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Leagoo Alfa 1 Smartphone Review

Large and inexpensive. Can a 5.5-inch Android smartphone for less than $100 USD really impress? The Alfa 1 provides the bare essentials and performance with a brighter screen than expected.

Chinese smartphone manufacturers are growing aplenty and the recent successes of Huawei and Xiaomi are the carrot-on-a-stick for lesser-known companies.

Leagoo began shipping smartphones back in 2014 and will soon release its Elite X affordable smartphone with a reversible camera. Today, however, we will be looking at the very affordable Alfa 1 smartphone. Its retail price of just under $100 USD with a 5.5-inch screen has us intrigued. In this review, we'll identify and point out the usual cut corners while noting any above-average qualities that the smartphone may bring to the table.

Leagoo Alfa 1 (Alfa Series)
Processor
MediaTek MT6580
Graphics adapter
Memory
1977 MB 
Display
5.50 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel 267 PPI, 5-point capacitive, IPS
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Card Reader: MicroSD, Brightness Sensor
Networking
802.11a/b/g/n (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz & WCDMA: 850/1900/2100MHz or 900/2100MHz, Dual SIM, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 7.9 x 156.2 x 76.6 ( = 0.31 x 6.15 x 3.02 in)
Battery
3000 mAh
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop
Camera
Primary Camera: 13 MPix LED Flash and auto-focus
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Monaural, European power adapter, earphones, Micro-USB cable, Micro-USB to USB Type-A adapter, screen protector, screen wipe, Leagoo Xender, 12 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
163 g ( = 5.75 oz / 0.36 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
100 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Aesthetically, the Alfa 1 is sharp around the edges and corners with straight lines and minimal curves. The smartphone sports a thinner and flatter look as a result, albeit uninspiring nonetheless. Aside from the aluminum-titanium alloy edges and glass front, the chassis is plastic with a thin and flexible back cover. Slight twisting and creaking of the device can be observed with a moderate amount of applied force, though neither are severe enough to warrant any significant concerns. Applying pressure on the center of the front or back does not result in any notable depressions. Otherwise, the Alfa 1 feels solid to hold and with no unintended gaps or manufacturing defects on our particular test unit.

Three colors are available outside of our Black test unit including White and Rose Gold.

As for size and weight, the Leagoo has very nearly the same length and width as the large ZenFone 2 while being just tenths of a millimeter thicker than the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium and Galaxy S7 Edge. This makes the Alfa 1 a smartphone with a large footprint and overall thin profile. Its weight of 163 g is ordinary and not substantially lighter or heavier than many 5-inch smartphones.

156.5 mm / 6.16 inch 77.2 mm / 3.04 inch 10.8 mm / 0.4252 inch 167 g0.3682 lbs158.2 mm / 6.23 inch 77.9 mm / 3.07 inch 7.3 mm / 0.2874 inch 192 g0.4233 lbs156.2 mm / 6.15 inch 76.6 mm / 3.02 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 163 g0.3594 lbs154.4 mm / 6.08 inch 76 mm / 2.99 inch 7.8 mm / 0.3071 inch 181 g0.399 lbs151.3 mm / 5.96 inch 76.3 mm / 3 inch 8.2 mm / 0.3228 inch 158 g0.3483 lbs149.8 mm / 5.9 inch 78 mm / 3.07 inch 9.2 mm / 0.3622 inch 169 g0.3726 lbs150.9 mm / 5.94 inch 72.6 mm / 2.86 inch 7.7 mm / 0.3031 inch 157 g0.3461 lbs147 mm / 5.79 inch 72.6 mm / 2.86 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 136 g0.2998 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

Available interfaces include the usual micro-USB 2.0 port and 3.5 mm audio jack. The micro-USB port itself is recessed quite deeply into the device, so some USB cables may not lock into place correctly and could feel loose as a result. There are no extra features like MHL, IR, or NFC.

Left: Volume rocker
Left: Volume rocker
Bottom: Microphone
Bottom: Microphone
Right: Power button
Right: Power button
Top: 3.5 mm audio, Micro-USB 2.0
Top: 3.5 mm audio, Micro-USB 2.0

Software

Leagoo uses the familiar Android 5.1 Home screen with custom icons and just a few pre-installed bloatware applications including Xender and HotKnot. Custom functions or features specific to the Alfa 1 are not available on this basic phone, so the experience can seem very barebones and similar to a Nexus device without the multi-tasking prowess.

