Intex Aqua Speed HD Review: Looks stylish with the curved edges

Price: Rs 8,999
Ratings: ***

Specifications: 5-inch IPS (1280 x 720 pixels), 1.2Ghz quad core Snapdragon 410 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage + microSD, 8MP primary camera, 2MP front camera, 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth, dual SIM, dual speakers, Android 4.4, 2,300mAh battery, 128 grams 4.7-inch IPS (1280 x 720 pixels), 1.3Ghz quad core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, microSD slot, dual SIM, 8MP rear, 5MP front camera, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, 1,700 mAh battery, Android 4.4, 120 grams

The Aqua Speed HD looks stylish, thanks to metal finish rim and a pearl finish back panel. The curved edges of the removable rear panel almost give it a unibody look and it weighs only 120 grams. Up front is a sharp 4.7-inch HD display with excellent viewing angles and vibrant colours. We had an issue with the tiny power and volume buttons on the side — they were too small for comfortable use and sometimes hard to press. In addition, the Android buttons are not backlit.

Intex has provided a customised user interface with a dedicated music player home page and another page with dedicated camera preview window. There are additional tweaks available for lock screen notifications, custom button functions, gestures and folder support. While the overall interface zips along smoothly, we thought that the icon design was not polished enough.

Thanks to 2GB RAM, the phone had no issues running any app or game. With a heavy game in the background (Shadowgun), we were able to switch to other running apps smoothly. However, with multiple apps running, there were random frame drops during gaming. Another gripe we had with the phone is that the 1,700mAh battery struggles to last from morning to evening with constant data connectivity and mix usage.

With outdoor light, the 8MP camera took good images but indoors it had visible noise. We also noticed the camera tended to overexpose lighter colours. We saw the same issue with the front camera too. The Aqua Speed HD has its share of pros and cons, but it’s the price that makes it lose out to the competition. We recommend that you get the Lenovo A6000 Plus for Rs 7,499 (reviewed above) instead.