We can’t expect everything form all the handset’s in this category of course. I, you were considering any from this list the short review will help you decide if it’s what you need. All the prices quoted are Market Operating Prices (MOP) and not the MRP which in some case will drastically vary.
Motorola W230 - MOP Rs 2,911
Motorola's MOTOYUVA series has been a popular range of low end handsets for a long time now but a bit low key of late.
One of the better handsets in the series to offer a little more media capabilities than just an FM radio is the W230 candy bar handset.
The form factor is simplistic in styling with non-rubberized keys to make for easy typing.
The lack of a hot swap slot for the memory card is a bit of problem but since it supports up to 2GB one card is all you'll ever need without having to remove it too often.
A 2.5mm earphone socket will also allow you to use a converter to a standard 3.5mm so you can use your own earphones.
The handset doesn't offer any extravagant features of course.
To begin with the FM radio offers really good reception in most areas and saving presets is as simple as holding down a key from the keypad to designate its position.
The MP3 player is strictly a no-frills job. It has a simple interface and the handset's nav-pad can be used as controls for the player.
The output is not too loud but the quality of sound provided via the bundled earphones is decent.
Motorola's CrystalTalk technology also makes calls a lot clearer than most other handsets in its class.
For – Comfortable and easy to use, good FM radio reception, MP3 player is not too bad.
Against – No currency converter, the FM auto-scan takes too long.
Verdict – It’s a simple entry-level handset that offers very basic multimedia functionality and offers it quite well.
Samsung Guru E1410 - MOP Rs 3,000
Samsung's all black Guru E1410 is quite the looker as far as basic candy bar handsets go.
It's simple, neat, light weight and comes with a set of stereo speakers at the rear that are comfortably loud. The design makes it convenient to hold and tote around without creating too much of a bulge in your tight jeans.
Just one minor drawback to the overall design schematic of the handset is the absence of a hot swap slot for the microSD card. 2GB is the highest it'll support which is more than adequate.
The music player was quite impressive for a budget handset.
The levels were well adjusted and sound quality was quite good. The bass line comes with a very resounding thump and the highs are well designed and not too sharp.
For audio adjustments there are plenty of EQ presets to choose from including Surround, Wide and Dynamic options that dramatically alter the audio.
Even the FM radio worked like a charm - clear reception in most places. This handset is pretty well equipped when it comes to connectivity from its default WAP browser and Opera Mini as well to its A2DP Bluetooth capabilities and USB 2.0. Samsung's Mobile Tracker is also available.
The E1410 also manages to provide a pretty decent battery life as well.
For – Great audio player, FM radio reception is decent, decent battery life.
Against – No Hot Swap slot for the memory card, No preloaded games.
Verdict – It’s a well priced handset that offers great music quality and quite a few relevant features.
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LG KP199 - MOP Rs 3,699
The LG KP199 is a neat little handset, (stress on the word little), but it’s not one of the prettiest looking handsets out there.
However, that in no way implies that it’s not well designed. The chrome border in the front does give it a certain appeal though.
The keypad is large and easy to use and even comes with Hindi alphabets and a dedicated camera key.
The navigation system coupled with the rather basic UI works very well and works quite smoothly.
When it comes to features the KP199 is a very well rounded device with plenty to offer to users looking for a handset in this category.
The KP199 is loaded with GPRS for internet connectivity. The browser isn’t anything to write home about it certainly gets the job done.
Bluetooth with an A2DP profile allows compliance between the handset and a Stereo BT headset to better enjoy audio.
The music player is pretty good with preset EQs to adjust levels to your preference. An FM radio with a recording function is also on board and accounted for.
It even comes with a melody composer to get creative and make your own ringtones.
The VGA camera has all the basic features you’d expect and the image quality is quite good. All of this and a great battery life make it the best on this list.
For – Great battery life, decent FM reception, good music and video player, camera quality is better than average.
Against – Sending messages requires too many key presses.
Verdict – The LG KP199 is a superb budget handset that offers great multimedia functionality with a brilliant overall battery life.
