TECH VIEW
By Anoop Verma
Smartphones are available in many price ranges. If you are low on funds, as many of us are in this winter of political corruption, faltering economy and sky-high prices of essential commodities, then you can avoid those pricey smartphones and go for a robust 3G ready device that sells for less than Rs 10,000. If you are ready to compromise a little bit on features, you might even get a good device for little over Rs 5000. Well, a sum of Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000 is definitely not small, but that is the minimum you need to pay for the luxury of owning a 3G smartphone. Here is a list of some feature-rich devices that are relatively cheap:
Samsung Primo S5610
The Primo from Samsung is a sleek candy bar device, which easily fits into your palm as it weighs only 91 grams and has dimensions of 49.7 x 118.9 x 12.9 mm. The 2.4-inch display screen with 240 x 320 pixel resolutions is conducive for a bigger and better view. The phone’s internal memory of 108 MB can be expanded up to 32 GB through the usual microSD route. There is a 5-megapixel camera and an excellent music system and FM radio. The best thing about this 3G smartphone is its really attractive price. Available at: http://www.flipkart.com Price: Rs 5950
Micromax A70
At just 85 grams, the phone feels quite light, and due to its rounded edges, fits snugly in your hand. It has a solid feel to it, even though it is made almost entirely from plastic. Powered by 600 MHz processor, the A 70 offers 3G connectivity of up to 7.2 Mbps HSDPA. The internal memory of 160 MB is expandable up to 32 GB through the microSD card route. There is a 5 megapixel primary camera, and a 0.3 megapixel secondary camera to facilitate video calling. Available at: http://www.flipkart.com Price: Rs 7500
Samsung Galaxy Y S5360
Galaxy Y is powered by a fast 832 MHz application processor, which is by far the maximum that has been offered at this price point. It comes with a 3-inch capacitive touch based LCD display with 240 x 320 pixel resolution. The device is light with a 1200 mAh battery, which is enough to power it for up to a two-day usage. There is 3G connectivity of up to 7.2 Mbps HSDPA. Even though the camera is only 2 megapixel, it can create great pictures, as it is loaded with 2x zoom, and also supports smile detection, white balance and panorama features. Available at: http://www.flipkart.com Price: Rs 7350
Sony Ericsson W8
As this is a Sony phone it is a great choice for music addicts. It comes with the Walkman capability that is exclusive to Sony Ericsson. 3G connectivity is of up to 7.2 Mbps HSDPA. Under its hood, the device packs a powerful 600 MHz ARM11 processor. The internal memory is of 128 MB and the included memory card is of 4GB. Memory can be enhanced up to 16GB. The phone weighs just 115 grams and has a 3 inch 320 x 480 pixel capacitive touchscreen display. There is a 3.2 megapixel camera and the device enjoys deep integration with Facebook. Available at: http://www.flipkart.com Price: Rs 9500
Dell XCD35
Powered by ARM11 600 MHz processor, the XCD35 supports faster multitasking while cutting back on power consumption. The phone provides a great 3G experience, and connectivity through WiFi is also really good. 3G HSDPA speeds are up to 7.2 Mbps. Many tech analysts consider it to be one of the best Android smartphones in the sub-10,000 rupees category. There is a 3.2-megapixel camera and the 200 MB of internal memory can be extended up to 16 GB by a microSD card. A 1 GB card comes bundled with the device. Available at: http://www.flipkart.com Price: Rs 8599
Motorola FIRE
Fire XT feels light in the hand at 110 grams with curved edges. The phone supports a 2.8-inch touch-screen display, with 240 x 320 pixels resolution. 3G connectivity is of up to 7.2 Mbps HSDPA. Powered by a 600 MHz ARM 11 processor, the phone comes with 256 MB RAM, which allows smooth running of the programmes. There is a 3-megapixel camera with fixed focus and digital zoom. The internal memory of 150 MB can be expanded up to 32 GB through a microSD card. Available at: http://www.flipkart.com, Rs 9300
