Gadget review: The InFocus Bingo 50 impresses

At just ₹7,499, the InFocus Bingo 50 punches well above its weight.

Quick specs

What: InFocus Bingo 50

At a glance: 1.3GHz Quad Core processor, 2500mAh battery, 8MP front and back camera, dual SIM

USP: Competitive price, elegant build

Best buy: ₹7,499 on snapdeal.com

Rating: 4/5

The war of the smartphones was supposed to be fought between the high-end models. Instead, it's really fought by the budget devices. And in this segment, InFocus has emerged as a strong contender. This isn't a Samsung, so it may not inspire immediate brand confidence. But at under ₹8,000, the Bingo 50 can give the big boys a run for their money on specifications. Throw in the promise of a front camera as good as the one on the back (both 8MP), and you might have a winner on your hands.

What's good: As we're increasingly seeing with budget brands, a lot of attention is paid to build quality. The Bingo 50 borrows the overall dimensions of the InFocus M350, and skin of the OnePlus One, with the matte metal edges, and the sandpaper finish back. It's not original, but it feels premium. Being on the taller side makes the phone harder to use with one hand. That, however, is a problem with a lot of new phones.

Also read: Gadget review: Huawei Honor 5X

The front camera function satisfactorily: the images are sharp, and the shutter release is quick, even though colours are slightly under-saturated. The 1.3GHz Quad Core processor also runs most apps and games without too much trouble or over-heating, though the interface does lag slightly at times. The 2100mAh battery lasts for over a day with moderate usage.

What's not: Though the front camera promises quality equivalent to the rear camera, the output isn't quite the same. Though it might still rank high on a budget phone selfie competition, the images just aren't as sharp as the ones with the back camera. One of the surprisingly good things about the phone is that it comes preloaded with Android 6 (Marshmellow). That's a big move for a budget phone, ahead of a lot of fancy Android devices. Yet, the InFocus loads its own UI on top, which feels a bit amateurish and inelegant. Also, the earphones feel plastic-y and fragile, like something you bought as a cheap replacement.

Verdict: The Bingo 50 is a big move up from the earlier Bingo 21, which was cheap and cheerful, but childish-looking. It packs no real surprises, but can easily outdo most devices available in the price range.