Kata i1: The Next Generation China Phones Have Arrived!
Christmas hell week is finally over! I went through countless all-nighters, but I guess the hard work paid off :) now I’m able to have a breather by writing again on this blog that’s been postless for about a week now. I apologize to those who visited in the past days yet failed to see new content.
So, what’s new? For starters, I got this new Android phone called the Kata i1. What the hell man, you just got a new phone six months ago! is what I bet you’re thinking. True, but once you see the specs of this monster, hopefully you’ll understand how I felt being the techno geek that I am. It’s quite the huge leap from last six month’s technology and price ratio- that said, the next generation China phones have arrived!
By the way, I’ll be giving away my Lenovo A60 in a raffle soon, so that’s good news!
In the comment section of my previous phone’s review, the Lenovo A60, I mentioned that me and my friends were planning on importing very afforda-cheap Android phones with monster specs from China via the trusted http://fastcardtech.com. We were eying the NEO NO2-M: a 1.2Ghz dual core ICS 4.0.4 Android phone with 4.5″ HD screen, 1GB RAM, 4GB ROM, dual-sim dual-standby, 3G, 1.3MP front camera and 8MP back camera, and up to 32GB memory via micro SD card- all for a measly 6,600 PHP! Not bad, huh?
Can’t understand geek-lingo? Think Samsung Galaxy S2 for only 7-8k PHP. The specs are real- the hardware and Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.4 software live up to their names. No kidding.
Being literally one click away from buying three NEO NO2-Ms via credit card, my sister and her boyfriend messaged me that they saw this Kata i1 and yet another similar one called the Cloudfone Thrill 430x in a local mall. Looking them up, I found that they quite have the same specs with the NEO NO2-M, only 1.5k more expensive. But the advantage to that would be no waiting time for the shipping (supposed to be 1 month max) and service centers are very accessible- almost every SM Cyberzone has a Kata/Owtel store in it.
Kata i1 Unboxing
Now we go to the main event!
KATA i1 FULL SPECIFICATIONS:
Dual SIM / Dual Standby
4.5-inch qHD (960×540) IPS display (245ppi)
with 5-point multi-touch feature
1GHz Dual-Core MT6577 Processor
Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
PowerVR SGX531 GPU
1GB of RAM
4GB of internal storage
microSD up to 32GB
8.0MP autofocus camera with LED Flash
720p HD video recording
1.3MP front camera
FM Radio
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR
GPS with A-GPS support
Quad-Band GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
Tri-Band 3G WCDMA 900/1900/2100MHz
microUSB 2.0 / 3.5mm headset jack
Gravity Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor
Li-ion 1600mAh battery (removable)
Talk time up 5 hours
Standby time up 500 hours
132 x 67 x 10.25mm (dimension)
148g (weight)
Color: Black and White
Price: 8,499 PHP (Official SRP)
Availability/ Release Date: Now available at any KATA and OWTEL booth/kiosk/shop nationwide!
Back side
Side view. 10.25mm thin FTW!
So far, so good. Ah, remember the time when China phones were considered taboo and shouldn’t be bought at all unless you’re super desperate and mega cheap? You know, because quality is crap and all that. Not anymore. Those yellow bastards finally got their shit together and made their technology on par to that of the latest in the world. How, you ask? Beats me. Not sure if copycat or not, but I don’t really care at this point in time.
I’ve been all plus about the i1, but there are a little iffy things I have to mention about this phone. I’ll save it for the next post. Overall, this phone is beast! The 1Ghz dual core processor, 1GB RAM and 16M HD screen were what made me buy the Kata i1. With those specs, it’s going to run smooth as hell. I just have to get used to its 4.5″ screen and 10.25mm thinness- somewhat unergonomic, it’s kinda hard to text while side-viewed in bed.
I’m loving the 16M Colors QHD screen ;)
Here are sample photos I took using the said phone:
8.0MP Camera w/ decent light
8.0MP Camera in pitch black area using flash
Anyway, If you have questions, inquiries or whatever about the Kata i1, don’t be shy and hit me up in the comment section! ;)
Perfect Renders
31 Comments
Hi! Ask ko lang po kung pwede po sia i-upgrade sa Jelly Bean? May website po ba sila at Facebook page? How about po sa warranty? Thanks in advance sa reply. :D
Hi, John! As of now, there’s no official Jelly Bean update for the i1, but I’m not so sure for the rooted ones. There’s one year warranty for the phone :)
Here’s their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kata.electronics?ref=ts&fref=ts
And official website: http://www.katadigital.com/
Hi, ask ko lang po. Kung may kakaiba bang characteristics yung phone na ito? yung battery oks lang po ba. Nakita ko siya sa SM North at medyo na eengganyo ako bumil kaya lang hesitant ako kasi wala pa akong kilala na may ganitong mobile. Sensiya na dami kong tanong. Thank you
Ask ko lng kung yung mga games like nba, ay pede dito, yung battery oks ba? Saka may napansin ka ba na characteristics ng phone na ito na kakaiba?hehe sensiya na dami ko tanong curious lng kc nakita ko ito sa sm, at parang oks naman siya maganda display at yung specs. Salamat.
