In the rapidly evolving landscape of the Indian smartphone industry, domestic manufacturers have been striving to carve out their niche amidst fierce competition from global brands. XOLO, a premium sub-brand of Lava International, has taken a bold step forward with the introduction of their custom Android skin, Hive UI, aiming to shatter the stereotype of Indian companies merely rebranding imported devices. The XOLO 8X-1000 serves as the pioneering device to showcase this innovative interface, marking a significant milestone in the company's journey towards establishing a unique identity in the market.
Design and Build Quality: Elevating Standards
The XOLO 8X-1000 immediately stands out from its peers with its premium design elements. The device boasts a sophisticated glass finish on the rear, complemented by plastic sides featuring a metallic finish. This combination not only enhances the visual appeal but also contributes to a comfortable grip. Both the front and back of the phone are protected by toughened glass, a feature typically reserved for more expensive models.
However, the design is not without its quirks. The right side of the device feels somewhat crowded, housing the microSD slot, power button, and volume rockers in close proximity. The decision to implement touch-sensitive, backlit dots for Home, Back, and Menu keys may initially confuse users accustomed to more traditional button layouts. The front design draws inspiration from the iPhone, featuring large top and bottom bezels that may polarize opinions among users.
Display Technology: Vibrant Visuals
At the heart of the user experience lies a 5-inch HD display with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels. Protected by Dragontrail glass, a competitor to the more widely known Gorilla Glass, the screen offers robust protection against scratches and minor impacts. With a pixel density of 294 ppi, the display delivers sharp text and crisp images, though it falls short of the pixel-packed screens found in some flagship devices.
The display's strengths lie in its color reproduction and visibility. Colors appear vibrant and punchy, enhancing the overall visual experience. Notably, the screen maintains good legibility under direct sunlight, a crucial feature for the Indian market where outdoor use is common. The wide viewing angles further contribute to a pleasant user experience, allowing for comfortable content consumption from various positions.
While the display outperforms many competitors in its price bracket, it doesn't quite match the quality found in devices like the Asus Zenfone 5 or Moto G (2014). However, for most users, the differences would be negligible in day-to-day usage.
Hardware Specifications: Balancing Performance and Value
Under the hood, the XOLO 8X-1000 packs hardware that aims to balance performance with cost-effectiveness. The device is powered by an octa-core MediaTek MT6592M processor clocked at 1.4GHz. This chip utilizes ARM's big.LITTLE architecture, which combines four high-performance Cortex-A7 cores with four energy-efficient cores to optimize power consumption and performance based on the task at hand.
Graphics processing is handled by the Mali-450 MP4 GPU, capable of delivering smooth performance in most mobile games and applications. The device comes equipped with 2GB of RAM, which was a generous amount for its price range at the time of release, allowing for decent multitasking capabilities.
Internal storage is set at 16GB, with the option to expand via microSD card. This provides ample space for apps, media, and personal files without requiring immediate expansion for most users. The camera setup includes an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP front-facing camera, specifications that were competitive in its class at launch.
One potential weakness lies in the battery capacity. At 1920 mAh, the non-removable battery may struggle to keep up with the power demands of the octa-core processor and 5-inch display, especially for heavy users.
Hive UI: XOLO's Software Innovation
The cornerstone of XOLO's attempt to differentiate itself is the Hive UI, a custom Android overlay that represents a significant departure from stock Android. This ambitious software overhaul touches nearly every aspect of the user interface, from the lock screen and notifications to the dialer and quick settings.
Hive UI draws inspiration from successful custom skins like Xiaomi's MIUI, offering extensive theming capabilities that allow users to personalize their device to a high degree. XOLO has partnered with renowned designers to create a variety of themes, ensuring a polished look regardless of the user's chosen aesthetic.
The Edge app serves as a central hub for customization, offering themes, ringtones, and wallpapers. This approach to personalization is reminiscent of OnePlus's OxygenOS, which similarly emphasizes user choice in interface design.