Home screen
Home screen
Drop-down menu
Drop-down menu
Pre-installed themes
Pre-installed themes
Xender for sending apps and files
Xender for sending apps and files

Communication & GPS

WLAN is supported up to 802.11n single-band (2.4 GHz) with no 802.11ac options. When compared directly to the LG G3, its signal strength is roughly the same at the tested distances of 1 meter, 5 meters, and 20 meters away from the source. Strangely, the LG performs a bit better than the Leagoo at 5 meters, but the disadvantages fade away at the two other tested distances.

GPS is sufficient for its intended use as a driving aid as we experienced no issues acquiring and maintaining a position fix. Like most smartphone GPS radios, the Alfa 1 updates its current position less frequently than a dedicated GPS module, so sharp turns and winding trails are pinpointed less accurately.

Leagoo Alfa 1 (~1 m from source)
Leagoo Alfa 1 (~1 m from source)
Leagoo Alfa 1 (~5 m from source)
Leagoo Alfa 1 (~5 m from source)
Leagoo Alfa 1 (~20 m from source)
Leagoo Alfa 1 (~20 m from source)
LG G3 (~1 m from source)
LG G3 (~1 m from source)
LG G3 (~5 m from source)
LG G3 (~5 m from source)
LG G3 (~20 m from source)
LG G3 (~20 m from source)
Leagoo Alfa 1 (Indoors)
Leagoo Alfa 1 (Indoors)
LG G3 (Indoors)
LG G3 (Indoors)

Telephone & Voice Quality

Supported frequencies include GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and WCDMA (850/1900/2100MHz or 900/2100MHz) with no 4G options. Dual SIM slots (mini-SIM primary and Micro-SIM seconday) are accessible after removing the back cover.

Call quality is clear on full reception and with no static under the AT&T network. Maximum volume from the earpiece could have been louder, which seems to be a trend on cheaper overseas smartphones such as those from Doogee. As for the listener on the other side with the LG G3, our voice was muffled and on the softer side.

Cameras & Multimedia

Quality from the rear 13 MP camera is below average due to a tendency to overexpose and with a green overtone to pictures. Colors appear washed out with loss of detail and are much blurrier than on the flagship LG G3, which also carries a 13 MP rear camera.

Video recording is available up to 1080p24. Quality is unfortunately very muddy that only gets worse with any sort of captured motion.

Leagoo Alfa 1
Leagoo Alfa 1
Leagoo Alfa 1
Leagoo Alfa 1
Leagoo Alfa 1
Leagoo Alfa 1
LG G3
LG G3
LG G3
LG G3
LG G3
LG G3
Leagoo Alfa 1
Leagoo Alfa 1
Canon EOS Rebel XSi
Canon EOS Rebel XSi
LG G3
LG G3

Input Devices

Touchscreen

For touchscreen performance, we typically check for accuracy and consistency around the edges, corners, and center of the screen. In this regard, the Alfa 1 performs perfectly without any issues despite its very low asking price. Sensitivity is more finicky as light taps are sometimes not registered, so fast typists may want to tap with a bit more force to make sure the system registers each and every time. The capacitive display can recognize up to 5 fingers at a time unlike the 10-point capacitive touchscreens on most mainstream and flagship smartphones. Output is quick and almost as fast as the user can input a key. Haptic feedback is light, but sufficient nonetheless.

The dedicated Android touch keys below the screen are backlit and essentially invisible when the backlight is off. These keys are responsive and without any notable issues. Like all dedicated Android buttons, these free up more space on the screen at the cost of a potentially larger smartphone.

Accurate touchscreen; standard Android layout
Accurate touchscreen; standard Android layout
5-point capacitive touchscreen
5-point capacitive touchscreen

Display

The 720p display lacks the clarity and color accuracy of mainstream and flagship devices. For example, there is a thicker layer of glass protecting the screen and color temperature is noticeably cooler and bluer than it ought to be. This is not to say that display quality is bad as it is merely average and unimpressive.

