LeTV phone launches S1, S1 Pro and Max, everything you need to know


letv phone launch

LeTV have launched their range of phones today in China ranging from a 1499 Yuan LeTV S1 “super phone” to the flagship 2699 Yuan Letv S1 Pro and flagship LeTV Max. Here are the full details.

There have been countless leaks regarding the LeTV phone launches, so the question was never “what they will launch?” but “will they ever get around to making them public?”. Well today was the day that LeTV announced their new devices, and here are all the details.

LeTV S1 aka “Super Phone”

letv s1

The names of the LeTV phones have changed for the market, and what we knew as the LeTV X600 is actually called the LeTV S1 or “Super phone”. This is a mid range phone with pricing starting at 1499 Yua for the 16GB model, there is also a 32GB version for 1599 Yuan and a 64GB version for 1799 Yuan. Those prices are similar to Xiaomi and Meizu phones and are likely to attract the same sort of buyer.

letv s1

Although some of the details of the LeTV S1 were guessed correctly before the event there is one very big difference in the SoC department where LeTV are actually using a Meidiatek the Helio X10 processor. This is a 64Bit chip with PowerVR 6200 GPU good for Antutu over 50,000 points. The SoC also offers LTE and has 3GB RAM to play with.

Up front is a 5.5-inch FHD display from Sharp with Gorilla Glass 3 protection and 5 mega-pixel Samsung selfie camera. On the rear is a Sony IMX214 13 mega-pixel sensor with OIS, a huge bonus at this price point.

letv s1

The body does appear to be plastic, with a 3000mAh battery inside, charged by a USB Type C plug. There is no micro SD memory expansion, but Android 5.0 does come as standard although it is the LeUI flavour not a vanilla install.

LeTV S1 Pro

letv s1 pro

The LeTV S1 Pro is the alloy bodied version of the phone that we originally saw all those months back. The S1 Pro has updated hardware including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, and 4GB RAM. The screen also gets a boost in resolution from 1080 to 2K.

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letv s1 pro

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Dual SIM support is a feature that the Pro offers plus updated LeHi-fi audio chip for better audio experience. The rear camera is a 13 mega-pixel model with dual LED flash who the front is a 4MP ultrapixel sensor.

s_2368996195724e95b27d732d5494ec15

The S1 Pro also has a 3000mAh battery and will come in gold or silver colour options, and USB Type C as we had seen in rumours.

Again like the S1 there is no SD memory expansion on the LeTV S1 Pro so you need to buy the as much memory as you expect to need. A 32GB LeTV S1 Pro will set you back 2499 Yuan while a 64GB model is 2699 Yuan.

LeTV Max

letv max

Although it was forgotten about in the leaks a Max version of the LeTV phones was also launched to make it a full trio. Pricing for the LeTV Max hasn’t been released but we do know that this is the true flagship from the bunch.

letv max

The LeTV mas boasts a 6-inch 2K display with the same Snapdragon 810 and 4GB memory as the S1 Pro. As the screen is larger the battery has been boosted from 3000mAh to 3400mAh, and with the additional space, a rear fingerprint scanner has been added to the back. The Max also bosts USB Type C too.

The front facing camera is a 4MP ultrapixel camera, while the rear is a 21 megapixel IMX 230 sensor with dual LED rear flash and OIS.

letv max

Also made of alloy the LeTV Max comes in either gold or silver. Pricing is expected to be around 3000 Yuan plus.

letv max

So those are the 3 phones from the LeTV launch, what do you make of them? Are any of these phones tickling your fancy or would you prefer to stick to a more established phone maker for your next flagship device?

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110 Comments

  1. April 14, 2015

    HTC front and iPhone back, this guys never learn.

    • April 14, 2015

      Max looks like a Huawei at the rear too

      • April 14, 2015

        The TheVerge is killing them, but on the other side they are Apple Fan Boys. But i think Chinese companies should invest a lot more in product design.

