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Gretel GT6000 Smartphone Review

A heavy pebble. The GT600 is the second smartphone produced by this Chinese manufacturer that Notebookcheck has reviewed. With its good price and long battery life, the heavy device from Asia is an attractive offer.

Gretel is a Chinese smartphone manufacturer that generally specializes in low-end devices. Like many other Asian producers, they rely on chips from Mediatek that run at moderate to slow speeds. The GT6000’s processor team consists of an MT6737 CPU and a Mali-T720 graphics chip. The two have 2 GB of working memory at their command. The device is equipped with 16 GB of storage space, 12 GB of which remain available to the user. The 6000 mAh battery is a special feature. For a price of a little over 90 Euros (~$110), other Chinese manufacturers have offered better specs.

We are pitting the Gretel GT6000 against other competitors of Chinese origin: Like the GT6000, the Blackview P2 has a 6000 mAh battery. The Lenovo Moto C Plus and the Blackview A8 Max are equipped with batteries only half as big, but otherwise their features are comparable. Alongside similar specs, the Blackview A9 Pro also has a dual-camera that we determined to be quite good.

Gretel GT6000
Processor
Mediatek MT6737 4 x 1.3 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
2048 MB 
Display
5.50 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel 267 PPI, 5-point, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
, 12 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: Headset, Card Reader: microSD up to 32 GB (SDHC), 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Proximity, Accelerometer
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz 3G: WCDMA 900/2100MHz 4G: FDD-LTE 800/900/1800/2100/2600MHz, Dual SIM, LTE
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 10.8 x 154 x 77.3 ( = 0.43 x 6.06 x 3.04 in)
Battery
6000 mAh
Operating System
Android 7.0 Nougat
Camera
Primary Camera: 13 MPix Dual camera 13 + 1.3 MP
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix WebCam
Additional features
Speakers: 1, Keyboard Light: yes, Charger, USB cable, Bumper case, GPS, fanless
Weight
233 g ( = 8.22 oz / 0.51 pounds), Power Supply: 84 g ( = 2.96 oz / 0.19 pounds)
Price
94 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Small bulge in the case
Small bulge in the case

The case is made of aluminum, and at first glance appears very robust. The edges are well-defined and the speaker grille is cut cleanly. The keys have a distinct click point. As a result of its weight and material composition, the GT6000 feels very stable and high-quality. The device’s shape is easy to grip and sits comfortably in your hand. But there is a little problem on the back side: Directly adjacent to the USB port, there is a small indentation where something inside the phone did not quite fit. Or perhaps the smartphone was not assembled correctly. This does not influence the device’s function, and is only visible upon closer inspection. Even so, it detracts from our otherwise positive overall impression.

The battery cannot be switched out - though considering its size, this should not be necessary. Logically, the back cover cannot be removed either. The SIM card slips into a tray, as in the iPhone. The tray has space for a micro SIM card and a nano SIM card, which makes the device dual-SIM capable. In place of the micro SIM card, the user can choose to insert an SD card with up to 32 GB of storage.

Size Comparison

154 mm / 6.06 inch 77.3 mm / 3.04 inch 10.8 mm / 0.4252 inch 233 g0.514 lbs154 mm / 6.06 inch 77 mm / 3.03 inch 10.4 mm / 0.4094 inch 230 g0.507 lbs154.3 mm / 6.07 inch 78 mm / 3.07 inch 8.9 mm / 0.3504 inch 177 g0.3902 lbs144 mm / 5.67 inch 72.3 mm / 2.85 inch 10 mm / 0.3937 inch 162 g0.3571 lbs143.6 mm / 5.65 inch 72.4 mm / 2.85 inch 9.2 mm / 0.3622 inch 170 g0.3748 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

The device runs on a sedate Mediatek MT6737 quad-core processor at 1.3 GHz. The ARM Mali T720 graphics unit takes things at a similarly leisurely pace. Even so, for the most part the smartphone operates fluidly - a happy circumstance that arises from the lack of bloatware. At 2 GB, the RAM is not exactly bountiful; but today’s iOS devices generally do not offer more here. 16 GB of storage space is skirting the lower limit for these Chinese smartphones. According to the manufacturer, the GT6000 supports memory expansion to up to 32 GB. This additional memory can be formatted as internal.

