Success owed to a rotatable camera? A very good front-facing camera is still a rare thing. Huawei treats its ShotX to a rotatable camera that shoots both selfies and normal photos.
We have seen many manufacturers that place special focus on the front-facing camera lately. The sensors on the front are continuously improving, and they sometimes can almost compete with the primary cameras like we recently found in Asus' ZenFone Selfie. Huawei now takes a different approach and integrates a 13 MP camera, which can be rotated along with the flash. We discover a familiar configuration concept implemented in many mid-range handsets otherwise. For example, a 5.2-inch, Full HD, IPS screen, a modern Snapdragon 616 SoC with integrated Adreno 405 GPU, 2 GB of working memory, and 16 GB of RAM. Following the trend, the ShotX also allows using two SIM cards. The ShotX is sold by the subsidiary Honor as "7i" in other countries.
Although the aforesaid Asus ZenFone Selfie is the direct rival, the competition is naturally vast in this sector. In addition to Asus' handset, we opted for Samsung's Galaxy S5 Neo, Motorola's Moto X Play, LG's G4s, OnePlus' X and BQ's Aquaris M5.5 as comparison devices.
The casing of Huawei's ShotX is made of plastic with a subtle pattern above and below the display as well as on the back. However, that is only a visual feature; the surfaces are absolutely sleek and thus quite slippery. Two continuous chrome rims run around the sides, giving our white review sample a stylish look. The ShotX is also available in gold and blue.
The smartphone's most striking feature is, of course, the rotatable camera. It juts out quite a bit on the back, and thus the handset is quite wobbly when placed on a table. The casing's stability is, however, impeccable. We could only twist it marginally using a lot of force, but it did not produce any cracking noises even then. Pressure on the screen or on the back does not distort the image, either. The lateral keys are also fitted precisely, and the build makes an overall very decent impression.
The handset is very compact due to the lack of a front-facing camera and Android software buttons. Solely OnePlus' X, which also has a smaller 5-inch screen, undercuts its length of 141.6 mm in the comparison.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 616 is a modern octa-core SoC (64-bit) with an integrated Adreno 405 GPU. 2 GB of working memory supports it in our review sample. The incorporated flash memory has a capacity of 16 GB; only approximately 9.8 GB is available after initial use. It is possible to expand the storage via micro-SD (max. 32 GB). However, apps cannot be moved to the memory card. Instead, the default storage path can be changed to the SD card (requires rebooting), which only functions with photos and videos. Although apps are then still installed on the internal storage, additional data for e.g. games is installed directly onto the SD card. Using a second SIM card together with a storage expansion is not possible.
The micro-USB 2.0 port on the lower edge supports USB OTG for connecting peripherals or storage devices. Since it does not support MHL or Miracast, DLAN or Chromecast in local networks are the only possibility to transmit videos to, for example, a connected TV. The ShotX can only communicate with other mobile devices via Bluetooth 4.0; NFC is not supported. The integrated FM radio can be used in conjunction with a headset.
A highlight of the ShotX is the fingerprint reader. It is situated on the upper left side, which is problematic in everyday use. It can actually only be reached comfortably with a thumb when holding the smartphone in the left hand. It is difficult to hit the reader with the index finger when held in the right hand. Up to five different fingerprints can be saved. Registration takes a relatively long time (scanning the finger about 10x), but the recognition rate is very good and authentication is very fast after that. An erroneous identification is answered with vibration.
Huawei's ShotX is shipped with Android 5.1.1, including the manufacturer's Emotion UI 3.1 (EMUI 3.1) user interface. It is known from other smartphones, such as Honor's 7 or Huawei's P8. The biggest modification compared with stock Android is the omission of an app drawer. Thus, all apps are successively placed on the home screens. Folders can be created to prevent chaos. Its use is overall very clear, and both the design and arrangement of Android buttons can be customized. The manufacturer is restrained with preloaded bloatware and installs some useful tools like a phone manager with which the working memory can be cleaned among other things.
