Oukitel WP13 Review

OS, UI and software

The Oukitel WP13 runs on almost stock Android 11. All the main and latest Android features are present and coupled with some design elements that have the appearance of older Android versions. The Lock Screen has the usual Clock and Date widgets. With the gesture, navigation turned on by default, the shortcuts to the Voice recorder and Camera apps are simple signs at the bottom corners of the screen. The default unlocking type is a swipe from the bottom up of the display. The Home Screen comprises a search bar, which you can customize at the point of setting up your device and choose a different search provider. It is followed by a Clock and Date widget. The bottom is occupied by a row of Google Apps and a docked row of favorite apps. A swipe to the left opens the second desktop with the important apps listed on it and docked row of apps at the bottom. A swipe to the right opens Google Discover. No app drawer. Desktop shortcuts are supported. The Notifications and Quick Settings look as if taken out from older Android versions. The Quick Setting toggles are listed on two screens with the brightness level bar placed on top. a traditional layout and so does the Volume menu with its collapsed and expanded design. The Widgets menu allows you to manage the Home Screen settings - notification dots, At A Glance features, show/hide Google Discover, enable/disable dynamic Clock and/or Time widgets. You can also manage the widgets and wallpapers. The Task Manager lists the apps horizontally. The three vertical dots in the top right of each "window" actually lead to the available options for the apps: app info, split-screen, lock, manage. Of course, at the bottom of the list, there's an option to kill all apps and free RAM or take a screenshot. There's a White List for locked apps that are saved from being killed while working in the background. The Oukitel WP13 arrives with a standard set of Google apps including Assistant, Chrome, Calendar, Drive, Duo, Gmail, Maps, Files, Photos, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube, YT Music. The default Android apps include Contacts, Calculator, Camera, Clock, FM Radio, Messenger, Phone, Sound Recorder. You also get a number of additional applications, including two for taking notes, a Child Mode, Pedometer, the traditional ToolBag, EasyLaunch which turns the UI into a really simple one suitable for elderly people, and of course - an app for operating the infrared thermometer. Finally, there's the good old System Manager with a Power Manager, Rubbish cleaner, Freezing room, App autoboot, App Lock, Onekey clean. The System Settings follows the classic arrangement with re-designed icons for the menus and removal of visual separators between the groups of options. As usual, the list begins with a settings search bar followed by the Network & Internet and Connected Devices menus. The first is about managing the Wi-Fi connections of the device and the second - all possible types of connections with other devices, including Bluetooth, NFC, Nearby Share, Android Auto, etc. The App & Notifications menu is expanded with the latest options for managing conversations and your screen time, app management, and notifications options. The latter includes history, a toggle for the bubbles feature, etc. The Battery management menu is fourth and is followed by the Display settings which we have mentioned in the Display part of this review. The Sound menu is sixth and has the four usual volume bars, vibration and DND settings, ringtones, etc. The Storage menu is next providing data on the available storage options and with a Storage Manager toggle. The Privacy menu is eighth and manages app permissions in the context of privacy, local screen notifications, autofill services, Google location history, activity controls, ads, usage, and diagnostics data. The Location menu follows the Privacy one and it's all about providing more granular control of how your location is accessed by various services and apps. The Security menu contains the usual options for the screen lock, fingerprint(s), face unlock, smart lock, etc. It is followed by the Accounts, Accessibility, and Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls menus offering traditional settings. There's a separate Fingerprint menu which is dedicated not only to the security aspect of unlocking the device but also to using it for unlocking apps and quick launch shortcuts. The usual Google menu is next followed by the Side Key Function one. It is all about setting up the physical button that's placed on the left frame of the smartphone. You can choose what happens after a single click, double click, or a press-and-hold on the button. The DuraSpeed toggle is listed again as a separate menu followed by Gesture WakeUp. The latter is an expansive list of gesture-triggered functions. The same applies to the Gesture Motion menu which includes features such as three-point screenshot, three-point entry camera, etc. The Smart Touch is a floating dot that serves as an alternative way of navigation. It is followed by the SOS Call menu for managing distress messages and calls. The System menu is the last but one and from here you can select languages and input, activate additional gestures and manage the system navigation - onscreen bar or gestures, etc. Finally, there's the usual About Phone menu with data about the device, emergency information, software versions, etc.