Saturday 11 January 2014
dea ID-920 Android smartphone
dea ID-920 Android smartphone review
Idea has some time back launched its Id-920 smartphone for Rs 4,950. This is a rebranded version of Alcatel One Touch 4010D.
As its price suggests, the phone is an entry-level Android handset and is aimed at first time smartphone users. We have used the phone for quite some time and here is our opinion.
The Idea ID-920 comes with a 3.5 inch capacitive touchscreen which is quite responsive. We had no issue with its touch function throughout the review process. The display however has poor 320 x 480 pixel resolution and if you have ever been introduced to a better smartphone, you won't like this one. However, none of its competitors offer a better screen. So, in a way, the Idea ID-920 is a better choice than its peers vis-à-vis the screen.
The phone is designed reasonably well. It is light and looks sturdy. The plastic back panel is shiny but not slippery. The glossy body parts are quite good to look at but we wonder why the phone has a white volume controller and power buttons, which seem completely out of sync.
The phone comes with only 256 MB RAM like most low cost handsets. Of that, only 70 MB is available for users so they can play only basic games like Stick Cricket; while Temple Run and similar mid-level games are out of the question.
It also has only 512 MB ROM, of which 100 MB is available for users to store their content, but thankfully there is 32 GB expandable storage so you can store your apps, videos and songs on the external memory card.
Like most entry-level handsets, Idea ID-920 too is quite good when it comes to battery life. It has a 1400 mAh battery, which, according to its makers, can give up to 13 hours of 2G talktime and 7 hours of 3G talktime. Officially, it provides 500 hours and 300 hours of standby time over 2G and 3G networks, respectively.
With medium usage of a few minutes of calling, web browsing and gaming, the phone can easily run for two days.
There is a 2 megapixel rear camera in the phone which is the bare minimum that you could expect, therefore we did not bother to give any snaps captured using the phone. There is no front camera in the Idea ID-920 so forget video chatting.
Having said that we must also recognise the fact that most of its competitors also offer similar features - no secondary camera, 2 or at best a 3.2 megapixel rear camera.
The Idea ID-920 is a dual SIM smartphone and has 3G download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps. Besides, it has WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, micro USB and even GPS. It has to be commended for Bluetooth 4.0 which is not present even in mid-range handsets.
There were no connectivity issues either.
With 256 MB RAM and Mediatek 6575 1 GHz processor, the device managed to give decent performance. You can play normal games like Stick Cricket but do not try to run even mid-range games. The phone won't bother you if you are using it for normal tasks like music, maps, calling or other normal functions. Also, if you use a task manager from time to time or reboot it after an interval, the phone manages to run smoother.
And like most of its competitors, it comes with Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread, which is obvious as Android ICS won't run on a device with 256 MB RAM.
The Idea ID-920 is a decent device for Rs 4,950. Most of its competitors (Android smartphones) have similar features and we do not expect them to perform any better than this. Most importantly, this handset does not hang as much as is expected from a 256 MB RAM device. Idea is also offering unlimited 2G data (1.6 GB 3G data per month) for three months with this device; and the Idea TV service (which costs Rs 150 per month) is available for free for three months. However, we think many of its competitors have better cameras and bodies.
We would recommend this phone to anyone who wants to have the Android experience at minimum cost.
Photograph By - Sushil Kumar
| Idea ID-920 Android smartphone review Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Network | 2G and 3G networks |
| Operating System | Android |
| Dimensions | |
| Display | 3.5 inch capacitive, 320x480 pixels resolution |
| Input Method | Touchscreen |
| Processor | Mediated 6575 1 GHz processor |
| Memory | 256 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM, 32 GB expandable storage |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, micro USB and even GPS |
| Multimedia | Supports all major audio file types |
| Camera | 2 megapixel rear camera, no front camera |
| GPS | Yes |
| Additional features | |
| Battery | 1400 mAh battery |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Price | Rs 4,950 |
Domo nTice F12 Android smartphone
Domo nTice F12 Android smartphone review
There is no dearth of Android smartphones in the below-Rs 10,000 segment. However, most handsets do not perform as promised, which makes people even more apprehensive of handsets from lesser known players. Considering the fact that Domo is a new entrant in the mobile phone business, the odds are heavily against it.
It had entered the market this June itself with two handsets including the nTice F12, which is now available for around Rs 7,990. So has it anything that its competitors do not offer? Let's check out.
The Domo nTice F12 comes with a big 5.2 inch display, but unlike many 5 inch handsets, which are longer, this one is a lot broader. To be specific, it measures 51 x 85.5 x 12 mm. The handset is also quite heavy at 199 grams, which is almost double the weight of new age devices, and is as much as most 7 inch tablets weigh.
