INQ Mini 3G Review

The INQ Mini 3G is marketed as the social media phone or social mobile as what INQ called it. It’s dimension is 102.9mm (H) x 45.8mm (W) x 12.8mm (D) and it weighs 128 grams. The phone felt solid in my hands, but it felt like a toy phone rather than an actual mobile phone.

Specifications

It features a 2.2″ QVGA (240×320 pixels) TFT screen with support up to 262k colors.

Remaining technical specifications:

Camera: 2.0M pixels ﬁxed focus outward facing camera. P2P video (“see what I see”).
Memory: On board: 128MB NAND + 128MB SDRAM (User Memory: 50M) | Expandable: Micro SD/SDHC memory card slot (support up to 4GB capacity)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (Headset, Handsfree, File Transfer, ObjectPush, A2DP, AVRCP, DUN)
Connectivity: USB 2.0 Full Speed
Download & Playback: Audio: AMR, AAC, AAC+, E-AAC+(Audio only), MIDI, MP3, wav | Video: MPEG4, H.263, H.264
Streaming: Audio: AMR, AAC, AAC+, EAAC+(Audio only) | Video: MPEG4, H.263, H.264
Battery capacity: 1150 mAh
Standby: 2G – 260 hours | 3G – 285 hours | Talktime: 2G – 210 minutes | 3G – 160 minutes

Applications bundled:

BREW 4.0 (Multi Tasking) + INQ System 1 extensions
Java MIDP2.0 (Multi Tasking)
Access Net Front 3.5 browser
INQ UI including Switcher
Integrated INQ Applications:
- Facebook application. Integrated with Contacts, Messaging, Caller ID, Camera, Photos, Switcher
- Skype application. Integrated with Contacts, Messaging, call log, dialer, Switcher
- Twitter application. Integrated with Switcher.
Instant Launcher, Trafﬁc Controller, Feeds, Startup Wizard, Static Widgets (World Clock, Weather, Search, Feeds)
Copy & Paste, ﬁle manager (including memory card search)
Smart Learning & Predictive Text Entry (edit user dictionary)
True Type Fonts
File transfer, Message, Phonebook management on PC Suite (MS Windows)
Embedded USB Plug-and-Play drivers & modem dashboard for dialup connection (PC & MAC)
SMS, MMS, Email (Support POP3, IMAP4, SMTP)
SyncML

Even the official specifications listed Skype application, I can’t seem to find the application in the phone itself. Instead there is an application called IM on Mobile which is basically Windows Live Messenger.
Unboxing
I did post the unboxing pictures on the INQ Mini 3G last week. The packaging is very unique and I personally like it, I think it is better than the Apple’s iPhone 3G packaging. The content of the box includes the phone itself, battery, a charger head, a USB cable, ear piece and the card-like instruction manual.

Universal USB Port
The mini-usb port at the top of the phone is used for charging as well as for the ear piece. I think it is pretty cool.

Camera
The camera is a fixed focus camera with resolution up to 2MP. I have taken a sample picture using the camera. As you can see, the picture is pretty lousy. I think my iPhone 3G 2MP camera does better than that. I think it is meant to be a video camera as it supports P2P video.

Facebook
The selling point of INQ Mini 3G is the integration of Facebook as well as Twitter into the phone. The Facebook integration is pretty well done as it will stay connected to Facebook even after closing the application. You can view your Facebook contacts in your phone contact book as well as Facebook private messages in your phone messaging function. When you compose a message, it will prompt you whether you want to send a text message (SMS), Facebook private message or email.

Whenever you get a friend request, it will prompt you. Upon accepting the friend request, it will ask you whether you want to resync your phone contact book to add in the new friend. Pretty neat.

Twitter
I do not really like the integration of Twitter as unlike the Facebook application, Twitter seems like a standalone application that will disconnect after you exit. I expect that whenever I get a mention or a direct message the application will prompt me. But apparently it does not.

Also the application does not allow me to filter my timelime as there is a missing “mention” or “direct message” view. I am disappointed with the way Twitter is integrated.

User Interface Walkthrough
The interface is similar to the Nokia S40. I have no complains on it as I think it is pretty user friendly and straight forward to navigate around. Here is a full walk through video of the user interface of the phone.