Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.
TeXet TM-3204R is a “protected” smartphone (shockproof, waterproof), but it is aimed at a wider audience. Now it can be purchased for less than 7 thousand rubles - a very real option for many summer residents. At the same time, the gadget runs on full-fledged Android and is equipped with everything necessary: GPS, 3G, Bluetooth, microSD slot, camera with flash.
Let's take a closer look at what teXet TM-3204R actually is.
Equipment
The teXet TM-3204R has a rich set of equipment, as befits a conventionally “premium” model.
- smartphone
- USB cable 2 pcs.
- headphones
- additional plugs
- network adapter
- compass strap
- instruction manual
- warranty card
Losing the included USB cable can result in a problem for the owner, since the micro-USB connector in the smartphone is “recessed” into the body and requires a specially shaped “tip”. Regular cables from other devices are not suitable.
Design
The main thing in any “protected” device is the housing. And in this regard, it’s hard to find fault with the teXet TM-3204R: it doesn’t creak, it’s made of expensive material, it looks truly stylish and sporty. Safety is top notch - the gadget can be immersed in water to a depth of up to a meter (however, I didn’t dare test this), the protection from dust and dirt is 100 percent. The smartphone complies with the IP67 security standard.
You can find a lot of screws on the case: some secure “covers” for connectors (the standard kit includes several spare “rubber bands”), others protect back cover. To replace a SIM card or microSD, you have to unscrew the screws - in principle, this can be done with your fingers if you have some skill, but it is more comfortable and safer to use a screwdriver.
For a device with a 3.2-inch screen, the teXet TM-3204R’s dimensions are quite large: 124x68x20 mm, weight 210 g. However, this is what a smartphone that claims to be “indestructible” should be like.
The big advantage of teXet TM-3204R is that the phone does not need a case. The body is ready to withstand all moderate attacks from the external environment, but an extra rag will still not save it from immoderate ones.
On the front side, in addition to the screen, there are several hard buttons, as well as a webcam, sensors, and a microphone.
The most ascetic part of a smartphone is bottom end. There are no connectors or buttons on it.
On the left is a flashlight power button and a micro-USB connector.
At the top end there is only a headphone jack and a button to turn the device on/off.
On the right are volume control keys, as well as a button for taking photos. All of them, unfortunately, react to pressure with great reluctance.
The speaker grille can be found at the back, under the battery access cover. A camera with a flash also found a home there (the latter also functions as a regular flashlight).
In general, both the case itself and the design of the smartphone left a good impression. The device is simply pleasant to hold in your hands.
Screen
But a small 3.2-inch screen with a resolution of 480 by 320 pixels is unlikely to make a good impression on anyone right now. It is made using IPS technology, has a screen ratio of 16:9 and supports dual touch.
The sensor is very ordinary - I have seen much more “responsive” devices, but it is enough for work tasks. It’s not worth using teXet TM-3204R for games anyway.
In terms of brightness and contrast, there is nothing special either. You have to look into the sun to read anything. But there is a function for auto-brightness adjustment, which makes interaction with the device much more comfortable.
Performance
IN Antutu smartphone scores 7546 points. A little, of course. The ultra-budget, which is in the lower segment of the manufacturer’s smartphone line and costs two and a half times less, scored more than 11 thousand in our test a couple of months ago.
Based on teXet TM-3204R dual core processor Qualcomm MSM8225, operating at a spartan frequency of 1 GHz, 768 MB of RAM and an Adreno 203 video chip. Standard characteristics for an entry-level smartphone. Built-in memory is 4 GB, there is support for microSD up to 32 GB. The software platform is based on Android 4.0.4.
This is all enough for more or less comfortable web surfing; games are also going well - in N.O.V.A. 3, for example, I did not notice any serious slowdowns.
Interface
Fortunately, the standard Android 4.0 interface has not undergone any “creative” processing in the teXet TM-3204R. And although this is not the most stylish version of the system from Google, the menu does not look cheap or “Chinese-like”.
The location of any objects on the screen can be customized - you can place both widgets and simple icons on the desktop.
