Gadget Review: T-series SS909 Feather, a rather disappointing first attempt

Price: Rs 6999

Specifications: 4.5-inch IPS display, 960 x 540 pixels, 1.3Ghz quad core processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, microSD slot, 8MP primary camera, 2MP front camera, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, dual SIM, 1,450mAh battery, Android 4.4

Pros: Stylish design, build quality, great display, loud audio output

Cons: Sub par cameras, mediocre battery life, 512MB RAM limits performance



T-Series is probably one of the most well known names in India when it comes to entertainment. They are now expanding into other segments and smartphones happen to be one one of those segments. The first smartphone from T-Series is the SS909 Feather - a budget offering with a touch of style.

Straight out of the box, the smartphone impressed us with stylish looks and fantastic design. The phone has a matte pearl finish on the rear panel and a chrome finish around the rim. The front camera module protrudes slightly while the rear camera module has a silver finish around it to make it stand out. The edges of the phone are curved and the overall feel, finish and ergonomics of the phone are excellent. Two thumbs up to T-Series for the design.

The 4.5-inch IPS display has a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels - this is a tad higher than what you get on Android One phones. Viewing angles are great and the display shows natural colours with good touch response. However, we did feel the display on our unit had a slight yellow tint that was visible in the browser. Under the display are the three backlit touch sensitive buttons for home, menu and back.

The specifications are the main issue - when compared to other phones in the same price range. While the T-Series SS909 has a 1.3Ghz quad core processor and 4GB storage, it comes with 512MB RAM and a 1,450mAh battery. On most other competing smartphones, you now get 1GB RAM and 1,700-2,000mAh battery.

In performance, the phone had no issue handling basic usage - calling, social networking with some camera use. However, as soon as there were more than 4 apps in the background, the 512MB RAM becomes a limiting factor. Most of the times we only had 40-50MB free RAM left due to which operation was slower, and sluggishness appears in navigation and multitasking. Battery life was a disappointment too - the phone struggled to last one full day with average usage.

The phone runs Android 4.4 with a custom user interface called Ecoo OS. The interface is similar to stock Android but has flat design icons, theme support, folder support, file manager, multiple animation effects and gesture support. There is also a built-in power saver mode that limits the phone to basic uses - calls, SMS, contacts and clock.

Camera interface is basic - there are only three modes - normal, beauty and panorama. The primary 8MP camera takes good images in daylight but there's lots of noise in many scenarios. Even the full HD video recorded from the phone had visible noise. While the images are good enough for sharing on social media, they colors are washed out making them appear dull. The front 2MP camera was the saving grace - it took good pictures in daylight as well as indoors.

The SS909 from T-Series can only be called a somewhat commendable effort. While they have got the design and software bang-on, their next phone needs some serious improvements in terms of hardware and performance. For the same price, consider the Xiaomi Redmi 1s. It has a larger and better display plus is way ahead in terms of performance and hardware. Alternatively, check out the Asus Zenfone 4 or the Micromax Unite 2.