Oukitel C38: A Budget-Friendly Powerhouse With Impressive Features

Design and Build: Solid and Stylish

The Oukitel C38 boasts a sleek and sturdy build with dimensions of 164.3×75.5×8.8 mm and a weight of 200 grams. The phone feels solid in hand, offering a reassuring heft without being overly cumbersome. Available in classic Black, vibrant Cyan, and clean White, the C38 caters to a range of aesthetic preferences. Here are the relevant specs:

The Oukitel C38 is designed with practicality and durability in mind, making it a reliable companion for everyday use. Its dimensions strike a balance between a large display and manageable size. The 6.47-inch height and 2.97-inch width make it easy to grip for most users, ensuring that it doesn't feel overly bulky or unwieldy. The 8.8 mm thickness adds to its solid feel without making it excessively chunky.

At 200 grams, the C38 is not the lightest phone on the market, but it's within a reasonable weight range that won't feel too heavy in your pocket or bag. The weight gives it a substantial feel, implying durability, but it remains comfortable enough for extended use and portability.

The size and the weight distribution make the Oukitel C38 suitable for long sessions of browsing, gaming, or watching videos. The slight heft can actually make it feel more secure in hand, reducing the risk of accidental drops.

One of the standout features of the C38 is its display protection. Gorilla Glass 5 is known for its superior resistance to scratches and drops. This makes the phone more resilient against the rigors of daily use, including minor knocks and accidental drops. With this level of protection, the display is likely to maintain its clarity and functionality over a longer period, reducing the need for repairs or replacements. You can be more confident in the phone's durability, making it a great option if you have an active lifestyle or are prone to dropping your phone.

The Oukitel C38 is available in three colors: Black, Cyan, and White. Each color option caters to different tastes and personalities:

• Black: A classic choice, perfect for users who prefer a sleek, professional look. Black suits those who want their device to blend seamlessly into various settings, from formal meetings to casual outings.
• Cyan: A vibrant and unique option, cyan is ideal for users who want to stand out and express their individuality. It's a great choice for younger users or anyone looking to make a bold statement.
• White: Clean and minimalist, white appeals to users who appreciate a modern and sophisticated aesthetic. It's perfect for those who want a phone that looks fresh and contemporary.

In summary, the Oukitel C38's design balances comfort, durability, and style effectively. Its dimensions and weight make it a practical choice for daily use, providing a comfortable grip and easy portability. The inclusion of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 enhances its durability. And with its color options, the C38 not only performs well but also allows you to express your personal style.

If we compare the Oukitel C38 with the predecessor C36, it's gotten slightly larger but slimmer. The Oukitel C36 was 163.8×75.4×9.2 mm and 199 g. It lacked the Gorilla Glass protection for the display.

IP Rating

(Related: IP ratings explained.)

Ah, the missing IP rating - the mysterious guardian that tells us how our beloved gadgets fend off water and dust. While the Oukitel C38 might not come flaunting an official IP rating, it doesn't necessarily mean it's defenseless against the environmental elements. So, should potential buyers be clutching their umbrellas in fear? Let's break it down.

Many smartphones, especially in the budget and mid-tier segments, skip the official IP rating to keep costs down. However, it's essential to understand that the lack of a rating doesn't mean your phone is allergic to water or dust. The Oukitel C38 likely has some level of protection, just without the fancy certification.

Here are some practical tips for shielding your C38 from the elements:

• Avoiding Water Immersion: While the Oukitel C38 might survive a splash or two, it's not designed for underwater adventures. Keep it away from swimming pools, sinks, and spontaneous rain showers - the usual suspects for smartphone water damage.
• Dust Defense: Dust is the silent assassin of gadgets. A simple trick is to keep your phone in a clean pocket or bag when not in use. Avoid placing it on dusty surfaces, especially in windy conditions.
• The Power of Accessories: Enter the unsung heroes - the protective case and the screen protector. Investing in a good-quality case provides an extra layer of defense against accidental spills and drops. A screen protector adds an armor of scratch resistance, keeping your display pristine. Think of this duo as the capes for your C38, ready to swoop in and shield it from the daily challenges of life.

