OUKITEL WP1 Review

Today it's time to tell you about a new launch from OUKITEL, a firm from which we have already been able to test several terminals in recent times. Its new commitment to the “rugged phones” sector is the OUKITEL WP1, smartphone tough and powerful alike, called upon to gain a foothold among the increasingly wide range of ruggedized products.

In a totally booming sector where new firms and new terminals do not stop landing, it is becoming increasingly difficult to stand out. To achieve this, OUKITEL has created a device capable of meeting all expectations, the WP1.

OUKITEL WP1, everything we miss in others

There are several all-terrain smartphones that we have been lucky enough to test in recent months. And this offers us a clear perspective of how this type of terminals is in full evolution. On other occasions we have commented that this is a sector that goes a bit on its own with respect to the rest, at least in terms of design.

But with the latest reviews we are seeing how the rugged phones are reaching, little by little, more stylized lines. Although they are shock and water resistant devices, they are becoming more and more aesthetically closer to conventional smartphones. And this is something that expands your possibilities in the market.

The OUKITEL WP1 is one such example. Without giving up lines that are rougher than those of a “normal” smartphone. And maintaining a robust appearance in the “rugged” style denotes an important evolution. The occupation of the front with the screen is greater, and the size of the device is much more contained. Details that make it interesting for a wider audience.

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OUKITEL WP1 powerful on the inside and robust on the outside

We are going to analyze how WP1 is physically on all sides. Although it bears a great resemblance to the OUKITEL WP2 on which we published the review not long ago, we will find many more differences than similarities. Regarding the used materials for its construction we also find Polystyrene Ebonite and Flexible Polystyrene Glue.

Materials that ensure that the WP1 it will resist without problems to shocks, to water, and at low and high temperatures. But in this device they share the limelight with a material that is not expected to be found in a rugged smartphone, the glass. That's right, in the rear, the OUKITEL WP1 has a “glass” part that is located there with a lot of sense and that we will explain below. 

Also the WP1 has dual rear photo camera, fingerprint readerAnd with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage. But we find an important evolution with respect to its "brother" the WP2 if we look at the processor. Without leaving MediaTek, the WP1 features a more evolved Octa core such as the Helio P23.

What's more, the OUKITEL WP1 arrives with IP68 certification which guarantees not only water resistance. In addition to not suffering from splashes, We can immerse it in water up to a meter and a half for half an hour without suffering any damage. Undoubtedly a versatile smartphone that will be able to satisfy the needs of anyone.

OUKITEL WP1 Unboxing

Now is the time to look inside the box of our OUKITEL WP1. After uncovering a typical OUKITEL device box, square, slim and minimalist we found several things. In addition to the obvious terminal we see the odd extra cable. We have the connector for electrical current, something that some firms are beginning to do without, which seems fatal to us.

With the excuse of lowering costs to offer more competent prices, we saw headphones disappear from almost all firms. Now, conflicting positions appear in another aspect. There are firms that try to include the odd extra that serves to make themselves stand out. And others who decide to do without everything that is not strictly necessary, and even some things that in our opinion are, such as the wall connector.

We found three different types of cables. The first is the USB cable for charging and data transfer, what comes to us with USB Type-C format. Then we have another cable that helps us to charge other devices with our smartphone, connect another device via USB. And finally, a USB Type C to 3.5 mini jack adapter, in case we wanted to connect our headphones.

This is the OUKITEL WP1 in 360º

The front of the OUKITEL WP1 stands out for offering a peculiar shape. By not having straight or rounded corners, the solution with a slight octagonal shape It is striking and not unpleasant to the eye. The edges are well protected with a plastic edge that in its upper and lower parts even "invades" the front of the device. 

We found a 5,5 inch Due to the smaller size of the device, it is not small in relation to the percentage of use. Still, the use of the front by the screen can be improved since it only reaches a 67%. In the upper part of the front the speakerphone for calls, proximity sensors and camera for selfies.

Los capacitive Android buttons remain within the screen itself. So using them it loses a bit of size. Something increasingly common in the vast majority of new devices. Especially due to the little frame that some terminals have. And that is no longer a "problem" when we use the full screen mode since they are hidden automatically.  

