GADGET GIZMO REVIEW .................Reasons to Invest in a Budget Smartphone

GADGET GIZMO  REVIEW Reasons to Invest in a Budget Smartphone





You could spend upwards of R50,000 on a smartphone these days. The question is, do you really need to? As the market evolves, high-end features are filtering down the price brackets.

An overview of what to expect when buying on a budget We think the Moto E is great for first-time smartphone users. Plus, it doesn't feel like it's built to a price

Motorola Moto E PRICE Rs 6,999 SPECIFICATIONS 1.2Ghz dual core processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB + micro SD (max 32GB recommended), 4.3-inch (960 x 540 pixels) IPS LCD, 5MP fixed focus camera, FM, GPS, WiFi, BT 4.0, 1,980mAh battery, 142 grams Redefines the idea of a budget smartphone, dual SIM with 3G, excellent build quality Fixed focus camera is limiting, low display resolution, no front camera, no USB host Raising Expectations, Again HITESH RAJ BHAGAT NEW DELHI To say that Motorola is on a roll would be an understatement. After the tremendous success of the Moto G, the much-acclaimed Moto X and the bold but unconventional onlineonly model, Motorola (now a Lenovo company) is redefining what an entry-level smartphone should look, feel and perform like. Motorola obviously has all the smaller manufacturers worried -the slew of budget launches is proof.

The Moto E bears a strong family resemblance to the other devices.
It's an attractive though conventional design with rounded corners, curved back and removable matte finish back cover. In order to get the price down to this level, Motorola has cut a few corners compared to the mid-range Moto G. Primarily , it has a fixed focus 5MP camera, a lower screen resolution, does not have a front camera and skips the USB host functionality . The screen may be low res, but is high quality with good viewing angles and excellent colour Like others in the series, Motorola has chosen to go with stock Android which results in good performance despite the relatively modest specs.
There's still 1GB RAM, which means multitasking is not affected and you can still do gaming and mul timedia with ease. It's also got great battery life, 3G support on both SIMs and expandable memory . If the all black look is too boring for you, the back panels can be swapped out for some more interesting colours.

The biggest disadvantage with the phone is in the camera department.
Lack of a front camera (even a VGA one) means that video calling, Skype and `selfies' are out of the question.
The back camera is fixed focus (without flash) so it can take good photos outdoors as long as the sub ject is not very close (and macro shots are out of the ques tion). Some other omissions are NFC, USB host and TV out (but Miracast for wireless screen mir roring is included).

Overall, the Moto E ticks all the right boxes for an entrylevel phone. It's great for a first-time smartphone user and does not feel like it's built to a price. It's also not overtly mentioned, but the device has a water repellent nano coating that should make it resistant to the odd splash of water or rain. In short, the Moto E may not have the best screen, specs or any one standout feature. The most impressive thing about the Moto E is the price& the stunning value it provides. The Rationale Behind a Budget Phone A number of people look at buying a phone as an Investment. Their thinking is: a phone is typically the most-used device. Plus, it will be used for at least a year -hence it makes sense to invest in a high-end phone that will not get obsolete as soon as you buy it.

Yes, high-end smartphones have tons of features, but we've seen that most people don't use their smartphones to the fullest. For basic use that includes calls, SMS, Facebook and music, you don't really need a full HD display. And if you're not big on photography, you don't need a 16MP camera with hundreds of settings. For this person, a budget phone is an ideal choice.

There might also be some people who think that spending too much on a phone is a waste. Combine this with planned obsolesence (new smartphones with new features are launched every few months, making older ones obsolete) that lures consumers to buy the latest device and you begin to see why budget smartphones are so popular.

Another reason for someone opting for a budget phone is if they already own a tablet. The large screen of the tablet is better for social networking, multimedia and reading. The phone is needed primarily for voice calls and text messaging -any budget phone is good enough for this. What You Don't Get in a Budget Sometimes, corners have to be cut and this means missing features. Some of the typical places where you'll find cut corners are in terms of camera, connectivity and hardware. Then again, there are some things that you will never get in an entry-level phone: a full HD display, TV-out, MHL port, IR blaster (to use phone as remote control for TV and other appliances) and NFC (Near Field Communications) to name a few.

However, you can still try to get a phone that has USB host support, an autofocus camera with LED flash, a front camera, FM Radio, expandable storage, and 3G connectivity. Don't be afraid to consider a slightly older device that has seen a huge price cut (the Spice Mi-525, for instance see below). Keep your requirements in mind and compare different phone models to see if what you need is available. High-end Feature Phone or Entry-level Smartphone?
Till a couple of years ago, the sub `10,000 segment mainly included feature phones. Thanks to the pace of technology and intense competition, the very existence of feature phones is now being threatened. By many estimates from IDC and Gartner, over 55% (and growing) of all new phones sold globally are smartphones.

A big reason for this shift is the versatility offered by a smartphone in terms of apps, accessories and features. If you think you'll never need the convenience and expandability offered by apps, you could stick to a feature phone. A high-end feature phone will also be more compact, will most likely offer better battery life (because of a smaller screen and basic hardware) and will also be sturdier -the glass capacitive touchscreens that smartphones use tend to be more fragile. The point is, if you abhor touchscreens, a feature phone may be your only choice (save for the QWERTY keyboard-toting BlackBerry Curve).

Karan Bajaj ET140521