But the manufacturer decided to modify the notification panel. It looks a little clumsy, but from it you can access any phone settings (it’s not clear, however, why this might be needed when you can get to the settings menu simply from the list of applications).
The virtual keyboard is also not very convenient - many frequently used characters (for example, “dog”) are hidden in the menu, and there is no quick switch between languages. However, you can always download alternative keyboard from Google Play.
Contacts and calls
The signal reception quality of the teXet TM-3204R is good. It is not difficult to understand what the interlocutor is saying, even in street conditions.
IN phone book Each contact can be assigned a name, several phone numbers, an address, email, website, nickname, “attach” event, group.
“Dialer” is the most common one, it takes up almost the entire screen.
Correspondence
Working with SMS is convenient. Templates are available and there is a voice call button. If you attach a picture, the message will turn into an MMS.
Gallery
All images taken with the built-in camera appear in a separate album. There are also sections for screenshots and photos from a flash card.
Music
The teXet TM-3204R has two audio players by default - standard and Astro Player. The latter personally seems to me not very convenient.
There is also a radio that only works when headphones are connected.
The quality of music playback is very average. There is no question of listening to it from the speaker (the crackling noise is terrible), you need to connect headphones. The sound in them is already better, however, there is no need to talk about the richness of the timbre. But there is no noticeable background noise, as in many budget smartphones Chinese origin.
Camera
TeXet TM-3204R is not positioned as a camera phone, but the smartphone does have 5-megapixel optics and a flash. It is also possible to shoot videos and panoramic mode.
 Applications Standard list Android applications was slightly expanded. Everything you need to solve everyday problems is already pre-installed in teXet TM-3204R. Calendar Basic application from Google. Allows you to plan your personal schedule; you can set events for any day in the calendar. Watch Nothing new either - a standard clock with a standard alarm clock.
Calculator The calculator is not intended for professional mathematicians, but it solves arithmetic problems. Works in vertical or horizontal mode.
Dictaphone Quite work program to record everything that can be heard.
Google Play Nice app store. It doesn’t glitch, almost the entire range is supported by the device. You can also buy films, music, newspapers and books here.
Adobe Reader A program for viewing PDF documents is also pre-installed in the smartphone’s memory.
The official application for accessing YouTube.
There are two programs for working with mail - one is designed for Gmail account, another for all other mail services.
ES Explorer Access to file system can be obtained from this program. It works stably, the interface is convenient and attractive.
Cards To built-in Google Maps no complaints. All program functions are available on the device. Pleased GPS module- finds satellites quickly, you can’t find fault with geolocation.
Connection There are two slots for SIM cards. The smartphone supports 3G, GPS, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0 standards. Opening hours As befits an “extreme” smartphone, teXet TM-3204R works in offline mode for a long time. Without recharging for two or even three days of moderate use (without five-hour sessions in Dead Trigger and round-the-clock work as a point Wi-Fi access) it is enough. According to my feelings, if you use the gadget only for calls and SMS, it will last at least a week. Conclusion If you need a budget “protected” smartphone, the teXet TM-3204R is ideal for this role. It is unlikely that you can buy something similar to it in terms of reliability for similar money (there is, however, also the teXet TM-3200, but it is completely outdated technologically). Other models are available for games and comfortable web surfing. In most stores, the TM-3204R is sold for 9 thousand rubles; on the Internet you can find it for 7-8. Of course, its functionality is not even four thousand, and the overpayment for the case is noticeable. But a smartphone!
© Varlamov Daniil, Test laboratory |
2 years ago 0
Waterproof, reliable, non-slippery. Rubberized perfectly.
2 years ago 0
Rubberized, waterproof, almost shockproof body. the low cost of using two SIM cards, a navigator, a puny camera, but still a smartphone, no more advantages were noticed in the six months of its life
2 years ago 0
A work phone, if you don’t need bells and whistles, can withstand falls and getting wet, easy to use, no extra frills, unnecessary applications There are, but unlike other smart phones there are few of them.
