Customer Ratings & Reviews

Really nice phone. It came with an AC adapter (not a common thing these days), a type A to C usb cable, a SIM card tool and a quick start guide. The phone itself is very compact and feels sturdy and with a nice texture on the back, kind of grippy. The phone is unlocked and should work with most carries, but I double checked and it worked fine with mine. It’s max mobile radio speed is 4G LTE, so no 5G, but that is plenty fast for me, since most of the time on Wi-Fi anyways. Once fully charged I turned it on with my SIM card (the phone does support micro SD cards too, so one can expand its storage) I was greeted with the option to login my Google account and it gave me the option to transfer all my stuff from my old phone (photos, messages, apps, accounts etc). I told it yes and here I encountered a little snag. Since my older phone is also type C usb and this new phone is also type C but the included cable is type A to C, I could not use that cable. I had to look for a type C to C cable to be able to plug both phones and start the transfer of data. After this I was up and running. The screen is large and with good resolution. High refresh rate of 90hz can be enabled and feels buttery smooth. It has plenty of RAM, however in the settings you can expand the RAM (I think it uses some of the internal storage to expand it), that way you can multitask better. The only cons I could find was that it does not have NFC, wireless charging and 5G. However for the value you get for its price, I can live without those. Camera is decent and takes good quality fotos and in low light too. If you are looking for a value phone, or maybe a second phone you can take while traveling too (this is a great idea) with really nice features like high refresh rate on the screen, large battery life and expandable storage, this is the one for you. It’s build quality is great for its price!

Yes! It’s true – a Reliable Budget Smartphone! The HMD Vibe is a budget smartphone made by HMD Global, a.k.a. Human Mobile Devices, a Finnish independent mobile phone manufacturer. HMD is made up of the mobile phone business that Nokia Corporation sold to Microsoft in 2014 and then bought back in 2016. HMD holds the exclusive rights to Nokia smartphones via a licensing agreement. I find the idea of a reliable budget smartphone very appealing as several years ago I decided to stop “keeping up with the Jones” concerning the need to purchase the latest and greatest smartphone. Since July of 2021, I have been using a refurbished Galaxy S10 as my primary phone. The HMD Vibe is a nice entry-level smartphone. This is especially true when you consider its price point. The device features a Snapdragon 680 processor with a total of 8 cores, 6GB of RAM, and 128 GB of Storage in the model I evaluated. It will also support microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC memory cards up to 512 GB to provide more storage. The screen is a 6.56 in, 20:9 aspect ratio screen with a 720x1612 resolution that is bright and crisp and has adaptive backlighting. The screen also supports an adaptive refresh rate that can adjust the screen anywhere from 60Hz to 90Hz. This adaptive refresh rate aids in smoother visual effects and scrolling but does come at the expense of a larger drain on the battery but it does not seem to be a large drain. The device supports several network frequencies, but none are 5G. For my carrier 600Mhz support is key for the best capabilities in both 4G and 5G and this device does not support that frequency. Thus, I get a limited compatibility rating. I have included a copy of a frequency chart I found online in the images. Finally, this phone is an Android 14 device with no plans for any OS upgrades and only 2 years of Security updates. Speaking of battery – the device contains a 4000 mAh AI-assisted battery, UISB-C Charging. One item to note is that while the phone does include a USB-C cable for charging, a power block is not included to aid in keeping the price point lower. The battery is rated at an “up to 2-day battery life”. The cameras on this device are ok but are not the best. The rear camera is a 13MP+2MP dual camera (with the 2MP camera providing depth). on the rear and a 5MP selfie camera on the front. The rear camera has HDR and AI imaging built in. An added feature is night mode on the camera to take night shots. The two sample shots included in the images has one in night mode and one not in night mode My experience using this device says that it performs ok, and the battery has lasted for longer than the listed time, but I had lighter usage during my testing. I would imagine under more rigorous usage that the battery would not last nearly as long. Web browsing was just as good as my current phone and got me to the page/articles/messages I was looking for. The pictures I took were not great with graininess noted. Since this is a newer phone manufacturer, I decided to see what the case and holster market was for this device and found it to be quite lacking. While I found many cases the only one, I found close to being in my preferred holster style was a case with an integrated belt clip and case and not a true holster style. Pros: Performance, Affordable, wide US network compatibility, headphone jack Cons: Incomplete network compatibility on my preferred carrier, cameras are lacking

