We see so many iPhone copycats that it’s hardly worth flagging them up, but this Chinese T32 is worth a look just because it gets things so spectacularly wrong. The general formula for a good knock-off is to mimic the appearance but add in three-times the functionality and hope people are swayed by the spec-sheet. Here’s where the T32 begins to stumble: it’s a mere 2.5G phone, with GSM/GPRS/EDGE, which means that even though the manufacturer has packed a three megapixel front camera (as opposed to the VGA-quality cam usually used for video calls), you can’t actually make video calls because the connection is too slow.
Add to that the sub-iPhone display – 3.2-inches at 240 x 320 – and the 15.5mm thickness, and you’re getting a fat, rubbish handset that, running Windows Mobile 6, won’t be as usable as Apple’s offering. The only saving graces are A2DP Bluetooth, integrated GPS and a memory card slot, plus they’ve copied the iPhone’s rotation sensor and screen shutoff.
It’s not, unsurprisingly, available outside of wholesale channels in China.
[via MY iTablet]
pls get ur facts right the rotation sensor was not even invented by apple….many cameras alrdy do have the sensors….they are also used in harddisks that can withstand knocks….SO, how can u say its apple’s rotation sensor
I certainly didn’t mean to imply that Apple “invented” the rotation sensor – after all, they’ve been around for years – merely that this clone handset includes some of the same functionality that has been highlighted in the iPhone.
I can not understand how a TOY like iphone can make it so big. It is for people that need some type of an electronic toy. A SERIOUS pda smartphone will have some type of windows mobile and an expansion port.
The T32 may lack VGA quality capabilities, but if I do not have at my work place the proper connections to have video conversations, then I will change my work place if we have to rely on our cellphones to have video conversations. A cell phone is or should be used in case of an emergency and in this case the receiving party can be informed of the companies inability to provide proper equipment.
As said before iphone is a toy, not to be meant for serious users of smartphones. Apple has a good PR and all the reports that give the iphone a good review are scared to say what they really think, because they do not want to go against the wind. Which is a shame, because they do not inform us the consumer which product is really good and which are just fades. One does not need to read reports to find out which products are “RUBBISH”.
Please do not forget that “all that shines is not gold”! I hope to have helped the readers of this article to think about what they give there hard earned money out for.
Cheers
Well… I have a T32, and I have to say it’s excellent. I played around with the iphone, and decided it wasn’t for me, so I picked up a T32 for about the same cost as an iPhone (I got mine for $300). I have to say that this is an excellent phone. While a few fundamental flaws make it far from perfect, it is far better than the iphone.
First of all, it’s unlocked. No need to jailbreak or anything. Second, it’s got Windows mobile, which means it’s far more “open” in terms of compatibility with software than the iphone. It’s also got two interchangeable batteries (which is weird, since the phone already has about 50% more “charge time” than my iphone… so it’s like a double bonus). And some versions use two simcards (mine has one though). Also, unlike the iphone, the dang phone can actually record videos. >.>
Now for the bad stuff though: at times my phone lagged when I was watching videos; it has about 64 megs of ram, so doing intensive stuff can cause it to slow down. Second, it has only four buttons, so some programs won’t work if they weren’t made for touchscreen phones. And last, it has trouble with 3d games (two 200 mhz omap processors apparently can’t handle the load). However, to be fair, it’s a PHONE, not a PSP. Oh, and to be fair, the screen *is* inferior to the iphone’s; but not to the extent where you’d assume the T32 is crappy.
So, there’s a fair unbiased review. And just to be fair, I think that the iphone isn’t a horrible product. If it ran windows mobile, was priced fairly, and was unlocked, you can bet your marbles that I’d have bought the iphone instead.