On the very first day of this year we reported about the launch of the cheapest Android 2.3 mobile, the spice MI 280, in India. I was so excited about reviewing it that I couldn’t hold myself to wait for the review sample from the company and I purchased one. Another reason to make a purchase was that now I would be able to provide answers to ongoing questions as well (e.g. does this game plays on it or does this software work on it etc.), which actually is not possible with the review sample as we have to return the same to the company after reviewing. (P.S. Please don’t expect this in case of every mobile 
)
Now when I have used it for around a week, here goes my first hand review on this.
Overview:
Spice MI-280 is made for affordability, so don’t expect that the specification will blow you out. It’s purely made for those who just want to taste Android and want to use it for their web activities (e.g Net surfing, social networking etc) along with the casual multimedia usage. Its not made for those who want an Android for Gaming, Camera and full blown multimedia stuffs. For movie seekers, you can watch movies on it, both Audio and Video are average.
Specifications:
- 2.8 inch, 320 x 240 px, 65k Capacitive Touchscreen
- Dual SIM (GSM+GSM)
- Android 2.3 Gingerbread
- 3.2 Megapixel Camera with fixed focus
- VGA Front camera for video calling
- CPU: 650 MHz, GPU – Equivalent to 200MHz
- 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS
- Internal Memory: 134 MB, expandable up to 32GB
- 1000 mAH battery
- View full specifications
Weak points:
- Low resolution and low colors on screen
- Average camera
Hardware:
Most of the buttons are located on the front itself. It accommodates the front camera, 2.8 inch screen, 4 capacitive buttons below the screen and three hardware buttons (call, end and the five way navigation key). The end button doubles as the lock key and I couldn’t figure the much use of 5-way navigation key as the capacitive touchscreens are always good in scrolling, tapping etc.
There’s a volume rocker in the left and 3.5 mm jack & connectivity port on the top. There’s nothing on right and bottom of the mobile. Important to mention that there is no dedicated camera key.
The built of mobile is not very sturdy and the back panel (the battery cover), made of plastic looks flimsy when you separate it from the body. It doesn’t give a very costly look but doesn’t look very cheap as well (something like Samsung Corby mobiles, if you remember).
Display and Touch:
To make the Spice MI 280 affordable, display is one of the area where most of the compromises have been done. It has a low resolution (320×240 px) and very low colors on the screen (65k colors) which up to very much extent ruin out the enjoyment of Android. The screen is not at all optimal to play high end games (like Asphalt, NFS etc). However it supported light games such as Angry Birds, Speed car (a motion based car racing game) etc.
Unlike other sub 5k Android mobiles Spice MI280 posses a capacitive touchscreen. The screen is responsive to touches, pinch and zoom, scrolling etc. I noticed some lag while scrolling call logs and the Internet browser, which was unexpected.
User interface and Performance
The user interface is somehow different to other Android mobiles. When you press the unlock button, by default you are greeted with a lock icon in multi-colored circle. You need to pull out the lock from circle to unlock the screen. Then you have 5 different scrollable home screens which can be configured with icons as per your need.
When you peep into the menu, by default its vertically scrollable, not horizontally. In menu you will find a few pre installed apps like Delhi Metro, Tradus, Spice gang, Indian rail etc. These can’t be removed without rooting the mobile phone.
The front camera for video call works fine but only in ambient light conditions. In every Android mobile’s review, I have been asked by the readers, whether Skype works perfectly or not. In this case I guess no. While Installing the Skype, a message popped up saying, ” Skype is Incompatible with the System, Continue the Installation anyway?”. After the installation, I opened the application and put the login credentials. The moment I clicked sign in, the app got closed. I could not find another option in the call menu or anywhere else to make a call with Skype.
The default keyboard is just fine but doesn’t support swype text input. However you can easily overcome it by installing any of the keyboard app.
To be very frank, the user interface won’t give you a rich feeling. You will feel like the Android OS has been packed in cheap touchscreen mobile device. There’s definitely a bit lagging at times which shouldn’t be considering a 650 Mhz CPU + GPU running just a 65k colored screen.
For a better idea of user interface consider watching our Video review of Spice MI280 on Youtube
Multimedia and Camera
In case of multimedia, the audio quality and video quality is average. You can watch movies and YouTube videos while on the go, but don’t expect a great feeling.
