4 Chinese smartphones that should have been Micromax's inspiration for the Canvas 4

The highly anticipated Micromax Canvas 4 launch has left a sour aftertaste. We’d even go so far as to say it is one of the few disappointing smartphones of the year so far. The reason is simple—over the last one year, expectations from Micromax have increased by manifold. Blu, a Florida-based company, uses the same low-cost production model that Micromax has thrived on and both companies get their smartphones manufactured by OEMs in China. There's talk that Canvas 4 is an imitation of the Blu Life One. Canvas 4 shares almost all of the Life One's specs, including the Mediatek MT6589 chipset. And it also has the same aluminium mid-housing. However, if Micromax had to look for inspiration somewhere, it could have taken cues from some Chinese-branded smartphones.

Before moving on to the list of Chinese smartphones, let’s take a look at the specifications of the Micromax Canvas 4:

iBerry had earlier introduced some nifty tablets in the Indian market, and now the company has begun the pre-order of its feature-loaded budget smartphone dubbed Auxus Nuclea N1. While the Canvas 4 is powered by the Mediatek MT6589, the Nuclea N1 takes a step further with the Mediatek MT6589T Turbo version that is more powerful and expensive. The quad-core processor clocks at a higher 1.5GHz and overall the device weighs much less at 120.7 grams. One of the most significant feature of the Nuclea N1 is its 5-inch 1080p IPS display. The display uses OGS (One Glass Solution), which helps give it a slimmer look. It also has a bigger battery at 2800 mAh. Both Canvas 4 and Nuclea N1 come with a 13MP rear camera, but the latter has a higher 8MP front-facing camera. Moreover, Auxus Nuclea N1 has managed to beat Micromax Canvas 4 not just with better specs, but also with its cheaper price tag. iBerry has put up the Nuclea N1 for pre-order at a price of Rs 15,999, which is Rs 2,000 less than Canvas 4's launch price.

Zopo C2

The next contender is the Zopo C2, which is powered by a 1.2GHz Mediatek MT6589 quad-core processor (same as the Micromax Canvas 4) but has an upper edge when it comes to the display. The C2 comes with a full HD 1920 x 1080 5-inch IPS display. It is lighter in weight at 150 grams and also has support for dual SIMs. Most of the other specifications remain the same, such as 13MP rear camera, 5MP front-facing camera and 2000 mAh battery. The Zopo C2 is priced at around Rs 13,500, which is way cheaper than the Canvas 4.

Umi X2

The Chinese phone maker Umi had launched the X2 in the Indian market earlier this year. It also has the MTK6589 quad-core processor just like the Canvas 4, but comes with a higher 2GB RAM. The smartphone was launched with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS version but got the 4.2 update in April. It has a 5-inch IPS LCD with a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The 16GB model of Canvas 4 is priced at Rs 17,999, while Umi is selling its 16GB and 32GB X2 models for Rs 14,000 and Rs 16,000 respectively. It further offers up to 64GB of expandable memory compared to 32GB offered by the Canvas 4. Just like the Canvas 4, it has a 13MP rear camera, but a slightly inferior (on paper) 3 megapixel front-facing camera. It is lighter in weight at 155 grams and comes equipped with a better 2500 mAh battery.
   
Gionee Elife E6

Launched in China today and coming to India in August, the Gionee Elife E6 has also managed to pack in a 1080p full HD display. The only hiccup seems to be its higher price tag, expected to be priced somewhere around Rs 23,000.  However, it has a faster 1.5GHz quad-core processor with 2GB RAM (likely to be Mediatek MT6589T Turbo chipset). Moreover, it's just 6.1 mm thin, making it one of the thinnest smartphones in the world. Just like the Canvas 4, it will come with a 13MP rear camera, 5MP front-facing camera and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. The smartphone is lighter at 128 grams and has a gigantic 32GB internal memory.

Just as we speak, another Indian phone maker, Spice has looked at the above smartphones for inspiration and has now launched the Spice Pinnacle for an MOP of Rs 16,999. Despite being less expensive than the Canvas 4, it has a higher resolution 1080p display and a faster 1.5GHz quad-core processor. However, the 8MP rear camera and 2MP front-facing camera could be seen as a compromise.

So what do you think? Is the Canvas 4 looking like a weaker device in comparison to these Chinese smartphones? We think Micromax has missed a beat with the Canvas 4. Let us know if you agree.