In terms of connections, the Gretel proves spartan: The bottom edge houses a micro-USB connection, mirrored in placement by the headphone jack. The volume rocker and power button reside to the right -  the tray for the SIM and/or SD card is located opposite. In our tests, the GT6000 did not accept any cards larger than the stated 32 GB. The connections and buttons are all spaced far apart, which should prevent users from accidentally hitting the wrong keys or sticking things in the wrong slot. The only potential problem we encountered was with the USB port, which holds USB cables a little loosely.

Software

The relatively up-to-date Android version 7.0 serves as the operating system. The Android security updates date from the end of July 2017. Aside from the altered standard icons in the interface, the system appears unchanged. The UI also lacks an app drawer, so the icons are immediately visible on the front screen. Gretel abstained from loading the smartphone with unnecessary bloatware. Some additional apps like FM radio, Parallel Space, Facebook and WhatsApp come pre-installed. The latter two can be deleted. 

Home screen
Home screen
Pre-installed apps
Pre-installed apps

Communication and GPS

In terms of communication, the GT6000 offers the standard fare: Bluetooth 4.0, WLAN in the standards 802.11 b/g/n (including the 5-GHz band), as well as LTE in the frequencies 800, 900, 1800, 2100 and 2600 MHz. With those specs, the smartphone can be used in many places (including Germany).

The WLAN speed is reasonably high for its class, as our comparison chart with other phones from Asia demonstrates. Here the GT6000 easily takes the lead, by and large. But compared with high-end devices, the Gretel phone cannot claim to hold its own. High-end devices generally possess considerably more powerful WLAN chips and reach speeds around 5x as fast. 

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Blackview P2
Mali-T860 MP2, MT6750, 64 GB eMMC Flash
98.5 MBit/s +4%
Gretel GT6000
Mali-T720, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
94.9 MBit/s
Blackview A8 Max
Mali-T720, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
47.5 MBit/s -50%
Blackview A9 Pro
Mali-T720, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
46.9 MBit/s -51%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
45.2 MBit/s -52%
iperf3 receive AX12
Gretel GT6000
Mali-T720, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
99.5 MBit/s
Blackview P2
Mali-T860 MP2, MT6750, 64 GB eMMC Flash
78.7 MBit/s -21%
Blackview A9 Pro
Mali-T720, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
47.9 MBit/s -52%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
44.4 MBit/s -55%
Blackview A8 Max
Mali-T720, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
34.3 MBit/s -66%
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Gretel GT6000
Gretel GT6000
Gretel GT6000
Gretel GT6000
Gretel GT6000
Gretel GT6000

The GPS module yields below-average results. According to our GPS test, it is only accurate to about 8 meters (~26 feet). At that level of inexactitude, obviously it does not matter whether the user is located in a building or outside. Top-of-the-line devices are accurate to around 3 meters (~10 feet), though the signal strength is weaker indoors. The Gretel GT6000 uses exclusively GPS data; there is no receiver for Glonass or other satellite systems. 

This inaccuracy was clearly noticeable on our test track; Gretel went especially far astray in the vicinity of the forest. The altitude measurement deviated by up to 20 meters (~65 feet) from that of our Garmin Edge 500 reference device. As a general rule, that is a fairly trivial matter. Nevertheless: Anyone who values accuracy here should back away from this device.

