The Cubot KingKong ES immediately stands out with its rugged and durable design. Built for users who need a phone ready to withstand extreme conditions, the KingKong ES combines the toughness of an outdoor-ready device with the functionality of a classic smartphone. At a time when modern gadgets often require delicate handling, Cubot has taken a different route, releasing a phone that not only handles everyday use but can also endure tough environments. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at what this model offers, examining both its strengths and weaknesses.
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Positioning and price
It’s important to understand that this is a budget device priced around $130 / €118, and you can even find it on Aliexpress for as low as $99. For that price, you’re not getting a super phone packed with flagship features. But no one expects that from the Cubot KingKong ES. In my opinion, for the price, the device handles all the tasks set before it. What can this gadget from a well-known Chinese brand offer? The look of the new product is on par with models that cost twice as much. It has a pleasant-to-the-touch, extremely durable rubberized body with water resistance, rated IP68. Additionally, it features decent cameras, and the screen comes with a 90 Hz refresh rate, natural color reproduction, and a sufficient brightness level (550 nits). The Cubot KingKong ES is only available in black.
Technical specifications of Cubot KingKong ES
- Screen: 6.56”, 720×1612, maximum refresh rate 90 Hz, 20:9, 269 ppi, screen to body ratio: ~73.8%
- Processor: 8-core Unisoc Tiger T606 processor
- Video card: ARM Mali-G57 MP1
- RAM: 6 GB expandable with virtual memory
- Permanent memory: 128 GB
- Cameras: main 48 megapixel (wide angle) with PDAF, 16 megapixel front camera, 2 megapixel macro
- Battery: 5100 mAh
- Operating system: Android 14
- Wireless networks: Wi-Fi 5, 802.11/a/b/g/n/ac
- Navigation: BDS, GALILEO, GLONASS, GPS
- NFC support: no
- Sensors: accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor
- Safety standards: IP68, IP69K
- Dimensions and weight: 172.6×81.2×12.8 mm, 388 g
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Package contents
The phone comes in a large blue box. What’s inside? For a device at this price point, the package is actually quite good. It includes a protective glass, documentation, a cable, and a 10W charger, as well as a SIM tray ejector tool. The screen already has a protective film applied, but if you want extra protection for the screen, you can replace the film with the included protective glass.
Design, ergonomics and layout of elements
Let’s start with what immediately catches your eye—the size of the Cubot KingKong ES. With dimensions of 172.6×81.2×12.8 mm and a weight of 388g, the phone feels quite bulky and heavy. Holding it in one hand for an extended period can become uncomfortable. I also couldn’t use the device with one hand, but again, this can vary from person to person.
In reality, the fact that the device is large doesn’t change the fact that the screen-to-body ratio isn’t the best, at around 73.8%. The thick bezels and chin visually reduce the display size.
On the front panel, there’s a circular front camera module. On the right side, you’ll find the usual power and volume buttons. The left side houses the SIM card tray and an additional button that can be customized. The edges of the device are rubberized, with orange accents on the sides.
The back panel has an interesting design typical of rugged models. There are orange accents, a rubberized body, and a frame that resembles the design of a watch. Inside the frame, you’ll find three camera modules and a flashlight.
It’s worth noting that when you place the phone face down, you need to be careful, as the frame protrudes noticeably above the body and can be easily damaged.
What surprised me the most was the placement of the speaker. It’s located at the bottom of the back panel. In my opinion, this is a poor design choice because when holding the phone, your hand can easily cover the speaker, muffling the sound.
The design of the device is certainly not one that stands out for its sophistication or elegance, and it may not appeal to everyone. However, it will find its fans among those looking for a reliable, durable phone capable of withstanding extreme conditions. This rugged look and aggressive style are perfect for people with active lifestyles, those working in tough environments, or anyone who values practicality and protection above all else.
Read also: CUBOT A10 Smartphone Review
Protective standards
The phone is designed to withstand shocks, drops, and water exposure, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a truly durable device.
It has IP68 and IP69K ratings, providing high levels of protection against dust and water. IP68 ensures complete dust and water resistance when submerged up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. IP69K adds protection against water under high pressure and temperatures up to 80°C, making the smartphone resilient to the harshest operating conditions.
I tried wetting the gadget with cool water and briefly submerging it in a bathtub, and there were no surprises—the phone remained intact. I haven’t tested the Cubot KingKong ES in extreme temperatures, but I believe that its enhanced safety standards will be useful to other buyers.
Screen
The 6.56-inch IPS screen doesn’t impress with image clarity, although HD+ resolution is standard for this price category. The phone is comfortable to use both indoors and outdoors, and there’s enough brightness. Viewing angles are also good, but it would be ideal if the bezels and chin were less noticeable.
However, in the settings you can improve some of the brightness and clarity parameters by choosing increased contrast and improved video display.