For a budget smartphone that retails for $150 unlocked (often cheaper due to sales, or activation deals through carriers or MVNOs), the HMD Vibe is a very pleasant surprise. The Finnish manufacturer HMD is mostly known for carrying on the Nokia name, but has recently been coming out with its own branded phones (mostly budget to midrange). Based on the price, I was expecting this Vibe to be a sluggish, bloatware-filled mess, but it has really surpassed my expectations. The SoC is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (no Mediatek here!), which provides pretty snappy performance paired with the 6 GB of RAM -- both fairly impressive for a sub-$200 phone. Asphalt Legends Unite, which is my usual benchmark when testing a device, performs quite admirably (see attached video). Widevine is only L3, though, which means Netflix will only play in 480p resolution. My phone came with 128 GB of storage, which has always been plenty for me, but there’s a microSD slot for anyone who feels the need to carry their entire photo and/or music library with them at all times. The modem only supports up to 4G -- no 5G on this phone. This shouldn’t be a problem for most people, though, since 4G LTE isn’t going away any time soon, and 4G download speeds will still be adequate for the average user. Supported 4G bands are 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, and 66, so double-check that it’ll work on your carrier. (Since I’m using this phone as a backup, I haven’t tested it with a SIM inserted -- only with wi-fi.) The display is 720p (1612x720), with reasonably vivid colors and brightness. Refresh rate is up to 90 Hz, but that can’t be set manually by the user -- you can only select either Standard (always 60 Hz) or Adaptive (which will increase to 90 Hz when needed, like when scrolling). There’s a fairly small chin, but the bezels are generally minimal. Sound is only mono. The speaker is moderately loud, with predictably little bass. There is a headphone jack, though, which many will consider a big plus. The dual camera setup includes a 13 MP wide angle and 2 MP depth sensor. Photos are decent, but zoom is limited to 4x. The selfie camera is 5 MP and adequate. Video can be captured at 1080p 30 fps (no adjustment possible). Overall build quality feels quite good. The back is plastic, but with a pleasant grainy texture that should help somewhat with grippiness. The camera bump protrudes a small amount, so there’s a tiny bit of wobble when lying on its back, but it’s hardly noticeable. The frame is metal, lending a nice bit of heft. The battery is 4000 mAh, and overall battery life seems very good (although I can’t say what it’s like with a SIM inserted). In my initial testing, it lasts a good 2-3 days with moderate use (browsing, watching videos, reading on Kindle) without having to charge. Maximum charging power is 10W, so no quick charging available (and no wireless charging either). Other features that aren’t available are NFC and fingerprint sensor -- not surprising given the price. The phone comes with Android 14, with a pretty standard Pixel-like interface. As far as I can tell, HMD will provide periodic security patches for 2 years, but there will be no OS version upgrades, which is disappointing, but again not surprising given the price point. The phone did come with a number of preinstalled bloatware apps, but they’re mostly uninstallable. While you’re setting the phone up, watch out for the system asking if you want to install certain “recommended” apps -- I would skip all of that, since those apps are junk. In summary, this is a surprisingly good value that doesn’t compromise much on performance. For those who find it challenging to afford flagship devices, or are looking for a cheap starter phone for a kid, or who have a flagship already but are looking for an economical backup device, the HMD Vibe would be a good choice.

