Introducing Gigabyte GSmart Mika M3
The Gigabyte GSmart Mika M3 is a smartphone that was launched in October 2014 and hit the market in November of the same year. Despite being discontinued now, the device was a notable offering during its time, known for its balance of essential smartphone features with some enhanced capabilities at an affordable price point.
Design and Build Quality
The GSmart Mika M3 boasts dimensions of 144 x 70.5 x 8.3 mm and a weight of 146 grams, which are quite typical for a smartphone of its era. The phone features a dual SIM capability, allowing users to operate two SIM cards simultaneously, making it ideal for those who need to balance personal and professional calls. The phone was released in a stylish navy blue color, exuding elegance and simplicity.
Display Characteristics
The Mika M3 is equipped with a 5.0-inch IPS LCD display. This choice of screen technology provided users with better viewing angles and color reproduction compared to traditional TFT LCDs. The display resolution is 720 x 1280 pixels, with a 16:9 aspect ratio yielding approximately 294 ppi pixel density, which was quite reasonable for its class during the time of release.
Performance and Platform
Under the hood, the smartphone runs on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system, powered by a Mediatek MT6582 chipset with a quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU. The graphic processing unit is Mali-400MP2 which facilitated smooth graphical performance for basic tasks and light gaming. The device comes with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, expandable via a microSDHC card for those needing additional space.
Camera Capabilities
The Mika M3 is equipped with a single 13 MP main camera featuring autofocus and an LED flash, providing users the ability to capture decent quality photos and videos. On the front, it has an 8 MP camera suitable for selfies and video calls, which was a strong point for a phone at its price range during its release.
Battery Life and Functionality
The device houses a removable Li-Ion 1900 mAh battery. In terms of performance, it offers up to 150 hours of standby time and up to 4.5 hours of talk time. While these numbers might seem modest today, they were adequate for everyday tasks and communication needs back in 2014.
Connectivity Options
The GSmart Mika M3 supports GSM/HSPA network technology, which includes 2G and 3G bands. It offers connectivity features such as Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot functionality, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, an FM radio, and a microUSB 2.0 for data transfer and charging. However, the phone does not support NFC, which limits some advanced wireless functionalities.
Audio and Additional Features
For audio, the device includes a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, ensuring compatibility with most headphones and audio accessories. It is also equipped with basic sensors like an accelerometer and a proximity sensor, catering to essential smartphone functionalities.
Conclusion
In retrospection, the Gigabyte GSmart Mika M3 remains a testament to the rapidly evolving smartphone industry, showcasing how mid-range devices were designed to cater to essential functionalities while striving to provide a bit more value with some enhanced features. Its balance of practicality, performance, and design made it a worthy choice for its time.