        • realjjj
          April 14, 2015

          Both HTC and Apple has huge upper and lower bezels, they should invest more in design.

        • Airyl
          April 14, 2015

          I don’t really see iPhone back.

  2. Manos
    April 14, 2015

    So the first model S1 doesn’t support dual SIM? This is not good and is so nice looking phone and enough power for any user.

  3. realjjj
    April 14, 2015

    “Although some of the details of the LeTV S1 were guessed correctly
    before the event there is one very big difference in the SoC department
    where LeTV are actually using a Meidiatek the Helio X10 processor.”

    No, the leaks were accurate, this is as expected the MT6795 for the cheapest device.

    Anyway, it seems like no microSD so they are about as evil as Apple.
    The cheap one not sure is worth 1499CNY but it does have a few extra things compared to the 999CNY devices available. A slightly faster CPU, better GPU, OIS and USB Type-C (remains to be seen if just the connector or we get the real benefits too).
    The Pro sounds nice enough except the lack of microSD and SD810 is skippable, better wait for more. A slightly lower price would have helped too. At this point device makers should ask for a 40% price cut for SD810, it’s just not worth more.
    The huge one is my fav, wish it had microSD , no fingerprint and a very good price but the Pro is already at 2499CNY so i’m not gonna be happy with the pricing (not that it matters since no microSD is a deal breaker).
    I’m also curious about the OS ,hope it’s not slow and buggy.
    All in all pretty nice devices.

    • Guaire
      April 15, 2015

      Cheapest one is comparable to MX4. It has 3GB of RAM, less than 3mm side bezels, great screen to body ratio comparable to LG G3. Also seems to me it has metal frame too.

      If Mi4i came with 1499 yuan price, will be look like a joke.

  4. Bertje
    April 14, 2015

    which 4g bands does it support?

  5. disqus_jFcMUAe4Ap
    April 14, 2015

    Exactly 🙂
    But they do learn, and quite fast

  6. Suresh Ramalingam
    April 14, 2015

    The 32GB S1 appears to be a nicely specced & priced package (though only for chinese customers as the reseller price would be higher). OIS is a welcome move. Not sure about the UI though. Will have to wait till Andi puts together a review

  7. zirp
    April 14, 2015

    Very poor information which LeTV have given to us in their launch. No word about dimensions, weight, sensors, features like IR or which kind of Type-C (support of USB 3.1 with its fantastic transfer speed?) No Dual-SIM, no Sd-Slot, not possibility of changing the battery. No impressions of LeUI flavour…

  8. CBpbxEcmecmBeH
    April 14, 2015

    S1 Pro has no OIS?

  9. MaxPower
    April 14, 2015

    I don’t understand why so many critics.
    In my opinion they did great, great with specs, great with price and great with design.
    Let’s not forget this is day zero for this company making phones.
    They managed to:
    1:Be the first to use that Mediatek SoC
    2:Price the SD810 version cheaper than anybody else.
    3: came out with a decent design.
    Do you really expect someone that has been putting so much effort to mess with design and risk the whole project?
    They opted for a design that satisfy the largest number of people, it’s a marketing choice.
    No SD is a marketing choice as well since it’s a company that sells services too.
    And BTW, how many companies still uses SD slots?a few?
    If this is the beginning then I say:
    “holy shit LeTV!!!”
    Welcome here and good luck.

    • realjjj
      April 14, 2015

      They are the second with that Mediatek SoC, after HTC.
      And no microSD is a matter of decency.They cripple their own product to extort more money.You don’t teach your kids to behave like that.

      • Airyl
        April 14, 2015

        No SD card is not much of an issue these days if the Galaxy S6 is anything to go by.

        Also, USB-C.

      • MaxPower
        April 14, 2015

        When I say the first I mean Chinese manufacturer.
        Is this still GizChina or GizTaiwan?
        So in your opinion a business should teach kids how to behave like those people that complains about what’s on TV that it might not be educative for their kids?
        Business are meant to make money to survive, TV shows are meant for entertaining.
        School and parenting are meant for the purpose you were claiming.