One of few phones that still ship with a charging brick. In the box, you will find Power Charging Brick, USB-A to -C cable for charging, Tray Pin release for the SIM/SD Card Combo tray, the HMD phone, and a quick intro manual. The phone is very light in weight and feels comfortable to the hand from balance, grip feel, and hand maneuverability. The phone chassis appears to be made of plastic, but has a really nice gun metal color to it. You will find your Power and Volume buttons on right in a common location without feeling the need to search for the buttons. Initial OOB (Out-of-Box) experience is great, the touch feedback is strong and not overwhelming and the touch screen is very responsive. Right after getting signed into your Google account, there is a phone update, standard practice with all mobile phones across the board, followed by your standard app updates. While the phone does have the latest Google OS, the latest adds any missing updates, patches, and security updates missing since initial phone build and production deployment. Amongst the updates is an update for the HMD app. The HMD app does not require an account to use, but does unlock additional support for the device if set up. All of this noted, here’s what was found to change some of feature not turned on initially within the phone or may not be an option at all: -Touch to wake is not an option on the phone and nowhere to be found to turn on. -Additional apps included with the phone similar to bloatware you find on other phones from providers that are not always meaningful to the user. -Adaptive display had to be switched on over standard display. Standard display is enabled by default for best battery performance. -Memory extension was off, phone has a standard of 6GB RAM. Turning this feature on adds an additional 4GB to available RAM from the available internal phone storage The phone does not come with a screen protector or a case and will need to be sought out; fairly priced for each. The camera could use a little tweaking to correct the photo exposures as the photos are not clear at times. For budget friendly phone, this is something I would purchase on a small budget or to have and use as a backup phone.

I had some issues with this phone. After turning it on for the first time and letting it start syncing with my Google account, it started to restart every few seconds. I have tried turning it off and on and restarting. I tried to factory reset the phone, but I did not have enough time to get to the menus before it restarted itself again. I reached out to support and they told me of a shortcut button presses to initiate a reset. Pressing the Power and Volume Up buttons simultaneously for 30 seconds would have a root menu pop up where I can select a data wipe or factory reset. The menu did not appear, but it did a restart/reset that when I powered back on, it stayed on. No more reset. The first thing I noticed with the HMD Vibe is how light it was. The back feels good and not slippery. It has a Snapdragon 680 processor. Not the fastest but is enough to do my daily tasks. Making calls, taking photos and video, and light gaming. I can browse the internet and watch videos with no issues. The speaker is located at the bottom of the phone. When watching videos, you only hear sound coming from that area so it may not sound as loud as other phones. Just use headphones, and the great thing about it is it still has a headphone jack. The sound quality is fine. One thing I try to get used to is you cannot “wake up” the phone by touching the screen. My other phones have this feature. You have to press on the side power button to turn the screen on. Again, not a big deal. As long as there is plenty of light, photos come out okay. Low light photos on the other hand may lose details. There is a night mode you can use. You will have to stay still for a few seconds. Photo does add a little more detail but nothing spectacular. Everything about this phone is basic to average. This is not a bad thing. It is a terrific value phone. It comes with HMD specific apps as well as third party apps that many may want to uninstall... and you can. Good, average smart phone that will fit your budget.