The camera is also average. There is no auto focus or led flash for camera. Click here for the photo samples and here for the video sample.
Battery
How can a 1000 mAH battery withstand the Android. Battery drains out very quickly while using apps. On minimal usage, it hardly survived a day.
Final words : Should you buy it?
Buy it if you want to use Android just to taste it. This phone does well in terms of web usability. It will also fulfill your multimedia buds up to some extent.
Don’t buy it if you want to purchase Android for gaming, using heavy apps (like skype) and a great multimedia experience. You will be disappointed. Better increase your budget a bit or hold for some better options in this price range.
Feel free to ask anything through comments. I have decided to use this mobile for some more days so it won’t be tough for me to answer your questions.
Update: 21 Jan 2012: The mobile set used in review is for sale @ Rs. 4500 (Learn more) Sold 
Sir, i wanted to know how is the gps usability on spice mi-280, and how long its can battery work with gps?
Sir, i wanted to know how is the gps usability on spice mi-280, and how long its can battery work with gps?
I want Buy a mobile, but i am little confuse between Micromax A75 & Spice MI 350n.
Please can you suggest me which is best , and my budget 7000 to 9500.
please refer to this discussion
http://thetechindian.com/question/which-mobile-is-better-respond-soonurgent/
Hi,
I Will buy android dual mobile by this week end. pl suggest me which mobile is good.
my range is Rs. 5500.
I need good camera,music experience,video,and mobile doesnt hang it. and battery backup.
pl suggest.
am waiting.
thanks
Spice Mi280 Is very good andriod mobile with good feture of Wi -Fi and Video Callling .This mobile Phone I am Using Since 7 Jan 2012. it is under your pocket monay
Hi,
I need android with dual sim within Rs.5500 with good camera, speed,video and doesnt hang. kindly suggest which one is good.???
can we play hd games o spice mi-280 please tell me
I want to buy mi280.but i want to know if asphalt 6 is working smoothly on it or not.and plz shoot sum outdoor & indoor photos clicked by the device and post here or mail me.let me know if applications could be installed on memory card or not.plz reply as soon as possible.
Hi Shivam.
-It doesn’t support Asphalt 6
-Pics uploaded here http://techlabindia.blogspot.com/2012/01/spice-mi-280-camera-samples.html
- All Android mobiles With Android 2.2 and above have the capability to install apps on SD card. But remember some apps (e.g. theme launcher) need to be installed in the phone.
- You can buy the Spice MI 280 handset used in review only for Rs 4500 – http://thetechindian.com/buy-reviewed-samples/
Dear sir, i want know about battery backup of spice mi280 with medium internet surfing..Please reply.
Your reply wil help me for purchase ths mobile.
Thankyou
If you plug it out in the morning, with medium Internet usage, you will need to put it back on charge by evening.
I have purchased Mi 280 now. but I can not use 3G in my Idea network
and no one give me proper reply.
Sir, i want to know is it support facebook video ?
I am using mi 280 and its workin cool.also 3g is really a treat for me as i got airtel 3g hack yesterday.i have gave rs500 to the hacker and he configured my device to unlimited 3g data download at rs 100 per month.in just 1 day i have downloaded 4 movies each of 700mb at speed ranging from 100-400 kbps.its really good.
hi ram pl tell where to hck my spice mi-280 to 3g in hyderabad,i thought it was 3g phone,pl send details of using 3g
Hai can you pls tell me how to hack it and where it is done and i want the pc suite for this mobile can you pls send me the link
Aswni bro, i m thinking to buy spice mi-280, will it open 1 mb picture smoothly. And is it support micro sd card.
It supports micro sd and I haven’t found any issue in opening large pictures….
I have a box packed Spice MI280 in stock… let me know if you wanna buy it for Rs. 4500
hi how can i get his mobile which u have pacled with you,mycell 9958678572
Bro, u dint wrote about hindi language support, plz mention it also.
Hello, i m Puspendu……..someone mentioned here that Spice Mi-280 won’t support high memory HD android games because of its low resolution and low color display……….but in this topic i wanna tell him that running of HD games doesn’t depend upon display…….rather it depends upon processor speed, RAM, and video memory(graphics memory)…….being an Electronics Engineer i know it and fortunately this phone has sufficient RAM, ROM and an amazing 650 MHz processor………so people who want to buy this phone need not worry on this matter…………and finally thanks for reading this long comment.