In terms of brightness and contrast, however, the screen impresses with its measured contrast level of just above 1000:1 to rival mainstream and higher-end smartphones. This confirms Leagoo's claims of a high 1000:1 contrast for the Alfa 1. Maximum brightness is comparatively lower while backlight bleeding is surprisingly even for a budget phone. The corner white clouding in the shot below is simply due to the camera being slightly off-angled.

Very minimal uneven backlight bleeding
Very minimal uneven backlight bleeding
Subpixel array at 267 PPI
Subpixel array at 267 PPI
453.9
cd/m²
424.7
cd/m²
444.4
cd/m²
455.3
cd/m²
432.5
cd/m²
464.1
cd/m²
454.2
cd/m²
438.5
cd/m²
464.4
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro Basic 2
Maximum: 464.4 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 448 cd/m² Minimum: 15.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 432.5 cd/m²
Contrast: 1050:1 (Black: 0.412 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 10.06 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 11.88 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.03
Leagoo Alfa 1
5.50, 1280x720
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
5.50, 1920x1080
Honor 5X
5.50, 1920x1080
Motorola Moto X Force
5.40, 2560x1440
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
5.50, 3840x2160
Display
Display P3 Coverage
90.2
sRGB Coverage
99.5
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
82
Response Times
21%
94%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
42 ?(17.6, 24.4)
30 ?(15, 15)
29%
4.7 ?(2.4, 2.3)
89%
Response Time Black / White *
32.8 ?(8.4, 24.4)
29 ?(14, 15)
12%
0.8 ?(0.4, 0.4)
98%
PWM Frequency
240.4
Screen
29%
26%
27%
12%
Brightness middle
432.5
583
35%
535
24%
337
-22%
560
29%
Brightness
448
560
25%
521
16%
336
-25%
541
21%
Brightness Distribution
91
91
0%
85
-7%
91
0%
85
-7%
Black Level *
0.412
0.46
-12%
0.43
-4%
0.45
-9%
Contrast
1050
1267
21%
1244
18%
1244
18%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
10.06
3.55
65%
4.88
51%
3.99
60%
9.19
9%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
19.97
8.66
57%
7.07
65%
15.01
25%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
11.88
3.88
67%
5.2
56%
1.66
86%
10.58
11%
Gamma
2.03 108%
2.2 100%
2.26 97%
2.32 95%
2.7 81%
CCT
8872 73%
7280 89%
7766 84%
6584 99%
9760 67%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
59.05
73.19
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
92.8
Total Average (Program / Settings)
29% / 29%
24% / 25%
61% / 44%
12% / 12%

* ... smaller is better

Color analyses with an X-Rite spectrophotometer reveal very inaccurate grayscale and representation of most colors, especially Teal. RGB balance is off and colors are generally less accurate at lower saturation levels.

Grayscale
Grayscale
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
ColorChecker
ColorChecker

Outdoor visibility is good under shade due to the IPS screen and sufficiently bright backlight. Direct sunlight will still wash out the display while glare from the glossy panel can never be completely avoided.

Viewing angles are excellent with only slight changes to colors, contrast, and apparent brightness when viewing from extreme angles.

Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
 

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
32.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 8.4 ms rise
↘ 24.4 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. » 87 % 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
42 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 17.6 ms rise
↘ 24.4 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. » 63 % 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

An uncommon MediaTek MT6580 SoC powers the Alfa 1 with 2 GB of system RAM, which should be more than plenty considering the low-power 32-bit 1.3 GHz processor. Raw CPU performance is akin to a Snapdragon 400 class SoC (as found on budget smartphones like the Lumia 625) and well below that of the more powerful Snapdragon 600 series, especially in single-threaded operations according to Linpack. Overall system performance according to PCMark is otherwise in the same ballpark as other very inexpensive Android devices like the Doogee Nova Y100X.

System performance is smooth during low loads, but multi-tasking between demanding apps will bring the Alfa 1 to its knees. Running the pre-installed Xender app, for example, causes the phone to become very unresponsive. Having multiple tabs in Chrome while jumping back to the Home screen will already result in plenty of frame skips and general slowdown.

