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.

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	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
Email	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

Photo and Video

Phone

Messaging

Screen

Connectivity

Music and Radio

Additional Content

User Comments