2 years ago 0
Stable operation of SIM cards, shock resistance, water resistance, reliability, call and cancel buttons, the flashlight shines for some time even when the battery is low.
2 years ago 0
Security! (test with boiling water, falling from 1.5 m onto a wooden floor, burying in sand, cracking nuts, wallowing in snow, falling on ice, 30-degree frost), in my opinion, excellent hardware, normal GPS (although it does not pick up satellites fast), I like the hardware buttons, 2 SIM cards, again I have almost no glitches, support for memory cards up to 32 GB.
2 years ago 0
Indestructible, easy to use, supports all the software necessary for work. The only one touch phone with Android on board and physical answer/end buttons! The device has been in operation since June 2014 until now...
2 years ago 0
excellent model, I've been using it for more than a year, I had one before sony ericsson j10 elm. firstly, it fits comfortably in the hand, 2. there is a normal GPS module, it receives normally. 3. weight, you always know whether you have your phone with you or not) 4. dust and waterproof. tested. rain, snow, puddles, immersion it is not afraid of a depth of half a meter. There are navigation keys (call, reset and exit to the first screen) 5th. You can use 2 SIM cards. 6. The presence of a flashlight... it really has a lot of advantages and you can’t count them all.
2 years ago 0
Waterproof, 2 sim.
2 years ago 0
Regular (non-touch) buttons to accept, reject a call and “home” with gloves on are very convenient to answer or reject a call. Dust and waterproof, built-in City Guide, low price, loud speaker. Long-lasting battery.
2 years ago 0
Sturdy, simple, has physical buttons, has GPS, a flashlight, a camera, shoots video, has all the necessary things for life.
2 years ago 0
The screen goes blind in the sun, and so does the camera. Over time, it began to cling weakly GPS satellites.
2 years ago 0
The camera is without backlight and very weak. To use two SIM cards, additional settings and constant monitoring of the selection are required. I am extremely disheartened by the fact that the plexiglass glass cracked when dropped without force from a small height and there is no way to replace it, it is not included in specially produced repair kits, and during disassembly it is difficult to grasp this part.
2 years ago 0
Not a big problem with the headphone input (not all headphones fit). And a year later the battery died, I couldn’t replace it or find a new one, which is a shame, because of this I’ll have to look for a new device
2 years ago 0
Low photo quality, a 2 megapixel phone takes better pictures than this one with 5 megapixels. Slow browser. The charging socket is deep, you need to charge it from a similar phone. Very dim flashlight light (from Nokia for 1000 rubles is much better). Reset function without password.
2 years ago 0
Small diagonal and low resolution of the display (although this is purely nitpicking, because for me this is not critical); not too much for a long time work, which is also not particularly upsetting, because... this is a disease of all androids; The camera is so-so, but in principle it will do; when playing games for a long time, it gets noticeably warm (I can’t know exactly how this will affect the longevity of the battery, but I think negatively...); takes a long time to charge with any chargers, since it is not able to take a current of more than 500 mA (this, again, is not that important); when using a headset (listening to the radio, music, talking), there is strong interference and noise even when the headset is simply inserted and not in use, which is also not so important, because there are MP3 players for listening to music, and talking with noise can be tolerated, weak vibration (due to armor), not too loud
2 years ago 0 0
Well, there are a few nuances here that you can get used to:
1. the battery, in principle, it lasts for 2.2.5 days, taking into account the operation of the navigator, calls and a couple of games a day (games consume a lot of energy, the phone may have to be charged in the morning)
2. if you use two SIM cards, there are slight glitches when searching for a network. Simply restarting the phone sometimes does not help, for this you need to have a 10-kopeck coin or something flat to unscrew the back cover, pull out the battery, SIM cards, and put it back, all the procedure takes less than 5 minutes.
3. no flash, you can’t take pictures in the evening and at night.
2 years ago 0
Weak hardware, weak battery, many glitches, low quality materials, one radio module for two SIM cards, glass is scratched, touchscreen glitches when charging.
