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Hands on photos of the Cool 1

AndiAugust 16, 2016

LeEco and Coolpad really took us surprise with the Cool1 launch and keen pricing today, now it’s your turn to decide of the two have made a decent enough phone.

At a starting price of 1099 Yuan, the Cool1 has really managed to surprise the Chinese smartphone industry today. The pricing means that the CNC alloy phone is lower priced than the Xiaomi Redmi Pro, and what’s more the Cool1 matches the Xiaomi’s dual cameras, and powerful hardware spec.

Feature highlights of the Cool1 include a dual 13 mega-pixel camera set up which uses one camera for colour and the other for monochrome shots (just like the much more expensive Huawei P9), a large 4060mAh battery, IR remote, and Snapdragon 652 1.8Ghz chipset.

Real photos of the Cool1 show a phone that has seen heavy design influence from LeEco, and in particular the original LeTV Le1 which the smartphone maker launched early last year. The 5.5-inch display has large black borders and navigation buttons on the chin are only visible when pressed.

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Due to the huge battery size the Cool1 comes in a thick CNC alloy body but in addition to promised long battery life, it has also meant the Cool1 has retained it’s 3.5mm headphone jack.

The dual camera design on the back matches up with a dual tone LED flash and below those is a fingerprint scanner for keeping everything nice and secure.

After seeing these hands on photos of the Cool1 I have to admit that the design is a little lacking, it’s very “last year” but with this level of hardware, and dual camera design and pricing of only 1099 Yuan, it’s still hard not to be impressed with the Cool1.

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About the author
Andi

george
August 16, 2016
Now to the hard part in R&D. Make the camera to produce sharp pictures. Otherwise it’s just a smoke screen
slartiblart
August 16, 2016
This looks very promising. Let’s go hard on coolpad to send you one Andi. We are all really fascinated by this phone. I’ve always had my Huawei Honor 6 plus since 2014 and never changed it as my prime phone as I love the camera and dual camera setup. But it’s getting old now. So i need a replacement. Redmi Pro or Cool 1??

Lukas
August 16, 2016
hideous black borders…
Jh1
August 16, 2016
Not overly impressed with the looks…. But specs and price are very impressive. Definitely considering this one

MattD
August 16, 2016
I like the rear design: lg g5 and the upcoming letv device (the one with that creepy face) taught us it’s really hard to nail a good looking camera setup… The front is the LeBlackBorders usual design, so I wish there’ll be a black version of the phone as well…
More importantly, there are both ir and 3.5 jack, and that’s a big plus (I would never imagine to say something like this just a couple of years ago, but still…). If there’s a microsd slot as well, it would be even more interesting.
Overall, redmi pro’s camera is just for bokeh, this one could bring some actual improvements thanks to b&w sensor…
Let’s wait for reviews!

george
August 16, 2016
Now to the hard part in R&D. Make the camera to produce sharp pictures. Otherwise it’s just a smoke screen
slartiblart
August 16, 2016
This looks very promising. Let’s go hard on coolpad to send you one Andi. We are all really fascinated by this phone. I’ve always had my Huawei Honor 6 plus since 2014 and never changed it as my prime phone as I love the camera and dual camera setup. But it’s getting old now. So i need a replacement. Redmi Pro or Cool 1??

Assefa Hanson
August 16, 2016
sweet jesus! i MUST buy this phone i dont even care for reviews lol
- MattD
  August 16, 2016
  Go for it asap, then tell us how it’s going into one of the firsts in-depth review published on a totally OT thread on disqus ?
Lukas
August 16, 2016
hideous black borders…
Ceza-BR
August 16, 2016
Look at the size of the borders, what a ridiculous thing!!!
And there isn’t physical button in the front (Home button).
Terrible. Next Please!

Jh1
August 16, 2016
Not overly impressed with the looks…. But specs and price are very impressive. Definitely considering this one
balcobomber25
August 16, 2016
Not a huge fan of the rear design and really sick of silver on phones.

MattD
August 16, 2016
I like the rear design: lg g5 and the upcoming letv device (the one with that creepy face) taught us it’s really hard to nail a good looking camera setup… The front is the LeBlackBorders usual design, so I wish there’ll be a black version of the phone as well…
More importantly, there are both ir and 3.5 jack, and that’s a big plus (I would never imagine to say something like this just a couple of years ago, but still…). If there’s a microsd slot as well, it would be even more interesting.
Overall, redmi pro’s camera is just for bokeh, this one could bring some actual improvements thanks to b&w sensor…
Let’s wait for reviews!
Assefa Hanson
August 16, 2016
sweet jesus! i MUST buy this phone i dont even care for reviews lol
- MattD
  August 17, 2016
  Go for it asap, then tell us how it’s going into one of the firsts in-depth review published on a totally OT thread on disqus 😁

yoselife
August 17, 2016
Sure glad LeEco decided to stick with big bezels!
Guest
August 17, 2016
Look at the size of the borders, what a ridiculous thing!!!
And there isn’t physical button in the front (Home button).
Terrible. Next Please!
balcobomber25
August 17, 2016
Not a huge fan of the rear design and really sick of silver on phones.
Max
August 17, 2016
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY???????????????????
It was turning out to be the perfect phone until I saw the picture of the front. And the design on the back was sexy as fuck. What a shame. My ideal phone is absolutely crippled by its huge black bezels.