The ShotX sports two nano-SIM slots, but it can only connect to the mobile network on one card at a time. LTE Cat. 4 (downstream: 150 Mbit/s; upstream: 50 Mbit/s) is the maximum. Connections via 2G and 3G are also possible, but we do not have any information concerning the supported frequencies in the 2G network. The Wi-Fi module operates in both the 2.4 and 5 GHz networks using the 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac standards. We did not experience any signal issues in either the mobile network or local Wi-Fi during the test.
The smartphone can be located via GPS and GLONASS. We were tracked within 20 seconds in the middle of the apartment (4-story building, 3rd story) although the accuracy deviated by 23 meters. The accuracy improved to 5 meters near a window, and only deviated by 3 meters outdoors. Additionally, we went on a bike trip to compare the smartphone's performance with that of the Garmin Edge 500 navigation system. The ShotX also does a very good job here. The smartphone is only not tracked as frequently in complicated sections, such as the turning point, which results in smaller shortcuts. A total deviation of just 150 meters on our 11 km test route is still very good, and the user will not have to reckon with limitations when navigating in a car or on a bike.
The phone app is very clearly arranged, making it easy to use. Only three tabs are situated in the upper area: Telephone, Contacts and Notifications. The keypad in the "Telephone" tab is also hard to miss. The functions for both SIM cards and a harassment filter (calls and notifications from blocked contacts) are found in the settings.
We did not have problems with interruptions or background noise when making calls in the rural T-Mobile network. However, our voice was distorted slightly, which was the case in calls to both landline and foreign mobile networks. The microphone relays quite a lot of background noise in hands-free mode, but that did not affect intelligibility. The included headset was inconspicuous in this context and did its job.
The camera app provides multiple selfie settings. The app opens automatically when the lens is rotated to the front and enables selfie mode (can be disabled). Selfies can also be prettied up here. For example, skin can be smoothed a bit, and make-up can be put on afterward. That is certainly a nice gimmick for the selfie target group, but nothing more. Furthermore, various color filters and photo modes exist, such as a food mode or panoramas. In addition to the resolution, the ISO rate (100 - 800), white balance, exposure, saturation, contrast and brightness can be adapted in the settings. It is also possible to select the storage for saving the photo or videos here.
The image quality does not completely convince us. The good brightness as well as the decent color reproduction can be seen on the test photos. The sharpness could be higher, and thus some details are blurred. An example for this is the white ship cabin that can only be recognized vaguely in the background in screenshot 1. We also observe image noise in scene 2 (see railing lower right). The low-light scene (scene 3) also benefits from the good brightness. Although the expected image noise is visible, all details can still be recognized. An advantage of this camera solution is the auto focus that can naturally also be used for selfies, unlike most front-facing cameras with a fixed focus.
Videos can be recorded at a maximum of Full HD (1920x1080 pixels, 30 FPS). The recording quality is acceptable in good light conditions, but the lens has problems with fast camera movements. That is even more the case when the image stabilizer is enabled in the settings. Time lapse is installed, but a slow motion mode is not.
We also made photos of the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport and the test chart to assess the color accuracy and sharpness under controlled light conditions. The pictures are not edited afterwards (e.g. white balance).
The original colors are displayed under every color in ColorChecker Passport. It immediately becomes evident that the colors from the camera in the ShotX are too dark. That leads to visible shifts in some colors hues (e.g. brown or gray).
A minor loss in sharpness toward the edges can be seen in the test chart, which is also noticed in the slightly fringed edges in that section. So it is basically a decent camera. Nevertheless, Huawei could have shown a bit more effort seeing that the smartphone only has one camera.
Screenshot of ColorChecker colors. The original color is displayed in the lower half of every patch.
The stylish black packaging of Huawei's ShotX contains a modular 5-watt power supply, USB cable, headset, and a SIM tool. Our review sample was shipped without any printed data such as a quick-start guide or even warranty information.
