Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #13388 in Cell Phone Accessories
- Color: Black
- Brand: Blu
- Model: D550I
- Dimensions: 5.90" h x
.42" w x
3.00" l,
1.00 pounds
Features
- Unlocked Dual SIM, 4GB storage; Android OS, v4.1 (Jelly Bean), Micro SD up to 32GB
- 5.3" High Resolution Display: qHD (540x960 pixels)
- 8MP Camera with LED Flash with HD recording (720p), 2MP Front Camera for Video Calling and instant self portraits.
- 3.5mm Audio Jack,FM Radio, MP3 Player, MP4 Player
BLU Studio 5.3 II Unlocked Dual Sim Phone with Dual-Core 1GHz Processor, Android 4.1, 5.3-inch IPS Capacitive Touch, and 8MP Camera - U.S. Warranty (Black)
Product Description
The Studio 5.3II offers the most vivid high definition display on it massive 5.3" display. Enjoy brilliant movies and games! With its powerful 1GHz dual core processor and 4GB internal memory loaded with latest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, it is truly a gem. 8MP Camera with many features such as geo-tagging, auto-focus, macro mode, burst shots, and LED Flash.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
An optimal choice for people like me
By An ordinary consumer
UPDATE from April 4th, 2013:Today, while thinking about checking the weather before my morning commute, I've decided to test the Wi-Fi feature to check weather.gov. We have a b/g/n router. The speed was comparable to a laptop or a desktop computer. The web-page has fit well into the screen and was following 90 degree screen turns very well. Using two fingers to magnify areas of the web-page was fast and dependent. Along the way, I've tested youtube and watching a vide in "HQ" (cannot tell you weather it was 480p or something else) was fast and the colors/contras were pleasant. YouTube has recognized that I came from a mobile device and presented a mobile version of the web-site, but Weather.gov has presented itself in the same fashion as on a regular computer screen.Also, tested GPS and Maps application. It did not require signing in with a gmail/Google account. Was pleased with the speed and the quality of the picture of the maps. Magnification with two fingers and de-magnification worked very fast and comfortable. I am not into all these bells and whistles, but since I've touched these functions I've gone further and tried the "Voice Search" default app. Asking for "Directions to the Science Museum of Minnesota" has gone successfully. It took the system 3-5 second to interpret the phrase and to open the Maps app again and plot the directions from Rochester, MN to St. Paul, MN.For those who don't want to pay for a data plan, I can guess that the entire route can be saved to cache and as long as one does not use magnification during driving, logically GPS should be able to drag the pointer along the cached map. I'll try it sometime to test this idea.UPDATE from April 2nd, 2013:I've corrected the number of images and the number of hours that are possible with an addition of the 32GB MicroSDHC card.After checking the transferred from the phone images (I've also uploaded them to Amazon, but it seems that they still have not published them yet), I can share some important details:* The camera has fixed aperture at 2.8, hence elements that are further away from the center, even if they are in the same plane, will be slightly out of focus (you will see it in my samples if Amazon will publish the 100% crops that I've provided).* DO NOT rely on the full auto setting while taking picture inside a store. It keep ISO to approx. 200 and uses 1/15th of a second shutter speed setting. Even with a professional camera it is really difficult to produce well-focused image below 1/60th of second. I would say that 1/30 should be the absolute slowest for the hand-held picture taking.* DO NOT use Fluorescent as a white balance setting. The Auto white balance works better.* Choose "Steady photo" setting for all indoor shots. It is interesting that the user cannot choose ISO 1600 with 8MP setting, but with "Steady photo" the ISO can automatically be pushed to ISO 1500. The reason is that the camera in this mode is forced to 1/120 and the ISO setting becomes variable in proportion to the light conditions. In my experiments it was varying between 300 and 1500. Hand-shake is less of a problem with 1/120 setting and the high ISO setting is not too big of a problem for rendering details comparing to out-of-focus images that can result from using the camera without a tripod.* It is possible to touch with a finger for the spot where the camera should focus and take readings from.