Ulefone confirmed Be Touch will come with Sony IMX214 camera

Ulefone have confirmed that their upcoming Ulefone Be Touch model will ship with a 13 mega-pixel Sony IMX 214 rear camera.

If you cast your mind back to the release of the Ulefone Be Pro you might remember there was a bit of an issue with the main camera. Promotional material claimed it was a 13 mega-pixel Sony sensor, but it was later discovered that an 8 mega-pixel Omnivison sensor was actually used.

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Hopefully that is all in the past as they have once again claimed that a new device of theirs will boast that 13 mega-pixel Sony IMX 214 sensor. This is the very same sensor as the one found in the OnePlus One, but with a smaller f2.2 aperture size don’t expect the same of low-light performance.

The Ulefone Be Touch is planned for release in the coming weeks and will offer the same 64bit MT6752 chipset, fingerprint security and Android 5.0 Lollipop features as the Elephone P7000 and Mlais M7.

Stay tuned for more news.

[ Ulefone ]

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About the author
Ying Hua
I'm an avid gamer and a bit of a Ninja when it comes to gadgets and technology. When I'm not busy with the latest Android and iOS games and I can be found writing at Gizchina.com.

mf1gt3r
April 21, 2015
Mid range. Not bad. Buh I’ve got my eyes on Letv One or One Pro, Nubia Z9 Max and Elephone’s rumoured 2k IMX230 phone. Whichever comes out as the best performer per dollar will be ordered.

Shanos
April 21, 2015
looks interesting, just feel they got burned last time around with the camera fibs! I think people will most likely hold off on this one until actual units have been in the hands of reviewers and tear downs done to confirm whats inside.
I honestly hope they do not repeat the same mistake again.

Muhammad Yasir
April 21, 2015
wait … whats with the “but with a smaller f2.2 aperture size don’t expect the same of low-light performance.”
some camera geek , plz explain ….
- Ulti
  April 21, 2015
  A larger aperture (which means smaller f number) will allow in more light. This means that in low light performance it should theoretically be better if the sensor is the same and it also means for lenses, generally the same focal length with a larger aperture can allow more blurring in the background for bokeh effects.
  Here is a very basic diagram:
  http://i.imgur.com/BTQlxKw.jpg
  Notice how lowering the aperture (smaller f number) will give a brighter image with more blurred backgrounds.
  - Muhammad Yasir
    April 21, 2015
    - Steve B
      April 21, 2015
      Theoretically yes, it will suck in more available light in a short time, but sensor still important and depth of field can also be effected. Camera lenses have adjustable apertures, these phones are mostly fixed aperture. At night f/1.8 is great, but during day/bright light it actually might narrow the depth of field making foreground and background out of focus. On close-ups people use this effect to create attractive blurred backgrounds (bokeh) and make the subject stand out. F/2.2 probably a good compromise for reasonable low light and good daylight DOF.
      - Muhammad Yasir
        April 21, 2015
        i see , so as of now , f/2.2 is the holy grail.
        BUT what makes a select FEW phones have that SWEET SPOT in low-light photography and killer daylight photography , like the iuni u2 ???
        Steve B
        April 21, 2015
        Probably the actual quality of the lens, all f1.4 (or whatever) lens aren’t the same, there is good and not so good. Say Canon ‘L’ branded lens vs standard Canon lens. The Iuni U2 uses a sapphire Largon M8 lens, same with the Gionee E7, but the U2 is better overall as it also has an extra blue coating which seems to make a difference. (Unfortunately though despite being sapphire glass, the blue coating scratches easily). OIS can also help massively, as used on Iuni U3, but that generally got worse reviews for the camera than the U2, despite using the supposedly better Sony IMX214. So again the lens quality probably made the difference.
        
        Steve B
        April 21, 2015
        Probably the actual quality of the lens, all f1.4 (or whatever) lens aren’t the same, there is good and not so good. Say Canon ‘L’ branded lens vs standard Canon lens. The Iuni U2 uses a sapphire Largon M8 lens, same with the Gionee E7, but the U2 is better overall as it also has an extra blue coating which seems to make a difference. (Unfortunately though despite being sapphire glass, the blue coating scratches easily). OIS can also help massively, as used on Iuni U3, but that generally got worse reviews for the camera than the U2, despite using the supposedly better Sony IMX214. So again the lens quality probably made the difference.
        
