India has been a hotspot for Android mobile OEMs. While a major chunk is dominated by international brands, homegrown companies such as Micromax and Lava are also proactive now with new products. Micromax had made its comeback in the smartphone space with IN series mobiles and has introduced a bunch of units until now. All of the Micromax models introduced have arrived with a budget price point including the Micromax IN 2C.
Launched earlier in May this year, the Micromax IN 2C has arrived as yet another entry-level smartphone with all necessary features. A multiple rear camera module, HD+ display, and beefy 5,000 mAh battery are amongst some of the highlights of the latest budget Micromax phone. The Micromax IN 2C’s price is set at Rs. 8,499 for the sole 3GB RAM and 32GB storage model.
But this segment already has a plethora of options to choose from. Does the Micromax IN 2C pack all the required punch to compete against the other popular entry-level phones? We have tried to lay down the pointers in this review:
Micromax IN 2C Budget Phone Review
Decent Looks, Good Build
Design is one of the major aspects that drives the sales of any smartphone; be it a budget or high-end device. And when we speak of the Micromax IN 2C’s design, it wears decent skin, giving a basic yet subtle feel. This budget Android mobile is announced in dual shades including brown and silver. We have received the brown color variant which has a mix of shimmering-matte texture.
The back panel reflects the sunrays pattern emerging from the edge of the camera module. This is a nice touch but seems familiar to some of the past-gen Realme C series phones. The dark textured back panel isn’t prone to fingerprints or smudges. It is a relief as you don’t have to constantly worry about keeping your handset clean.
But if you still wish to protect the device from accidental scratches, you can use the transparent TPU case that ships with the retail box. If we talk of the user experience, the IN 2C is fairly good. It isn’t super bulky or thick, so single-hand operability isn’t a task.
Of course, reaching the nooks and corners would require both of your hands; specifically, if you are playing games. The volume and power key are placed on the left panel both of which offer good click feedback.
The dedicated SIM card tray (which supports dual SIM and a microSD card simultaneously) is placed on the left, while the bottom panel packs the USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The front panel is pretty basic in terms of appeal. The In 2C features a waterdrop notch panel and a thick chin bezel. But that does fit well with the price point. No complaints there.
Standard Yet Functional Display Panel
The entry-level Micromax IN 2C employs a regular IPS LCD screen that is 6.5-inches in size. The big panel comes with a an HD+720 x 1600 pixels screen resolution and features an aspect ratio of 20:9. The refresh rate is also standard at 60Hz.
While we have seen a couple of budget phones under Rs. 10,000 price mark, but Micromax is yet to join that league. Nevertheless, you can expect a decent viewing experience with this budget Micromax handset.
The display performance is also decent with streaming platforms. We have watched multiple shows and movies on this handset and were not disappointed. But you will have some difficulties watching content on the IN 2C’s screen outdoors. Specifically, under direct sunlight.
That’s because the panel has only 420 nits of peak brightness levels which delivers average sunlight visibility. The IPS LCD screen is fair with color production. The color temperature of the screen is on the cooler side, so no strains on the eyes even with continuous viewing.
General User Performance On Point; Stock Android UI Is A Relief
The Micromax IN 2C has joined the budget smartphone race with the Unisoc T610 processor. The entry-level chipset is built on a 12nm processor and has octa-cores. The chipset is clubbed with the Mali-G52 MP2 GPU and 3GB RAM. Power delivery is what you can expect from low-end Android phones.
If you need a smartphone for basic functions such as web browsing and media playback, the IN 2C makes for a good fit. That’s due to the fact you don’t experience any lags or delays while scrolling through multiple websites. That’s the case with media playback as well.
No major glitches or hiccups with audio/video playback or while using any third-party Android apps. You will also not come across any issues with app loading. The 3GB RAM configuration is sufficient to fire up apps instantly. You just have to kill the extra apps to improve the user performance.
For storage, the Micromax IN 2C offers an onboard space of 32GB. If storage crunch is something you wish to avoid, using an external microSD card is an option. Don’t experience a rich gaming experience.
But that doesn’t mean this device is incapable of handling games at all. Rather, playing graphic-hungry games at the highest settings is what you need to avoid for smooth feedback. But the performance speeds might get a slight impact if you have several intensive apps running simultaneously and are switching between them.
One of the features that impress without fail on the latest budget Micromax IN series phone is the stock Android user experience. The Micromax IN 2C ships with Android 11 OS. While the brand has used an older Android version, the stock Android user experience is definitely a respite. The device is free of bloatware and pre-installed third-party apps. So, the UI is not cluttered and you get a smooth interface to work on.
Dual Rear Cameras Justifies Budget Price Point
The Micromax IN 2C is a budget Android phone priced below Rs. 10,000 but still offers multiple rear camera module. The device features a dual-lens setup at the back featuring an 8MP main camera and a VGA sensor for depth mapping. The main camera supports AF (autofocus) feature and does a decent job with image details. The output is best when the surroundings have good light conditions.
The default image output is good, but you can use some of the built-in camera modes for better output. Amongst the different available shooting modes are HDR, Face Beauty, Panorama, and Pro mode. You also get the option to record slow-motion and Time-lapse videos on this budget Android mobile.
The imaging output isn’t super impressive with the night shots. The output gets grainy in low-lit backgrounds. There is a dedicated Night Mode as well, but that does a little to enhance the night photography experience. Overall, the Micromax IN 2C’s rear camera setup is suitable for basic photography.
The same is applicable to the selfie camera module as well. The Micromax IN 2C is packed with a 5MP selfie camera that has an f/2.0 apeture. You will get average selfie output from the front camera. The video calling experience is also fair.
Big Battery Delivers Ample Backup
The Micromax IN 2C is packed with a big 5,000 mAh battery unit. This is a standard setup across budget Android smartphones. Thanks to the large capacity battery, there is no power crunch. That’s also with the low-end hardware that drains battery slowly in general scenarios.
Especially, if the usage is limited or moderate; you can expect almost an entire day of backup. Unfortunately, the charging speeds are standard, i.e, 10W. Therefore, you will have to wait more than an hour for a full battery recharge.
Micromax IN 2C Final Verdict: Worth Considering Under Rs. 10,000?
The Micromax IN 2C is one of the safest bets in the budget Android mobile segment. This entry-level phone has all the necessary hardware that makes it worth a buy if your budget is under Rs. 10,000. It fulfills the requirements such as a big HD+ screen for watching HD videos, dual cameras for general photography, and an entry-level chipset that packs enough punch for daily tasks. The battery backup is also good which works in its favor.