GPS reception outdoors
GPS reception outdoors
GPS reception outdoors
GPS reception outdoors
GPS reception indoors
GPS reception indoors
GPS reception indoors
GPS reception indoors

Phone Function and Speech Quality

To perform the original primary function of a smartphone - phone calls - Gretel employs the standard Android telephone app. In contrast to the app logo, within the application the company uses unchanged symbols. Our test phone call went smoothly. Our conversation partner was easy to understand, though the finer sounds associated with speech were a bit muffled. We did not hear any distortion or background noise.

The smartphone does not come with a headset.

Cameras

The camera equipment looks truly impressive on paper: a 5 MP selfie camera, and a dual camera with 13 MP on the back. These specs piqued our curiosity, especially given that the Blackview A9 Pro’s dual camera takes astonishingly good photos, even though it only offers 8 MP. Unfortunately, the GT6000 isn’t quite as convincing here. The front camera generates washed out and blurry pictures, much like one would expect of a 2 MP camera. Due to the higher resolution, the back camera’s pictures contain more detail. Zooming in closer, a bit of a pixelated effect is detectable. The bokeh effect (background blur) doesn’t come close to that of the A9 Pro. But in principle, the back camera’s performance is solid. In poor lighting, the photos are extremely dark - as our sample shot demonstrates.

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
The device did comparably well with out test photos.
The device did comparably well with out test photos.
There is little to complain about in the realm of sharpness.
There is little to complain about in the realm of sharpness.
In direct comparison, the color deviations are more or less moderate.
In direct comparison, the color deviations are more or less moderate.

The colors according to ColorChecker are perfectly alright. But if you look at the actual photos, enthusiasm wanes. There seems to be a problem with contrast here, clearly noticeable in the picture with the daises. Despite several attempts, we were unable to capture the petals as a crisp image; they came out as uniform white spots. Even the yellow centers of the flowers blur into the white petals. However, the blades of grass behind the flowers are composed of different shades and rendered out of focus - just as they ought to be. Pictures with less in the way of color contrast look reasonably good.

Main camera
Main camera
Main camera
Main camera
Front camera
Front camera
Main camera, close-up shot
Main camera, close-up shot
The white lacks detail
The white lacks detail
Front camera
Front camera

Accessories and Warranty

The selection of accessories included with the smartphone is rather spartan: a silicone shell and a USB cable with a charging device are all you will find. The manufacturer does not offer any other customized accessories.

There is little to say on the subject of warranty conditions either: The manufacturer does not provide any information here. Chinese companies often accept returns, as long as it can be proven from a distance that the item is defective. But return shipment is quite difficult, especially given that it usually costs 40-50 Euros (~$50-60). Considering the price of the device, customers are unlikely to want to go to the trouble. If you order the device from China, please take a look at our article on CE marking and customs clearance. Moreover, please see our Guarantees, Return Policies & Warranties FAQ for country-specific information. If you want to play it safe, purchase the device through a distributor in your home country. If you buy the device from a distributor in the EU, the distributor is legally required to accept returns for 14 days, and the minimum warranty period is two years.

Input Devices and Operation

The keyboard does not have any special features; Gretel employs the standard Android keyboard. The concept behind the operation of the standard Android buttons is more interesting, though, as they are constructed as separate buttons. The Home button has an integrated fingerprint reader, which the user can utilize to unlock the phone in standby mode -  though the process is rather slow. The home button’s functionality is comparable to that of the A9 Pro: It is only touch-sensitive and cannot be pressed down. If the user holds it continuously, the phone displays an overview of open apps. To the right of the Home button is the Back button; to the left the Properties button.  

The touchscreen supports 5-point touch and is comfortable to use. It reacts sufficiently fast - though in our test with a piano playing app, a slight delay was perceptible. That should only matter for apps that require a quick response time. The automatic rotation is also a little slow.

Display

Subpixel view
Subpixel view

In choosing the display, Gretel certainly did some things right. The IPS panel is especially good in the realm of brightness - at well over 600 cd/m², it manages to stand out from the not necessarily weak competition. On other other hand, the resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels is not exactly up-to-date. But to complain here is to have exceedingly high standards - even at this resolution, individual pixels are only visible at close range at best. Considering the screen’s other qualities and the price, Gretel chose the right place to cut costs.

