Astro Slide 5G Specs
Worth: £729 (round $889)
OS: Android 11
Show: 6.39-inch FHD+ (2340 x 1080) AMOLED
CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 8000
RAM: 8GB
Rear cameras: 48MP Sony IMX586
Entrance digicam: 13MP Sony IMX214
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 4,000mAh
Dimension: 6.7 x 3 x 0.7
Weight: 11.4 ounces
Who knew there can be a requirement for keyboards on telephones in a world of on-screen keyboards and haptic suggestions? Again in 2020, London-based cell firm Planet Computer systems arrange a crowdfunding marketing campaign for the Astro Slide, a 5G smartphone with an precise keyboard. Not these clicky telephone buttons on the long-extinct BlackBerry; as in a full-on mechanical backlit keyboard.
Over £2.1 million and greater than 6,100 backers later, the Astro Slide 5G is now out within the wild and brushing shoulders with trendy smartphones. What’s that? The noughties need their smartphone again? Properly they’ll’t have it, as Planet Computer systems has given a motive for keyboards on telephones to nonetheless exist with the Astro Slide.
With a 6.39-inch AMOLED show, shocking efficiency for its MediaTek Dimensity 8000 processor, and a depraved slide-out keyboard with programmable keys, I didn’t actually really feel like I stepped again right into a time earlier than iPhone and Android took over. In reality, I wrote a few of this overview utilizing simply the telephone.
However then I believed to myself, “wait, I’ve a superbly good laptop computer with a wider display, non-squished keyboard structure, and absolutely succesful Home windows OS sitting proper subsequent to me.” That is the place the cracks begin to present, as there are solely a handful of the way a cumbersome telephone operating Android 11 with subpar cameras can really come in useful. I’m undecided if I can rank this among the many greatest smartphones.
Astro Slide 5G worth and configurations
The Astro Slide 5G is priced at £729 within the UK and €819 in Europe. Sorry US people, it at the moment isn’t out there within the States, however these costs are equal to round $889. Whereas not pro-tier smartphone standing, that places it within the realm of flagships just like the iPhone 13, Samsung Galaxy S22, and Google Pixel 6 Professional (although “Professional” is within the identify).
Spec-wise, nevertheless, the Astro Slide can slip into the mid-range telephone class, however even then it doesn’t fairly match what’s underneath the hood of its competitors. As an illustration, take the £699 Poco F4 GT and £599 Realme GT Neo 3. These telephones include 12GB of RAM, and a strong Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and MediaTek Dimensity 8100 5G, respectively. That’s a step up from the Astro Slide, although it’s costlier. Clearly, clients are paying extra for the keyboard, however Planet Computer systems held again on bringing just a few flagship specs to maintain the worth down.
Whereas the drawbacks are comprehensible, what you’re actually paying for here’s a good AMOLED display and slide-out keyboard.
Astro Slide 5G design
At first look, it seems as if the Astro Slide 5G belongs within the 2000s part of a museum. However Planet Computer systems has completed sufficient to offer it a extra modernized look, particularly when you whip out the keyboard. Nonetheless, with present flagship telephones striving to be slimmer, the Astro Slide is as brick-y because it will get.
That’s to not say the cell firm didn’t do a incredible job becoming a correct keyboard on the telephone. The way in which the show effortlessly slides out and rests on the sting of the keyboard with a slight tilt, mimicking the angle of a laptop computer, is magnificent. That’s because of the RockUp Slider Hinge, which permits the telephone to basically cut up into two elements: The highest for the 6.39-inch AMOLED show and the underside housing the keyboard (together with the remainder of the telephone’s parts).
I’m impressed by how this works, and couldn’t consider any higher method to stick a keyboard on a telephone with out it being removable. That stated, it nonetheless can’t escape being an absolute chunk. For smartphone customers that adore smaller sizes (together with me) just like the iPhone 13 mini, that is positively not for you. However even in comparison with greater telephones, just like the iPhone 13 Professional Max and Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely, it’s nonetheless unwieldy to hold round in your pocket. This bought me desirous about what situations the telephone can be utilized in.
