Best Entry Level Android Smart Phones : 2012 Edition

iOS and Android phones are becoming the OS of this generation and owning mobile phone powered with any of these OS, makes your phone look more of new generation. Today, we have compiled a list of Entry level Android Phones 2012 Edition, which you can consider opting for,when you want to stay limited in budget and hold this awesome OS.

The smartphone bug has bitten the nation in a big way. According to IDC’s mobile tracker data, smartphones have made a whopping 68% YoY (Year over year) growth in India. Among the smartphones, Android has the largest market share making it synonymous with smartphone OS for most laymen. While previously The Micromax Andro A60 was the only android phone below 10,000, the recent drop in prices of phones have made a long list of phones available at the entry level price points. In this post we have put together a list of smartphones that cost below Rs 8,000 to help you choose the best entry level android phone for your own use.

Samsung Galaxy Y/Color Plus (Branded Pleasure)

Samsung Galaxy Y is arguably the best entry level android smartphone from a big brand company in India. Aimed at the young aspiring feature phone users, the Samsung Galaxy Y comes packed with everything a smartphone should have: A sleek 3” TFT capacitative touch screen, a 832 MHz processor and a 11.5mm body. The phone is a beauty to hold and with the Galaxy Y Color Plus, you get various colorful cover options. Samsung Galaxy Y runs on an Android2.3(gingerbread) OS which makes it one of the most capable entry level smartphones. Provided with mobile tracker, GPS, 3G, Wifi capabilities and a 2 MP camera and 32 GB expandable memory, the Rs 6,800 price tag is practically a steal.

Motorola Fire(Touch and Type Android)

Motorola Fire is the only Touch and Type Android phone to feature in this list and for good reason. Motorola Fire comes with a 3 megapixel camera, a qwerty keypad and a whopping 2.8” capacitive touch screen. The phone runs on the Android 2.3 gingerbread OS and can communicate through Wifi, GPS, 3G and Bluetooth technologies. The phone comes with Motorola’s unique call history interface that lets you see conversations and calls between friends as a series of cards as well as the facility to make different modes for work and play. At a price tag of Rs 7,875, the Motorola Fire is one of the most ideal choices for those who want the full blown smartphone experience.

LG Optimus Me P350- Ideal for Women

Launched in early 2011, the phone promised to deliver a great Android experience with its Android 2.2(Froyo) operating system and 2.8” TFT touch screen. The phone has a nice curvy design and is quite compact, making it easy to carry. LG offers several interesting color options for the body. The 3MP cam
era provides decent picture quality but may not delight anyone. LG Optimus Me comes with a battery of 1250 mAh that provides 5hr talk time. The phone also comes with features such as Geo-tagging and proximity sensors and accelerometers making it ideal for navigation. For a price of Rs 7500 the phone does fall short of the Samsung Galaxy Y but makes up for it with a unique design which is ideal for teenagers.

Entry Level Android phones from Indian companies (Below 5000)

While the Android phones from Indian manufacturers come for a considerably cheaper price, for some people the lack of quality and lack of responsiveness may be a problem. If you can afford slightly higher price point of the android phones above then go for it. On the other hand if you must get an android phone below 5000, then go for one of the following 3.

Micromax Andro A60 (First Android… Literally)

Micromax A60 is perhaps one of  the cheapest android phones available in India. Priced at a measly Rs. 4,000, the phone provides great value for money for the first time Android user. Packed with a 2.8” resistive touch screen, 600 MHz processor and Android v2.1(Éclair), the phone offers Wifi, GPS navigation and Swype input method. The device provides you with a decent camera, good loudspeakers as well as a great web browsing facility. The phone comes with an accelerometer which aids in motion gaming.

Karbonn A1

Karbonn A1 is yet another entry level android phone with a 2.8′ resistive touch screen, 2.2 android (Froyo) OS and all the Google applications such as Google maps, Google search and youtube. The phone comes with its own set of nifty applications such as the Aldiko(Dictionary), Accuweather and an application for  call blacklisting. Karbonn A1 has stuck to the basics of making an attractive and affordable smartphone with a decent 3.2MP camera that’s useful in taking photos in the daylight and GPS with voice assist. For a price tag of Rs 4000, the phone is a good bargain from Karbonn.

Spice Mi 310

Spice Mi 310 trumps the Karbonn A1 on mainly its 3.2”  capacitive touch screen making it a better option than most entry level smartphones. The capacitive screen means it’s easier to browse and type on this phone with lower response time.  The phone comes packed with Android 2.2 (Froyo). The device comes with one of the best screen resolutions in the entry-level smartphone category rivaled probably only by the Samsung Galaxy Y. Spice Mi 310 loads and streams live flash content and videos with great ease and is highly responsive while browsing. The phone comes with a proximity sensor and an inbuilt compass feature making it both ideal for navigation and location tracking.
Priced at Rs 5,000, Spice Mi-310 is a great bargain for someone looking for all the features of a high end smartphone at the price range of a branded feature phone.
So, finally you picked one of these Entry level android Phone, and now time to pimp up your device, here are few articles, which will help you:

• 25 Android apps for Indian users
• Tweaks to increase Android performance
• Planner S: Social Diary app for Android

And most important don’t forget to learn how to recover deleted files from Android, as it’s going to be very handy at data crisis time.

Summary

The future is bright for the entry-level smartphone user. Falling prices and greater choices are expected in the year 2012. Players like Samsung and Motorola have made a great phone affordable to the teenagers while the local small players like Micromax and Karbonn will keep posing difficult challenges to them. Expect more players such as HTC and Sony to bring in affordable Android smartphones as well. Samsung Galaxy Y may have just redefined the role of the entry level smartphone and it will be interesting to see how the local manufacturers respond to this power packed offer.
This is a guest post by SitaKanta from MySmartPrice. If you would like to write for CallingAllGeeks, check our Guest posting criteria.

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