The
whole world knows that the India is a booming market for smartphones with its
huge populace and the purchasing power of the middle class. But there is a
section in the society which can’t afford the 40k handset. And for those, the
companies like Spice, Karbon, Micromax, Lava, and other such makers make middle
range smartphones, which function like high end gadgets and costs in four
digits. Today I am going to paint a comparison between two such handsets, both
are highly efficient and both cost you four digit sums: Spice Mi-425 and
Karbonn A9.
Like the
custom that we maintain, I would talk the price first; the Spice Mi-425 will cost
you INR 9999 and for the A9 from Karbonn you will have to pay around INR 9100. Now
that we are familiar with the price of both the handsets, without further ado
we should divulge into a head to head comparison.
Display
In the
display segment the Spice Mi-425 has a 4 inch TFT LCD display, which has a good
pixel resolution of 800x480p. And the handset supports more than 262K colors. The
other handset in comparison has a 3.8 inch screen with the same pixel resolution.
With similar features and bigger size this round belongs to the Spice Mi-425.
CPU and
RAM
There is
nothing much to differentiate the two devices in this segment. Both Spice
Mi-425 and Karbonn A9 have a 1GHz processor and a 512 MB RAM. Both devices are
quick and this round is a draw.
Storage
Capacity
Both the
handsets have the same memory expansion capacity of 32GB. And as far as the
inbuilt storage capacity is concerned the Spice Mi-425 has a140 MB storage and
the Karbonn A9 sports a 512 MB. Without doubt the Karbonn handset emerges
victor in this duel.
Camera
Like the
previous segment, here too the handsets are more similar than different. Both the
handsets have a 5MP camera with auto focus on the rear side of the body and
both of them sport a front camera for video chat and self portrait. Spice
Mi-425 and Karbonn A9 are head to head in the camera section.
Battery
All the
readers know how essential is the battery spec in performance of a smartphone .
And in this vital section of the comparison, the Mi-425 has a Li-Ion 2000 mAh
battery on offer whereas the A9 has a Li-Ion 1600 mAh battery. No need to say
that the Mi-425 has a obvious advantage over the A9 here.
Connectivity
In the
connectivity area the Spice handset has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, 3G connectivity,
A9 also sports the similar features in this genera. I would once again call it
a tie.
Software
Both
the handsets are Android driven devices, both of them run Gingerbread at the
present moment. The Mi-425 will, in the coming time get a ICS upgrade and will
become slightly more irresistible than the A9, hence the Mi-425 wins by a
slight margin.
Features
Both the
handsets offer a lot of features like sensors, Multitouch, Dual-SIM, FM radio,
and many more. Users taste will give the decision in this column of the
comparison.
The Verdict
We have
seen that how very similar these two handsets are in almost all the segments.
But if I have to choose a handset between either of them I would, because of
the bigger battery and screen size, go for the Spice Mi-425. Readers have to
keep one thing firmly in their minds that the A9 is not a bad handset, Mi-425
is better. You may also like to read
Even as Android devices are getting cheaper day by day, with the cheapest ones you can get for around Rs. 4,000, consumers are having a field day. Spice Mobiles has also tried to follow the suit by launching a couple of affordable Android running devices like Mi-280 and Mi-350n in the market. To stir up the market, saholic.com has now slashed the price of Spice's premier entry level Android device, the Mi-270 by almost half to just Rs. 3,399, which is the cheapest for any Android device at the moment. Here is a quick round up of its features.
Looks:
The device has rugged build for durability. Measuring 104 x 55 x 12.6 mm and weighting just 98 gms, the device is quite petite. Rubberised front and back panel finish is conducive for enhanced grip and makes Mi-270 very comfortable to hold.
Display:
Spice M-270 features a 2.8 inch TFT resistive touchscreen having resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and pixel density of 143 ppi. The screen supports Multi-touch input method. Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotation of screen also comes inbuilt with the device. A stylus also comes bundled for ease of use.
