Gadget Review: Karbonn Titanium Mach One

Price: Rs 6,990

Specifications: 4.7-inch IPS display (1280 x 720 pixels), 1.3Ghz quad core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, microSD slot (up to 32GB supported), dual SIM, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, Android 4.4, 1,800mAh battery

Pros: Phone feels good to hold due to its weight, dual speakers, fast stock UI, good battery life, front flash for selfies

Cons: Display viewing angles are poor, glossy finish on front attracts fingerprints, tends to get hot with gaming, visible noise in camera

Karbonn was one of the first to launch the Android One handsets in India. However, Android One saw tough competition from better entry-level phones by Xiaomi and Asus. The new Titanium Mach One from Karbonn is proof that the company wants to take the Chinese competition head on!

The Mach One features a 4.7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. We instantly noticed that while it rendered good colours and details, it doesn't have the best viewing angles. In addition, the glossy screen was a fingerprint magnet and required constant cleaning.

Thankfully, build quality is quite impressive. The back panel has a textured finish that makes the phone look good and also provides good grip. Some might feel that it's too heavy for the size, but we felt that the weight added to the overall feel of the phone.



Its powered by a 1.3Ghz quad core Mediatek processor, 1GB RAM and Android 4.4. Internal storage is 16GB which can be expanded via microSD card. In our usage the phone worked great for most day-to-day functions including calling, social networking, multimedia as well as basic gaming. However, we did notice that the phone tends to heat up quickly while playing games. Within 10 minutes of playing a basic game like Plumber 2 or Temple Run 2, areas on the back and around the front earpiece were hot to the touch. The good thing is that even with 1GB RAM, the phone works great with multiple apps running in the background.

Karbonn has provided a stock Android user interface which is zippy to navigate. There are a few customizations with features like multi gesture support, smart awake and quick lock screen. You can also create custom gestures if you like. Another thing we liked was that the lock screen displays battery percentage with one touch access to the camera. It also shows icons for incoming notifications (mail, missed calls, messages) - you single tap on any icon to view a quick preview. However, there is some preloaded bloatware - we recommend removing the ones you don't want to free up RAM.

We also liked the camera performance from the phone. The rear camera takes good photos in daylight as well as indoors. Par for the course, there is visible noise in darker areas when you zoom in. The front camera is also good for selfies and the phone also has a front flash for use in low light. Battery life from the phone is surprisingly good - the phone easily lasted for a full day with constant 3G/WiFi connectivity.

Overall, the Mach One is quite impressive for the price. You get good performance with great battery life in a well-built phone. However, a couple of quirks puts it just behind our preferred smartphone in this price range - Xiaomi's Redmi 1s.