In a bid to cover up lost ground, top Indian smartphone maker Micromax today unveiled the Canvas Nitro A 310 at a price point that’ll make buyers think twice before hitting the ‘add to cart’ button for the Mi 3 (that is, if it goes on sale again).
The Canvas Nitro comes with an octa-core processor and a healthy 2GB of RAM, which is gradually becoming the standard for mid-range phones in more and more markets each day. The phone however does not have a full HD display which you would expect a flagship to have, so it is possible that Micromax have something bigger planned for later this year.
Besides the octa-core MT6592 CPU, 2GB RAM and 5-inch HD display, the Canvas Nitro has a 13 mega-pixel rear camera with the sensor sourced from Sony (IMX135) along with a 5 mega-pixel front camera. Thanks to low LTE penetration in its main market, there’s no 4G support on the Canvas Nitro, but the phone does work with HSPA+ networks on 3G.
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Specifications
- 5-inch 1280 x 720p display
- 1.7GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6592 CPU
- 2GB RAM
- 8GB on-board expandable ROM
- 13 mega-pixel rear camera
- 5 mega-pixel front camera
- 2500mAh battery
- Android v4.4 KitKat
Lastly, a 2,500mAh battery is what powers the phone. It’s a removable unit, so you can always swap one for another if you fall short of juice in the middle of the day. Also like we mentioned from the teasers, the Canvas Nitro does feature a leather-ish rear akin to the ex-Galaxy Note flagship.
Check out our review of the Xiaomi Mi 3Β
The Canvas Nitro gets a 12,990 INR or $215 price tag in India, and is seen as a decent option for budget smartphone seekers in the country.
lol so what if it’s cheaper than the MI3 , hundreds of phones are.
It’s smaller than the Redmi Note and costs 3000 INR more.
This is a Moto G second gen competitor and i believe the prices are identical.
Now, If they had the A17 based 6595 , it would be nice and worth considering over Moto G and Redmi Note.
If you look at the ad campaign Micromax did before launching this phone, you’ll know why I used the headline. And anyway it isn’t a comparison.
About MT6595, I was seriously hoping this would have it, but that wasn’t to be. Also I think Micromax are missing the point here by having it sold exclusively via Snapdeal, because there are other companies which are doing the online-only thing better than them. It is in Micromax’s best interests to consolidate the offline market while they have a good share.
The ad is aimed to mislead and you serve their needs by repeating the message, instead of helping the readers see through it. I think it would be better to provide the info with the BS, too much of the press repeats the bS without any filter.
As for the online/offline thing, I don’t know the India market quite well enough to have an opinion. Exclusivity deals do allow them better pricing since the retailer takes lass and likely Snapdeal was very eager to compete with Flipkart when it comes to Moto G and Xiaomi.
In the end the phone and the pricing is not bad but not crushing the competition. Hell even an A53 based SoC would have been so much better since A7 is on it’s way out of the midrange.
Simply put, the average Indian buyer with a budget of 13k INR will consider the Canvas Nitro, even when the Mi 3 is on sale, and that is why it got a mention here (without any intentions to mislead).
And I agree about the phone not being too bad. It’s going the right way, and am sure a lot of MT6595 phones aren’t too far. π
I imagine that anyone that can spend 13k on a phone has an internet connection and makes an effort to get informed. Most Indians spend a lot less on their phone. Income is low and smartphones are not even 1/3 of total phone sales with like 80 of the smartphones sold being bellow 200$ and smartphone penetration some 10% only. So likely most of the target audience has no problem with buying online (that data is more or less from IDC released numbers in the recent quarters).
A lot of those that spend a lot more than 13k don’t use the internet (it’s really a hard market to understand, especially to an outsider). I understand what you’re trying to say though.
I know (or assume at least) that most don’t have credit cards and there might be a reluctance to buying online, at least for older people. But on the other hand online commerce seems to be growing a lot with Flipkart, Snapdeal, Amazon and the likes pushing hard.