2 years ago 0
tight buttons for volume, camera and something like a flashlight. The flashlight is no good - the backlight of the screwdriver shines 100500 times better, but the phone is for tough men, and the function is far from unimportant, I think so, no flash, the latest camera, a deep-set charging connector - always needed original cord, weak hardware, lack of OS updates, GPS signal often disappears at just the right moment, in cold weather (from +5 and below) the buttons that are normal do not work well - they are pressed hard and work every other time (maybe only for me). If someone calls while listening to music, then there is a chance that music will be turned on in the speaker!!! periodically loses the network, it is treated by turning airplane mode on and off. When creating an SMS and trying to enter a number from the address book, it freezes for about a minute.
2 years ago 0
Strong - yes. But I don’t test it on purpose, it’s just an item that I use constantly and in any conditions, even in very difficult ones. The camera does not respond to its 5Kp, but it is there and takes photos, the flashlight is not bright, but at night - even this one at hand is already very good + this flashlight works even when the battery is turned off or completely discharged. The device is a little thoughtful - but they already wrote about it being full of garbage, I’ll just add that you need to have patience and forbearance towards the old phone, its strengths not in speed of work, but in stable work in difficult conditions
Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.
Design
Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.
| Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 68 mm (millimeters) 6.8 cm (centimeters) 0.22 ft (feet) 2.68 in (inches) |
| Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 124 mm (millimeters) 12.4 cm (centimeters) 0.41 ft (feet) 4.88 in (inches) |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements. | 20 mm (millimeters) 2 cm (centimeters) 0.07 ft (feet) 0.79 in (inches) |
| Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 210 g (grams) 0.46 lbs 7.41 oz (ounces) |
| Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. | 168.64 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 10.24 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | Black |
| Certification Information about the standards to which this device is certified. | IP67 |
SIM card
The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.
Mobile networks
A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.
Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds
Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.
Operating system
An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.
SoC (System on Chip)
A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on a single chip.
| SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, GPU, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their functioning. | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Play MSM8225 |
| Process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor. | 45 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications. | ARM Cortex-A5 |
| Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors. | 32 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv7 |
| Level 0 cache (L0) Some processors have L0 (level 0) cache, which is faster to access than L1, L2, L3, etc. The advantage of having such memory is not only higher performance, but also reduced power consumption. | 4 kB + 4 kB (kilobytes) |
| Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster as system memory, and other levels of cache memory. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2. | 16 kB + 16 kB (kilobytes) |
| Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory. | 1024 kB (kilobytes) 1 MB (megabytes) |
| Number of processor cores The processor core performs program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel. | 2 |
| CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 1000 MHz (megahertz) |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Graphics processing unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphic applications. IN mobile devices it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc. | Qualcomm Adreno 203 |
| Amount of random access memory (RAM) RAM(RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted. | 768 MB (megabytes) |
Built-in memory
Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.
Screen
The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.
| Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends. | IPS |
| Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches. | 3.2 in (inches) 81.28 mm (millimeters) 8.13 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 1.78 in (inches) 45.09 mm (millimeters) 4.51 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 2.66 in (inches) 67.63 mm (millimeters) 6.76 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.5:1 3:2 |
| Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail. | 320 x 480 pixels |
| Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on screen with clearer detail. | 180 ppi (pixels per inch) 70 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device. | 36.28% (percent) |
| Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics. | Capacitive Multi-touch |
Sensors
Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.
Main camera
The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image. | 2592 x 1944 pixels 5.04 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with the device. | 640 x 480 pixels 0.31 MP (megapixels) |
| Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video shooting and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p. | 20 fps (frames per second) |
| Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality. | Autofocus ISO Setting |
Additional camera
Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.
Audio
Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.
Radio
The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.
Location determination
Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.
WiFi
Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.
Headphone jack
This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Connecting devices
Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.
Browser
A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.
Video file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.
