BQ BQ-6200L Aurora smartphone - advantages and disadvantages

The Russian company BQ is a well-known manufacturer of low-cost mobile electronics. The manufacture of devices is carried out on the territory of China, due to this, it is possible to keep the final prices at a low level. Today smartphones of this brand are not very popular, but the company does not give up and attracts attention with budget flagships.

In October 2018, the brand introduced the BQ-6200L Aurora camera phone. Four cameras, high performance and advanced functionality of the novelty can interest the buyer and play a decisive role when choosing a new smartphone. In addition, the first model of the Aurora BQ-6000L series, released in early 2018, was appreciated by users as a high-quality gadget with wide capabilities. Has BQ succeeded in the second flagship?

Specifications

Design

The smartphone has a stylish design that matches the flagship level. The slim, elongated body is comfortable to hold in the hand, and the well-thought-out key layout makes the operation comfortable. The phone is only available in glossy dark gray. This time, the manufacturer left no choice, while the previous model Aurora was offered in gold and black.

Most of the front panel of BQ-6200L is occupied by a screen framed by a thin frame with bulges at the top and bottom. "Monobrow" contains a camera, sensors and a speaker. This is a somewhat boring design element of modern smartphones, so the device still loses to full-format novelties.

The power key and volume control are located on the left side of the gadget. On the right side there is a slide-out tray for SIM cards and memory cards. The bottom edge houses a stereo speaker, microphone and Type-C connector.

The fingerprint scanner remains on the back. And in the upper left corner, the two rear cameras and the flash are positioned vertically, in contrast to the horizontal position on the BQ-6000L.

The non-removable case back is made of tempered glass with rounded corners. Both sides of the phone are connected by a metal frame. Thanks to the reliability of the material, the smartphone looks practical. Due to the lack of an oleophobic coating, fingerprints will be visible on the dark surface of the back panel.

Device dimensions: 75.90x155x7.90 mm. The weight is 197 grams.

Display

The BQ-6200L is equipped with a 6.2 '' IPS touch screen. Full HD + resolution with parameters of 1080 × 2246 pixels makes the picture rich and vivid. The pixel density is 402 ppi for image consistency and clarity. Brightness and color accuracy are maintained at an angle. The 19: 9 widescreen aspect ratio is ideal for watching videos and playing games.True, when playing a 16: 9 file, black bars appear on the sides of the display.

The ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the screen backlight for a more comfortable viewing experience. The image fades in the sun, but at maximum brightness everything is quite readable.

The top of the display is protected by a third-class Corning Gorilla glass with a 2.5D effect. This coating is remarkably high resistance to scratches and drops.

operating system

The BQ-6200L runs on Android Oreo 8.1 operating system. This version was launched in 2017 and is already a little outdated. It is not as exciting as Android Pie 9, with significant changes and new options, such as gesture control and support for the notch.

In the eighth version, the user gets the opportunity to view videos from the YouTube resource in a miniature window and simultaneously use another service. The second notable innovation: notifications are displayed in a timely manner on application icons. The developers also took care of security. The system vigilantly monitors application activity and downloads of new programs.

CPU

The smartphone is equipped with a powerful mid-range system MediaTek Helio P60 with artificial intelligence. The octa-core processor is divided into two parts with 4 cores each: a high-performance and an energy-efficient unit. The clock frequency of each core of the chip is 2.0 GHz. When solving some tasks, the whole system can participate in the process. Helio P60 independently redistributes power and monitors component load. Using artificial intelligence, the processor adapts to the preferences of the owner, increasing speed and efficiency.

The video chip looks too weak with such characteristics. Three cores running at 0.8 GHz are a bit disappointing. It looks like the manufacturer chose to save on graphics to make the processor affordable. Nevertheless, a smartphone equipped with the Helio P60 system is well suited for gaming. Despite the weak graphics capabilities, the BQ-6200L will handle many mobile toys, albeit not at maximum settings.

Memory

The phone has enough RAM for successful multitasking and loading with heavy applications. 4 Gb provide a smart smartphone response to switching between programs.

Built-in 64 Gb storage eliminates the need for a memory card. This space is enough for creating large collections of music, applications and other files. If necessary, you can add a microSD memory card up to 256 Gb. Keep in mind that poor storage quality will negatively affect the performance and speed of your smartphone.

Dual sim

BQ-6200L supports two SIM-cards, like most modern devices. The retractable design, which opens with a special key, contains slots for micro-SIM and nano-SIM. Instead of a second SIM card, you can install a memory card. Unfortunately, there is no separate memory slot, so you have to choose which is more important.

Autonomy

The battery capacity is 3000 mAh. Thanks to this, a full charge of the smartphone will last for the whole day with an average workload. Of course, with playing games and watching videos at high volume, the battery can run out in 6 hours.

