/m²
489
cd/m²
484
cd/m²
475
cd/m²
481
cd/m²
474
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 492 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 478.7 cd/m² Minimum: 18.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 95 %
Center on Battery: 489 cd/m²
Contrast: 889:1 (Black: 0.55 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 8.3 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 8.7 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.08
Gigaset GS160
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Lenovo C2
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Huawei Y6 II Compact
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Wiko Lenny 3
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Screen
15%
11%
-4%
1%
Brightness middle
489
458
-6%
412
-16%
491
0%
374
-24%
Brightness
479
449
-6%
414
-14%
487
2%
343
-28%
Brightness Distribution
95
92
-3%
94
-1%
92
-3%
85
-11%
Black Level *
0.55
0.35
36%
0.42
24%
0.9
-64%
0.47
15%
Contrast
889
1309
47%
981
10%
546
-39%
796
-10%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
8.3
6.5
22%
5.6
33%
6.6
20%
6
28%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
14.4
11.7
19%
9.7
33%
12.9
10%
11.9
17%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
8.7
7.7
11%
6.9
21%
4.9
44%
6.7
23%
Gamma
2.08 106%
2.15 102%
2.4 92%
2.12 104%
2.19 100%
CCT
9034 72%
8518 76%
8422 77%
7090 92%
8073 81%

* ... smaller is better

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 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The black level of 0.55 cd/m² is rather mediocre. Dark surfaces have a visible grayish shimmer instead of being deep black. This leads to a decent yet not outstanding contrast ratio of 889:1.

Subjectively, the image seems to have an intense bluish tint in the standard settings. The test results that we ascertained using the CalMAN software and spectrophotometer confirms this. Different profiles for the color reproduction can be selected in the settings. "Vivid" increases the color saturation while distorting the grayscale levels significantly: Dark gray turns into dark brown while a visible bluish tint remains in the light grayscale levels. The coverage of 73% in the sRGB reference color space is very low in the standard profile.

CalMAN ColorChecker: Standard
CalMAN ColorChecker: Standard
CalMAN Colorspace: Standard
CalMAN Colorspace: Standard
CalMAN Grayscale: Standard
CalMAN Grayscale: Standard
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps: Standard
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps: Standard
CalMAN ColorChecker: Vivid
CalMAN ColorChecker: Vivid
CalMAN Colorspace: Vivid
CalMAN Colorspace: Vivid
CalMAN Grayscale: Vivid
CalMAN Grayscale: Vivid
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps: Vivid
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps: Vivid

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
28 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 7 ms rise
↘ 21 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 67 % 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
276 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 116 ms rise
↘ 160 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. » 100 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Thanks to the relatively high brightness, the image remains quite legible on cloudy days in the outdoors. The reflective screen prevents its use in direct sunlight. Working with Gigaset's GS160 in the shade in the outdoors functions well.

The viewing angles are very good, and images on the IPS panel can still be recognized easily, even from very flat angles.

Outdoors minimum brightness
Outdoors minimum brightness
Outdoors medium brightness
Outdoors medium brightness
Outdoors maximum brightness
Outdoors maximum brightness
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance

Mediatek's MT6737 is an entry-level SoC that was introduced about a year ago. It has four cores and clocks at 1.25 GHz. Thus, Gigaset's GS160 is fast enough to compete with the comparison devices. There are much slower smartphones in this price range. However, Huawei's Y6 II Compact exhibits a bit more power than our review sample in all processor and system benchmarks. The low working memory configuration also leads to occasional lags and waiting times in navigation when, for example, the system is loaded and apps are open in the background.

