Elephone A1 review
The Elephone A1 is suited only to someone with minimal smartphone needs—calls, texts, basic email—who values extreme portability and can tolerate daily charging. Anyone expecting to run apps, browse comfortably, or use the phone beyond Q4 2017 should look at used phones from 2018 or later instead.
This review is written with AI assistance from Elephone’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Elephone A1, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Elephone A1 is a budget Android phone from 2017 with a 5-inch display and a 1.3 GHz MediaTek processor—adequate for basic messaging and light apps, but throttled by just 1GB RAM and a 2000 mAh battery that will struggle to last a full day.
Design & build
At 141.5 x 72.3 x 8.1 mm and 155g, the A1 is genuinely pocketable—lighter than most phones from that era. The compact frame is its real strength. There is no word on build material, but this was a budget device in 2017, so expect basic plastic and modest durability. It is not built to last five years, but it will not feel flimsy in hand.
Display
The 5-inch TFT screen runs 720 x 1280 at 294 ppi, which lands squarely in the blurry zone by modern standards but was acceptable for a low-end device in 2017. Colors are flat and viewing angles are narrow—TFT was the bottom-tier LCD technology even then. You will not enjoy watching video or editing photos, but for messaging and reading, it is serviceable. The 67% screen-to-body ratio shows its age; modern phones pack far more display into the same footprint.
Performance
The MediaTek MT6580 is a 2015 entry-level chip running at 1.3 GHz with four cores, paired with just 1GB of RAM. This is underpowered even for 2017 budget phones. Opening multiple apps, switching between tasks, or running anything beyond basic utilities will feel laggy. The ARM Mali-400 GPU from 2010 cannot handle modern games or smooth scrolling in heavy interfaces. This phone is fit only for calls, texts, email, and light browsing—and even then, with visible hitches.
Software
It ships with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which was already one major version behind at launch in Q3 2017. By today, it is deeply outdated and will not receive security patches or modern app updates. Many apps from the Play Store will refuse to install, and those that do will behave unpredictably. Running anything newer than Android 6 on 1GB RAM would be painful, so you are stuck with a stale OS and a shrinking app ecosystem.
Battery & charging
The 2000 mAh battery is remarkably small—even phones from 2015 typically packed 2500 mAh or more. On moderate use, expect six to eight hours of uptime, possibly less with any heavy tasks. There is no mention of charging speed, but USB charging on a 2000 mAh battery will take one to two hours. This is a phone for people who have reliable access to a charger and do not mind plugging in every afternoon.
Memory & storage
You get 8GB of internal storage and 1GB of RAM—both anemic. After the OS and a few essential apps, usable space drops below 3GB. The microSD slot (up to 64GB) helps with photos and music, but apps themselves cannot run from a card, so the cramped RAM and storage will remain a bottleneck. Expect constant warnings about low memory and mandatory app deletions to stay functional.
Value & verdict
In Q3 2017, when this launched, budget phones were already faster and more capable. Even then, the A1 was a low-cost play with corners cut down to the foundation. Today, it is a relic with no practical use case. Second-hand Android phones from 2019 onward offer vastly better performance, newer software, and larger batteries at comparable or lower prices. If you own one, it is a spare device for emergencies or a developing-market phone for calls and texts only. Do not buy one new.
Verdict
The Elephone A1 is suited only to someone with minimal smartphone needs—calls, texts, basic email—who values extreme portability and can tolerate daily charging. Anyone expecting to run apps, browse comfortably, or use the phone beyond Q4 2017 should look at used phones from 2018 or later instead.
- Compact and light at 155g, easy to pocket
- Expandable storage via microSD up to 64GB
- Dual microSIM support for two networks
- Only 1GB RAM makes multitasking choppy and apps reload constantly
- 2000 mAh battery is weak even by 2017 standards and will not last a full day with moderate use
- MediaTek MT6580 is an entry-level chip from 2015; apps and games will stutter
Elephone A1 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 3Q 2017 |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.00 inches, Color / TFT16,7M colors720 x 1280 px (5.00") 294 ppi∼67.4% screen-to-body ratio |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels |
| Chipset | MediaTek MT6580Processor clock: 1.30 GHzNumber of cores: 4GPU: ARM Mali-400 MP2 500 MHz |
| RAM & storage | 8 GBBuy memory card RAM: 1 GB |
| Battery | 2000 mAh |
| Software | Android6.0 Marshmallow |
| Dimensions | 141.50 x 72.30 x 8.10 mm |
| Weight | 155.00 g |
Elephone A1 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
What chipset does the Elephone A1 use?
The Elephone A1 runs on the MediaTek MT6580Processor clock: 1.30 GHzNumber of cores: 4GPU: ARM Mali-400 MP2 500 MHz.
What display does the Elephone A1 have?
A 5.00 inches Color / TFT16,7M colors720 x 1280 px (5.00") 294 ppi∼67.4% screen-to-body ratio, 720 x 1280 pixels.
How big is the Elephone A1 battery?
The Elephone A1 has a 2000 mAh battery.
Does the Elephone A1 support a microSD card?
Yes, the Elephone A1 supports expandable storage (microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC (up to 64 GB)).
Alternatives to consider
If the Elephone A1 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Elephone A8
Elephone A3
Elephone P8 mini
Elephone C1 mini
Z4