Simion Florin
August 17, 2016
I think Redmi Pro is fine with that full HD Oled after seeing those huge bezels. Everything was fine until that… people just dont like gorilla bezels, only gorilla glass.
yoselife
August 17, 2016
please have gorilla glass and FM radio

realjjj
August 17, 2016
Was looking forward to this launch but after seeing what it is i lost any interest.
It’s not better value than the leaders, it’s doesn’t differentiate enough in design or features and that ROM this year is not good enough/.
It’s quite good value ,no doubt but was hoping for more- guess i am rather bored by the phone maker’s lack of ideas.
Comparing the dual cam with Xiaomi is misguided. Sure they both have dual cams but use them for different purposes. Xiaomi does depth of field while this once uses dual to capture more light. It’s like the difference between corrective glasses and sunglasses, both are glasses but serve very different purposes.
- Assefa Hanson
  August 18, 2016
  if they had ois for this type of dual cameras they would be GODS, the imx258 isnt amazing i agree imgaine if they used the imx 298 :O
  - realjjj
    August 18, 2016
    Single cam and OIS not dual since doing OIS with dual camera is rather difficult.
    IMX298 would be a very poor idea, the entire point of dual cam here is to capture more light and the 298 has 1.12um pixels so utterly inappropriate for that.
    A single IMX260 or IMX377 would be nice but , to differentiate, they could also have went with a good 23MP sensor. Everybody going 12-13 MP is annoying.
    - Assefa Hanson
      August 18, 2016
      - realjjj
        August 19, 2016
        It is what it is, at this price it’s normal to get this kind of sensor but if they invest more in the cam i would prefer a good sensor. IMX260 with OIS and all that should be some 15$.
    - Michael
      December 16, 2016
  - Michael
    December 16, 2016
    ” the imx258 isnt amazing i agree imgaine if they used the imx 298 :O:”
    IMX377 WOULD BE MUCH BETTER.
- Michael
  December 16, 2016
  “In the end both chose marketing over quality. A great sensor with OiS would be preferable.”
  AbSOLUTELY!!
  LEECO GIVE US A BETTER SENSOR NOW!
Steven Fox
August 17, 2016
Sure glad LeEco decided to stick with big bezels!

VMortens
August 17, 2016
Front is awful. No black front – typical for Chinese market phones – I’m guessing goldish pink shite is on the way too. Huge black bezels, but no black front to mask it …
Very decent specs and battery – shocker for the price.
I can also tell you, that – as it would be usual fo LeEco – initial ROM versions will suck.
Don’t expect any ‘wooow’ effect in the camera department too – I simply see no chance for that at the price.

NextHype
August 17, 2016
that’s one ugly moth*f**k** from LeBezels but SD652 / 4050mAh / Dual Cam at 1099RMB… no wonder why they pay their designers with cupnoodles.
Max
August 17, 2016
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY???????????????????
It was turning out to be the perfect phone until I saw the picture of the front. And the design on the back was sexy as fuck. What a shame. My ideal phone is absolutely crippled by its huge black bezels.

Simion Florin
August 17, 2016
I think Redmi Pro is fine with that full HD Oled after seeing those huge bezels. Everything was fine until that… people just dont like gorilla bezels, only gorilla glass.
realjjj
August 17, 2016
Was looking forward to this launch but after seeing what it is i lost any interest.
It’s not better value than the leaders, it’s doesn’t differentiate enough in design or features and that ROM this year is not good enough/.
It’s quite good value ,no doubt but was hoping for more- guess i am rather bored by the phone makers’ lack of ideas.
Comparing the dual cam with Xiaomi is misguided. Sure they both have dual cams but use them for different purposes. Xiaomi does depth of field while this once uses dual to capture more light. It’s like the difference between corrective glasses and sunglasses, both are glasses but serve very different purposes. In the end both chose marketing over quality. A great sensor with OiS would be preferable.
- Assefa Hanson
  August 18, 2016
  if they had ois for this type of dual cameras they would be GODS, the imx258 isnt amazing i agree imgaine if they used the imx 298 :O
- realjjj
  August 18, 2016
  Single cam and OIS not dual since doing OIS with dual camera is rather difficult.
  IMX298 would be a very poor idea, the entire point of dual cam here is to capture more light and the 298 has 1.12um pixels so utterly inappropriate for that. Doesn’t make sense to use small pixels instead of larger ones and then boost it with a second sensor – funny enough that’s what they are doing here, assuming it is IMX258, haven’t seen anyone else mention the sensor used.
  A single IMX260 or IMX377 would be nice but , to differentiate, they could also have went with a good 23MP sensor. Everybody going 12-13 MP is annoying.
- Assefa Hanson
  August 18, 2016
  According to this @5:29 its imx258
- realjjj
  August 19, 2016
  It is what it is, at this price it’s normal to get this kind of sensor but if they invest more in the cam i would prefer a good sensor. IMX260 with OIS and all that should be some 15$.