Generation Next Gadgets

Good

UI for Dual SIM management is well laid out

Decent battery life

Bad

Only one of three handsets functioned after drop and water testing

Music player is low

Built-in speaker volume dipped after a couple of drops

USB didn’t seem to interface with PC only charged the handset

Display is not sc

Mobil is a new brand of mobile handsets that recently made their debut in India and this, the MA1 or Platinum is their budget, rugged mobile handset designed for hardcore users. Well not totally hardcore but to a certain extent at least. Here’s a closer look.

Form Factor

The MA1 looks rugged and quite macho encased in its steel casing with rubberized grips running along the sides and bottom. The keypad is neatly laid out and well spaced but the metal keys are a bit hard to press and will take a bit of getting used to. The five way nav pad could have been a little better designed as the center key is a little too embedded into the wheel design. It has a 2.2–inch TFT display which looks really thick but is not scratch resistant. After a few drops numerous scratches appeared and ruined the overall finish but the rest of the handset seemed unscathed. A mini USB all-purpose port is located on the side and it can be a bit tedious to open the flap when trying to access it as its rubberized and quite inlayed.

The rear panel has a screw system. I don’t recommend unscrewing the panel too often as the screw itself is quite easy to loose. The microSD card (support for up to 2GB) is located under the battery so once it’s in; I suggest you leave it there.

It’s designed to sustain a fall from up to six feet and can it’s also water resistant, but like I said, only to an extent. Unlike the Samsung Marine, this one can’t be immersed in water for too long before water starts to seep into the handset. But if it happens to get wet in the rain or for some strange reason you have need of it in the shower, it’s all good. However, only one out of the three pieces they sent me actually functioned properly after testing. It took quite a few seriously hard knocks onto a marble floor and the only issue was that the screen got scratched (no cracks) and the speaker volume for the ringer dropped considerably. The other two devices simply ceased to function after testing.

Features and Performance

Interface

Like any Java mobile the UI is the same. There’s a little bit of cosmetic customization but the underlying layer is pretty simple. The MA1’s is relatively smooth with just a hint of a lag every now and then. The extra key-presses required to access functions are of a UI quirk rather than the handset’s. Other than that you’ll have no issues getting around. The Dual SIM functions worked without a hitch and the interface is well designed enough to make things convenient  for usage.

Media

In the media department the MA1 comes with a music player whose volume is a bit too low to enjoy in an out doors environment. Aside from that the bundled handsfree kit doesn’t help much with the quality of audio playback either. Music sounds a bit scratchy with almost no bass. The FM radio worked out quite well though with quite good reception in most areas. A recording option is also available for recording over the air for later playback. The on board voice recorder is ok, but you’ll have to keep the handset quite close if you want a clear recording. When it comes to video playback, my downgraded MPEG4 videos didn’t play but the 3GP files did, although they framed quite a bit.

Connectivity

The browser is pretty standard for the Java mobile handsets. It’s a bit slow but still uncomplicated and easy to use. The MA1’s other modes of connectivity include Bluetooth and USB 2.0. For some reason though, when connected to the PC via USB the handset only charges and doesn’t open up mass storage menus or any other for that matter.

Misc. Features

Basic features like an Alarm, Calendar for setting tasks and appointments, Calculator, World Clock etc. It has a Currency Converter but no unit converter. It has an Ebook reader but most special characters like apostrophes or commas can’t be read and show up as blocks. A few games have been included as well and are quite entertaining. A melody composer is also available and allows you to create ‘off beat’ ringtones. As part of its security functionality, the MA1 offers password protection for various functions like the Phonebook, Messages, Call log and To Do list.

Camera

The camera is a VGA camera and captures images in a 352 x 288 pixel resolution and its feature set includes – White Balance, Night Mode, effect settings. Picture quality is good enough for a VGA camera, but not too great in low light conditions though.

Battery

The battery life was average but nothing that you’d complain about either. On a single charge you’ll easily get two days usage. Talk time averaged in at about 3 hours and a few minutes. That’s not too bad.

The Bottom Line

Movil has a price tag of Rs. 4,200 on the MA1 which isn’t too bad. However if you’re looking for a seriously hardcore rugged handset in a lower price range you’re much better of with the Samsung Marine that’s priced less (MOP) than the MA1 in quite a few places. It has more features and is quite a bit stronger. But if looks are important, I’d go with the slightly more masculine MA1, as that seems to be its only redeeming feature. Just keep in mind it took three handsets to find one that worked well enough after testing. While I have that luxury you don’t.