It’s not precisely pocket-friendly, with dimensions of 6.7 x 3 x 0.7 inches and weighing a whopping 11.4 ounces, it makes even the sizable iPhone 13 Professional Max (6.3 x 3.1 x 0.3 inches, 8.5 ounces) appear small and light-weight compared. It might be a tool to throw in your laptop computer backpack, however that defeats the aim of being an simply accessible telephone. Plus, why would I resort to utilizing one thing that small after I may pull out a dependable MacBook Air or Dell XPS 13? It’s tough to search out the center floor for the Astro Slide resulting from its cumbersome design.
Whereas the hinge is spectacular, the slide-out operate isn’t very stable. A slight motion when swiping may have the display wobble, as there’s no mechanism for the show to click on into place as soon as the keyboard is roofed. It’s annoying, and looks like if I positioned it in my pocket or bag the improper manner, the hinge would break.
Aside from that, the Astro Slide has a pleasant aptitude to it. Its show is nice to have a look at, though its sizable prime and backside bezels give it much less “flagship” vibes. Not less than the hole-punch front-facing digicam doesn’t get in the way in which of the display. Round again, the hinges seamlessly mix into the design. You’ll additionally discover a darkish blue plastic again cowl with the kind of small ridges that you just’d run your nail towards while you’re procrastinating (simply me?). Barely much like the Pixel 6, there’s a bar alongside the highest housing the one 48MP digicam lens and flash, together with a Planet Computer systems emblem engraved subsequent to it.
Attempting to carry a cumbersome smartphone a few a long time into the twenty first century is a daring transfer, and the corporate did an admirable job contemplating the surprisingly snug keyboard it packed in. Nonetheless, as a smartphone in the beginning, its design makes it a really area of interest product.
Astro Slide 5G show
The Astro Slide 5G’s 6.39-inch FHD+ (2340 x 1080) AMOLED show with a 13:6 facet ratio is an absolute spotlight, though it’s caught at a 60Hz refresh price. This can be a telephone designed for typing, nevertheless, not for enjoying video games at excessive refresh charges. Nonetheless, excessive refresh charges go a great distance when navigating by apps, so it’s a disgrace it doesn’t profit from an in any other case nice show.
To try it out, I made a decision to spark some nostalgia and watch Lightyear on Disney+. As everybody’s favourite area ranger (who falls with model) first steps onto T’Kani Prime, the show fantastically portrays all the colours of nature on the alien planet. From the solar glinting off Buzz’s shiny inexperienced and purple area swimsuit to the delicate hints of pink leaves on prime of timber, it was a delight to see Buzz in such crisp element.
I then determined to go a spherical in Name of Responsibility: Cellular. Whereas not probably the most graphically demanding recreation, gameplay was clean and it was straightforward to identify enemies firing photographs at me within the distance on scattered maps like Crash or Crossfire. For a telephone at this worth, that is the kind of show I’d anticipate, bar the 120Hz-less refresh charges.
Astro Slide 5G audio
Whereas watching and enjoying on the Astro Slide 5G, it’s higher to make use of its 3.5mm headphone jack than let the bottom-firing stereo audio system do the heavy lifting. They’re not dangerous, however I would not purposely use them until I wished to indicate off a fast TikTok or YouTube video to folks.
The audio system are mediocre at greatest, and Beyoncé’s “Summer season Renaissance” proves it. The heavy beats haven’t any “oomph” to them, and the famed singer’s voice will get misplaced in a barely distorted mix of synth sounds and “boops.” The tune didn’t sound tinny, and the standard of every component may nonetheless be heard sufficient to qualify for a fast groove. In any other case, I’d advocate sticking to the greatest wi-fi headphones to take advantage of out of no matter tune you hearken to.
Astro Slide 5G keyboard
By no means did I believe I’d add a keyboard part to a telephone overview, however the Astro Slide 5G has modified the sport. Planet Computer systems added a full-blown mechanical keyboard with backlit keys that additionally include 5 brightness ranges and are programmable.
Typing on a touchscreen, particularly when there are haptics concerned, is the de facto smartphone expertise, and lots of are so accustomed to it that they’ll kind quicker than they’d utilizing a keyboard (definitely not myself). It’s the quickest method to shoot off a textual content, tweet, or touch upon social media, however when typing long-form articles, it might probably solely go up to now.
That is the place Astro Slide’s keyboard is useful, and regardless of being on a cramped type issue to suit the scale of a telephone, the important thing structure and their actuation factors are nicely suited to speedy, snug typing. It takes a while to get used to, particularly contemplating the spacing between every key’s minimal in comparison with correct keyboards, however you’ll quickly be typing away to shoot off emails or write a report very quickly.
