For the past year or so, Micromax has been giving Samsung tough competition in the Indian hinterland with value for money smartphones.
From the time it launched the Canvas Knight earlier this year, this Indian company has been clearly nurturing dreams of offering high-end specifications at mid-range price points. The latest in this range is the Micromax Canvas 4+.
Design: Let us just say this will remind you of the iPhone 3S once in a while. The phone has some Bling factor thanks to the golden ring running around the bezel and golden flap on the back. The phone has a fixed back and the two SIMs and SD card go into flaps on the side. It is one of the lightest phones around, in this price bracket.
Display: The HD AMOLED display should be one of the selling points of this phone, but it isn’t. In the lock screen the display feels stubborn and need a good strong swipe to open. Inside, with dull colours like grey the pixels seems to show and up and there is a matte finish like feel which is odd. The display is okay when the visuals are vibrant and colourful.
Performance: The octa-core processor makes this phone good for multitasking and some high-end gaming. There was no noticeable heating during the tests or even benchmarking. But don’t expect more than what you would from a mid range phone.
Software: Micromax still seems to believe in packing the phones with lots of software you might never use. This includes at least five Micromax apps and a few games. There is a camera widget that gives one touch access to features like selfie camera, dual shot using the front and back cameras as well as video. I also liked the simple lock screen that shows only clock.
Camera: This is among the few smartphones in this price range that gives you a 5 MP front camera. This camera is good for selfies, though you will need to be in a well-lit area for the efforts to be successful. The rear camera is pretty decent too and has a totality that is rare in smartphone. The photos seem a bit underexposed, but in a good sort of way.
Storage: The phone has 16 GB internal storage out of which roughly 11 GB is available for users. The internal storage has a 2 GB slot for system storage. You might want to buy a 16 GB SD card with the phone. No issues with connectivity, but we found that the FM radio seems to have antenna issues.
Battery: The battery will give you about 12 hours on a full charge. However, there seems to be apps that drain the battery quicker, like the FM radio.
Verdict: The Canvas 4+ has some good features that push the limits for the price range. But I doubt if it offers a great value proposition especially when there are other phones like the Lenovo Vibe X2 offering much more at a slightly higher price tag. Buy this if you are a Micromax fan.
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 5-inch HD AMOLED display
Processor: MediaTek MT6592 1.7GHz Tru Octa Core processor
Operating system: Android 4.4.2
Storage & memory: 1 GB RAM, 16 GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB
Camera: 13 MP (rear); 5 MP (front)
Connectivity: 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0
Battery: 2000 mAh battery
Estimated street price:
Rs 16,999
