Netflix is making a big push in India and understandably so. With a population of over 1.3 billion, even ten percent of that will almost double Netflix's global subscriber base. Not only is it rapidly expanding its Indian catalog, but is also testing out cheaper mobile-only plans to make it more accessible. But Netflix is also doing what it does best – create original content.
There's a growing number of Hindi and regional language movies and TV shows that Netflix has bought or produced and it has even bigger plans going forward. It's limited for now, but here are some of the best original Hindi movies and series on Netflix!
Note: This list focuses on original Netflix content because there's too many to choose from otherwise. I'll include some recommendations in the special mentions section though. We'll continue to update this list as more original Hindi movies and series are released on Netflix.
Best Original Hindi movies on Netflix
Love per square foot
"Love per square foot" follows the lives of Sanjay (Vicky Kaushal) and Karina (Angira Dhar). Buying a home is a dream that neither can achieve individually. A couple-friendly home loan scheme leads to a marriage of convenience. Hijinx ensues as they struggle to figure out their increasingly complicated lives. This a fun, quirky comedy that has its fair share of moments. The premise is a touch farcical, but it's ultimately a story about the value of money, family, and love. Strong performances help overcome the constraints of the story. At over two hours, it does run a little long though.
Soni (Geetika Vidya Ohlan) is a young cop in the Delhi police force. She works closely with her superintendent, Kalpana (Saloni Batra), to fight growing incidents of violent crimes against women. A professional setback and difficult personal situations derail their plans.
As loathe as we might be to admit it, Soni is an incredibly relevant film in today's day and age. It tackles the misogyny that women face every day, but without getting preachy or by overtly pointing fingers. It's an uncomfortable truth that any and every woman will attest to. It's also something that those in power and society as a whole need to address. Soni may not be a movie for the masses, but it is one that everyone should see.
Lust Stories is an anthology movie comprised of four short films by some of India's best directors – Zoya Akhtar, Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, and Anurag Kashyap. An apparent sequel to Bombay Talkies (2013), Lust Stories explores love, sex, and relationships in modern India.
Lust Stories provides an honest look at sexuality and modern relationships. It doesn't go out of its way to be provocative or offensive, but tackles a topic that you'll rarely see discussed in mainstream cinema or TV. The good news for fans of their work is that all four directors are set to return for a sequel called Ghost Stories, a horror anthology, that is expected to premiere on Netflix in 2020.
One of my absolute favorite recent Hindi movies on Netflix is Andhadhun, starring Ayushman Khurana and Tabu. When the movie ruins its most interesting twist at the beginning, you can't imagine it doing any worse. However, that's just the start of a thrill-ride that is packed with more twists and turns than you'll know what to do with.
Fans of Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, and Akshay Kumar will be impressed by the range of their films available on Netflix. You'll only find a bunch of old Salman Khan movies though.
Indian television is divided into three segments – soap operas, comedies, and reality TV. Compelling, thrilling television with episodes that drop once a week and with limited runs was a foreign concept until the idea of the web series took hold. Some of the best TV you can see in India is online. This segment was ripe for the picking and Netflix was right on the money with its first Original Hindi series – Sacred Games.
It's a familiar enough story. Cops vs Gangsters. But take away the limitations of a Censor board, add the general "anything goes" attitude of web content, and you have a winner on your hands. The ensemble cast, including high flyers like Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, delivers excellent performances as well. The great news for fans is that a second season should drop soon.
Delhi Crime, starring Shefali Shah, is based around the aftermath of the horrific "Nirbhaya" case from 2012 (I'm not going to go into any detail here) that shocked the nation and jolted the powers that be into action. It's a compelling true crime drama that gets as uncomfortable as the subject matter demands. Shock, grief, and anger are what you'll feel as the show kicks off. The series then focuses on the next few days as the Delhi Police investigate and arrest all those responsible. It's dark, disturbing, and gritty, but an excellent watch nonetheless.
Little Things, starring Mithila Palkar and Dhruv Sehgal, is a fantastic exploration of modern relationships in India. The ups and downs, the struggle to deal with life, work, love, and everything in between, is beautifully showcased in this series. It was actually a YouTube series produced by Dice Media a couple of years ago. It was then picked up by Netflix for a second season (both seasons are now on Netflix) with more, and longer, episodes. If you're looking for something that's equal parts sweet and heartbreaking, Little Things is a great binge.
Netflix followed up Sacred Games with Ghoul. It's a compelling horror series that takes its inspiration from Arab folklore. The story is set in a dystopian future with a fascist regime in power. The interrogation of a suspected terrorist goes wrong, resulting in a variety of supernatural events to occur.
Ghoul is produced by Blumhouse, that has made horror its business with other great releases like Jordan Peele's Get Out. Most good horror in recent years has Blumhouse or Jason Blum involved in some way, and Ghoul is no different. Netflix favorite Radhika Apte stars in this three-part miniseries that is bound to keep your heart racing.
