Micromax Bolt Warrior 2 and Canvas Juice A1 Review: Affordable New Releases from Micromax
Explore the Micromax Bolt Warrior 2, a reliable smartphone priced at $80, and the ultra-durable Canvas Juice A1 with a 4000 mAh battery for $107. Discover budget-friendly smartphones that deliver solid performance and features.
Is it possible to have a decent smartphone at a retail price of just $80? This is the question many ask when they first hear about Micromax.
Micromax is a major Indian company whose devices are used by Google for the Android One affordable smartphone program. Four years ago, Micromax ranked among the top ten global smartphone manufacturers and surpassed Samsung in the Indian domestic market a year later. You can learn more about Micromax in our article “What Do You Know About Indian Smartphones?”.
The key strength of Micromax lies in producing quality and affordable devices. For instance, their most expensive smartphone currently costs around $200, while the most affordable is just over $40.
We received two of the latest Micromax smartphones for review.
On the left is the Micromax Bolt Warrior 2 — a dependable workhorse priced at $80, offering the best performance you can get at this price point.
On the right is the Micromax Canvas Juice A1 — an ultra-durable smartphone priced at $107, featuring a 4000 mAh battery, a more advanced display, and an improved camera.
By general standards, both models are clear budget smartphones, but compared to other devices from the company, they represent solid mid-range options. Let’s take a closer look.
Technical Specifications
| Micromax Bolt Warrior 2 | Micromax Canvas Juice A1 | |
| Price | $80 | $107 |
| Battery | 2000 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Display | 5" TFT, HD 1280 × 720, 294 ppi, OnCell | 5" IPS, HD 1280 × 720, 294 ppi, OnCell |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 210, Quad-core 1.1 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 210, Quad-core 1.1 GHz |
| Graphics | Adreno 304 | Adreno 304 |
| RAM | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Storage | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Card | microSD slot up to 32 GB | microSD slot up to 32 GB |
| SIM | Dual microSIM, supports 4G LTE | Dual microSIM, supports 4G LTE |
| Connectivity |
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| Main Camera | 5 MP with flash | 8 MP with flash |
| Front Camera | 2 MP | 2 MP |
| Operating System | Android 6 Marshmallow | Android 6 Marshmallow |
| Dimensions | 142.5 × 71.7 × 9.6 mm | 145.4 × 71.6 × 9.95 mm |
| Weight | 118.3 g | 178.2 g |
| Colors | Gold, Black | Gold, Black |
| Package Contents |
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Both smartphones share many similarities, including a plastic body with a removable back cover featuring an aluminum insert.
The batteries are also removable.
The control buttons are positioned on the right side, the headphone jack is located on top, and the USB port is at the bottom, shifted towards the right edge.
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3 / 0The front panel is protected by a single piece of impact-resistant glass. Although the manufacturer does not specify the brand of the protective coating, the absence of damage from keys, coins, and knives suggests it could be Corning Gorilla Glass 3 or a similar Asahi alternative.
We found no complaints regarding the build quality. The smartphones don’t creak or squeak, feel comfortable in hand, and the buttons are firm. No defects in assembly or fitting were detected. Overall, these devices look more premium than their price suggests. But it’s 2017, and budget smartphones should meet these standards by now.
Including in-ear headphones in a $80 smartphone package is a pleasant surprise. They look nice and sound better than typical cheap Chinese earbuds.
Unlike most modern smartphones where the second SIM card shares a slot with the microSD card, these devices feature a removable back cover that allows a dedicated microSD slot. This means you don’t have to choose between dual SIM functionality and expandable storage. Both phones offer 8 GB of internal storage plus support for up to 32 GB microSD cards.
The smartphones support all current networks and wireless interfaces, including 4G LTE and energy-efficient Bluetooth 4.1. GPS is also included, but unfortunately, 5 GHz Wi-Fi is not supported.
Both devices run Android 6.0 Marshmallow with minimal cosmetic changes.
If you are used to stock Android from Google, transitioning to these devices will be seamless. Others can install a launcher of their choice.
The budget Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 (MSM8909), comparable in performance to the MediaTek MT6735, paired with Adreno 304 graphics, provides a good balance of computing power and energy efficiency. While not designed for high-end 3D gaming, it handles everyday tasks smoothly. The main concern is the limited RAM.
Is 1 GB of RAM Enough or Not?
Every new flagship announcement surprises consumers with unprecedented RAM amounts. Not long ago, 1 GB was considered sufficient, 2 GB was impressive, and 3 GB was seen as excessive. Now, devices boast 4 GB or even 6 GB, which can be puzzling. The key factor is how much RAM is actually used during typical workflows. Everything else is unnecessary overhead that users pay for but rarely utilize.
We were particularly interested in how Android 6 performs with just 1 GB of RAM. Unlike subjective human perception, synthetic benchmarks provide a more objective performance assessment.
The subjective experience exceeded expectations. While the smoothness does not match flagship devices, there were no noticeable lags or freezes. If you avoid running many background apps simultaneously, the smartphones are comfortable to use.
Much depends on your previous device. Some users will find the Bolt Warrior 2 and Canvas Juice A1 speed impressive, while others, coming from devices like the Nexus 6P or Samsung Galaxy S7, might feel differently.
The HD display helps performance since it demands fewer resources than Full HD. Additionally, the near-stock Android without heavy third-party software contributes to a faster and smoother experience.
In conclusion, smartphones with 1 GB of RAM provide an acceptable level of comfort.
Key Differences Between Bolt Warrior 2 and Canvas Juice A1
Battery and Build
The most obvious difference is the battery capacity. The Canvas Juice A1 features a 4000 mAh battery, allowing it to last about twice as long as a typical smartphone. A single full charge comfortably covers two days of use.
Due to the larger battery, the Canvas Juice A1 is noticeably thicker and heavier than the Bolt Warrior 2, but this is not a disadvantage.
Firstly, the manufacturer cleverly handled the device thickness by using rubberized textured plastic side panels, which improve grip and prevent the phone from slipping.
Secondly, 178 grams is not heavy for a 5-inch smartphone. Many users prefer a weighty device as it conveys solidity and reliability.
Thirdly, a thickness under one centimeter for a smartphone with such a large battery is impressive. Calling it bulky would be unfair.
Display
The Bolt Warrior 2 sports a TFT display, while the Canvas Juice A1 offers a sharper, brighter IPS panel with more accurate color reproduction. This difference may appeal to users who prioritize screen quality.
Cameras
Both smartphones have a modest 2 MP front camera suitable for video calls, especially under poor network conditions, though not ideal for high-quality selfies.
Selfies on the left are taken with the Bolt Warrior 2, and on the right with the Canvas Juice A1.
The main camera on the Bolt Warrior 2 is 5 MP, while the Canvas Juice A1 boasts an 8 MP sensor. You can evaluate the photo quality yourself.
Photos on the left are from the Bolt Warrior 2 main camera, and on the right from the Canvas Juice A1.
Summary
Notice how perceptions in mobile technology have shifted over recent years. Previously, consumers equated "cheap smartphone" with poor quality and "expensive smartphone" with excellence. Now, the trend is reversed. People realize there’s no need to overpay for unused features. Budget devices easily handle daily tasks, and the hype around "eight cores, six gigs of RAM, and 100,000 Antutu score" rarely translates into real-life benefits.
Between the two smartphones reviewed, we recommend the Micromax Canvas Juice A1 as the winner. It offers a better display, improved camera, and significantly longer battery life. Whether these advantages justify the $27 higher price is up to you.
Buy Micromax Bolt Warrior 2
Buy Micromax Canvas Juice A1
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