Micromax Canvas 2 Plus: A Minor Upgrade with Better Performance
Micromax changed the expectations of Indian smartphone buyers in the early 2010s. Its Canvas range brought large screens, dual-SIM support, and respectable specifications to customers who could not justify the cost of a Samsung or Sony handset. The original Canvas 2 A110 played an important role in that shift, but its dual-core processor soon began to look modest beside newer quad-core phones.
The Canvas 2 Plus A110Q arrived as a practical response rather than a complete redesign. It retained the familiar five-inch display and broadly similar body, while adding a faster processor, updated software, and a small improvement to the camera package. Its appeal came from the performance boost, not from a revolutionary design or a sharper screen.
That made the phone an interesting mid-range option in 2013. It sat below the more ambitious Canvas HD in display resolution, yet promised smoother everyday use than the older Canvas 2. For buyers who valued speed, dual-SIM flexibility, and a large screen over premium materials, the Plus model offered a sensible upgrade.
A familiar phone with a faster foundation
The largest change was the move to a 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6589 processor. The original Canvas 2 used a dual-core chip, so the additional cores gave the Canvas 2 Plus more room for multitasking, browser use, social apps, and casual gaming. It was not a high-end processor, but it was well suited to the phone’s price category.
The handset included 1GB of RAM, which was a reasonable specification at the time. Android applications were becoming more demanding, and 512MB devices could struggle when several services were active in the background. With 1GB, the A110Q could switch between messaging, music, web pages, and basic games with fewer interruptions.
The improvement was most obvious in general responsiveness. Menus opened more quickly, applications loaded with less hesitation, and scrolling felt more consistent than on the earlier model. Buyers should still keep expectations realistic: heavy 3D games could expose the limits of the Mali-400 graphics unit, and the phone was not designed to compete with flagship Snapdragon or Exynos hardware.
Display and design remain largely unchanged
Micromax kept the five-inch IPS display with an 854-by-480-pixel resolution. The screen was spacious for reading websites, watching videos, and using maps, but its pixel density was lower than the 720p panel on the Canvas HD. Text and icons were usable, although close inspection revealed softer edges than on more expensive phones.
The IPS technology helped the display produce better viewing angles than many inexpensive TN panels. Colours were reasonably lively, and the large screen gave the phone a more premium impression than its plastic construction suggested. Outdoor visibility was acceptable rather than exceptional, particularly under strong sunlight.
Its design followed the familiar Canvas formula: a rounded plastic body, physical or capacitive navigation controls depending on the variant, and a removable rear cover. The build did not offer the rigidity or finish of a flagship, but removable covers and batteries were still valuable features for Indian buyers. They made it easier to replace a worn battery or access the dual-SIM and microSD slots.
The decision to preserve the older screen can be viewed as a compromise. It helped Micromax control the price and maintain battery demands, but it also limited the sense of generational change. Customers wanting a visibly sharper display had a reason to consider the Canvas HD instead.
Cameras, software, and daily usability
The Canvas 2 Plus used an 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 2-megapixel front camera. In good daylight, the rear sensor could capture social-media-ready images with acceptable colour and detail. Its performance dropped in dim environments, where noise, slow focusing, and limited dynamic range became noticeable.
The front camera was suitable for basic video calls and self-portraits, though it lacked the clarity associated with later smartphones. Camera software offered the usual period features, including scene modes and simple controls, but photography was not the main reason to buy this handset. The quad-core processor and generous screen were more important parts of its value proposition.
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean was another advantage over older budget phones. Google Now, smoother interface animations, improved notifications, and updated widgets made the operating system feel more current. Micromax added its own applications and services, some of which were useful while others consumed storage that could have been reserved for personal files.
The phone offered 4GB of internal storage, with only part of that available to the user. A microSD card was therefore close to essential for music, photographs, videos, and larger applications. Dual-SIM support remained central to the product’s identity, allowing users to combine networks for cheaper calls, broader coverage, or separate personal and work numbers.
Battery life and connectivity
A 2,000mAh removable battery powered the device. For a five-inch phone with a 480p screen, that capacity was adequate, though the quad-core processor could use more energy during gaming and extended data sessions. Moderate users could generally make it through a day, while heavy users might need an evening recharge.