So, should the absence of an official IP rating deter you from embracing the Oukitel C38? Not necessarily. With a dash of common sense and the right accessories, your Oukitel C38 can navigate the elements with flair. It's like giving your phone a stylish suit of armor - practical, protective, and a statement of your commitment to keeping your tech safe and sound.

Display

(Related: Know more about the various kinds of displays and screen specs.)

Sporting a 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen, the C38 delivers a vibrant viewing experience with a resolution of 1080×2408 pixels. The 20:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of approximately 400 PPI ensure sharp and crisp visuals, making it ideal for media consumption and casual gaming. While the 480 nits brightness is adequate for most indoor settings, it might struggle under direct sunlight.

Oukitel C38 display. Image credit: Oukitel

Here are the relevant specs:

The Oukitel C38's display is one of its key features, designed to deliver a vibrant and immersive viewing experience. It uses an IPS LCD (In-Plane Switching Liquid Crystal Display) panel. IPS panels are known for their superior color reproduction. They offer wider viewing angles and consistent colors, which means you can view the screen from different angles without experiencing color distortion.

IPS displays generally provide better brightness and contrast compared to other LCD technologies. This makes them suitable for various lighting conditions, although they might not match the deep blacks and vibrant colors of OLED displays. While not as power-efficient as OLED panels, IPS LCDs strike a good balance between performance and battery consumption, making them a solid choice for entry-level and mid-range devices.

With a resolution of 1080×2408 pixels, the Oukitel C38's display delivers a crisp and clear image quality. The 20:9 aspect ratio provides a cinematic viewing experience, and the pixel density of approximately 400 PPI (pixels per inch) ensures text and images are sharp and detailed.

The C38's display offers a brightness level of 480 nits. This is adequate for most indoor and shaded outdoor environments, ensuring the screen remains visible and readable. However, under direct sunlight, 480 nits might fall short of providing optimal visibility. You may need to seek shade or increase the screen brightness to the maximum to see the display clearly in bright outdoor conditions.

In conclusion, the Oukitel C38's display is designed to offer a balanced and enjoyable viewing experience, especially for its price range. The IPS LCD technology ensures good color accuracy and wide viewing angles, making it suitable for various activities from media consumption to gaming. The 1080×2408 pixel resolution guarantees sharp and clear visuals, enhancing the overall user experience. Overall, the display is a strong point of the Oukitel C38, offering a solid visual experience for everyday use.

For comparison, the predecessor Oukitel C36 featured a 6.56-inch, 720×1612 px IPS LCD display, with 400 nits brightness.

Networks

(Related: Cellular networks explained.)

The Oukitel C38 supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, ensuring reliable connectivity for calls and data.

GSM and HSPA are the stalwarts, providing 2G and 3G connectivity, respectively. Then there's LTE, the foundation of modern 4G networks, delivering faster internet speeds and improved call quality.

SIM

The Oukitel C38 supports hybrid dual Nano-SIM (dual stand-by).

The "hybrid" part means one of the SIM card slots serves a dual purpose. It can either hold a SIM card or a memory card for expandable storage - but not both simultaneously. This means you have to make a choice between expanding your device's storage capacity with a memory card and using two SIM cards.

Chipset: Performance - Efficient and Reliable

Under the hood, the Oukitel C38 is powered by a Mediatek MT8788 chipset built on a 12-nm process. The octa-core CPU, consisting of two types of cores, along with the Mali-G72 MP3 GPU, offers decent performance for everyday tasks. Here are the relevant specs:

The Oukitel C38 is powered by the Mediatek MT8788, a mid-range chipset built on a 12-nm process. It strikes a balance between performance and efficiency, making it suitable for budget and mid-range smartphones. The chipset integrates both the CPU and GPU, alongside other essential components like the memory controller and the modem, to deliver a cohesive performance package.

The CPU of the Oukitel C38 consists of an octa-core setup with two types of cores:

• 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A73: These cores are designed for performance. They handle demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing, and heavy multitasking. The Cortex-A73 cores are more powerful and capable of processing intensive applications quickly.
• 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A53: These cores are optimized for efficiency. They take care of less demanding tasks such as browsing, texting, and running background processes. The Cortex-A53 cores are designed to consume less power, thus enhancing battery life during routine usage.