656
cd/m²
674
cd/m²
638
cd/m²
641
cd/m²
669
cd/m²
620
cd/m²
631
cd/m²
648
cd/m²
617
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 674 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 643.8 cd/m² Minimum: 26.56 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 669 cd/m²
Contrast: 1858:1 (Black: 0.36 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.4 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 6.9 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.34
Gretel GT6000
IPS, 1280x720, 5.50
Blackview P2
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.50
Blackview A9 Pro
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Blackview A8 Max
IPS, 1280x720, 5.50
Lenovo Moto C Plus
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Screen
-39%
-8%
-51%
-2%
Brightness middle
669
424
-37%
473
-29%
435
-35%
492
-26%
Brightness
644
420
-35%
466
-28%
407
-37%
472
-27%
Brightness Distribution
92
85
-8%
91
-1%
86
-7%
90
-2%
Black Level *
0.36
0.15
58%
0.35
3%
1.08
-200%
0.23
36%
Contrast
1858
2827
52%
1351
-27%
403
-78%
2139
15%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.4
9.5
-116%
4.4
-0%
5.7
-30%
5.4
-23%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9
19.7
-119%
10.5
-17%
12.3
-37%
12
-33%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.9
14.5
-110%
4.7
32%
5.9
14%
3.7
46%
Gamma
2.34 94%
2.28 96%
2.33 94%
2.18 101%
2.05 107%
CCT
6675 97%
10840 60%
7343 89%
8164 80%
7182 91%

* ... 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 image display is also pretty impressive. Though the device does not take the crown here, the quality it achieves is above average. The display’s black value and contrast are very good, and its color reproduction is above average too. For this price, there is nothing whatsoever to complain about.

ColorChecker
ColorChecker
Color space
Color space
Grayscale
Grayscale
Saturation
Saturation

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
19.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6 ms rise
↘ 13.2 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 36 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
33.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 12.4 ms rise
↘ 21.2 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. » 39 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Due to the very high display brightness over over 600 cd/m², the smartphone is well-suited for outdoor use. Despite surface reflections, even in direct sunlight the display is still readable. In shadier environments, the user will not run into any problems.

Direct sunlight
Direct sunlight
Use in the shade
Use in the shade

The viewing angle stability is excellent. From nearly every angle, the display is easily readable and exhibits no discernible distortions in color. The black along the edges is displayed as gray, but the high display brightness is responsible for that alteration. The edges look the same whether viewed from the side or straight on. 

Viewing angle stability
Viewing angle stability

Performance

The Mediatek MT6737 at work in the Gretel GT6000 is, by today’s standards, an absolute low-end CPU. Even so, the device performs its duties valiantly: In our tests, we hardly noticed any delays. The smartphone ran fluidly in almost every instance. Even with numerous open tabs, the browser functioned smoothly - even if the Mozilla Kraken benchmark scores were rather weak. Overall, that is truly astonishing. Gretel seems to have done something right here.

The hardware’s weak constitution does start to show when loading previously photographed images. These shots are clearly saved as progressive JPEGs and load very slowly when opened. This means that shortly after a photo is taken, it always looks blurry. A little patience is needed before the image’s true sharpness can be evaluated. 

For an inexpensive smartphone, the performance is acceptable. Today’s high-end smartphones are around 5-6 times faster. 