At the Right side find the button for volume control and below the power or lock button. The part where these buttons are located, and much of the side form a metal piece that almost completely occupies the side. We also see three small screws on said side, an identifying sign of the rugged phone that this case goes almost unnoticed.

At the left side is the slot for SIM cards where we can also introduce a Mini-SD to be able to expand the memory. As usual in rugged phones, we find the card slot protected with a rubber tab that guarantees airtightness. We can easily remove it thanks to a small edge, but to close it completely well we will have to apply a lot of pressure. 

The upper part is diaphanousna, among other things because of the decision to suppress the mini headphone jack port. We see some projections that are nothing more than aesthetic solutions of doubtful taste. On the bottom, also properly covered with a rubber tab, is located the charging and connection port. And we are pleased to see that you have USB Type C connection.

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A backside with surprise

We already mentioned it at the beginning, in this OUKITEL WP1 we find a mix of materials never seen before. Combinations that make sense, As strange as it may seem to find a glass rear in an off-road terminal. But that crystal is there for something that we have loved, the OUKITEL WP1 has wireless charginga, it was about time!

It was something we had been asking for in practically every review. of a submersible device. It does not make much sense to put a watertight tab that we have to constantly remove to charge the device, with the consequent deterioration that it would entail. Therefore, seeing that OUKITEL have thought about that by providing the WP1 with wireless charging is sensational.

Clarify that In the back that looks like glass we found a studied combination of polycarbonate compounds jointly developed by Bayer and TPU. A composition which makes the back shell extremely resistant to impacts. And it also produces exceptional liquid and dust insulation.

At upper part, crossed by a metal part, we find dual photo camera. Two lenses that are positioned vertically and whose left side is a double LED flash with enough power to light up any scene. Below the camera, and still within this "piece" we find the fingerprint reader. 

Good location of the elements, especially dthe fingerprint reader that remains in a natural place to support the index finger. Much better placed there, although it looks a lot like where most firms place it, than doing experiments that end up being a fiasco. We are talking about the attempts to locate the fingerprint reader on the side, undoubtedly, failed attempts.

At the bottom of this striking rear there is also the speaker. A single speaker that in addition to being larger than average has been put in a centered way.  Being placed in the center prevents us from covering it with our hand, and that is noticeable because it sounds even better with the device horizontally.

OUKITEL WP2 Technical Specifications Sheet

[table]

Brand, OUKITEL

Model, WP1

Display, 5.5-inch IPS LCD 720 x 1440 px (HD+) 293 ppi

Processor, MediaTek Helio P23 at 2.5 GHz

GPU, ARM Mali-G71 MP2

RAM memory, 4 GB

Internal storage, 64 GB

Fingerprint reader, YES on the back

Rear camera, dual with Sony IMX135 sensor of 15 Mpx + 2 Mpx

Front camera, 8 Mpx

Battery, 5.000 mAh with wireless charging

Operating System, Android 8.0 with OUKITEL customization layer

Dimensions, 73.7 x 157.3 x 14

Weight, 230 g

Price, €209.99

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[/ Table]

The OUKITEL WP1 screen

We have to tell you about the screen of this rugged, although there is nothing special that catches our attention. We have recently tried one that in this aspect left much to be desired. The OUKITEL WP1 screen meets minimum quality standards regarding size, although on the issue of resolution it may fall a bit short.

We are talking about a panel with a 5,5 inch diagonal , something that could improve given the free percentage available on the front. Still, it is a comfortable size and useful for any task. A IPS LCD screen with good qualities.

The issue of the resolution makes us raise a small complaint again. When it seemed that all devices on the market would already have Full HD resolutions, it seems that we were taking a step backwards. The OUKITEL WP1 offers on your screen a 720 x 1440p resolutionx, or what is the same, HD +. With a 293 pixel per inch density. We can not say that it is bad, but it can be easily improved.

Say the screen has a aspect ratio 18:9 which makes it comfortable to play videos. And a detail that we really liked. We have LED notifications. An extra that is in danger of extinction and of which we have declared ourselves absolute fans on occasion. 

