Micromax is repeating the formula followed by the original Bling - this time, not just with the feminine touch, but with some serious brains. The Bling 2 or the A55, has the requisite crystal-studded hood, but beneath it lurks the OS that is taking over the smartphone world: Android.
On the outside, the Bling 2 grabs lesser attention than its predecessor. And that's because its form factor is the pretty standard Android touchscreen one - a front dominated by a 2.8 inch touchscreen display, with two touch buttons (for menu and back) and a touch button for 'home'.
The home button is surrounded by a semi-circle of Swarovski crystals! There are not too many buttons around - a volume rocker on the right side and a power/screen on-off button on the top are all that you will find.
The top also has a 3.5mm jack for headphones and a micro-USB port. The back houses the 3.0 megapixel camera and this is no ordinary lens - it is also encircled with crystals. Bling again!
Mind you, we don't think it is going to turn as many heads as its predecessors - the candy bar shape is too routine and the Swarovski crystals do not exactly scream for attention.
Micromax has thrown in a cover with a mirror inside it. The innards are not too bad either - 600 Mhz processor, 150 MB internal memory (expandable via SD card to 32 GB) and connectivity options including GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HSDPA. Powering it is Android 2.2 (Froyo).
Micromax has not changed the original Android look too much and has bundled in some very handy apps like Opera Mini , WhatsApp Messenger , Mundu TV, NetQin antivirus and a trial version of Mobisystem's Office Suite. Not the greatest app collection we have seen, but more than useful for those who fight shy of downloads.
In terms of performance, the Bling 2 does remarkably well. Yes, we did find the 2.8 inch display a tad too small for typing comfort (as did some of our feminine colleagues with smaller hands) but we hardly ever faced any lags, unless we tried running too many apps at the same time.
Unlike the Andro, the Bling 2 comes with a capacitive touchscreen which results in a much better touch experience, although the 320 x 240 resolution is not the best for browsing the Web.Sound quality is decent, and videos were not too bad, although we wish the screen had been brighter.
The camera is ordinary at best - you get best results in sunlight, both in terms of pictures and attention (those crystals really glitter in the sun when you hold up the phone). Call quality is passable. Still, all said and done, the Bling 2 performed decently for its specs, and its battery almost saw off a day with push mail and social network notifications on.
All of which makes the Bling 2 a brainy successor to the original Bling. At Rs 8,999, it is decently priced, and certainly stands out in terms of flaunt value. Beauty with brains? Definitely. Although more brains than beauty this time around.
