Ulefone Gemini Review — Affordable Smartphone Featuring Dual Cameras

Dual main cameras have become a significant trend in smartphones this year. We take a closer look at their necessity through the example of the Ulefone Gemini smartphone.

China hosts numerous mobile device manufacturers that primarily serve the domestic market or fulfill OEM orders. These companies boast robust production capabilities and extensive experience, yet their brand names remain largely unknown outside China.

One such company is Gotron, established in 2006. In 2014, it ventured into the international market by launching the Ulefone brand. Therefore, the Ulefone Gemini is a product from a seasoned player in the mobile industry rather than a newcomer.

The Ulefone Gemini is an affordable smartphone priced at approximately $140. Beyond its low cost, this device offers several appealing features worth discussing.

Technical Specifications

The Ulefone Gemini's specs are typical for a 2017 smartphone. While a quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM were impressive not long ago, today they are standard for smooth operation.

Similarly, a quality large display and metal body are common among competitors. However, the Gemini stands out with a dual rear camera setup and a multifunctional front button.

Display	5.5 inches, Full HD (1920 × 1080), Sharp IPS panel; Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Platform	MediaTek MT6737T processor (quad-core, 1.5 GHz); Mali-T720 GPU
RAM	3 GB DDR3
Internal Storage	32 GB
Cameras	Rear: 13 MP + 5 MP dual cameras; Front: 5 MP (interpolated to 8 MP)
Connectivity	Dual SIM slots (microSIM + nanoSIM) + microSD slot 2G (GSM): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz; 3G (WCDMA): 900 / 2100 MHz; 4G (FDD-LTE): 800 / 1700 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 MHz
Wireless Interfaces	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4G/5G), Bluetooth 4.0 BLE, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Expansion Slots	microSD (up to 32 GB, alternatively replaces second SIM), OTG support
Sensors	Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity Sensor, eCompass
Operating System	Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Battery	3250 mAh (up to 320 hours standby)
Dimensions	154.5 × 76.8 × 9.1 mm
Weight	185 g

Design, Build Quality, and Packaging

The Ulefone Gemini comes in a simple white cardboard box. Though modest in appearance, the packaging contains pleasant extras. Alongside the smartphone, charger, and cable, the package includes a silicone case, screen protector, and a metal accessory that attaches to the back of the phone for secure handling or as a stand.

The phone features a unibody metal chassis crafted from an aluminum-magnesium alloy with a dark finish. Although marketed as black, the device actually exhibits a subtle blue-purple hue, lending it a sleek, modern, and elegant look.

Build quality is solid. Below the screen on the front is a multifunctional button with an integrated fingerprint scanner. The left edge houses the power button and volume rocker, while the right edge features a dedicated camera launch button. This uncommon layout may cause initial confusion, as pressing the camera button instead of powering off the device is easy at first.

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Touch ID Button

The multifunctional front button, referred to as Touch ID by the developers, serves to unlock the device via fingerprint recognition and to log into certain apps. This feature works impressively well, with quick and accurate fingerprint detection, unlike some other devices.

The central button also manages smartphone navigation by recognizing multiple gestures, including tap, press, and long press. Users can assign custom functions to each gesture, such as 'back', 'home', or 'task manager'. This flexibility allows hiding the on-screen navigation bar for a cleaner display.

Display and Audio

After using the Ulefone Gemini as my primary phone for a week, describing the display is challenging. Display technology has matured so much that differentiating between devices at this price point is nearly impossible. The Gemini is no exception.

It features a high-quality Sharp display with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. The screen is bright, contrast-rich, and offers accurate color reproduction, delivering satisfying visuals.

The built-in speaker, located on the bottom edge, produces loud sound, ensuring you won’t miss calls even when the phone is in your pocket. However, the vibration motor is notably weak and barely noticeable. Listening to music via headphones is comfortable, with ample volume to drown out loud ambient noise.

Performance

Hardware and software developers often seem to be in a silent race. As hardware becomes more powerful, software tends to become more resource-intensive, sometimes causing even high-end devices to lag.

Fortunately, software optimization has improved recently. Nowadays, purchasing any reasonably modern device ensures smooth performance without worries.

The Gemini uses a MediaTek MT6737T quad-core processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, which is sufficient for all tasks, including video playback, web browsing, and mobile gaming. The 3 GB of RAM allows smooth multitasking and comfortable OS usage.

Camera

The standout feature of the Ulefone Gemini is its camera system, setting it apart from many Asian counterparts. It is currently the most affordable smartphone I know with a dual-camera setup. The rear houses two lenses — 13 MP and 5 MP — enabling realistic and vibrant photos. See the gallery below to judge the quality yourself.

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The second camera enables bokeh effect photography, where the background blurs to highlight the subject. While the Gemini can produce such shots, achieving the effect requires precise focus and steady camera positioning.

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For best results, select a small subject and hold the camera steady. Otherwise, the software may blur the entire background indiscriminately. This limitation likely stems from immature software algorithms associated with the relatively new dual-camera technology and is expected to improve with updates.

Battery Life

The Ulefone Gemini’s battery performance is somewhat disappointing. The 3250 mAh battery capacity is respectable, but software inefficiencies prevent the phone from entering deep sleep during idle periods.

Without root access, pinpointing the exact cause is challenging, but this issue significantly affects standby time and overall battery endurance.

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