Even though both sets of cores operate at the same clock speed of 2.0 GHz, their architecture is different, optimizing them for distinct tasks. The Cortex-A73 cores are designed to deliver high performance, making them suitable for tasks that require more processing power. On the other hand, the Cortex-A53 cores are built for power efficiency, handling lighter tasks to conserve battery.

This heterogeneous configuration, known as ARM's big.LITTLE architecture, allows the phone to dynamically switch between the two sets of cores based on the current workload. This ensures that the device can provide high performance when needed while maintaining energy efficiency during less demanding tasks.

The Mali-G72 MP3 GPU is responsible for handling graphics-intensive tasks. It offers decent graphics performance for a budget device. It can handle casual gaming and multimedia playback smoothly, ensuring a good visual experience. Like the CPU, the GPU is also designed to be power-efficient, balancing performance and battery consumption effectively.

With these components working in tandem, the Oukitel C38's processing prowess is adequate for a variety of tasks, including:

• Daily Activities: The phone excels at everyday tasks such as browsing the web, social media, texting, and making calls.
• Multitasking: With 6 GB of RAM, the phone can handle multitasking efficiently, running multiple apps without significant lag.
• Media Consumption: The device is well-suited for streaming videos, listening to music, and viewing photos.
• Casual Gaming: Games that are not too graphically intensive run smoothly, providing a decent gaming experience.

However, there are tasks that might demand a more powerful configuration, such as:

• High-End Gaming: While the Mali-G72 MP3 can handle casual gaming, high-end games with advanced graphics might not run as smoothly or could require lower settings to be playable.
• Heavy Multitasking: Professional multitasking, such as using several productivity apps simultaneously and running intensive background processes, might push the device to its limits.
• Advanced Photo and Video Editing: While basic editing is feasible, more complex tasks that require significant processing power and memory could benefit from a more powerful configuration.

In summary, the Oukitel C38's Mediatek MT8788 chipset, along with its octa-core CPU and Mali-G72 MP3 GPU, offers a balanced performance suitable for a wide range of everyday tasks. The dual-core architecture ensures efficient handling of both performance-intensive and routine task. However, for users who require advanced processing capabilities for high-end gaming or professional-grade multitasking, a more powerful configuration might be necessary.

For comparison, the predecessor Oukitel C36 featured the Unisoc T606 (12 nm) chipset, housing an octa-core CPU (2×1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 + 6×1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) and the Mali-G57 MP1 GPU.

Memory and Storage

Here are the relevant specs:

Multitasking is handled efficiently thanks to 6 GB of RAM, while the 256 GB of UFS 2.1 internal storage provides ample space for apps, photos, and videos. The storage can be expanded via a microSDXC card, though it uses the shared SIM slot.

For comparison, the predecessor Oukitel C36 came with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of eMMC type internal storage, expandable via a microSDXC card.

Cameras: Versatile Photography

The Oukitel C38's camera setup is impressive for its price range. The triple camera system includes a 48 MP main sensor, perfect for capturing detailed and vibrant shots. The 2 MP macro lens allows for close-up photography, while the 0.3 MP depth sensor aids in achieving portrait shots with a decent bokeh effect.

For selfie enthusiasts, the 32 MP front camera ensures high-quality self-portraits and smooth video calls.

Rear Camera

Image credit: Oukitel

The Oukitel C38 is equipped with a triple camera setup designed to cater to various photography needs. Let's have an in-depth look at the camera system and its features. Here are the relevant specs:

Specification	Oukitel C38
Number of Cameras	3 (Triple)
Resolution (Megapixels)	48 MP (wide), 2 MP (macro), 0.3 MP (depth)
Aperture	f/1.8, f/2.2, N/A
Sensor Size	1/2.0″, N/A, N/A
Autofocus	PDAF, N/A, N/A
Video Recording	1080p at 30 fps
Other Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR

The Oukitel C38's main camera system comprises three lenses, each serving a specific purpose. The primary wide sensor is the workhorse of the camera setup, capturing the majority of your photos. It features a high resolution of 48 megapixels, allowing for detailed and vibrant images. With an f/1.8 aperture, this lens performs well in various lighting conditions, particularly in low-light environments by allowing more light to hit the sensor.

