Review: INQ1 Mobile Phone – Made for Social Networking

Overview:

Whether 'Jenna is officially over all men' or 'Matt had a top wknd wit the boyz', whatever the Facebook status update, this is the kind of stuff this mobile was made for.  Social networking is huge at the moment and keeping in touch with friends and family wherever you are in the world has never been so easy.

So let’s take a look at the newly manufactured handset exclusively for the 3 network, the INQ1, otherwise known as ‘the Facebook phone’.

Review:

Style:

Well it doesn’t exactly have the wow factor… not compared to the top-end phones we all know and love at the moment.  The slider handset comes in a choice of black or silver and has a brushed stainless steel finish on the back and front.  It feels like a pretty well made phone, robust and sturdy.  It weighs 110grams with dimensions of 97×47.6×14.4mm.

The INQ1 has a 2.2inch QVGA display, not the best sized screen in the world.  Underneath the display are the d-pad, calling and option keys.  Slide open the handset and you'll find a nicely proportioned keypad.

Under the Bonnet:

The handset runs on a Qualcomm processor with a battery that will give you around 5 hours talk time and 229 hours standby time.  It has 50mb internal memory.  It can be expanded via a microSD slot that can be found just underneath the phone's battery.  It supports a capacity of up to 4GB and you’ll get a 1GB card thrown in.

The INQ1 is 3G enabled with data download speeds of around 3.6Mbps.  It can also be plugged into your laptop to use as a modem.  It features Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP so can connect with stereo headsets (amongst many other Bluetooth enabled devices).  The high-speed USB 2.0 connection allows for quick transfer of files between your PC and your memory card.

Features:

The INQ1 has a customisable home screen with the option of downloading various widgets.  At the bottom of the screen is a ‘conveyor belt’ if you like, of applications, similar to the layout of HTC’s TouchFlo 3D user interface.  Scroll left and right through the apps with the phone's directional keys.

You can keep in touch with your friends in a whole host of ways.  Alongside SMS, there’s also support for web based email such as Yahoo, Gmail and Hotmail.  You can also synch your address book from MS Outlook.  The handset features Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger and Skype.

Now with all these different forms of communication, you might imagine it getting a little messy and confusing.  Thankfully, the one inbox plays home to your texts, emails, instant messages, Facebook messages, MySpace messages… you get the picture.  The phone merges contacts from Facebook, email, Skype etc. and displays everything under one name with your contact’s Facebook profile photo.

Unfortunately, interaction via instant messaging and the likes may be slowed down by the sole use of the keypad.  Now I'm pretty quick and always use predictive text, but this isn't everybody's cup of tea.  With such a small screen, the option of a virtual QWERTY keyboard is pretty much out of the question, but a physical QWERTY keyboard would have made this 'social networking' phone much more user friendly.

The browser, based around Webkit, comes pre-loaded with access to popular websites such as Last FM, Bebo, YouTube, MySpace and the BBC under Favourites.  You'll also find a Google shortcut with access to mail, search and maps.

The phone has a media player for your songs and videos and also features an FM radio.  You’ll get a pair of standard headphones included in the box and these will have to do, as there’s no 3.5mm stereo jack for you to use your own.

You will find a fully integrated YouTube application for your viewing pleasure.  Videos can be viewed in small or full screen and simply turn your phone horizontally and the accelerometer will update the screen’s layout.  Unfortunately you’re going to be watching videos on a 2.2inch screen… need I say more?

The handset also features a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus, digital zoom and video recording.  It takes relatively good pictures, but unfortunately has no flash, so photos in low light, as you can imagine, are not going to be fantastic.  Photos can be easily uploaded to your Facebook profile so you can share your weekend memories with all your mates.

Amongst the other general applications, such as calculator, notes, calendar etc, you also get an RSS feed reader and access to a variety of downloadable applications, like games and even football scores.

Gaj-It Verdict:

Style: 7/10
Usability: 8/10
Features: 9/10
Value: 9/10

We Say:

The INQ1 isn’t a handset that will blow you away.  Being a relatively low-end phone, it lacks GPS, WiFi, touch screen and a 3.5mm stereo jack.  Rumours have it that INQ have promised their next phone (the INQ2 perhaps!?) to feature GPS and a QWERTY keyboard.

If you’re really into your social networking and want a budget handset, then the INQ1 will do just fine.  For what it is, the phone is pretty good value.  You can pick a handset up for just under £80 on pre-pay and for as little as £15 on a monthly contract.  And in light of the financial worries at the moment, that's not something to sniff at.

Check it out now at 3's website.

Via: Dialaphone and journalistic research.