The mid-level specs include the processor, RAM, and camera hardware. However, a 4,000 mAh battery with this mid-level processor should result in great battery life. I’ve only been using it for three days so can’t judge the battery life yet.
Hardware
The Coolpad Legacy is a large device with a big 6.36 inch LCD 1080p display. The side bezels are fairly narrow with top and bottom bezels just under a half inch wide. There are no buttons on the display with a 13 megapixel camera and headset speaker positioned above the display. Honestly, the screen looks great and I’ve watched a couple of TV shows on Netflix that looked awesome to my 50 year-old eyes.
The sides are rounded high quality silver plastic while the top and bottom ends are flat. A USB-C port is on the bottom while a 3.5mm headset jack is on the top. The SIM/microSD card slot is on the left while the volume and power buttons are on the right.
The back has a glossy insert piece and a central area that has a slightly different silver color to give the Coolpad Legacy a classy look. A central capacitive fingerprint scanner is positioned below the single LED flash and dual rear cameras, stacked vertically. The second rear 5 megapixel serves as a depth sensor for portrait mode shots.
Software
The Coolpad Legacy runs the latest version of Android, 9.0 Pie, with the March 2019 Android security update. The phone has a fairly stock experience, similar to a Google Pixel, with standard home screen panels and Google Discover as a left panel option.
There are a couple of Metro by T-Mobile utilities installed, including an app store, mobile hotspot, Name ID, Visual Voicemail, and myMetro. There are no useless games or other bloatware apps installed on the phone. Thankfully, there is also a FM radio app installed so I can enjoy local sports while I am out and about.
Initial experiences
When I first unboxed the Coolpad Legacy, I was very impressed by the size, build quality, and initial speed of the phone. I’ve used it all weekend, including capturing some photos, leaving it off the charger, watching Netflix content, messaging and calling contacts, interacting with social networks, reading Google News, and surfing the internet. I still cannot believe this phone is only $130.
The large screen is very easy to read, even with the default font and text sizes. It has been very responsive at switching between apps so I have to try playing some more processor-intensive games to see what limits the phone. Volume through the single bottom speaker is fine, but audio has also been good through the headphone jack and Bluetooth headsets.
Coolpad has a goal to become a brand for families with a smartphone that appeals to various members of the family at a great value. While I have more testing to do over the next couple of weeks, the Coolpad Legacy is clearly a winner at just $130.
If you have anything you would like me to test out on this phone as I continue to test it out, please let me know in the comments below.
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