Micromax launches Canvas Tab P650

 It’s no easy feat to get from zero to hero in an environment as challenging and competitive as the Indian mobile market and do it all in just four years. But don’t you think for a second Micromax is resting on its laurels just because it’s now the country’s second biggest smartphone vendor, slightly behind Samsung.

Micromax Canvas Tab Micromax launches Canvas Tab P650, an 8 inch Android with voice call support and $260 price tag


Quite on the contrary, as the OEM has unveiled several new smartphones over the last month or so, all with the landmark solid quality-pricing ratio, plus a very enticing Android tablet just a few hours ago.

This is called the Canvas Tab P650 and it’s actually the first Micromax slate to be part of the proud Canvas line, as previous portable computers have been branded with the Funbook moniker.

But as visually striking the Canvas Tab might be from a mile away, it has quite a fair share of technical downsides when you put it under the microscope. For one thing, its spacious but not overly large 8-inch display boasts a 1,024 x 768 pixels resolution, which I’m afraid is a sad reminder of past technology rather than something to build a bright future on.

Micromax Canvas Tab 2 Micromax launches Canvas Tab P650, an 8 inch Android with voice call support and $260 price tag

The 1.2 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT8389 processor is itself extremely modest for a late 2013 tablet, whereas the 4,800 mAh battery might not sound so scanty at first, but is only rated at five hours of continuous use. Which probably means in real life it’ll barely hold its own for four hours. That’s… no, words can’t even begin to describe how bad that sounds.

On a much more cheerful note (if there’s still anyone willing to give this thing a go), Android 4.2 Jelly Bean runs the software show, there’s 1 gig of RAM beneath the hood, 16 GB of on-board memory and microSD support.

Decent dual 5 MP/2 MP cameras, too, plus Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS and presumably also 3G connectivity (standard, not optional), including voice call support. Available already via select Indian retail stores, the Canvas Tab goes for roughly $260 (Rs. 16,500), which, all in all, is probably not that bad. Again, if and only if you’re willing to live with the display, processing power and battery pitfalls.