* Turning those double LEDs ON will help to lit an object that is only 3 feet away. Sometimes it is all what is necessary to reduce shadows in the areas of eyes while shooting a portrait.Initially I had very low expectations from the camera. However, after facing a situation where I needed it and experimenting with various setting, I am pleasantly surprised by how much control over its functions is available.Good news regarding the video/camcorder function:The .3gp files created can be played by Windows Media Player (tested under Win 7) and by QuickTime (tested under Mac 10.6.8). This container has MPEG-4 stream inside plus AAC 2 channel audio at 16,000Hz. It is a 12Mbps stream for those who are interested in technical details. It should be playable in some modern TVs. If you are curious--check the manual of your TV.UPDATE from April 1st, 2013:I've stated that I did not need the camera. Well, I should correct myself. I almost don't need a camera in a cell phone. While vising Mendard's and Lowe's I've realized that I could not memorize all the options and prices for jigsaws and decided to take some photos with this phablet. Well, to my surprise I've discovered that this feature has several options/adjustments that I did not expect to see in a microscopic camera of a cell phone in this price point. It does have auto-focusing, and a number (not a full list) of the options: several pre-sets (common, like "portrait," "sunset," etc.) with "blackboard," and "whiteboard" that can be used after a meeting, to capture notes; several options for white balance, exposure compensation, effects (like sepia, etc.), HDR, contrast, etc. The shutter speed cannot be adjusted, but to my surprise, ISO setting allows manual adjustments from the common "Auto" to: 100, 200, and 400 at 8MP, and 800, 1600 at 1.3 (which is forced by the software). Anyway, my first three shorts were somewhat blurry, but then I've learned how to keep the phablet sturdy and which settings would be more optimal for a retail store environment, so subsequent pictures turned out better. I'll post them later.UPDATE from March 31st, 2013:Speaking about the battery charge. If the phone is ON and the charging starts from 0%, the first 20% of charge are gained within first 20 minutes. Then, to reach 50%, it takes two hours. Then, in additional 2 hours this phablet reaches 95%. And it seems that it takes an extra hour to reach 100%. I have not measured how long it takes when the phone is OFF.UPDATE from March 30th, 2013:I've added couple images of the phone in the cup holder for those who are interested.Regarding the battery. As I've mentioned before, I am not a user of Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. After charging the battery to 100%, I've used the phone to it's full discharge with multiple usages of the Calendar, To-do list, with perhaps a hundred text messages and couple dozen calls (from 30 sec to 8 minutes). My phone was turning itself off every night for 6.5 hours (as programmed) and in the end I was able to use it for four full days (with an additional hour). So, if we'll calculate, the total use time on a full charge was 97-26=71 hours with my style of usage. My system preferences are set to adjust the screen brightness automatically based on the ambient sensor reading. Also, I have set a 2 minute (instead of 1 min that is chosen by default) delay (after the last touch) before the screen goes dark. By the way, when the phone shows that only 1% battery level left, it is still possible to have a 2-3 minutes voice conversation before it turns itself off completely. The proximity sensor turns the screen off (to save energy) when the phone is brought close to one's ear and then turns it on after the phone is moved away.UPDATE from March 29th, 2013:The video quality (1280x720) is good while watching on the phone, but if you'll bring it to a big TV... well, it reminds me of what I used to see from a cheap digital camera that I owned in 1999-2000. It will be OK in case of an emergency (a tornado?) but would not be OK to record Christmas or something special. The phone allows you to capture 1280x720 still shots during video recording. So, they are wide-screen photos, which is good news. However, the quality of these photos is not good (and one should never expect a good quality photo from a lens that is so microscopic! regardless of the brand), which is bad news for those who hope to get every possible gadget in a 210g plastic piece.If you need a good quality camera, I would suggest you to use the saved few hundred dollars (comparing to the price of Samsung Galaxy Note II for instance) and purchase something like Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3KK 12 MP Micro 4/3 Compact System Camera with 3-Inch Touchscreen LCD and 14-42mm Zoom Lens (Black) or Nikon 1 J1 10.1 MP HD Digital Camera System with 10-30mm VR 1 NIKKOR Lens (White).UPDATE from March 28th, 2013:Purchased SanDisk Ultra 32 GB MicroSDHC Class 10 UHS-1 Memory Card with Adapter (SDSDQU-032G-AFFP-A) (sold and fulfilled by Amazon in the frustration free packaging), copied some WAV and MP3 files (at max quality of 320kbps), inserted, tested for playing music, and so far everything is compatible and is working. The still camera and the video camera functions "see" extra memory capacity and are reflecting it by showing that more than 35,700 still images are possible; or 5.5 hours of 720p video could be recorded. I have not tried writing to the card by using these memory intensive features yet, but will update this review if a problem occurs.I was thinking that on one hand I don't really need that much memory in a cell phone. However, on another hand, I