The name SKK Mobile doesn’t usually come into conversations about powerful, specced-out smartphones with affordable price tags. The company tried hard with the SKK Mobile V2, which we reviewed last February, but it was perhaps more than a few months too late. With that said, SKK Mobile has an even newer handset out now. Is it time to finally give the local outfit the recognition it deserves?
The new handset I’m talking about is none other than the SKK Mobile Lynx. The Lynx is that phone we ended up identifying as the most affordable HD octa-core phone in town, if only for just a while. If you haven’t seen it yet, then I suggest that you to check out our detailed unboxing and first impressions of it. Too lazy? Here’s what you need to know:
Lynx key features:
- 5-inch HD IPS touchscreen display
- 1.4GHz MediaTek MT6592M SoC with Mali-450 GPU
- 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, 64GB microSD expansion
- 13MP AF rear cam with flash + 5MP front cam
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS with A-GPS, HSPA+ data
- Android 4.4 KitKat OS
- 2500mAh removable battery
As you can see from this quick list of main features, the SKK Mobile Lynx has what it takes to become most anyone’s main Android smartphone. It’s basically a phone molded from last year’s best mid-range model, and how.
But of course, you came here to read about what it’s like to use in real life. How does the SKK Mobile Lynx perform as a camera? As a mobile gaming device? As a personal digital assistant? All of that and more (except for the last one, forgive me), will be covered in this full review.
Build quality and design
The first thing you need to know about the SKK Mobile Lynx when it comes to design is this: it’s no copycat. Whereas old SKK Mobile phone models are based on popular mainstream phone designs (like the V2 being an LG G2 lookalike), the Lynx has a frankly distinctive “regular” phone appearance.
The Lynx doesn’t actually offer anything new in terms of looks, but at least it’s not an out-and-out knockoff this time around. I’ve always wondered why SKK Mobile doesn’t just veer away from the whole “we’re-gonna-sell-a-phone-that-kinda-looks-like-a-way-more-popular-phone” business, especially if they can get their hands on truly unbranded OEM units, but I guess that now I won’t have to wonder anymore. They finally did it; they finally sold something new, and they’re trying to be original.
The Lynx is the first mainstream SKK Mobile release in a long time that doesn’t remind one of an already successful older model from a different mobile phone company. So how much of its good looks directly transfers over to its actual performance?
Well, if we’re being honest, the Lynx is quite impressive overall. From the moment you pick it up and hold it in your hand, you’re going to feel like you have a very capable phone in your possession. The Lynx feels solid, thanks to faux metal and actual metal hardware buttons all around. Plus it’s a bit weighty compared with other phones in its size-range. It’s probably a combination of the durable materials and beefy removable battery (which we’ll talk about later).
Display and audio performance
It’s no surprise at this point, but the display on the SKK Mobile Lynx far surpassed our meager expectations. I found that it offers great viewing angles, acceptable brightness levels, and it isn’t such a battery hog, to boot. The HD screen resolution is just icing on the cake.
Audio performance, meanwhile, is divided into two parts. First, there’s a built-in stereo speaker that can be used for media playback as well as phone calls. Performance here is easily acceptable for a mobile phone. And the other half of the audio performance involves the built-in 3.5mm headphone jack. Through this, the Lynx can be used to listen to audio through any pair of 3.5mm headphones. I encountered no issues whatsoever in using the built-in headphone port.
Camera performance
Surprisingly, the cameras are by far the best features. The rear camera in particular managed to pass our tests with flying colors. It worked really well whether in well-lit or poorly-lit environments. The built-in flash is powerful, and so is the rear camera sensor. We’ll let the sample photos speak for themselves.
Here’s a cropped portion from a photo taken with the rear camera using the default camera app settings. It’s a 100% crop, and yet it looks somewhat sharp. We will be adding more camera sample photos later, but have a look at these for now.
Benchmarks
Speaking of passing with flying colors, the Lynx took all the usual Android benchmarking applications like a champ.
Software and apps
As mentioned earlier in this review, the Lynx runs Android 4.4 KitKat by default. SKK Mobile simply added its own custom skin on top, but the default set of stock Android apps are what come pre-installed on the handset.
The interesting thing is that there are a handful of other pre-installed apps on the Lynx. One example is the EasyShop app, and another is the Torch light app. With the use of these apps, as well as all those that you can download and install from the Google Play store, it becomes easy to make the most out of the Lynx’s main hardware features.
The Lynx supports USB OTG via micro USB, and also lasts more than a week in standby with every charge.
