Noida-based Ringing Bells on Thursday amazed the domestic smartphone market by launching the cheapest smartphone of the world for just Rs 251, roughly translating to less than $4. The only innovation Ringing Bells is clinging on to is the price. Which is enough to silence critics and buyers to lineup.
Cheap smartphones are nothing new. There are plenty of Android smartphones priced under Rs 3,000 in the market with few takers.
Cheap smartphones are nothing new. There are plenty of Android smartphones priced under Rs 3,000 in the market with few takers.
Akash tablet maker Datawind also grabbed eyeballs in the past by only innovating on the price of its UbiSlate tablet and Pocket Surfer smartphone range. But consumers had soon lost interest because they thought the cheapest devices never delivered as per their expectation.
While the question of how is it possible to sell a smartphone for that price can be best answered by the company's President Ashok Chadha, what consumers should really be worried about is whether the smartphone delivers the basics that it promises.
Apart from winning the cheapest smartphone trophy, can the Freedom 251 bring a smile on the faces of people for whom Rs 251 still matters a lot? After spending some time with it, here is our first impression.
While the question of how is it possible to sell a smartphone for that price can be best answered by the company's President Ashok Chadha, what consumers should really be worried about is whether the smartphone delivers the basics that it promises.
Apart from winning the cheapest smartphone trophy, can the Freedom 251 bring a smile on the faces of people for whom Rs 251 still matters a lot? After spending some time with it, here is our first impression.
Design
The Freedom 251 shares a close resemblance with an iPhone. It actually looks better than low cost smartphones from several brands. Though the device is totally made of plastic, the build quality is good. At the back, the Indian flag imprint with 'FREEDOM 251' written at the bottom portion, gives it a unique character. Overall, the device is very compact, lightweight and fits perfectly in the hand.
Display
The Freedom 251 has a 4-inch qHD (960 x 540 pixels) IPS display. It is surprisingly bright and the viewing angles are good. The screen did not appear too glossy. Outdoor visibility is decent but expect discomfort while using the smartphone under direct sunlight. The overall display quality is pleasing and consumers shouldn't have much to complain.
Hardware
It is dual SIM smartphone with 3G support. Powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal memory, expandable up to 32GB, the Freedom 251 runs Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system. It mounts a 3.2MP auto focus camera with LED Flash at the back along with a 0.3MP VGA resolution selfie camera. The phone is backed by a 1,450mAh battery and comes with regular connectivity features like Bluetooth, WiFi and others.
Software
The smartphone offers an almost stock Android 5.1 experience. Interestingly, the design of the icons is borrowed from iOS. It comes with pre-installed apps like Women Safety, Swachh Bharat, Fisherman, Farmer, Medical along with Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and others. While it is too early to comment, the experience was pretty smooth and apps responded as expected.
Camera
Don't expect much on the camera front. It is slow and low light images are best deleted. However, under good lighting, the rear camera seems alright for the price. It is better to ignore the front camera altogether.
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