Hands-on review: Hisense - All You Need is Faith

Hisense is well-known for their high-quality TVs and appliances; now, they’ve set their sights on the competitive cellphone market.

There is no doubt that the two giants, Samsung and Apple, are still – and will be for the foreseeable future – at the forefront of the industry, with their flagship devices garnering much hype. However, Hisense has opted to tackle the dynamic mid-range tier; it’s ferocious and therefore a transcendent range of phones is needed; so, have they delivered?

Infinity Faith

First impression

The build is of a premium standard; the metal unibody – with a matte finish – allows for a great feel in the hand. It looks like a mixture of Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei, but that’s not a bad thing, at all. These brands have separable characteristics that make them special, and this combination that makes up the Faith, allows for a unique user experience.

Hardware

The Faith boasts an Octa-Core 1.4 GHz Processor, which is pretty much on par with other mobiles in this approximate price range – for example, the Xiaomi Redmi 3S. From my experience with this Hisense device, there are no hitches when running apps simultaneously.

The device comes with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 128 GB via a microSD card. It also boasts 4 different sensors: fingerprint (mounted on the rear); Ambient light; Proximity and Acceleration.

Display

This beauty features a 720p display and a 5.0” IPS screen. While it’s not Full HD, the images appear sharp and crisp. The colours are vibrant; you’re really getting top-tier quality considering the price bracket.

Connectivity and battery life

You’ll find that the device has LTE (4G) capability, which is fantastic. In terms of Wi-Fi, it has the 802. 11 b/g/n, which admittedly is not the best, but it doesn’t seem to create any problems when loading pages in your browser and instant chat services.

Camera and Video

The smartphone is equipped with a 13 MP camera – with flash and Auto Focus functionality – on the rear and a 5 MP secondary shooter on the front, which is perfect for stand-and-shoot selfies. You’re also able to record video at 720p (HD) resolution @30fps.

Audio

I was very impressed with the sound output; it’s clear and when you turn up the volume, there is no distortion. I streamed media through YouTube – video and audio, blasted my favourite tracks and watched an episode of Game of Thrones – it was perfect.

Final words

I can say with confidence that Hisense has created a gem in the Infinity Faith. From the metal unibody build to the software; you’re going to experience a device that has high-end specs, but is still able to retail for a wallet-friendly price. I highly recommend this phone – it will be very difficult to find anything else like it!

Screen display

So, the question that I posed in the intro has been answered with an emphatic YES! Hisense has produced a smartphone that is without a doubt, going to challenge of the top spot in the mid-range war. Even though a few tweaks need to be made, I believe that Hisense is a formidable force in the dynamic world of cellphones.

Pros: Affordable; metal unibody build; HD resolution; easily-navigable UI; fantastic audio playback; above-average CPU; thin, modern design; responsive touch screen; impressive picture quality when recording; clear and crisp video playback.

Cons: It usually takes a few tries before the fingerprint sensor recognises your print; does not have a FHD screen; no flashing notification LED; screen smudges easily.

Key specs