MWC 2011: Various brands overview

Altek A14 Leo

It's not everyday that you see a manufacturer like Altek. They might have only one smartphone in their portfolio but that smartphone claims to be the best shooter in the mobile world.

Of course we are talking about the Android-running A14 Leo and its 14 megapixel 3x zoom-enabled snapper.

Altek Leo live pictures

Altek has gone with Android 2.1 Eclair for the Leo OS. The handset packs a 3.2-inch WVGA capacitive multi-touch display, various connectivity options (incl. Wi-Fi b/g/n, HSPA, GPS, Bluetooth) and microSD card slot.

Altek Leo live pictures

But, of course, the highlight feature of the Altek Leo is its 1/2.3" CCD sensor of 14 megapixel resolution. The high-end camera has its low-light capabilities enhanced by xenon flash and assisting auto-focus light. There is also 3X optical zoom (a first for Android) and 720p video recording on board. The list of camera features goes on with face and smile detection, ISO reaching up to 3200 and geotagging.

We were able to snap a few shots with the Altek Leo and we also did a quick 720p video. We aren't particularly impressed with the image quality as the photos seem to be a bit low on detail.

The colors might be pleasing and the noise levels are acceptable but the little resolved detail makes having a 14 megapixel sensor somewhat pointless. On the other hand the 3X zoom is a really nice feat as long as you are willing to live with the added thickness it brings.

Altek A14 Leo campera samples

Next we got this 720p Altek Leo video sample for you. It was shot with the lens in the standard, wide position.

We also did another 720p video with the Leo, only this time we zoomed all the way in.

Altek has brought a few customizations to the UI, but for the most part it is stock Android 2.1 Eclair. The performance though was slightly disappointing. There were way too much lag, missed swipe gestures and freezes. These are all issues we don't expect to find on a retail version of a smartphone.