Processor, OS and Apps
Mi-270 is powered by a 416MHz processor and runs Android Froyo v2.2 smoothly. It also comes with lots of apps preloaded, some of which include Facebook, Justdial, FreeSMS, ibibo, Yahoo Messenger, SpiceGang and YouTube etc in addition to the usual Google app suite.
Music:
Its music player supports multiple music formats. You can enjoy music also through FM Radio by connecting the phone with headphone. A 3.5mm audio jack is given to have a wider choice of headset to suite your needs.
Storage Capacity:
The handset comes with 221MB of memory inbuilt, which is expandable to up to 16GB through microSD card. The slot has been placed under the battery so hot-swapping the memory module is not possible though.
Camera:
Mi-270's 2MP camera packs enough punch to capture your daily photos with ease. The camera has a maximum resolution of 1600x1200 pixels. You can also record videos with the device. Other features include geotagging, 8X digital zoom, self timer, image mode etc.
Connectivity:
The device features all round connectivity suites to keep you hooked to the network anytime. For starters, it’s a dual SIM handset and supports two GSM SIMs. You have GPRS and EDGE for Internet browsing and WiFi for faster downloads. You can also use the phone as a modem as USB tethering is also supported. Other options include Bluetooth and miniUSB slot for charging/tethering.
GPS:
The phone comes with GPS with AGPS support inbuilt along with Google Maps to keep you on track. Additionally, you can also perform functions like location tracking or look for turn by turn directions.
Battery:
The device comes bundled with a standard 1000mAh Li-ion battery, which gives you a solid talk time and a good 13 days of standby time.
The Verdict:
Those who want to have a touchscreen and Android experience for the first time; but don’t want to spend much for it, can definitely go for Spice Mi-270. Very less chance to get an alternative Android phone at this price in the near future!
No matter whether you are a leisure traveller or a daily commuter, just one wrong turn can make your day go awry, especially if you are on a really tight schedule. Carrying a GPS device for navigation is not always possible and in fact quite old-fashioned too when you have a latest Android device in your hands. Most of the smartphones come with GPS reciever inbuilt nowadays, so using one for navigation is a natural extension of one's functionality anyway. Though there are detractors too, who still view smartphone navigation apps with suspicion, still trusting their good old GPS device over smartphones. Searching Android market for navigational apps throws dozens of options at you. So, we tried to analyse some of the best navigation apps available for Android devices out there.
Google Maps Navigation (Free)
Google Maps is among the top free navigation apps available for Android today. Backed by terabytes of data Google maps have been generating for quite a few years now, Google navigation app is naturally become incredibly accurate. 3D navigation, the new buzzword among navigation apps which enables you to navigate though the maze of roads by generating a 3D map of the route was first implemented by Google Maps only. The application comes preinstalled on most of the Android devices as part of Google App suite. Top features include live traffic data, location bookmarks, satellite view, search along route and Google's killer Street View.
Navfree (Free)
Navfree is another free navigation app available on Android Market offering turn-by-turn directions, spoken and on-screen instructions, offline map use and address search and live search via Google and Microsoft Bing, among many other features.
Maps can be downloaded for free from Navfree storea and the data is stored in your device itself, making the app useful in areas with limited data connectivity. The app has a huge fanbase already with more than 4,00,000 downloads. Other features of Navfee include live map display, user friendly interface, fast routing engine and destination and PoI search.
Waze (Free)
Waze is a unique navigation app which gels social networking with navigation, making it a fun filled experience. The app lets you post the roadside events giving other Waze users heads up about waht to expect on the route real-time, saving you precious time and burns less fuel, with latter more important nowadays given rising fuel cost and rising global warming!
Waze is as interactive as you want it to be - by simply driving with the app open on your phone, you passively contribute traffic and other road data. For example, the app can calculate the vehicle speed and automatically detects traffic jams if the vehicle is moving very slowly for prolonged periods. You can also post your comment on Facebook and Twitter directly from the app interface.
