Gone are the days when the entry-level smartphone segment was dominated by basic handsets that were aimed at the feature phone upgraders. Now, this particular segment has witnessed advancements in almost all the categories and there are devices that are long lasting, selfie focused, powerful and more. One such category that is foraying into the sub Rs 10,000 price bracket is FHD 1080p display and there are very few smartphones with this aspect. The latest offering is Spice Mi-549 that is priced at Rs 7,999 and here is a quick review of the same.
Camera and Internal Storage
The primary camera has an 8 MP sensor with auto focus and LED flash for low light photography. The rear snapper is capable of shooting FHD 1080p videos as well. There is a 2 MP front facing selfie shooter onboard that can render moderate performance when it comes to video conferencing and clicking self portrait shots. These imaging aspects make the smartphone standard as the other devices in the segment.
Internal storage is 8 GB and it can be further extended to 32 GB using micro SD card. This is decent amount of storage and gives this phone an edge over the 4 GB offerings that are available in this price range.
Processor and Battery
The device is claimed to be powered by a quad-core processor ticking at 1.3 GHz clock speed, but the chipset remains unspecified. For this reason we cannot say for sure regarding the performance that the device can deliver in terms of gaming is concerned. However, with 1 GB of RAM onboard, the Spice Mi-549 will definitely be able to provide a moderate multi-tasking experience that is desired from any entry-level or mid-range smartphone.
The battery capacity of the Spice phone is 2,220 mAh, but the backup that the battery can pump in is not specified by the vendor. From the other specifications, we believe that this battery should be rendering a moderate backup that will make it on par with its competitors.
Display and Features
The 5.5 inch display fitted on the Spice Mi-549 carries a Full HD 1920×1080 pixel resolution that will result in a pixel density of 400 pixels per inch. As mentioned above, there are very few offerings in this price bracket to arrive with such high resolution displays and hence, the Spice offering will definitely have an upper arm in this segment.
The phone supports dual SIM functionality and runs on Android 4.4 Kitkat operating system. This phone will have connectivity features such as 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and aGPS.
Comparison
The Spice Mi-549 will be a tough challenger to the other smartphones in this segment including Karbonn S7 Titanium, Xolo Q3000, Micromax Canvas Turbo and Zen Ultrafone Amaze 701 FHD.
Key Specs
| Model | Spice Mi-549 |
| Display | 5.5 inch FHD |
| Processor | 1.3 GHz Quad Core |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Internal Storage | 8 GB, Expandable up to 32 GB |
| OS | Android 4.4 KitKat |
| Camera | 8 MP/ 2 MP |
| Battery | 2,220 mAh |
| Price | Rs 7,999 |
What we Like
- 5 Inch Display with Full HD resolution
- Android 4.4 KitKat
Price and Conclusion
If you want to enjoy the benefits of a FHD display for superior video watching without shedding too much, the Spice Mi-549 will be a cheaper option. The phone will also offer decent internal storage and option for extendable storage as well. However, it is not clear on the performance that is can deliver or on how long it can last. If you are not too specific on FHD display, there are numerous powerful and long lasting HD phones in the market for similar pricing.