Moreover, Domo nTice F12 has very ordinary 480 x 800 pixel resolution. Pictures thus look quite passe. The broader display though comes very handy if you like to read ebooks and browse the internet.
The phone thankfully comes with a flip cover, which lifts the overall look of the phone. There is a thick metal strip surrounding the edges that gives a lot of security to the internals of the handset. So, in a nutshell, it is a heavy but decent looking smartphone.
The Domo nTice F12 has 4 GB of internal space of which around 2.05 GB is available for users. However, there is a 32 GB external SD card. This is common to most of its competitors as well.
There is an 8 megapixel auto focus rear camera in the Domo nTice F12 which is assisted by an LED flash; and there is a 0.3 megapixel front camera. The rear camera does captures decent images, with decent auto focus capability. We have posted few images that would help you decide its quality. Domo, being a new entrant, should have equipped the phone with a better front camera to attract attention but nontheless the front camera is good for video chatting though and like mostVGA cameras, it is not meant for photography.
It has a stock Android Jelly Bean camera application which is easy to operate.
The Domo nTice F12 has a 2500 mAh battery Li-Ion battery which claims to provide five hours of talktime and 182 hours of standby time. Of course the figures are not that encouraging but the phone gets charged very quickly and to help people Domo has fitted a battery application, which will constantly remind you of the battery juice left in the phone.
At this time, when most handset makers are launching quad core processor devices, Domo's decision to launch a device with a quad core processor is definitely surprising. It has a 1.2 GHzdual core Mediatek MT6577 processor, 512 MB RAM and Android Jelly Bean operating system.
Obviously, the device is good for day to day operation and for games with moderate graphics requirements. For instance, we did manage to play Dead Trigger on it but the moment you increase the game's setting to mid level or high level it just stops playing. Not surprisingly, it has a very poor Antutu benchmarking score of 6966.
The Domo nTice F12 has dual SIM slots and Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, GPS, a 3.5 mm jack and micro USB port. No regret in this section as all its competitors offer more or less the same thing when it comes to connectivity.
Domo nTice F12 seems a decent handset at Rs 7,990 considering its dual core processor, 5 inch display and Android Jelly Bean operating system. However, considering that quad core based processor handsets are now available for this price, we would have loved to see the Domo nTice F12 with 1 GB RAM and atleast qHD resolution. However, it is to be remembered that below Rs 8,000 not many smartphones come with 5 inch screen, dual processor and 8 megapixel rear camera. Nonetheless, it is a decent handset and is recommended for people who want a 5 inch smartphone with decent performance.
Photographs by: Sushil Kumar
| Domo nTice F12 Android smartphone review Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Network | |
| Operating System | Android 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 151x85.5x12 mm, Weight: 199 grams |
| Display | 5.2 inch, 480x800 pixels resolution |
| Input Method | Touchscreen |
| Processor | MediaTek MT6577 - DUAL Core - Cortex A9 - ARMv7, 1200 MHz |
| Memory | RAM: 512 MB, 4 GB internal, 32 GB expandable |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth 3,0, micro USB, dual SIM |
| Multimedia | Supports all major audio file types |
| Camera | 8 megapixel rear, 0.3 megapixel front |
| GPS | Yes |
| Additional features | |
| Battery | 2500 mAh |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Price | Rs 7,990 |
Intex Aqua i-5
Android smartphone review: Intex Aqua i-5
The quad core phablet category today is no longer limited to Rs 15,000 plus category but has gone way lower. Intex Aqua i-5 is one such low cost quad core processor based device which is priced at Rs 11,999. Let's find out more about the Intex Aqua i-5 Android smartphone.
This Intex device has a slightly smaller battery and has a just 8.8 mm thickness. The glossy colour finish of the device adds a touch of look but at the same time also makes it prone to a lot of fingerprints and smudges. It has got capacitive touch enabled keys in the front that make the front neat and clean and gives a seamless look to the capacitive touch enabled input system as well. The device has been accented with a chrome strip on all sides which adds a touch of elegance to the device's appearance.
Intex Aqua i-5 has a 5 inch screen size but the reduction in the bezel size has made it sleek and easy to carry; most of the times it feels like a smaller device. The sidewise placement of the power/standby key really makes it easy to use. The left hand side houses the volume rocker and the right side features the Power key. Surprisingly the left side placement of the volume rocker is coved underneath the flip cover that comes bundled with the device, making it extremely difficult to operate. Design flaw or poor thinking, whatever it is users would not like it.
Overall, the build quality of the Intex Aqua i-5 is decent. It's sturdy and the casing of the device offers ample protection form accidental falls. The protective plastic capacitive touch surface on the display will protect it from damage but getting a scratch guard with the device earlier on would be advisable.
