Micromax Bharat 1 review: Smart feature phone with WhatsApp access
Bharat 1 is currently the only feature phone to offer 4G with VoLTE.
Rating: ****
Price: Rs 2,399
Specifications: 2.4-inch TFT (320 x 240 pixels), Qualcomm snapdragon 205 processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, dual SIM slot, microSD slot, WiFi, Bluetooth, 4G, VoLTE, GPS, 2MP rear camera, VGA front camera, 2,000mAh battery
Pros: Sturdy design, good battery life, one of the only feature phones with WhatsApp, 4G with VoLTE & WiFi, excellent BSNL bundle call and data offer, not locked to any operator
Cons: Poor display viewing angles, front camera quality is laughable, you can't install additional apps
After the Jio feature phone was announced, there was a sudden rush amongst other brands to offer feature phones with 4G connectivity. Karbonn was amongst the first to 'announce' something but its Micromax that has actually managed to launch an entry-level feature phone with 4G.
You need to keep expectations in check for an entry-level feature phone. The Bharat 1 has a 2.4-inch TFT colour display and a numerical keypad. The good thing is that the overall build quality of the phone is stellar and its got a nice matte finish. It certainly doesn't look or feel cheap. We also liked the fact that the keypad on the Bharat 1 is backlit making it easy to use in the dark. On the back is a 2MP camera while the front has a VGA camera.
The 2.4-inch colour screen uses a TFT panel with poor viewing angles and visible colour shift. Sunlight legibility also suffers and you'll find yourself cupping the screen to see anything. Keep in mind that this issue is common on almost all feature phones.
Micromax has done a good job on the software front. The main interface has a large, tile-based interface across multiple home panels — this makes it easier to scroll and find a particular app or folder. At the core, Micromax has made an operating system based on Android — this is primarily why Bharat 1 offers WhatsApp.
WhatsApp's icon is preloaded but the apk gets downloaded from the Internet when you click on it. As for Facebook, you get Facebook Lite preloaded. To navigate and interact with these apps, you get an arrow pointer that work with the phone's D-pad for movement and selection. You'll also see a YouTube shortcut but it just opens up YouTube in a browser window. For multimedia, Micromax TV app is present in association with Zenga TV that offers live TV, videos, music and movies.
We did not like that there is no access to any app store for downloading additional apps. Since it's an Android based OS, you could have installed apps by downloading their apk setup files but Micromax has disallowed installation of apps from unknown sources — you can't get around this limitation. One could argue that this is a good thing from a security standpoint.
Even though the Bharat 1 comes with a front and rear camera, the image quality is disappointing. The rear 2MP camera manages to take images with good details in ample light but the images have washed out colours. In low light, it's best not to use the camera as there is nothing visible on the phone screen itself. The front camera fares worse — it suffers from visible noise, lack of details, and a very sluggish interface.
Other features we liked on the phone include the loud audio output, option of WiFi connectivity and the excellent battery life (over 2 days on a single charge). There is also a fantastic BSNL plan bundled with the phone that
Price: Rs 2,399
Specifications: 2.4-inch TFT (320 x 240 pixels), Qualcomm snapdragon 205 processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, dual SIM slot, microSD slot, WiFi, Bluetooth, 4G, VoLTE, GPS, 2MP rear camera, VGA front camera, 2,000mAh battery
Pros: Sturdy design, good battery life, one of the only feature phones with WhatsApp, 4G with VoLTE & WiFi, excellent BSNL bundle call and data offer, not locked to any operator
Cons: Poor display viewing angles, front camera quality is laughable, you can't install additional apps
After the Jio feature phone was announced, there was a sudden rush amongst other brands to offer feature phones with 4G connectivity. Karbonn was amongst the first to 'announce' something but its Micromax that has actually managed to launch an entry-level feature phone with 4G.
You need to keep expectations in check for an entry-level feature phone. The Bharat 1 has a 2.4-inch TFT colour display and a numerical keypad. The good thing is that the overall build quality of the phone is stellar and its got a nice matte finish. It certainly doesn't look or feel cheap. We also liked the fact that the keypad on the Bharat 1 is backlit making it easy to use in the dark. On the back is a 2MP camera while the front has a VGA camera.
The 2.4-inch colour screen uses a TFT panel with poor viewing angles and visible colour shift. Sunlight legibility also suffers and you'll find yourself cupping the screen to see anything. Keep in mind that this issue is common on almost all feature phones.
Micromax has done a good job on the software front. The main interface has a large, tile-based interface across multiple home panels — this makes it easier to scroll and find a particular app or folder. At the core, Micromax has made an operating system based on Android — this is primarily why Bharat 1 offers WhatsApp.
WhatsApp's icon is preloaded but the apk gets downloaded from the Internet when you click on it. As for Facebook, you get Facebook Lite preloaded. To navigate and interact with these apps, you get an arrow pointer that work with the phone's D-pad for movement and selection. You'll also see a YouTube shortcut but it just opens up YouTube in a browser window. For multimedia, Micromax TV app is present in association with Zenga TV that offers live TV, videos, music and movies.
We did not like that there is no access to any app store for downloading additional apps. Since it's an Android based OS, you could have installed apps by downloading their apk setup files but Micromax has disallowed installation of apps from unknown sources — you can't get around this limitation. One could argue that this is a good thing from a security standpoint.
Even though the Bharat 1 comes with a front and rear camera, the image quality is disappointing. The rear 2MP camera manages to take images with good details in ample light but the images have washed out colours. In low light, it's best not to use the camera as there is nothing visible on the phone screen itself. The front camera fares worse — it suffers from visible noise, lack of details, and a very sluggish interface.
Other features we liked on the phone include the loud audio output, option of WiFi connectivity and the excellent battery life (over 2 days on a single charge). There is also a fantastic BSNL plan bundled with the phone that
offers unlimited calling plus 4G data for just
Rs 97 per month. If you're a fan of feature phones and want something with 4G plus VoLTE connectivity and WhatsApp — the Bharat 1 is your only choice.
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