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
24718 Points
Blackview P2
41852 Points +69%
Blackview A9 Pro
28488 Points +15%
Blackview A8 Max
30916 Points +25%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
29911 Points +21%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
3207 Points
Blackview P2
3667 Points +14%
Blackview A9 Pro
3300 Points +3%
Blackview A8 Max
3427 Points +7%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
3308 Points +3%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
2527 Points
Blackview P2
2782 Points +10%
Blackview A9 Pro
2608 Points +3%
Blackview A8 Max
2474 Points -2%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
2754 Points +9%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
197 Points
Blackview P2
298 Points +51%
Blackview A9 Pro
546 Points +177%
Blackview A8 Max
201 Points +2%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
513 Points +160%
System (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
1124 Points
Blackview P2
1623 Points +44%
Blackview A9 Pro
1101 Points -2%
Blackview A8 Max
1125 Points 0%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
1048 Points -7%
Memory (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
681 Points
Blackview P2
831 Points +22%
Blackview A9 Pro
685 Points +1%
Blackview A8 Max
733 Points +8%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
501 Points -26%
Graphics (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
209 Points
Blackview P2
620 Points +197%
Blackview A9 Pro
213 Points +2%
Blackview A8 Max
211 Points +1%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
209 Points 0%
Web (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
9 Points
Blackview P2
9 Points 0%
Blackview A9 Pro
553 Points +6044%
Blackview A8 Max
9 Points 0%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
632 Points +6922%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
541 Points
Blackview P2
620 Points +15%
Blackview A9 Pro
562 Points +4%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
532 Points -2%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
1504 Points
Blackview P2
2463 Points +64%
Blackview A9 Pro
1486 Points -1%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
1526 Points +1%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
1032 Points
Blackview P2
1633 Points +58%
Blackview A9 Pro
1065 Points +3%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
3737 Points
Blackview P2
9496 Points +154%
Blackview A9 Pro
3715 Points -1%
Blackview A8 Max
3809 Points +2%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
3711 Points -1%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
3234 Points
Blackview P2
9604 Points +197%
Blackview A9 Pro
3199 Points -1%
Blackview A8 Max
3284 Points +2%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
3226 Points 0%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
8198 Points
Blackview P2
9612 Points +17%
Blackview A9 Pro
8528 Points +4%
Blackview A8 Max
8646 Points +5%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
7825 Points -5%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
157 Points
Blackview P2
546 Points +248%
Blackview A9 Pro
164 Points +4%
Blackview A8 Max
158 Points +1%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
128 Points
Blackview P2
482 Points +277%
Blackview A9 Pro
134 Points +5%
Blackview A8 Max
129 Points +1%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
735 Points
Blackview P2
1030 Points +40%
Blackview A9 Pro
750 Points +2%
Blackview A8 Max
727 Points -1%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
100 Points
Blackview P2
387 Points +287%
Blackview A9 Pro
99 Points -1%
Blackview A8 Max
102 Points +2%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
80 Points
Blackview P2
328 Points +310%
Blackview A9 Pro
79 Points -1%
Blackview A8 Max
82 Points +3%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
756 Points
Blackview P2
1055 Points +40%
Blackview A9 Pro
747 Points -1%
Blackview A8 Max
728 Points -4%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
10 fps
Blackview P2
16 fps +60%
Blackview A9 Pro
9.9 fps -1%
Blackview A8 Max
10 fps 0%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
6 fps -40%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
5.9 fps
Blackview P2
16 fps +171%
Blackview A9 Pro
6 fps +2%
Blackview A8 Max
6 fps +2%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
10 fps +69%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
4.5 fps
Blackview P2
6.7 fps +49%
Blackview A9 Pro
4.5 fps 0%
Blackview A8 Max
4.5 fps 0%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
2.2 fps -51%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
2.2 fps
Blackview P2
6.7 fps +205%
Blackview A9 Pro
2.2 fps 0%
Blackview A8 Max
2.2 fps 0%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
4.5 fps +105%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
3.2 fps
Blackview P2
4.4 fps +38%
Blackview A9 Pro
3.2 fps 0%
Blackview A8 Max
3.2 fps 0%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
3.2 fps 0%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
1.4 fps
Blackview P2
4.4 fps +214%
Blackview A9 Pro
1.4 fps 0%
Blackview A8 Max
1.4 fps 0%
Lenovo Moto C Plus
1.4 fps 0%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
4 fps
Blackview P2
2.3 fps -42%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Gretel GT6000
1.8 fps
Blackview P2
2.3 fps +28%
Epic Citadel - Ultra High Quality (sort by value)
Blackview A8 Max
27 fps

