Design and screen
The product has a minimalist design with metal bezel, solid casing and completely flat front. While still possessing touch keys, the Android model of the Elephone uses only one key, the function of three familiar Android keys. Simple design but will take time to re-familiar with the use of a touch again is the function of the Back key, but twice the same button to act as the Home key, open the multitasking window need to touch and hold.
If you are not satisfied with this usage, Elephone allows you to return the specific Android key chain inside the screen, located in the Smart Assistant settings.
Slim, lightweight and easy to handle, the advantage is that it only 7.3 millimeters and weighs 145 grams, though the 5.5 inch wide screen comes with a 3,000 mAh battery. The back of the phone also incorporates a fingerprint sensor located just below the camera, equipped with mid-range models from Samsung, HTC or Sony. However, compared with some rivals such as Huawei GR5 or Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro, the ability to identify fingerprints of the Elephone is not accurate and sensitive. This can be removed when the P9000 owns the new USB-C connector instead of the microUSB.
The 5.5-inch screen with Full HD resolution and LG’s LTPS platform provides good display quality, compared to the general level of the smartphone price range of $250. Pictures displayed in, sharp. At standard setting, the screen is light blue, but can adjust color temperature, sharpness and saturation through the MiraVision tool in the Settings.
However, the ability of the Elephone P9000 touch is not good. Test with the Antutu Tester tool shows that the product supports only 5 touch points simultaneously. When continuous touch operation such as gaming, the screen responds more slowly with hand movements. However, the latency is quite low and only reveals when playing games or using applications that need continuous and fast touch screen.
Performance and battery life
RAM up to 4GB is the most noticeable point on the Elephant P9000 because normally, this device is only available on high-end smartphones priced at over $450. By running the original Android 6.0 MarshMallow plus large RAM, the product offers much more stable performance than the Android price range below $250. The most obvious advantage is that when surfing the web can open multiple pages at the same time, when switching between the pages do not need to take time to reload.
Elephone also equips the P9000 with a powerful enough processor, for good performance in the price range and for gaming and entertainment. The Helio P10 MT6755 is a 2.0 GHz quad-core processor that is identical to the Sony Xperia XA. Compare the configuration directly with the model of Sony, even if the price is less than $50, Elephone is still better at the screen resolution Full HD, 4GB RAM is double and only the processor is identical.
It’s quite large, 3,000 mAh, but the battery life of the Elephone P9000 is not good. Using the original Android 6.0, the product does not have super-battery-saving features like Samsung’s Galaxy or Sony’s Xperia. If you use two sims, the battery is hard to spend a day with the need for a continuous Internet connection. The PC Mark test results were lower than expected by just over 6 hours.
With fast charge support with Pump Express + technology like Qualcomm’s QuickChare technology, the battery charge time of P9000 only takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.
Elephone P9000 Lite 4G Phablet – BLACK 4GB RAM 32GB ROM Android 6.0 MTK6755 Octa Core 2.0GHz 5.5 inch FHD Screen 13.0MP Back Camera: Buy it now
Camera
As with many of the above equipment, the camera’s Elephone P9000 is quite good compared to the average price of $250. The rear-facing camera uses Sony’s new 13 megapixel Exmor RS IMX258 sensor, which has a large f / 2.0 aperture lens. It supports HDR imaging, fast focusing with Phase Recognition technology, full HD video resolution and slow motion Slow Motion. Even, the Elephone also equipped with a laser sensor to better focus in low light conditions. 8 megapixel front camera, the resolution is quite large for selfie needs.
However, the specifications are not enough to deliver impressive image quality for the Elephant P9000, which, in fact, remains just as many Android models worth around $250 on the market. Photos in automatic mode quite noise, slightly lack of brightness and low contrast. The HDR mode works quite well, giving the images a clearer, clearer image than conventional photographs, however, remain slightly bright.
Like the Android operating system, the camera application on the P9000 is the default software of the MediaTek chipset family, features and interface are not customized by Elephone so the use of slightly complex, many features but difficult to find and use.