Hi puspendu…. i could have agreed with your points, but 2 things stop me
1. HD games like NFS and asphalt clearly mention their minimum requirements which includes 320×480 px resolution…. but the spice mi 280 has a resolution of 240×320 px
2. i am registered in Android market with Spice mi 280… in every hd game’s page, it displays the message saying this game is not compatible wit your device…
what does ur engineer mind thinks about these issues?
Hi Trisha, I bought this phone yesterday. I want to know which VOIP software will work on this mobile?
i want to know mi280 wifi how to connect with bsnl wifi moderm,can i upgrade high ah baterry, i also want to know how to get an gprs setting for mi270 on vodafone or aircel thank u, iam ur fan
sir-i want to buy a cell(android) within 5200 bucks.will spice mi280 be a good choice?
dude i want to buy this 1 spice mi-280 please tell me howz it???
can we root the rom in spice mi-280
today i bought spice mi280…..after lil bit of upgradation i just use skype(android version ) easily in this phone…..thanks
@ spondon_ can you tell me the steps that I should follow to use skype on this phone…..I also wanted to use skype on this phone…
@ spondon…..can you tell me in detail how to root spice mi 280……also please tell me how can I install android 2.3 upgraded version including the patch file…..how to do them all…..I am a new android user……
Spondon I want to know are you still using the phone if yes do face any problem after rooting the phone?
@shwetam……just root your phone… then you can upgrade your processor up to 950 MHz…….then install android 2.3 upgrade version including the patch file…..after that install skype and enjoy
caution :-root is not a recommended settings for a mobile…it can upgrade your phone but it is destroy the warranty time…..
do it by expert people…
thanks
Thanks for the information….I will try it…
Thanks
Thank you spondon for showing the path to use Skype. Will you please tell the step bu step path for rooting, upgrading & patching.
Hi,
can you email me complete steps
i need it to update spice mi 280 to new version of android
along with rooting software
hi i just bought spice mi280 i just want to know how to root it and how can i use skype and even i dont get 3g in my handset as airtel customer care says its not 3g compatible ,,,can anyone help me?
sir
is it possible to install adobe flash player on Spice MI280 after or before rooting ? I’ve tried many times without a success, tell me how to watch live tv on the phone. Waiting eagerly for your response sir.
hai ,
i m also using this mob…it s gud in all the way..but for auto rotate it is taking more time…have anyone faced this problem…do any one know how to resovle it….
if u have any idea plz snd it to this mail id”pandiyarajan.rv@india.com”…
helllooooooo
i want to watch live tv in this phone ,and i got 2 apps mera tv and zenga tv but thease appps dosent install in phone what can i do for that and also recommed some live tv apps for that
thanks in advance
I am using this phone for past 2 months and it is good for me. Can you help me to root the device. I have tried the instructions from XDA developers forum but i failed please answer me.
good news for spice mi 280 users……they can play nfs shift,asphalt6 and any game in their phone……………..just root ur phone and install chainfire3d
How to root spice mi 280…can u please give step by step..
Hi, Spice phone are only bullshit nothing more.
The quality of these phones is very inferior. U can use them only until they are working. The spare parts are not available in market. also spice service center takes months to repair them and charge money even if they are under warantee. You have to struggle for ur phone to get them in working condition after even minute faults. I am also a victim of spice.So suggest all reader not to purchase these chinese phones.
how is speed with gprs and YouTube?
Hi,
How to install much things in this phone if the internal memory space is too less. However, having much space in external memory (SD card) but this always shows insufficient memory when I try to install the things on it.
Please help me in this.
Thanks.
I am using mi 280 and its workin cool but bettery backup very bad
if you konw another company better plz tell…. me…
i want to sale this mobile 45 days old at rs 4500 call me 9782990008
ya sms on 9001919416
Hi Trisha, I bought this phone yesterday. I want to know which VOIP software will work on this mobile?
I have spice-Mi-280 mobile. I am facing a problem of shortage of memory in this mob.
Plz tell me how to delete/remove default applications like mig33, yahoo mails etc?
I tried my best to remove them but I failed everytime. Also thses applications are not going to move in SD card.
Plz tell me how to move them into SD card???