You may not have ever heard of LeEco, but the 'Netflix of China' is estimated to sell 25 million phones this year and its latest is coming to the US: LeEco Le Pro 3.
Its surprisingly powerful specs give you the new Snapdragon 821 processor – the same new, high-end chipset that just debuted in the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL.
There's also a larger 4,070mAh battery and dual Dolby Atmos speakers sandwiched in between the brushed-metal body and Gorilla Glass-protected screen of this Android phone.
Best of all, it's able to match the processing power of the new Google Pixel XL, but it's doing so at a much cheaper price.
It doesn't have it all, as the 5.5-inch display is just 1080p and it's one step behind when it comes to having an older Android operating system.
That means it has Android 6.0 Marshmallow, not Android 7.0 Nougat and not Android 7.1. Curiously none of this was said on stage at LeEco's announcement.
Also underplayed was the fact that the LeEco Le Pro 3 doesn't have a headphone jack, which has deterred many from the iPhone 7 and Moto Z.
It does have a 16MP camera on the back and 8MP front-facing camera, but we don't expect perfection here given our tests in the demo area and the mid-range price. This isn't meant to be a pixel perfect shooter from Samsung, LG or Google.
You're also going to find the user interface works differently than any Android outside of China. The usual 'Recent' button leads to a quick settings pane.
LeEco has ambitious plans for Le Pro 3, with an ecosystem that spans multiple gadgets, including TVs, VR headsets and even self-driving cars. But this is a first step to getting at least one hardware device in the hands on consumers.
At a low price, it's certainly possible that it could pull off this lofty cross-platform goals, but quality is important so that appeals to cutting-edge users who would want such powers. Otherwise, it's destined for bargain phone shops as the first non-flip phone for your grandparents.
We're updating our flash hands on with more impressions as we get more time to digest what this phone is all about. Stay tuned for an update to our ongoing LeEco Le Pro 3 hands on review.
