INQ Chat 3G
3 PhonesThe interchangeable back covers will appeal to the customer’s personality with 7 diverse colours that can go with their travels and looks
also known as: INQ Chat
Best Value for Money Plan
| Price Plan | £15 Texter | 89.0% |
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| Texts | Unlimited | |
| Minutes | 75 anytime/any network | |
| Internet | N/A | |
| Handset Cost | FREE | |
| Monthly Cost | £10 (was £15) | |
| Contract | 18 months |
Our INQ Chat 3G Review
Design
INQ1 is by far one of our most loved fresh handsets in the market. To make it even better, INQ have released their latest line member: the INQ Chat 3G. Adapted from its predecessor the INQ1, the INQ Chat 3G sports a vibrant red back cover, a wide screen, and an inviting QWERTY keyboard. The design is modern and appealing reminiscent of the popular BlackBerry. The interchangeable back covers will appeal to the customer’s personality with 7 diverse colours that can go with their travels and looks.
Screen
At 2.4-inch, the INQ Chat 3G’s screen is comfortable for texting and viewing. The colours are eclectic and effervescent. We loved watching a short clip on the INQ Chat 3G’s screen for its decent frames per second and lack of traditional lagging and pixilation.
User Interface
The INQ Chat 3G’s widget-based user interface is no different from the one used in its predecessors the INQ1 and Mini 3G handsets. A slight improvement is the new Twitter updates on the home screen that make the user’s life a lot easier. The Facebook integration can get as addictive as ever. And while we would’ve loved to see more features embedded, we noticed that the INQ Chat 3G is much faster in loading applications – a plus on its margin.
Keypad
INQ’s choice to incorporate a full-on QWERTY keyboard is a smart one. The lush, easy to use plastic keyboard is among the best in the market. It competes head-on with the BlackBerry with its great button feedback. The extra keys and new features embedded were designed with the email users in mind. More users can type emails faster without resorting to their laptops or desktops. The predictive text option saves you time by auto completing your words with the best suited predicted word.
Camera and Multimedia
While the INQ Chat 3G has a clear improvement in the keyboard and user interface department, it definitely did not grow in camera and multimedia department. The 3.2 MP camera still lacks flash and doesn’t perform great in poor lighting conditions. Since the INQ Chat 3G is built for social interaction, the incorporation of a higher MP, more sharp camera would’ve be ideal to upload photos to different social networking websites such as Facebook and Flickr.
Music and video playback are as delightful as ever. We loved playing different soundtracks from rock to pop as the notes resonated beautifully with no noise at high volumes.
Connectivity and Battery Life
We cannot possibly review the INQ Chat 3G without delving into its connectivity features. The INQ Chat 3G’s 3G HSDPA connectivity is there to support the user’s different social interactions on the internet. Web surfing is smooth and downloads rapid.
The Facebook, Skype, Twitter, and Windows Messenger integration made our day and we have to admit was quite time consuming. In addition, the A2DP Bluetooth and ample internal memory made it easier for us to store and transfer files.
In terms of battery life, the INQ Chat 3G is as smart as ever. You will be tired of browsing the internet before resorting to a power outlet for a recharge. This sits comfortably with the handset’s chat features.
What We Liked
We liked the INQ Chat 3G’s screen, social networking integration, and smooth user interface.
What We Disliked
We disliked the INQ Chat 3G’s modest camera and lack of new features in the user interface.
Our Final Verdict
The INQ Chat 3G has met our expectations with its great performance and social integration. While we would’ve loved to see more improvements and features, it did not disappoint and continued to surprise us with its smooth transitions and loading. It comes as a fierce competitor to the BlackBerry series and Nokia E71 as its price is much more affordable for the average user. This of course gives it an advantage as it provides an excellent value for money.
Mix and Match Plans
A price plan which gives you flexibility, Mix and Match doesn't tie you a set number of texts and set number of minutes each month. With Mix & Match, you receive a monthly allowance, which you are free to use for texts, minutes or any combination of the two. This is ideal if you find your minutes and text usage fluctuates month by month causing you to exceed either your monthly text or minutes allowance. Mix & Match has been made simple, since 1 minute = 1 text, so you never need to choose between the two.