        • realjjj
          April 14, 2015

          ROFL

          • MaxPower
            April 14, 2015

            Yeah, exactly!
            That’s what I do anytime I read comments of people expecting business act like charity or NGOs.

            • realjjj
              April 14, 2015

              You are very loud for someone with nothing remotely reasonable to say.
              A business doesn’t have to be unethical , the consumers are not the enemy and this is a really bad business decision too. They lose sales, they lose good will and they lose trust.
              Given their pricing for larger capacity models , they don’t even make much much money by behaving like scumbags and overall they lose both money and users.

            • MaxPower
              April 14, 2015

              Explain Apple, explain Microsoft. Explain Xiaomi.
              According to what you’re saying those companies should lose sales every year but you know this doesn’t happen.What world do you live in because I really can’t spot any example of what you just said in real world.
              There’s no business and maybe not even a non profit organization that would give up on making profit for any reason.
              Apple, Xiaomi, they both sell cloud space, don’t you understand that putting a SD card would go against their profit?
              There’s nothing unethical in it, it’s business. Nobody is pointing you a gun, you don’t like their stuff then you have so many other options to go for it.
              I heard you are a fan of OPPO:
              Their N3 has SD card slot and innovative design. Plus it has the old SD801 (the cheaper version MSM8974AA) so no overheating issue.You can get one for as low as 3999 CNY.

    • April 14, 2015

      and first to use USB type really the design kill it all they have done great job

      • MaxPower
        April 14, 2015

        I understand that someone might not like any of those 3 phones for any reason. I might not buy any of them too but… Really??
        So far we have seen copycat of copycat with the same specs and price. In one year the 6752 phones will be like the thousands of 6582 out there. At least LeTV did something different with a great price.
        I hear all the time the word overpriced here but I never hear which price they are referring to.
        You have to compare two almost identical devices to say one is overpriced for the simple meaning of the word “overpriced”.
        There’s nothing cheaper than these phones out there, that’s a fact.
        I was diffident about this company, but I have to admit they did a great job.

    • desponent
      April 14, 2015

      You don’t have to, let the sales speak for itself.

      • MaxPower
        April 14, 2015

        Their business has set record of sales in the past and for that reason I think they will do well. Plus they will most likely sell services rather than make money
        selling hardware in an already crowded field.

  10. realjjj
    April 14, 2015

    They finally listed them on their site http://shop.letv.com/
    Full details too, including dimensions and bands.

  11. Bertje
    April 14, 2015

    it’s a shame:( no 800 mhz 4g

  12. April 14, 2015

    they have done great job.
    the design is realy pretty good so finally something different.
    USB type C really i hope it became statandart from now.
    do someone know if the Ltv UI is in multilanguages or not ??
    how about the helio x10 is it good soc ??

  13. James
    April 14, 2015

    Note for hopefuls: The status is “Announced”, also read as “Will be actually available after another 6 months if things go as planned”.

    • MaxPower
      April 14, 2015

      You are absolutely right

      • April 15, 2015

        you right that he right

        ————————–
        אתה צודק שהוא צודק

        • MaxPower
          April 15, 2015

          Thank you
          ——————
          谢谢

  14. Muhammad Yasir
    April 14, 2015

    please review alll of em , esp the cheapest one FIRST!

  15. desponent
    April 14, 2015

    “No SD memory”
    They’re making this sooo easy.

    • KevinTooClutch
      April 14, 2015

      No card slot is okay, as long as you got a Leef card reader and this phone supports OTG you’re all set, provided you’re fine with a card reader sticking out.
      Edit: I forgot the damn USB C, nevermind.

  16. Alexandre Miguel
    April 14, 2015

    HTC front and iPhone back, this guys never learn.

    • Andi Sykes
      April 14, 2015

      Max looks like a Huawei at the rear too

    • Alexandre Miguel
      April 14, 2015

      The TheVerge is killing them, but on the other side they are Apple Fan Boys. But i think Chinese companies should invest a lot more in product design.