What's inside the OUKITEL WP1?

If we look at what the OUKITEL WP1 can offer us at the power level, we are pleasantly surprised. Starting with the choice of the processor has been a wise decision. We found a MediaTek Helio P23 MT6763T. A chip that also uses the entire new Oppo mid-range "A" line with very satisfactory results.

We hold an octa core with 4 x 2.5 GHz ARM Cortex A53 and 4 x 1.6 GHz ARM Cortex A53 configuration with 2.5 GHz clock frequency and 64-bit architecture that performs wonderfully.

With regards to RAM, we like to meet generous 4 GB. Something that we began to get used to in mid-range smartphones but that very recently was exclusive to the most prohibitive terminals. They are also perfectly complemented with a 64 GB internal memory that we can even expand with a Micro SD.

Given the qualities that the WP1 offers, we cannot forget that we are talking about a smartphone that fits into the all-terrain sector. And that in addition to having enough power to compete with any device in the mid-range. The OUKITEL WP1 is IP68 certified, something out of reach, at the moment, for the vast majority of conventional smartphones. 

In the graphics aspect we find a ARM Mali-G71 MP2, able to take full advantage of a screen that could have been a little better. And the security section is completed with a fingerprint reader that works fast and accurate, and that it is located in the best possible position.

Photography that raises the bar

It is the turn of the photographic section. A point where OUKITEL has offered us good quality on other occasions. And in the case of the WP1 it was not going to be less. We found a dual rear camera that come signed by Sony, another good choice that ensures good performance.

Specifically we find the Sony IMX135 sensor with 15 Mpx + 2 Mpx resolution that expand the possibilities and whose results have pleasantly surprised us. Accompanying the camera is a double LED flash that perfectly fulfills its mission. 

En photographs taken outdoors and with good natural light we see really good results. We can appreciate a high degree of definition and sharpness, plus good white balance.

Also when we have been able to test the camera in a photo from a distance the results are up to par. We see how still in the distance the shapes and especially the different shades of colors are well differentiated as well as light. We see how focusing on the horizon, in the closest elements definition is lost due to dark tones and shadow. But in general, with almost any type of capture, it behaves well.

En photos taken in non-natural light it's where most cameras falter. But in the captures made with the dual camera of the WP1 we have obtained better photos than expected. Although the colors, of course, lose a bit in realism. We see a definition of shapes and resolution overall catch really good.

For the front camera we find a 5 Mpx sensor able to get good marks in selfies. Without excelling, it fulfills its objective and offers us satisfactory results.

According to the camera app we can't add much data. It is really simple in handling, in addition to concise in terms of possibilities and configuration. We can choose between different types of photography modes. Among them we find the famous blur mode that seems not to be too successful.

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OUKITEL WP1 built for action

Ultra-resistant smartphones are from birth aimed at a very specific audience. Users with very "special" or different needs or circumstances who need smartphones with also special characteristics. In its early days, the manufacturers of the so-called ruggedized phones they focused solely on resistance.

And they didn't do a bad job. It is true that from the beginning we saw really rugged phones. Endurance that was gaining thanks to the use of new materials and stronger alloys. And a turning point was also getting watertightness on an IP68 certified smartphone.

But, is it necessary to give up the evolution of the smartphone sector to get a resistant phone? The OUKITEL WP1 is proof that no longer. Slowly, off-road phones have become more similar in terms of performance to conventional smartphones that we find in the market.

And in order to make an increasingly versatile phone, the WP1. A smartphones capable of offering the latest technology combined with unmatched strength. All this in a phone aimed at outdoor activities that is also fully equipped to be a good travel companion.

With the WP1 it will be very difficult for you to get lost. Count with one advanced Glonass GPS system so you always know where you are moving. A compass accurate to orient you anywhere. And it also has a geomagnetic sensor, gyroscope and with barometer functions to be able to measure pressure and altitude in real time. 

House brand battery

OUKITEL is a firm that has been characterized since it became known for equipping their phones with generous batteries. We saw in the review of the OUKITEL WP2 as it is the ruggedized one with the largest battery on the market, with 10.000 mAh. And how the firm is able to make the phone also stand out to a greater extent for other qualities.

