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MagyarVolla Phone Smartphone Review - Cellphone with special data protection
Possible competitors in comparison
Bewertung | Rating Version | Datum | Modell | Gewicht | Laufwerk | Groesse | Aufloesung | Preis ab |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75.2 % | 7 | 01/2021 | Volla Phone Helio P23 MT6763V, Mali-G71 MP2 | 185 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.30" | 2340x1080 | |
| 80.7 % | 7 | 01/2021 | Oppo Reno4 Z 5G Dimensity 800, Mali-G57 MP4 | 184 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.57" | 2400x1080 | |
| 80.1 % | 7 | 12/2020 | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G SD 750G 5G, Adreno 619 | 193 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.60" | 1600x720 | |
| 78.6 % | 7 | 08/2020 | Sony Xperia 10 II SD 665, Adreno 610 | 151 g | 128 GB eMMC Flash | 6.00" | 2520x1080 |
Case, features and operation - Operating system selectable
The case of the Volla Phone relies on plastic, and the stability is okay. However, the smartphone does not look incredibly high-quality for its price range.
The Volla Phone comes with VollaOS, which is based on the Android Open Source Project, but does not include Google services and apps. Instead, the system uses the Aurora Store, a copy of the Google Play Store, but it can be used without a Google account. Thus, many apps are available, but of course you cannot use apps that rely on Google services. The structure of the operating system has also changed, so the OS relies on a so-called springboard that appears after unlocking and where you can type in what you are looking for. The smartphone then starts an Internet search or if you start with an @ a contact search, you can then send an email or SMS directly to the respective contact. The black and white design of the system saves energy. The basis is Android 9, the security patches are from October 2020 and are already slightly outdated at the time of testing.
Alternatively, you can get the phone with Ubuntu Touch, the mobile version of the well-known Linux distribution. This naturally offers Linux lovers the possibility to customize the system via terminal. In addition, there is almost no malware and the smartphone can be connected to a monitor and can then be used together with mouse and keyboard like a normal Linux PC. However, this variant is really only recommended for Linux connoisseurs, everyone else will miss apps known from Android. The system is also not really optimized for the Volla Phone, so the round monitor edges cut off the time display and the notch is not really taken into account in the display.
NFC is available, but Bluetooth is only available in an older version. The same applies to the Wi-Fi, so you have to make do with Wi-Fi 4 speed.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Sony Xperia 10 II | |
| Oppo Reno4 Z 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | |
| Volla Phone | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Oppo Reno4 Z 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 II | |
| Volla Phone | |
Cameras - De facto single camera
The 16-megapixel camera on the back is supported by a small lens, but you cannot use it for your own photos. Other phones in the price range offer much more flexibility here.
Strictly speaking, it is a single camera that overall takes good pictures for the price range, but a bit more light intensity would have been nice. The quite a lot of details that the camera displays are pleasing. In low light and high contrasts, the picture quickly becomes blotchy and the brightening could be better here as well, but at least you can still recognize some details.
In the test lab, on the other hand, the camera has a hard time recognizing anything at 1 lux. In good light, there is a significant drop in sharpness towards the edges of the picture and slight contrast problems in some areas.
The front-facing camera has a meager 4 megapixel resolution. Volla tells us that it is supposed to be a 16-megapixel camera, but we can only take 4-megapixel pictures. We will not change the specs for the time being until the issue is clarified.
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.
Hauptobjektiv PflanzeHauptobjektiv UmgebungHauptobjektiv Low Light
Display - Bright and with a blue cast
The resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 is standard for the class, and the refresh rate is 60 Hz. The black level is mediocre, but the brightness is quite good, which also results in a decent contrast ratio.
There are significant color deviations and a blue cast in the factory settings.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Center on Battery: 487 cd/m²
Contrast: 1059:1 (Black: 0.46 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 7.28 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 9.2 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
99.8% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.131
| Volla Phone IPS, 2340x1080, 6.30 | Oppo Reno4 Z 5G IPS, 2400x1080, 6.57 | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G AMOLED, 1600x720, 6.60 | Sony Xperia 10 II OLED, 2520x1080, 6.00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | 19% | 73% | 74% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 54 ? | 42 ? 22% | 10 ? 81% | 12 ? 78% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 26 ? | 22 ? 15% | 9 ? 65% | 8 ? 69% |
| PWM Frequency | 242.7 | 116 | ||
| Screen | 5% | 33% | 47% | |
| Brightness middle | 487 | 462 -5% | 466 -4% | 591 21% |
| Brightness | 471 | 439 -7% | 462 -2% | 590 25% |
| Brightness Distribution | 86 | 88 2% | 85 -1% | 97 13% |
| Black Level * | 0.46 | 0.58 -26% | ||
| Contrast | 1059 | 797 -25% | ||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 7.28 | 4.83 34% | 2.06 72% | 1.42 80% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 12.54 | 8.1 35% | 6.14 51% | 3.83 69% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 9.2 | 6.3 32% | 1.8 80% | 2.4 74% |
| Gamma | 2.131 103% | 2.227 99% | 2.105 105% | 2.215 99% |
| CCT | 9394 69% | 7556 86% | 6444 101% | 9014 72% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 12% /
8% | 53% /
43% | 61% /
54% |
* ... smaller is better
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 26 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 11 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 15 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. » 57 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 54 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 27 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 27 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. » 89 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| 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 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Performance, emissions and battery life - Good runtimes
The MediaTek Helio P23 in the Volla Phone cannot keep up with other current mid-range phones in terms of performance. The system can be used fairly smoothly in everyday use, but stutters can occur in more demanding tasks.