Gaming and battery life
As if the above-posted benchmark results aren’t enough evidence of the Lynx’s high-level performance, I’m going to tell you straight up: gaming on this phone is a cakewalk. Any game you can think of, it can run. At up to HD resolution, no less.
And the battery life is another thing that we found impressive on the Lynx. We guess we shouldn’t really make a fuss about it, since you can plainly see that it’s rated at a capacity of 2500mAh. In real world use, that translates to roughly 4-5 hours of non-stop gaming with a steady Wi-Fi connection, mid-level volume, and auto screen brightness. The Lynx can easily go about 1-2 days per full charge with moderate to heavy use as an all-around smartphone.
Verdict
If you’ve read this review from start to finish, then you probably already know what’s coming. Still, I want to make it absolutely clear: the Lynx should be one of your top choices if you’re looking for the best value-for-money smartphone at this time of the year.
The Lynx runs on a speedy octa-core SoC, has excellent construction and overall performance, and offers superb battery life. It’s also below Php 5k. In short, “Lynx” should undoubtedly be shortlisted if that’s the upper ceiling of your budget.
61 comments
What do you mean by 3.5G only?
3.5G is the next-generation mobile technology after 1G, 2G and 3G. The phone, of course, supports 1G, 2G, 3G. These mobile network technology are sometimes referred to as GPRS (1G), Edge (2g), H (3g) and H+ (3.5G).
Magkano po ang skk lynx ngayon?
php4,300 na ngayon, ang sabi sa SM southmall
Any info on how many sensors does the Lynx have? What About GPS performance?
It actually looks a bit simillar to OPPO FIND7
seems to be a copy to me, Very identical to Ulefone Be Pro and Be Pure.
Bought mine last week and I can say it’s really good! But just want to ask bout the usb otg.. cant use it… pls help
here’s my sample shot’s taken from SKK LYNX which i bought last week…as a photographer im so particular about choosing an exact phone that does the job, i have an iphone with me but im not satisfied with its resolution, after i found this lynx and grab it right away after i noticed the camera works best for me…here’s some sample shots i have taken from this SKK LYNX phone…i did a bit color enhancement just to make sure my photos would appear nice for me….the best thing is its useful resolution enough for a daily walk that can capture editable shots…i will be posting more photos shot from this phone in this coming days…just leave me a message on my facebook if u find my photos nice..
https://www.facebook.com/allen.berame/media_set?set=a.10205513423731245.1073742034.1121154311&type=3
Edited na pala, hinde na original photos. Ano ang pt mo to share it?! Pls dont compare it to iphone.
OEM is the unrelease or yet to come out, Ulefone Be Pure. SKK Lynx exceed on the battery capacity.
Yup! It’s Be Pure! So it on Everbuying and Gearbest din.
Many thanks for this review, your review help to make up my mind to buy this unit over other brand, for I wanted good camera, clear audio for media use or just for calls, simple text message, and a great looking screen and big battery to last a day or two just for simple use, almost zero gaming.
Thank you David for trusting us. Enjoy your new SKK Lynx!
Sir. Tanong ko lang po kung natatanggalan po ng sound yung camera. Yung mga nauna po kasing skk androids hindi eh. ,
please help me i cant use my skk lynx after i updated the new version it says no command pleas help me
Hi sir itatanong ko lang kung scratch resistant glass ang SKK Lynx?
san po makakabili ng lynx around manila?
@jonnel Hi po, kung medyo malapit kayo sa cubao area meron po silang outlet sa Farmers Plaza Cubao☺
Magkano na ngayon ang SKK Lynx? Available ba ito sa lahat ng malls around metro manila?
P3,999 lang po ang price ng lynx meron po kaming branch dito ng skk sa north olympus quezon city
sa Sunshine Mall Php4299
san kaya pwede makabili ng flip cover neto?
Thanks for the tip, bro!
got this problem po sa lynx ko which i buy 3days ago…dko ma delete ung isang wi fi network na i know na virus sa list ng wireless network, ung iba its very easypo. so me idea po kau kung pano ma delete or forget. even po i tried na i reset sa factory default nya. bumabalik sya,,i tried po na dinala sa skk d rin nila mabura..ung tech team nila till now d sumasagot..thank you po ..sana help me po.
Hirap naman makakuha nito. Biñan ako hayst
Go to Easyshop. Online shopping..Mayroon sila ngayon. 3999 pesos but you have to pay add’l for delivery charge.