        Steve B
        April 21, 2015
        I wouldn’t say f2.2 is necessarily the holy grail, as there are so many other factors, but to me it’s OK and has benefits that chasing wide/large aperture numbers sometimes ignore. Same as chasing big MP count doesn’t always give better pictures, its just squeezing more information on to the same tiny chip. Look at lens quality, sensor type/size, OIS/EIS if available and software. Many manufactures seem to be able to fix or ruin the camera via software updates, so that plays a big part too. The recent Kitkat Gionee E7 update has reduced the quality of the camera according to some reports.
        
        Muhammad Yasir
        April 21, 2015
        wow , E7 thing is a bummer :/
        anyways , thanks for some REALLY detailed info on cameras!
        NEXT time im buying a phone , will definitely contact u !
        balcobomber25
        April 22, 2015
        The last time I used the E7 was with Jelly Bean and it was one of the best camera’s on a smartphone I had ever use. I would rank it third behind only the Vivo Xshot (which proves MP’s aren’t everything) and the Xperia Z series. It would be a shame if Kit Kat really did mess with what was an exceptional camera.
        
        Steve B
        April 22, 2015
        There were a few posts from early adopters that the camera had got worse under Ktkat, especially in low light. I was one of the unlucky lucky in that my E7 came with with the software fault that crashes when you attempt an OTA check, so I held back whilst a fix was discussed. You can still update by loading the files, but no one has come back on my enquiries regarding the camera issues, so I’ve still resisted, I’d rather have the camera quality, whereas most seem happy just to have Kitkat.
        
        balcobomber25
        April 22, 2015
        Personally I could care less what version of Android my phone uses. I would prefer my phone works at advertised and has a bug free experience than to have the latest version and problems.
        Steve B
        April 21, 2015
        I wouldn’t say f2.2 is necessarily the holy grail, as there are so many other factors, but to me it’s OK and has benefits that chasing wide/large aperture numbers sometimes ignore. Same as chasing big MP count doesn’t always give better pictures, its just squeezing more information on to the same tiny chip. Look at lens quality, sensor type/size, OIS/EIS if available and software. Many manufactures seem to be able to fix or ruin the camera via software updates, so that plays a big part too. The recent Kitkat Gionee E7 update has reduced the quality of the camera according to some reports.
      - Muhammad Yasir
        April 21, 2015
        i see , so as of now , f/2.2 is the holy grail.
        BUT what makes a select FEW phones have that SWEET SPOT in low-light photography and killer daylight photography , like the iuni u2 ???
    - Steve B
      April 21, 2015
      Theoretically yes, it will suck in more available light in a short time, but sensor still important and depth of field can also be effected. Camera lenses have adjustable apertures, these phones are mostly fixed aperture. At night f/1.8 is great, but during day/bright light it actually might narrow the depth of field making foreground and background out of focus. On close-ups people use this effect to create attractive blurred backgrounds (bokeh) and make the subject stand out. F/2.2 probably a good compromise for reasonable low light and good daylight DOF.
  - Muhammad Yasir
    April 21, 2015

Babidi
April 21, 2015
I went to their english forum and saw that there hasn’t been any reply to a lot of threads about problems related to their phones. So why would anyone risk buying Ulefone phones?
April 21, 2015
All in all, quality of lense play bigger roles than the sensor itself.
My iuni u3 (6 lenses) capture greater image than my jiayu s3(5 lenses). While both using sam sensor imx 214

julian
April 21, 2015
I do not trust them anymore. Wait and see it on sale. Got screwed with the be pro. They should try to support the clients.
mf1gt3r
April 21, 2015
Mid range. Not bad. Buh I’ve got my eyes on Letv One or One Pro, Nubia Z9 Max and Elephone’s rumoured 2k IMX230 phone. Whichever comes out as the best performer per dollar will be ordered.

Shanos
April 21, 2015
looks interesting, just feel they got burned last time around with the camera fibs! I think people will most likely hold off on this one until actual units have been in the hands of reviewers and tear downs done to confirm whats inside.
I honestly hope they do not repeat the same mistake again.
balcobomber25
April 21, 2015
Just having the Sony IMX 214 doesn’t guarantee you will have a great camera. It is a good start but their other factors at play.

