Zen Cinemax 3: Entry-level smartphone strictly for basic use (Tech Review)

In a country where there is a smartphone for everyone, here comes an affordable entry-level device with a large display. At Rs 4,499, Zen Cinemax 3 looks good with its build and works fine with basic apps.

Here is what works for the device.

Cinemax 3, that can be purchased from Snapdeal, has a sandstone finish back panel that sports a camera in the centre.

Lock button is on the right and the volume buttons are located on the left side of the device. A 3.5mm jack and charging point are placed at the top.

The company has provided a safety kit that includes a back cover and screen protector.

The device comes with a 5.5-inch display that falls in the "okay" category. Due to its low resolution, you can't play an HD movie, though videos with lower qualities run quite well.

The device is packed with a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor that is good for multitasking. The two SIM slots and a microSD card allow a user not only use two SIMs (nano and Micro) simultaneously but also insert a microSD card -- a feature which even several flagship phones lack.

The 5MP rear camera works well when there is ample amount of light but disappoints in low-light conditions. The 3.2MP front shooter is average.

Cinemax runs on Android 5.1 and has several pre-installed apps. The animations are simple that helps the 2,900mAh battery run for longer hours. Average usage, including navigation, music and internet gave a day's battery life.

The 2GB RAM and 16GB storage fit well in the price range.

What doesn't work?

The display has less resolution so you cannot watch HD movies. The device is also bulky to handle.

It does not support 4G and the audio output is not good. Other players like Coolpad and Intex are already offering better specifications in the similar price band.

Conclusion: A good entry-level smartphone for people with average mobile usage. Do not expect too much from the device as it may satisfy its price tag but may not fulfil your growing smartphone needs.

(Sourabh Kulesh can be contacted at sourabh.k@ians.in)

--IANS

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