Lava Iris 450 Colour Comprehensive Review and Price Breakdown

Overview of Lava Iris 450 Colour

The Lava Iris 450 Colour, released in April 2014, is a smartphone that represents a balance between affordability and basic functionality. This device is particularly appealing to users looking for a simple yet colorful option, as it comes in five distinct colors including Blue, Tan Brown, Raspberry Pink, Ivory White, and Pro Black. Despite its discontinuation, it remains a topic of interest for those exploring budget phone options from the mid-2010s.

Design and Build

The Lava Iris 450 Colour features dimensions of 136 x 63.5 x 10.5 mm and weighs 136 grams. This compact size was typical for the era, making it easy to handle and fit comfortably in pockets. The phone's design allows for two SIM cards, thereby offering users flexibility in managing their personal and business contacts or data plans.

Display

The phone sports a 4.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. This screen size, in combination with a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 64.6%, results in a pixel density of about 218 pixels per inch. While not providing high-definition visuals by modern standards, the display is adequate for basic tasks such as browsing the internet, checking emails, and viewing photos.

Performance

Under the hood, the Lava Iris 450 Colour is powered by a dual-core 1.3 GHz processor paired with a Mali-400 GPU. It runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, an operating system that was quite popular at the time of its release. The device incorporates 512MB of RAM, which is minimal by today’s standards, but it was sufficient for basic multitasking and running lightweight applications in 2014.

Storage

The device comes with 4GB of internal storage, providing limited space for apps, media, and other files. However, users can expand the storage using a microSDHC card, which offers additional flexibility for storing photos, videos, and music.

Camera Capabilities

The primary camera on the Lava Iris 450 Colour is a single 5 MP shooter, equipped with LED flash, panorama, and HDR features. The camera supports 720p video recording, providing users with basic photographic capabilities. For selfies and video calls, a VGA front camera is included, which was standard for entry-level phones in its release period.

Battery Life

Powering the device is a removable Li-Ion 1800 mAh battery, which offers up to 9 hours and 15 minutes of talk time. For a device with basic specifications, this battery life is considered reasonable, providing a full day's usage for light to moderate users.

Connectivity

The Lava Iris 450 Colour supports GSM and HSPA network technology. It covers 2G bands of GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz, as well as 3G bands with HSDPA 2100. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, and GPS for navigation purposes. It also integrates FM radio with recording and microUSB 2.0 for charging and data transfer. However, it lacks NFC support, which might be expected due to its budget nature.

Audio and Multimedia

The phone comes with a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack. These features ensure users can enjoy their music and calls without the need for additional adapters, staying in line with the traditional audio options preferred by many users during its release period.

Additional Features

To enhance user experience, the smartphone includes basic sensors like an accelerometer and proximity sensor. While it doesn’t boast advanced features found in modern smartphones, it offers the essentials needed for everyday functionality.

Price and Market Position

At the time of its launch, the Lava Iris 450 Colour was priced around 100 EUR, positioning it as an affordable option for consumers. This price point, coupled with its colorful design, made it an attractive choice for younger individuals and those seeking a straightforward device for communication and basic app use.

Conclusion

In summary, the Lava Iris 450 Colour serves as a testament to the demand for budget-friendly smartphones in the mid-2010s. While it doesn't offer the features or specifications of more contemporary devices, its combination of affordability, basic functionality, and vibrant design remains relevant for specific user groups. For anyone looking at technology evolution or satisfying basic mobile computing needs, the Lava Iris 450 Colour still holds its ground as an interesting case study in the evolution of low-cost smartphones.