Battery
Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.
| Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours. | 2000 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices. | Li-Ion (Lithium-ion) |
| 2G talk time 2G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network. | 5 h (hours) 300 min (minutes) 0.2 days |
| 2G latency 2G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network. | 360 h (hours) 21600 min (minutes) 15 days |
| 3G talk time 3G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network. | 5 h (hours) 300 min (minutes) 0.2 days |
| 3G latency 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network. | 360 h (hours) 21600 min (minutes) 15 days |
| Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics device battery. | Removable |
Waterproof
The smartphone has a body that meets the international security standard, supports two SIM cards and at the same time has powerful hardware. Able to come out unscathed and remain intact after falls from a height, new smartphone from teXet will become a constant assistant for people who lead an active lifestyle, representatives of professions associated with risk, as well as all those who are interested in a reliable and affordable multimedia device.
Thanks to its eye-catching orange and black design, the TM-3204R will always stand out from its surroundings and will not get lost on the ground or in the grass.
teXet TM-3204R is an excellent option for those who value beneficial communication. The device has two SIM card slots, users can combine offers from different mobile operators and save on calls. Support for 3G technology will allow you to always be in touch, communicate in social networks and check email.
Thanks to the GPS module, the TM-3204R is ready to take on the role of a car navigator. In the “teXet recommends” directory located on each device, smartphone users will be able to download navigation software of their choice. The built-in electronic compass and a bright LED flashlight are also useful when hiking or traveling.
The shockproof case is made of durable plastic and reinforced with additional plates.
Excellent color rendition high contrast– the undoubted advantages of the 3.2-inch teXet TM-3204R display with IPS matrix. The powerful Adreno 203 graphics chip is responsible for the colorfulness of the picture, and 1.7 mm high-density Japanese Asahi glass is responsible for the safety of the screen.
teXet TM-3204R is equipped with a 5.0 MP main photo/video camera with autofocus, button quick access to the camera is located on the right side of the protected smartphone. Front camera with a 0.3 megapixel matrix resolution will allow you to make video calls using the most popular software.
- Telephone
- Battery
- Wired headset
- Power adapter with two USB cables
- Carabiner with compass
- Warranty card
- Film on screen
Introduction
Smartphone 3204R is an updated version of the first secure “smart” device TM-3200R from JSC " Electronic systems"Alcotel". The appearance remains the same, the IP67 protection class has not changed, but the internal contents have undergone slight modernization. Instead of the outdated Qualcomm MSM7227 (2008), the new product features a 2-core MSM8225 chipset (2012), RAM is now 768 MB, while there was only 256 MB, Android version updated from 2.3 to 4.0.
Unfortunately, the rest of the gadget remained the same: a small 3.2-inch screen diagonal with a low resolution of 320x480 pixels, a simple 5 MP camera, the same 2000 mAh battery, weight and dimensions could have been smaller.
Design, dimensions, control elements
This version of the smartphone has not undergone any external changes compared to the previous secure flagship. The device is made in a traditional black and yellow coloring using rubberized plastic and durable matte plastic. The design of the phone was apparently borrowed from the toughphone pro-smart from JCB, a world-famous corporation for the production of light and heavy duty equipment. Brutal appearance: dense rubber inserts on all edges, hard plugs on connectors, metal screws on the front and rear panels, large protrusion for attaching a carabiner. In general, everything has been done to give the impression of a reliable and robust device.
Let me remind you once again that this model is made according to the IP67 protection class, i.e. The phone can be immersed in water up to one meter for a short time, and it will not be afraid of dirt and dust.
The gadget is quite massive and heavy - 124x68x20 mm, 210 grams. This is especially noticeable against the background, for example, Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, Acro S, Go, Lenovo A660 and so on. True, there are different classes of protection, but that’s not the point. However, we must not forget that teXet is also shock-resistant, so the case is much thicker and larger. Tests have shown that dropping the device onto a tiled floor, concrete, or asphalt from a distance of 2.5 - 3 meters is still undesirable. The first thing that fails, as you might guess, is the display, since the case is not so easy to split. Well, dust and dirt on at the moment“surprising” any gadget is relatively difficult: to some extent, each device is protected from moisture. For example, Meizu MX and MX2 accidentally drowned in the bathtub, Samsung Galaxy The S4 fell into the mud a couple of times, and budget models withstood heavy crash tests in a bag with a bunch of different pieces of hardware.
