Hyundai Aero Plus Unboxing And First Impressions - A Manly Premium Phone?

The Aero Plus is the second smartphone from the Hyundai, a popular Korean car and electronics company. First launched few weeks back, this handset labeled as the "Gentleman's phone" promises to have the craftsmanship and value for money the company is known for.

Hyundai Aero Plus, the gentleman's phone?

Just a note, the Hyundai Aero Plus comes in two variants. The 3 GB RAM / 32 GB ROM model and the beefier 4 GB RAM / 64 GB ROM edition that we have right now. So without any further ado, let's check it out!

Disclaimer: This Hyundai Aero Plus was seeded to us this Christmas as a gift from Cellprime Distribution Corp. Rest is assured of our uncolored review as always.

Hyundai Aero Plus Specs

Display: 5.5 Inch FHD IPS 1920 x 1080 resolution w/ Dragontrail glass protection at 401 ppi
CPU: 2.0 GHz 64 Bit Helio P10 octa core processor
GPU: Mali T860
RAM: 3 GB / 4 GB
ROM: 32 GB / 64 GB expandable via micro SD card slot up to 128 GB
Rear Camera: 21 MP f/2.2 Sony IMX230 sensor w/ PDAF and dual LED flash
Selfie Camera: 8 MP f/2.4 OV8858 sensor w/ wide angle lens
Battery: 3,000 mAh
OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS
Connectivity: WiFi, 3G, HSPA+, LTE, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, A GPS, dual SIM
Sensors: Proximity, light, orientation, gravity, magnetometer, gyroscope
Others: Fingerprint sensor
Price: PHP 12,990 (3 GB RAM + 32 GB ROM model), PHP 14,990 (4 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM variant)

Unboxing / Accessories

Complete package!

For a newbie in the world of smartphones, we we're caught off guard with the way Hyundai packed the Aero Plus. Why? It is undeniably better and fuller than most we saw. Right of the bat, the handset itself together with the wireless charging pad (4 GB RAM / 64 GB ROM edition only) will greet you upon opening.

It comes a generous package!

After digging further, we found a manly looking wireless charging case (4 GB RAM / 64 GB ROM edition only) and a high quality type of TPU silicon case inside. You'll also find the standard 2A fast wall charger, long USB to micro USB data / charging cables, flat cabled in-ear monitors w/ mic, screen protector, SIM ejector tool, and paper manuals.

Build Quality / Design

View at the back of the phone and a close look to its free cases

The Hyundai Aero Plus is a gorgeous machine mostly made out of a slab of tough yet slim metal unibody frame w/ proper curves and chamfered edges. We were also treated with a gorgeous type of Dragontrail protected 2.5D curved glass to prevent scratches and breakage.

This phone is mostly made out of a tough slab of metal!

It's not prone to scratches and doesn't feel like it'll break easily with proper care. To ensure safety and longevity, users may use the included hard case or TPU silicon case in the package.

3.5 mm headphone jack port present!

Single speaker, micro USB port, and mic below

Ejectable SIM tray at left

Power button and volume rocker at right

Checking its Aesthetics, this handset is designed to have that "manly" appeal instead of the regular chic looking phones. We think that Hyundai is pretty successful on that part.. It's black border screen bezels aren't also that thick, the 2.5D curved glass is sleek, and the overall appearance of the device is slim and premium. Hyundai should just avoid the use of protruding main camera/s next time.

Ergonomically, the device is lightweight and feels decent to hold for two handed use. However, we noticed that its chamfered edges and protruding main camera has slight sharpness in its corners. By the way, all buttons and ports are in standard placements.

Note: It's implementation of the chin-positioned pulse light for notifications (ala Oppo Find 7a) is pretty cool.

Initial findings

1. The phone's 5.5 inch FHD IPS screen w/ 2.5D curved glass looks good in the eyes and has proper viewing angles. Sunlight legibility is decent, but not the brightest in its price range.
2. The phone looks and feels premium. Its included cases are stylish as well.
3. Its use of the Helio P10 chip with slightly higher clock speed at 2.0 GHz paired with 4 GB RAM is a good choice. The phone is more than speedy enough for our casual social media usage. We'll test its gaming performance soon.
4. Like what we previously stated, its use of the 21 MP Sony IMX230 main camera w/ manual mode appears to be a good choice. It's use of the capable 8 MP f/2.4 OV8858 sensor w/ wide angle lens looks decent so far as well.

5. Fingerprint scanner works accurately, but unlocking time has a half a second delay. It's not a big issue for most though. OTG works, wireless charging is convenient, and it has a beautiful futuristic blue line like LED notification below. The bloats included in the "Gentleman's Kit" are mostly useful. e loved its Gentleman's Handbook app with guide's on men's dress code, grooming, accessories, behavior, and etc. in particular.

Related: First Photos Captured By The 21 MP Camera Of Hyundai Aero Plus

As of the moment

More than the "Gentleman's phone" branding, the Hyundai Aero Plus is shaping up to be a good all rounder in the midrange segment. It has great style, good speed, and nice cameras so far. Plus,  made it a better deal.

We'll find out if its sleekness in design, the use of the capable 21 MP Sony IMX230 main camera, wireless charging, and recent PHP 1K price drop is enough to justify its price in the midrange segment soon.

For our review: Hyundai Aero Plus Review - The Manly Premium Phone!