Sygic: GPS navigation (paid)
Sygic is a premium navigation app available on Android Market to download for free (With 7 day trial). The app is around 6 MB download and after installing it, users must download the maps, which are stored on SD card for offline usage. The app comes with strong navigation features like 3D view, real-time traffic updates, dynamic lane guidance, speed limit display and audio warningand lets you save routes frequently used by you.
NDrive (paid)
NDrive is another paid navigation app for Android. The USP of NDrive is its lightning fast route calculation times and clean UI, which for slower phones. The app is powered by latest maps from NAVTEQ and NDrive, professionally enhanced routing algorithms makes route calculation and navigation a breeze. Other features include real time traffic, Facebook sharing and Foursquare check-in, streaming weather, and more.
Hence, Spice has introduced its latest warrior in Android lineup, the Spice Mi-280 to further bolster its ranks. And specs wise, we aren't complaining either! The dual-SIM device has a 2.8 inch capacitive touchscreen, runs on Android Gingerbread v2.3.4, 3.2 MP camera and 3G and WiFi etc. So, lets start with complete specification sheet of this baby!
Pros
· Dual-band GSM and single band 3G support
· Dual GSM (2G+3G) network support; Dual standby
· 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, 5.76 Mbps HSUPA support
· 2.8" TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen
· 650MHz ARM 11 processor; Mediatek MT6573 chipset
· Android OS v2.3.4 (Gingerbread)
· 3.2MP camera, front camera
· DVD quality videos@25fps video
· MicroSD slot (up to 32GB)
· Wi-Fi
· GPS with A-GPS
· MicroUSB port (charging)
· Bluetooth v2.1 with EDR
· Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
· FM radio
· SpiceGang and tons of other apps
· Accelerometer and proximity sensor
· Battery 1000 mAh Li-ion
Cons
· No flash for camera
· Plasticky build
Looknfeel
Small enough to fit snugly in your palm, the Mi-280 bears essentially a utilitarian design, focused on people who find navigating through touchscreen uncomfortable. The phone chassis is entirely made of plastic. The front panel of device carries 2.8 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen. Below it are four capacitive buttons for Home, Menu, Back and Search. Other than these, two hard buttons for call and end have also been provided, along with a five way navigation key, to make navigation easier.
No extra control buttons have been provided on side spines, save a volume rocker on left side, as majority of the functions can be accessed from the hard keys given on the front panel itself. A microUSB port and 3.5mm audio jack have been placed on top for ease of access.
Turn the phone around and you have a 3.2MP camera without flash on the upper half on the device, expecting one on an Android phone this cheap would be a wishful thinking anyway!
The TFT LCD display works like a charm and the colour in the images appear quite lively. Using the device outdoors is not a problem as screen legibility in sunlight is good too. A 1000 mAh Li-ion battery could be found under the battery cover. SIM and microSD card slots are not hot-swappable as you'll have to remove the battery to access the slots.
OSandUIandApps
Mi-280 runs on Android Gingerbreadv2.3.4, which is a rarity when it comes to entry level smartphones. The UI has been revamped to suit the small screen. The UI animations are extremely smooth, mainly due to the power-packed Mediatek MT6573 chipset, which bundles a 650MHz processor to handle the device operations. The home screen features stock Android launcher, with three virtual buttons for accessing dialler, menu and Internet browser. You can add further widgets and application shortcuts by long pressing the homescreen.
No need for powertool widget too as shortcuts for WiFi, Bluetooth, Data connection and Airplane mode can be accessed from notification menu itself. As the handset supports dual GSM networks, you can manually set default SIM for calling, messaging and data access manually from the settings menu. There is a unified SMS inbox and call list but the calls and messages are colour-coded, to help you segregate them according to numbers with ease.
Rest of the UI is also largely Android default with little customisation, which I guess is to keep off the unnecessary load on the device. Tapping on the menu key on the homescreen takes you to the menu. You can browse through the menu by swiping vertically across the screen.