Messaging is one feature Apple does well. With an iPhone linked to Apple's cloud, you can send and receive messages from any other Apple device. Windows 10 takes a slightly different path now that Windows 10 Mobile – which hasn't received new features since 2017 – reaches its end-of-life in December. We show you how to text from Windows 10 using an Android phone.
For some time, you could text from Windows 10 using Cortana. Texting was a feature built into Windows 10 Mobile that gravitated over to Cortana for Android and iOS. You could send SMS messages by opening Cortana and type "send text message," or use a verbal command like "Hey Cortana, send a text message to…"
But the method felt clunky and pulled contacts from your Microsoft Account. Now SMS messaging is a bit more streamlined for Android devices. Google launched Android Messages for web in 2018 that's tied to its Messages app for Android. Meanwhile, Microsoft introduced its Your Phone app to the masses via the October 2018 Update (version 1809) along with the re-branded Your Phone Companion Android app.
Our guide on how to text from Windows 10 using an Android phone covers both methods. It's based on Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903).
This is an app-based method. It uses Your Phone Companion for Android and Your Phone for Windows 10. Link the two together and you can text from Windows 10 without picking up the phone. This method requires Android 7.0 Nougat and Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803).
1.Click Start and select the "gear" icon on the Start Menu toolbar. This opens the Settings app.
2. Select the Phone category.
3. Click the Add a phone button under Linked phones.
4. Select Android and click Get Started.
5. Click the Continue button to send an app link to your phone.
6. Enter your phone number and click Send in the next window. 7.Select the link provided in the text sent to your Android phone.
8.Install the Your Phone Companion app from Google Play. 9. After installing the app, log in to your Microsoft Account and allow app permissions. 10.Allow the connection and click Done.
12. Click Start and locate the Your Phone app on the Start Menu.
With the two devices linked, your Android device appears in the top-left corner with the Photos and Messages categories listed underneath. In addition, it's listed under Phone in the Windows 10 Settings app.
Unlike the Google version, you'll see text messages appear as a Windows 10 notification. Even more, you can respond within the notification without opening the Your Phone app. But this is only a quick text reply. You must use the Your Phone app to respond with an emoji, GIF, or an image stored on your PC.
This is a browser-based method. You're essentially linking Google's Messages app for Android to its Messages for web service. Simply open any browser, navigate to the page, and send texts.
1.Install the Messages app from Google Play if it's not already on your phone. 2. Select Yes if prompted to make Messages your default SMS client.
3. Tap the three-dot More button in the top right corner. 4. Select Messages for web in the drop-down menu. 5. Tap the blue QR code scanner button.
6. On Windows 10, open a browser and enter messages.android.com in the address field. 7. Toggle on (make blue) Remember this computer and then use your Android phone to scan the QR code.
8. You are now connected. Send a message by clicking the blue Start chat button in the browser window. 9.Select a contact or type a name, phone number, or email address in the To field. 10.Type your message. 11. Click the blue SMS button to send.
With this method, you can send emojis, stickers, and GIFs. You can send images stored on your Windows 10 PC as well. Everything you send and receive through the web client appears in Google's Messages Android app. You'll need to enable browser notifications to receive incoming text alerts.
That wraps up our guide on how to text from Windows 10 using an Android phone. For other Windows 10 tips and tricks, check out these guides:
The AAPicks team writes about things we think you'll like, and we may see a share of revenue from any purchases made through affiliate links.
Degoo is a maximum-security vault for your files. In the cloud, your stuff is safe from hackers, malware, hard drive failure, or laptop theft.
The best part? For the next couple of days, you can get 2TB of lifetime cloud storage at an incredible 95 percent savings.
Degoo makes sure you never have to worry about losing your files. It gives you more backup space than the free allocations of Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive combined, and this isn't just any old cloud storage.
Perform backups of all of your devices.
Automatic file change detection uploads new versions of any files you modify, so you always know your most recent changes are securely stored. Degoo also gives you easy access to your files, allowing for quick sharing between friends and coworkers via links and email.
Naturally, you can perform backups of all of your devices, so your files are both secure and accessible whether you're on your laptop or on the go with your Android device. It's all secured under military-grade 256-bit AES encryption.
Degoo Premium at a glance:
Send files easily to friends via email or link.
Backup up to 2TB of data under ultra-secure 256-bit AES encryption.
Replicate your backup as you perform it, giving you extra peace of mind.
Perform backups to all of your devices.
Get more backup space than Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive combined.
Keep your backup automatically up to date thanks to automatic file change detection.
Normally, a Degoo Premium 2TB Plan would set you back something like $1,200. With today's deal, you can get lifetime access to 2TB of premium backup for just $59.99.
There are similar great offers on the 1TB, 3TB, and 10TB storage options. You could pay as little as $49.99.
