LeTV S1 unboxing and hands on, a super sexy device!

Earlier today we finally received the much-anticipated Elephone P7000, now it’s time for another much talked about device, the simply sexy LeTV S1!

After seeing the LeTV S1 launched, checking out those killer specifications and seeing it sell out in a matter of seconds I’ve not really given the phone much thought. I had heard that the build and OS were good, but I didn’t realise it would all be THIS good!

Just to recap. The LeTV S1 is the entry-level LeTV phone of the 3 which were launched in April. The S1 boasts a 5.5-inch Sharp FHD display, Mediatek Helio X10 chipset, 3GB RAM, 5 mega-pixel front camera, 13 mega-pixel Sony IMX214 rear camera, 3000mAh battery and Android 5.0 Lollipop! All that amazing hardware sits in a glass, metal and plastic body with dual SIM tray, IR remote, USB type C, dual speakers, metal power and volume buttons and a switch for putting the phone in to silent mode.

Oh, but that isn’t all! There is also MHL support, LTE, DTS HD and Dolby sound. Believe it or not all of this fits in a phone measuring 147.8 x 74.2 x 9.5mm and costs an incredible 1499 Yuan ($242)!

Not only is the hardware amazing, the build way above rival device, but the presentation of the phone is excellent too. See for yourself in the video below.

The LeTV has really shocked me, I was not expecting a phone this good from a company who have never made a phone before. Compare the 1499 Yuan LeTV S1 to the flagship Meizu MX4 Pro and the newcomer blows the Meizu away. There are very few phones that can touch the S1 on build, only perhaps the LeTV S1 Pro and the Mi Note.

As you saw in the video the LeTV EUI is simple and uncluttered. It also lacks Gapps out of the box, but fortunately it is super easy to install Google service (although YouTube isn’t working yet) and I will post instructions how to do this soon.

This is only a first hands on and I might find issues with the phone as time goes by, but judging by what I have seen so far LeTV have the potential to make some serious waves! OnePlus and Meizu (in China at least) better watch out.

Thanks to HonorBuy for shipping the LeTV S1 out to us for review.