The Micromax Canvas Elanza 2 (A121) is quad core handset running Android 4.3 over a 5 inch screen with HD resolution. The handset is available for a price of under Rs. 9,500. The Elanza 2 comes loaded with better specifications but there are limitations, check the review to and find out.
Inside the Box: Micromax A121, 2000 mAh battery, warranty card, user guide, Micromax download goodies, SAR compliance, screen guard and earphone. The SAR values are 0.55W/kg @ 1g head and 0.76W/kg @ 1g body.
Design and Display
Micromax has done an excellent job when it comes to the design. Taking a whole lot of clues from the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 the A121 also get somewhat similar treatment. The handset back is with leather finishing that feels good and is comfortable to hold. There are textures on the back and artificial threading style on the edges. It is 8.70mm thick and weight with battery is 159 grams.
The sides are silver colored with matte finishing that complements the leather finishing. Overall very good build quality with premium looks. Power buttons are placed on the right, volume rockers on left, micro USB port and 3.5mm audio jack on the top.
This is a dual band handset that comes with dual SIM slots (you need 2 normal SIM’s).
There is a mic on the front facing bottom and other on the rear just below the LED flash (noise cancellation). Interestingly Micromax has added the LED flash on the front too. This is the first time I have seen a smartphone with a front LED flash. The front flash is yellow colored – looks odd as it is easily visible on the black front – seems like a yellow LED that is always switched on.
The Micromax Canvas Elanza 2 comes with a 5 inch TFT IPS screen with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution. Viewing angles are okay and touch is smooth and responsive. There are 3 sensors accelerometer, proximity and light. There is no LED notification.
OS, Memory and Storage
The Micromax A121 runs on Android 4.3, not sure if Micromax will provide the KitKat update for the same.
There is 1GB RAM, 4GB storage and 32GB external card support. Of the 1GB RAM, 471MB is available on the first boot and of 4GB storage, 1.2GB is allocated for apps (1.1GB free) and 1GB as internal phone storage. You cannot install apps on the external storage and the internal storage free space is just 1GB, which means you cannot install high end games that are over 1GB.
OTG is not supported.
Performance
Official website stats that the handset is using the MSM8212 hardware but benchmark apps are showing it as MSM8610 the same that we have seen on MOTO E, Lava Iris 406q. Probably Qualcomm is using the same board but has modified the hardware (using a different CPU chipset) – named it MSM8212.
Though the handset is clocked at 1.19GHz coupled with Adreno 305GPU, the performance is good, lag free but because of higher screen resolution the FPS is low.
Benchmark Scores
| App | Result |
| Quadrant | 8354 |
| Antutu | 15714 |
| Vellamo | HTML5 (1500) Metal (455) |
| Nenamark 2 | 39.3fps |
| Multi Touch | 5 point |
Camera and Entertainment
There is 8MP rear camera with LED flash and a 2MP front camera with LED flash (on the front). By default the camera images will be saved on the internal storage, but there is an option to change the location to external storage.
The camera quality is good and sharp. Long shots and mid shots look good, really sharp. Closeup’s are also pretty good but after some shots the auto starts to get blurry, you need to restart the camera app to fix that. The rear camera can record 720p video but the quality is not so good (looks good on mobile screen but not so good on desktop). LED flash is no good for both rear as well as front cameras. Check the sample images at the end.
Micromax A121 can play Full HD videos in both H/W and S/W modes.
Gaming
You cannot install apps on external storage and there is just 1GB free space available on the internal storage. I could not install MC4 and Asphalt 8 as each of these games required over 1.2GB space. I downloaded Captain America and Dead Trigger 2 game which played well. Dead Trigger 2 was playable (pretty smooth) even on high visual quality mode.
Others
I was not able to connect with the PC for transferring images that I shot using this handset. When I selected the USB connect option it went into an endless loop connecting and disconnecting. No issues found with 3G, Wi-Fi (Hotspot supported / Wi-Fi direct not supported), GPS and Bluetooth. USB and Bluetooth tethering is supported. Sound is loud and clear.
2000 mAh battery performance
As per the official website the 2000 mAh battery should last for about 7 hours with 2G. I used the handset for 27 minutes running benchmark apps, the battery dropped by 7 percent. I then played some games for 9 minutes, the battery dropped by 3 percent and finally I played a HD video in a loop for about 1 hour 48 minutes, the battery dropped by 33%. The max temperature was 38 degrees.
The battery backup (continuous) is up to 5 hours with moderate to heavy usage.
Verdict
The Elanza 2 is using the MSM8212 quad core chipset clocked at a 1.19 GHz. It runs on Android 4.3 over a 5 inch screen with HD resolution. The build quality is very good, got a premium look with leather finish. There is 8MP camera with decent quality and the front camera is also with LED flash (though it’s no good in complete dark environment).
Though the handset performance is good the FPS is low because of 720p resolution moreover with limited storage space you will not be able to download many games. There was also some issue with the screen (check the video review).
It would be wise to look for some other models as there are issues / limitations on this handset, the Micromax Canvas 2 colours I believe is a better option.
Micromax Canvas Elanza 2 current price is Rs. 8,999.
micromax canvas elanza2 not support otg cable what I do ? pls tell something
waste model im using this phone for 4 months with 40+ more problems
Root it with vroot ver1.7.3, and install stick mount app , it will work,
Can I replace my elanaza 2 Battery with high mah battery?
can it play high end games like fifa 15 ,injustice , asphalt 8 . very smoothly ?????
