This Android phone from the back reminds me of an iPhone but the price is only a fraction of the price

Key points of ZDNET

• This smartphone has a stunning look.
• Performance and battery life are excellent.
• The 50-megapixel camera is more for low-light conditions than image quality.

While iOS users are now used to paying close to a thousand dollars for a phone, Android users don’t have to. Sure, expensive Android phones still exist, but there are also plenty of Android handsets that cost a few hundred dollars and are fully functional.

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Get a new one Blackview 9 shark. If you’re looking for a basic everyday phone, this is definitely worth considering.

Specifications of Blackview Shark 9

• operating system: DokeOS 4.0 based on Android 14
• Display: 6.67 inches HD+IPS, 720 x 1604 with 90Hz refresh rate
• Rear camera: Samsung ISOCELL JN1 f1.8 50 megapixel, 1/2.76 inch sensor + 2 megapixel f2.4 macro, 1/5 inch sensor + 2 megapixel f2.8 depth camera, 1/5 inch sensor
• Front camera: Samsung ISOCELL 4H7 f2.0 8 megapixel, 1/3.1 inch sensor
• Maximum video resolution: 4K@30 fps
• CPU: 8 cores 5G Unisoc T820
• GPU: Mali-G57 MP4
• DAM: 8GB LPDDR4X RAM (plus optional 12GB expandable memory)
• Warehouse: 256GB UFS2.2
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Charging: 18W fast charging
• Card slot: Dual Slots (2x SIM or 1x SlM + 1x TF Card)
• Audio jack: Yes, 3.5 mm
• Biometrics: Unlock with face and fingerprint
• Size: 164.8 x 75.6 x 8.65mm
• Weight: 200g
• Color: Starry black, Pure blue

Let’s start with the most obvious first… this looks a lot like an iPhone. I don’t mean form factor – most smartphones look pretty generic.

I’m referring to the three-camera array on the back. It’s intentional and quite impressive that that single design choice resonates with the iPhone Pro Max.

In addition to looking like an iPhone, the Shark 9 is also an outstanding phone. My review unit has Blackview’s “Ethereal Blue” finish and the back of the case has a fiery opal glow that is quite spectacular.

It’s one of the most impressive finishes I’ve seen on a smartphone. I would have a hard time putting this phone in a case!

The phone is powered by the Unisoc T820 processor, an octa-core chip with one Cortex-A76 2.7 GHz performance core, three Cortex-A76 2.3 GHz performance cores, and four Cortex-A55 2.1 performance cores. GHz. While the chip is very much a budget processor and in no way wins performance awards, combined with the default 8GB of RAM and 5GB of expandable storage, it performs very well when running native application smoothly. Increasing the expandable memory up to the full 12GB makes a real difference when running more demanding applications or when Google Chrome has dozens of tabs open.

To get the best performance, I always recommend setting expanded storage to maximum, unless storage is an issue (and if that’s the case, add a microSD card).

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It’s amazing how smoothly Android can run on a smartphone with a modest processor and a reasonable amount of RAM. Sure, there will be workloads that push it to the limit – for example, gaming or photo/video editing – but for the majority of users, this phone will be more than enough.

The camera is acceptable for a phone in that budget/mainstream price range. If you’re using a flagship phone, you’ll definitely feel like the photos lack pop, but if you’re just posting to Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram, you won’t be disappointed.

The 50-megapixel main camera uses quad-Bayer technology and pixel binning for increased low-light performance, making this in the traditional sense a 12.5-megapixel sensor. Output, especially in low light, is excellent. As always, with high-megapixel smartphone cameras, there’s the option to shoot at 50-megapixel resolution, but I could hardly tell the difference between these photos and comparable normal photos. on one’s own. If anything, I feel like the 50-megapixel shots show a high degree of sharpness, which I don’t like. There are some limitations to the camera: while you can shoot 4K video, for example, it’s only at 30fps.

The 5,000mAh battery offers more than 600 hours of standby time – almost a month – and I found that on a normal day I could get 12 hours of mixed use, which is acceptable. Shark 9 supports 18W wired charging, taking the battery from 20% to 20% in 10 minutes. Thankfully, the Shark 9 is one of the few smartphones on the market today that still has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

ZDNET Buying Tips

You can get it now Blackview 9 shark At $122, this is a very competitive price. The phone has an MSRP of $280 and even at that price, this is a good phone that does everything the average user needs from a smartphone. Sure, it won’t satisfy power users, but even at full price, the Shark 9 is still a fraction of the cost of one. iPhone 16 Pro Max or one Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Power users will always be willing to pay to stay ahead. This is the smartphone for people who just want a tool to get the job done.