The deal ends soon, so click the button below to get started.
A great way to take advantage of the outdoors is with a few friends and some good music, but the problem is some of the best Bluetooth speakers can cost hundreds of dollars. The good news is that there are plenty of great Bluetooth speakers under $100 that will do just as good of a job at keeping the party going. Whether you are prone to breaking your electronics, losing them, or just don't want to spend too much on something that you know is going to take a beating, we've got you covered. This list of speakers should get the job done whether you're hanging out in the living room or hiking a volcano (not recommended).
For a closer look at the pros and cons of each pick as well as some other useful information, make sure to check out the full article over on our sister site Soundguys.
Without further ado, here are the best Bluetooth speakers under $100.
The JBL Flip 4 is hard to beat
The JBL Flip 4 is the perfect combination of size, durability, and sound.
Reasons to consider the JBL Flip 4:
The Flip 4 is IPX7 waterproof and has a small cord that lets you hang it from wherever you want.
Sound quality isn't half bad considering its size.
You can usually find it at or around $99.
Solid 12 hour battery life should last you through most of the day.
If you're going to be near WiFi, you might want to check out the JBL Link 20
The Link 20 is slightly larger than the Flip 4, but it features the Google Assistant built-in.
Reasons to consider the JBL Link 20:
Like almost every new-ish speaker in the JBL line-up, the Link 20 is also IPX7 waterproof.
The speaker has integrated Chromecast and voice-activated Google Assistant functionality, so connecting it to your existing Google Home setup is simple.
Can connect to it via Bluetooth or over WiFi.
The battery life of roughly 10 hours isn't great, but it's not bad for a speaker that works best when connected to WiFi anyway since you're never far from an outlet.
There aren't as many things to be aware of with Bluetooth speakers as there is with other audio equipment, but there are still some important factors to consider.
IP ratings
Wirefield This IP rating guide sums everything up nicely for the purposes of this article.
One of the most important things to consider when looking for a Bluetooth speaker is the environment in which you're going to be using it. If you plan on taking it anywhere outside or poolside, then a water-resistant or waterproof rating is highly recommended. In the chart above, you can see that means that, at the very least, the second number in the IP rating should be at a four or above. If you're going to be using the speaker while doing something like hiking, camping, or even at the beach, then you also want it to be protected against dirt and dust. In that case, the first number should be at the very least a five or above. That's basically all you need to know for the purposes of this article, but we recommend reading the full explainer to learn more about what an IP rating is.
Bluetooth codecs
If you really want to dig into this part of Bluetooth audio, it's worth checking out the article where Lily Katz explains everything you need to know about Bluetooth codecs. The good thing is, you don't need to know all of that for the purposes of this article. Instead, all you really need to know is that some Bluetooth codecs allow for more data transfer between devices, which results in higher quality audio transfer and better sound. Of course, sound quality is likely not the reason you're looking for a sub-$100 Bluetooth speaker, but that doesn't mean you should settle for something that sounds terrible.
Why you should trust SoundGuys
SoundGuys is the sibling site to Android Authority that goes over everything you need to know about audio. Whether you're looking for reviews on a new speaker, a list of the best headphones, or just want to learn how some of your favorite audio gadgets work, the team at SoundGuys has made it their mission to explain it all.
And that wraps up our list of best Bluetooth speakers under $100. What's your favorite?
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The AAPicks team writes about things we think you'll like, and we may see a share of revenue from any purchases made through affiliate links.
It's 'pay what you want' time folks, and this package is enormous. The Adobe CC A-Z Lifetime Bundle is 100 hours of training in the world's leading design suite. You can access the lot for just a few bucks.
Whichever area of design you'd like to train in, it's likely to be covered in this bundle. There's instruction in Adobe Photoshop for your images, Illustrator for your graphics, Premiere Pro for video editing, and a whole lot more.
No design course would be complete without some training in web design, and this collection of learning kits is no exception. The UI/UX and Web Design Using Adobe XD course teaches you the art of making beautiful apps and websites. It's worth $200 alone.
While there's almost $2,600 of training in total, you only have to beat the average price to get the lot. At the time of writing it was around the $13 mark, so it's not exactly breaking the bank.
It may sound suspiciously cheap, but there are no elephant traps. You're buying not bidding, and the average price to beat is no secret either. Thousands of bundles have already been sold, which is how Tech Deals can afford to offer them at such a great price.
Google makes a lot of money. In the first quarter of 2019, Google earned just over $36 billion in revenue. That's about $400 million every day. Profit margins are currently at around 23 percent, so that's $92 million every 24 hours in profit.
While the company earns its cash in many different ways, it primarily earns its revenue on the back of your Google data.
When you use Google products — including Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps, and anything else with the word Google in it — the company tracks how you use those products. It builds a profile for you based on your usage and then uses that information to match you to products and services you will likely enjoy.
