GADGET GIZMO REVIEW KULT

GADGET GIZMO REVIEW KULT





Kult is a new Indian smartphone brand that launched its first smartphone named `10'. The company's first device is aggressively priced with an aim to entice users looking for a 4G ready smartphone that is stylish as well as powerful.

Kult has chosen to go for a 5-inch display ­ a welcome change from the large phablets that are now being launched in the sub-`10,000 price range. The 5-inch display has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels that keeps text and icons sharp. Its viewing angles as well as brightness levels are good and so is the screen's readability under direct sunlight.

Below the display are three android buttons ­ the center one is home while the other two are for back and menu. The back and menu button layout can be changed in display settings as per user preference.

Weighing 128 grams, the phone is lightweight and its rounded corners give It a stylish look. It black rear panel is removable with a sandstone finish that is similar to one on the Yu YurekaYureka Plus. A secondary white rear panel is also included in the box which has a glossy finish. Under the rear panel is the hybrid SIM slot and removable battery . On the right side is the power and volume button while the camera module on the back sits flush with the rear panel.

The Kult 10 is one of the cheapest smartphones available today with 3GB of RAM. Other hardware specifications include 1.3Ghz quad core Mediatek processor, 16GB storage and a 2,350mAh battery . In our usage, the phone did not suffer from any slow down or sluggishness and had no issues playing full HD videos or games such as Asphalt Nitro Shadowgun. However, it struggles to last one full day when it comes to battery life. With heavy usage we had to charge the phone twice on the same day .

Interface of the phone is similar to stock Android with a few features added gesture support, sched ule power onoff and intelligent power saving.

However, it comes with bloatware apps pre-loaded including Opera, Snapdeal, swalekh and OLX which which consume storage space.

The phone has a 13MP primary camera with phase detection autofocus and f2.2 aperture. In the interface, you get HDR, panorama, beauty and mo tion track modes along with various scene modes.

Its capture and focus speed is also fast. Images taken with primary camera look great on the dis play with good details and vibrant colors. However, we noticed that at times the camera tends to over saturate colors in indoor shots and suffers from noise in darker areas. It can record videos in full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) but the quality is average and lacks details. The front 5MP camera also lacks sharpness with images suffering from soft details.

At its price, the Kult 10 is an impressive Android smartphone in terms of style, features and per formance, especially for a first device from a new brand. If you prefer a larger display, the Coolpad Note 3 offers a 5.5-inch display , better camera, long er battery life and a fingerprint scanner for the same price.

Karan.Bajaj@timesgroup.com

ET6JAN16