The ARM Mali-T720 MP2 graphics unit is installed. It has two cores and clocks up to 650 MHz. The graphics card did not work in the 3DMark OpenGL ES benchmarks. Our review sample could keep up well with the competition in GFXBench, and only Huawei's Y6 II Compact is faster.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
28459 Points
Lenovo C2
23825 Points -16%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
28399 Points 0%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
33786 Points +19%
Wiko Lenny 3
25237 Points -11%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
518 Points
Lenovo C2
424 Points -18%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
549 Points +6%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
1453 Points
Lenovo C2
1192 Points -18%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
1581 Points +9%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
3780 Points
Lenovo C2
Points -100%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
4432 Points +17%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
4885 Points +29%
Wiko Lenny 3
2920 Points -23%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
3291 Points
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
3858 Points +17%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
4296 Points +31%
Wiko Lenny 3
2476 Points -25%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
7881 Points
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
9256 Points +17%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
9393 Points +19%
Wiko Lenny 3
7849 Points 0%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
11 fps
Lenovo C2
8.5 fps -23%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
9.6 fps -13%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
15 fps +36%
Wiko Lenny 3
8 fps -27%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
6 fps
Lenovo C2
5 fps -17%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
5.2 fps -13%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
8.4 fps +40%
Wiko Lenny 3
4.4 fps -27%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
4.7 fps
Lenovo C2
3.7 fps -21%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
4.1 fps -13%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
6.1 fps +30%
Wiko Lenny 3
fps -100%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
2.1 fps
Lenovo C2
fps -100%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
1.8 fps -14%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
2.8 fps +33%
Wiko Lenny 3
fps -100%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
3.4 fps
Lenovo C2
2.7 fps -21%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
4.1 fps +21%
Wiko Lenny 3
fps -100%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
1.4 fps
Lenovo C2
1.2 fps -14%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
1.7 fps +21%
Wiko Lenny 3
fps -100%
PCMark for Android - Work performance score (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
2563 Points
Lenovo C2
1908 Points -26%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
4283 Points +67%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
3400 Points +33%
Wiko Lenny 3
2832 Points +10%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
178 Points
Lenovo C2
147 Points -17%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
603 Points +239%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
203 Points +14%
Wiko Lenny 3
399 Points +124%
System (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
1029 Points
Lenovo C2
826 Points -20%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
1035 Points +1%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
1093 Points +6%
Wiko Lenny 3
988 Points -4%
Memory (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
497 Points
Lenovo C2
332 Points -33%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
741 Points +49%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
571 Points +15%
Wiko Lenny 3
293 Points -41%
Graphics (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
208 Points
Lenovo C2
177 Points -15%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
313 Points +50%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
283 Points +36%
Wiko Lenny 3
138 Points -34%
Web (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
9 Points
Lenovo C2
9 Points 0%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
551 Points +6022%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
10 Points +11%
Wiko Lenny 3
632 Points +6922%

Legend

 
Gigaset GS160 Mediatek MT6737, ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Lenovo C2 Mediatek MT6735, ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 8 GB eMMC Flash
 
Lenovo Moto G4 Play Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 APQ8016, Qualcomm Adreno 306, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Huawei Y6 II Compact Mediatek MT6735, ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Wiko Lenny 3 Mediatek MT6580M, ARM Mali-400 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash

Gigaset's GS160 exhibits a mediocre Internet browsing speed for an entry-level smartphone. The benchmark results and our experience show that pages often needed longer to load. Sophisticated web technologies, such as HTML5 or JavaScript, were also a challenge for the GS160, and this was unfortunately noticed by frequent stutters.

WebXPRT 2015 - Overall (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
47 Points
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
48 Points +2%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
50 Points +6%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
14.43 Points
Lenovo C2
13.5 Points -6%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
17.09 Points +18%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
18.3 Points +27%
Wiko Lenny 3
14.07 Points -2%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
2493 Points
Lenovo C2
2159 Points -13%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
2773 Points +11%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
2805 Points +13%
Wiko Lenny 3
2133 Points -14%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
13907 ms *
Lenovo C2
16585 ms * -19%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
12953 ms * +7%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
13234 ms * +5%
Wiko Lenny 3
14863 ms * -7%

* ... smaller is better

Actually, the GS160 accesses the internal storage quite quickly compared with the category devices. Regardless of whether read or write, sequential or random accessing: The GS160 reads data at a relatively fast speed. Although this is not enough for the first place, considerably slower storage data accessing exists in this category.

Acceptable transfer rates are also achieved with an inserted microSD card. However, Lenovo's Moto G4 Play proves that even faster access on our Toshiba Exceria Pro M401 reference card is possible.

AndroBench 3-5
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
200.5 MB/s
Lenovo C2
120.7 MB/s -40%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
144.1 MB/s -28%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
211 MB/s +5%
Wiko Lenny 3
132.5 MB/s -34%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
46.6 MB/s
Lenovo C2
8 MB/s -83%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
43.95 MB/s -6%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
75 MB/s +61%
Wiko Lenny 3
11.6 MB/s -75%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
18.5 MB/s
Lenovo C2
14.5 MB/s -22%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
17.9 MB/s -3%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
23 MB/s +24%
Wiko Lenny 3
15.1 MB/s -18%
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
6.8 MB/s
Lenovo C2
4.7 MB/s -31%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
28.31 MB/s +316%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
15.5 MB/s +128%
Wiko Lenny 3
6.2 MB/s -9%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
30.71 MB/s
Lenovo C2
24.2 MB/s -21%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
65.5 MB/s +113%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
31.57 MB/s +3%
Wiko Lenny 3
40.59 MB/s +32%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard (sort by value)
Gigaset GS160
19.19 MB/s
Lenovo C2
16.1 MB/s -16%
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
51.1 MB/s +166%
Huawei Y6 II Compact
17.12 MB/s -11%
Wiko Lenny 3
19.59 MB/s +2%

Games

We test the smartphone's gaming suitability based on two demanding games and the GameBench app. Unfortunately, the working memory is too tight. GameBench and "Asphalt 8: Airborne" cannot run simultaneously and we cannot create any benchmarks. In "Dead Trigger", the smartphone achieves a frame rate of just over 30 FPS, which is remarkable considering that many smartphones stop at 30 frames. Demanding games in high details are generally possible, but they only run really smoothly in low detail settings.

