GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL ........................Review: Celkon Millennium Vogue Q455

GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL  Review: Celkon Millennium Vogue Q455 

proves to be just another smartphone in the market 

Price: Rs 7,999

Rating: 3.5 stars

Specs: 4.5-inch IPS (960 x 540 pixels), 1.2Ghz quad core Broadcom processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage, microSD slot, 8MP primary camera, 1.3MP front camera, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, dual SIM support, Android 4.4, 2,000mAh battery
Pros: Slim & Stylish design, preloaded with loads of apps, good battery life, sharp and responsive display

Cons: Still photos lack sharpness, Android menu buttons are not backlit, rear panel attracts smudges, sluggish user interface

Celkon as a brand has majorly focused on entry-level and mid-range smartphones in India. In the past month alone, they have launched a new phone almost every week. The Millennium Vogue Q455 is one of their new offerings in the sub Rs 8,000 price bracket. It tries to stand out from the crowd by offering good features in a slim 8mm design.

Not only is the phone slim, it is also lightweight (100 grams) and has a matte finish throughout the body - the back panel, side and even the bezel around the display. While this provides for a great grip, the leathery matte finish also attracts smudges and fingerprints very quickly.

On first inspection, we felt that the volume buttons did not have enough travel - you just can't feel the button being pressed. Thankfully the 4.5-inch display looks sharp even with the relatively low 960 x 540 pixels resolution. It also offer excellent touch response.

As is usual on most budget smartphones now, the Millennium Vogue runs a 1.2Ghz quad core processor. However, Celkon has gone with a Broadcom processor instead of the more common Mediatek. It also has 1GB RAM and 16GB storage.

In terms of performance, even though the user interface is close to stock android, it felt sluggish with visible lag. This could be because the phone comes out of the box loaded with apps such as MogoGenie, Olx, Taxipixi and a bunch of games. We switched to the free Nova launcher which reduces sluggishness, but doesn't eliminate it. The sluggishness affects everything from app launches to switching between running apps.

Camera performance is a mixed bag. While the images appear great on the phone's display and are good for sharing on social networks, they lack detail. This lack of sharpness is visible even when you zoom-in on the photo on the phone itself. Also, while it is capable of recording full HD videos, the low frame rate is a letdown.

Battery life was as expected from a 2,000mAh battery - one day with mixed usage including constant data connectivity (3G or WiFi), voice calls, gaming, multimedia and camera use. Overall, the Celkon Millennium Vogue proves to be just another smartphone in the market. If you're on a budget, consider the Micromax Unite 2 - it's cheaper, offers a larger 4.7-inch display and better overall performance.
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