And don’t really know Micromax’s strategy but i assume they are working on offline sales too ,the best they can and this is just another front. Or do you think this means they’ll focus on online?
Yes, ecommerce is rising like never before. Its mainly because of more affordable smartphones and cheaper data plans; a lot of ecommerce has been taking place through the phone itself.
From the looks of it, it seems like Micromax will keep pushing more affordable phones though the offline channel (where they have a strong presence) and perhaps a mixture of online and offline for higher value phones. Competing against the whole lot of new brands isn’t going to be easy.
Seen that the new gov wants to push for internet and smartphones too and that’s good, if they actually get something done.
For Micromax , as far as i know, they had 1.2 billions revenue in 2013, expecting some 2 billions in 2014 so not that big yet but the India market growing a lot and growing for plenty more years should allow them to become big enough. I think they intend to go public in 2015 so they would have some more funds on hand but then there will be pressure to be profitable so it remains to be seen how they handle all that. Either them, or Karbonn or Lava or some other local brand is bound to become a global player, should be interesting to watch.
By the way, no plans for Xiaomi to release a Redmi Note with MT6595 or MT6795 ?
Will you release a review of the Meizu MX4 with the MT6595 ?
Thanks π !
Yep, we will be doing a review of the MT6595 MX4. Already did a hands on btw: http://www.gizchina.com/2014/09/06/meizu-mx4-unboxing-hands-on-video/ π
No word on the Redmi Note yet though.
Thanks !
lol cheaper??! why not say doogee 2014 cheaper than samsung s5. this site is becoming a joke more and more.. I know you can do better gizCHINA
What a douchebag.
Think it is poor review and comparison with mi3 isn’t fair
hahahahaha
You want to compare this mid range nothing special device with one of the best smartphones in the world – high end Mi3.?
Gimme a brake Yash…
One of the best lol
Standing in the same row with LG G2 Nexus 5 galaxy s5 does not make one of the best in the world ..?
That’s your opinion, just because the written specs are “familiar” it doesn’t mean it must be standing close. For one, that thing has serious ergonomic problem.
sounds gud alternative 2 mi3 ..it has 5mp front camera..
lol so what if it’s cheaper than the MI3 , hundreds of phones are.
It’s smaller than the Redmi Note and costs 3000 INR more.
This is a Moto G second gen competitor and i believe the prices are identical.
Now, If they had the A17 based 6595 , it would be nice and worth considering over Moto G and Redmi Note.
If you look at the ad campaign Micromax did before launching this phone, you’ll know why I used the headline. And anyway it isn’t a comparison.
About MT6595, I was seriously hoping this would have it, but that wasn’t to be. Also I think Micromax are missing the point here by having it sold exclusively via Snapdeal, because there are other companies which are doing the online-only thing better than them. It is in Micromax’s best interests to consolidate the offline market while they have a good share.
The ad is aimed to mislead and you serve their needs by repeating the message, instead of helping the readers see through it. I think it would be better to provide the info with the BS, too much of the press repeats the bS without any filter.
As for the online/offline thing, I don’t know the India market quite well enough to have an opinion. Exclusivity deals do allow them better pricing since the retailer takes lass and likely Snapdeal was very eager to compete with Flipkart when it comes to Moto G and Xiaomi.
In the end the phone and the pricing is not bad but not crushing the competition. Hell even an A53 based SoC would have been so much better since A7 is on it’s way out of the midrange.
Simply put, the average Indian buyer with a budget of 13k INR will consider the Canvas Nitro, even when the Mi 3 is on sale, and that is why it got a mention here (without any intentions to mislead).
And I agree about the phone not being too bad. It’s going the right way, and am sure a lot of MT6595 phones aren’t too far. π
I imagine that anyone that can spend 13k on a phone has an internet connection and makes an effort to get informed. Most Indians spend a lot less on their phone. Income is low and smartphones are not even 1/3 of total phone sales with like 80 of the smartphones sold being bellow 200$ and smartphone penetration some 10% only. So likely most of the target audience has no problem with buying online (that data is more or less from IDC released numbers in the recent quarters).
