Micromax Canvas 5 review: Scores points for performance & style

Micromax Canvas 5

Rating: * * * *

Price: Rs 11,999

Specifications: 5.2-inch IPS display (1920 x 1080 pixels), 1.3Ghz octa core Mediatek MT6753 processor, 3GB RAM, 16GB storage, microSD slot, dual SIM, 13MP rear camera with flash, 5MP front camera with flash, 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, 2,900mAh battery, Android 5.1

Almost two years after the launch of the last flagship Canvas phone (Canvas 4), Micromax has launched a successor, the Canvas 5. Unlike the previous phone that was priced at Rs 17,999, Micromax has priced this one quite aggressively.

The Canvas 5 has been designed in a way that it appears slimmer than the actual dimensions. It has a metal frame with curved edges for a premium feel. On the back panel is a faux leather finish which adds grip. Overall, it hits the right spot when it comes to stylish looks with sturdy construction.

The display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels making it the only phone with a 5.2-inch full HD screen in the sub- Rs 15,000 price bracket. We found the screen to be crisp with vivid colours and good viewing angles. Even though it is not an amoled display, the display delivers excellent black levels. However, the screen is a fingerprint magnet and needs to be cleaned frequently.

Another issue with the display is that the touch is oversensitive at times — almost as if a 'glove mode' is permanently enabled. On paper, the Canvas 5 boasts of an octa core Mediatek MT6753 processor, 3GB RAM and 16GB storage (expandable). This makes it the third phone in the sub Rs 12,000 segment to offer 3GB RAM. Performance is as expected from such hardware — all the games run without a hitch.

We tried Need for Speed: No Limits, Dead Trigger and ShadowGun. Plus, it had no issues playing compressed full HD videos and switching between running apps was instant. In terms of battery life, the phone manages to last a full day with calls, camera, multimedia, social networks and two email accounts — we expected more from the 2,900mAh battery. We found something odd about the charging — the screen displayed the message 'slow battery charging' with every charger we tried, apart from the one provided by Micromax in the box.

The Canvas 5 has a customised user interface based on Android 5.1. There is no app drawer; all icons and widgets are on the home screen. There are a few nifty features that Micromax has baked into the interface. You get gesture support, you can swap the layout of the Android buttons and there are battery saving modes. The camera app has picture in picture mode, night shot, panorama, wide selfie mode as well as a professional mode (with increased manual control).

The 13MP camera and 5MP front camera manage to take good images in daylight. Indoors, the photos look good on the screen but show a lot of noise when zoomed-in. Using the flash helps in some scenarios to reduce noise (both cameras have their own flash), but it also tends to overexpose subjects close to the phone.

For the price, this is good phone for those who want performance & style. You can also consider Xolo Black 1X. It has a 5-inch full HD display, octa core processor & 3GB RAM for Rs 9,999. The Mi 4i at a new price of Rs 11,999 is also a good It's the Apple option but does not offer a micro SD slot.

+ Impressive design and construction, excellent performance, feature loaded user interface

- Oversensitive touchscreen leads to pocket dialing, charging issues, camera performance is a mixed bag