Legend

 
Gretel GT6000 Mediatek MT6737, ARM Mali-T720, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Blackview P2 Mediatek MT6750, ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 64 GB eMMC Flash
 
Blackview A9 Pro Mediatek MT6737, ARM Mali-T720, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Blackview A8 Max Mediatek MT6737, ARM Mali-T720, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Lenovo Moto C Plus Mediatek MT6737, ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash


JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Blackview P2 (Chrome Version 58)
20.48 Points +33%
Blackview A8 Max (Chrome Version 53)
17.19 Points +12%
Gretel GT6000 (Chrome Version 51)
15.39 Points
Blackview A9 Pro (Chrome Browser Version 59)
15.17 Points -1%
Lenovo Moto C Plus (Chrome Version 60)
14.6 Points -5%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Blackview P2 (Chrome Version 58)
2838 Points +16%
Blackview A8 Max (Chrome Version 53)
2607 Points +6%
Gretel GT6000 (Chrome Version 51)
2456 Points
Blackview A9 Pro (Chrome Browser Version 59)
2311 Points -6%
Lenovo Moto C Plus (Chrome Version 60)
2247 Points -9%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Gretel GT6000 (Chrome Version 51)
30114 ms *
Blackview A9 Pro (Chrome Browser Version 59)
18355 ms * +39%
Lenovo Moto C Plus (Chrome Version 60)
16238 ms * +46%
Blackview A8 Max (Chrome Version 53)
13643 ms * +55%
Blackview P2 (Chrome Version 58)
13174 ms * +56%

* ... smaller is better

Compared with the throngs of current smartphones, our mass storage device’s speeds fall among the lower third. However, these speeds are on par with our device’s true competition. Only the more expensive and better equipped Blackview P2 achieves significantly better results here.

The GT6000’s SD card slot leaves much to be desired. In our test with a Toshiba Exceria SD-CX32UHS1, we recorded write speeds of a little over 8 MB per second. The competition manages speeds nearly twice as fast, and that despite not being particularly fast in its own right. In terms of read speeds, the competitors all obtain similarly low results. 

Gretel GT6000Blackview P2Blackview A9 ProBlackview A8 MaxLenovo Moto C Plus
AndroBench 3-5
64%
2%
7%
5%
Sequential Read 256KB
215
264.8
23%
189.6
-12%
141.8
-34%
186.7
-13%
Sequential Write 256KB
44.16
133.8
203%
37.63
-15%
47.25
7%
44.45
1%
Random Read 4KB
19.4
22.07
14%
12.18
-37%
16.15
-17%
18.1
-7%
Random Write 4KB
8.46
9.54
13%
7.1
-16%
5.65
-33%
15.4
82%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
36.76 ?(Toshiba Exceria SD-CX32UHS1)
34.26 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
-7%
33.07 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
-10%
35.94 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
-2%
13.5
-63%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
8.29 ?(Toshiba Exceria SD-CX32UHS1)
19.61 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
137%
16.47 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
99%
18.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
123%
10.7
29%

Games

The GT6000’s gaming performance is surprisingly good. Despite its very feeble ARM Mali T720 processor, even demanding titles like Asphalt 8 are playable on the device. This is astounding, particularly as the smartphone’s scores in the benchmarks are little to no better than those of comparably equipped competitors - and the competitors start to stutter very quickly in this game. Even so, potential buyers should consider the fact that this graphics chip stems from the lower league. If you’re a big gamer and want to invest in a smartphone that will continue to serve you well in the future, it would be prudent to look elsewhere. Among our comparison devices, only the Blackview P2 performs substantially better here, owing to its better graphics chip. 

