News Bench

Though some uppity guys may still want that iPhone, a statement of your worth, middleclass  purchasers are settling for same features on smartphones that do not cost them the moon…

Micromax Unite 2

This is pretty similar to the Micromax Canvas Engage. The USP is, it supports 20 regional languages, including English, of course, thanks to the Reverie Multilingual Pack. The phone offers dual-SIM support, a 4.7-inch Bright Graph IPS display with a 480×800 pixel resolution. It has a quad-core processor that powers the device, clocked at 1.3GHz, along with 1GB of RAM.
Pros:
• Low price tag
• Runs on KitKat OS with guaranteed upgradation
• Front camera with large display
Cons:
• Micromax Unite 2 provides low screen-resolution
Price: Rs 6,999 if you buy from Flipkart or Snapdeal

Conclusion: Micromax Unite 2 is a good budget smartphone with exciting features. It has little cons. This is a phone you can look forward to, and it gives a run for the money to Moto E.

Xolo Q1000 Opus
Xolo- Q1000 is mesmerising. Its sleek look captivates your imagination. The phone is stylish, trendy and modern features such as Android 4.4 KitKat updates, dual-SIM phablet with support for (GSM+GSM) and features of 5-inch FWVGA IPS display with 480×854 pixels resolution. It sports a 5-megapixel autofocus rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and also includes a VGA front-facing camera.

Pros:
• Decent look
• Good performance
• Dual SIM
Cons:
• Low resolution display
• Average battery life

Price: Rs. 7,599 at Amazon; Rs 7,777 at Flipkart. At Snapdeal the price is Rs 7,195 (Black) and Rs. 7,164 (White).
Conclusion: This is a decent buy, especially for people crazy about Size-0, but there are various good alternatives in this price range. You should also look at Moto E and Galaxy Duos.

Lava Iris X1
Lava Iris X1, launched in the last week of May, is available under Rs 8,000. It has dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) device and also supports 3G connectivity. It has a 4.5 inch-display screen, 1.2GHz quad-core Broadcom, a BCM23550 processor and 1GB RAM. In addition to that, it also has an 8-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash; 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and 1800 mAh battery. The phone can be connected to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS / EDGE, A-GPS and Micro-USB. 

Pros:
• Sits pretty in your hand
• Android Kitkat OS
• Full HD video recording supports 1080 pixels
Cons:
• 1800 mAh battery power is low compared to current market standards
• Service centres offer poor support
Price: Rs 7,999 at Amazon (not available with Flipkart or Snapdeal)
Conclusion: Good value for money

Moto E

With its 4.3-inch display, good resolution and ‘water-nano’ coating, Moto E can give a fierce fight to any other smartphone in its price category. It is a dual-SIM phone that supports Micro-SIM cards and also has ‘intelligent’ calling feature. Moto E is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, along with Adreno 302 GPU, alongside 1GB of RAM. This is the only device that comes in box with a Kitkat Android operating system. Being splash-proof (due to the water-nano coating) and its ability to support 4G networks, it takes the breath away from its closest competitors. However, the paucity of service centres can be a problem, in case your set needs emergency repairs. 

Pros:
• 1.2Ghz dual core processor.
• 1Gb RAM with Adreno 302 Gpu.
• Enough to play high-end games on such a budget phone
Cons:
• No front facing camera
• Does not have a secondary camera nor a rear flash, which can be disappointing for camera freaks
• Non-removable battery
Price: Rs 10,000 (available with Flipkart at Rs 6,999 only)
Conclusion: It is good value for money