Top 5 budget Android phones
The line for budget Android smartphones seems to have been redrawn again. While they used to be low-cost devices with the basic specs, manufacturers seem to be packing in features often found on higher-end devices. It's not surprising to see these handsets sporting the full range of connectivity options.
Some compromises have to be made--usually in the form of a smaller, lower-resolution display, or a slightly slower processor and a low-quality camera sensor. Depending on the manufacturer, some of these smartphones can be considered midrange, but if you get the right telco contract, it's likely you can pick them up for free. Of course, if a contract is not an option, these phones are still available for under S$500 (US$398).
(Note: The smartphones' retail prices at launch do not reflect their current street prices.)
CNET Asia rating: 7 stars
The good: Cute design with a premium finish; Facebook is integrated well.
The bad: Small screen is problematic; some apps appear sideways; average battery life and camera.
The bottom line: The HTC ChaCha does a great job of being a Facebook phone, but the lack of a bigger screen and auto-rotation makes the user experience less than satisfactory.
First take:
The Huawei Vision is a handset you never thought the Chinese company would make--it mainly makes and sells low-cost smartphones. Its premium looks have already won praise in the form of an iF design award and that bodes well for the device.
First take:
The LG Optimus Hub should serve as a good introduction into the Android platform, thanks to its sleek curves and powerful 1,500mAh battery. As its name suggests, the Optimus Hub comes with Wi-Fi Direct, which lets you connect wirelessly to other Wi-Fi Direct devices (like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus) without the need for a router.
First take:
The new Xperia neo V comes packing an updated version of the Gingerbread (2.3.4) firmware. In addition, Sony Ericsson's custom software also brings swipe input and screenshot capabilities to the company's Android smartphones. Inside, the neo V runs on a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor like the Xperia active and arc.
On the outside, the neo V fits well in pockets and looks quite pretty. In fact, its glossy finishing reminds us of a Japanese sports car. Read on to find out if this could be the smartphone for you.
First take:
The Samsung Galaxy Ace is a basic Android device that is available from operators cheaply. It makes an excellent choice for those who want a full smartphone experience but are on a budget. Let's see what it offers.
About the author
Aloysius Low is a Senior Writer at CNET Asia and covers all things mobile. A former World of Warcraft addict, he now dabbles in social media to stave off the withdrawal symptoms. As a lover of all things furry, he's also the unfortunate slave/minion of two adorable cats.
Latest comments
ZTE Blade please... value/specs, smashes all of these phones!
how come ZTE BLADE is not in the list of budget phones.....was n still is only the best n budget list all over europe........
Interesting, but I was hoping one of these would NOT have a camera. Are there any such Android phones available, or perhaps in the pipeline? For security reasons I (and multitudes of Singaporean Reservists) can only use a camera-less phone during annual In-Camp Training stints, and, having been hooked on Android thanks to my mighty Galaxy S, I am honestly loath to switching back to using an old "feature" phone. Please, CNET, run an article on this (or on other niche features for smartphones)!
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