Maxwest Astro 45 Specs Prices Pros & Cons Revealed

Design and Build

The Maxwest Astro 4.5 features a practical design aimed at users seeking simplicity and ease of use. Its dimensions, 134.3 x 66.7 x 10 mm, provide a comfortable grip for most users, and it weighs just 131 grams, making it lightweight and convenient to carry. The phone supports dual SIM functionality, facilitating the management of two separate phone numbers, and it is available in various color options, including White, Black, Gold, Gray, and Blue.

Display

The device sports a 4.5-inch TFT display, which provides a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 218 pixels per inch. This screen size and resolution are fairly standard for devices from its release period, offering decent clarity and color reproduction. The screen covers about 62.3% of the front body, offering an adequate viewing experience for basic tasks such as browsing, texting, and casual gaming.

Hardware and Performance

Under the hood, the Maxwest Astro 4.5 is powered by a Mediatek MT6572M chipset, built on a 28 nm process technology. It houses a dual-core Cortex-A7 CPU clocked at 1.2 GHz, paired with a Mali-400 GPU. This combination provides sufficient power for basic smartphone operations, though it might struggle with more demanding applications and multitasking due to its limited 512MB RAM.

The internal storage capacity stands at a modest 4GB, which can be expanded via a microSDHC card slot, offering users more room for apps, photos, and other media.

Camera

The Maxwest Astro 4.5 is equipped with an 8 MP rear camera, accompanied by an LED flash for improved low-light photography. It supports 720p video recording, catering to standard photo and video capture needs. On the front, there’s a VGA camera that serves for basic selfie-taking and video calls, reflecting its status as an entry-level device.

Battery Life

The smartphone is powered by a removable 1700 mAh Li-Ion battery. Although not particularly large by today's standards, this capacity was fairly typical for devices during its time of release. It supports up to 190 hours of standby time and roughly 5 hours of talk time, both on 3G networks, which should suffice for average daily use without frequent recharging.

Software and Features

Running on Android 4.4.2 KitKat, the Maxwest Astro 4.5 offers users an interface consistent with Google's more dated software design and functionality. While this OS version lacks some enhancements and features present in later Android iterations, it remains user-friendly and efficient for handling common tasks.

The phone includes a range of sensors such as an accelerometer and proximity sensor. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, GPS for location services, and microUSB 2.0 for data transfer and charging. It supports stereo FM radio, appealing to users who value over-the-air radio access.

Network and Connectivity

The Maxwest Astro 4.5 supports GSM and HSPA network technologies, offering broad compatibility with different carriers. It can operate on a variety of bands, including GSM 850/900/1800/1900 for both SIM slots and HSDPA 850/1900/2100 for 3G networks. The phone is capable of offering HSPA speeds up to 21.1 Mbps for downloads and 5.76 Mbps for uploads, adequate for browsing and streaming in standard definition.

Conclusion

The Maxwest Astro 4.5, while discontinued, represents a segment of affordable, functional smartphones that cater to basic communication and mobile needs. Its design focuses on functionality over style, and while performance constraints exist due to limited RAM and storage, it remains a viable option for those seeking simplicity without the frills of more advanced contemporary smartphones. For users concerned with essential tasks such as calling, basic internet browsing, and occasional multimedia usage, the Astro 4.5 proves to be a competent companion in its class.