INQ Mini 3G
3 Directthe Mini 3G is indeed mini for it nestles in your palm comfortably and rests in your pocket unnoticed
Our INQ Mini 3G Review
Design
It’s been some time since a candy bar handset swept us off our feet with its design. The INQ Mini 3G did the trick for us with its vibrant red backplate and D-pad and is glossy plastic frame. At 90g, the Mini 3G is indeed mini for it nestles in your palm comfortably and rests in your pocket unnoticed. There’s something hip about its design and build, overall, the design is a winner with its details.
Screen
At 2.2 inches, the INQ Mini 3G’s LCD screen sports a 240 x 320 resolution. We would’ve loved a higher resolution, but it is expected at such a price tag. The screen is a performer both indoors and outdoors bringing reliable colours and contrast. Looking at the screen from different angles isn’t a good idea, as the colours and contrast suffered drastically.
User Interface
The INQ Mini 3G’s user interface is as slick as its predecessor’s the INQ1. It comes with great visual and speed enhancements for better usability. While the INQ1 is a bit sluggish when loading heavy applications, the INQ Mini 3G’s speed is unprecedented. In terms of software, the INQ Mini 3G’s is upgraded with its social networking integration. The new Twitter home screen feature is great for tweeters around the globe. You’ll find your tweeted responses directly displayed on the home screen. If you love twitter, you’ve got to love the Skype and Facebook integration.
Keypad
The INQ Mini 3G’s keyboard is merged without any clear separators between each row of buttons. This of course let the usability drop sharply, as pressing the buttons is awkward when you’re in a hurry and you’ll often make mistakes. We were nostalgic for a QWERTY keyboard as it would’ve complemented the INQ Mini 3G’s features and design. The D-pad is easy to navigate with and provides great direction feedback.
Camera and Multimedia
The INQ Mini's 2.0 Mega Pixel camera is nothing like the INQ1’s 3.2 MP camera. The camera delivers average quality with the photos grainy in poor lighting conditions. Blue lines appear in different photos shot in average lighting. While the phone is built for social networking, it lacks any photo upload feature – a thing we consider vital for such a handset.
The music and video players are nothing to brag about. The music player supports common file types such as: AAC, WMA, WAV, and AMR. The sound quality delivers the notes right, but nothing more. The video playback is average as well. Overall, the INQ Mini 3G’s isn’t strong in the multimedia department.
Connectivity and Battery Life
The INQ Mini 3G’s connectivity is admirable with 3G HSDPA support, Bluetooth 2.0, and USB 2.0. We had some trouble with the reception at times, but managed to get decent speed.
The messaging features are great to work with: simple, direct, and user-friendly. The browsing experience isn’t our best, but we loved surfing the internet using the 3G support. This social networking fiend is sizzling with the awesome Facebook, Skype, Windows Live Messenger, Twitter, and email integration.
Battery life is estimated at just over 3 hours of talk time and 285 hours standby, which is great for a phone with no heavy multimedia demands.
What We Liked
Superb social networking options and great price point.
What We Disliked
The slightly disappointing 3G reception and lack of QWERTY keyboard.
Our Final Verdict
The INQ Mini 3G is a great social networking handset. The great focus on web 2.0 integration generated excellent results in terms of usability and performance. While we would’ve loved to see more features in this handset, it brings great connectivity. At the current price tag, buying the INQ Mini 3G is a steal of a deal.
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| Read Review | |||
| INQ Mini 3G | |||
General | |||
| Form Factor | Candybar | ||
| Dimensions | 102.9 x 45.8 x 12.8 (mm) | ||
| Talk Time | 210 mins | ||
| Standby Time | 285 hours | ||
| Weight | 128 g | ||
| Quad Band | Yes | ||
Photo and Video | |||
| Integrated Camera | Yes | ||
| Camera | 2.00 megapixels | ||
| Video Player | Yes | ||
Phone | |||
| Internal Memory | 100MB | ||
| Memory Card Type | micro SD/SDHC | ||
Messaging | |||
| MMS | Yes | ||
| Predictive Text | Yes | ||
| Video Messaging | Yes | ||
Screen | |||
| Colour Screen | Yes | ||
| Screen Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels | ||
| Screen Colour Depth | 262k colours | ||
Connectivity | |||
| 3G | Yes | ||
| Bluetooth | Yes | ||
| Yes | |||
| WAP | Yes | ||
| Web Browser | Yes | ||
Music and Radio | |||
| MP3 Player | Yes | ||
Additional Content | |||
| Downloadable Content | Yes | ||
| Downloadable Games | Yes | ||
| Downloadable Ringtones | Yes | ||
INQ Mini 3G Full Specification
General
| Form Factor | Candybar |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 102.9 x 45.8 x 12.8 (mm) |
| Talk Time | 210 mins |
| Standby Time | 285 hours |
| Weight | 128 g |
| Quad Band | Yes |
Photo and Video
| Integrated Camera | Yes |
|---|---|
| Camera | 2.00 megapixels |
| Video Player | Yes |
Phone
| Internal Memory | 100MB |
|---|---|
| Memory Card Type | micro SD/SDHC |
Messaging
| MMS | Yes |
|---|---|
| Predictive Text | Yes |
| Video Messaging | Yes |
Screen
| Colour Screen | Yes |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels |
| Screen Colour Depth | 262k colours |
Connectivity
| 3G | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Yes | |
| WAP | Yes |
| Web Browser | Yes |
Music and Radio
| MP3 Player | Yes |
|---|
Additional Content
| Downloadable Content | Yes |
|---|---|
| Downloadable Games | Yes |
| Downloadable Ringtones | Yes |
User Comments
LukeS submitted on 19 October 2009The mini 3G is a lil' piece of wonder. I love the 3g support . In some parts, the reception can be dubious.
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Images of the INQ Mini 3G
