Micromax Bharat 1

As you can see, it’s not much different from other feature phones available in this segment. Though it’s interesting to note that the device comes powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 205 platform – which also fuels the JioPhone (some phones utilise the Spreadtrum chipset). Additionally, the phone scores full marks when it comes to the connectivity options on offer – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and even GPS.

The Micromax Bharat 1 doesn’t depart from the design ethos of a typical feature phone. Up front, you get a 2.4-inch colour display with a T9 keypad along with a D-Pad for navigation. It can be held in the hand easily and is lightweight too, thanks to the plastic body. That’s not to say that it doesn’t seem sturdy – while we haven’t dropped it ourselves, it should easily be able to take a fall or two without any issues.

The Micromax Bharat 1 runs a customised version of Android, which means that the app support should be better (in theory at least), when compared to the JioPhone, which ships with KaiOS. The Bharat 1 offers apps like WhatsApp (needs to be downloaded) and YouTube (sadly it’s the mobile site wrapped inside a browser), which are yet to arrive on Reliance’s offering. The interface is also more user-friendly… with tile-based icons. The homescreen shows the date and time, followed by icons to access Contacts, Camera, Phone and Messages. Scrolling towards the right brings more apps, while the left screen lets you add your favourite contacts for speed dial-like functionality. The phone also comes with Facebook (it needs to be downloaded and is actually the Facebook Lite app), and its browser is powered by Opera Mini. For multimedia, it has a Fun app, which lets you access Live TV, Videos, Music and Movies. Sadly though, the library isn’t extensive, and navigating the catalogue is quite difficult too. In contrast, the JioPhone’s Jio suite of apps for the same are rich with content and easier to navigate. The Bharat 1 also has audio and video player along with FM Radio. Tools let you access Calendar, Calculator and Clock, while Application has Downloads, File Explorer, NotePad and Sound Recorder.

While the feature phone shouldn’t be considered for photography, it does sport a 2-megapixel snapper at the back and a VGA shooter on the front. The viewfinder on the Bharat 1 is quite minimal, and there are no modes either. You can press the centre button on the D-Pad to click the photo, and also zoom in or zoom out or toggle to the video recording with the direction pad. Going to the menu lets you tweak white balance or exposure. Quality-wise, the images might seem fine on the phone’s display, they’re barely usable. The images have noticeable grain and colours don’t seem natural either. The story continues with the front-facing camera too.

The Reliance JioPhone has started a ripple effect across the telecom and mobile phone industry. Using 4G is not only more affordable now, but accessing high-speed internet and high-def calls doesn’t require you to empty your pockets. However, the phone has a lot of hidden riders attached as the Mukesh Ambani-owned company has a vested interest to ensure that consumers use Jio’s network as well. Of course, there are many other options in this segment that offer users an affordable gateway to the internet. Airtel has partnered with different phonemakers like Karbonn and Celkon to offer smartphones at a similar effective price, but those also need to be recharged for a certain amount over three years to give you the actual benefit of the attached cashbacks.

Support for apps could be better