Navigating via touchscreen and position sensor functioned reliably.

"Asphalt 8: Airborne"
"Asphalt 8: Airborne"
"Dead Trigger 2"
"Dead Trigger 2"
Dead Trigger 2
 SettingsValue
 high32 fps
Temple Run 2
 SettingsValue
 default59 fps

Temperature

GFXBench battery test
GFXBench battery test

The front and back heat up noticeably during load. This is also over a large area and covers the smartphone's entire surface. The maximum of 41.7 °C (~107 °F) is still within limits but it is felt. The device does not remain exactly cool while idling, particularly in the earpiece area: We measured a maximum of 35.4 °C (~96 °F) here. The rest of the casing is somewhat cooler at around 30 °C (~86 °F).

We discovered that the performance remains relatively stable even after a prolonged load via the GFXBench battery test. The frame rate fluctuates only slightly after 30 runs of the benchmark.

Max. Load
 39.7 °C
103 F
39.8 °C
104 F
41 °C
106 F
 
 40.6 °C
105 F
39.2 °C
103 F
41.7 °C
107 F
 
 40.1 °C
104 F
40.5 °C
105 F
39.8 °C
104 F
 
Maximum: 41.7 °C = 107 F
Average: 40.3 °C = 105 F
34.4 °C
94 F
36.2 °C
97 F
36.7 °C
98 F
34.5 °C
94 F
36.7 °C
98 F
38.8 °C
102 F
35.7 °C
96 F
37.3 °C
99 F
39.2 °C
103 F
Maximum: 39.2 °C = 103 F
Average: 36.6 °C = 98 F
Power Supply (max.)  36.6 °C = 98 F | Room Temperature 21.4 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 40.3 °C / 105 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 41.7 °C / 107 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 39.2 °C / 103 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.
Heatmap front
Heatmap front
Heatmap Rear
Heatmap Rear

Speaker

Pink Noise speaker test
Pink Noise speaker test

The small, rear-sided speaker is muffled when the smartphone is placed on a surface. When it is not impaired, it is not one of the best in its class either. With full orchestra sounds the speaker starts producing low-pitched homogeneous noise, the sound is relatively treble-heavy, but basses are slightly audible. Our test suite "Arta" does not give the smartphone speaker a good grade: The mids are much too dominant and the maximum volume of 80.67 dB(A) is not really high.

Connecting headphones or speakers via cable or Bluetooth functions well, and the sound is decent.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.641.42525.435.53125.332.14032.934.75033.629.86331.630.68028.4311002724.512520.8271602225.920021.330.525020.839.331521.249.140019.454.750019.558.963017.762.180017.969100017.873.2125017.374.3160017.471.9200016.770.3250017.266.4315018.263.8400017.963.7500017.660.6630017.761.9800017.867.61000017.968.11250018.156.81600018.249.5SPL3080.7N1.345median 17.9median 61.9Delta1.411.129.827.429.830.827.930.828.525.228.531.328.731.329.926.429.927.422.927.429.123.629.129.824.329.832.225.132.226.919.726.926.318.626.330.219.730.242.119.942.150.218.950.256.818.956.858.519.858.566.620.866.667.317.267.368.717.168.77114.4717113.97170.413.270.46712.96768.11368.167.512.867.566.912.766.966.912.766.964.212.864.265.512.865.557.613.157.680.12880.143.8143.8median 65.5median 17.1median 65.511.13.911.117.919.719.617.919.618.619.519.617.617.521.317.62019.223.22017.715.620.717.715.516.621.915.517.218.214.417.218.120.315.918.128.930.425.328.91424.611.81414.929.511.914.916.432.413.516.418.934.214.718.922.238.813.422.225.843.914.425.83046.910.63036.853.1836.84056.98.94039.856.39.839.83956.183936.952.68.136.936.553.66.536.535.453.86.435.437.756.46.237.74058.15.74044595.74443.658.65.743.638.6545.838.63246.15.8322437.25.62451.167.620.851.17.121.20.37.1median 35.4median 52.6median 8.1median 35.48.810.43.88.8hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseGigaset GS160Lenovo C2Lenovo Moto G4 Play
Gigaset GS160 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 29.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (28.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 68% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 26% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 82% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 14% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo C2 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 34.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 59% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 34% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 76% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 19% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo Moto G4 Play audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (67.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 24% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 55% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 38% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 72% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 22% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes above can be turned on/off!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