Subjectively, the position and acceleration sensors register changes a little slowly. This means the controls in racing games and the like feel somewhat spongy.

Asphalt 8
Asphalt 8
Asphalt 8
Asphalt 8
SkyCastle2
SkyCastle2
SkyCastle2
SkyCastle2

Emissions

The GT6000 proves to set store by modesty in the realm of temperatures, too. In use, the phone hardly feels warm at all. Our temperature measurements substantiate this subjective impression. In almost every spot, the device remains below body temperature. Only one corner of the front side warms to slightly over 40°C (104°F). 

Max. Load
 40.6 °C
105 F
34.2 °C
94 F
33.5 °C
92 F
 
 38.6 °C
101 F
36.1 °C
97 F
34.8 °C
95 F
 
 37.2 °C
99 F
36.1 °C
97 F
33.7 °C
93 F
 
Maximum: 40.6 °C = 105 F
Average: 36.1 °C = 97 F
32.9 °C
91 F
33.1 °C
92 F
34.6 °C
94 F
32.9 °C
91 F
33.3 °C
92 F
34.4 °C
94 F
32.3 °C
90 F
33.1 °C
92 F
34.4 °C
94 F
Maximum: 34.6 °C = 94 F
Average: 33.4 °C = 92 F
Power Supply (max.)  31.7 °C = 89 F | Room Temperature 21.5 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.1 °C / 97 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 40.6 °C / 105 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 34.6 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 31 °C / 88 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Heat development front side
Heat development front side
Heat development back side
Heat development back side

Speakers

Overall, the speakers perform decently. Like nearly all smartphone speakers, the sound lacks bass. The rest of the results are in the normal range, and the volume is above average. The speakers deliver no more and no less than one would expect. We did not detect any buzzing or other undesirable noises.

The exact number of speakers built into the device was not ascertainable. Obstructing the speaker grille had a negligible effect on the volume.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.635.82525.434.83125.325.74032.924.95033.626.66331.631.68028.429.21002728.512520.824.91602222.820021.325.425020.833.431521.243.440019.452.550019.560.563017.767.480017.972.8100017.876.3125017.375.7160017.470.7200016.769.9250017.268.3315018.268.7400017.969.8500017.674.9630017.774.7800017.866.71000017.9611250018.154.41600018.256.4SPL3083.4N1.356.1median 17.9median 66.7Delta1.412.731.632.325.432.325.33932.932.333.637.531.646.328.440.92738.920.829.12228.721.325.620.828.521.240.519.448.519.554.317.758.917.966.917.869.617.368.617.47116.772.117.27418.277.317.980.917.672.917.760.317.859.217.957.818.158.418.256.23084.41.353.6median 17.9median 58.91.414hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseGretel GT6000Blackview A9 Pro
Gretel GT6000 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 37% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (29% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 72% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 25% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 84% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 13% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Blackview A9 Pro audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 27% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 8.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 10.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (11.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (32.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 80% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 18% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 90% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 8% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequenzdiagramm im Vergleich (Checkboxen oben an-/abwählbar!)

Battery Life

In the realm of energy consumption, the Gretel device produced similar results to all inexpensive phones from China: The rate of power usage is quite high. Though in the GT6000’s case, one culprit for this is the extra bright display. The competition from Blackview does not prove to manage energy usage much better. The only exception here is the Lenovo device, which particularly under load generates better results.

