This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:47:28
In a video reviewing the "DIY multi-function calculator" from AliExpress, the presenter evaluates the device's performance and usability. The calculator, essentially an Android device with a 5.5-inch touchscreen, runs Android 9.0 with limited hardware specifications, including 2GB RAM that turned out to be only 1GB, and an A50 processor. Initial impressions highlighted poor build quality and system lag.
The review detailed various functionalities such as using it as a basic calculator, running standard Android applications, and attempting gaming with titles like "Doom" and "GTA: San Andreas," all of which revealed significant performance issues. The device struggled with multitasking, system updates, and featured malfunctioning keys and limited security options, which rendered it impractical for anything beyond basic tasks.
The presenter experienced challenges with charging the device and dealing with a Chinese UI, ultimately leading to communication issues with the seller and a replaced unit. Upon teardown, the device was found to feature reused components, raising concerns about its durability and practicality.
Despite some novelty in converting an Android device into a calculator, the review concluded that for practical use, a second-hand smartphone would be a better value. The video ended with additional gratitude towards contributors, viewer engagement, and a teaser for an upcoming review.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the creator introduces a new gadget for review in their “Irish series,” focused on evaluating dubious tech products. This time, they examine a calculator that runs Android, a suggestion from a viewer. The device is called the DIY multi-function calculator, featuring a 5.5-inch touchscreen, Android 9.0, 2GB RAM, 8GB ROM, and a 2700 mAh battery, priced at around 104 Australian dollars after taxes. The product, from AliExpress, is essentially an Android device capable of typical Android functions, such as reading PDFs and running applications. The package was received quickly from China, and initial impressions show that it appears to be well-packed and quite large, branded as Kenza. Instructions are minimal, requiring initial charging and basic on/off operations.
00:05:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses how to activate and use the calculator function on a device by pressing specific buttons on the keyboard. They highlight several warnings, such as not setting passwords or updating the system, as it may render the device unusable. The device operates using either a custom Chinese UI or an English Android OS UI, accessible by selecting the homepage icon.
The speaker describes the physical attributes of the product, including a 5.5-inch display, type C port, and various buttons (like GT, CM, numeric keys, etc.). They note the device’s build quality as somewhat cheap and hollow. The device fails to power on initially, prompting the speaker to charge it.
Upon powering on, the device runs an A50 processor and uses the Holo Launcher as its primary interface. The performance appeared laggy. The speaker goes through available apps, such as calculator, calendar, clock, and multimedia functions. They test different settings and observe some jankiness in functionality. The device is essentially a phone repurposed as a calculator with limited features.
00:10:00
In this part of the video, the presenter reviews a device with a less-than-ideal performance, mentioning it supports only 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and has a significantly laggy system running on Android Oreo, not Pi. The presenter explores system settings, indicating limited storage space and basic security options without advanced features like face or fingerprint unlock. After attempting to use the device’s calculator function, they encounter malfunctioning keys in normal Android mode. They later reveal a mistake, having damaged the device by using a charger exceeding the recommended specifications, leading to display issues. After performing a factory reset, the device reverted to a default Chinese launcher, complicating further usage.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the creator describes the challenges faced when trying to install a new launcher on a device after the original one failed. They reached out to the seller for assistance and encountered significant communication issues due to a language barrier. Despite a lengthy exchange, the device’s screen eventually died, leading the creator to return it and purchase a new one. The seller updated the product listing with specific charging instructions and warnings against making changes, likening the device to a fragile item requiring delicate handling.
The new unit was tested, revealing limitations such as having only 1GB of RAM instead of the advertised 2GB. The creator highlighted the difficulties and quirks of using the device, cautioning potential buyers about its fragility. Despite these issues, some applications, including games and system information tools, were installed to test the device’s capabilities.
00:20:00
In this part of the video, the presenter experiments with using a smartphone inserted into a device that transforms it into a calculator. They discuss various functionalities, such as browsing the web, running applications like TikTok, Call of Duty, and YouTube, and using alternative browsers like Bromite. Challenges are noted with installing certain apps without an account and browsing limitations. The presenter highlights that the device can play videos in various resolutions, although with some difficulty. They explore other built-in applications like the calendar, clock, contacts, and file manager, commenting on their usability. The segment concludes with tests on multimedia capabilities, including playing 4K videos and music, and hints at upcoming content about device teardown and performance benchmarks.
00:25:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker reviews the speaker quality and other functionalities of a device, finding the speaker surprisingly loud and punchy due to its larger size compared to typical mobile phones. The device features two PDF readers, which the speaker thinks is redundant, and highlights issues with system updates and document instructions. The speaker tests the sound recorder but discovers there is no built-in microphone, limiting its usefulness. They also encounter various glitches while attempting to use Geekbench for benchmarking and accessing system info, noting the device’s specifications as having a quad-core processor, 720p display, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of storage. The overall impression is that many features and applications on the device are unstable or dysfunctional.
00:30:00
In this segment, the presenter attempts to explore and test the performance of a device with limited specifications, specifically focusing on gaming capabilities. The device, constrained by just one gigabyte of RAM, struggles with running multiple applications and games. The presenter uses a game called “Doom” as a benchmark and experiences significant performance issues, including crashes and lag, particularly when using an external micro SD card to load the game. Despite these issues, “Doom” and “Doom 2” are ultimately playable, albeit with some graphical and control limitations. Additionally, the presenter attempts to run “San Andreas” on the device, noting the unresponsive touchscreen and laggy performance. Overall, the device proves to be slow and unreliable for gaming, raising questions about its practicality for such use.
00:35:00
In this segment, the reviewer discusses running GTA: San Andreas on a calculator, noting its poor performance and concluding it’s better played at default settings. They highlight the novelty of having Android on a calculator but caution against using it for anything beyond basic functions due to its limitations and potential to break upon a factory reset. Despite trying to run GTA 3 and considering emulators, the lack of mapping controls rendered the efforts impractical. The review points out the device’s lackluster performance and advises that a second-hand smartphone might offer better value. They describe the device as a novelty item with limited practical use, suitable mainly for those wanting a quirky calculator. The segment ends with the anticipation of tearing down the device to reveal its janky internal components.
00:40:00
In this part of the video, the presenter discusses taking apart a device that likely uses a reused motherboard from a tablet and exploring modding options. They consider replacing the 2700 milliamp hour battery with a 3700 milliamp hour one. They note the presence of different ports, the flex cable connecting two boards, and detail the micro USB port’s functionality. Upon removing the calculator portion, they discover membrane buttons and speculate on potential further modding. They explore the motherboard, highlighting components such as the micro SD card, Wi-Fi chip, and flash storage. Despite concerns about damaging the device, it remains functional, prompting thoughts on further modifications or usage. The segment concludes with a discussion on the device’s specifications, functionality, and potential use cases despite its limitations.
00:45:00
In this segment of the video, the creator thanks several individuals including Shahab Jalily for suggesting the calculator featured in the review. Special appreciation is extended to those who donated during a previous live stream, which helped fund the review. The creator acknowledges Brian Martins and others who frequently contribute. The video concludes with a call for viewer feedback on the reviewed device, an encouragement to check system files in the description, and a teaser for the next video, which will examine the Motorola L6. The segment ends on a note of gratitude and an invitation for viewers’ continued engagement.