Generally, the Elephone P9000 is a mid-range smartphone that has a lot of hardware, but lack the attention of software. For those who prefer a smartphone running smoothly, well configured and using the original Android, this is the economical choice, as the performance of the Elevate P9000 is higher than that of Android model same price on Samsung, Sony and HTC.
Battery Life
So the Elephone P9000 comes with a non-removable 3000mAh battery, honestly pretty much what you expect for a phone like this size and class. The battery performance feels ok, adequate at least, but it’s not something that really wow you… it gives you enough juice to make it through the day with fairly normal use.
Like, in typical day routines, browsing the web, scrolling social media, watching videos, plus making a couple calls, the P9000 can usually last from morning right to evening without needing a charger. But if you’re a heavy user ,and I mean gaming for hours or running a lot of streaming , then it can drain faster than you want. In that case you may need a quick top-up late afternoon, or even early evening sometimes.
Another thing that kind of stands out is the fast charging over the USB Type-C port. It supports MediaTek’s Pump Express Plus tech, so the battery can be charged from 0 to 100% in just under two hours, which is honestly pretty handy if you are always moving around and do not have time to sit around waiting.
There’s more— the Elephone P9000 also includes wireless charging. That’s rare in mid-range phones, especially for units that were released around 2016. This makes it convenient , because you can just lay the phone on a compatible charging pad to add a little power. Still, wireless charging tends to run slower compared with wired charging, so it usually fits better for resting overnight, or for those quick little top-ups throughout the day , not for urgent full charges.
Despite the P9000s quick charging, the real battery endurance still feels a bit limited. When you get into more power-hungry stuff , like gaming or using the GPS as navigation, the charge level drops noticeably faster than some competitors sitting in the same price bracket. This kind of hints that the Helio P10 processor, although it says it s efficient, ends up being less power-saving than a few other mid-range chips that were around around that time.
Connectivity
The Elephone P9000 basically brings a fairly wide spread of connectivity options, and honestly that s one of its stronger points. You get dual SIM cards , and the second SIM slot also plays double duty as a microSD slot. So you can either run dual-SIM , or you can swap over to storage expansion, depending on what you actually need that week.
On the cellular side, the P9000 supports 4G LTE on a bunch of different bands so it should work with most carriers across the globe. Still it’s kinda smart to double-check the exact LTE bands the device supports, especially if you plan to use it outside of Asia, since Elephone mostly pushed the phone there.
Then there is NFC (Near Field Communication) support too. That s handy for tap-and-pay moments and for quick pairing with other NFC-enabled gadgets. It s also a feature you don’t always see in mid-range models, which makes the P9000 feel a little more flexible than you might expect.
Bluetooth 4.0 is supported which means you get fairly stable links with wireless accessories like headphones and speakers, pretty solid overall though it can act up sometimes in busy areas, you know. The phone also brings Wi‑Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, so it covers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi‑Fi networks. This sort of dual‑band Wi‑Fi setup helps keep the browsing smooth and dependable, assuming you’re using a compatible router that can actually play along.
GPS performance on the P9000 is also pretty okay, giving location fixes that feel quick and accurate when you’re in apps like Google Maps. On top of that it supports GLONASS, which tends to boost accuracy and reliability, especially in urban places where GPS signals can be blocked by high buildings and all that.
One more thing worth mentioning is the USB Type‑C port, which in 2016 was still kinda new and not everywhere yet. The Type‑C connector makes charging and data transfer more convenient since it’s reversible, unlike the older micro‑USB style. The P9000 going with USB Type‑C was a bit ahead of the game for a budget phone, and you could say it helps with “future proofing” to some degree.
Audio and Call Quality
The audio experience on the Elephone P9000 is kind of mixed. There’s a single speaker on the bottom edge, it can get decently loud but the sound quality, well it’s just average at best. The speaker often gives a slightly tinny vibe with not much bass response, which happens a lot for phones in this price band. For casual stuff it works fine, like scrolling YouTube or using speakerphone calls. But if you want music or movies for long sessions it’s not really the best choice.