Coming to applications, the Mi-280 comes with usual Spice App suite preloaded, which includes Yahoo messenger, BSE/NSE stock news, Facebook, Ibibo farms, ibibo and Opera browser, Rail Yatra, Spice Gang, JustDial etc. For your SNS needs, Facebook and Ebuddy also come preinstalled. Further applications can be downloaded from Android Market. You can also install third party apps from your SD card by enabling it from app settings menu.
To access Google app suite and Android Market, you must have a Google account ID with you. In case you don't have one, you can make it during the signup process itself.
Utility apps include calendar, calculator, stopwatch, timer, Alarm and voice recorder.
Spice Mi-280 is a dual SIM standby phone and can support two GSM (one 2G and one 3G) networks. To make calls, you need to press the dialler button at the bottom of the homescreen to open the call menu. The dialpad opens by default, with contact list in the background. You can go back to homescreen anytime during a call by pressing the back key. The active call menu can be retrieved again from the notifications bar. Proximity sensor is also there to turn off the screen during call to save battery charge.
Coming to messaging, SMS and MMS are listed as threads in the menu. To send a new SMS, you just need to tap the compose message button provided on the top of SMS menu. Adding Multimedia content like pictures, videos or sound clips automatically turns SMS into an MMS.
The handset is 3G enabled with HSDPA/HSUPA speeds of up to 7.2Mbps/ 5.76Mbits, making internet browsing a very engaging experience. You can also hook on to a WiFi network as WiFi connectivity is also supported. Other connectivity options include Bluetooth microUSB port for charging/USB tethering.
Multimedia
Spice Mi-280 comes armed with a 3.2MP auto focus camera with maximum image resolution of 2048x1536 pixels and 8X zoom. Here are some sample shots we took during our review.
Videos are recorded in high quality DVD resolution (720x480 pixels) at 25fps. The samples shot during the review came out to be very nice, though slight pixilation was found while recording at maximum zoom.
The 3.5mm audio jack is also there, so you can use your own headsets with the device. FM radio can only be started after plugging in the headphone as its wire acts as antenna. The reception is good and Mi-280 managed to scan nine FM stations with good audio clarity.
Verdict
How many dual SIM entry level Android handsets are out there in the market? The answer is very few. Barring iBall ANDi 6000 and a few earlier models of Spice, the handset we believe, should not face any competition from anybody. None of the MNC's are also coming up with dual SIM Android running devices anytime soon. So, till then, the Spice Mi-280, with its sleek design and snappy performance is but an obvious choice.
Spice Mobiles, over the years, have carved a name for themselves by launching innovative and affordable handsets in the Indian handset market. The latest addition to its range of affordable Android based smartphones is Spice Mi-350. The device, intended to target first time smartphone users, provides customers an affordable yet performance loaded choice.
The device boasts of rugged build, Dual GSM network support, Mediatek MT6573 chipset with 650MHz ARM11 processor and 200MHz GPU for graphics acceleration, 3.2MP camera with DVD quality video recording and Android Gingerbread (v2.3.3). With such specifications, the device, no doubt, towers over its competitors.
A quick look at Mi-350’s tech specs:
Pros
·Tri-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
·Dual GSM (2G+3G) network support; Dual standby
·7.2 Mbps HSDPA support
·3.5" TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen
·650MHz ARM 11 processor; Mediatek MT6530 chipset; 200MHz GPU
·Android OS v2.3.3 (Gingerbread) with custom Spice UI
·3.2MP autofocus camera, front camera; Geo-tagging, face detection
·DVD quality videos@20fps video
·MicroSD slot (up to 32GB)
·Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
·GPS with A-GPS connectivity
·MicroUSB port (charging)
·Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP
·Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
·FM radio
·File manager preinstalled
·SpiceGang and tons of other apps
·Accelerometer and proximity sensor
·Battery 1500 mAh Li-ion
Cons
·No LED flash for camera
·No ambient light sensor
·No shutter key for the camera
·No support for Adobe Flash in the web browser
Looks n feel
From the first looks, the device looks quite sturdy. Measuring 118 x 60 x 13.4 mm and weighting 135 grams, Mi-350 is quite a handful. The black coloured device has a glossy front panel, with a 3.4 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen much of it. Below the screen are three hard key buttons given for accessing option, home and back functions. Going with hard keys in era of touch buttons appeared odd. Front camera and earpiece could be found on the upper left corner of the device. A metallic ring runs around the edges, accentuating the look of the device.
