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With at least ten different models between the Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 price bracket in the market, there was bound to be rat race to get the tag of the best preferred mid-range Android phone.
The Google operating system is now really showing its advantages to this price bracket, luring buyers with models that have the features and functionality of a 30,000 rupee iPhone 3GS but costing close to half as much.
On the top of the crown is the HTC Wildfire, a handset much liked for its exquisite HTC Desire-like looks, the Sense UI atop Android 2.1 and a fairly healthy feature set. Except for the screen, that is. At QVGA (320 x 240 pixels) measuring 3.2 inches, it does sound a little too low for an enthusiast's liking but we'll have to thoroughly inspect it ourselves before we declare it as a deal-breaker or not. Next in line is the Samsung Galaxy 3 i5800, a phone that seems to offer so-very-much for that pocket-friendly Rs. 12,000 price. The only sore point that we see with the phone, like the Wildfire, is the kind of-low WQVGA (400 x 240) pixel resolution (as compared to a Spica that had an HVGA one). So, despite running Android 2.1, we really have to check whether apps have started supporting this odd-ball resolution or not.
The third spot is taken by the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X8. However, there is one thing everybody who has apparently read this is thoroughly asking for. Yes we're talking of a 3-inch 320 x 480 HVGA display! It still runs Android 1.6 but SE has promised 2.1 by the end of the year. Also, the 3.2 megapixel fixed-focus camera was disappointing, but then if you really don't care a lot about taking good quality snaps, then the X8 should serve you good on all other aspects.
The fourth spot was surprisingly rooted for the Samsung Galaxy 5 i5500. For the unaware, the Galaxy 5 is a cheaper variant of the Galaxy 3 (ironic naming, we know) and has a smaller 2.8-inch QVGA display and a paltry 2 megapixel camera.
The fifth spot is taken by the XPERIA X10 Mini/Mini Pro midget-brothers. These models are desired by many for their compact shape, small-ish but responsive touch-screen, and good multi-media capabilities. The sixth spot is given to the Motorola Backflip, who was preferred by a minor 8 percent of our readers. The seventh spot is shared by a lacklustre 2 percentage votes for the LG GW620 and the Acer beTouch e110.
Are you convinced by the outcome of the poll? Or do you think there's a better mid-range Android phone out there. For me, the only phone that has got the perfect hardware combination is the HTC Aria that AT&T is selling in U.S. There's no news whether this model will make it to the Indian shores but I wouldn't mind waiting. Or if I were to let my imagination run wild, then this is what I think a perfect mid-range Android would be.
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