Micromax Superfone A85 is the cheapest dual core phone in India, but pricey for a Micromax phone

Micromax’s latest Android phone now has a name and price. It’s called Micromax Superfone A85 (more about it below) and is priced at Rs. 18990.

That price makes Micromax A85 the cheapest dual core phone available out there, its closest competitor being LG Optimus 2X for a price of Rs. A85 is also Micromax’s most expensive phone ever.

Read our Dual-Core phone smack down : Samsung Galaxy S2 vs HTC Sensation vs LG Optimus X2

What’s super about Micromax Superfone A85?

Micromax A85 runs on a 1 GHz Nvdia Tegra 2 dual core processor, 3.8 inch TFT screen, 5 MP camera, 0.3 MP front camera, Android 2.2 (yeah, they still do that), 8 GB memory, 512 MB RAM and has a 1500 mAh battery.

Calling Micromax A85 as a super phone is a misnomer. It is a nice marketing ploy but it could back fire. It’s also ironical because we are now discussing about Quad Core phones like HTC Edge and Meizu MX. Also the definition of Super Phone shifts every month.

May be Micromax should have a caption which reads :

Micromax Superphone (For us) A85

Just like its i (can afford this) Phone.

The Price

LG Optimus 2X is Micromax A85’s nearest competitor. Optimus 2X has a slightly better front-facing camera, a slightly bigger screen (4-inch) and runs on Android 2.3. At a near 6K price difference, Micromax A85 actually does much better with the specs.

So why do I call Micromax A85 pricey? Micromax isn’t a luxury brand. It never was. It made its name, fame and money by selling low-cost, dual-SIM and innovatively designed, and slyly advertised phones.

Micromax A85 is Micromax’s first expensive phone. It usually treaded in the under-10K price range.  A jump from 9K phones to 19K phones is a considerable jump which can hurt.

Spice had a similar dilemma. To shed its low-cost phone image and to enter into high-end phones, Spice has launched Spice Mi410 at 14K. Micromax should have done something similar. A phone in the 14K-16K range would have been smarter move.

Irrespective of what my reservations are about the price, all latest phones should run the latest OS version available. Period. I can’t understand why Micromax A85 can’t run Android 2.3, if not Ice Cream Sandwich.

Via AndroidOS