The spines are bare, except a volume rocker and camera key provided on the left panel. Power/lock key has been placed on the top, along with 3.5 mm audio jack and microUSB charging slot. Battery cover has a rubberised finish, which is quite conducive for good grip on the handset. Loudspeaker grill and 3.2MP camera has been placed on the upper half of back panel. Build quality of the phone is good but the screen is prone to getting scratches. Proximity sensor has been incorporated as well, which deactivates the screen during calls and saves battery life, but there is no ambient light sensor.
The TFT LCD display has maximum resolution of 320x480 pixels. The images appear crisp with vibrant colors. Screen legibility in sunlight is good too. The touchscreen responds beautifully. Removing the battery cover reveals a 1500 mAh Li-Ion battery, promising good battery backup. The SIM card and microSD card slots are accessible only by removing the battery.
OS and UI
Mi-350 is the first Gingerbread running smartphone in Spice’s arsenal. It comes with custom Spice user interface. Three buttons – dialler, menu and messages, have been given at the bottom of the homescreen. Small dots, representing the homescreens appear on the either side of these touch buttons and can be used to navigate through the screen panels. Alternatively, you can also swipe horizontally across the screen to change homescreen panels. The notification bar has been further bolstered by addition of power buttons for WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, Data Communication and Accelerometer sensor. You can also select the default SIM to make calls and send SMS from the notification bar itself. However, you can also access detailed SIM management settings by going to the settings menu.
Long pressing the homescreen reveals menu to add shortcuts, widgets, and folders or change wallpapers. Live wallpapers are also supported and the 12 come preinstalled on the device. Alternatively, you can download more wallpapers from Android Marketplace if you don’t like the default bunch.
The menu is also side scrollable and you can rearrange the menu icons by long pressing the screen.
650MHz ARM 11 processor does its job well and can handle multiple applications with ease, adding to the fluidity of Gingerbread user interface.
Voice and txt
Spice Mi-350 is a dual SIM phone and can support two GSM (one 2G and one 3G) networks. Though, only one SIM remains active during a call and the other one appears online. You can select the default SIM for calling, sending SMS and for data connectivity by going to the settings option in main menu or through notification bar. The phonebook uses main memory to save the contact details so you can store virtually unlimited numbers in your phonebook. Same goes for storing SMS and MMS too.
Pressing the dialler button at the bottom of the homescreen opens the call menu, which is divided into four tabs – phone, call log, contacts and favourites. The dialpad opens by default, with recent call list in the background. Dialling a number reveals further six options namely - mute, hold, speaker, contacts, conferencing and dialpad, for ease of access. You can go back to homescreen anytime during a call by pressing the back key. The active call menu can be retrieved again from the notifications bar.
Smart dial feature is also available and alphanumeric search can be used to look for contacts. Proximity sensor automatically switches off the screen during a call, avoiding unwanted inputs and saving precious battery charge.
The SMS menu is a typical Android affair. SMS and MMS are listed as threads in the menu. To send a new SMS, you just need to tap the compose message button provided on the top of SMS menu. Clicking on an existing SMS will open the touch keypad for typing new SMS. Long pressing on an SMS will open the SMS management menu, where you can forward, edit or delete the selected message or the whole conversation thread. You can also copy the text from an SMS and paste it on any other menu or application across the OS platform. Adding Multimedia content like pictures, videos or sound clips automatically turns SMS into an MMS.
