Gadget Review: Coolpad Cool 1

The Coolpad stable is known for budget smartphones that pack in an impressive array of features. This time around, Coolpad has tied up with LeEco to bring out a mid-range smartphone that promises to be a reliable and long-term investment. Priced at Rs 13,999, the phone has a 5.5 inch display like others in the category and a choice of 3GB or 4GB RAM. The phone has the LeEco interface and software so if you're a fan, you'll enjoy using this phone. I've had it with me for over a week now and here are my insights.

Look and feel

Coolpad Cool 1 comes in two colours - silver and gold. I have with me the silver phone and the colour is nothing like I've ever seen before. It is classy and sophisticated and the smooth edges add to the appeal of the phone. At 173 grams, there may be lighter phones but it certainly doesn't feel heavy when you hold it in your hand or put it in your pocket. But the best part is the rich display and the high touch sensitivity. You can also use gyroscope fingerprint technology to secure your phone.

Verdict: Excellent

Speed and memory

The biggest USP of the Coolpad Cool 1 has to be its speed and ease of use. Every button on the screen reacts like a dream, the phone never heats up and the ROM seems more than adequate. The 32 GB internal memory is decent but I wonder why there isn't a 64 GB variant, considering this memory is non-expandable. Bluetooth is also highly responsive.

Verdict: Very fast

Battery

The 4000 mAh battery is one of the best I've encountered in a mid-range smartphone. Even after several days of light use, the battery barely dipped. This feature makes the Coolpad Cool 1 a great phone for frequent travellers and heavy users. Sure we all have power banks but it never hurts to have a phone with a battery that actually delivers.

Verdict: Excellent

Sound

The audio quality is great and the effects really come through when you plug in a pair of earphones. But what really impressed me was the excellent volume. In a silent, enclosed space, you wouldn't even need a speaker to dance to the music. The phone comes loaded with a large variety of pleasant caller tunes.

Verdict: Very good

Camera

The camera comes with a highly touted dual 13 MP rear camera which is bound to raise your expectations. So when you see the display blanking out in harsh sunlight and a noticeable blur in many medium-light photos, you feel let down. Nevertheless, the control options in 'pro' mode are impressive, including everything from ISO settings to exposure and focus.

I wouldn't say the final result is bad but it's mediocre. The panorama photos also come out dark, whatever the direction of the sun. On the other hand, the front 8 MP camera is pretty good. And the array of stickers you can add while clicking and during editing make the photography process very enjoyable. Check out my photo where I added glasses, a crown and a cat in post-production.

However, the camera clicks reasonably good photos in the night. I was pleased with the clarity and detailing. Give the night mode a miss though - it adds too much light and leaves the photo overexposed and unclear.

Verdict: Fair

Inclusions

In my package, I received a charging cum USB cable, plug, scratch guard, pin to remove the SIM tray, warranty card and user manual along with the phone. Remember that because this follows the LeEco model, the plug point is shaped differently from other Android phones. This means you can't swap chargers with a Samsung or Asus. There was no earphone in the inclusions.

In conclusion, Coolpad Cool 1 is an excellent phone if you take into consideration the seamless speed, ease of use, long-lasting battery, excellent sound and high quality of display (except in bright sunlight). At this price point, you are unlikely to get such features in any other brand. However, the camera and non-expandable memory leave room for improvement. At the same time, I was reasonably happy with the video quality. And the stickers and variety of editing modes are fun to play around with. If you don't rely on your phone as a high quality camera, there's no reason the Coolpad Cool 1 shouldn't be your next smartphone.