With this system, Google can help advertisers pinpoint the exact demographics to which they might want to advertise. This revenue stream makes up the bulk of that daily $400 million cash flow.
In no uncertain terms, you are helping Google earn all that money. In return, you get to use the majority of Google's services for free. But is that a fair deal?
What if you earned a percentage of the money your Google data earns the company? What if a part of that $36 billion earned last quarter was yours?
What's your data worth? We don't know yet
How much your specific data is worth would be integral information in this hypothetical scenario of shared Google data profits. Unfortunately, Google — and other companies with this business model, such as Facebook — are under no obligation to divulge this information.
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That could change in the future thanks to a bill with bipartisan support that would force companies like Google to give details on what each person in the Google ecosystem earns for the company. The bill would, among other things, make it a company's obligation to inform its users individually how much money they earned for that company.
In the case of Facebook, there are estimates around that the average user earns the company about $7 per month. Heavier users might earn Facebook anywhere from $11 – $14 per month. These are just estimates — the real numbers could be much higher.
Google is under no obligation to inform users how much it makes off them, but that could change soon.
Hypothetically, let's assume Facebook makes $10 per month off the average user. If Facebook shared 5 percent of that revenue with each user (a number I'm just picking at random), that would mean they'd each earn $0.50 per month from using Facebook. That's hardly a noteworthy amount.
However, that's just Facebook. What if you also earned a cut from your Google data as well as any other "free" service where your data is mined, which would include YouTube, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, dating apps like Tinder, and even the Android operating system itself? When you combine all those together, you are laying the framework for consistent income from multiple sources without any change to your current lifestyle.
Sure, the revenue could be small, if Facebook is any indication, but the concept is there: you earn money passively by helping other companies earn money.
If you got a share of your Google data earnings, it would be similar to a UBI
While earning a couple of extra bucks each month from your Google data might not significantly change your life, it would be an extra injection of passive income. It would be money earned not from working but from simply existing. Essentially, it would be similar to a Universal Basic Income (UBI).
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According to new data from Sensor Tower, the top 100 app developers earned around $84 million from sales on the Apple App Store during the first quarter of 2019. That's is about $9 million more than …
There are many variations on a UBI, but the general outcome is that each individual in a particular area receives enough money each month from the government to cover the basic costs of living. This would include rent, food, transportation, and even internet access. Depending on the area of the world, a UBI could be anywhere from hundreds to even thousands of dollars per month simply handed over to citizens to do with as they please.
The concept of a Universal Basic Income is a tough pill for many to swallow, but a revenue share with Google might make it easier.
However, a UBI is such a dramatic departure from how societies view the worth of a person that it will take a long time for it to be adopted on any large scale, if it ever gets adopted at all. Here in the United States especially, a person's "worth" is intrinsically tied to how much work they do and how much money they earn for that work. To change that would be a fundamental shift in our values, which would take a long time and likely cause more than a few conflicts.
This concept of users getting a portion of the money they earn for companies like Google might be a way to slowly transition citizens to understand how a UBI would actually work. In other words, sharing in the revenue of major companies could act as a stepping stone to people abandoning the concept that the only way to survive and have any life comforts is to work.
What if this is the future of income?
Regardless of whether or not Google adopts revenue sharing related to your data or if that revenue sharing leads to societal acceptance of a UBI, the concept of earning money by using free products that, in turn, help that company earn money could be the future of income.
On a small scale, we've already seen this in effect with a Google product called Google Opinion Rewards. With this app, Google will occasionally send you surveys or questions related to your life. Answering these questions earns you credit in small amounts (anywhere from $0.10 to $1) which can be used to buy things on the Google Play Store.
We may never see revenue sharing with Google, but something needs to change about how we look at earning money.
Sure, it's not a lot of credit and you can't use it as cash, but the concept is very similar to this idea of your Google data earning you money. In the case of Opinion Rewards, you are actively handing over your data to the company. The only difference with revenue sharing for your Google data is that you'd be earning by using your Google products as normal instead of performing an active task.
This could be the long-term solution we are looking for when it comes to the future of income. As robots come along and take jobs away from humans and artificial intelligence eliminates the need for humans to do menial tasks, we will find ourselves with a massive population and no jobs for those people to actually do. If our wealth value system is still based on the idea that people need to work at a job simply to live, we are going to face some serious problems.
What do you think? Let us know your opinions on this in the comments.
The AAPicks team writes about things we think you'll like, and we may see a share of revenue from any purchases made through affiliate links.
It's Plan Picks time, but today it's the latest Flex Lease deals from Sprint that caught our eye.
We love the Flex Lease system. Sure you don't actually own the phone, but you're always sporting a hot new handset. Isn't that the point?
If you want to keep purchasing new smartphones which nosedive in value after 12 months, then go ahead. If you prefer to pay a fraction of the price to ensure you're always in vogue, then read on.
