BenQ is considered an expert in LED monitors and displays, and it isn’t a brand associated with mobile phones. Today however, the Taiwan brand announced two smartphones for the Malaysian market – the BenQ F5 and BenQ T3, both 4G LTE-enabled devices.
Adrian Chang, Vice President and General Manager of Mobile Products Group, BenQ Corporation in his opening keynote said, “BenQ is committed to do more for the consumers and there is no exception for the Malaysian market. Our current market presence is now growing and with us introducing the F5 and T3 smartphones the outlook is even more promising. BenQ’s people-driven technologies such as the 4x Ultra Sensitivity Mode and Low Blue Light Technology are pertinent features that are developed based on consumers demand. We are confident that the BenQ F5 and T3 will be well received by Malaysians as it brings people closer to technology, creating memorable moments and enhancing their mobile experience.”
I was given a lesson in BenQ’s history after I questioned the brand’s entry into the ultra competitive global mobile market. BenQ in fact, has been in the mobile market for over 17 years. It has primarily focused in the European market. With mobile penetration above 150%, BenQ felt it was the right time to introduce their new smartphone portfolio to Malaysia – the first country outside of Taiwan.
In a nutshell, the BenQ F5 and BenQ T3 offer three distinctive unique selling propositions – 4G LTE, 4x Ultra Sensitivity Mode camera and BenQ’s famed Low Blue Light Technology (seen in its display products like the EW2440L Full HD monitor).
BenQ F5
The hero product comes with a 5-inch IPS HD display (1280 x 720), quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8926) running at 1.2Ghz, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage with microSD expansion up to 64GB, 4G LTE, single-SIM (micro-SIM) with a generous 2520mAh battery.
BenQ touts its Sony-sourced 13MP autofocus main camera with BSI and f/2.2 aperture featuring proprietary 4x Ultra Sensitivity Mode that enhances photos in low light by up to four times. The front is a 2MP shooter adequate for some sharp selfies. There’s a Smile Detection Mode as well as Voice Control Shutter.
The F5 also gets the HFR (High Frame Rate) feature that enables you to capture split second videos.
Design and build wise, the F5 is quite well put together. Its polycarbonate body looks pleasing if unremarkable, and is comfortable to hold. The F5 measures 8.5mm at its thinnest point and weighs just 135g.
Available in Elegant White and Fashion Black.
BenQ T3
The ultra-affordable T3 packs a similar processor to the F5 and comes with a 4.5-inch qHD (960 x 480) display, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage with expandable storage of up to 64GB, 4G LTE, single-SIM (micro-SIM) and a long-lasting 1900mAh non-removable battery.
The camera is an 8MP module with LED flash, also featuring the 4x Ultra Sensitivity Mode.
Available in Elegant White and Fashion Black.
Low Blue Light technology
BenQ’s low blue light technology from its famed LCD/LED monitors have been incorporated into the F5 and T3. As seen on the EW2440L Full HD LED monitor, the technology enables you to fine-tune brightness levels to be more eye-friendly depending on common scenarios: multimedia (-30%), web browsing (-50%) and reading (-70%).
Strategic partnership with ECS
BenQ’s entry into the local market is supported by a strategic partnership with ECS ICT Berhad (ECS), whose wholly-owned subsidiary ECS ASTAR Sdn Bhd has been appointed the distributor of BenQ smartphones in Malaysia.
Pricing and availability
The BenQ F5 and T3 run Android KitKat 4.4.2 and will be available from 23 September 2014, priced at RM799.00 (US$246) and RM599.00 (US$184) respectively.
Initial thoughts
It still hasn’t sunken in that there is such a thing as a BenQ smartphone. Having said that, I think it’s a commendable debut. The BenQ F5 is packed with features and should perform very well with its Snapdragon underpinnings and generous RAM. Initial tests of the camera have also yielded some impressive results.
What’s interesting is how the low-end T3 really pushes the affordability of a 4G LTE device down a notch. This goes head on with the Moto G LTE, which is another attractive budget buy.
