Back in December, Blu released its first 1080p phone, the Life Pure.
It's a drastically different device than other Blu phones, in that the
launcher and primary interface are very iOS-like. While most Android
users probably scoff at that, it's actually a pretty good option for
anyone looking to make the leap from iPhone to Android, as it eases the
transition. With that said, the five-inch display may be one thing
holding some users back from making the jump to the Life Pure, and with
that, Blu released the Pure's little brother, the Life Pure Mini. The
screen size isn't the only difference, however – like Samsung's "mini"
devices, it took a hit in the spec department compared to its larger
sibling.
- Display: 4.5-inch 1280x720 (326PPI), with Nex Lens and Infinite View Technology
- Processor: Quad-Core 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6589T
- GPU: PowerVR SGX544
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera: 8MP rear shooter, 2MP front
- Storage: 16GB
- Ports: microUSB, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Wireless: 3G 850 / 1900 or 850 / 2100 (microSIM); Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
- OS: Android 4.2.1
- Dimensions/Weight: 130 x 64.4 x 8.9 mm / 149g
- Colors: Black, White
- Battery: 3000mAh
- Price: $249 unlocked
After looking at the specs, it's pretty clear that this is another
mid-ranger from Blu. But it doesn't feel like the others, which applies
to both software and hardware.
Right out of the box, there's one comparison that's hard to deny: the Pure Mini looks quite
a bit like an iPhone 5c. I wouldn't necessarily say that's a bad thing,
as I personally find the 5c to be a nice little device from an
aesthetic perspective. Like the 5c, the Pure Mini features a one-piece
wrap-around polycarbonate body, which is very sleek. I actually wish
more devices would go for this sort of design.
The layout of the phone is nothing out of the ordinary: the power
button and headphone jack are on top, the microSIM card slot is on the
right, microUSB port on the bottom, and volume rocker on the left side.
The power button and volume rocker both share the Life View's machined
aluminum styling, which exposes a bit of the silver aluminum on the
outside edges. That's a nice touch.
One thing worth noting about this device is that it's quite rigid and
feels incredibly solid. Thanks to the 3,000mAh battery, it actually
packs a bit more weight than other devices this size, yet still manages
to stay at a sleek 8.9mm thin. All the seams are very tight and flush,
which gives the phone a feeling of being more expensive than it is. I
would easily and readily call the build "premium."
In a world where nearly every device I look at is five inch or
greater, I had forgotten how nice 4.5 feels. I realize that's very
subjective, but the size just feels excellent for one-handed use. That
feeling isn't exclusive to the LPM, of course, but it's definitely worth
mentioning. The 4.5" form factor was definitely refreshing for me
personally.
The rest of the experience is pretty typical of Blu at this point.
The display looks really good – colors are vibrant, text is sharp, and
the like. Despite "only" being 720p, text looks very nice, and images
are crisp. I've actually been criticized for speaking highly of Blu's
displays, as many users have a hard time believing that a budget device
can have a display that competes with the major players. I don't know
exactly what sort of voodoo magic Blu uses on its handsets, but the
display is something that has to be seen to believe considering the
devices' price points. The Life Pure Mini is no different.
On the performance level, the LPM packs enough of a punch to get the
job done for everyone outside of the most extreme power user. The
quad-core MediaTek chip isn't the fastest (or the most loved due to GPL
violations), but it handles day-to-day tasks readily enough on this
device, which is nice for those who buy it without realizing all that
goes on (or doesn't go on) behind the scenes from MediaTek. That's
really a different story for a different day, though, and I don't want
to turn this into a something about MediaTek and its wrong-doings in the
Android community.
Like I've said of other devices, it's hard to tell this device only has a single gig of RAM, unless
you're doing a lot of multi-tasking. At that point, it is noticeable.
Again, however, I don't see this as a device for power users, but rather
something for the "average Joe" or what have you.
The software experience is basically identical to that of the larger
Life Pure, though for some reason Blu decided to stick with the blue
battery and clock instead of changing it to white like on the Pure. In a
nutshell, it's very iOS/MIUI-like, in that all the apps are just thrown
onto the homescreen (there is no app tray), leaving no room for
widgets. There's a persistent weather widget at the top of the
homescreens, but it's neither replaceable nor removable.
Next to an iPhone 5c, for comparison.
There's, of course, the option to install another launcher, like
Nova. That works as expected for the most part, save for one detail: the
wallpaper remains blurry. Because all icons are just tossed onto the
homescreen in the stock launcher, the wallpaper is blurred to make
everything in the foreground easier to see. This doesn't change with
other launchers, which is odd and slightly annoying. Live wallpapers
don't have the same issue, so using one of those is a must if you can't
handle the out-of-focus backdrop.
Overall, the Life Pure Mini comes in as a good choice for those
converting from iOS, are new to the smartphone world, or need to replace
their existing phone on the cheap. The 4.5" display looks very crisp
and sharp, and the size keeps the overall footprint of the phone quite
comfortable for one-handed use. The build quality is solid, with the
massive 3,000mAh battery giving the unit some heft. If you can get past
the overly-simplistic interface (or don't mind using a custom launcher),
the Life Pure Mini is a solid choice in the $250 price range.