Linpack Android / IOS
Multi Thread (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
256.7 MFLOPS
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
557 MFLOPS +117%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
289.8 MFLOPS +13%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
225.5 MFLOPS -12%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
184.9 MFLOPS -28%
Single Thread (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
126.1 MFLOPS
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
423.5 MFLOPS +236%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
221.2 MFLOPS +75%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
77.3 MFLOPS -39%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
70.4 MFLOPS -44%
PCMark for Android
Work 2.0 battery life (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
371 min
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
3550 Points
Work performance score (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
2488 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
4735 Points +90%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3570 Points +43%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3010 Points +21%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2786 Points +12%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
4826 Points +94%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2927 Points +18%
AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
24879 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
63166 Points +154%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
34451 Points +38%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
26391 Points +6%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
127902 Points +414%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
1191 Points
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1021 Points -14%
32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
357 Points
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
313 Points -12%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
3185 Points
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2792 Points
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1569 Points
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1191 Points
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
6401 Points
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1253 Points
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
613 Points
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
532 Points
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
364 Points
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
2199 Points
Google V8 Ver. 7 - Google V8 Ver. 7 Score (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
2171 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
7700 Points +255%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3642 Points +68%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2384 Points +10%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2483 Points +14%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1945 Points -10%
Browsermark - 2.1 (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
1014 points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2368 points +134%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1444 points +42%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1139 points +12%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
988 points -3%
Sunspider
1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
1771 ms *
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
645 ms * +64%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1258 ms * +29%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1639 ms * +7%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2005 ms * -13%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2314 ms * -31%
0.9.1 Total Score (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
1808 ms *
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
613 ms * +66%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1218 ms * +33%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1739 ms * +4%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1939 ms * -7%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
15.9 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
44.39 Points +179%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
22.88 Points +44%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
16.3 Points +3%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
15.7 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
74 Points +365%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
14895 ms *
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
4609 ms * +69%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
12194 ms * +18%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
15848 ms * -6%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
15613 ms * -5%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
2562 ms * +83%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
33491 ms * -125%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
2321 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
8143 Points +251%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3647 Points +57%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2487 Points +7%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2452 Points +6%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
13161 Points +467%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2052 Points -12%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
41 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
97 Points +137%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
65 Points +59%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
48 Points +17%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
40 Points -2%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
166 Points +305%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
38 Points -7%
Vellamo 3.x
Metal (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
1208 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2224 Points +84%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1130 Points -6%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
976 Points -19%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
634 Points -48%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
3371 Points +179%
Multicore Beta (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
729 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2287 Points +214%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1816 Points +149%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1339 Points +84%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1110 Points +52%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
3408 Points +367%
Browser (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
1768 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
4665 Points +164%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2620 Points +48%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2271 Points +28%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1691 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
7570 Points +328%
Quadrant Standard Edition 2.0 - --- (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
9210 points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
21167 points +130%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
22393 points +143%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
9324 points +1%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
9537 points +4%
Smartbench 2012
Gaming Index (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
2482 points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
4399 points +77%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4107 points +65%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3537 points +43%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2252 points -9%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3241 points +31%
Productivity Index (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
4466 points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
4793 points +7%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4823 points +8%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4481 points 0%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3769 points -16%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3331 points -25%
PassMark PerformanceTest Mobile V1
3D Graphics Tests (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
733 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1935 Points +164%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
884 Points +21%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
583 Points -20%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
733 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
2094 Points +186%
2D Graphics Tests (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
2253 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
4601 Points +104%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3597 Points +60%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2772 Points +23%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2123 Points -6%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
6055 Points +169%
Memory Tests (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
1782 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
5859 Points +229%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4948 Points +178%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4368 Points +145%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1837 Points +3%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
5590 Points +214%
Disk Tests (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
6600 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
40846 Points +519%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
15395 Points +133%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
31844 Points +382%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3946 Points -40%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
35808 Points +443%
CPU Tests (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
10028 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
92136 Points +819%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
96167 Points +859%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
34641 Points +245%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
10230 Points +2%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
207417 Points +1968%
System (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
2392 Points
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
6958 Points +191%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3911 Points +64%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2762 Points +15%
Doogee Nova Y100X
Mali-400 MP, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2304 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy S7
Mali-T880 MP12, Exynos 8890, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
7730 Points +223%

* ... smaller is better

Storage Devices

The internal 16 GB eMMC performs at almost half the speed of the new Nexus 5X in both random and sequential read/write rates. This puts the Alfa 1 in line with other inexpensive smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 3. MicroSD is supported up to 64 GB and, unlike the two SIM slots, can be inserted or removed without needing to first take out the battery.

