5 point review: Micromax Q2+

Another low cost blackberry inspired dualsim phone from Microamax and I am sure this would would be selling like hot cakes. FM, full keyboard, camera and a good battery for Rs 2400 is certainly a winning formula for the masses. So here is a quick 5 point review of the Micromax Q2+

• The Micromax Q2+ isn’t the best design or hardware, its plasticy and you can feel the keys shaking due to lose plastic.  Infact put against the Q1 itself (the lowend version without a camera and Rs 1000 cheaper), the Q2+ fares badly on atleast on the keyboard part. The qwerty on the Q1 is much much better. The Q2+ keypad isn’t a deal-breaker (infact in some ways better than the Samsung CorbyTXT) but we fail to understand why isn’t it consistent with the Q1 which has a fantastic keyboard
• Q2+ is a Dual SIM. But hope you know that you can only use one SIM at a time. So if you are on call on SIM 1 the SIM 2 would show out of reach for people calling in
• The GPRS might work it claims to have a built in IM aswell. But the OS is way too basic and frustrating for us to even get our GPRS account configured. Sorry, this ain’t a internet phone for you. We let the looks sell
• Music & FM: The music impressed us, the loud speaker is loud and MP3 from a 4GB Micro SD worked pretty well. FM reception was good and the stock earphones were good enough. Just one thing might puzzle you on controlling the volume and you can do that by using the I & O keys on the keyboard. FM recording works & you can record from FM directly to your memory card on this. Since there is no 3.5mm audio jack, you are dependent on the mini USB earphone and finding a replacement is difficult
• The camera is pretty average. For all practical purposes I would prefer you not having a camera, rather than having a Q2+. So am I asking for a better camera from a Rs 2400 phone? No! I am saying pocket Rs 1000 and get a Q1 for Rs 1500. It has a FM and a better keyboard.

Rohit Nalwade of KeepTrak Research Labs tells us “cellphones are assigned a SAR rating based on their radiation and if given a choice, I would keep my exposure to the lowest possible”.

While there isn’t any conclusive research on cellphone radiation and its illeffects, certifications like the FCC have cut-offs to limit the SAR exposure. We highly recommend that you look for a cellphone with FCC or equivalent international certification.