In fairness im so fortunate po kasi sa Farmers cubao ako bumababa after ng work, at merong outlet ang SKK mobile sa Farmers Cubao sa 2nd floor, hanggang ngayon meron pa rin silang stock ng SKK LYNX, wala akong masabi sa performance and usabilility ng phone ko i got 1 po kase since March, nagkaron sya ng problem nung minsang sinet ko ang security protection at nakalimutan ko ang password ko, pero im so glad dahil nung dinala ko sa service center nila sa MOA ang phone ko, sandali lang na-unlock na kaagad ng technician nila yung phone at free of charge pa talaga! Just to think na human error na yun pero kinonsider pa rin nila as covered by warranty, saka very accomodating ang mga staff ng SKK, good job SKK keep it up☺!
Sir. Tanong ko lang po kung natatanggalan po ng sound yung camera. Yung mga nauna po kasing skk androids hindi eh. Salamat po
@ Rennoire Villaver Villanueva; yes po sir natatanggalan ng sound ang camera, punta ka lang ng camera settings, i own one SKK LYNX so far maganda talaga ang overall performance nito, at super user friendly pa, i am amaze by the soft touch key of this phone nakakatuwa talaga na magkaron ng ganito kamura na unit sa ganito kagandang performance☺! Sadly lang nagkakaubusan na ng stocks dahil nga in-demand ang unit nato:-(
Hello po. madami pong nagsasabi na fake daw po yung ibang specs ng SKK lynx? 2000mAh lang daw po talaga yung battery level nya kapag tinest. hindi daw po totoo yung 2500mAh. totoo po ba ito ?
I just got my skk lynx and its so freaking good! The battery lasts long the camera is good. Pagdating sa storage ayos din sya….. At first I had droughts but NO! ITS ALL WORTH IT! Hindi nasayang ang investment ko…. Dropped it already but nothing went wrong…. IM JUST VERY HAPPY….;!!!!! :)
That’s great news, jkate! :D Enjoy your phone! :D
sana mag update na ng lollipop via wifi para mapalitan na yong kitkat ng lollipop at gumanda ang preformance ni lynx ko
@ randy i agree on that bro, para mas lalong gumanda pa ang performance ng SKK Lynx ko din(lol)!
Meron pa rin ba into hang gang December
Sana nga po may matira pa silang sticks til dec bka mas mababa na during that time.
Satisfy aq sa Lynx q. Kaya to n rin ang sinugest q n kunin ng kapatid q. Sulit ang 3999 kht minamalit ng mga katrabaho na naka-OPPO.
Ask ko lang paanu ma stop ung ibang apps na automatic nag iinstall kahit uninstall na bigla nalng na install uli.na reset ko na ung fone ganun pa din.ex.ng mga apps ung monkey test,battery duo kusa bumabalik sa pag install.pls help.
Ask ko lang paanu ma stop ung ibang apps na automatic nag iinstall kahit uninstall na bigla nalng na install uli.na reset ko na ung fone ganun pa din.ex.ng mga apps ung monkey test,battery duo kusa bumabalik sa pag install.pls help.
Help naman po paano ba idisable yung mha application na kusang na lumalabas at dinadownloadi
Root your phone then install titanium backup. Freeze the unwanted apps (monkey test, etc.) or simply do what I did I reinstalled v1.3. Sa v1.6 nagkaroon ng problema nag iinstall ng kusa without user permission.
MHL capable po ba si Lynx?
ano po bang dapat gawin sa lynx na nabili ko halos 1month ko palang nabili. d ko na magamit nag appear nalang kasi bigla ung UNFORTUNATELY CORE HAS STOPPED ..sa pag babasa ko po eto karaniwang prob ng lynx wala naman makasagot kahit sa youtube.salamat po
Did you update to v1.6 OTA? Did your unit start installing apps by itself? Apps that keeps reappearing even if you uninstalled them? May kakilala ako ganyan din nangyari. Baka dahil dun sa malware sa v1.6. Hindi ko ma tanggal yung message ‘core has stopped’ kahit nag factory reset ako. Dadalhin niya sa SKK MOA to have it checked.
Sa unit ko nag revert ako to v1.2 then upgraded directly to v1.6 OTA. Then I uninstalled Boost and Superuser. Hindi na siya nag install ng apps automatically at walang message ‘core has stopped’ as of now. Hope that helps.
can you please telll in english
The problem is with the lynx operating system. V1.5 or v1.6 seems to have a malware that automatically download unwanted apps. You can either bring it to SKK service center where they will re- install the updated system that corrects the problem or do what I did. Warning-I am not liable if you brick your unit if you follow this. Downgrade your unit to v1.2 then directly do OTA update to v1.6. In my unit I typed it and installed titanium backup. I then removed the app boost. My unit has not malfunctioned since doing this. Hope it helps.
