We’ve got our hands on South Africa’s newest contender in the form of the AG Mobile HASHTAG. Does this trendy piece of tech win hearts and minds?
There are two specific brands in South Africa that have risen to prominence over the past two years. The first is Cassper Nyovest, a recording artist and producer, and the second is AG Mobile, a mobile manufacturer. With the AG Mobile HASHTAG, both of these marques have come together in the form of trendy, affordable offering dressed to thrill in red.
The AG Mobile HASHTAG is the firm’s newest mid-range device, which sits beneath the likes of the Ghost and above the company’s range of low-cost smartphones and tablets.
Read: South African firm AG Mobile unveil the Ghost
Nyovest and AG Mobile have come together to produce a device which brings a 5.5″ IPS display, which lies atop a MediaTek 1.5Ghz oct-core processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable internal storage, and, lastly, a 2,500mAh battery. On the camera front, the HASHTAG brings with it a 13MP primary and 5MP secondary camera.
In hand, the AG Mobile HASHTAG is as loud as its co-creator has proven to be; encased in a bright, eye-catching red and sitting with a wide berth, the HASHTAG is a different beast altogether compared to the flagship Ghost which we reviewed last year.
This is a large phone, and the design decision to place both the volume rockers and power button on the right hand side feels somewhat awkward, not least mentioning their thin feel. We’ll be sure to pay attention to this in our full review.
Running the show this time around is Android 5.1 Lollipop. While the HASHTAG sports a largely untouched palette – only featuring a BBM, WeChat, and an exclusive Cassper Nyovest app above the standard line – this feels like a far more slick offering for 2016 than the KitKat-carrying Ghost.
Of noteworthy improvement is the device’s cameras, which have received attention since AG’s last flagship outing. The primary camera is still somewhat sluggish to focus, but tone and detail have greatly improved. The secondary camera is best aimed at those who’re ready to take hordes of selfies in a bid to rival Kim Kardashian.
Read: AG Mobile Ghost review: the gold standard
At first impression, the AG Mobile HASHTAG looks ready to rock amidst a field of carbon copy contenders. Does this device bring value to a crowded segment at its retail price of R3699 ZAR? Be sure to return for our full review to find out!
Follow Bryan Smith on Twitter: @bryansmithSA