A lot of those that spend a lot more than 13k don’t use the internet (it’s really a hard market to understand, especially to an outsider). I understand what you’re trying to say though.
I know (or assume at least) that most don’t have credit cards and there might be a reluctance to buying online, at least for older people. But on the other hand online commerce seems to be growing a lot with Flipkart, Snapdeal, Amazon and the likes pushing hard.
And don’t really know Micromax’s strategy but i assume they are working on offline sales too ,the best they can and this is just another front. Or do you think this means they’ll focus on online?
Yes, ecommerce is rising like never before. Its mainly because of more affordable smartphones and cheaper data plans; a lot of ecommerce has been taking place through the phone itself.
From the looks of it, it seems like Micromax will keep pushing more affordable phones though the offline channel (where they have a strong presence) and perhaps a mixture of online and offline for higher value phones. Competing against the whole lot of new brands isn’t going to be easy.
Seen that the new gov wants to push for internet and smartphones too and that’s good, if they actually get something done.
For Micromax , as far as i know, they had 1.2 billions revenue in 2013, expecting some 2 billions in 2014 so not that big yet but the India market growing a lot and growing for plenty more years should allow them to become big enough. I think they intend to go public in 2015 so they would have some more funds on hand but then there will be pressure to be profitable so it remains to be seen how they handle all that. Either them, or Karbonn or Lava or some other local brand is bound to become a global player, should be interesting to watch.
By the way, no plans for Xiaomi to release a Redmi Note with MT6595 or MT6795 ?
Will you release a review of the Meizu MX4 with the MT6595 ?
Thanks π !
Yep, we will be doing a review of the MT6595 MX4. Already did a hands on btw: http://www.gizchina.com/2014/09/06/meizu-mx4-unboxing-hands-on-video/ π
No word on the Redmi Note yet though.
Thanks !
lol cheaper??! why not say doogee 2014 cheaper than samsung s5. this site is becoming a joke more and more.. I know you can do better gizCHINA
What a douchebag.
I remember the ad taking a dig at Xiaomi’s purchasing methods, but I think it was aimed more towards the Redmi Note than the Mi3.
I think you mean Redmi 1S. The Redmi Note is yet to go on sale in India π
Think it is poor review and comparison with mi3 isn’t fair
hahahahaha
You want to compare this mid range nothing special device with one of the best smartphones in the world – high end Mi3.?
Gimme a brake Yash…
One of the best lol
Standing in the same row with LG G2 Nexus 5 galaxy s5 does not make one of the best in the world ..?
That’s your opinion, just because the written specs are “familiar” it doesn’t mean it must be standing close. For one, that thing has serious ergonomic problem.
sounds gud alternative 2 mi3 ..it has 5mp front camera..
I remember the ad taking a dig at Xiaomi’s purchasing methods, but I think it was aimed more towards the Redmi Note than the Mi3.
I think you mean Redmi 1S. The Redmi Note is yet to go on sale in India π
Looks like a rebadged Coolpad F1 with a different back cover.
As an owner of the F1 I can confirm it is an excellent-value phone, but it is in no way comparable to the MI3 performance-wise (or price-wise, for that matter).
You can quite easily get your hands on the F1 for less than $170.
Looks like a rebadged Coolpad F1 with a different back cover.
As an owner of the F1 I can confirm it is an excellent-value phone, but it is in no way comparable to the MI3 performance-wise (or price-wise, for that matter).
You can quite easily get your hands on the F1 for less than $170.
$215 in India is way too much for a phone with these specs. I would consider the Xiaomi Note LTE version if 5.5″ is your preference or the Moto G LTE if you prefer a 5″ screen. Both phones are going for ~$220.
$215 in India is way too much for a phone with these specs. I would consider the Xiaomi Note LTE version if 5.5″ is your preference or the Moto G LTE if you prefer a 5″ screen. Both phones are going for ~$220.
Whats up with the weird fist punch logo on the back? Is that on all their phones?
Whats up with the weird fist punch logo on the back? Is that on all their phones?