Specifications at a glance

• Display: 5.5”, IPS, FHD 1920 x 1080
• RAM: 3GB/4GB
• ROM: 32GB (non-expandable)
• Camera: Dual 13MP AF rear; f/2.2, 8MP front
• Sensor: Infrared controller，Gyroscope fingerprint，Accelerometer Proximity Sensor, Light sensor
• OS: Android 6.0
• Colours: Silver, gold
• Battery: 4000mAh Stand by time up to 300H
• Weight: 173g
• Network: 2G/3G/4G
• Chipset: MSM8976 1.8GHz Octa-core Adreno 510

Get it at Rs 13,999 on Amazon

Click here to see more photos clicked using Coolpad Cool 1

Let go of anger in 2017.

I've had one major problem (self-created sadly) that has dogged me for all of 2016. It has been rising in proportion since the last few years and threatens to overwhelm me completely. It's the emotion that is of absolutely no use unless directed towards fruitful effort: anger.

You wouldn't be too far off the mark describing me as an 'Angry Young Woman'. I wasn't always like this but lately, I've let every slight annoyance, be it an event, an utterance or a person, to take me to the point of extreme agitation. My skin grows flushed, my heartbeat quickens I do something I shouldn't and within a few minutes, it's all over, leaving behind that familiar sinking feeling. Yes, I almost always apologise and do my utmost to make amends. But it has happened so many times that I've lost count of the number of times I've said 'sorry'. And I don't want to do this anymore.

I've always believed that anger is a result of ego. People who are too puffed up with pride feel offended at the slightest injury to their egos. I'm afraid I may have joined that ignominious category. I tend to take everything personally and I have a very thin skin. I'm oversensitive and it's all too easy to take refuge in fury. I also take everything too seriously. Why should a colleague's behaviour matter so much? I should reserve the angst for the truly important things. Do you have the same problem as me? Then maybe both of us can benefit from these tips:

1. Delay every angry reaction by 30 minutes (or until you forget about the incident). If you still feel as disturbed, evaluate your response and then take action. Anger is born of impulse and in the absence of the rush of fury, it's almost impossible to be as angry.

2. Stop taking pride in anger. It's not a sign of strength or courage. It merely points to your instability and inability to treat things with maturity and equanimity. Instead, start taking pride in remaining unruffled. It's a skill that will take you far in life.

3. Smile or diffuse the situation with humour, whenever a tense circumstance develops. I'm not great at impromptu jokes but even I can't hold on to my temper if I smile genuinely.

4. Understand that it is never okay to be rude. Verbal abuse is still abuse. Even if the other person is in the wrong, you have no right to lambast them. Everyone has a right to be treated with courtesy, even if that person is your spouse or child. The truth in your words isn't affected by the tone or volume at which they are delivered.

5. Say "I will not be angry today. I will stay calm." ten times every morning prior to meditation. Write it down ten times when you come to work. Repeat it in your mind ten times before you go to sleep. Let the intention to stay calm echo in every corridor of your mind, heart and soul. Anger is destructive and deserves to be banished.

6. This tip is personal to me but may work for you if like me, you get agitated by certain types of injustice in the world. For me, I feel a rush of fury whenever I read about crimes against women or the environment. I have made a conscious decision to avoid such news items and to give them minimal attention even if I do encounter them. The right response to my concern is to do something to improve matters - not ruin my health with anger.

7. Treat other people like you would treat yourself. Respect them and never talk down. Understand that people behave according to their own value systems. They might not think like you do, but that doesn't always make them wrong or bad. They have no obligation to listen to you or change according to your desires.

8. Learn to be humble. You can't take credit for your life or the advantages you were born with. What's the point in being egoistic about that which has been granted to you and that which will be taken away one day?

9. Be steadfast in your devotion to your own health and happiness. Anger will never make you happy. Calmness and contentment will. Anger will mess with your health by causing you stress. Why put your body and mind through all that trouble?

10. Don't sweat the small stuff. Small irritations are like insects - you can swat them away but they may return, again and again. But do they stop you from living your life and enjoying what you do? Not at all. Don't bother about trivialities that are out of your control.

So I guess I have made a New Year resolution after all. I will let go of anger in 2017. In fact, I have already done so. What about you?