Canvas 4 fails to impress its worth

Rating – 3.5/5

Micromax Canvas 4 Image Source:
friendlyengine.com

As the newest smartphone, Micromax Canvas 4 hit commercial markets across the country on July 8; the flagship product was estimated to set the market on fire. However, the response received since the launch seems to be weak as compared to the previous phones launched by the company.

Essentially, the phone was endorsed during the Indian Premier League (IPL) setting high expectations as it barged into the markets, competing with some of the biggest names in this smartphone era. In light of its massive advertising, the phone seems to have received the tag from tech experts as ‘only above average.’ At the same time, buyers across the country ‘expected more’ from the brand value of the phone, which has made a name by setting a low price for the phone in comparison to its features.

Without the software and camera upgrades, the device is essentially the Canvas HD. It just doesn't justify the Rs. 18,000 price point. The good thing about the smartphone is that there is no reduction in performance when compared to its predecessor. 

The phone succeeds in two specific areas, the added software features work well and the phone has a spellbinding camera features (13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front facing). An interesting feature is that the phone carries an in-built camera app which includes Normal, HDR, Face Beauty, Smile detection, Exposure compensation, Panorama, Photosphere (multi angle view) modes. It also offers a burst mode, letting users click up to 99 shots at once. The photo mode allows users to modify settings like Exposure, colour effect, ISO and white balance, among others. There's a self timer of up to 10 seconds as well.

Hopes were high after the release of Canvas HD that the successor would have a full HD (1080p) display. However, Micromax decided to skip the upgrade and included a 720p display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. The red tinge display error carried by the predecessors of Canvas 4 was rectified by the manufacturer, this phone has higher resolution, text, icons and images look much sharper as compared to similar phones in its range.

The device available in Dual SIM mode and dual standby and is powered by 1.2 GHz Quad core MT6589T processor and 1 GB of RAM. Initially, the device was enormously in demand in the market but within a week of its launch, it failed to grab its target market.

The Canvas 4 A210 has been given a stiff competition by the latest iBerry Auxus Nuclea N1. This new iBerry gadget has the competitive features as compared to the Micromax’s flagship phone and due to being a new unique product; it has managed set a name in the markets as of now.

Canvas 4 runs on the Jelly Bean 4.2.1 and is further upgradable. Four distinct themes have been assigned to the phone; mint, mocha, raspberry and the default theme that bring minor changes in the phone's colour scheme.

Apart from being slightly bigger in size from its predecessors and having specifically awe-striking camera features, Micromax’s newest toy does not bring much to the table when compared to a Samsung S4 or even the Blackberry Z10. In the new age of techno-buzz, Micromax has to aim higher to match the existing standards; however, the perk that remains is the price!