    • realjjj
      April 14, 2015

      Both HTC and Apple has huge upper and lower bezels, they should invest more in design.

    • Airyl
      April 14, 2015

      I don’t really see iPhone back.

    • Alexandre Miguel
      April 14, 2015

      Bezel isn’t everything, buy a Sharp.

  17. Manos
    April 14, 2015

    So the first model S1 doesn’t support dual SIM? This is not good and is so nice looking phone and enough power for any user.

  18. realjjj
    April 14, 2015

    “Although some of the details of the LeTV S1 were guessed correctly
    before the event there is one very big difference in the SoC department
    where LeTV are actually using a Meidiatek the Helio X10 processor.”

    No, the leaks were accurate, this is as expected the MT6795 for the cheapest device.

    Anyway, it seems like no microSD so they are about as evil as Apple.
    The cheap one not sure is worth 1499CNY but it does have a few extra things compared to the 999CNY devices available. A slightly faster CPU, better GPU, OIS and USB Type-C (remains to be seen if just the connector or we get the real benefits too).
    The Pro sounds nice enough except the lack of microSD and SD810 is skippable, better wait for more. A slightly lower price would have helped too. At this point device makers should ask for a 40% price cut for SD810, it’s just not worth more.
    The huge one is my fav, wish it had microSD , no fingerprint and a very good price but the Pro is already at 2499CNY so i’m not gonna be happy with the pricing (not that it matters since no microSD is a deal breaker).
    I’m also curious about the OS ,hope it’s not slow and buggy.
    All in all pretty nice devices.

    • Guaire
      April 15, 2015

      Cheapest one is comparable to MX4. It has 3GB of RAM, less than 3mm side bezels, great screen to body ratio comparable to LG G3. Also seems to me it has metal frame too.

      If Mi4i came with 1499 yuan price, will be look like a joke.

  19. Bertje
    April 14, 2015

    which 4g bands does it support?

  20. Pratik P Patil
    April 14, 2015

    Are the phones developer friendly i.e root will not void warranty and will they provide us source codes?

  21. disqus_jFcMUAe4Ap
    April 14, 2015

    Exactly 🙂
    But they do learn, and quite fast

  22. Suresh Ramalingam
    April 14, 2015

    The 32GB S1 appears to be a nicely specced & priced package (though only for chinese customers as the reseller price would be higher). OIS is a welcome move. Not sure about the UI though. Will have to wait till Andi puts together a review

  23. Guest
    April 14, 2015

    Very poor information which LeTV have given to us in their launch. No word about dimensions, weight, sensors, features like IR or which kind of Type-C (support of USB 3.1 with its fantastic transfer speed?) No Dual-SIM, no Sd-Slot, not possibility of changing the battery. No impressions of LeUI flavour…

  24. CBpbxEcmecmBeH
    April 14, 2015

    S1 Pro has no OIS?

  25. MaxPower
    April 14, 2015

    I don’t understand why so many critics.
    In my opinion they did great, great with specs, great with price and great with design.
    Let’s not forget this is day zero for this company making phones.
    They managed to:
    1:Be the first to use that Mediatek SoC
    2:Price the SD810 version cheaper than anybody else.
    3: came out with a decent design.
    Do you really expect someone that has been putting so much effort to mess with design and risk the whole project?
    They opted for a design that satisfy the largest number of people, it’s a marketing choice.
    No SD is a marketing choice as well since it’s a company that sells services too.
    And BTW, how many companies still uses SD slots?a few?
    If this is the beginning then I say:
    “holy shit LeTV!!!”
    Welcome here and good luck.

    • realjjj
      April 14, 2015

      They are the second with that Mediatek SoC, after HTC.
      And no microSD is a matter of decency.They cripple their own product to extort more money.You don’t teach your kids to behave like that.

    • Airyl
      April 14, 2015

      No SD card is not much of an issue these days if the Galaxy S6 is anything to go by.

