Chinese tech companies are getting more and more competitive in the Android device market, and they’re getting more and more bullish about their chances in the US market. It began with Huawei, and then ZTE – now we have LeEco. The China-based manufacturer is launching two Android devices very worthy of notice, and a smart TV powered by Android TV.
LeEco may not be a name most US consumers are familiar with, although they are big players in their home market in China. But it was the same with Huawei and ZTE when they started. The secret seems to be to put out solid devices and price them aggressively, and it looks like that is the very same strategy LeEco will take. They are putting out the Le Pro3 flagship smartphone, the more affordable Le S3 smartphone, and a line of smart TVs headlined by the stunning LeEco uMax85 4K TV.
The Le Pro3 is a flagship phone with both looks and specs that will challenge the best phones out there. The 5.5-inch FullHD (1080p) IPS LCD display is encased in an aluminum unibody design that is one of the slimmest out there at 7.53mm, and is powered by the fastest processor in the market and the same processor found on the Google Pixel – Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821. That is supported by 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, a generous 4,070mAh battery with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 and a 16MP/8MP camera combo. The pricing is aggressive at USD$399, and a $100 rebate upon purchase.
The Le S3 is the more affordable of the two smartphones, targeting the midrange market. It has the same 5.5-inch FullHD (1080p) IPS LCD display, but powered by the midrange but still competent octa-core Snapdragon 652 chipset. That is supported by 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, a 3,000mAh battery and the same 16MP/8MP camera combo as with its more prestigious cousin. At USD$249, this is a strong argument at the midrange market, especially with the $100 rebate.
It is important to note that both smartphones use USB Type-C ports and have done away with the 3.5mm headphone jack. In its place, you get CDLA lossless audio, with Dolby Atmos on the Pro3. It’s helpful that LeEco is also bundling CDLA-enabled headphones with the devices.
Lastly, you have the gargantuan 85-inch LeEco uMax85 4K TV. Priced at USD$4,999 (with a USD$1000 rebate), you get a huge 4K LED display capable of giving you with HDR 10. The software platform is Android TV, and you get a quad-core processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage as the internals for what will run the software. Connectivity is available with the usual wifi and Bluetooth, and audio is provided by Harman Kardon speaker and Dolby Digital Plus technology.
Beautiful phone.