Warming remains below 40 °C even under full load, so it is noticeable but by no means unpleasant. The speaker can get quite loud and is suitable for occasionally listening to music tracks. The 3.5 mm port and Bluetooth transmit a clean audio signal.
The battery lasts just under 17 hours in our WLAN test when using the Volla Phone with VollaOS. It is 2-3 hours less with Ubuntu Touch. That is a good battery life. Charging is done with up to 18 watts, which is enough for charging times around 2 hours. Wireless charging is also possible, a nice unique selling point in this price range.
| PCMark for Android - Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value) | |
| Volla Phone | |
| Oppo Reno4 Z 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 II | |
| Average Mediatek Helio P23 MT6763V (4693 - 5133, n=7) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (9101 - 12871, n=4, last 2 years) | |
| Volla Phone | Oppo Reno4 Z 5G | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Sony Xperia 10 II | Average 64 GB eMMC Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 218% | 198% | 12% | 2% | 615% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 276.6 | 935 238% | 963 248% | 293.5 6% | 273 ? -1% | 1508 ? 445% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 206.1 | 201 -2% | 476 131% | 188.2 -9% | 176.8 ? -14% | 1118 ? 442% |
| Random Read 4KB | 69.2 | 125.2 81% | 168.5 143% | 76.8 11% | 59.1 ? -15% | 247 ? 257% |
| Random Write 4KB | 19.2 | 125.7 555% | 147.7 669% | 56.7 195% | 31.7 ? 65% | 272 ? 1317% |
| Sequential Read 256KB SDCard | 80.9 ? | 86.3 ? 7% | 29.15 ? -64% | 77.4 ? -4% | ||
| Sequential Write 256KB SDCard | 74.1 ? | 67.7 ? -9% | 26.13 ? -65% | 58.3 ? -21% |
Temperature
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 39.4 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 35.9 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.1 °C / 86 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Loudspeaker
Volla Phone audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 71.4% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 71.4% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 71.4% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (123% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 90% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 2% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 97% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Oppo Reno4 Z 5G audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 33.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 58% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 35% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 75% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 20% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life
| Volla Phone 4700 mAh | Oppo Reno4 Z 5G 4000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G 5000 mAh | Sony Xperia 10 II 3600 mAh | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | |||||
| WiFi Websurfing | 1016 | 903 -11% | 967 -5% | 743 -27% | 914 ? -10% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Recommended for experienced security fans
Volla collected money for its secure smartphone via crowdfunding and has now delivered quite punctually. It delivers on its promise of a more secure OS without Google, lets you choose whether you want to have Android on your smartphone at all, and there are even first approaches for a Sailfish OS port, so the community seems to be very active as well.
From a technical point of view, the Volla Phone is nothing special when compared to other smartphones in the same price range. The WLAN is slower, the camera not as flexible, the memory slower. But at the same time, Volla has managed to keep the phone suitable for everyday use: You surf the web with a quite stable Internet connection, take decent pictures and can even charge your smartphone wirelessly, which is hardly supported by any other smartphone in this price range.
The Volla Phone is not perfect, but those who want better data protection will get a good smartphone here.
The battery lasts quite long and the screen's resolution is quite high. At the same time, we do not notice any PWM and the brightness is okay. We only find it really annoying that the USB-C port picks up a bit shakily and loses contact from time to time.
Clearly, Ubuntu Touch is rather something for experienced Linux users, newcomers will have a hard time at first. And even a Android without Google services has limitations. However, those who consciously accept it will get a good phone with the Volla Phone and can better control their own data.
Price and availability
The Volla Phone is currently available on the manufacturer's website or via Indiegogo, but not in retail stores. The price is 359 Euros.
Volla Phone
-
01/18/2021 v7
Florian Schmitt
Pricecompare