      Also, USB-C.

    • MaxPower
      April 14, 2015

      When I say the first I mean Chinese manufacturer.
      Is this still GizChina or GizTaiwan?
      So in your opinion a business should teach kids how to behave like those people that complains about what’s on TV that it might not be educative for their kids?
      Business are meant to make money to survive, TV shows are meant for entertaining.
      School and parenting are meant for the purpose you were claiming.

    • realjjj
      April 14, 2015

      ROFL

    • MaxPower
      April 14, 2015

      Yeah, exactly!
      That’s what I do anytime I read comments of people expecting business act like charity or NGOs.

    • Chris
      April 14, 2015

      and first to use USB type really the design kill it all they have done great job

    • MaxPower
      April 14, 2015

      I understand that someone might not like any of those 3 phones for any reason. I might not buy any of them too but… Really??
      So far we have seen copycat of copycat with the same specs and price. In one year the 6752 phones will be like the thousands of 6582 out there. At least LeTV did something different with a great price.
      I hear all the time the word overpriced here but I never hear which price they are referring to.
      You have to compare two almost identical devices to say one is overpriced for the simple meaning of the word “overpriced”.
      There’s nothing cheaper than these phones out there, that’s a fact.
      I was diffident about this company, but I have to admit they did a great job.

    • desponent
      April 14, 2015

      You don’t have to, let the sales speak for itself.

    • MaxPower
      April 14, 2015

      Their business has set record of sales in the past and for that reason I think they will do well. Plus they will most likely sell services rather than make money
      selling hardware in an already crowded field.

    • realjjj
      April 14, 2015

      You are very loud for someone with nothing remotely reasonable to say.
      A business doesn’t have to be unethical , the consumers are not the enemy and this is a really bad business decision too. They lose sales, they lose good will and they lose trust.
      Given their pricing for larger capacity models , they don’t even make much much money by behaving like scumbags and overall they lose both money and users.

    • MaxPower
      April 14, 2015

      Explain Apple, explain Microsoft. Explain Xiaomi.
      According to what you’re saying those companies should lose sales every year but you know this doesn’t happen.What world do you live in because I really can’t spot any example of what you just said in real world.
      There’s no business and maybe not even a non profit organization that would give up on making profit for any reason.
      Apple, Xiaomi, they both sell cloud space, don’t you understand that putting a SD card would go against their profit?
      There’s nothing unethical in it, it’s business. Nobody is pointing you a gun, you don’t like their stuff then you have so many other options to go for it.
      I heard you are a fan of OPPO:
      Their N3 has SD card slot and innovative design. Plus it has the old SD801 (the cheaper version MSM8974AA) so no overheating issue.You can get one for as low as 3999 CNY.

  26. realjjj
    April 14, 2015

    They finally listed them on their site http://shop.letv.com/
    Full details too, including dimensions and bands.

  27. Bertje
    April 14, 2015

    it’s a shame:( no 800 mhz 4g

  28. Chris
    April 14, 2015

    they have done great job.
    the design is realy pretty good so finally something different.
    USB type C really i hope it became statandart from now.
    do someone know if the Ltv UI is in multilanguages or not ??
    how about the helio x10 is it good soc ??

  29. Guest
    April 14, 2015

    Note for hopefuls: The status is “Announced”, also read as “Will be actually available after another 6 months if things go as planned”.

    • MaxPower
      April 14, 2015

      You are absolutely right

    • pdayahoo
      April 15, 2015

      you right that he right

      ————————–
      אתה צודק שהוא צודק

    • MaxPower
      April 15, 2015

      Thank you
      ——————
      谢谢

  30. Guest
    April 14, 2015

    please review alll of em , esp the cheapest one FIRST!

  31. fanteeq
    April 14, 2015

    wtf? who needs a helio x10(made for chromebooks and tablets) in smartphone? i imagine how people gonna use it nearby of a rosette

    • fanteeq
      April 14, 2015

      mx4 equiped by mtk6595 was such a fail.