The OUKITEL WP1 has gained in mobility and has reduced its size and weight considerably compared to the WP2. But this does not mean it has a tiny battery. Their 5.000 mAh minimum double the load capacity of almost the entire mid-range. A battery that also stretches much more thanks to a good optimization work between all the components to obtain remarkable energy efficiency.

A very special mention should be made of the incorporation, finally, of wireless charging on these types of devices. It does not make much sense to go around removing the protection tab for sealing almost daily. And this is something that users have been claiming for a long time. Although, to put one downside, we do not have a wireless charger among the accessories in the box compatible.

Sound and extras

From the sound section we can comment on several things. The first is that a speaker that the WP1 has stands out for being bigger than we're used to to see on a smartphone. Its location also seems to us more successful than those that are placed at the bottom. Even with the phone on the table the speaker seems to emit a clean sound. 

In addition, the sound it offers is powerful and clear. Possibly the phone that is capable of making the most "noise" of all the ones we have tested, its speaker sounds very loud. No distortions or vibrations are noticeable even with the volume turned up. The bass feels good and the treble sounds crisp and high. It seems that OUKITEL has also thought about those who like to listen to music without headphones.

Although speaking of headphones, we have to know that the WP1 does not have a mini jack port to connect them. On the other hand, if the adapter cable to USB Type C comes with us. We can use any headset thanks to this adapter, but we will not be able to do it if the phone is charging or connected to the PC. 

However, given the enormous variety of options that we find in the market to access a bluetooth headset it would be an interesting investment. Even more so in a device of this type in which the rubber caps that protect it in case of immersion could deteriorate due to use.

We have just talked about the battery and its compatibility with wireless charging. And we believe that it is also fair to consider it as an extra. Since there are very few manufacturers who decide to bet on compatible devices with wireless charging.

Android 8 slightly customized

In WP1 we have Android 8.0 Oreo under OUKITEL's own customization layer. As we have already commented in other reviews of devices of this firm, fortunately its customization layer is very light. It practically limits itself to slightly molding the icons, sometimes giving them a more “metallic” appearance. Naked eye it doesn't go much beyond a launcher on Android, but with some "tweaks". 

But we must break a spear in favor of OUKITEL regarding its customization layer, updates are the order of the day. In the latest model of the firm that we were able to test, the WP2, we told you that we had found some adjustments in Chinese and that it would surely be a mistake to solve. And so it has been, in one of the most recent updates they have taken this assessment into account and for now we find all the settings in the chosen language.

Still, and as you know, en Androidsis we are firm defenders of pure Android. Using Android and improving it is legal, and good for all users. But modifying something that already works excellently to make it "own" we think is a fat mistake.

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Pros and cons of the OUKITEL WP1

We must add that the OUKITEL WP1 has been a pleasant surprise. In general terms brings many claimed elements to the rugged market for a long time. In addition to wireless charging, see how the size is contained. And observe that the designs soften and stop being so rough.

All these improvements and modifications They are a clear example of evolution that this segment is going through. And when it evolves towards the needs and demands of the general public, the result can only be good. 

Pros

Wireless charging It is one of its strengths given the type of smartphone it is and what it takes to remove the rubber cover that guarantees its airtightness almost daily.

Su 5.000 mAh battery makes us not dependent on the charger every day. And with moderate use it can go up to two and a half days without having to connect it.

The size, although it is not especially small, it looks smaller than other terminals of the same range, and that is something to be appreciated. 

Your camera we liked. Not only does it fulfill its role as such, it is also capable of taking advantage of a versatile telephone.

Cons

The weight, something that is assumed in rugged phones from the outset, is still a small impediment for those who do not move with a bag in tow.

La screen resolutionGiven what we can find in the market at very similar prices, it falls a bit short. Easily improvable point.

We have commented that wireless charging is a positive point, but that the box does not contain a wireless charger for this it is still a mistake. Especially given the low prices in which they move lately. An average buyer would be happy to take a small price increase to get the full pack.

Editor's opinion