SMARTPHONE SPECIAL ..... NEW BUDGET SMARTPHONES (1)

NEW BUDGET SMARTPHONES (1)





Entry-level smartphones have enough processing muscle to handle every productivity task smoothly and even play Full HD movies. You can also expect a day-long battery life.

REDMI 4A

The Redmi 4A packs in a host of features ­ an IR blaster, call recorder, dual security profiles and app cloning in budget pricing. The whole package goes well beyond what you would get from an entry-level Android phone.

The 4A is fabricated out of plastic and glass, but doesn't look tacky and feels quite sturdy.

Its display is bright and renders vibrant colours and crisp text. Screen legibility does drop a bit in direct sunlight, but you get options to disable the ambient light sensor, adjust the colour profile and contrast for better visibility .

The 4A 's customised UI includes an IR blaster that allows you to use the device as a remote control for TVs, ACs and set-top boxes. You also get a call recorder, pre-loaded antivirus, and the option to create a second user profile to segregate work-related data from personal information. You can also run two instances of apps like WhatsApp and Facebook with separate IDs. Noticeably , the only thing missing is a fingerprint sensor for security.

The device's processor does fall short at times: Switching between apps and user profiles is not snappy , there is a slight lag in touch response, but only when working with the 4A's custom user interface. You will also see some slowing down when there are multiple resource-intensive processes running in the background. That said, the Redmi 4A handles Full HD movies and games like Angry Birds Evolution and Candy Crush Saga without a hitch. 3D games may not run as smoothly.

Call quality is clear, and its built-in sound enhancer does a fairly good job of boosting movie and music audio.

Shots captured by its camera in well-lit settings are clear and look good enough to be shared on your Facebook timeline and Instagram, although low-light captures lack detail and sharpness.Focusing tends to be a bit sluggish at times, so it gets difficult to get good action shots in low light.

You can expect to get more than a day's worth of service from its battery before needing a recharge.

SPECS: 5-inch HD display | 1.4GHz Snapdragon 425 quad-core processor | 2GB RAM | 16GB storage, hybrid microSD | 13MP rear (LED flash), 5MP rear camera | 3120mAh battery

Rs 5,999 | RATING: 6.5/10

What the ratings mean: Below 5:

The product is poor and doesn't offer the experience it promises | 5 & 6: The product works as advertised | 7: The product is good; will not disappoint the buyer | 8: Very good; super value for money | 9: The device is exceptional | 10: You're kidding, right?
All ratings awarded to devices factor in prices to arrive at a final score.

Ashutosh Desai TOI 5AUG17