Micromax Canvas 2 A110

Overview

Big Screen Entertainer

Design

Camera

Misc

Shades

Overview of Micromax A110 Canvas 2

Micromax Canvas 2 A110 is a treat for all those Android users on a tight budget looking to go big with their phones. Android OS for smartphones has invaded the market in a way, that other similar operating systems either look too costly or depleted. Essentially, Micromax A110 aka Canvas 2 is an Android phone that comes packed with IPS screen, an 8 MP primary camera and powerful dual core Cortex-A9 processor. Like other Android handsets in the market, proximity sensor, accelerometer and GPS are also part of the package. Surprisingly, the price of this phone (as listed on some websites and shopping portals) revolves around INR 9000 to 10000. We have to admit that in a price like this, the phone has some awesome features that you’ll find similar to costly Samsung, HTC and LG Android handsets.

Micromax A110 Canvas 2 Design and Build Quality

The Micromax Canvas 2 A110 comes with Android Ice Cream Sandwich on board. Just as a reminder here, Ice Cream Sandwich is currently considered to be the latest Android OS upgrade since Android 4.1 and 4.2 Jellybean hasn’t made it (officially) to many handsets in India and world over. Although the phone, Micromax A110, has some striking look and feel similarities to Samsung Galaxy and Note line of Android phones (and we aren’t sure if Samsung will sue Micromax for this act of “similarity”), but this phone has a class of its own. The screen is IPS LCD with capability to display 16M colors at a whopping 480 x 854 pixels. Also, the screen size is 5 inches that makes it “bigger and better” for some while keeping it “too big for a phone” for others.

The outlook of the phone is pretty OK but, honestly, could have been much better. The silver chrome outline, around the screen, seems to be made of a cheaper material. Same is the case with power and volume rocker buttons on side that are made from the same material. The primary camera of the phone is located on the back side with a slight eruption outwards. This reminds us of HTC Desire HD camera since the placement of camera lens as well as the flash is exactly the same. This canvassing out of the camera also makes us believe that users might be extra careful while placing their phones on flat surfaces. The back side of the phone is made from plastic but feels more durable. Although these are all the pluses for the A110, but terrible battery life, viewing angle banding and consistent lag are quite a turn off for super Android fans and users.

Micromax A110 Canvas 2 Camera, Music Player and Memory

The phone boasts of an 8 MP powerful camera. However, some basic tests and user review puts shabby shadows on the performance. The camera is good at snapping pictures but you might just lose the “moment” due to the lag that seems to be apparent in every app and menu of this phone. The phone can record videos at 720p, but again, with a MediaTek chip, the element of lag and discomfort is dominant. Apart from this, the phone can comfortably play videos up to 720p. We aren’t sure if Micromax has placed a bar or lock on FPS, but rooting the phone and tinkering might be revealing. The phone comes with native Android Ice Cream Sandwich gallery and you can use different modes to view photos and videos. The audio playback is also average but you might be able to tweak that with an app or two available in the Google Play Store. The phone ships with an internal memory of 4 GB. From this memory, 2 GBs are dedicated for user and rest of the memory is used by Android system and app execution.

Connectivity

The Micromax A110 supports Edge, GPRS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The values for these connectivity features are the same as native Android Ice Cream Sandwich. We didn’t face any problem while testing the phone for calls Wi-Fi connectivity etc.

Verdict

Micromax A110 Canvas 2 is quite a handsome deal for an under INR 10000 Range. However, this phone might not be impressive for those who know Android inside out and want a lag free experience.