Overview
After LeTV invested in Coolpad, the first joint product, the Cool1, was launched. The phone departs from Coolpad's previous business-oriented approach and integrates LeTV resources to deliver an affordable dual-camera device. It is positioned with an ecosystem strategy and aggressive pricing, retailing at ￥1,099. What are the main highlights of the Cool1?
Market context and dual-camera trend
Many recent smartphones have adopted dual rear cameras, but most of those models are flagship devices; the Redmi Pro is a notable exception. Coolpad previously introduced dual cameras on the Coolpad Platinum, making it an early adopter in the industry. The Cool1 brings dual-camera capability to a budget price segment.
Hardware specifications
The Cool1 uses an octa-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor, with four Cortex-A72 cores and four Cortex-A53 cores. The A72 cores run at 1.8 GHz. The phone is available with 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM and provides 32 GB of internal storage. The display is a 5.5-inch 1080p panel. Rear cameras are dual 13 MP sensors (one color, one monochrome), and the front camera is 8 MP. The battery capacity is 4,060 mAh. The device supports dual SIM dual-standby and full network compatibility. These specifications at a ￥1,099 price point create significant competition in the same price tier.
Design and build
The Cool1 adopts a metal unibody design and a 5.5-inch 1080p screen with a narrow bezel for a higher screen-to-body ratio. The display does not use 2.5D glass. The front panel is white and the top and bottom bezels are relatively narrow.
The metal rear uses a polished edge cut and the screen bezel is set with a high-gloss metal frame, improving the overall visual impression and increasing demands on manufacturing precision.
The back cover is aluminum with a classic three-section layout: a metal middle section and plastic top and bottom sections to accommodate the antennas. The plastic parts are finely finished to match the metal color. The rear has a slight curvature; with the 4,060 mAh battery the body is somewhat thicker, but it still offers a comfortable hand feel.
Camera system
The Cool1 is equipped with dual 13 MP rear cameras, using a color sensor plus a monochrome sensor. The color sensor captures color information for more accurate metering and richer color reproduction, which directly improves image quality. Coolpad holds more than 700 dual-camera patents and uses a proprietary imaging engine. The Cool1 pairs dual ISPs with Sony sensors, providing advantages in both hardware and image-processing algorithms.
