Cubot Max 2 Review

Software, connectivity, sensors

Cubot Max 2 arrives with stock Android 9 Pie out of the box, hence the UI is already familiar to anyone that has experience with this Android version. You get the standard Lock Screen and default swipe for unlocking the device. The Home Screen lists the Google search bar below the docked row of apps. The on-screen navigation bar is minimalistic and combined with gestures. A swipe up and hold opens the Task Manager. The latter lists the apps horizontally and supports split-screen mode. A longer swipe up from the Home Screen opens the list of applications listed in alphabetic order on one screen with an app search bar on top. The Widgets menu is accessed in a widely familiar way and lists widgets, wallpapers and basic Home Screen settings such as switching on/off the Google app, notification dots, etc.

The design and functionality of the Notification cards and Quick Settings are typical Android 9 Pie ones, so are the Power and Volume menus that pop up after pressing the corresponding buttons. Cubot Max 2 arrives with a basic set of pre-installed applications. The standard Google apps include Calendar, Chrome, Drive, Duo, Files, Gmail, Google, Maps, Photos, Play Music, Play Store, YouTube. The default Android apps include Calculator, Clock, Contacts, Downloads, FM Radio, Messenger, Music, Phone, Sound Recorder. All of them are in their stock Android appearance and functionality. There's a slightly customized Camera app as well as a Cell Broadcasting one, which duplicates the Android feature of issuing emergency alerts. The Settings menu is again a typical Android 9 one. It begins with a list of suggestions, followed by the first two groups of settings - the Network & Internet and the Connected Devices ones. Both cover the wireless connectivity options, connections with other devices, etc. The Apps & notifications group comes next including a DND mode for the notifications. It is followed by the Battery menu which will be discussed in the Battery section of this review. The Display group is fifth and includes all standard options complemented by a Night Light mode and settings for the LED notification light. The Sound settings have the usual volume sliders, DND mode, ringtones, etc. The Storage menu is self-explanatory.

The Security & Location menu begins with the usual Google Play Protect, Find My Device, and Security update features. From here you can also set up a screen lock, smart lock, face ID, fingerprint ID, privacy settings. The Accounts menu is next followed by the Accessibility one, the Google settings and the System group of settings. From the latter, you can manage the Languages & Input settings, Gestures, Date & Time, Backup, Reset, Multiple Users and check the About phone data. Cubot Max 2 supports dual 4G LTE Cat. 6 and VoLTE with both SIM cards supporting one and the same network bands: 2G GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), 3G WCDMA (900, 2100 MHz), 3G TD-SCDMA (34/39) and 4G FDD-LTE (800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600 MHz). In terms of satellite positioning, the device works with GPS and GLONASS. Our review unit managed to detect a good number of satellites with an accuracy of up to 2 meters. In addition, the model supports Bluetooth 4.2, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Display. Bluetooth connections are established a bit slower than usual as the handset needs a long time to detect available nearby devices. There are USB Type-C 2.0 port with OTG support and 3.5 mm jack on board. The list of sensors includes accelerometer, magnetic field, orientation, gyroscope, light, proximity, gravity, linear acceleration, rotation vector, game rotation vector, geomagnetic rotation vector, step detector and step counter. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back and can be used only for unlocking the handset. It is very fast and accurate.