I’m not an extremely quick typer, with my common phrase per minute reaching round 70 on 10FastFingers.com. After I first tried the typing take a look at utilizing the Astro Slide, I managed (embarrassingly) 20 wpm. Yikes. After just a few days utilizing it, I attempted the take a look at once more and managed to get a 57-wpm common. Nonetheless not extremely quick, and this is because of getting used to typing on laptops with a wider keyboard structure. Nonetheless, I’d nonetheless want to kind utilizing bodily keys moderately than a touchscreen.
It’s essential to notice that I’m putting the telephone on a floor so as to use all my fingers, moderately than holding it to simply use my thumbs. Whereas that is positively an possibility, I’ll as nicely be utilizing a touchscreen keyboard at this level, because the size of my thumbs would by chance press different keys after I attain for keys nearer to the center.
There are a bunch of various options the Astro Slide’s keyboard comes bundled with, together with a fingerprint reader, a programmable sensible button to open apps, take a screenshot, or set off completely different capabilities like an emoji enter or turning Airplane mode on or off. Keys are cleverly positioned, very like a 60% keyboard such because the HyperX Alloy Origins 60. I additionally discovered the bottom of the Astro Slide to be steady sufficient that I may kind with out worrying it will shift round.
So far as keyboards on telephones go, the Astro Slide 5G has the most effective one round. Though, competitors is fairly scarce.
Astro Slide 5G efficiency
Sporting a MediaTek Dimensity 8000 processor with 5G help and 8GB of RAM, the Astro Slide 5G is not at all a flagship killer. However it might probably nonetheless do nearly each activity with none massive hiccups, and may even run video games fairly nicely.
As all the time, I put the GT Neo 3 by its paces by opening a few dozen energetic Google Chrome tabs whereas watching Lightyear on Disney+ in a small window. I additionally slipped between the Chrome tabs and Name of Responsibility: Cellular to see how briskly it may change between the 2. Whereas switching again to CoD, the app was enjoying music however there was nothing on show. It solely required a fast close-and-open to get it again up once more, but it surely reveals the Astro Slide isn’t the most effective at multitasking. I additionally observed a slight sound when the telephone was booting up apps. You understand the final whisper of air leaving an unopened bottle of Coke? That’s what it seems like, simply barely weaker.
Within the Geekbench 5 take a look at, the Astro Slide delivered a multi-core rating of two,003. That’s not almost pretty much as good because the Realme GT Neo 3 (Mediatek Dimensity 8100 5G, 4,035) or Poco F4 GT (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 3,683), regardless of their extra reasonably priced pricing. The iPhone 13 left everybody in mud (A15, 4,436), whereas the Samsung Galaxy S22 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 3,341) nonetheless had it beat.
It didn’t fare a lot better within the 3D Wild Life take a look at, the place it clocked an general rating of 1,710 and a mean body price of 10.2 fps. It will possibly’t evaluate to the GT Neo 3 (5,231, 31.3 fps) or the F4 GT (2,584, 15.5 fps). For sure, it bought trounced by the Galaxy S22 (60 fps).
In real-world testing, I didn’t discover the graphics and efficiency to be as dangerous because the numbers made it out to be. I used to be nonetheless enjoying Name of Responsibility: Cellular with medium graphics and body price, which was a clean expertise, and I used to be nonetheless navigating by apps with none bother.
Astro Slide 5G battery life and charging
The Astro Slide 5G packs a 4,000mAh battery, which is disappointing for a telephone at this worth. Usually, we might see capacities round 4,500mAh, but it surely’s nonetheless admirable they might match a battery this dimension right into a telephone with a keyboard.
Whatever the battery it packs, it nonetheless provides over a full day of battery life with medium use. With heavy use, I may nonetheless get just below a day of battery life. This included watching YouTube movies and Netflix reveals, enjoying a few rounds of Name of Responsibility: Cellular, scrolling by social media, video calls, snapping photos, and capturing video. From waking up at 8 a.m., I bought simply over 9 hours.
Charging speeds aren’t something particular. Placing it on the charger when it hit 47%, the Astro Slide acknowledged it will take 1 hour and 14 minutes to cost to full. After half-hour, I checked once more and it was at 66%. In comparison with the 100W+ charging speeds some Android telephones have, just like the Poco F4 GT and Realme GT Neo 3, the Astro Slide falls behind.