Texter Plans
Prefer to text than call? Then Texter Plans are for you! With Unlimited Texts, it's hard to go wrong with Three's Texter Plans (although your thumbs might hurt!). What’s more you get free instant messaging on all Texter plans.
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£20 Texter |
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£25 Texter Offer (VT500 PLUS with Unlimited Texts) |
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£35 Texter Offer (VT750 with Unlimited Texts) |
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Internet Texter Plans
Just like Texter Plans, your thumbs may hurt with the Unlimited Texts, but with Internet Texter Plans, there's more! There's also unlimited internet use and unlimited calls to other 3 mobiles, plus an allowance of anytime, any network minutes.
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£20 Internet Texter |
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Talk Plans
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£15 Talk 500 |
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Pay As You Go
PAYG |
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Compare Handsets
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| Read Review | |||
| INQ Chat 3G | |||
General | |||
| Form Factor | Candybar | ||
| Dimensions | 114.5 x 61 x 12.8 (mm) | ||
| Talk Time | 588 mins | ||
| Standby Time | 355 hours | ||
| Weight | 122 g | ||
| Tri Band | Yes | ||
Photo and Video | |||
| Integrated Camera | Yes | ||
| Camera | 3.20 megapixels | ||
| Video Player | Yes | ||
Phone | |||
| Vibrating Alert | Yes | ||
| Integrated Keyboard | Yes | ||
| Interchangeable Covers | Yes | ||
| Internal Memory | 100MB | ||
| Memory Card Type | microSD | ||
Messaging | |||
| Instant Messaging (IM) | Yes | ||
| MMS | Yes | ||
| Predictive Text | Yes | ||
| Video Messaging | Yes | ||
Screen | |||
| Colour Screen | Yes | ||
| Screen Resolution | 320 x 240 pixels | ||
| Screen Colour Depth | 256K colours | ||
Connectivity | |||
| 3G | Yes | ||
| Bluetooth | Yes | ||
| Yes | |||
| HSDPA | Yes | ||
| WAP | Yes | ||
| Web Browser | Yes | ||
| GPS | Yes | ||
Music and Radio | |||
| MP3 Player | Yes | ||
| MP3 Ringtones | Yes | ||
Additional Content | |||
| Downloadable Content | Yes | ||
| Downloadable Games | Yes | ||
| Downloadable Ringtones | Yes | ||
INQ Chat 3G Full Specification
General
| Form Factor | Candybar |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 114.5 x 61 x 12.8 (mm) |
| Talk Time | 588 mins |
| Standby Time | 355 hours |
| Weight | 122 g |
| Tri Band | Yes |
Photo and Video
| Integrated Camera | Yes |
|---|---|
| Camera | 3.20 megapixels |
| Video Player | Yes |
Phone
| Vibrating Alert | Yes |
|---|---|
| Integrated Keyboard | Yes |
| Interchangeable Covers | Yes |
| Internal Memory | 100MB |
| Memory Card Type | microSD |
Messaging
| Instant Messaging (IM) | Yes |
|---|---|
| MMS | Yes |
| Predictive Text | Yes |
| Video Messaging | Yes |
Screen
| Colour Screen | Yes |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 320 x 240 pixels |
| Screen Colour Depth | 256K colours |
Connectivity
| 3G | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Yes | |
| HSDPA | Yes |
| WAP | Yes |
| Web Browser | Yes |
| GPS | Yes |
Music and Radio
| MP3 Player | Yes |
|---|---|
| MP3 Ringtones | Yes |
Additional Content
| Downloadable Content | Yes |
|---|---|
| Downloadable Games | Yes |
| Downloadable Ringtones | Yes |
User Comments
JohnT submitted on 8 January 2010I wouldn't say the INQ Chat 3G is a drastic improvement from the INQ1, but it is different. For starters, the keyboard is much easier to use than a normal keypad which makes writing an email commuting easier for me.
CkZ35 submitted on 28 December 2009INQ CHAT is my favourite handset for the year. I resorted to its purchase given that crackberries and nokias are too damn expensive. The price is what I was looking for and the features are worth every penny.
Please note all submissions are subject to manual review prior to appearing on this website.