Intex IN 4455 - Rs 3,750
Amongst all the handsets on this list the 4455 stands out simply because it has the capacity to offer users a little more than just a normal mobile phone - more like two separate mobile phones considering it supports Dual GSM SIM.
As a Dual SIM handset it functions flawlessly, diversifying each incoming or outgoing call or messaging clearly depending on the SIM card.
Both function simultaneously and the UI makes it quite simple to figure out which is which. You can even assign separate ringtones for each SIM.
The 4455 is also a very simply designed handset. It’s light weight and relatively comfortable to use.
The keypad is comfortable for typing but the handset’s downfall is the display resolution that Intex has chosen.
It’s too low for the screen size hence it looks a bit untidy. The system is easy to navigate but the UI is still quite quirky. The multimedia capabilities fares ok, but images taken with the camera, even in bright conditions tend to look quite dull and grainy when compared to other cameras in the same league.
But on the whole the Intex 4455 is a great handset that serves its purpose of duality very well and still offers quite a few multimedia capabilities to sweeten the deal.
For – Dual SIM functionality works fine, good music player, good battery life, FM reception is good.
Against – UI has too many quirks, camera quality is not too good.
Verdict – The 4455 Dual GSM SIM handset is a good choice for the price and the kind of features it can deliver on.
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Spice S-5420 - Rs 3,800
One of the things that makes a company like Spice really stand out in the mobile community is the fact that they make it a point to provide simplistic handsets with plenty of India centric applications like access to one of India’s popular Social networking sites – ibibo and learning sites like mGurujee.
There are plenty of other apps like email2sms, contacts back up and mobile tracker that they provide even in budget handsets like this the S-5420. It’s one of the few in its class to support a 240 x 320 pixel resolution 2.2-inch screen.
The themes and colors are vibrant and make it quite fun to use the handset. The handset’s UI is extremely bright, colorful and on the whole, very well laid out with clear fonts and an easy navigation set up.
The music player comes with some great features that include EQ presets as well as an eight band customizable graphic EQ setting.
Videos look good on the bright display and the other media functions like the FM radio with its recording capabilities that also allow you to schedule a program to be recorded in advance work quite well too.
One of the setbacks was the VGA camera quality. But features like Bluetooth with A2DP, GPRS and even microSD card support for up to 4GB do make up for a very nice package altogether.
For – Clear display and easy to navigate UI, hot swap for memory card, decent battery life, plenty of free apps included.
Against – Camera quality is not to good, audio player volume is a bit low.
Verdict – The S-5420 is truly a feature rich handset that has a lot to offer if you’re ok with just average imaging from the camera and a slightly low decibel level from the music player.
Micromax X485 - MOP Rs. 3,999
The X485 has a remarkably familiar form factor and perhaps not for the new users but those familiar with the mobile scene quite a few years ago will remember Nokia’s 3250.
The handset marked quite a step for innovative mobile technology with a swivel keypad to access multimedia keys located at the back and a camera on the side. It was later followed up with the 5700 XpressMusic, a much sleeker version.
And now we have Micromax’s X845 that is just the same in almost all facets of design including a joystick navigation system. The handset itself, irrespective of its copycat design looks quite sharp with a slightly funky edge to it.
When it comes to features it’s quite loaded, from a 1.3MP camera with quite a few settings to an FM radio (with recording) and microSD card support (up to 4GB).
Although the UI seems quite well designed, in reality it’s not so.
Simple navigation takes too much time with too many key presses unnecessarily being part of the scenario.
The display also seems a little dull even though the fonts and icons are clear. It’s usually slow sometimes especially when it comes to typing messages.
You’ll end up finishing a message before the first few letters appear onscreen. Audio quality is quite good for music and more accessible since you can use your own earphones via the 3.5mm earphone input.
Another issue was that normal 3GP and Mpeg 4 videos that it’s supposed to support refused to play.
For – Seems sturdy and well designed, audio player is loud and clear, supports up to 4GB via microSD cards, comes with quite a few features.
Against – Video players didn’t function well, UI is quite slow for typing, too many key presses required for simple functions.
Verdict – The X485 looks like a good handset with plenty of multimedia features to offer but sadly it doesn’t deliver too well on all fronts.
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