Astro Slide 5G cameras
The Astro Slide isn’t simply distinctive for having a keyboard, it’s additionally one of many few telephones available on the market with a single lens — and never a very nice one, both. Regardless of it having a commendable 48MP Sony IMX586 primary sensor, primarily used on mid-range telephones, photos are noticeably grainy, brightness ranges are in every single place, and colour saturation seems manner too boring.
The Astro Slide’s digicam software program is minimal, with the one choices being to change from picture to video, flip the digicam, and switch HDR and flash on or off. The app alone reveals that there wasn’t a lot effort put into the digicam division. Not less than the front-facing 13MP Sony IMX214 digicam does a greater job at taking selfies.
I went on a stroll alongside my native canal throughout a semi-clouded day, with fast bursts of sunshine peeping by the clouds. Good for testing how the Astro Slide’s digicam handles dodgy lighting. Because it seems, not so nicely. When taking the image of the long-hanging tree, I continuously needed to modify the brightness to get a good shot of the greenery. The image isn’t extremely detailed, though you may see the completely different shades of inexperienced alongside its branches. That stated, colours nonetheless appear off, and the in any other case blue sky simply seems like a white background.
Persevering with alongside the canal, I bought an opportunity to snap an image of a swan with the backdrop of homes. The swan wasn’t that distant, but it was fully grainy, and the blue sky peeping by the clouds solely reveals how blurry every part seems. Extra photos showcase how colours are fairly boring, from the yellow canoe to the inexperienced canal boat.
The front-facing digicam does a greater job at capturing cleaner photographs with correct colours. When taking a selfie, the lens may seize the small freckles on my face, together with the trace of sunburn I’ve because of the UK’s summer season solar. It additionally introduced out the slight inexperienced in my eyes, together with the deeper darkish inexperienced of my t-shirt. Oh, and some stray facial hairs.
For a flagship worth, the Astro Slide doesn’t do a lot with its digicam. Even in the event you similar to to snap just a few pics each once in a while, you’d do higher with a extra reasonably priced smartphone.
Astro Slide 5G software program
The Astro Slide is behind the instances within the software program division, operating the getting older Android 11. There isn’t a lot to the OS on the floor, however Planet Computer systems has added its personal set of apps primarily centered across the keyboard. With Android 12 already round for almost a yr and Andoird 13 on the horizon, The Astro Slide must be extra updated. Plus, it’s laborious to know what number of main updates Planet Computer systems goals to carry.
Whereas the completely different configuration choices for the keyboard are welcome, as talked about earlier, the remainder of the apps the Astro Slide consists of are extra like bloatware. There’s OneSearch, Airmail, Notes, and activity planner Agenda, which I’d by no means use contemplating that almost all of my work, as with different professionals, use Google and Microsoft apps. Whereas the Notes app can come in useful for jotting stuff down shortly, I can think about the remainder will largely go unused.
Astro Slide 5G: Backside line
The Astro Slide 5G is among the extra attention-grabbing smartphones to come back out this yr. After getting the funding to develop it, there’s clearly a requirement for telephones with a flowery keyboard caught on it. Albeit, a distinct segment demand.
Whereas the keyboard itself is a marvel to make use of when you get used to it and the AMOLED show seems nice, the Astro Slide falls behind in different departments, particularly with a flagship price ticket. It’s lower than scratch even when in comparison with mid-range telephones, and its design, though very nicely put collectively, leaves it in a twilight zone between an unwieldy smartphone and a shrunken down laptop computer.
I’m optimistic there are a lot of on the market that can make full use out of the Astro Slide, and also you’d be laborious pressed to search out another telephone with a full-on keyboard on it. Regardless of it lagging behind present smartphones when it comes to specs, these in want of a small keyboard on a telephone will certainly get pleasure from all of the sliding and typing.
That stated, you could possibly additionally have a look at getting a small pill and a removable keyboard, just like the iPad Air and Magic Keyboard, which works out to be a not-much-more-expensive $898/£849. And, you could possibly swap out Apple’s keyboard with a Sensible keyboard Folio to carry it down additional. Higher but, you could possibly additionally nab the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 with a Ebook Cowl Keyboard Slim for $838.
When you’re after keyboard-less telephones, try our checklist of greatest smartphones.