In the menu, you’ll also find familiar options for screen customization—dark and light modes, element size, wallpaper, and style changes. In the settings, you can choose what appears on the screen when the phone is on the dock or charging—colors, photos from the gallery, or a clock.
The refresh rate options are available in 60Hz and 90Hz. For greater convenience, it’s best to select the automatic mode, which adjusts the refresh rate based on the content.
Read also: CUBOT King Kong Ace 3 Review: Rugged Smartphone with Dual Displays
Performance
The Cubot KingKong ES is equipped with an 8-core Unisoc Tiger T606 processor, featuring a configuration of 2 Cortex-A75 cores with a clock speed of up to 1.6 GHz and 6 Cortex-A55 cores at 1.6 GHz. The graphics are handled by the ARM Mali-G57 MP1. It has 6 GB of RAM, which can be expanded with virtual memory, and 128 GB of internal storage.
From the first use, I noticed that the phone lags a bit and responds more slowly compared to more expensive models. After some time, the situation improved slightly, and perhaps a future update will completely resolve these issues.
For those interested in seeing how the phone performs in benchmarks, here are the test results:
Overall, the Cubot KingKong ES performs well with basic tasks—messaging, social media, document work, and watching movies. You can even play games on it, though not at the highest quality.
Throughout the entire test, the phone did not overheat and only felt slightly warm around the camera area.
Unlocking methods and NFC
For unlocking methods, we only have a PIN code and facial recognition. It’s a pity there’s no fingerprint scanner, as that would have greatly simplified using the device. However, what disappointed me more was the lack of NFC, especially since we’ve become accustomed to online banking and contactless payments.
Operating system
The Cubot KingKong ES runs on Android 14. The system is fast, intuitive, and well-designed. The settings include options such as accessibility, smart management (phone check by lifting, smart motion, pocket mode), security, and emergency situations, where you can provide your own contact information for unexpected life events. An interesting feature is the customization of the left-side Smart Key button (single press, double press, and long press).
What I really like is the absence of bloatware. You just turn on the phone and start using it, with no unnecessary actions or app removals.
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Sound
As mentioned earlier, the speaker is placed in a rather inconvenient spot, which can cause issues during use. This placement makes the sound flat and lacking in clarity, affecting the overall experience when listening to music or watching videos. Additionally, the system only provides mono sound, and there are no options for manual adjustment in the settings.
Cameras
The Cubot KingKong ES is equipped with cameras that include a 48 MP main module, a 16 MP front camera, and a 2 MP macro lens.
Starting with selfies, the quality is decent, and it’s best to take photos in good lighting. This helps avoid dull skin and a tired appearance, as the sensor tends to add a slight grayish tint.
The main sensor on the Cubot KingKong ES takes decent shots with good color reproduction, as shown in the photos I took. However, when photographing moving objects, the module doesn’t always achieve precise focus, resulting in blurred images. There is a slight lack of contrast, and black balance isn’t the best, but again, considering it’s not an expensive flagship but a phone priced around 5400 UAH, these shortcomings can be forgiven.
Макро тут мені здається недоречною. Так, сенсор дійсно фокусується на об’єктах, але треба довго чекати на нормальний фокус + намагатися максимально не рухатися під час цього процесу.
The “ultra-high resolution” option doesn’t differ much from the regular camera mode, but the photos are significantly larger in file size.
For night photography, there is no dedicated mode, so the camera relies on automatic settings.
You can record video in up to 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. The video quality is average, and you may occasionally notice some digital noise.
Read also: Cubot Hafury V1 Review: Intriguing Budget Phone with Two Screens
Battery life
The manufacturer states that the KingKong ES has a 5100 mAh battery. The package includes a 10W charger. The smartphone discharges slowly, lasting a whole day and several hours into the next day. I personally recommend using a more powerful charger. The charging speed is fairly standard, taking about an hour.
In my case, the smartphone lasted for a day while performing typical tasks: playing games, responding to messages, browsing social media, taking outdoor photos, and recording videos. Overall, any user who isn’t engaged in esports or professional photo and video editing will be satisfied with the phone’s battery life.
Conclusions
The Cubot KingKong ES is a good phone for its price, offering many positive aspects. It features an interesting design that sets it apart from other models. The device also provides a good level of protection, making it resilient to various external influences. The screen has good image quality, and the well-optimized operating system ensures smooth and comfortable operation.
However, there are some drawbacks to note. The smartphone lacks NFC support, which can be important for users accustomed to contactless payments. There is no fingerprint scanner, and the placement of the microphone seems a bit unusual, potentially affecting sound quality during calls or video recordings. Additionally, the large size and weight may be inconvenient for some users.
Despite these drawbacks, the Cubot KingKong ES meets the needs of its target audience. People looking for a reliable phone with good design, a quality screen, and long battery life will be satisfied with its features.
Read also:
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