Nov 19, 2012 10:55 AM
4635 Views
Launched in November 2012, Karbonn A9+ is a Dual-Core update of it's A9 predecessor. The phone features Dual-Core 1.2GHz CPU, 386MB RAM, 512MB ROM, 2GB Internal Storage, Up-to 32GB External Storage via Micro SD Cards, Dual SIM supporting CDMA, 5MP camera with Flash, 0.3MP Front camera, WiFi-n, Bluetooth 3, 3G, GPRS, GPS, 4" Capacitive touch screen, Android 4.0.4 OS.
Price at 9K (online) and 9.5K (Sangeetha mobiles), the phone is uniquely placed in the market with no other phone featuring similar specs at this price.
The phone excels in most departments. Phone calls are signal-loss free, echo and distortion free. Speakers, Headset, Handsfree Speakers etc. are quite loud and clear.
The display is vibrant and the touch response is smooth.Android 4.0.4 is feature packed and the Android Market Place is full of useful apps; many of which are free.Design and style-wise too, the phone looks as good as any International brand.
The phone's battery is a big let-down if you intend to use the phone as a tablet for long durations. Some apps, particularly 3G/Bluetooth/WiFi based apps tend to drain the battery. OpenGL based Live Wallpapers also drain the battery. You may find yourself recharging the phone twice a day. Full recharge takes 2 hours.
Normal usage (phone used mostly for calls, messages, email) result in the battery lasting approx. 8 hours. It maybe a good idea to keep the charger handy at all times.
The capacitive touch screen acts up when the phone is connected to a charger/USB port. You may find it hard to control the phone.
The image quality from the 5MP camera is disappointing. I really was not expecting much from a sensor the size of a pin-head but the camera also suffers from colour-shifts and low dynamic range issues.
The phone makes up it shortcomings due to the snappy performance of the apps. Email, browsing, games are fast. Google voice search works well with Indian accent and it is very handy when searching web or typing emails/sms messages.
Don't go comparing this phone with a Samsung Galaxy note etc. Those cost 3 times more and do not have any of the shortcomings of this phone. But for those who was a good Android experience on a budget, this phone is a terrific option.
You can read a in-depth technical review on my blog.