The smartphone fits like a glove in a man’s hand and is comfortable to hold.
At the top center of the front panel there is a speech speaker, covered with a metal mesh. Surprisingly, the quality of the speaker is excellent. Mostly mid-range and high frequencies, the volume is high, the interlocutor can be heard clearly and legibly. After getting wet, you need to shake it and dry it by turning the phone with the speaker facing down.
Under the speaker are light and proximity sensors. They are located in a small recess, so dust and dirt often get clogged there. On the right is the front camera.
Touch buttons“Menu”, “Search” and “Back” are below the screen. They are not backlit, and this cannot be noted as a positive factor. There are three mechanical buttons. On the left – “Receive”, on the right – “End”, in the center – “Home” (rough to the touch). The pressure is firm, the stroke is minimal, and it’s convenient to use. However, during operation, I instinctively pressed “End Call” to exit applications and menus, but this button only functions to reset the call.
Under “Reception” there is a microphone. The quality of voice transmission is average, the protection from dust and moisture affects it.
The flashlight activation button is on the left. It is tight and does not have a lock: press it and it lights up, let go and it stops glowing. Considering that the button is tight, it is inconvenient to use: you have to apply force to keep the flashlight glowing all the time. A little higher – micro-USB under a rubber plug. It is worth warning that it is not an ordinary micro-USB that is inserted into it, but with an extended connector. Perhaps I was unlucky, but there were no such cables in the house. This is probably why the kit includes two “Wesb officers”.
On the right side there is a button of the same type as the “flashlight” for taking a photo. It does not work when the screen is locked; it is more correct to use it, for example, if touch control not available. Above are two separate volume control buttons. Very tough.
At the top end there is a power button. It is round, and it seemed to me that it stands out a little from the design: chrome-plated plastic, which looks too “Chinese”. To the left is a headphone jack with a 3.5 mm jack. It is recessed, so you will have to use a straight jack.
Speaker speakerphone, covered with a metal mesh, a large peephole framed by a chrome-plated plastic insert, and a flash on the back of the device.
To get to the battery, two standard-sized SIM cards, microSD, you need to unscrew two screws. There is a metal plate inside the lid and along the rim it is protected from moisture and dust by a rubber band.
Comparative sizes:
Display
This model has a screen with a diagonal of 3.2 inches. Physical size – 45x68 mm, aspect – 16x9, resolution 320x480 pixels, density – 180 pixels per inch. Pixelation is almost invisible. The manufacturer's website states that the matrix is made using IPS technology. The quality is good, but nothing more, since brightness and contrast decrease slightly at angles. When moving desktops and scrolling through lists, a trail appears, as if the matrix response speed is low. The brightness is low, at maximum it is comfortable only in an office space. On the street, and especially in the sun, the screen fades, in addition, the glass is very “mirror-like.” It seems to me that for such a phone the display must be made with very high brightness, without glare.
Screen Matrix
Screen viewing angles
White
Black
Battery
This model has a fairly capacious 2000 mAh battery. Official data tells us that the device will work up to 5 hours in talk mode, up to 6 hours in Internet surfing mode, and up to 360 hours in standby mode. As you can see, even from the manufacturer they showed not the best. The fact is that the voracious Qualcomm MSM8225 chipset is to blame. I have written many times about the 8225/8225Q series of chips that drain the battery at once. Probably, the operating time of such a device can be extremely important, since, for example, the 3204R can hardly survive for 10-15 hours without recharging, let alone several days...
If you use the phone for about 6-7 hours, the battery will be completely discharged provided: 20-25 minutes of calls per day, 2 hours of constant use of Wi-Fi Internet (Twitter, mail, downloading applications and installing them), about 4- x hours of mobile Internet.
Communication capabilities
The teXet TM-3204R device operates in 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and 3G (900/1900/2100 MHz) cellular networks. In this case, one SIM card functions only in 2G, the other - in 2G or 3G.
In stock Bluetooth version 3.0 (EDR) for file and voice transmission. There is a wireless connection Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g/n. The device, of course, can be used as an access point (Wi-Fi Hotspot) or modem. In the settings, this item is listed as “Modem mode”. There is Wi-Fi Direct.
