SPICE STELLAR VIRTUOSO: A stellar phone decently priced

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Sharad Raghavan: Jan 31 2013, 02:07 IST

The introduction and success of the 5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note in 2011 opened up a new market for phone makers. They saw that not all smartphones need to be as small as the iPhone, nor did they really have to be approaching tablets in size—there was a mid-sized segment, and it was very attractive for prospective phone buyers and phone makers alike. Soon, that segment was flooded with alternatives, with Samsung itself launching new versions of the Note, Apple experimenting with an iPad Mini and a larger-than-normal iPhone 5. But these were expensive products. Cheaper alternatives were needed, and that’s where companies like Spice Mobile and Micromax stepped in.

Spice Mobile’s entry into the mid-size segment the Stellar Virtuoso MI-495 is what you would expect if Samsung took the Note and sold it for R10,000 or thereabouts—no frills, but certainly coming with all the basic requirements. The first thing you notice about the Stellar Virtuoso is its large screen. The front of the phone is dominated by the 4.5-inch capacitive touchscreen; there’s not a single physical button on the front, not even a back button. The next thing you notice is the silver metal band running along the sides of phone, which lends it a stylish appeal. The overall look thus created, it must be said, is very reminiscent of the iPhone. The sides also come with the normal volume and power/screen lock buttons and the various ports needed for headphones and charging. As far as looks go, I would strongly

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