AndroBench 3-5
Sequential Read 256KB
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
245.2 MB/s +73%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
216.1 MB/s +52%
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
142 MB/s
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
139.5 MB/s -2%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
137.9 MB/s -3%
Sequential Write 256KB
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
98.6 MB/s +81%
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
64.3 MB/s +18%
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
54.6 MB/s
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
40.03 MB/s -27%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
26.6 MB/s -51%
Random Read 4KB
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
25.87 MB/s +58%
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
24.8 MB/s +51%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
17.48 MB/s +6%
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
16.42 MB/s
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
14.93 MB/s -9%
Random Write 4KB
Google Nexus 5X
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 32 GB eMMC Flash
12.21 MB/s +121%
VChok M9-LTE
Mali-T720, MT6735, 16 GB eMMC Flash
9.56 MB/s +73%
Xiaomi Redmi 3
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
9.19 MB/s +66%
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
5.52 MB/s
CAT S40
Adreno 304, 210 MSM8909, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5.39 MB/s -2%

GPU Performance

The integrated ARM Mali-400 MP GPU is outdated and normally only found on very low-end smartphones and tablets in multi-core (MP2 or MP4) variants. Thus, it should be unsurprising to see its 3DMark scores to be over two to three times slower than the Mali-T720 MP2 found in modern mainstream devices like the Galaxy A5 2016.

While unfit for gaming at 1080p, the GPU is still sufficient for the 720p display of the Alfa 1. Asphalt 8 plays well and at stable enough frame rates to be enjoyable. The processor exhibits no throttling when under sustained stress unlike on certain higher-end SoCs that may throttle to reduce core temperatures.

Stable frame times throughout stress test
Stable frame times throughout stress test
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
8695 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
12852 Points +48%
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
10323 Points +19%
Samsung Galaxy A5 2016
Mali-T720 MP2, 7580 Octa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
9495 Points +9%
LG Bello II
Mali-400 MP2, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
8886 Points +2%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
2467 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
37725 Points +1429%
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
17637 Points +615%
Samsung Galaxy A5 2016
Mali-T720 MP2, 7580 Octa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
7542 Points +206%
LG Bello II
Mali-400 MP2, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2391 Points -3%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
2934 Points
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
26380 Points +799%
Xiaomi Mi 4s
Adreno 418, 808 MSM8992, 64 GB eMMC Flash
15238 Points +419%
Samsung Galaxy A5 2016
Mali-T720 MP2, 7580 Octa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
7903 Points +169%
LG Bello II
Mali-400 MP2, MT6582, 8 GB eMMC Flash
2855 Points -3%
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
2982 points
Help

Emissions

Temperature

Surface temperatures are cool and flat when the system is idling on its Home screen. Maximum stress with the Stability Test app produces hot spots as warm as 38 C on the rear top half of the unit where the PCB will typically be located for a smartphone. The display and edges of the device never become uncomfortably warm for the hands. Other 5.5-inch models like the Honor 5x become warmer at over 40 C when under intensive loads, though it carries more powerful components than the Leagoo.

Maximum load (Front)
Maximum load (Front)
Maximum load (Back)
Maximum load (Back)
Max. Load
 36.4 °C
98 F
31.6 °C
89 F
33.2 °C
92 F
 
 38 °C
100 F
32 °C
90 F
34.4 °C
94 F
 
 33.8 °C
93 F
32 °C
90 F
35 °C
95 F
 
Maximum: 38 °C = 100 F
Average: 34 °C = 93 F
32.6 °C
91 F
32.6 °C
91 F
36.2 °C
97 F
32.8 °C
91 F
32.8 °C
91 F
38.6 °C
101 F
32.4 °C
90 F
32.8 °C
91 F
35.8 °C
96 F
Maximum: 38.6 °C = 101 F
Average: 34.1 °C = 93 F
Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34 °C / 93 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 38 °C / 100 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 38.6 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.4 °C / 74 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speakers

(Yellow: Background noise, Pink: Pink noise, Gray: White noise)
(Yellow: Background noise, Pink: Pink noise, Gray: White noise)

The single speaker on the back of the smartphone is sufficiently loud at maximum volume and does not introduce any static or rattling. Its usefulness outside of speakerphone purposes is limited due to the weak bass and very narrow range. Recordings with an external microphone show poor reproduction of lower frequencies.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Power draw is notably higher than similarly sized competitors especially when idling and even after taking into account the high energy demand when the smartphone is powered off. Maximum load, however, is less demanding than its powerful competitors, which suggests that the MediaTek SoC is has less efficient power-saving states than Snapdragon and Apple processors.

