Cubot Note 8 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Cubot Note 8 is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs a punch. With its sleek and compact design, this device is perfect for those who are always on the go. The 5.5-inch IPS LCD display offers vibrant colors and sharp images, providing an immersive viewing experience. Powered by a quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, the Note 8 delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks. The dual rear camera setup, featuring a 13MP main lens and a 0.3MP lens, captures decent photos with good detail. Additionally, the 3100mAh removable battery ensures long-lasting usage. Available in black and green, the Cubot Note 8 is an affordable option that doesn't compromise on quality.

Design and Build Quality

The Cubot Note 8 boasts a compact and lightweight design, making it comfortable to hold and carry. With dimensions of 138 x 65 x 10.8 mm (5.43 x 2.56 x 0.43 in) and a weight of 143 g (5.04 oz), it is suitable for one-handed use. The phone features a sleek and minimalist aesthetic, with a black or green color option. Its 5.5-inch IPS LCD display offers a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 82.7%, providing an immersive visual experience. Although the resolution of 442 x 960 pixels may not be the highest, it still delivers decent clarity with a density of around 192 ppi.

In terms of construction, the Cubot Note 8 is built with durability in mind. The phone is equipped with a removable Li-Ion 3100 mAh battery, allowing for easy replacement if needed. The device's body is made from high-quality materials, ensuring sturdiness and longevity. The inclusion of a dual SIM slot adds convenience for users who require multiple numbers or carriers.

From an ergonomic perspective, the Note 8 is designed to provide a comfortable user experience. Its compact size and rounded edges make it easy to grip, reducing the chances of accidental slips. The placement of physical buttons and ports is well thought out, allowing for easy access and smooth operation. This ergonomic design enhances user comfort during prolonged usage.

While the Cubot Note 8 may not feature the most advanced technology or premium materials, it offers a solid construction and design that caters to the needs of budget-conscious consumers. Its physical appearance exudes simplicity and practicality, making it an appealing choice for those seeking a functional and reliable smartphone. With its durable build and ergonomic design, the Cubot Note 8 is a suitable option for individuals looking for a budget-friendly device without compromising on essential features.

Display

The Cubot Note 8 features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 442 x 960 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. Although the pixel density is not particularly high at around 192 ppi, the screen still offers decent sharpness for everyday use. The LCD technology employed in the display ensures good color accuracy and vibrancy, although it may not be as vibrant as OLED displays found in higher-end smartphones.

In terms of brightness levels, the Cubot Note 8 provides adequate brightness for indoor use, but it may struggle a bit under direct sunlight due to its modest brightness output. However, the display's outdoor visibility should still be acceptable in most conditions.

Touch responsiveness on the Cubot Note 8 is generally satisfactory, allowing for smooth and accurate interactions with the device's interface. While the display does not come with any specific display protection like Gorilla Glass, users can opt for a screen protector for added durability.

The Cubot Note 8 offers decent viewing angles, ensuring that content remains visible and clear even when viewed from different angles. The device does not incorporate any notch design, and the bezels around the display are noticeable but not overly thick.

The screen-to-body ratio of the Cubot Note 8 is approximately 82.7%, meaning that the display occupies a significant portion of the front panel. However, it does not feature an always-on display functionality.

The device does not mention any specific features like HDR, wide color gamut, or anti-reflective coating. It also does not include a blue light filter or adaptive brightness feature for enhanced eye comfort.

Overall, the display of the Cubot Note 8 offers a satisfactory viewing experience with decent color accuracy, touch responsiveness, and viewing angles. While it may not match the display quality of higher-end smartphones, it still provides a usable and functional screen for everyday tasks.

Performance

The Cubot Note 8 boasts a MediaTek MT6739WW chipset, which is built on a 28nm process. This quad-core processor, clocked at 1.3GHz, offers decent performance for everyday tasks and light multitasking. However, it may struggle with more demanding applications and intensive gaming experiences.

In terms of GPU performance, the Cubot Note 8 is equipped with a PowerVR GE8100 graphics unit. While this GPU is not designed for heavy gaming, it can handle basic games and graphics-intensive tasks with relative ease. It may not deliver the smoothest gaming experience or achieve high graphics scores in benchmark tests, but it should be sufficient for casual gamers.

When it comes to gaming capabilities, the Cubot Note 8 can handle popular games like Temple Run, Candy Crush, and Subway Surfers without any major issues. However, more demanding games such as PUBG or Fortnite may experience occasional lag or frame rate drops. It is important to note that the gaming experience may vary depending on the graphics settings and optimizations made by game developers.

In terms of system optimization and thermal management, the Cubot Note 8 performs reasonably well. It is designed to provide a smooth user experience with relatively lag-free performance. The device also handles app loading speeds efficiently, ensuring quick access to applications and seamless multitasking.

In benchmark tests, the Cubot Note 8 may not achieve top scores compared to higher-end smartphones. However, it delivers satisfactory performance for its price range. Synthetic benchmarks such as Antutu and Geekbench may show modest scores, reflecting the device's capabilities. It is important to consider that benchmark scores do not always directly correlate with real-world performance, and user experience may still be satisfactory despite lower benchmark results.

Overall, the Cubot Note 8 offers decent processor efficiency and GPU performance for its price range. While it may not be the best choice for heavy gaming or intensive multitasking, it delivers a smooth user experience for everyday tasks. If you are a casual user who primarily uses the device for social media, web browsing, and light gaming, the Cubot Note 8 should meet your needs without breaking the bank.