$300 off the Google Pixel 3 or 3 XL
Looks good, right? And let's be clear, that isn't $300 off the retail value of the Pixel 3, it's $300 off the normal Flex Lease price. You get it for only $16.63 per month.
That's essentially a half-price Flex Lease. To put it in more perspective, you'll pay just $300 over 18 months to have an $800 handset.
The same promotional savings are available on the Pixel 3 XL. You'll only pay $22.04 per month, or less than $400 in total.
Is the Flex Lease that simple?
Almost. To unlock this bounty you need an 18-month lease and a new line of service, subject to approved credit. You also get the savings back in bill credit, as per usual.
Plans start from just $40, so you could be paying a little under $57 per month in total for your spanking new Pixel 3 and a line of service.
Sound good? To check out the deal hit the button below.
With the S10 dominating the conversation, it's easy to forget what a fantastic smartphone the Samsung Galaxy S9 is. It's still a powerhouse, and you can get it on a Sprint Flex Lease for just $10 per month.
The savings here are almost as good as those on the Pixel 3 — $15 per month, or $270 in total. More importantly, you're getting a top smartphone for the price of a takeout each month.
There are other perks as well, such as 50 percent off the new Galaxy Watch when you purchase.
Good stuff. Same small print?
Exactly. A new line of service, 18-month Flex Lease, approved credit, etc, etc. You get the idea.
To check out this and other great Sprint Flex Lease deals, tap the button below.
This week on the podcast we are joined by Adam Molina from our sister site SoundGuys.com to discuss the week's news, plus the results of a test comparing high-end audio cables to a coat hanger. The results might surprise (and disappoint) you.
Want to receive the weekly podcast on your device? Subscribe using your favorite player below!
That's it, folks! We'll have another giveaway and more top Android stories for you next week. To stay up to date on all things Android Authority in the meantime, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters at the link below.
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It's time for the Sunday giveaway! Like every week, we're giving away another a brand new Android phone to one lucky Android Authority reader.
A big congratulations to the winners of last week's Oppo Reno giveaway, Suvash L. from the U.S. and Rachel Z. from France.
If you think the Samsung Galaxy S10 takes fantastic photos just because of its camera sensors, think again. What makes a phone's camera churn out good pictures has a lot to do with the hardware underneath, and it turns out Qualcomm Technologies' hardware is powering some of the most capable, high-end camera phones commercially available.
So, Android Authority is partnering with Qualcomm Technologies for two more Sunday giveaways.
Each week, we'll be holding a photo contest. All you need to do is submit a photo taken with a smartphone powered by Snapdragon and submit it in the giveaway widget below. Then, on Wednesday, July 3, we will choose eight of the best photo entries. It's then up to you to vote for the winning photo out of those eight finalists (don't worry — you'll get even more entries for voting!). The winner of the photo contest will be announced next Sunday morning.
If you're worried that your photography skills aren't up to par with everyone else's, don't be. We're giving away two Samsung Galaxy S10 phones this week — one to the winner of this week's photography contest and another to a random winner. This way, everyone has a chance to win!
Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
Again, to enter the contest, make sure your photo entry is taken on a smartphone powered by Snapdragon (even older Snapdragon mobile platforms are eligible!).
In order to qualify as a winner, you have to submit a photo from a Qualcomm® Snapdragon-powered smartphone.
We are not responsible for lost shipments.
You must be age of majority in your country of residence.
Only one entry per person; please do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.
We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
This giveaway is operated by Android Authority in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Photos, quotations, likenesses, and other content may be used by Qualcomm for marketing purposes.
Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
Let me set the scene. My wife uses the new iPhone XR while our son has the Samsung Galaxy S9. She's fully aware that both are high-dollar phones jacking up our bill each month. Out of curiosity, I handed her a phone I was reviewing, the Coolpad Legacy.
She saw how the Legacy unlocks with a face or finger. She watched me navigate through Android and loaded a few apps. I then asked how much she thought the phone would cost. At least $1,000, she said.
When I revealed the Legacy's sub-$200 price, she told me I was full of crap.
Nope.
The point here is that the sub-$200 phone market isn't saturated with lackluster, bottom-of-the-barrel devices. The Coolpad Legacy is a good example of a premium-like smartphone sold at an extremely affordable price. You can get cool features like face recognition and fingerprint scanning without the associated premium cost.
Let's dig into Android Authority's Coolpad Legacy review and see why this phone is a great prepaid option.
About this review: I used the Coolpad Legacy for just over a week on T-Mobile's network. Coolpad provided a review unit — model cp3705A — with Android 9 Pie and the May 1, 2019 security patch.
Show More
Coolpad Legacy review: The big picture
The prepaid phone market ignited in the 1990s. It serves as an alternative to post-paid plans (contracts) and subsidized devices. Prepaid is ideal for customers with poor credit or those who simply don't want a ball-and-chain plan.