The power supply charges the smartphone fully in just under three and a half hours - an appropriate amount of time for such a large battery.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.03 / 0.41 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.96 / 1.8 / 1.89 Watt
Load midlight 5.3 / 6.15 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.
Gretel GT6000
6000 mAh
Blackview P2
6000 mAh
Blackview A9 Pro
3000 mAh
Blackview A8 Max
3000 mAh
Lenovo Moto C Plus
4000 mAh
Power Consumption
1%
-21%
6%
23%
Idle Minimum *
0.96
0.99
-3%
1.06
-10%
0.74
23%
0.8
17%
Idle Average *
1.8
2.04
-13%
2.31
-28%
1.97
-9%
1.87
-4%
Idle Maximum *
1.89
2.12
-12%
2.43
-29%
2.09
-11%
1.89
-0%
Load Average *
5.3
3.77
29%
6.51
-23%
4.89
8%
2.18
59%
Load Maximum *
6.15
5.78
6%
6.96
-13%
5.09
17%
3.61
41%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Despite its high energy consumption, when it comes to battery life, the GT6000 outpaces all its competitors. For the devices with substantially smaller batteries, that is no surprise. Only the Blackview P2 plays in the same league here, and our test device even beats the P2 by a margin of about 10%. Having said that, the P2 does provide considerably more processing power. In idle mode, at minimum brightness, with WLAN deactivated and the screen turned on, the smartphone should run for up to two days. If the device’s energy management were better, it would be possible to surpass even that run time. The world should pay attention - when it comes to energy consumption, Chinese smartphones are slowly but surely catching up.

If the battery is empty, it cannot be switched out - though when carrying a device with a 6000 mAh battery, users are unlikely to bring along a second battery in any case.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
38h 47min
WiFi Surfing
0h 00min
WiFi Websurfing
20h 01min
Load (maximum brightness)
10h 43min
Gretel GT6000
6000 mAh
Blackview P2
6000 mAh
Blackview A9 Pro
3000 mAh
Blackview A8 Max
3000 mAh
Lenovo Moto C Plus
4000 mAh
Battery Runtime
-13%
-48%
-58%
-29%
Reader / Idle
2327
1957
-16%
1157
-50%
WiFi v1.3
1201
1083
-10%
711
-41%
506
-58%
858
-29%
Load
643
563
-12%
293
-54%

Pros

+ fundamentally good manufacturing quality
+ very bright display
+ high resolution camera
+ long battery life
+ good price-performance ratio
+ decent speech quality
+ stable
+ CE marking
+ fingerprint reader
+ good color reproduction and viewing angle stability
+ Remains cool

Cons

- small bulge in case
- some pixelation in photos
- weak processor and graphics card
- heavy weight
- GPS very imprecise
- warranty coverage unclear

Verdict

In Review: Gretel GT6000. Test device courtesy of Gretel.
In Review: Gretel GT6000. Test device courtesy of Gretel.

The Gretel is no marvel of technology or speed. But that is no reason to take Hansel’s tack and ridicule it. Nearly every physical component offers good quality for the price. The device performs well in every discipline. The camera shoots reasonably good photos in good light. It has the most difficulty with strong contrasts, and the strange pixelated effect could serve as an insider tip for Minecraft fans. Despite the imprecise GPS, it should be possible to find one’s way out of the forest and back to papa’s house. Even without pebbles.

Solid entry-level device with an acceptable camera and good battery life.

A highlight is the especially bright display. Any real criticism is undeserved; all our complaints are trivial and certainly endurable. 

This smartphone is very well suited for those in need of a long battery life, but with a slim wallet. If a little extra weight does not bother you, at a price of just under 100 Euros (~$120), we deem this product worthy of our recommendation.

Gretel GT6000 - 09/15/2017 v6(old)
Florian Schaar

Chassis
81%
Keyboard
65 / 75 → 87%
Pointing Device
87%
Connectivity
38 / 60 → 63%
Weight
88%
Battery
100%
Display
85%
Games Performance
8 / 63 → 12%
Application Performance
27 / 70 → 38%
Temperature
90%
Noise
100%
Audio
55 / 91 → 60%
Camera
50%
Average
67%
78%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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Florian Schaar, 2017-09-22 (Update: 2019-04- 1)