Battery performance depended heavily on mobile network conditions. Dual-SIM operation, 3G data, GPS, and bright display settings could reduce endurance quickly. Buyers who mainly used calls, messaging, Wi-Fi, and occasional browsing would experience a more comfortable routine than those streaming video or gaming for several hours.
Connectivity included 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and FM radio, covering the basic requirements of the period. NFC and 4G were absent, but those omissions were normal at this price point in 2013. The phone’s practical advantage was its combination of mobile data support and two active SIM slots rather than any unusual wireless feature.
The removable back also made maintenance less complicated. A spare battery could extend a long trip, and users did not need specialised tools to replace the original cell. That kind of flexibility has largely disappeared from modern smartphones, making the Canvas 2 Plus particularly representative of its era.
How it compared with other affordable phones
The A110Q entered a busy Indian market. Micromax had to compete with its own Canvas HD, while Karbonn, Lava, Samsung, and several smaller manufacturers offered large-screen Android devices. A useful comparison is the Karbonn A111, a smaller dual-SIM Android handset aimed at buyers with tighter budgets. The Micromax model justified its higher price through its larger display and stronger quad-core hardware.
The Canvas 2 Plus also showed how quickly specifications were advancing. A phone that offered a five-inch display, 1GB of RAM, and a quad-core processor could be marketed as affordable, even though these features had recently been associated with premium models. The trade-offs were visible in screen resolution, storage, construction, and camera quality.
| Feature | Micromax Canvas 2 Plus | Micromax Canvas 2 | Micromax Canvas HD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek | 1.2GHz dual-core | 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek |
| RAM | 1GB | 512MB | 1GB |
| Display | 5-inch, 854 × 480 | 5-inch, 800 × 480 | 5-inch, 1280 × 720 |
| Rear camera | 8MP | 5MP | 8MP |
| Operating system | Android 4.2 Jelly Bean | Android 4.0, upgrade path varied | Android 4.1 Jelly Bean |
| Battery | 2,000mAh | Around 2,000mAh | 2,000mAh |
| SIM support | Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM |
The table shows why the Plus model was an incremental product. It brought the Canvas 2 closer to the Canvas HD in processing and camera specifications, but it did not close the display gap. For buyers who cared about application speed more than pixel density, that balance made sense. For video viewers and readers, the HD model remained more appealing.
The pricing strategy was equally important. A launch price around the low- to mid-₹12,000 range placed the phone within reach of students, first-time smartphone buyers, and customers moving up from basic handsets. Street prices could vary by retailer, city, colour, and promotional bundle, so the practical value depended on local availability.
Where the upgrade made sense
The Canvas 2 Plus was best understood as a performance refresh. It did not transform the original Canvas 2, but it addressed one of the older model’s most visible weaknesses. The shift from dual-core to quad-core processing made the phone feel more capable, while 1GB of RAM improved its ability to handle a growing Android application ecosystem.
Its weaknesses were equally clear. The display resolution was behind the Canvas HD, internal storage was limited, and the plastic construction could not match premium rivals. Camera quality was adequate for casual use rather than serious photography. Micromax’s software additions also meant that storage management was necessary from the beginning.
The phone’s place in the wider flagship story can be understood through the Galaxy S3 versus S4 evolution, where Samsung refined an established design while improving internal hardware and software. Micromax followed a similar, more budget-focused formula: preserve a popular shape, upgrade the key components, and keep the product accessible.
Points to check before buying
- Choose it for dual-SIM convenience, a large display, and everyday Android performance rather than modern gaming power.
- Confirm that the battery, charger, touchscreen, and removable back are in good condition if purchasing a used unit.
- Budget for a microSD card because the available internal storage is limited.
- Prefer the Canvas HD if a sharper 720p display matters more than a lower purchase price.
- Check network compatibility and 3G support before using it as a primary mobile-data device.
For its time, the Micromax Canvas 2 Plus was a sensible bridge between entry-level Android phones and more expensive quad-core models. Its hardware refresh delivered the improvement many Canvas 2 owners wanted, even though the unchanged design and low-resolution screen kept the upgrade modest. Readers tracking the history of affordable Indian smartphones can use this handset as a clear example of how better performance became available without a flagship price.