Micromax launched its Bharat 1 4G VoLTE feature phone with BSNL amidst much fanfare and this phone goes right up against the JioPhone from Reliance Jio. Priced at Rs 2,200 you can get the Bharat 1 with BSNL’s attractive unlimited data and voice plan worth Rs 97 every month.
Both these phones are identical in what they do and what they offer, but which one of these should you go for, which one offers better value and features that you’ll be needing? We find out.
Design
No, you can’t compare these with the elite brands, or even the smartphones, but that was never going to be the point for these two devices. The practical side of affairs have been well-covered, with both JioPhone and Bharat 1 getting a rugged body type which can easily survive multiple mishaps or drop.
You won’t find them appealing on the shelves, neither in your hands, but both of them are guaranteed to last you for a long duration, making them total value for money. Both phones come with QWERTY keypad that support multiple languages, especially with the size of the display on offer, you can’t ask for more.
The usual suspects i.e. the 3.5-mm audio jack and microUSB make their presence at the bottom of the phone, with a removable back panel so that the SIM can be slotted in and the battery can be taken out with ease.
Display
Both phones carry the same 2.4-inch size with QVGA display that offers 320x240 pixels in resolution. With this display, the least you can do is watch videos, surf the internet and even do a bit of social networking.
What works in favour of display on both these devices is its outdoor visibility, which works really well, something that everybody would prefer to get. It’s not going to burn bright in colour like the AMOLED panels on the Samsung phones, but rest assured, it’ll get the work done, alright.
Hardware & Connectivity
JioPhone packs dual-core Spreadtrum processor, while Micromax has opted for Qualcomm 205 unit for the Bharat 1. Other than the processors, there isn’t much that separate both these devices.
You get 512MB RAM and 4GB storage (expandable up to 128GB on the JioPhone), and a 2000mAh battery unit adds up to the bulge design of both JioPhone as well as the Bharat 1. Both phones come with a 2-megapixel camera at the back and a 0.3-megapixel snapper on the front for video calling.
But things get interesting in the connectivity department. Though owing to Jio’s 4G-only network, JioPhone supports 4G VoLTE network only, Micromax has smartly decided to offer Bharat 1 with 3G as well 4G VoLTE support. The other big difference is the use of dualSIM slots on the Bharat 1, as compared to that of a singleSIM slot on the JioPhone.
Other features packed by JioPhone are Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and NFC among others. Whereas the Bharat 1 offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi portable hotspot as well.
You can opt for any network connection on the Bharat 1, while JioPhone is confined to be used with a Jio 4G SIM only.
For a lot of consumers in the rural regions of India (which is where both these devices are targeted at), this could be a big differentiator, pushing them towards Micromax.
Software & More
We all know that Reliance Jio has gone with software called Kai OS for the JioPhone, but Micromax has taken another approach by going with what looks like a forked version of Android on the Bharat 1.
While reports indicate that WhatsApp and Facebook will make its way to JioPhone, we haven’t heard from Micromax whether they will be taking the same, but an important route with its device.
For entertainment purpose, Jio will capitalise on its existing bouquet of entertainment, music and Live TV platform. Micromax, on the other hand eyes partnerships with third-party services to offer multimedia features with the Bharat 1.
In terms of experience, JioPhone does stand out here with its unique voice-to-control feature called Jio Voice, that lets you make a call, or open the internet browser. We didn’t come across anything like that on the Bharat 1, but it’s hard to see that such a novelty feature could dither buyers from looking to buy the Micromax 4G VoLTE phone.
Tariff - Where Value Matters
It would be hard to argue with the fact that the data/calling plans bundled with these devices could make or break the deal for buyers. We’ve already seen that Jio is more than comfortable with doling out long duration data plans, but with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Micromax has played a like-minded game.
Bharat 1 will come bundled with BSNL’s Rs 97 plan that offers 28 days validity, and as per the telecom operator comes with unlimited access to data as well as voice calling. Now, we haven’t been able to decipher if the unlimited here carries any fair usage policy (FUP) riders, but looking at recent history, we can’t discount that right now.
This plan does shine in front of Jio’s Rs 153 plan that gets you 500MB data usage every day (or 15GB every month) while voice calling is free for users on the Jio network anyway.
However, one needs to understand that Jio’s network is 4G-powered, while BSNL is yet to offer 3G connectivity with its bundled plan, until it gets the go-ahead for 4G in the country.
So, it totally depends whether the buyer wants to pay less and feel content with 3G. If not, Jio 4G has got to be the one to go for. Having said that, we’re sure Airtel and Vodafone are likely to join this sector very soon.
Which One to Buy?
Specs-wise, Micromax offering Bharat 1 as a dual-SIM, unlocked device with Wi-Fi hotspot has the upper hand over the JioPhone. But BSNL’s affordable plan is confined to 3G connectivity for now, making Jio’s 4G network, a viable option.
So, if you’re happy to pay less and get 3G, then Bharat 1 with BSNL is your top choice. But if you want high-speed internet then Jio 4G is the definite pick. It all comes down to how quickly and widely both Micromax and Reliance Jio can make their respective devices available, especially in the Tier II and III regions
Right now, it’ll be difficult for us to prefer one over the other, especially the fact that we haven’t used either of them thoroughly. But stay tuned for our detailed reviews of both the phones in the coming weeks.
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