XOLO has also introduced several unique features through built-in apps. The Connect app provides a direct communication channel with XOLO's support team, potentially streamlining the process of resolving issues or seeking assistance. The Secure app offers anti-theft solutions, including remote tracking and wiping capabilities, addressing growing concerns about device security. The Power app provides tools for battery optimization, though its effectiveness may be limited by the hardware constraints of the battery capacity.
While ambitious, Hive UI is not without its flaws. Some users have reported inconsistencies in iconography and occasional lag during animations, particularly when changing themes or running multiple apps simultaneously. These issues highlight the challenges of developing a comprehensive custom UI, especially for a company relatively new to such extensive software development.
Performance and User Experience
The octa-core processor and 2GB of RAM should theoretically provide smooth performance across a range of tasks. In practice, the experience is somewhat mixed. The device handles resource-intensive games like Asphalt 8 and Riptide GP 2 admirably, demonstrating the capabilities of the MediaTek chip and Mali GPU. However, users have reported occasional stuttering when multitasking or applying new themes, suggesting that software optimization could be improved.
When compared to contemporaries like the Asus Zenfone 5 or Moto G, the XOLO 8X-1000 falls slightly behind in terms of overall system fluidity. This could be attributed to the overhead introduced by the extensive customizations of Hive UI, as stock Android devices often benefit from more streamlined software.
Audio and video performance is a pleasant surprise. The built-in speakers deliver loud and clear sound, enhancing the media consumption experience. The device handles Full HD video playback smoothly across popular formats, making it a capable entertainment device within its price range.
Camera Capabilities: Exceeding Expectations
The 8MP rear camera of the XOLO 8X-1000 stands out as one of its stronger features. Equipped with an Exmor-R sensor and an f/2.0 aperture, the camera captures sharp and clear photos in daylight conditions. Low-light performance is decent, with minimal noise compared to many competitors in its class.
The inclusion of a Pro mode for manual control over white balance, ISO, and exposure is a welcome addition, allowing photography enthusiasts to fine-tune their shots. This level of control is often reserved for more premium devices, making its presence here particularly noteworthy.
The 2MP front-facing camera, however, is less impressive. Heavy noise filtering in an attempt to improve image quality often results in a loss of detail, producing selfies that may disappoint users accustomed to higher-quality front cameras.
Battery Life: Room for Improvement
The 1920mAh battery proves to be the Achilles' heel of the XOLO 8X-1000. Given the power requirements of the 5-inch display and octa-core processor, the battery capacity falls short of providing all-day usage for many users. This limitation is particularly noticeable when compared to competitors that offer larger batteries in similarly sized devices.
The inclusion of power-saving features through the Power app attempts to mitigate this weakness, but hardware limitations ultimately constrain its effectiveness. Users who prioritize long battery life may find themselves needing to carry a portable charger or frequently seeking out power outlets throughout the day.
Conclusion: A Bold Step Forward
The XOLO 8X-1000 with Hive UI represents a commendable effort by an Indian manufacturer to break away from the stereotype of simply rebranding imported devices. By developing a custom UI and focusing on design elements typically associated with more premium devices, XOLO has demonstrated its ambition to compete on innovation rather than just price.
While the device has its shortcomings, particularly in battery life and some aspects of performance, it offers a unique proposition in the Indian smartphone market. The extensive customization options provided by Hive UI, coupled with the premium build quality and capable camera, make the XOLO 8X-1000 an intriguing option for users seeking a device that stands out from the crowd.
As XOLO continues to refine Hive UI and address the software inconsistencies, future iterations of devices featuring this custom skin could potentially challenge more established players in the market. For now, the XOLO 8X-1000 serves as a promising first step, indicating that Indian manufacturers are capable of innovating and creating differentiated products tailored to local preferences.
The success of ventures like the XOLO 8X-1000 and Hive UI could pave the way for more diverse and competitive offerings in the Indian smartphone market, ultimately benefiting consumers through increased choice and innovation. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see how XOLO and other domestic manufacturers build upon these foundations to create truly compelling alternatives to international brands.
