Price and specifications of Micromax A85 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview

The Micromax A85, unveiled in the third quarter of 2011, marked a significant stride into the early smartphone era for its brand. With its advanced features for the time, it sought to capture a share of the burgeoning Android market. Though discontinued now, its historical impact is worth exploring for technology enthusiasts.

Network and Connectivity

The device supported GSM networks, operating across four bands: GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900. Its connectivity options included GPRS and EDGE facilities, paired with HSPA to ensure users remained connected with reasonable data speeds. This made it a competent device for basic internet browsing and social media interaction typical of its era.

Design and Build

Constructed with dimensions of 118.7 x 60.1 x 13.8 mm, the Micromax A85 offered a compact and manageable feel in hand. While specific weight details were not disclosed, the device embraced the standard design patterns of early 2010s smartphones, including a mini-SIM slot, and a black color variant that added a sleek, classic touch.

Display Features

Featuring a 3.8-inch TFT display, the Micromax A85 offered a 480 x 800 pixel resolution, yielding a reasonable 246 ppi density. These specifications ensured a clear and vivid representation of on-screen content, ranging from app interfaces to multimedia. The screen-to-body ratio was approximately 57.6%, a testament to the era's design aesthetics focused on compact and user-friendly devices.

Performance and Platform

Under its hood, the Micromax A85 was powered by the Nvidia Tegra 2 AP20H chipset, accompanied by a dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 processor and an ULP GeForce GPU. Such specifications allowed for smooth performance on the Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system. Despite its limited 521MB RAM, the phone still delivered a relatively efficient user experience for everyday tasks and moderate multitasking.

Memory and Storage

Internally, the device came equipped with 8GB of storage space, complemented by a microSDHC slot for expandable storage, enabling users to scale the storage to meet their needs. Although the RAM was limited to 521MB, it was sufficient for most core functionalities and apps available at the time.

Camera Capabilities

The Micromax A85 included a 5 MP autofocus main camera, capable of delivering decent image quality for everyday photography. Although basic by today's standards, it offered video recording capabilities, a notable feature at the time. The front of the device housed a VGA camera, which catered to basic video conferencing and selfies.

Audio and Sound

The audio setup of the Micromax A85 included a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing for flexible audio consumption and communication. This configuration adhered to the standard user preferences for earphone and speaker usage during its release period.

Communications and Additional Features

Connectivity options spanned across Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth integration, and GPS support through A-GPS. The inclusion of FM radio with RDS added an entertainment option that many users valued. MicroUSB 2.0 facilitated charging and data transfer functions, a common feature during that era.

Sensors included an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and a compass, enhancing the device's interactive features and ensuring a seamless user experience across various applications and environments.

Battery Life

Powered by a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery, the A85 promised up to 250 hours of standby time and about 3 hours and 20 minutes of talk time. These figures underscored a reliance on modest power consumption suitable for light to moderate usage patterns typical of its user base.

Price and Release

Originally priced at about 270 EUR, the Micromax A85 positioned itself as a mid-range offering in the smartphone market of its time. Released in October 2011, it soon became one of the options available for users seeking to explore Android technology without breaching premium price ranges.

Legacy and Conclusion

Despite its eventual discontinuation, the Micromax A85 remains a point of reference for technological progress within the smartphone industry. It highlighted the transition towards more sophisticated mobile devices and demonstrated the evolving capabilities within the Android ecosystem. Review of such devices helps understand how far technology has evolved and what features were considered groundbreaking in their time.