China-based ZTE was a huge player in the prepaid market and stood as the fourth-largest phone supplier in North America until 2018. The U.S. government enforced a trade ban lasting three months, preventing ZTE from obtaining American-made parts and software. During that time, competitors like Coolpad, HMD Global, and Motorola swooped in to fill the void.
Based out of Shenzhen, China, Coolpad Group Limited opened a local branch, Coolpad Americas, in Frisco, Texas, in 2012. In January of this year, former President and CEO Casey Ryan announced a new initiative to focus on products that connect the entire family. These include smartphones, basic flip phones, and connected devices for kids.
The company's latest smartphone, Legacy, targets the prepaid wireless market. Metro by T-Mobile currently sells the phone for $180, though Coolpad lists a suggested retail price of $130. However, Metro provides a $150 in-store rebate if you switch from another carrier. That drops the final device cost to $30.
There's really nothing exciting to see here. As the list shows, the phone doesn't include headphones. Instead, you get everything needed to jump on T-Mobile's network. Just insert the included nano SIM card, open the myMetro app, and activate your prepaid service.
Design
USB-C port
165.86 x 80.52 x 8.38mm
169.8g
Rear-mounted fingerprint reader
Face unlock
MicroSD slot
3.5mm headphone jack
No IP rating
The Coolpad Legacy is a big phone. Its side bezels are decently thin, but you'll see a black header and footer measuring one-quarter inch each. The bulk is essentially the chassis itself. There's no edge-to-edge screen framed by a slim chassis as seen with flagship phones.
Surrounding the display is a silver aluminum frame with rounded edges running along the left and right sides. The top and bottom sides are completely flat, creating a dull edge where the rounded sides connect. While I get it's a design thing for standing out in a crowded market, I'd rather see rounded edges along all four sides. That's just me.
I'd rather see rounded edges along all four sides. That's just me.
The dual-purpose nano SIM card / MicroSD card tray resides on the left edge, while the power and volume buttons reside on the right. At the top you'll find a microphone and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The bottom edge plays host to the USB-C port and two speaker grilles: One for the 1W speaker and one for the main microphone. The front-facing camera and earpiece speaker sit within the phone's display header as usual.
The rear panel glass features a Quicksilver color to complement the silver aluminum frame. Coolpad mounted the two cameras, the LED flash, and a fingerprint reader vertically in a straight line towards the top. Expect to see this on more Coolpad phones, as the company plans to use it as a signature design characteristic. Customers with piano fingers shouldn't have a problem accessing the reader. Those with smaller hands, however, might need to grip the phone differently due to its bulky size.
The display maxes out at 470 nits. At its highest setting, the screen is extremely bright indoors. Hot colors are vibrant while cool colors are rich to the eye. Viewing angles are great too, with the color and brightness intensity dimming ever so slightly as you angle the screen. Even at 2pm with the sun beaming straight down, I could still read webpages and emails with some effort.
For testing, I used the default display resolution. Technically the screen is capable of 2,160 x 1,080 at 60Hz, but you can switch to Small and Large formats in the settings. For example, the Small setting enables a 4×4 app layout on each screen. The Default and Large settings enable 5×5 layouts, but the latter renders smaller icons for a less-cluttered appearance. These settings do not change the resolution, but instead simply resize the icons.
The Quick Settings menu provides a Night Light toggle. When active, the screen filters out blue light, presenting an amber luminescence. If you type "Display" in the Settings search field, you can find a Night Light scheduler. Here you can manually set a Night Light cutoff time or select "sunset to sunrise." There's an intensity bar too for ramping up or down the amber level.
Performance
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 450
Adreno 506 GPU
3GB RAM
32GB internal storage
Bluetooth 4.2
MicroSD card up to 128GB
Coolpad's Legacy uses an entry-level Qualcomm SoC, so we can't expect huge performance numbers. What we can do is see how the phone stacks up against devices in the same class, like Motorola's $249 Moto G6 (Snapdragon 450) and $199 Moto G6 Play (Snapdragon 427).
The Coolpad Legacy performed slightly better than the G6 in three CPU benchmarks while falling slightly behind in our custom Geekbench utility. The Moto G6 Play fell behind both in all benchmarks given that it relies on an older Snapdragon chip.
On the graphics front, the Coolpad Legacy matched the Moto G6 in the GFXBench "T-Rex" benchmark. It also managed a higher framerate average in the suite's "Manhattan" test. That wasn't the case in 3DMark's "Sling Shot Extreme" test, as the Coolpad Legacy scored slightly lower than the Moto G6. Again, the Moto G6 Play trailed both.
The bottom line is that Legacy is a joy to use. Don't let the sub-$200 pricetag fool you.