Leagoo Alfa 1
Mali-400 MP, , 16 GB eMMC Flash
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, Apple AP0064K (iPhone NVMe)
Honor 5X
Adreno 405, 616 MSM8939v2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Motorola Moto X Force
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Adreno 430, 810 MSM8994, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Power Consumption
41%
29%
22%
9%
Idle Minimum *
2.8
0.5
82%
0.87
69%
0.96
66%
0.83
70%
Idle Average *
4.1
1.9
54%
2.08
49%
1.35
67%
2.36
42%
Idle Maximum *
4.1
2.2
46%
2.22
46%
1.4
66%
2.42
41%
Load Average *
4.9
3.2
35%
5.26
-7%
6.11
-25%
7.27
-48%
Load Maximum *
5.7
6.4
-12%
6.34
-11%
9.43
-65%
9.18
-61%

* ... smaller is better

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 1.4 / 1.6 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.8 / 4.1 / 4.1 Watt
Load midlight 4.9 / 5.7 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.

Battery Life

Runtimes from the Alfa 1 are just average considering the screen size and 3000 mAh removable battery. Users can expect just under 7 hours of constant WLAN use at a 150 nit brightness (~30 percent) setting or about 3.5 hours of heavy use at maximum brightness. Mainstream and higher-end 5-inch smartphones tend to run longer than the Leagoo under similar conditions despite having more powerful internals and higher resolution panels.

Leagoo Alfa 1
3000 mAh
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
2750 mAh
Honor 5X
3000 mAh
Motorola Moto X Force
3760 mAh
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
3430 mAh
Battery Runtime
30%
12%
43%
8%
Reader / Idle
1005
1655
65%
1053
5%
1610
60%
1277
27%
WiFi v1.3
407
513
26%
643
58%
426
5%
372
-9%
Load
200
197
-1%
144
-28%
330
65%
210
5%
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
16h 45min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 47min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 20min

Pros

+ bright display; high contrast
+ no system throttling
+ removable battery
+ dual SIM slots
+ 2 GB RAM

Cons

- inaccurate colors; Teal overtone
- no NFC, fingerprint reader, or IR
- below average battery life
- weak CPU and GPU
- poor cameras

Verdict

In review: Leagoo Alfa 1. Test model provided by Coolicool.com
In review: Leagoo Alfa 1. Test model provided by Coolicool.com

The Alfa 1 is as basic as an Android smartphone can get - and that's ok. We're not looking for a fully-featured phone for under $100, so a dependable device that nails down the nuts and bolts while providing an easy-to-see large display should be more than enough. In this regard, the Alfa 1 does its job reasonably well for core users. Its interface, responsiveness, cameras, performance, display quality, battery life, and call quality are all just average or slightly below when compared to costlier mainstream competitors.

Listing all of its missing features (LTE, NFC, MHL, Wi-Fi calling, etc.) would point out the obvious cut corners. Fortunately, build quality is very good considering the price and is arguably more important than any novel extras.

The super low-end Alfa 1 brings no surprises to the table. There is nothing exceptional save for the low price and its allure as an elementary Android device. Core users will appreciate the acceptable build quality and bright backlight while power users will be disappointed by the display quality and general performance.

Leagoo Alfa 1 - 04/09/2016 v5(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
59%
Keyboard
73 / 75 → 97%
Pointing Device
78%
Connectivity
22 / 60 → 37%
Weight
91%
Battery
89%
Display
78%
Games Performance
6 / 63 → 10%
Application Performance
20 / 70 → 29%
Temperature
93%
Noise
100%
Audio
60 / 91 → 66%
Camera
46%
Average
63%
74%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Allen Ngo, 2016-04- 9 (Update: 2016-04- 9)