Gadget review: Karbonn Titanium Mach Five

Karbonn Titanium Mach Five is a cheap device packed with a number of features

Budget phones are eagerly anticipated by customers looking for cheap devices packed with a number of features. And the Karbonn Titanium Mach Five, the latest addition to the category, doesn't disappoint.

The good: The 5MP front camera comes with a built-in flash. This is a big plus for selfie lovers and is a feature that many high-end phones lack. The colours are vivid, making the photos a pleasure to view. The 5-inch screen has a clutter-free display and the back of the phone has a matte finish, giving it good palm grip. The Peel Smart Remote (an all-purpose infrared remote) also worked well with our other devices such as Samsung and Sony LCDs. The dual SIM device comes with 16GB internal storage that can be extended up to another 16GB. Compared to its competitors, like the Moto E 3G, Xiaomi Redmi 2 and Micromax Canvas Xpress 2, the Mach Five offers more for less.

The bad: While the device outperforms its competitors on many counts, it fails to give a seamless touch experience. On most occasions, it mistakes a swipe for a touch or takes a lot of time to respond. To add or remove a SIM card/SD card, one is forced to open the back cover and thus, be subjected to an unnecessary tutorial every time it reboots. Even the startup time is too long; it takes almost two minutes to fully get going. The device comes with way too many pre-installed apps and some of the shopping apps cannot be removed.

The verdict: For under ₹6,000, the Mach Five is a great buy that comes packed with a good front and back camera, and solid storage capacity.

Quick specs

What: Karbonn Titanium Mach Five

At a glance: 1.3Ghz quad core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM, 8MP rear camera

Best buy: ₹5,999 on amazon.com

USP: Front camera with a flash, storage capacity