  32. desponent
    April 14, 2015

    “No SD memory”
    They’re making this sooo easy.

    • KevinTooClutch
      April 15, 2015

      No card slot is okay, as long as you got a Leef card reader and this phone supports OTG you’re all set, provided you’re fine with a card reader sticking out.
      Edit: I forgot the damn USB C, nevermind.

  33. Pratik P Patil
    April 14, 2015

    Are the phones developer friendly i.e root will not void warranty and will they provide us source codes?

  34. jaro69
    April 14, 2015

    what about video capturing ?only 1080p or 4k videos?

  35. Jean Carlo Palmisano Rademaker
    April 14, 2015

    Looks very sexy 🙂
    Bit of critics for Andy, you guys whent kind off global some while ago, so please would you be so kind to share the dollar price with us (even if it’s not retail price yet) 😉

    Thanks in advance 😉

  36. Guest
    April 14, 2015

    wtf? who needs a helio x10(made for chromebooks and tablets) in smartphone? i imagine how people gonna use it nearby of a rosette

    • Guest
      April 14, 2015

      mx4 equiped by mtk6595 was such a fail.

  37. jaro69
    April 14, 2015

    what about video capturing ?only 1080p or 4k videos?

  38. Jean Carlo Palmisano Rademaker
    April 14, 2015

    Looks very sexy 🙂
    Bit of critics for Andy, you guys whent kind off global some while ago, so please would you be so kind to share the dollar price with us (even if it’s not retail price yet) 😉

    Thanks in advance 😉

  39. April 15, 2015

    Well, if it ever comes out, I’ll take one of the LeMax phones. 😉

  40. Dave Weinstein
    April 15, 2015

    Well, if it ever comes out, I’ll take one of the LeMax phones. 😉

  41. April 15, 2015

    i like the shape and small bezels
    —————————————–
    אוהב את הצורה והקצוות הקטנים

  42. pdayahoo
    April 15, 2015

    i like the shape and small bezels
    —————————————–
    אוהב את הצורה והקצוות הקטנים

  43. 2jono
    April 15, 2015

    Does the LeTV Max have an FM radio ?

  44. 2jono
    April 15, 2015

    Does the LeTV Max have an FM Radio ?

  45. 2jono
    April 15, 2015

    Does the LeTV Max have an FM radio ?

  46. 2jono
    April 16, 2015

    Does the LeTV Max have an FM Radio ?

  47. John Smith
    April 25, 2015

    – LeTV Max Price: pending decision

    – LeTV One Pro Price: 2499元 (or some $400 for 32GB), 2699元 (or some $435 for 64GB)

    – LeTV One Price: 1499 yuan (or around $240 for 16GB model), 1599元(32GB, ~$257), 1799元(64GB, ~$270)
    Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/LeTV-One-One-Pro-LeTV-Max-affordable-bezel-less-flagships-come-at-half-the-price-of-iPhones-are-also-first-phones-with-USB-Type-C_id68227

  48. John Smith
    April 25, 2015

    – LeTV Max Price: pending decision

    – LeTV One Pro Price: 2499元 (or some $400 for 32GB), 2699元 (or some $435 for 64GB)

    – LeTV One Price: 1499 yuan (or around $240 for 16GB model), 1599元(32GB, ~$257), 1799元(64GB, ~$270)
    Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/LeTV-One-One-Pro-LeTV-Max-affordable-bezel-less-flagships-come-at-half-the-price-of-iPhones-are-also-first-phones-with-USB-Type-C_id68227

  49. November 1, 2015

    Nice p;hones, too bad about the modest battery. I won’t look at any phone with less than 3500 mAh, preferably 4000 – like the Elephone Vowney – my preference over any LeTV phones.

  50. Moose
    November 1, 2015

    Nice p;hones, too bad about the modest battery. I won’t look at any phone with less than 3500 mAh, preferably 4000 – like the Elephone Vowney – my preference over any LeTV phones.