INQ Mini 3G

The basics

The cute little social networking mobile returns in a new, smaller, faster guise and it adds Twitter and 3G into a smaller package.

Start it up and you’re immediately faced with all your social networking heroes: Twitter, Facebook, IM and Skype on the ‘Switcher’ (a bar along the bottom) on the home page. Perfect for those who like to keep in contact at all time, but don't want to shell out for a BlackBerry.

The good

As we've said – the social networking aspect of the handset is handled with flair. You can scroll through your address book and see your mates' latest Facebook update or Tweets, which could help you avoid a few embarrassing conversations. Setting it up is easy – just log in, select who to sync, and it’s done in a matter of seconds.

It also feels far more expensive than its price tag, with a glossy finish and sturdy build. It’s not going to fall apart in a few minutes like some budget handsets

The bad

The only real issue was with the keys – they’re a bit cramped and a bit unresponsive, so you might find yourself mis-hitting more often than not. The menu is very responsive, however, with no delay whatsoever.

The camera is also only 2-megapixel, down from the INQ 1’s 3.2, and you need an adaptor to use headphones with it. Both are notable oversights.

The bottom line

The INQ Mini 3G is a well-built and able phone. If you’re looking for the social networking functionality of a smartphone on a budget, look no further.