EE Harrier – Battery Life

What really excites us about the Harrier is that battery life is good, despite the Full HD display. High-resolution panels are a huge drain on batteries, but the near-stock Android experience and sizeable cell have ensured impressive battery life.

We found that the EE Harrier lasted two days comfortably. We used the Harrier for a range of tasks, including calling, gaming, watching videos, listening to music, and tracking runs. With this normal usage, we didn’t even come close to running dry in a day. That’s not even counting the bonus power-saving features that come bundled with Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Don’t forget that the 2,500mAh takes about two hours to charge fully, so make sure you’ve got time to charge up to at least a half tank of juice before leaving the house.

EE Harrier – Sound and Call Quality

Sound quality was impressive enough, with caller voices coming in loud and clear. Loudspeaker worked sufficiently well too, although audio did become a little muddy at high volume.

Perhaps the most interesting feature about the phone is the aforementioned EE WiFi calling. This lets you make phone calls, and send and receive text messages without network signal. It works over a Wi-Fi connection, so it’s useful for anyone who lives in an area where signal isn’t great.

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Should I buy the EE Harrier?

Honestly, we really struggled to find things we didn’t like about the EE Harrier. It’s about as good an all-rounder as they come at the £200 price point.

If we had to complain about something, it would be that the camera could do with an upgrade, and the design could be improved slightly. That’s not to say the design is bad, of course; EE has done a brilliant job here. But mid-range phones like the Samsung Galaxy A5 simply look better, and EE would do well to follow suit. We’d like to see more premium materials used, for instance a metal trim. Slimming the device down ever so slightly would also add to its appeal.

Otherwise, you’re looking at a stellar handset that’s well worth its price tag. It doesn’t have the brand appeal of Apple or Samsung, but this phone has value in spades. You get a large, impressive screen, an indomitable battery, brilliant performance, and 4G connectivity, all wrapped in a value RRP.

You want a great 4G phone that looks good, works great, and will last you all day (and then some), with a budget of £200 or less? Without a doubt, this is the phone for you.

Verdict

EE has done an exemplary job with the Harrier. It gets almost everything right, and it won’t cost you the Earth. If you’re looking for the perfect budget phone, look no further.

Trusted Score