The Micromax Canvas HD has been a revelation, as far as the Indian smartphone market is concerned. This phone has not only managed to grab consumer attention, but Micromax has also managed to challenge the likes of Samsung. This Gurgaon-based organization has contributed significantly to the budget Android segment over the last 2-3 years, and is now looking to grow into the mid-range segment with the introduction of the Canvas HD. Often criticized for launching mobiles of low build quality, Micromax has made a statement with the release of the Canvas HD as it looks to become the number one in the Indian mobile market. Gone are the days when wares from Indian manufacturers were deemed unworthy, as they look to go head-to-head with the more established brands from around the world.
Just to refresh our memories, the Micromax Canvas HD A116, since its launch on 14th February this year, has boasted of many firsts. It was the first device to sell out in the Indian market a few days from its launch, and the first one to include a quad-core processor in a mobile belonging to this category. The flagship phone, power packed with robust hardware at a truly wonderful price has caught the market’s interest like none other. Overall, the Micromax A116 Canvas HD has been claimed to be a great Android smartphone that is far ahead of others in its category, and even manages to punch above its category by challenging the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy Grand.
The last year has seen a deluge of mobiles being introduced in the budget mobile category, and that too from international brands like Samsung, Sony, HTC and Lenovo as they look to consolidate their position in the market. As such, there have been many mobiles of note in this category like the Samsung Galaxy S Duos, Sony Xperia J, HTC Desire V, and Lenovo P770. This signifies a clear interest from renowned brands to gain a foothold in the Indian budget Android market, one that was filled with offerings from mainly Indian manufacturers like Micromax, Karbonn and Lava mobiles. This has led to the Indian manufacturers raising their game and matching what the international brands are offering, both in terms of features and build quality.
A testament to that is the Micromax A116 Canvas HD, which came to be hugely popular by attracting customer interest with an extremely affordable device. The model has a glass finish that makes it look quite sleek and comes with a 5-inch 720p display having a pixel density of 294 ppi. The company has used a 1.2 GHz MediaTek MT6589 quad-core processor, 1 GB RAM along with a PowerSGX544 GPU. Also, Micromax A116 Canvas HD phone has a 4 GB internal memory, along with an 8 megapixel rear camera with flash and 4X zoom, a 2MP front facing camera and offers GPS, 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the connectivity front. The beefy 2000mAh battery promises a better battery life and manages to last a full day on a charge. It has dual-SIM functionality that can run on GSM networks and should not have problems with most carriers across countries. The 5-inch HD IPS screen boasts of a 1280×720 resolution and a dpi of 16.7 million. The Smartphone uses Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).
However, all those who booked the mobile have had a long wait, as the delivery was delayed due to a shipment delay. Micromax has announced that as such, the cost of the Canvas HD will be raised due to tax regulations, and even this should not be a huge obstacle once the mobile becomes available in retail stores. With the Samsung Galaxy Grand at Rs. 21,000, Micromax is in contention to steal users away from Samsung, as it will sell the Canvas HD for Rs. 17,000. This mobile, from the fledgling Indian manufacturer offers far more to the consumer than the Galaxy Grand, and it wins on most fronts, including the screen. The Grand comes with a resolution of 400 X 800, while the Canvas HD stays true to its name by offering a 1280 X 720 resolution screen. Other features on the Canvas HD also make it directly contend with Samsung, and it is clear that Micromax has a winner here.