Software and User Interface

The Cubot Note 8 runs on the Android 11 operating system, which provides users with a familiar and intuitive interface. The device is powered by the Mediatek MT6739WW chipset and a quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU, offering decent performance for everyday tasks. With 2GB of RAM, users can expect smooth multitasking and app-switching. The device comes with 16GB of internal storage, which can be expanded using a microSDXC card.

One of the advantages of the Cubot Note 8 is its user-friendly interface. The Android 11 operating system brings a range of customization options, allowing users to personalize their device to suit their preferences. Additionally, the device comes with a variety of pre-installed apps, providing users with essential tools and applications right out of the box.

However, it's worth noting that some users may find the device to have limited storage capacity due to the pre-installed apps and bloatware. These apps may take up a significant amount of storage space, reducing the available storage for users to install their own apps and store files. It is recommended to carefully manage the storage space and uninstall any unnecessary apps to optimize the device's performance.

Overall, the Cubot Note 8's software offers a user-friendly experience with the latest Android 11 operating system. Its customization options and pre-installed apps provide convenience and functionality, although users should be mindful of the available storage space due to pre-installed apps and bloatware.

Camera

The Cubot Note 8 is equipped with a dual-camera setup, featuring a 13-megapixel primary lens and a 0.3-megapixel secondary lens. While the megapixel count may not be the highest in the market, the camera still performs well in various lighting conditions. The aperture and focal length specifications are not explicitly mentioned in the available information. However, the device is capable of capturing decent photos with natural colors and satisfactory sharpness. The camera's image quality is particularly notable in daylight photography, where it can produce detailed and vibrant images. It also performs reasonably well in indoor and outdoor photography, although the absence of specific low-light sensitivity details suggests that it may struggle in challenging lighting situations. The Cubot Note 8 lacks advanced features such as image stabilization, HDR, and AI scene recognition. Nonetheless, it offers basic camera functionalities like portrait mode, panorama mode, and pro mode. On the video front, the device supports video recording, but the available information does not specify the maximum resolution or video formats. Overall, the camera capabilities of the Cubot Note 8 cater to everyday photography needs, but may not excel in more demanding scenarios such as low-light or night photography.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Cubot Note 8 offers a range of connectivity options that cater to various communication needs. With its dual SIM capability, users can conveniently manage two different phone numbers on a single device. It supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE network compatibility, ensuring reliable and fast connections. The device is equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, allowing users to connect to wireless networks for internet access. Bluetooth 4.2 with A2DP enables easy pairing with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as headphones or speakers, for wireless audio streaming. While the Cubot Note 8 does not come with NFC capabilities, it does feature GPS and GLONASS for accurate positioning and navigation. In terms of data speeds, the device utilizes LTE technology, which provides faster and more stable internet connections compared to older network standards. Additionally, the device has a micro USB port for charging and data transfer. Overall, the Cubot Note 8 offers a solid set of connectivity features, allowing users to stay connected and enjoy various communication options.

Additional Features

The Cubot Note 8 comes with a range of additional features that enhance its functionality and user experience. One notable feature is its expandable storage capability, thanks to the dedicated microSD card slot. This allows users to easily increase the device's storage capacity and store more photos, videos, and apps. Another convenient feature is its dual SIM functionality, which enables users to use two SIM cards simultaneously, making it ideal for people who need to manage personal and work contacts on the same device. The device also includes an accelerometer, which detects and measures the device's motion and orientation, enhancing gaming and fitness tracking experiences. Additionally, the Cubot Note 8 is equipped with advanced sensors, such as proximity sensors, which detect the presence of nearby objects, and environmental sensors, which measure factors like ambient light and temperature. Overall, these additional features contribute to the versatility and usability of the Cubot Note 8.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Cubot Note 8 is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers a range of features at an affordable price point. When comparing it to related gadgets in the market, such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, there are some notable differences in terms of specifications and performance.

In terms of display, the Cubot Note 8 sports a 5.5-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 442 x 960 pixels. While this may not offer the same level of sharpness and clarity as the Samsung Galaxy Note 8's Super AMOLED display with a higher resolution, it still provides a decent viewing experience for everyday use.

The performance of the Cubot Note 8 is powered by a Mediatek MT6739WW chipset and a quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU. While this may not match the processing power of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8's more advanced Snapdragon 835 chipset and octa-core CPU, it still delivers smooth performance for basic tasks and light multitasking.

In terms of camera capabilities, the Cubot Note 8 features a dual 13 MP + 0.3 MP rear camera setup, along with a 5 MP front-facing camera. While this may not offer the same level of image quality and advanced features as the Samsung Galaxy Note 8's impressive camera system, it still allows users to capture decent photos for social media and everyday use.

When it comes to pricing, the Cubot Note 8 is positioned as a budget-friendly option, offering great value for money. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a flagship device with a higher price tag, targeting consumers who are willing to invest in premium features and top-of-the-line performance.

Overall, while the Cubot Note 8 may not offer the same level of performance and advanced features as the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, it provides a viable option for budget-conscious consumers who are looking for a functional and affordable smartphone. With its competitive pricing, decent specifications, and value for money, the Cubot Note 8 holds its ground in the market among other budget-friendly smartphones.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Cubot Note 8 offers a budget-friendly option for those seeking a basic smartphone experience. With its compact design and dual SIM capability, it provides convenience for users on the go. The 5.5-inch IPS LCD display delivers decent visuals, while the 13MP dual main camera captures acceptable photos. The device runs on Android 11 and is powered by a quad-core processor, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks. However, the limited 16GB internal storage may require frequent data management. Overall, the Cubot Note 8 is a suitable choice for individuals looking for an affordable smartphone that covers essential functionalities without breaking the bank.