Micromax Unite 2 would make a polyglot go weak at the knees; it comes pre-loaded with 21 languages.
We usually leave out describing about a phone?s welcome screen in our reviews but Micromax Unite 2 deserves a mention. The welcome screen gives a glimpse at how vast and diverse India is. It shows a cascade of silver letters, written in different languages, floating on the screen before linking to form the word Unite.
It is not just the welcome screen that impressed us. Unite 2 ticks all the boxes of a ?smart? phone with a gilded feather quill.
Key Specs: Supports 21 languages, 1.3 quad core processor, 1GB RAM and 4GB ROM, 4.7 inch IPS display with 800*480 resolution, 5.0 MP rear camera, 2000 mAh battery, Dual Sim,up-to 32GB expandable memory, Android Kitkat 4.2.2.
Design and Screen:
Micromax has hit the sweet spot, somewhere between a gulab jamun and a Hershey?s dark chocolate, whilst designing the Unite 2. The phone is aesthetically appealing with its well rounded corners and rubber coated back flap. The camera lens juts out above the flash light and the screen is neither too small (4 inches) nor too big (5.5 inches). It is a perfect 4.7 inches. So it is easy to hold the phone and operate with one hand, but it might slightly stick its head out of your pant pockets while travelling. Unite 2 does not have virtual screen buttons, which means more space on the screen. The bezels too are optimal. And the screen resolution is 480*800 WVGA.
Camera:
If a smartphone priced at Rs 6,999 comes with a time lapse feature then, like Philip J Fry from Futurama, I would say ?Shut up and take my money!?
The time lapse mode in Unite 2 can be adjusted to record between 1 second and 10 seconds intervals. The video mode also has the EIS feature which reduces the frame-to-frame jitter. And it records at 720p resolution.
Unite 2?s 5 MP camera has features which you would generally find in a slightly expensive phone. It has a live photo mode, a HDR function to beautify your shots and it can take up to 99 continuous shots. It is also packed with a zero shutter delay option to capture moving images, which have eluded smartphone photographers for a long time.
Software, performance and storage:
Unite 2 comes with the latest Android OS, the 4.4.2 KitKat. It is powered by a 1 GB RAM and a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor. Its performance is smoother than a shot of Jim Beam bourbon. Performing routine tasks is incredibly hassle-free. However, the pre-installed apps from Micromax clutter the menu screen and slightly bloat the 0.89 GB (for apps installation) internal memory. Unite 2 is expandable up to 32 GB.
21 Languages: Micromax is banking on its language support and it could be slightly disappointing. Out of the 21 pre-loaded languages we have tested 3 languages ? Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam. Based on the inputs we received it is safe to say that it is underwhelming. One user did not like the Telugu font and found it slightly confusing. Another user said that conjoined letters are missing in Bengali. Only the Malayali gave a positive response out of the three users who tested the phone.
Verdict: Taking cue from American comedy talk show host Conan O?Brien?s Clueless Gamer reviews, we decided to use the 88 star-system where 88 being awesome, 110 means excellent and 150 is downright awful. And we have decided to give Micromax Unite 2 a 26 C. In short, go buy it before they run out of stock.