While comparing these numbers may cause your eyes to glaze over, the bottom line is that the Coolpad Legacy is a joy to use. Don't let the sub-$200 pricetag fool you. Apps are quick to load and screen transitions are fast and smooth. Shooters like The Sun: Origin and Shadowgun Legends played extremely well. Unfortunately, the phone doesn't meet Fortnite's GPU requirement.
On the security front, facial recognition and fingerprint scanning are highly responsive. That translates to quick access to games, emails, and Facebook trolling without the need for a PIN or password.
You'll likely see the battery stretch for a couple of days if you don't typically rely on a smartphone for everything. For instance, I drove downtown and used the camera for nearly an hour, draining the battery to 74 percent from a full charge. I cranked the display to its maximum brightness and disabled the screen timeout feature.
The phone wasn't used again until the next morning, letting it idle overnight. I shot more pictures and then ran a two-hour movie on Netflix, draining the battery to 26 percent. Netflix was a huge battery drain, and I'm certain another movie would not end before the battery gave up the ghost.
The Coolpad Legacy has a decent recharge rate.
The Coolpad Legacy has a decent recharge rate, reaching full capacity in two hours and 44 minutes. In tests, the phone reached 14 percent in the first 15 minutes and 45 percent in 60 minutes. By comparison, the Moto G6 Play has a similar 4,000mAh battery and reached 100-percent capacity in two hours and 35 minutes. The OnePlus 7 Pro fully recharged in just 71 minutes.
The Coolpad Legacy provides a simple camera app with four modes: Video, Photo, Portrait, and Night Shot. It's easy to use and isn't overloaded with filters and effects. The settings are just as simple, providing means to change resolution and aspect ratio, toggle the AI mode, and a few other tidbits.
Photo mode supports panoramas, slow-motion shots, and HDR. You can also add one of 10 filters, like Posterize, Sepia, and Sketch. Flip to the front-facing camera and the app replaces the flash option with a bokeh effect. Just tap the toolbar's "profile" icon to blur out your background.
Portrait mode provides bokeh as an integrated feature rather than a toggle. You must be two meters away (6.56 feet) before the camera can apply the effect. This mode also includes a timer and support for slow-motion shots and panoramas. Portrait mode does not access the front-facing camera.
Coolpad Legacy No ZoomCoolpad Legacy 8x Zoom
The 8x digital zoom achieves its goal, but you'll need a tripod to get steady shots. I thought the zoom did well given the distance and the amount of captured detail.
Before taking a standard picture, the AI will scan the scene and adjust the colors accordingly. You'll notice it's active because text appears on the display. For instance, if you're taking a picture of a tall building on a clear day, you may see the words "blue sky" at the bottom of the screen. That means it will enhance the sky with a more vivid blue hue.
In addition to adjusting sky color, the AI will sharpen text and enhance green plants. It also automatically adjusts for "dark nights" even though you may be out taking pictures on a cloudy day. There's even "beach" detection that will enhance your sandy oceanfront shots.
The AI aspect is a great feature, but you may not want it to automatically enhance each shot. You can dismiss the suggested enhancement by tapping the "X" next to the text. If you don't want AI interfering at all, just go into the camera's settings and toggle off the feature.
Overall, the brightness level was a mess. When I took pictures without tapping anything on the screen, the phone captured decent shots. But when I tapped on a building or object within the screen, the results appeared washed out. Even without touching a focal point, extremely bright sunny shots produced fuzzy whites. Meanwhile, clouds passing overhead, dampening the sunlight, produced dull, dreary shots.
Coolpad Legacy Portait Depth OnCoolpad Legacy Portrait Depth Off
Portrait mode is where the 5MP camera comes into play. In most cases, the phone did a decent job blurring out the background with depth turned on. It won't work unless the subject is 6.5 feet away.
I did notice an issue where the camera had trouble understanding the target, at times blurring it out. Angle also played a huge part, as the camera blurred out portions of the subject instead of the background.
Coolpad Legacy Night Mode OnCoolpad Legacy Night Mode off
I was more impressed with the camera's low light capabilities than its sunny day exposures. I sat outside a local theater and waited for the sun to set. There really weren't noticeable differences between the Photo and Night Shot modes until the sun was mostly out of sight.
I did notice, however, that the AI injected color correction where I didn't see any color, like the night sky. For instance, what appeared near-black in the real world was painted a dark blue in the photographs.
Coolpad legacy selfie with depthCoolpad legacy selfie no depth
I shot two selfies: One with depth turned on and one without. While depth is neat, it's not perfect. Depth mode blurred out everything except for my face, including my hair, shoulders, and chest. Without depth turned on, the front-facing camera did a great job capturing my beautiful mug.
Finally, video capture is fine if you're not really moving. But if you're trying to capture the kids as they run around the park, this isn't the ideal solution. Motion blur is extensive even at semi-slow movements. Even more, if you turn on the stabilization feature — represented as a shaking hand icon on the screen — motion seems rather fluid on the screen. However, the resulting video shows reduced motion blur at the cost of stuttering. In other words, movement in your videos will either be blurred or sharp and choppy.