Memory and memory card
This model has 768 MB of RAM. Of this amount of RAM, on average, about 400 MB is free.
Built-in memory is 4 GB, about 1 GB is available for application installations, and just under 2 GB for data storage. There is a slot for a microSDHC memory card up to 32 GB.
Camera
Traditionally, most smartphones running Android OS have two camera modules: a 5-megapixel main camera and a 0.3-megapixel front camera. There is a flash, but it shines at best at 30-40 cm. The maximum resolution of photos is 2592x1944 pixels, videos - 640x480 pixels at 20 frames per second. In fact, the resolution of the videos is the most optimal for the Qualcomm MSM8225 chipset, which is used in this device.
The quality of the photos is satisfactory, considering that the device will definitely not be used as a camera. I was pleased with the presence of autofocus, correct white balance, lack loud noise. There is no “touch focus”, so you will have to shoot either by pressing a mechanical button or by clicking on a touch one.
The video here can be considered as an additional feature, since all its parameters are very low.
Video file characteristics:
- File Format: 3GP
- Video codec: AVC, 1300 Mbit/s
- Resolution: 640 x 480, 20 fps
- Audio codec: AAC, 96 Kbps
- Channels: 1 channel, 16 kHz
Sample photos:
Performance
The teXet TM-3204R smartphone is equipped with one of the most common chipsets from Qualcomm - MSM8225. This is Snapdragon S4 Play, dual-core ARM Cortex-A5 processor, 45 nm process technology, clock frequency 1.2 GHz. I think model range Play is one of the worst: low performance and high power consumption. The oldest Taiwanese MTK6577 even show better results, at least the shell interface works smoothly, and the battery “lives” long enough. The graphics are handled by the simple Adreno 203.
Brief information about the chip and graphics accelerator:
Multimedia
Music and video player, radio. The usual radio is used (it doesn’t work without a headset, although an antenna could be installed in such a thick case) and a standard music player. The music volume in the player is high, the quality is quite good. The volume of the ringing speaker is slightly above average.
The device reproduces video in resolutions up to 720p, and even then with great difficulty.
Conclusion
At the very beginning of the review, I briefly compared the old and new version phone. In the end, I can say that these two models are practically no different from each other, the only thing that catches your eye is the fresh Android OS. Those who purchased the TM-3200R should change their phone not to 3204, but to the more advanced 4104R. The price, by the way, is not much higher. There's a bigger screen and better protection. True, the chipset is old – MSM8225.
Lenovo S750 can be considered as competitors. It costs about 9,000 rubles, and has a powerful MTK6589 chipset, a 4.5-inch display diagonal with qHD resolution, an 8 MP camera, and IP67 protection class.
Up to 10,000 rubles there is Senseit R413 - MTK6575, Android 4.0, 4.1-inch display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels; Huawei Ascend G350, Philips Xenium W8500. Like more expensive options - Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2, Caterpillar Cat B1, RugGear RG220, brand new Huawei Honor 3.
Pros of teXet TM-3204R:
- Shockproof housing
- Protection class IP67
- High-quality speech speaker
- Not a bad camera for a phone like this
- Relatively capacious battery
Cons of teXet TM-3204R:
- Low screen resolution
- Poor performance
Specifications:
- Class: smartphone
- Form factor: monoblock
- Case materials: plastic, rubber
- operating system: Google Android 4.0
- Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), UMTS (900/2100 MHz)
- Processor: dual core, 1200 MHz, Qualcomm MSM8225
- RAM: 768 MB
- Data storage memory: 4 GB
- Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 3.0, microUSB connector (USB 2.0) for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset
- Screen: capacitive, IPS 3.2"" with a resolution of 320x480 pixels
- Camera: 5 MP with autofocus + 0.3 MP, flash
- Navigation: GPS
- Additionally: accelerometer, proximity and lighting sensors, FM radio
- Battery: removable 2000 mAh capacity
- Dimensions: 124x68x20 mm
- Weight: 210 g
Roman Belykh (
