Over the past few years, almost all mobile operators have launched sales of gadgets under their own labels. MegaFon, Beeline and MTS have become the most productive - each of these companies has released several models of smartphones and tablets with its own logo. All such gadgets are budget, and their price rarely exceeds 5000 rubles. When purchasing such a device, the buyer is strongly advised to purchase an operator's SIM card, if it is not already available, since a smartphone or tablet will only work if the communication services of "their" company are used. You can take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of such devices using the example of the MTS Smart Start Sim-Lock (Black) model.
The declared characteristics of the Smart Start smartphone from MTS
The case of the smartphone is made of plastic, has a classic design. The weight of the device is 125 grams. The MTS Smart Start smartphone runs on the Android 4.4 operating system, which is quite good for a budget device, the average price of which does not exceed 3,000 rubles. The standard 5 megapixel camera declared in the specifications promises the buyer decent pictures, but the 0.3 megapixel front camera is no longerso impressive to future owners. The MTS Smart Start model has a dual-core processor and 4 GB of internal memory - good features for such a low price. The smartphone works with a 3G network, is able to connect to Wi-Fi, as well as to other devices via Bluetooth.
Complete set of MTS Smart Start model
Only a charger and a standard micro-USB cable are included with the gadget - no headphones or spare back covers are included. Nevertheless, all the necessary accessories can be additionally purchased in the same communication salon. Typically, such smartphones are purchased “for a couple of days” or as a gadget for a child, and the MTS Smart Start Sim-Lock Black model is no exception, judging by customer reviews. Therefore, it is unlikely that any of them will need a "fancy" package.
Reviews on the Smart Start model from MTS
If you initially summarize all the reviews about this device, the verdict is disappointing: even for its price, the smartphone is frankly bad. The most common complaints are that the battery of the MTS Smart Start gadget does not hold a charge for more than three hours even if there is no Internet connection, it works very slowly, freezing for a long time when entering the Contacts menu, and the device’s camera does not live up to expectations. The declared matrix resolution of 5 megapixels is either clearly exaggerated initially, or a rather large part of the product turned out to be a marriage. Reviews are full of calls not to purchase a gadget for long-term use. However,as mentioned above, the MTS Smart Start smartphone and similar devices are bought “for a week”, one-time and even urgently. In such cases, few people care about the quality of the camera or the performance of the processor - Internet access and the ability to make calls are important.
What does Sim-Lock mean in the name of the MTS Smart Start model?
Sim-Lock - a function to limit the operation of a smartphone within a specific mobile operator. This means that a phone or smartphone marked with Sim-Lock cannot be used with a SIM card from any operator other than the seller. The MTS Smart Start Sim-Lock smartphone is no exception. The gadget will only function when connected to the MTS network. If the buyer does not have a SIM card of the required operator, he will have to pay extra for the connection, so if you need to purchase a smartphone at the price declared by the store, you should choose the seller with whom the contract for the provision of communication services has already been concluded.
Attempts to bypass the Sim-Lock feature
On the Internet, you can often find videos in which young inquisitive minds are trying to "hack" the MTS Smart Start gadget, that is, to rid it of the Sim-Lock function. It is worth remembering that doing such manipulations, following the advice of such craftsmen, is categorically not recommended. Lack of knowledge and practical skills in working with such equipment can provoke the final breakdown of the device. However, it should be remembered that the deviceso low-budget that there is simply no point in hacking and flashing such gadgets.
The life of the Smart Start model from MTS
Usually, gadgets from mobile operators are very cheap, their quality leaves much to be desired, and their life is rarely more than six months. The MTS Smart Start Sim-Lock smartphone was no exception to the rule. Judging by the reviews, he, on the contrary, has become a kind of record holder - the gadget very often fails in no more than one or two months. The acquisition of such devices for the long term, even for children, is not the best move. As you know, the miser pays twice, so instead of buying an extremely cheap smartphone, it makes sense to save up enough money to buy a quality gadget. A good and really working smartphone for the long term rarely costs less than 7000 rubles.
Summarizing all of the above, we have to state a sad fact - attempts to save money often turn into additional expenses. The MTS Smart Start Sim-Lock model, being a very, very inexpensive gadget, often pleases its owners only at a price. A weak battery, low performance and frequent “freezes” are all that a manufacturer can offer for a smartphone worth up to 3,000 rubles. Nevertheless, there is some logic in this - the minimum price often means low quality of the product. However, do not forget that this does not always work for gadgets from other manufacturers and mobile operators - there are many examples on the market that refute such judgments. However, forin order to find a cheap and long-lasting smartphone, you need to conduct a thorough search, repeatedly going through trial and error.