Communication and navigation

BQ-6200L supports the GSM cellular standard with frequency ranges: 900, 1800 and 1900. High-speed 3G and 4G LTE technologies are used to access the Internet. There is also the possibility of communication via the VoLTE network, but in Russia this type of connection has been launched only in a few of the largest cities. In addition, the smartphone recognizes Wi-Fi of the modern 802.11ac standard at 5 GHz, which provides high data transfer rates.

To exchange files between devices, Bluetooth version 4 is used, which is characterized by an increased speed of sending and receiving information and improved security.

The smartphone supports GPS satellite navigation, the location search is carried out with a slight delay of 10 - 15 seconds.

Unlocking

To protect personal information in the smartphone from strangers, there are two reliable systems: a fingerprint scanner and 3D Face Unlock. When using an optical sensor, several fingerprints can be saved in the phone's memory to provide access to loved ones.

The presence of a smart face scanner on the budget flagship is quite surprising. With the help of artificial intelligence, the system adapts to changes in appearance and easily recognizes the wearer with updated features such as a beard or glasses. Infrared light allows you to unlock your phone even in the dark.

Interface

On the home screen, there is a search bar in the Yandex. Below are the icons of the main applications. To open a complete list of installed programs, you need to swipe up the arrow. Quite a lot of applications are installed on the BQ-6200L by default, including those from Yandex service and other partners.

The smartphone has only one curtain. It is called from the top and contains shortcut buttons and notifications with detailed text explanations. At the bottom of the screen there are three touch buttons that are standard for the Android system: "back", "start" and "search".

The corners of the screen next to the notch are still not affected by anything other than the communications signals, clock and battery indicator.

USB-host

A notable USB-host option in electronic devices is quite common, however, mainly in the more expensive segment. This function allows you to connect an external device such as a Flash card or card reader to your smartphone. You can even connect a keyboard or mouse for easy operation. True, the necessary adapters are not included in the kit, so they will have to be purchased separately.

Since the BQ-6200L implements USB OTG via the Type-C connector, power-consuming devices cannot be connected. However, even in a limited form, the option is useful and will reduce the time when exchanging data, eliminating the need for an intermediate link - a computer. It is worth noting that when using USB OTG, the smartphone will discharge a little faster.

Camera

The manufacturer paid special attention to the quality of photographs. Artificial intelligence with autofocus will help the camera to correctly identify the objects in the frame for a competent selection of settings. In addition, the phone offers a wide range of modes and options to enhance your pictures.

The rear camera module consists of two lenses with resolutions of 16 Mp and 5 Mp. Thanks to this, the photos are beautiful with different depth of field. The LED flash helps you take clear pictures in low light. However, at night it cannot cope, and the photos acquire some blur.

Example of a photo during the day:

How to photograph at night:

The front 16MP camera allows you to take photos with bokeh effect. When shooting in portrait mode, you can adjust the blurriness and observe the frame changes in real time.

Both cameras capture rich, detailed shots and can well compete with point-and-shoot cameras. The smartphone also supports video shooting and FaceMoji creation based on the owner's facial expressions.

Sound and Music

The smartphone is well suited for listening to music. The stereo speaker sounds loud enough, and a 3.5mm jack adapter lets you plug in headphones. True, the sound through the adapter can be distorted and degraded. The growing popularity of Bluetooth headsets allows manufacturers to abandon the standard connector, so you will have to put up with such inconvenience or choose good wireless headphones for yourself.

Equipment

The compact box in black looks austere and stylish. The kit includes:

• Smartphone;
• Protective glass that you need to stick on yourself;
• AC adapter;
• USB to Type-C charging cable. The length of the cord is within one meter;
• Clip for the SIM card tray;
• USB Type-C to 3.5 mm headphone jack;
• Documentation.

Price

The retail price is 15,990 rubles. The "filling" and design of the smartphone are quite consistent with this price tag. The device can be purchased in only one place so far, but soon the sales network will expand.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Artificial intelligence camera;
• Dual rear camera;
• Unlock the owner by 3D Face Unlock;
• 4G LTE support;
• USB-host;
• Supports dual band Wi-Fi network.

• No 3.5 mm headphone jack;
• No oleophobic coating;
• Weak video chip;
• There is no separate slot for a memory card;
• Not a full screen;
• No protection against water and dust;
• No NFC.

Outcome

BQ-6200L is a flagship in the middle price segment. A powerful processor, a camera with artificial intelligence and a clear display in a stylish glass body - an interesting and worthy choice. If the disadvantages highlighted above do not bother you, then the phone can be safely purchased. However, this is far from the best smartphone; you can find more thought-out devices with balanced hardware and advanced functionality at a similar price.