The Coolpad Legacy runs Android 9 Pie layered with a clean and simple interface. Coolpad tucked the app drawer away at the bottom, which initially isn't apparent until you swipe up with a finger. The home, back, and recent buttons still reside at the bottom, but Android ignores these commands while you're swiping up the drawer.
By default, the UI automatically toggles between Light and Dark themes based on the background. You can manually switch between these two themes in the settings, or keep the default setting to automatic. Swapping themes merely changes the app folder, app drawer, and Quick Setting menu backgrounds.
To access Google Assistant, activate the phone and simply say "Hey Google." You can also tap the microphone in the Google search widget, or long-press the Home button. Swipe in from the left to see your Google news feed or videos curated by Metro. If you need to take screenshots, disable Google Assistant first, as the screenshot utility requires the Power and Home buttons.
As previously stated, the Coolpad Legacy ships with the myMetro app for prepaid service management. You'll also find Metro's App Store, a simple showcase linking to Pandora, Yahoo! Mail, and a few other apps listed on Google Play. Device Lock sends a request to unlock the phone from T-Mobile's network. Name ID provides free and premium call-blocking services.
Other pre-installed apps include Metro's Visual Voicemail and the third-party Lookout antivirus service.
Audio
Headphone jack
Bottom-firing 1W speaker
Speaker above the front-facing camera
Despite having two speaker grilles, Legacy features a single 1W speaker. It's located on the USB-C port's right side and sounds insanely loud. There's more treble than bass, producing crisp voices without the expected aluminum rattle. Of course, if you need bass pumping through your blood, Legacy's handy 3.5mm audio jack is a great seat for headphones … a feature some phones don't have.
The ear speaker produces sound during playback too, but it's barely audible. Sound also spills through the microphone grille, but nowhere near the main speaker's volume. Ultimately, to watch media in landscape mode, you'll need to position the phone so the speaker is in the top-right corner. Covering the microphone grille won't make any difference in output.
The ear speaker works just fine. Calls on my end were clear and easily heard in non-crowded scenarios.
In phone mode, the ear speaker works just fine. Calls on my end were clear and easily heard in non-crowded scenarios. They sound no different than using a premium phone.
Recipients, however, weren't quite so enthused. I heard comments that the connection wasn't good or I sounded a little hollow. This may be due to the service, microphone placement, aliens, or some other connection anomaly.
Specs
Coolpad Legacy
Display
6.36-inch TFT LCD 2,160 x 1,080 at 60Hz 18:9 ratio Corning Gorilla Glass 3
SoC
Qualcomm Snapdragon 450
GPU
Adreno 506
RAM
3GB
Storage
32GB Expandable with microSD card (up to 128GB)
Cameras
Rear: Standard: 16MP Focal length - 3.52mm Aperture f/2.0 Max image size - 4,608 x 3,456 Max video size - 2,048 x 1,536 Single LED flash
Depth: 5MP For slow-motion capture
Front: 12.7MP Focal length - 2.54mm Aperture f/2.2 Max image size - 4.160 x 3,120 Max video size - 2,048 x 1,536
There's a lot of bang for your buck. Anyone purchasing this device should feel like they're using a premium phone.
Price savings are partially tied to the low memory and storage. The lack of an IPS or OLED screen helps bring the price down to an affordable level as well. Tap-to-Pay is out of the question, too, given Legacy's lack of NFC connectivity.
There's a lot of bang for your buck.
Legacy's main competitor appears to be Motorola's Moto G6 phone. It arrived last year while the Coolpad Legacy launched in May. Both are surprisingly similar under the hood. However, the Coolpad Legacy is a more attractive unit in my opinion. It even has a bigger screen and a bigger battery. Motorola's other phone, the Moto G6 Play, has the same-sized battery but a smaller screen and resolution.
Other devices sold at this price point through Metro include the Alcatel 7, LG Aristo Plus, Moto E Play (5th Gen), Samsung J7 Refine, and several others. At Boost Mobile, the Moto e5 Plus, Moto G7, Samsung J7 Refine, and Stylo 4 have similar price tags.
Coolpad Legacy review: The verdict
This is a great phone for $130. It packs features you'd expect from a high-dollar device, like face recognition, fingerprint scanning, and AI-enhanced photography. It's speedy enough to get things done and performs well under gaming pressure.
My only real big complaint is the camera, which was hit or miss regarding exposure and the AI. Moreover, additional color options for the phone itself would be ideal given the company targets families. Hot Pink and Midnight Blue would be great options for teens and younger kids.
If you're looking for good performance and cool features, the Coolpad Legacy is a great prepaid solution at an unbeatable price.
-powered smartphone.