don't want to be upset if I'll get caught in a tornado or something with enough battery power, but without enough memory to capture the event. Also, it can provide enough space for couple dozen CDs in WAV, without sacrificing quality that usually happens with MP3s.By the way, for those who are interested about the video files... the video is recorded in some unknown to me video format: "3GP."UPDATE from March 25th, 2013:Forgot to mention that the phone has paired up well with the vehicle's Bluetooth system and handled test phone calls well too.Also, the calendar in this phone/version of Android does not require to have a gmail.com account in order to be used. That's a plus for those who are looking to using a stand-alone/offline calendar. The Tasks (To-Do) list sorts by the due date. It does not have an option to add priorities (A, B, C, for example) to the tasks, but I don't mind.Regarding the battery. It has been already three days that I am trying to drain the battery completely (in order to train it with a full charge and full discharge cycles), but it is still showing 29% left. I have Bluetooth ON, GPS ON, and Wi-Fi ON, but I have not been really using them. Just a few short calls and multiple messages, plus a lot of time with the Calendar and the Tasks. By the way, this version of Android has a feature for a scheduled ON and OFF times for the phone, so it can automatically turn off for nigh and on in the morning. Great battery saving feature. Also, it is possible to change Wi-Fi settings so Wi-Fi is not engaged at night if one chooses to keep the phone ON for the night.ORIGINAL POST:After couple days of usage, it seems that this phabled is an optimal choice for people like me. There is no official definition of a phablet yet. Perhaps any cell phone with a touchscreen of 5" of larger should be considered a phablet.Here is some background. I used to own Casio Cassiopeia E-125, similar to Casio Cassiopeia E-100 Palm-Size PC and I really loved it, despite a high price tag of $400 at that time. It lasted four years and then I sold it for parts. During last seven-eight years pocket organizers have been discontinued due to merging their functions with cell phones. Since there was fascination with making them as small as possible, the screens, despite getting higher resolutions, have not really increased in size. In fact, very often they have decreased from a comfortable 4" and more size, some miniature 2.8"-3.2".In organizing my life I've tried to get by with MS Outlook, but that definitely is not for a person who wants to keep updating his/her To-Do list and a calendar frequently (beyond the office time). I need something that is with or next to me all the time, or almost all the time. I've tried Timex TSC291 Ironman Data Link USB watch ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B545B4/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ). It was waterproof, but the screen was extremely small and the sync was clunky, plus it is not an interactive option.Purchasing an iPhone seems to be an overkill for just staying organized and the screen is not that large. I've tried Motorola MB520 Bravo Unlocked Phone with Android OS, 3MP Camera, FM Radio and GPS - US Warranty - Black. The unlocked version is really affordable, but the screen (3.7") is still not sufficient despite being high-rez (480x854). A Windows Mobile 7.5 phone (Samsung Focus I917 Unlocked Phone with Windows 7 OS, 5 MP Camera, and Wi-Fi--No Warranty (Black) with AMOLED screen seemed to be promising. The screen was 4" (480x800) and I really liked the interface (plus a wide-screen camera at 720p), but after reading many user complains about various problems, the low price has not appeared attractive anymore.A co-worker of mine showed me his T-mobile Samsung Galaxy Note T879, similar to Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000 Unlocked Phone--International Version (Blue). I was not impressed with its version of Android, but I did like the size of the screen. When it comes to apps, I am somewhat minimalist. Being able to download half-a-millions apps does not make me excited. But, being able to see my Calendar and my To-Do list without an effort--is a priority for me. So I am not a minimalist when it comes to screens. A mobile device such as a phablet foremost is a tool for me. Why would I spend several hundred dollars just to play some Angry Birds?Well, Samsung Galaxy Note and Note II may have better specs than Blu Studio 5.3 II but I will not utilize those features/capabilities, hence no desire to overpay (2x- 3x times the price of this phablet). The main idea here is not to purchase impressive specs, but to have a tool that optimally suits my needs. There is also a no-brand 6" version out there (6.0" FWVGA Screen MTK6577 Dual Core 1.2GHz Android 4.0 3G Smart Phone N9776 which is also affordable, but the size seems to be too large and the no-brand origin makes me averse. Blu Studio 5.3 II is made in China too (designed in Miami), but at least these people feel accountable enough to offer phones under their brand.It is good to see that this phone has replaceable