Micromax Canvas Turbo Mini quick-read review: It might be a good idea to skip ... - Financial Express ~ Electronic Gadgets

Mihir Patkar | Mumbai | Updated: Apr 15 2014, 10:50 IST

Micromax Canvas Turbo Mini costs around Rs 12,000

SummaryMotorola Moto G or the Micromax Canvas 4 are both far better than the Turbo Mini.

Mobile phones are getting bigger and bigger, but what about those of us with smaller hands? Not everyone wants a smartphone that barely fits in their pocket or something that eclipses their face when held against the ear. Like the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact and the Moto G, the Micromax Canvas Turbo Mini asks the question: do good things still come in small packages?

Price: Rs 12,000 approximately

Design: With a unibody design, the Canvas Turbo Mini manages to look pretty good from a distance. It�s got a back that�s made to look like brushed aluminium, although it�s made out of plastic. And it�s light when you first hold it too. But that�s not what you notice. You notice the cheap quality of the materials. You notice the way the chrome trimming along the corners has started discolouring. You notice the innumerable scratches and blemishes on the back. And you notice how the flaps on the top and bottom of the back don�t sit flush with the plate in the middle. The Canvas Turbo Mini is that unit which is great when you take it out of the box, but quickly starts aging.

Screen: Not having a Gorilla Glass or other scratch-resistant surface is always bothersome for me and that earns the Turbo Mini some negatives. But what�s nice is that it makes full use of its 4.7-inch screen, unlike the Moto G and the Z1 Compact. There are capacitive touch buttons under the screen instead of virtual on-screen buttons. When screen space is already limited, it�s nice that a manufacturer gives you full use of it. Plus, the screen itself is pretty decent. Its failings lie in the colours being a little washed out and the fact that applying a screen guard distorts its legibility in sunlight. But apart from that, it�s everything you can want.

Performance: The Canvas Turbo struggled to have its processor keep up with the FullHD screen and a similar problem plagues the Turbo Mini. It�s simply not a smooth experience, unlike other phones priced in this range like the Moto G or even Micromax�s own