balcobomber25
April 21, 2015
Just having the Sony IMX 214 doesn’t guarantee you will have a great camera. It is a good start but their other factors at play.
Guest
April 21, 2015
wait … whats with the “but with a smaller f2.2 aperture size don’t expect the same of low-light performance.”
some camera geek , plz explain ….
- Ulti
  April 21, 2015
  A larger aperture (which means smaller f number) will allow in more light. This means that in low light performance it should theoretically be better if the sensor is the same and it also means for lenses, generally the same focal length with a larger aperture can allow more blurring in the background for bokeh effects.
  Here is a very basic diagram:
- Ulti
  April 21, 2015
  Notice how lowering the aperture (smaller f number) will give a brighter image with more blurred backgrounds.
- Guest
  April 21, 2015
  so lower aperture = BETTER low light photography ?
- Steve B
  April 21, 2015
  Theoretically yes, it will suck in more available light in a short time, but sensor still important and depth of field can also be effected. Camera lenses have adjustable apertures, these phones are mostly fixed aperture. At night f/1.8 is great, but during day/bright light it actually might narrow the depth of field making foreground and background out of focus. On close-ups people use this effect to create attractive blurred backgrounds (bokeh) and make the subject stand out. F/2.2 probably a good compromise for reasonable low light and good daylight DOF.
- Guest
  April 21, 2015
  i see , so as of now , f/2.2 is the holy grail.
  BUT what makes a select FEW phones have that SWEET SPOT in low-light photography and killer daylight photography , like the iuni u2 ???
- Steve B
  April 21, 2015
  Probably the actual quality of the lens, all f1.4 (or whatever) lens aren’t the same, there is good and not so good. Say Canon ‘L’ branded lens vs standard Canon lens. The Iuni U2 uses a sapphire Largon M8 lens, same with the Gionee E7, but the U2 is better overall as it also has an extra blue coating which seems to make a difference. (Unfortunately though despite being sapphire glass, the blue coating scratches easily). OIS can also help massively, as used on Iuni U3, but that generally got worse reviews for the camera than the U2, despite using the supposedly better Sony IMX214. So again the lens quality probably made the difference.
- Steve B
  April 21, 2015
  I wouldn’t say f2.2 is necessarily the holy grail, as there are so many other factors, but to me it’s OK and has benefits that chasing wide/large aperture numbers sometimes ignore. Same as chasing big MP count doesn’t always give better pictures, its just squeezing more information on to the same tiny chip. Look at lens quality, sensor type/size, OIS/EIS if available and software. Many manufactures seem to be able to fix or ruin the camera via software updates, so that plays a big part too. The recent Kitkat Gionee E7 update has reduced the quality of the camera according to some reports.
- Guest
  April 21, 2015
  wow , E7 thing is a bummer :/
  anyways , thanks for some REALLY detailed info on cameras!
  NEXT time im buying a phone , will definitely contact u !
- balcobomber25
  April 22, 2015
  The last time I used the E7 was with Jelly Bean and it was one of the best camera’s on a smartphone I had ever use. I would rank it third behind only the Vivo Xshot (which proves MP’s aren’t everything) and the Xperia Z series. It would be a shame if Kit Kat really did mess with what was an exceptional camera.
- Steve B
  April 22, 2015
  There were a few posts from early adopters that the camera had got worse under Ktkat, especially in low light. I was one of the unlucky lucky in that my E7 came with with the software fault that crashes when you attempt an OTA check, so I held back whilst a fix was discussed. You can still update by loading the files, but no one has come back on my enquiries regarding the camera issues, so I’ve still resisted, I’d rather have the camera quality, whereas most seem happy just to have Kitkat.
- balcobomber25
  April 22, 2015
  Personally I could care less what version of Android my phone uses. I would prefer my phone works at advertised and has a bug free experience than to have the latest version and problems.

Babidi
April 21, 2015
I went to their english forum and saw that there hasn’t been any reply to a lot of threads about problems related to their phones. So why would anyone risk buying Ulefone phones?
Ryanze
April 21, 2015
All in all, quality of lense play bigger roles than the sensor itself.
My iuni u3 (6 lenses) capture greater image than my jiayu s3(5 lenses). While both using sam sensor imx 214
julian
April 21, 2015
I do not trust them anymore. Wait and see it on sale. Got screwed with the be pro. They should try to support the clients.

Mezz
April 21, 2015
Good specs, but 2500mAh battery : /
Mezz
April 21, 2015
Good specs, but 2500mAh battery : /
balcobomber25
April 21, 2015
Just having the Sony IMX 214 doesn’t guarantee you will have a great camera. It is a good start but their other factors at play.
Ming06
April 21, 2015
Good specs, but 2500mAh battery : /
Guest
April 21, 2015

Ying Hua

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