We were pleased to discover that the device does not consume power in a shutdown state and very little in standby. The consumption is not very high in idle mode either. The minimum consumption of 0.56 watts is the lowest among the comparison devices. However, up to 5.07 watts will be required during load.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.07 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.56 / 1.7 / 1.75 Watt
Load midlight 4.17 / 5.07 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        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.
Gigaset GS160
2500 mAh
Lenovo C2
2750 mAh
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
2800 mAh
Huawei Y6 II Compact
2200 mAh
Wiko Lenny 3
2000 mAh
Power Consumption
8%
7%
7%
-23%
Idle Minimum *
0.56
0.71
-27%
0.68
-21%
0.57
-2%
0.76
-36%
Idle Average *
1.7
1.62
5%
1.58
7%
1.53
10%
2.16
-27%
Idle Maximum *
1.75
1.64
6%
1.61
8%
1.6
9%
2.35
-34%
Load Average *
4.17
3.24
22%
3.36
19%
2.82
32%
4.65
-12%
Load Maximum *
5.07
3.36
34%
3.91
23%
5.69
-12%
5.35
-6%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

The battery with 2500 mAh or 9.5 watt hours offers an average capacity compared with the other devices. Thus, Gigaset's GS160 achieves an impressive runtime of 10:15 hours in our Wi-Fi test. In practice, Gigaset's GS160 lasts a workday when the smartphone is not used permanently. Two days of light workload are quite possible. Overall, the smartphone is midfield in its category in terms of battery life.

Quick Charge is not available, and a full recharge takes 1.5 to 2 hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
22h 06min
WiFi Websurfing
10h 15min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
11h 42min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 04min
Gigaset GS160
2500 mAh
Lenovo C2
2750 mAh
Lenovo Moto G4 Play
2800 mAh
Huawei Y6 II Compact
2200 mAh
Wiko Lenny 3
2000 mAh
Battery Runtime
13%
19%
-6%
-25%
Reader / Idle
1326
1998
51%
1175
-11%
944
-29%
H.264
702
683
-3%
682
-3%
WiFi v1.3
615
662
8%
630
2%
623
1%
549
-11%
Load
244
287
18%
306
25%
222
-9%
155
-36%

Pros

+ removable battery
+ dual-SIM + micro-SD
+ 16 GB storage
+ relatively high-resolution cameras
+ very bright screen
+ accessories and spare parts available
+ color reproduction settings
+ low power consumption in low load
+ fingerprint scanner

Cons

- pressure sensitive casing
- limited working memory
- squeaky speaker
- screen's intense bluish tint
- mediocre call quality
- two UMTS bands only
- outdated security patches

Verdict

In review: Gigaset GS160. Review sample courtesy of Gigaset Germany
In review: Gigaset GS160. Review sample courtesy of Gigaset Germany

Gigaset has been clever to enter the market with high-quality smartphones. Thus, the consumer associates the brand with premium smartphones. Gigaset's GS160 brings us back down to earth: The German manufacturer cannot perform miracles with the limited budget of the entry-level category. Consequently, it is using a casing that is conspicuously inconspicuous and could also be a bit more robust. Call quality, speaker, and performance: Although these are all class average, none of these points are highlights.

The fingerprint scanner that Gigaset has installed is an exception here. It is quite unique for this sector and functions accurately. Many settings are provided for reproducing images on the screen, which is also very bright. The battery life is good; the same applies to the power consumption,  particularly during low load. The tight working memory configuration is rather aggravating as it often slows the system down and prevents a sophisticated game from being paused in the background when opening another app. The game's progress could be lost and the app simply restarts.

Gigaset's GS160 is not perfect, but it makes the best out of its low budget. The fingerprint scanner that is scarcely found in this category is a highlight.

We liked the fact that Gigaset offers spare parts and accessories, even for such a low-cost smartphone in its online shop. We give a bonus point for this and for the diverse customization options in the software. The dedicated microSD slot in addition to the dual-SIM slots is also an argument for this bonus point. The removable battery pleases users who are frequently on the go. Although Gigaset has not compiled an outstanding overall smartphone package, it is a rounded bundle that adds an air of premium to the entry-level class with its little extras.

Gigaset GS160 - 02/07/2017 v6(old)
Florian Wimmer

Chassis
79%
Keyboard
70 / 75 → 93%
Pointing Device
85%
Connectivity
38 / 60 → 64%
Weight
93%
Battery
93%
Display
82%
Games Performance
6 / 63 → 9%
Application Performance
24 / 70 → 35%
Temperature
87%
Noise
100%
Audio
54 / 91 → 59%
Camera
65%
Add Points
+1%
Average
63%
80%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Florian Wimmer, 2017-02- 9 (Update: 2019-04-13)