Lava Iris 350m Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview of Lava Iris 350m

The Lava Iris 350m is a low-budget smartphone that was released in June 2014. Although it is now discontinued, it remains a noteworthy device for anyone exploring the history of mobile technology or considering second-hand purchases. This comprehensive review delves into its specifications, features, and usability to give a full understanding of what this smartphone offers.

Design and Build

The Lava Iris 350m boasts a compact design with dimensions measuring 118 x 62 x 10.2 mm. Designed to be held comfortably in one hand, it fits well for users who prefer smaller phones over the modern trend of larger screens. Despite its affordability, the device offers a dual-SIM capability, which is particularly useful for separating work and personal contacts or utilizing different network providers for better connectivity.

Display

The smartphone is equipped with a 3.5-inch TFT display, offering modest visibility with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. The screen-to-body ratio is approximately 49.9%, which is typical for phones released during this period. With a pixel density of around 165 ppi, users can expect basic visual clarity. Though it may not compete with modern devices offering high-definition displays, it is sufficient for basic navigating, calling, and messaging purposes.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Lava Iris 350m is powered by a dual-core 1.0 GHz CPU, complemented by a Mali-400 GPU. Running on Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), the device provides basic functionality fitting for its budget category. The operating system offers access to a range of applications through the Google Play Store, allowing for the installation of essential apps like social media, messaging, and basic games.

Memory and Storage

The phone comes with 512MB of both RAM and internal storage. While this amount may seem highly limited by today's standards, it caters adequately to the phone’s operating system and a few basic applications. Additionally, the device includes a microSDHC slot allowing storage expansion, which is crucial for users needing more space for multimedia and additional apps.

Camera Capabilities

The Lava Iris 350m features a single 2 MP main camera, capable of capturing basic images and videos, while there's also a VGA front camera for selfies or video calls. Not designed to compete with high-resolution smartphones, this device instead focuses on delivering acceptable photography for the most essential capturing needs.

Connectivity

Connectivity options on the device include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0. While lacking advanced features like GPS and NFC, it supports FM radio, a valuable feature for users who enjoy live radio. Moreover, the microUSB 2.0 port is the charging and data transfer interface, aligning with the industry standards at the time of its release.

Battery Life

The phone is powered by a removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery. While this may seem minimal, given the device’s basic hardware and software requirements, it achieves a balanced performance. Users can expect up to 240 hours on standby and about 9.5 hours of talk time, provided their usage remains moderate and they maintain standard app installation and connectivity.

Audio Features

The device supports a loudspeaker and includes a 3.5mm audio jack, allowing users to connect standard headphones. This feature remains essential for multimedia streaming and making hands-free calls.

Sensors and Additional Features

Regarding sensors, the Lava Iris 350m includes an accelerometer but lacks more modern sensors like proximity or brightness sensors. While basic by today's standards, these sensors were sufficient for the typical use scenarios the device was designed for: primarily voice communication and basic app usage.

Network Support

Considering its release date, the device caters to GSM technology across 2G bands, supporting GSM 900 and 1800 on both SIM 1 and SIM 2 slots, providing fundamental connectivity and ensuring compatibility in areas with limited network availability.

Conclusion

The Lava Iris 350m stands as a testament to early smartphone technology during the mid-2010s. Targeting budget-conscious consumers, its solid build and fundamental capabilities made it a suitable choice for first-time smartphone users or as an additional device. While it doesn't boast the specifications of advanced contemporary smartphones, it’s well-suited for users seeking simplicity and basic functionality in their devices.