The capacitive touchscreen provides good gliding qualities, and it also always implemented our inputs reliably at the edges. The smartphone uses the stock Android keyboard by default, but Huawei's Swype keyboard is also preloaded as an alternative. Both models offer common features, such as swipe inputting or word suggestions. The Android buttons of the operating system are designed as on-screen keys and therefore reserve a part of the screen depending on the application.
We recurrently experienced short delays during handling. In particular, the keyboard always needed one or two seconds to fade in. The OS did not always run smoothly even when more basic apps were active and we actually only spent our time on the home screen.
The 5.2-inch screen in Huawei's ShotX is based on IPS technology and has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD). That equals a pixel density of almost 424 PPI, which ensures a sharp reproduction of texts and images.
We measure identical maximum brightness rates of 450 cd/m² on both a pure white picture as well as when dark and bright content is evenly distributed. That is achieved using both the manual and automatic control via the brightness sensor. The IPS-typical black level is a very high 0.45 cd/m², which results in a contrast ratio of 980:1. The illumination is a very good 93%.
The ShotX can also compete in the comparison with the rivals. Although some models certainly score better, the subjective image impression of vivid colors does not give any reason for complaint.
We use the professional CalMAN software for an objective assessment of the screen. The average DeltaE shifts compared with the sRGB reference color space is 5.62 in colors and 6.06 in grayscale levels in factory state. The target rate is less than 3. These outcomes are also average, but the screen exhibits a light bluish tint.
The ShotX fares quite well outdoors. Although the brightness could be higher for bright environments, its 450 cd/m² is enough to make comfortable use possible. Like true for all glare-type screens, direct light sources should be avoided to prevent reflections. The viewing-angle stability is on the expected high level, and the displayed content remains legible from all sides.
Huawei's ShotX presents itself as a typical mid-range smartphone. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 616 has 8 Cortex A53 cores that are equally divided into two clusters with four cores each. One cluster achieves speeds of up to 1.5 GHz (reference design: max. 1.7 GHz), and the second cluster up to 1.2 GHz. 2 GB of working memory supports the SoC, and Qualcomm's Adreno 405 takes care of graphics calculations at a core clock of 550 MHz.
The similar configurations become evident in the benchmarks. The comparison devices' scores are often very close to each other. Their performances range within the expected. However, a problem occurred in the BaseMark OS II benchmark. A web subscore of just 9 points was achieved even after multiple runs while the rivals accomplished 600 - 800 points here. That naturally has an effect on the final outcome. We therefore omitted this benchmark here. Samsung's Galaxy S5 Neo based on the Exynos SoC and OnePlus' X with the former high-end Snapdragon 801 and Adreno 330 take the lead depending on the test.
Subjectively, Huawei's ShotX does not always run smoothly, either. We already mentioned the keyboard's delay when fading in, but several seconds often lapse when using demanding apps as well. The problem is likely due to a combination of user interface and the working memory capacity.
Our review sample ends up only in last place in almost all browser tests that we performed using the preloaded browser (Chrome 39). We also noticed recurrent stutters and lags that were quite annoying subjectively.
The internal storage with a capacity of 16 GB leaves a better impression, and the partial results are in the midfield of our comparison group. We additionally checked the SD-card reader's performance. Using our Toshiba Exceria SD-CX32UHS1 reference card, we ascertained approximately 20 MB/s in sequential read and 12.4 MB/s in sequential write. Thus, the card clearly lags behind its potential, and transferring larger files (e.g. videos) could take longer than necessary.
The Adreno 405 is a mid-range GPU that finds its limits in demanding games. An example of this is the quite demanding race game Asphalt 8: Airborne. Although it can be played using medium details, it first runs really smoothly in low settings. More basic games, such as Angry Birds 2 are no problem, and using the touchscreen also functions impeccably.