The 2 MP macro lens is designed for close-up photography, allowing you to capture fine details at a very short distance. It's perfect for photographing small objects like flowers, insects, and intricate textures. The f/2.2 aperture is suitable for the macro lens's intended use, providing enough depth of field to keep close-up subjects sharp.

The 0.3 MP depth sensor assists in creating depth-of-field effects, commonly known as the bokeh effect, where the subject remains in sharp focus while the background is blurred. This is particularly useful for portrait photography. Although it has a small sensor, its primary function is to provide depth information to enhance the main sensor's portrait capabilities.

Among the camera features, the PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) technology enables faster and more accurate focusing by detecting the phase difference in light that passes through the lens. It's particularly useful for capturing moving subjects and achieving a quick focus lock.

The built-in LED flash provides additional light in low-light situations, ensuring that subjects are well-illuminated even in darker environments. It's essential for night photography and indoor shots where ambient lighting is insufficient.

Panorama mode allows you to capture wide-angle shots by stitching multiple images together into a single, seamless panoramic photo. It's great for landscapes, cityscapes, and large group photos.

And the HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode helps in capturing photos with a better dynamic range by combining multiple exposures into one image. This results in photos with more detail in both the shadows and highlights, making it ideal for scenes with contrasting lighting conditions.

In conclusion, the Oukitel C38's main camera setup offers a versatile range of photography options suitable for a variety of scenarios. The 48 MP primary sensor, supported by PDAF, ensures sharp and detailed images, while the macro and depth lenses provide additional creative possibilities. For its price range, the Oukitel C38 delivers impressive photographic performance, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious consumers who still want a capable and flexible camera setup.

For comparison, the older Oukitel C36 featured a dual camera setup, consisting of a 13 MP (f/2.2) wide lens supporting AF, and a secondary lens. It could record 1080p videos at 30 fps, and its feature set included dual-LED flash and panorama.

Battery Life: Long-Lasting Power

(Related: Battery specs and charging types explained.)

Here are the relevant specs:

A standout feature of the Oukitel C38 is its substantial 5150 mAh battery. This large capacity battery ensures prolonged usage, easily lasting a full day with moderate use. The 18 W wired charging support ensures the device can be recharged reasonably quickly, minimizing downtime.

For comparison, the predecessor Oukitel C36 featured a similar battery, but with 10 W wired charging support.

Sound

(Related: Know more about the sound specs and features.)

Here are the relevant specs:

For comparison, the older Oukitel C36 also featured a single loudspeaker, though it supported the 3.5 mm headphone jack as well.

Connectivity

The Oukitel C38 doesn't compromise on connectivity and convenience. With support for dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, it ensures you can connect to common Wi-Fi networks.

The Oukitel C38 boasts Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring a seamless connection, whether you're connecting to headphones, speakers, or other devices. With features like A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for high-quality audio streaming and LE (Low Energy) for power efficiency, your Bluetooth experience reaches new heights.

The Oukitel C38 features GPS, GALILEO, and GLONASS positioning systems for accurate navigation and location services.

NFC is a no-show, but the inclusion of FM radio is a pleasant surprise.

Last but not least, the trusty USB-C 2.0 - the universal connector. Whether you're charging your device, transferring files, or connecting to external devices, USB Type-C 2.0 ensures a reliable connection. It's the jack-of-all-trades, allowing you to expand your device's capabilities and stay connected to the wider world of technology. And the support for OTG (USB On-The-Go) enables your device to act as host and connect to other USB devices, such as flash drives, keyboards, cameras, and more, without needing a computer as an intermediary.

Sensors

The Oukitel C38 comes equipped with the following sensors:

• Fingerprint Sensor: Used for quick and secure unlocking. It is side-facing in the Oukitel C38.
• Accelerometer: The accelerometer detects changes in the device's orientation and acceleration. If you tilt, shake, or move your device, the accelerometer knows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is Oukitel C38 release date?

  The Oukitel C38 has been announced in May 2024. It is expected to release in June 2024.

• What is Oukitel C38 price?

  The Oukitel C38 is priced at USD 127.59.