Spice Smart Flo 359 Comprehensive Specs Prices and Insights

Overview

The Spice Smart Flo 359 (Mi-359) is a budget-friendly smartphone that was introduced in August 2014. Despite its basic specifications, it aimed to cater to users looking for affordable yet functional mobile devices. The phone was discontinued later, but it remains a point of interest for technology enthusiasts exploring the evolution of budget smartphones.

Design and Build

With dimensions of 117.5 x 62.9 x 12 mm and a weight of 130 g, the Spice Smart Flo 359 is compact and portable. Designed to fit comfortably in one hand, its dual SIM capability allows users flexibility in managing multiple phone numbers. The phone's design is simple and utilitarian, offered in Titanium Grey and Silver colors. Despite its budget nature, its build quality provides adequate durability for everyday use.

Display

The device features a 3.5-inch TFT display with 256K colors, providing a decent display experience for its time. The resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, with a 3:2 ratio resulting in a pixel density of around 165 ppi, offers basic clarity for viewing media and browsing the web. Given the period of its release, the display is in line with expectations for an entry-level smartphone.

Performance

Under the hood, the Spice Smart Flo 359 is powered by a Mediatek MT6571 chipset, a dual-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU, and a Mali-400 GPU. These specifications are modest and support the basic functions like calling, texting, and running light applications without significant lag. It runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat, providing users access to many apps available at the time, although its limited RAM and internal storage might restrict performance under heavier usage scenarios.

Memory and Storage

The device comes with 256MB of RAM and 512MB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSDHC card slot. While the RAM is quite limited by today’s standards, it was just about sufficient for basic smartphone tasks when the phone was launched. The expandability of storage is a positive aspect, allowing users to store more photos, music, and other media files if required.

Camera

Equipped with a 2 MP main camera, the Spice Smart Flo 359 offers standard imaging capabilities for an entry-level smartphone. It also includes an LED flash to assist with low-light photography. The phone supports 720p video recording at 25fps, which remains fairly modest. For selfies and video calls, a 1.3 MP front-facing camera is available. These cameras are basic and align with the phone's budget orientation, catering to users who require minimal photographic functionalities.

Battery Life

The phone includes a removable Li-Ion 1400 mAh battery. According to official specifications, it can last up to 280 hours on standby, provide up to 6 hours of talk time, and up to 20 hours of music playback. This suggests that, despite the limitations in power, the device is relatively efficient, capable of lasting a full day of light to moderate usage. The battery life is a key consideration for many budget-conscious users.

Connectivity and Network

The Spice Smart Flo 359 operates on GSM networks, supporting 2G bands GSM 900/1800 for both SIM slots. For data, it offers GPRS Class 12 and EDGE Class 12 connectivity. While it lacks 3G and 4G support, it is equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, an FM radio, and a microUSB 2.0 port. This connectivity suite allows users to stay connected through several avenues, despite the absence of modern, faster mobile internet technologies.

Additional Features

Some notable additional features include an accelerometer sensor, a fundamental component for detecting motion and orientation changes. The device also supports a 3.5mm headphone jack, a crucial feature for many users who rely on wired audio devices. Although NFC is not included, the phone maintains the necessary features for a basic smartphone experience.

Final Thoughts

In summary, the Spice Smart Flo 359 (Mi-359) is an entry-level smartphone that performed adequately for its time, providing users with essential smartphone features. While its specifications may seem modest today, they served the needs of budget-conscious consumers looking for a reliable mobile phone experience in 2014. It’s a reflection of how much technology has progressed over the years, offering insights into the development and progression of budget smartphones in the market.