The 5 inch IPS LCD display comes with qHD (960 x 540 pixel) resolution which works flawlessly but at this price point many device makers are offering 720 p resolution based displays. The maximum brightness supported by the display makes it a perfect device to be used even in bright sunlight as well but then qHD is sad for otherwise a great display. The colour reproduction and the black levels are low but the picture quality offered by the display is sharp.
The Intex Aqua i-5 is based on Android's newest Jelly Bean operating system and hence the front of the device comes with three capacitive keys. The touch sensitivity of the Intex Aqua i-5 is accurate and the feather touch keys work well too. So be it gaming or web browsing, the touch sensitivity of the device has been tweaked for just the right performance and just a slight touch is required for most tasks and applications to perform the desired actions.
The Intex Aqua i-5 is powered by a 1.2GHz Mediatek MT6589 quad-core processor and PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU. The processor performs well and holds its cool under pressure. On gaming front also the phone is capable of doing justice to most games, even the HD ones. But HD game seems to put the processor under a lot of strain and the device heats up quite fast. Within 10-15 minutes of gaming, the device gets really warm.
The Intex Aqua i-5 features 1 GB RAM memory and 4 GB of internal storage. This works great for all applications plus it can be further upped to about 32 GB with the help of external Micro SDHC data card.
The hardware combination for the Intex Aqua i-5 is good and the device did not suffer an application crash or froze during the review. Even in terms of multitasking there is ample headroom for applications with 1 GB RAM and a quad core processor.
Powered by Android's Jelly Bean operating system, the Intex Aqua i-5 comes with the stock user interface along with a number of customisations done from the manufacturer. There are a number of free apps like Fruit Ninja preinstalled but that too in free version, personally if given a choice we would opt for a clean device with less free apps as these can be anyways installed later on.
The operating system offers the device compatibility for most applications on the Google Play store. The most important and appreciable customisation is done on the camera part with a nice and very easy to use camera interface.
The Intex Aqua i-5 offers decent all round performance that makes usage of this device fun to use. Most applications work well on the phone, including internet based applications as well. The onscreen keypad is nicely designed and spaced out as well making the device great to use.
The call performance of this device is also another major plus point for the device. The calls are received and made without any issue. The earpiece volume is abundant and the microphone also makes sure the receiver gets to hear every world loud and clear. One issue is that the loudspeaker is tuned for lower sound but one can always use a utility like speaker booster for some additional volume when needed.
The device features a dual SIM design with primary SIM featuring 3G connectivity while 2G on secondary SIM. Utilising and calling using two SIM's is not at all an issue and works smoothly.
There is a 12 megapixel camera in the Intex Aqua i-5 with an auto focus lens. The Intex Aqua i-5 offers a higher resolution camera. Along with that the device can record high quality videos as well. The front features a 1.3 megapixel camera good enough for video calling.
The image quality of the camera is good for the outdoor and for indoor mode sufficient light is provided by the LED flash but the flash is only effective for close objects.
On multimedia front all generic Android formats are supported for playback in terms of audio and video files by the Intex Aqua i-5. Anyway, there are numerous applications on Google Play store to extend multimedia capabilities. There is stereo FM reception also on the device that comes with FM recording option as well.
The Intex Aqua i-5 is a performance oriented budget Android smartphone that is priced at Rs 11,999. It can be expected at a price of Rs 12,000 or even lower in the retail market. The Intex Aqua i-5 with a sleek profile and its 2000 mAh battery offers up to 1-1.5 days' worth battery backup with moderate usage which is impressive overall for a device with a bigger 5 inch display.
The device overall looks great and as far as the hardware and the performance goes, the Intex Aqua i-5 is a good mix. Aptly targeted at the youth this device is sure to offer great fun and utility to its users. The Intex Aqua i-5 is a stylish device to have and flaunt while it offers decent performance as well. Most importantly the device scores on its price, but has its own set of pros and cons.
Photographs by: Sushil Kumar
| Android smartphone review: Intex Aqua i-5 Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Network | 3G, dual SIM |
| Operating System | Android Jelly bean 4.2 |
| Dimensions | |
| Display | 5 Inch |
| Input Method | Touch (Capacitive) |
| Processor | 1.2 Ghz, Mediatek CPU |
| Memory | 1GB RAM, 4 GB Internal |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WiFi Hotspot |
| Multimedia | Multi format audio video player |
| Camera | 12 MP rear, 1.3mp Front |
| GPS | Yes |
| Additional features | |
| Battery | 2000Mah |
| Warranty | 1Yr |
| Price | Rs 11,999 |
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