Review: Intex Aqua 5.0
Iif you are on a budget and aspire to own a phablet, the Aqua 5.0 isn't a bad bet.
Intex Aqua 5.0
INTEX AQUA 5.0
Price: Rs 9,990
Specs: Android 4.0; 5-inch capacitive multi-touch 480x800p; Dual-core 1GHz Cortex A9; 512MB RAM; Dual-SIM; 3G, 2G,
GSM/GPRS/EDGE; 4GB internal memory, expandable up to32 GB.
"So, this is the Note II? Nice," said a friend. We could only smirk, for we were holding the Intex Aqua 5.0, an entry-level phablet that costs a fraction of the Samsung device that our friend mistook this for. You cannot blame him, for the look and build quality of the Aqua 5.0 makes it look very pricey. We must confess that to add to the deception, we had Samsung's trademark dandelion wallpaper on the phone.
The truth is that if you are on a budget and aspire to own a phablet, the Aqua 5.0 isn't a bad bet. We don't know how the phone will fare six months on, but in the week that we used the device it managed to give us a pleasant surprise. It seems like a well-built phone with a plastic body that has a brushed aluminium finish at the edges. The rough rear piece makes it easy to grip. Then, the 5-inch capacitive multi-touch touch display, though just 800x480p, is good, especially when you know how much the phone costs. The viewing angles are a bit limited, but play a high-end game or a HD video and you wouldn't be disappointed. The phone runs a dual-core processor and running heavy apps or video was not a problem. In fact, the benchmark tests we ran on the phone were too good to be believed. Anyway, the device runs Android 4.0 ICS and you can live without an upgrade for some months.
The call clarity is good, though we would have like it to be a bit louder. But you wouldn't be keeping this 5-incher to your ear to make a call, that job will have to be entrusted to an accessory. The phone has two cameras-a 1.3MP one in front and a 5MP in the rear. The latter is good enough for you to create decent HDR and time lapse videos, but the results are a bit noisy in low light and when using zoom. The 2000 mAh battery is good enough to last a day and a half with regular usage, including Wi-Fi.
There aren't many big flaws with the phone. But we noticed that a part of the phone near the camera heats up during browsing. Then there is a slight gap towards the bottom end of the touchscreen from where light seeps out and this is a minor irritant. And, yes, the phone has a tendency for the horizontal orientation, even when it doesn't need to. Maybe it likes being a tablet more than a phone.
Overall, we suggest people who are looking at an affordable phablet or tablet should consider this phone seriously.
BAG IT OR JUNK IT? Buy this small tablet and you won't be disappointed.
Your favourite tech magazine Gadgets & Gizmos has gone digital! Grab your copy now!
Price: Rs 9,990
Specs: Android 4.0; 5-inch capacitive multi-touch 480x800p; Dual-core 1GHz Cortex A9; 512MB RAM; Dual-SIM; 3G, 2G,
GSM/GPRS/EDGE; 4GB internal memory, expandable up to32 GB.
"So, this is the Note II? Nice," said a friend. We could only smirk, for we were holding the Intex Aqua 5.0, an entry-level phablet that costs a fraction of the Samsung device that our friend mistook this for. You cannot blame him, for the look and build quality of the Aqua 5.0 makes it look very pricey. We must confess that to add to the deception, we had Samsung's trademark dandelion wallpaper on the phone.
The truth is that if you are on a budget and aspire to own a phablet, the Aqua 5.0 isn't a bad bet. We don't know how the phone will fare six months on, but in the week that we used the device it managed to give us a pleasant surprise. It seems like a well-built phone with a plastic body that has a brushed aluminium finish at the edges. The rough rear piece makes it easy to grip. Then, the 5-inch capacitive multi-touch touch display, though just 800x480p, is good, especially when you know how much the phone costs. The viewing angles are a bit limited, but play a high-end game or a HD video and you wouldn't be disappointed. The phone runs a dual-core processor and running heavy apps or video was not a problem. In fact, the benchmark tests we ran on the phone were too good to be believed. Anyway, the device runs Android 4.0 ICS and you can live without an upgrade for some months.
The call clarity is good, though we would have like it to be a bit louder. But you wouldn't be keeping this 5-incher to your ear to make a call, that job will have to be entrusted to an accessory. The phone has two cameras-a 1.3MP one in front and a 5MP in the rear. The latter is good enough for you to create decent HDR and time lapse videos, but the results are a bit noisy in low light and when using zoom. The 2000 mAh battery is good enough to last a day and a half with regular usage, including Wi-Fi.
There aren't many big flaws with the phone. But we noticed that a part of the phone near the camera heats up during browsing. Then there is a slight gap towards the bottom end of the touchscreen from where light seeps out and this is a minor irritant. And, yes, the phone has a tendency for the horizontal orientation, even when it doesn't need to. Maybe it likes being a tablet more than a phone.
Overall, we suggest people who are looking at an affordable phablet or tablet should consider this phone seriously.
BAG IT OR JUNK IT? Buy this small tablet and you won't be disappointed.
Your favourite tech magazine Gadgets & Gizmos has gone digital! Grab your copy now!