SAME PROBLEM HERE
MAY SKK LYNX PO AKO.. ANG PROBLEMA
UNFORTUNATELY,CORE HAS STTOPED.
Nabili ko po sa sm bf parañaque ung skk lymx edge sa halagang 1,999 pesos 2 months ko palang ginagamit minalas nako nakalimutan ko password kaya ayun wala syang sariling reset need parin password tapos walong pagawaan na napuntahan namin wala raw sila alam dito sa skk lynx edge please help me,
Have you tried going into recovery mode and doing factory reset?
Panu po esetup yung 3g connection nia in properly kc nag setup ako pero ang bagal e d lumalabs yung h+ connection nia 3g lng talaga lynx elite po gamit ko
Bakit po since nabili q ung skk lynx ko ang dami ng naging prob. Sa loob lng ng 2weeks,. Una kusang nag iinstall ang apps khit uninstall qna , 2nd unfortunately phone has been stopped, 3rd unfortunately message has been stopped, 4rd no sim card detected.. maingat ako sa phone, hndi nababagsak o naiipit khit minsan ung skk lynx bglang nagkaganun lng, gush sumasakit ulo q sa unit nah to. Plsss help nman kc mga technician nla hndi rin nla alam
Ask ko lng po battery po b ng skk lynx lite battery pwd po ba sa ganyan cp … wla po ksi ako mahanap nag same battery po ng cp po ganyan ..
good day,
i have some question how to deal with the SKK LYNX problem about “NO HOME APP WILL PERFORM THIS ACTION”
i cant use my phone after loosing my home app. i dont know what happened. biglang nag reboot while connecting on wifi.
tas pag open ko un na. di ko magamit.
i hope i can get an answer as soon as possible po.
i already tried hard reset na din pero ganun parin.
di ko na din pa bukasan ung phone settings.
i think corrupted system some thing like that.
You might need to re-install firmware. Just search for official firmware and download it from the internet. Then install it using stock recovery. Sorry but I sold my lynx a long time ago. I cant point you to the site where I download the firmware but I was able to do it before. Just follow tutorials from the site where you downloaded the firmware from. Its easy actually. If you find it hard then buying it to SKK service center at MOAn. Good luck.
I had a lot of problems with my SKK lynx. Same as the above problems. I can’t open my phone right now. There is a message saying “UNFORTUNATELY, THE PHONE HAS STOPPED” and nothing on the screen appears. There’s nothing I can click. Totally damaged! Do the SKK technicians in your service centers know how to fix these issues? PLEASE HELP. Thank you.
I own a unit of SKK Lynx same problem with others, Auto Installation ng mga apps and i cant uninstall it. I’m planning to bring it to SM North EDSA SKK Service Center but I lost my receipt and warranty. I just want to know if do i have to pay the update of my unit to O.S. to lollipop and how much. TY
my cousin give me SKK LYNX Lite, touch screen po ung sira,tpos itry hard reset para mbura lhat ng old files pero, nag aautomatic shotdown n yung phone, anu po ggwin q?
mgkano po pagpa ayos ng LCD and touchscreen? Thanks.
Magnda ung quality ng camera nito pero i suggest wag n kyo bumili ng any brand nila.. sobrang sayang pera nyo.
2 skk lynx ang binili ko at isang DING DING Iron. Sira na ung dlwang SKK Lynx, nung ung nag bloated ung battery then nag ghost touch na… hinayaan n lng nmin. After nun bumili ulit kmi sa knila ung DING DING Iron kc sbi nila mas ok daw un. ilang months p lng nasira na. binlik ko sa SM North ung DING DING halos 1 month mhigit ko bago na kuha ulit last wik lng. tapos ngyn ayaw na ulit umandar. Kung susumahin ko halos 10K MAHIGIT ang bili ko sa phone nila. sana ininvest ko n ln sa branded na cp bka mas tumagal pa. Luge. di nako mauulit. Kung ako sa inyo dont but cp n wlang pangalan. hndi na quality control to ng maayos.. tnx
gud PM po… gusto ko sana bumili ng skk lynx ngaun… saan pwd bibili sa item na yan… salamat po.