Spice Mi310 Specs Prices Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview of Spice Mi-310

The Spice Mi-310 was a pioneering smartphone released in early 2011 by Spice Mobiles, an Indian mobile phone manufacturer. It made its mark as one of the earlier Android phones in the budget category, offering a decent set of features for its price range at the time. Despite being discontinued now, it holds a place in the evolution of affordable Android devices, particularly in developing markets.

Design and Build

The design of the Spice Mi-310 is utilitarian, featuring dimensions of 116 x 60 x 12 mm and a weight of 120 grams. It accommodated a 3.15-inch TFT display, which was standard for budget phones of the period. The phone was offered in a dark red color, giving it a distinctive look. Despite its compact size, it possessed a robust build quality, allowing it to endure the rigors of everyday use.

Display

The Spice Mi-310 featured a 3.15-inch TFT screen with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, translating to a moderate pixel density of approximately 183 pixels per inch. Although the screen quality was not top-tier, it was sufficient for basic tasks such as browsing the web, viewing images, and handling typical smartphone functions. The display could reflect lively colors, with a 256K color depth offering, ensuring an adequate viewing experience for its users.

Performance and Software

Running on Android 2.2 Froyo, the Spice Mi-310 offered a relatively smooth user experience considering its hardware limitations. Froyo was an earlier iteration of Android, featuring basic but efficient functionalities and support for numerous apps on the Google Play Store at the time. However, the device's performance was often constrained by its limited computational power and RAM, though those specifics are not entirely documented.

Memory and Storage

The internal storage of the Spice Mi-310 was limited to 85 MB, which quickly became insufficient for users who wished to install a substantial number of applications. Nonetheless, it provided support for microSDHC cards, allowing users to expand storage up to a more generous capacity. This feature was particularly important, as the expandable storage option enabled users to store more multimedia content conveniently.

Camera Capabilities

Equipped with a 2-megapixel main camera, the Spice Mi-310 was suitable for basic photography needs. The camera allowed users to capture photos and record videos, though the image quality was modest due to the hardware constraints typical of budget smartphones at the time. The absence of a selfie camera was a limitation for users interested in video calls or self-portraits.

Battery Life

The device was powered by a removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery, offering up to 200 hours of standby time and approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes of talk time. While these figures reflect limitations by modern standards, they were relatively average for devices from that production period. The removable nature of the battery was advantageous, allowing users to replace it easily if needed.

Connectivity and Communication

The Spice Mi-310 supported GSM and HSPA network technologies, enabling basic connectivity options like voice calls and data usage. It featured GSM 900/1800 bands for 2G and HSDPA 2100 for 3G connectivity, with data speeds reaching up to 7.2 Mbps. Moreover, it housed Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.1, ensuring local wireless communication capabilities. The inclusion of GPS and A-GPS enhanced its navigation functionality, while the FM radio catered to users interested in broadcast media.

Audio & Other Features

The Spice Mi-310 came with a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack for personal audio use. It supported various audio formats, allowing users to enjoy music playback. Additional features included a range of sensors such as an accelerometer and proximity sensor, which were vital for various applications and enhanced user interactions with the device.

Price Point and Market Reception

Priced at approximately 100 EUR at launch, the Spice Mi-310 targeted budget-conscious consumers seeking access to smartphone functionalities without significant expenditure. It was generally well-received in emerging markets where affordability was a key factor influencing buying decisions. However, its limited specifications contrasted sharply with flagship models of the time, which offered more extensive features at higher prices.

Conclusion

The Spice Mi-310 serves as an example of early efforts to democratize smartphone technology, making it accessible to a broader audience. Although it has since been surpassed by more advanced devices, it remains part of the broader narrative of mobile technology development, contributing to the widespread adoption of Android smartphones worldwide.