A hot spot of 35 °C is discovered on the front lower right just when idling. The average is, however, a good 31.3 °C. Although that is felt during use, it is not at all disconcerting. The back always remains pleasantly cool. This condition changed during load where we measure as much as 39 °C in some places on both sides of the handset. The quite slim build is noticed here again since the entire smartphone heats up and reaches over 36 °C on both sides.
We would normally report about the GFX Bench battery test results and the SoC's behavior during permanent load here. However, various versions of the test recurrently ended with the same problem (out of memory) and the test was aborted after a few seconds. We therefore played Asphalt 8: Airborne for half an hour. The device heated up palpably here, but we did not notice performance throttling purely subjectively.
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.7 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 33 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 31.3 °C / 88 F, compared to the device average of 33 °C / 91 F.
The sole speaker is situated on the underside. Its sound did not convince us. The maximum volume is not particularly high, and audible distortions are heard at about 3/4 of the maximum volume. Playback is also very treble-heavy and bass is non-existent. Software tweaks are not installed for sound improvement.
The DTS mode can be enabled when headphones are connected. That is highly recommendable especially when using the included headset. The sound is then considerably richer, but it distorts particularly at higher volumes. Nevertheless, we would prefer this solution. We also tested the handset with Sennheiser Urbanite headphones. The initial volume was sufficiently high, but DTS mode should definitely be disabled in this case. It is also very obvious that Huawei does not install a high-quality sound chip since many details in songs are lost primarily at higher volumes. The handset connected to our Denon Envaya Mini Bluetooth speaker without issues, but single interruptions occurred at a distance of only approximately 5 meters.
The power consumption of Huawei's ShotX is low particularly in idle and during low load. However, handsets like OnePlus' X prove that there is room for improvement here. The consumption of over 5 watts is comparatively high, and that will likely be noticed in battery life. The smartphone still consumes a little power when shut down (0.08 watts) and 0.35 watts in standby. Only a 5-watt power supply (5 V, 1 A) is included, which cannot cover the maximum consumption of 6 watts. That is noticed in real-world use, for example, when playing a game while recharging the handset. We again use Asphalt 8: Airborne as an example. The battery recharges since the game does not always completely max out the components, but only very slowly (1% in ~ 5 minutes).
Huawei furnishes the ShotX with a non-removable 3100 mAh battery. The idle runtime (Wi-Fi read script, minimum brightness) of almost 20 hours, and 4 hours during load (Stability test, maximum brightness) places our review sample in the midfield of our comparison.
However, both tests using an adapted brightness of 150 cd/m² are more interesting. The relatively high load consumption is particularly evident in the Wi-Fi test (browser script) where we only measure 7 hours. Although that is a decent time, our comparison chart shows that the rivals last considerably longer, with exception of LG's G4s (+22 to + 65%). Playing a Full HD video (Big Buck Bunny, H.264) is possible for 8.5 hours. Again, a good outcome even if some opponents show more endurance. The 5-watt power supply needs 3 hours and 40 minutes for fully recharging the battery.
Huawei provides two profiles for saving energy to boost the battery life. The performance is throttled and background programs are reduced in the "Intelligent" mode, while only fundamental call and notification functionality is available in the "Ultra" mode.
We like the idea behind Huawei's ShotX. The quality of the primary cameras in almost all smartphones is superior to the front-facing lenses, so why not use the same sensor on the front? However, the manufacturer has not implemented this concept ideally. Firstly, the camera juts out quite a bit, making the handset very shaky on a level surface. Although the camera's quality is decent, we would have hoped for a better performance seeing that the manufacturer only installs one module.
The other advantages of this solution are the casing's very compact size for a 5.2-inch handset. The quality of both the casing and screen are also very good. That makes it all the more annoying that recurrent stutters and minor delays occur during use. The lags after closing demanding apps are also annoying in real-world use. The maximum power consumption overburdens the included 5-watt power supply, and it needs a long time to recharge the battery.
The ShotX is an interesting smartphone for anyone who likes to shoot selfies and wants a compact device at the same time. However, that involves restrictions in performance that are also noticed in real-world use.