For a better audio experience, it’s honestly suggested to use headphones, or even external speakers if that’s what you have around. The Elephone P9000 keeps the usual 3.5mm headphone jack, which is handy for people who still like wired headphones. The audio quality via that jack is pretty solid, mids and highs sound clear enough ,but the bass can feel a little flat sometimes, and yeah it depends a lot on the actual headphones you’re using.
When it comes to call quality, the P9000 is generally doing well. Voice transmission stays clear on both sides of the call, and the earpiece gives a crisp sound, so you can usually hear the other person without too much trouble, even if you’re somewhere noisy. The noise canceling microphone also helps, it reduces a good amount of background sound, so your own voice gets through more cleanly to the person on the other end.
Still, there’s one spot where the P9000 doesn’t fully match some rivals, it doesn’t include more advanced audio features like Dolby Atmos, or built in equalizer settings. You won’t miss it all the time, because it’s not strictly necessary, but those extras can make a noticeable difference, especially for folks who listen to music often, or watch videos on their phones, pretty much every day.
Additional Features
The Elephone P9000 comes with some extra bits that kinda boost the whole experience. One of the main things people notice is the fingerprint sensor, placed on the back of the phone. It feels pretty quick and accurate , so unlocking is done in a smooth and secure way. Also the same sensor can be used for verifying purchases and signing into certain apps, which is honestly a convenient little extra.
Then there’s the customizable smart key on the left side of the device. That button can be programmed to do different chores like opening the camera, switching on the flashlight, or even capturing a screenshot. It’s small, but still handy , and it helps the phone stay more usable day to day.
The P9000 also has a notification LED, which sits just above the screen. This light can be adjusted so different notification types show different colors. So basically you can glance once , and instantly tell if you have missed calls, messages , or other alerts without needing to check right away.
As for sensors the P9000 uses the usual lineup you’d expect on most smartphones, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and ambient light sensor. They work nicely and add to the overall operation of the device, from auto-rotating the display, to tuning the brightness when the ambient light changes.
The P9000 also comes with gesture controls ,so you can do stuff like wake the phone, pull up the camera, or open certain apps by drawing letters or simple shapes on the screen. In theory it sounds handy, but in real life it can be a bit hit or miss, not perfectly responsive all the time, so some people might feel it’s more of a gimmick than something you’d use day after day.
Price and Value for Money
When the Elephone P9000 launched it was priced pretty aggressively, meaning you got a lot of extras for the money you paid. It was basically sold as a budget-friendly stand in for those pricier flagship models, and overall, it did manage to match that idea in a lot of ways.
With its nice look, solid everyday performance, and a bunch of functions you’d usually see on higher-end phones, the P9000 felt like good value. It was especially attractive for folks who wanted modern basics like USB Type-C , fast charging, and NFC, but without handing over a premium bill at the register.
That said, the P9000 didn’t escape the usual compromises. Camera results could be inconsistent, software updates were not exactly a highlight, and battery life sometimes left a little to be desired. Sure, those trade-offs are pretty normal for a budget device, but they’re still worth weighing carefully if what you care about most is, say, photos, long-term support, or just getting through the day easily.
Conclusion
So, the Elephone P9000 is overall a decent mid-range smartphone that feels like it gives you pretty good value for the money. It really stands out with its nice looks, a crisp display, and that bundle of modern extras: USB Type-C, fast charging, and NFC. For the day-to-day stuff it runs smooth enough, and even for some gaming it holds up, mostly because of the octa-core processor along with 4GB RAM.
But yeah, it has some issues too. The camera is fine when lighting is good but once it gets darker it starts to struggle, pretty noticeably. Also, the lack of software updates is kinda a big problem, especially if you care about security or you want the newest Android features. The battery is okay, nothing terrible but it’s not “wow” level, and the speaker/audio quality is just acceptable , it doesn’t really beat some competitors.
In the end, the Elephone P9000 is a solid pick for budget-minded users who want a phone with a modern vibe and a decent feature set, without paying too much. It’s also a nice fit for people who care about a high-resolution display, fast charging, and a fingerprint sensor… which honestly you don’t always see in cheaper devices.
Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.