Micromax Canvas Elanza A93 is the new entrant in the dual-core entry-level segment. It features a dual-core processor with 1 GB RAM, which is a rarity in this segment alongwith a 5 MP AF primary camera. The Canvas Juice A77 was a big disappointment due to below average build quality and the fact that you couldn't move apps to the SD card. Lets see how the Canvas Elanza fares in our unboxing and hands-on review.
Inside the box of the Canvas Elanza A93 you get the usual set of accessories:
But there's a screen-guard or screen protector which comes pre-applied on the display which is always an added bonus.
The Canvas Elanza A93 is powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core MediaTek MT6572 chipset with MALI 400MP GPU and 1 GB RAM running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. There's a 5-inch qHD, 960 x 540 pixels display in the front and a 5 MP AF primary camera at the back accompanied by a 0.3 MP VGA front-facing camera. There's a small notification LED just near the earpiece as well.
Rest of the specs of the Canvas Elanza include 4 GB internal storage which is expandable upto 32 GB, dual-SIM dual Standby connectivity with 3G support, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and FM Radio. Inside the backcover you will find two regular SIM card (mini-SIM) slots with the micro-SD card slot in between. Then there's the battery compartment to house the 1950 mAh unit which is again something larger as most phones in this segment have 1500 mAh batteries.
In terms of sensors, you have an Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor and an Ambient light sensor.
Quite surprisingly the entire device has a matte coating on it, apart from the display. Both the front and back panels have a rubberized matte coating which makes the phone easy to hold and you would require that since this is a larger phone than your average 5-inch'r.
If we take a look at the left you have the volume rocker which doesn't make any noise but offers good feedback, the same goes for the power button on the right. At the top you have the 3.5 mm audio jack and the micro USB data-syncing/charging port.
Coming to the bottom of the Micromax Canvas Elanza, you have nothing there just an expanse of space. There's a silver trim that's present at the top and bottom of the phone but not on the entire sides, it adds a unique design element to an otherwise completely black matte phone. When you first look at the device you would feel as if its encased in a rubber case.
The backcover is really solid, doesn't flex or bend but it does attract fingerprints. Being matte it does make the phone easy to hold. At the back you will find the camera, single-LED flash, Micromax branding just below it and the speakerphone at the bottom which has a raised housing to keep it from being muffled but otherwise its completely flush with the back of the phone. Inside you will find the battery compartment, two SIM card slots and a micro SD card slot.
If we move to the front, it houses the 5-inch qHD display, three capacitive buttons for menu, home and back at the bottom which do light up. The microphone pin hole is just below the back capacitive button. The main earpiece can be found at the top alongwith a notification LED on the left, proximity and light sensors alongwith the front-facing camera on the right. A screen-guard comes pre-applied on the display, you just need to get rid of the plastic sheet covering it.
The build of the device is quite good and far better than what we have come to expect from Micromax.
The Micromax Canvas Elanza A93 is being touted as an elegant device, which it sure is. But that's the exterior which looks quite good, as soon as you turn the display on its a completely different story. It seems that the contrast levels of the display have been dialed to the max, it looks super-over saturated and colors appear completely different from what they are supposed to be. Azure looks like indigo, orange looks like deep red and so on. The text too looks pixelated as a result of high-contrast. But then again these are just color profile settings which can be fixed with an OTA update.
Other than that, although not zippy but the Canvas Elanza provided decent performance after first boot. The UI is almost stock Android which is always a good thing. But there's lot more to see especially the camera and gaming performance, so stay tuned. If you have any questions just ask in the comments section below.