Hi, Joel! Di ako masyado ma-games pero I tried Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, SNES Emulator and PSX Emulator and super smooth naman sila. I was able to play Final Fantasy 7 smoothly, sa gitna na ako ng disc 1 as of now. Battery wise, halos same lang sila ng Galaxy S2 but I’ve read sa review that the i1 lasts longer. What do you mean about characteristics na kakaiba? Overall, the phone’s great for its cheap price.
hai sir chad.. ask ko lang kung saan my service center ng kata near antipolo… nasira kc ang touchscreen ko ng kata i1 gusto ko sana papalitan ngayon..? thanks
Kung music lover ka and gusto mo malakas ang sounds mo, I will not recommend you to buy this kasi kasing hina lang ang sounds nya ng mga original Nokia phones except Express Music ang phones mo. Alcatel and Cherry Mobiles ang malalakas but yung earphones naman ang di mo magugustuhan dahil ordinary lang ang tunog. Sa i1 though mahina ang sound eh maganda ang tunog and maganda rin ang tunog using its earphones.
Ask ko lang po paano iroot yung kata i1.
Hi, Janice! I haven’t rooted my phone and have no plans, but you can join Kata i1 users’ Facebook page and start from there. May instructions and downloadable software na dun on how to root the Kata i1. https://www.facebook.com/groups/118844314943602/
nagagamit niyo po ba yung SD card kahit na hindi kayo rooted? tsaka wala naman po bang bugs sa paggamit nito?
Yup nagagamit ko yung SD card, although you can’t swap it as the main phone memory. You have to root the phone to do that. And wala naman bugs. It’s been two months and I’m still really happy with this phone :D
ahhmmm… copare to other android phones, ung durability nya po ok po ba? and meron po ba sla service.center f masira?? how about mga protector meron din po ba nabibili s mall? and ung life span ng phone na yan compare to other android cp just like samsung.. parehas lang ba??
I guess durability is pretty good like any other standard branded phone. I accidentally dropped it twice shoulder-level while standing and wala pa naman signs ng sakit lol.
Wala siya kasama screen protector but phone shops usually can customize and make one for you. Nagpagawa ako for just 150php. And wala pa siya official jelly or leather case, but almost exact size niya yung MyPhone a898.
Life span? It can last for more than 2 days sakin since di ako ma-games and ma-wifi. Like any other phone, mabilis maubos battery if lagi nag-gagames and internet.
Marami rin service centers around Manila pero eto yung main nila:
OWTELSHOP – Starmall Alabang
Ground Level South-Wing Starmall, South Super Highway Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
Tel no. 556-4054
Ung jelly case niya compatible rin sa My Phone A878. May kasamang screen protector na ung binigay samen ang OWTELSHOP – Robinson’s Imus, Cavite. Bought it last April 30, 2013 and pag madalas ka mag internet, dipa matatapos ang whole day you need to charge it again and matagal ang charging time. Pero I recommend this phone kasi ok xa compared sa Cherry Flame. Ung camera nya ok naman ang kulay unlike lahat ng Cherry Mobiles and Alcatel Glory bluish ang result ng picture.
Good day! Im having a hard time s Kata i1 ang tagal icharge madaling malowbat at madaling mag-init ang likod ng phone bakit kaya.
Hi, Janice!
It depends on how you use the phone- but it will be like that (madali uminit and mag low-bat) if you excessively use games and the internet. All phones are like that, even the Galaxy S3 heat up and lose battery quickly if used like that. If normal usage lang, like text, calls, and a bit of games, pa-check mo na sa Owtel shop. :)
Sa charging, how long do you charge? 3-4 hours is the ideal time. Same goes with other smartphones. :)
sir chad meron pa ba ngayon touch screen ng kata i1,,,? nasira kc kc ang sa akin gusto ko papalitan/ ipapagawa ko sana ngayon mismo… thanks
Janice sali ksa group sa faceook just search kata i1 marami mkakatulong sayo dun sa pros mo about your phone
i cant play media player with format of Windows Media audio and video files and .flv how can i play it in kata do i need to download an apps for that?
what video formats can be played on kata i1? thank you
It depends on the software you have on playing videos, sir. There are software available on Android that can play almost any type nowadays.
hello po. i just bought last january at ok naman sya.. ang only problem na naencounter ko.. ayaw na nya magcharge. anu kaya ung problem nya? kakabili ko lang ng new batt nya para may extra ako..pero everytym icharge ko sya.. di gumagalaw ung sa battery nya.. may alam po ba kayo?regarding this matter. thanks po
It may be a defective unit po. Better have it checked or replaced from where you bought it.
how to reformat the phone??
kasi ung i1 ko..whenever i turn it on matagal sia magloading at kapag nasa wall na bigla lang mag off ulit then on again,,,wat shud i do with it???
Like any Android, meron pong reformat option sa settings menu. If ever nagloloko pa rin better have it checked or replaced sa place na binilihan mo ng unit.
hello po ask ko lang kung may nabibiling lcd ng i1 kc nabagsak ng anak q ung unit sana meron po
You can check their website para macontact mo sila kung saan yung mga repair centers nila. http://www.katadigital.com.ph/
meron po ba kaung alam na service center ng kata… kc nasira ang touchscreen.. gusto ko sana magpagawa….
hi gilbert try checking out their site, contacting them and ask them about their service centers here: http://www.katadigital.com.ph/