Data connectivity and Internet browsing
The handset comes equipped with all forms of connectivity modes to satiate your needs. For starters, the handset is 3G enabled and can be used as a mobile WiFi hotspot. HSDPA/HSUPA speeds of up to 7.2Mbps/ 5.76Mbits are supported by the device. Furthermore, you can also hook on to WiFi network and exchange files with other devices through Bluetooth, a feature which only become available with Android Gingerbread version. A microUSB port has also been provided for charging and USB tethering purposes.
The stock Android Web browser takes care of all your Internet browsing needs and loads pages with blazing fast speed. The browser UI is pretty simple and you just need to punch in the website’s address to get going. However, the lack of Flash support in the browser cannot be justified in a Gingerbread device. This limitation forces users to watch streaming video content only on apps like YouTube and Vuclip.
The browser supports tabbed browsing and the pages can be zoomed in/out tapping on the screen itself. You can further add the website to bookmark list, or share the link with your friends through SMS/Email.
Apps and utility
One thing is for sure that Spice Mi-350 comes preloaded with truckloads of apps. Tons of apps, ranging from Google app suite to Yahoo messenger, BSE/NSE stock news, System Info, Facebook, Ibibo farms, Rail Yatra, Spice Gang etc come preloaded on the device. You can add further to the collection by going to Android Market or remove the ones you don’t like by going to the Apps manager in main menu.
We have become used to the presence of Google apps on Android devices now. The Mi-350 doesn’t deviates and comes preloaded with Gmail, Google maps and Google search apps. Having a Google account is mandatory as you won’t be able to download access Android Market and download more apps. Facebook and ibibo and Gtalk chat clients also come preloaded to take care of your SNS needs.
Utility apps include calendar, calculator, Stopwatch, Timer and voice recorder. You also have a fully functional file browser and app manager to help you with house cleaning.
Camera
For shutterbugs, Spice Mi-350 comes armed with a 3.2MP full focus camera with maximum image resolution of 2048x1536 pixels and 8X zoom. The photo quality is very good as you can see in sample pictures.
Close shot
Long shot
While in motion
Indoor shot
However, again on the downside, lack of flash limits the usability of camera in low light conditions. To sweeten the deal though, some goodies like geotagging and face detection have been thrown in. You can access the camera either by going to main menu or directlyby pressing the camera key on left spine.
The camera interface is pretty easy to understand. You can zoom in/zoom out of the frame by tapping on the screen itself. You can jump to video recording mode by tapping on the switch provided on the camera menu. Videos can be recorded in high quality DVD resolution (720x480 pixels). The samples shot during the review came out to be very nice, though slight pixilation was found while recording at maximum zoom.
You need to plug in a microSD card to start shooting though as the camera uses SD card memory as default storage space.
Multimedia
Finally, we come to last leg of our review – the multimedia performance. The Spice Mi-350 comes with stock Gingerbread music player. The songs on SD card get automatically segregated on the basis of artists, albums, songs and playlists. You can make your own playlist by going to the playlist menu.
Sound quality is good on both the headphones as well as on the loudspeaker. You can further adjust the audio quality of handset by enabling equalizer settings and bass boost from the music player options menu.
The 3.5mm audio jack gives you freedom to use headsets of your choice with the device.
The device also come equipped with FM radio. The interface is pretty much plain. There is an automatic search option, which configures all available FM stations automatically for you. There is no internal antenna so you need to plug in your headset to start radio.
Playing Raging Thunder on Mi-350
Verdict
The Spice Mi-350 definitely packs quite a bang for bucks. It has solid built quality, lines up good hardware specifications, and backs it all with smooth performance with Android Gingerbread. Lack of flash content support in browser and LED flash in camera are definitely a dampener; but the price of the device wins the ultimate battle. There are very few decent Android powered handsets available in sub Rs 10,000 price range and The Spice Mi-350, with all its features is definitely recommended for consumers looking for their first Android touchscreen experience, but is apprehensive in venturing into uncharted territory by burning a hole in their pockets.
