Small smartphones are actually a rarity these days. The current prevailing opinion that most smartphone manufacturers are now focusing on devices above the magical 6-inch limit is objectively correct. Very few major manufacturers still regularly bring small smartphones onto the market.
Apple’s daring attempt to make a mini iPhone attractive to buyers was ended after just two generations. It is all the more pleasing to hold a compact device in your hands that is not only usable, but also impressive in many ways. One such model is the Blackview N6000. The device from the Far East has a screen diagonal of just 4.3 inches, but comes out big in the test with its great performance, bright display and excellent battery life. The detailed report shows what weaknesses the model has (spoiler: there are not many!).
Design & workmanship
Not surprisingly: As an outdoor smartphone, the Blackview N6000 has a robust yet stylish design: the back and edges of the device are a mixture of thick, black rubberized plastic with a carbon fiber texture in the middle of the back and carefully inserted silver metal -elements. The Blackview logo on the back is also made of metal, as is the camera area, where the speaker is also located. The few exposed screws and the orange accents give the N6000 an overall industrial-style design that should fit into pretty much any environment (except perhaps a business meeting).
The small display size makes the cell phone really handy, easy to grip and easy to use with one hand. As expected, the ports and SIM card slot are protected from water and dust with plugs, which enables IP68/IP69K certification. Thanks to the overall robust design, the cell phone also passes tests according to the military standard MIL-STD-810H. The only thing we found annoying were the comparatively thick display edges and the pressure point of the power button – you really have to press exactly in the middle of the button, otherwise it feels squishy and sometimes doesn’t work. Otherwise the workmanship is first class. On the left side of the device, which weighs around 208 grams, there is a freely assignable, orange action button.
Display
The most striking thing about the Blackview N6000’s display? As with the whole device, its size! At just 4.3 inches diagonally, the panel really isn’t big. When operating with the right hand, the upper left corner can be easily reached with the thumb.
The IPS panel only has a resolution of 1200 × 540 pixels, but due to the small display area, the panel still has a pixel density of 306 PPI. This guarantees a sufficiently sharp, detailed image. The display brightness is even better – with a measured 670 cd/m², the display is one of the brightest among outdoor cell phones. The color representation and viewing angles also leave little to be desired. It’s a shame that the refresh rate remains at the slow 60 Hertz – 90 or 120 Hertz can already be found even in the price range around 200 euros. You can’t complain about the display as a whole.
Camera
Contrary to appearances, the Blackview N6000 does not have two cameras on the back, but only one. The camera in the middle is a dummy lens that the manufacturer only installs for aesthetic reasons – that’s a shame, but also a bit cheeky. The main camera uses a 48 megapixel Samsung Isocell GM2 sensor. The software optimization was carried out by the company Arcsoft, which is also immortalized on the back of the smartphone.
Overall, the resulting images are not bad – especially in good daylight and sunshine, pleasant, balanced and detailed images are produced outside. In 48 megapixel mode (artfully referred to as “48 million” by Blackview in the camera app), the photos become a little more detailed, but the color representation does not change, unlike some other smartphones in the price range. The sensor struggles as soon as it gets darker and, as expected, it fails completely in low light.
The 16 megapixel front camera is okay and particularly suitable for quick snapshots, but we wouldn’t really describe the slightly blurry photos as Instagram-ready. Video recording is possible at 1440p at 30 fps; there is no mode with 60 frames per second. Overall, the camera leaves the user with a feeling of cautious satisfaction. It’s not a top feature of the smartphone – that’s okay.
Blackview N6000 – Originalaufnahmen
Blackview N6000 – Originalaufnahmen
Preis
The Blackview N6000 is available in black, black-orange and black-green with the storage combination 8/256 GB for a price starting at 230 euros.
Furnishing
In the Blackview N6000, the manufacturer uses the MediaTek Helio G99, which is very popular and well-known in this price range, as the processor unit. The solid mid-range chip, manufactured using the 6 nm process, has not disappointed in our tests so far. It doesn’t do that with the N6000 either: 9200 points in PCmark’s Work 3.0 benchmark is a good value that comes close to the results of other smartphones with this processor. In 3Dmark’s Wild Life, the smartphone achieved 1250 points, which is also a solid, expected result.
Everyday use shows that the processor is sufficient. Apps and menus open and load quickly, and there are hardly any stutters during use. The overall user experience is not limited before attempting to play complex 3D games; Here the smartphone’s mediocre GPU fails and limits the frame rate. Simple games like Angry Birds or Candy Crush are not a problem, however. Title like PUBG Mobile Playing is pointless anyway due to the small display area.
The CPU works together with 8 GB of RAM. The internal memory offers an impressive 256 GB. The lack of expandability is compensated for by the size of the internal memory. It’s a shame that there is no support for the 5G mobile network on board; However, the limitation is due to the built-in CPU. When it comes to 4G/LTE, however, all bands relevant to Europe and other parts of the world are included.
Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.2 with LE support enable wireless communication in networks, GPS with Glonass enables reliable location finding. The USB-C port is the slower type 2.0. The action button on the left side of the device is fully configurable and can open apps or perform actions. The disadvantage of the speaker installed on the back, in addition to its mediocre sound quality, is the positioning – if the device is with the display facing up, the sound is massively muffled. The fingerprint scanner is built into the power button and works very reliably. Unfortunately, there is no headphone jack.
The operating system used is Android 13 with Doke OS 3.1 as the user interface. This is pretty close to the original Android experience. However, regular updates are not to be expected here. We already know the software toolbox from other outdoor smartphones, which is supposed to turn the device into a fully-fledged tool with an altimeter, spirit level, etc.
Blackview N6000 – Pictures
Blackview N6000 – Pictures
battery pack
The built-in battery is only 3880 mAh – given that other modern smartphones often have batteries with capacities of 5000 mAh and more, this battery seems relatively small. And yet it surprises in the test: Despite its small size, the device has a runtime of around 16 hours in the PCmark battery test – that’s fantastic! Two full days of intensive use shouldn’t be a problem with the cell phone. The small display and the energy-saving processor unit are probably to blame for this. It can be recharged with 18 watts in around two hours.
The Blackview N6000 impresses like no other mini outdoor smartphone. The great overall package of a robust, modern design, overall powerful performance, surprisingly good cameras and a great battery life is complemented by small, nice features such as the software toolbox and the large memory. What can most likely spoil the overall impression is the lack of a high refresh rate and a headphone jack. However, these are not serious defects, but rather small drawbacks. Despite them, the smartphone is a good choice for people who are looking for a small, robust everyday companion.
We were only able to test a real mini phone recently with the Unihertz Jelly Star (test report). However, the manufacturer took a diametrically different approach to design and intended use.