Pls help me set my default settings for SD as internal storage is very low .
Guys mob outlook is good, but worst smartphone. Don’t go for elanza2 a121. Too low internal memory fa 1gb and its automatically fills by default.. Mob gets restart during file transfer to another mob. worst mob by MMX. I bought fa 9k @ local shop b4 20days finds many prob. Dear MMX plz stop diz mob don’t cheat customer else increase user memory n ROM.. fa good outluk mob worth is 6k tats it.
Hi- Pls help me set my default memory in memory card as its internal storage is very small..
Guys,The Only Way To Solve The Problem Of Dialer is get Rid Of It…..
Download Dialer + And Contacts + From Play Store
It will not Get Hanged While Dialing A Number…..
My mobile is not working properly..I am having lots of problems in it…my incoming files are moving to phone memory only.its responding to SD card…back camera not working properly front camera is working good….plzz say some ideas about my mobile sir….micromax A121..
Can it play 1080 p videos in mx player?
Pleas instaall…km player for solve this issue
How to update kitkat 4.4 in canvas a121 elanza?
You can download the update from
tools and flashing guide available here : http://support.moulnisky.com/index.php?dir=Micromax/00_A%20Serie/A121/Tools/
BR
Alex
I bought elanza 2 everything is good except battery bt I want more battery plz what I to do
Gogi world worst phone I have seen that we can’t move apps to ext SD, why mmx is doing such game with customer. I have this phone and very frustrated, if you have some technician help plz let us know soon.
Gogi you haven’t mentioned dimensions of the handset.
Today got a notification to update ELANZA 2. Installed the same and it updated of KITKAT 4.4.2.
Are you sure sir?
I have the same handset and I haven’t received any update. Why are you be-fooling people?
Hi Ritwick,
I am sorry as I am wrong about this. Actually myself got fooled by my friend about this update.
He fooled me by sending a screenshot of the update of different device.
I apologize for the same.
Which big game can eaisly be played on mmx elanaza 2. And how to root it without pc
I got this phone today only and it is having internet connection problems. What should I do?
Is it common for mmx smartphones being heated up while playing games, cause I found this problem in Canvas HD & Colours 2?
Yes it is normal and happens on almost all handsets, just make sure that handset does not get too hot, if it does stop playing, let it cool and then start playing.
Please suggest if there is a solution for the RAM automatically filling up issue. In this phone the RAM gets automatically filled up and reaches a point where the phone has to be restarted. For instance at the time of restarting, it is around 360 – 400 mb used and and rest 500 odd mb free. Over 14 – 15 hours the RAM usage touches over 800 – 900 mb virtually making the phone dead. This resolves after restarting again. I have not installed any app or game other one very light one and no other app expect the factory apps have been installed. Some bloatware like MMX default apps and games have been disabled.
Thanks in advance, if you could help out with this issue.
Try RAM optimizer app.
Have tried that, it infact complicates the problem. Because every time i try to stop a background service either manually or using optimizer (I have tried AVG optimiser, clean master etc.), the service restarts. However on restarting, the old space does not free up, however the restarted service takes up equal amount of space additionally.
I use xolo q700s now I want to change my phone is micromax elanza2 a good choice?
Dear, download clean master app from Google play store and run that frequently , your problem will be solved.
Looks like Xolo Q1000
Hi gogi xolo q3000 available at Rs.15000 on
Amazon it is good buy over canvas magnus
a117. you review both mobiles so what is your
advise can I go for q3000 pls ans soon.
mmx unite 2 is d best deal 4 now….
We can move apps to Sd card using Link2SD by rooting our phone…
Gogi when u will review micromax unite a106 then plz give an different article on comparison of a106 nd moto e
Front led for front camera? What is the use of a feature if it does not make any difference?
Dear Gogi sir,
thanks for the review.
well..
Canvas 2 Colours and Canvas Elanza 2 both the phones specifications are same, i like to buy one, please confirm which one is better as per your view and why? please mention the specification.
thanks
Sumit
Specs are not same but Colours is better.
first smartphone which uses led on front cam was canvas xl gogi 🙂
Amit, yes but I have mentioned – first time I have seen a smartphone with a front LED flash.
karbonn titaniun X is also having LED Flash in front..
Please review the Micromax Unite 2 along with a comprasion wit Moto E..
M stuck on which to buy?
Plz tell me What is fps and how it belongs to resolution
I have front flash in canvas xl
gogi sir, please suggest me best gaming mobile under 15k??
thanks in advance
xolo q1010i
Gogi ji dont you think fps is very low..will it perform good in asphalt 8 and modern combat 4?
Yes but the games will run in low visual mode.
So thats Mean, that we cannot Install any app in external storage not with the help of App2SD app ?
Thanks for one Another Good Review.
Please review Lava Iris X1. I am planning to buy Lava X1.
Thanks
Prem
Unite 2 is better (except display quality). Though it is a Kitkat powered phone It supports move to SD feature!
Gogiji please review MMX UNITE 2 (A106) plan to buy this phone on coming weekend. Please review as my decision is based on your final verdict (bought MMX Colours for bro based on your review on May 19)
Will do that soon, am waiting for unit.
please review Micromax unite 2. please