battery. Real life experience shows that it is a good idea to have a spare battery and avoid frustration when the phone was not charged at night or there were multiple long conversations. However, the back cover is not a sliding type, it is a snap-on type and requires a cautious approach to remove it. I would not risk removing it on daily basis, but if it's done occasionally--it should be OK.My version is D550i. Inserted a regular T-mobile SIM card and so far it is working. I don't spend money on a data plan, so whether it works on 2G, 3G, or 4G is not important for me. The set that I have received came with a set of stereo ear buds+mini microphone, a charger (5V/1A output), and a USB cable (that can be used to connect the phone to the charger or to a computer), a new battery, and a small user guide. Maybe I am mistaken, but it seems that the phone has a factory attached screen protector. The vendor from I've purchased has also added a separate screen protector designed for this model and branded by Blu in separate retail-type package.The pre-installed Android is 4.1.2, Kernel version is 3.4.0 from Feb 4, 2013. Normally I don't like Linux-based operating systems, but this version of Android seems to be more user friendly than 2.1, 2.2, or 2.3 that I've seen before. The default calendar interface looks better than on 2.2 and 2.3 and is more usable. I plan to post some photos for those who are looking beyond Angry Birds during their purchasing decision.I see that another user has commented on the speed of the interface on this phone. Personally (and I work with strong and fast Mac and PC computers on daily basis) I have not noticed any lag with the features that I am using. At the same time, as I've mentioned before, a phablet for me is not something that I would purchase for a 3D game or shooting 1080p videos. By the way, having a wide-screen (16:9, 720p) video option on this phone is a plus. Not that I would use it often, but comparing to Motorola Bravo that has a standard (640x480) option, it is good that the video feature is wide-screen. I wish they would make the photo feature wide-screen too, but it is not critical because normally I use Panasonic GH2 for those purposes.Now, my next step is to purchase a spare battery, equip with a 32GB MicroSDHC, find an appropriate pouch (those that are designed for Samsung Galaxy Note II should be a good fit), and perhaps a stylus. In Minnesotan winters capacitive screens don't react very well to cold fingers.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Decent phone for the money!
By AMDX1325
Pros:-Cheap, almost 3 times less expensive as the comparable Samsung Galaxy Note.-Big Screen, 5.3 Inch qHD display-Big Battery, 2200mah-Jelly Bean/Latest Android OS-Dual sim card slot!Cons:-Not compatible with US 3G, only works on 2.5G (Tmobile Edge)-Touchscreen response is not the fastest I've seen, actually kinda slow compared to my other HTC One X (this particular example also went erratic when there was an excessive static from my hands)-Subpar Camera, its 8MP is only about 5MP real pixel...and at F2.8 it has a piss poor low light performance in addition to poor dynamic range. It simply cannot compete with Sony or Apple's brilliant camera phones.Overall:Its decent for a replacement phone if you've lost your old phone, or as an upgrade from cheaper phones. But if you are expecting like a Samsung Galaxy SIII/Apple Iphone 5/Sony Xperia Z/HTC One kind of experience, looks elsewhere, but you really shouldn't expect that much because this phone only costs 200USD unlocked...
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Big screen, small memory
By Sean Bradley
The phone is extremely low on memory, 120MB. It does not allow you to install directly to an inserted microSD(I intalled a 32GB in mine, it sees it fine), but once installed, you can shift some programs to external memory. The camera flash isn't very bright. The camera takes about 4-5 seconds to take the picture and will not be the image that freezes on the screen when you take the picture. Mine no longer installs or updates despite the 20MB of free space, I get numerous messages stating that auto-updates fails for every app. The touch screen can take up to 4 seconds to respond, so you don't see any indication that it registered your touch. If you wait, then it just sits there, if you press it a second time, you risk clicking something on accident. Using the WiFi to connect to the internet can be tricky. On other devices, some networks force you to acknowlege a disclaimer, but the browser on the BLU will not redirect to the acknowledgement page, though this may be more an android phone feature. The GPS is dodgy, especially in the city. My other android phone doesn't suffer from these problems, except the WiFi redirect issue.Since it's not all bad, it takes 2 SIMs, 1 is 3G, the second is 2G. It works in Europe and the US. The screen is large and bright.Unfortunately, it's negatives outway it's positives. It's a phone; with the way android has been implemented, it's a dumbphone, not a smartphone.
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