I have been using flagship phones for years. They always give you the best of the best in terms of features and specs that you can buy. But lately, I’ve been curious if the price for these phones is truly worth it? Would I be better off spending a fraction of the price of a new flagship for something that does 99% of what I need on a daily basis? Do I need the fastest phone when all phones seem to be pretty snappy in this day and age? I decided to find out with this HMD Vibe, a $150 budget Android phone that you can often find on sale for even less than its MSRP. Let’s get the main info and potential downsides out of the way right off the bat: • If you’re unfamiliar with HMD, it’s essentially what the Nokia brand of the day has turned into. HMD bought the Nokia brand about a decade ago and has since retired the brand. • This phone only supports 4G LTE and not the latest 5G networks. That said, the 4G speeds on this phone were surprisingly fast and I never once really noticed that it wasn’t 5G (which may be because of the rocky rollout of 5G which hasn’t lived up to the promise of coverage and speed). • The screen is not the brightest or the most vibrant. But it is very good for this price point in my opinion. And you can go into the settings and enable 90Hz refresh rate, which makes things look pretty dang smooth overall. It’s also bright enough for most indoor tasks. • The cameras might be the weakest part of this phone. To put it simply, they are not good. So if you are looking for a serviceable phone to take photos, this may not be for you. But if all you need is to take some basic (and I mean basic) photos every so often, this will be fine. These photos look like photos you’d take on a webcam circa 2005, so do with that info as you will. • In terms of speed, this phone is plenty capable of general web browsing, video streaming, texting and calling. It is not a gaming powerhouse by any means and will start to stutter with any intense applications. • The build quality is definitely budget. The case and frame are both plastic, but it does feel nice in the hand regardless. So now that the obvious items are out of the way, I have to say this phone is an absolute pleasure to use for everyday basic tasks. Not once did I feel like I was handicapped by the budget specs of this phone. Calls were very clear, browsing the web and reading news articles was a breeze and pages loaded quickly, music streaming was effortless, and Android Auto was fully functional (though a little slower than I would have liked). The whole experience with this phone got me thinking: I could easily live with a budget friendly device that does 90% of what I need. Not only that, but I could upgrade my phone whenever I want because I’m not spending $1k on a phone I feel tied to. All-in-all, if you need a no-frills device, or are looking for a solid starter phone for a child or elder (parent or grandparent), this phone will exceed your expectations. I’m honestly blown away by the value of this phone.

The HMD Vibe presents an intriguing proposition for I would think budget-conscious phone buyers. Its unique design, emphasizing durability, is a refreshing change from the sleek, often fragile, glass-backed phones dominating the market. In hand, the Vibe feels surprisingly robust, inspiring confidence that it can withstand the occasional drop or bump. This durability is further complemented by an impressive battery life that easily navigates a full day of heavy use, a significant plus for those constantly on the go. However, the Vibe's strengths are somewhat overshadowed by its weaknesses. Performance can be a bit sluggish at times, particularly when multitasking or navigating demanding apps. This sluggishness is likely attributed to the phone's less-powerful processor and the slightly outdated software. The software itself feels a bit behind the curve, lacking some of the more modern features and polish found on competing devices. The camera, while capable of capturing decent photos in well-lit conditions, falters significantly in low-light environments. Images tend to be grainy and lack detail, a significant drawback for those who enjoy nighttime photography. Additionally, the audio quality, both for calls and media playback, leaves something to be desired.

The Vibe is a budget phone that takes on some premium phone tendencies. My initial reaction to the phone was “that’s a big screen”, which is always a plus. The moment I grabbed the phone it felt solid with the metal housing. I wasn’t a fan of the slippery back plate but overall, it had nice rounded corners which made it easy to slide in and out of pockets. Over the course of a week I used the Vibe and the pros weren’t enough to compete with the cons. Pros: Screen: The colors were punchy and it handled most colors very well, besides blacks which are very washed out in pictures and video. Watching anything with a variety of colors is great (cartoons/anime). Battery life: The battery life on the Vibe is good for casual use, it does an excellent job with very minimal battery drain. I would even say that if you are not a heavy user you could get 2+ days out of this phone. This is excellent for someone that does not use their phone enough but what to have access to smartphone features. Stock android: HMD does not have their own Icons/transitions. The phones mostly stock android as google intended. Cons: Camera: The camera is unusable, there is no way around it. The worst thing is that every pictures shows up blurry, its as if you have to hold the phone still even after the picture has been taken. The happened on EVERY single picture I took. I would have to hold the phone still for another 3 seconds of taking the picture to make sure the picture was not blurry, and even than the colors came out washed. Speed: There is a noticeable delay with any and all clicks. This happens with apps and even when you are just scrolling the home screen. Connectivity: I do not mind that it does not have the latest wifi chip however I do wish 5g was included. With every carrier having 5G in some capacity its sad to see that HMD decided to not include it with the Vibe. Overall: There is a very small percentage of people that I could recommend this phone to and that is elderly parents or grandparents. This device is for someone that wants long battery life with added smart features (sharing location).

Great budget phone .... I am an android user. I have owned many Android phones. So I have substantial knowledge on android phones. Setup on this phone was super easy. Power up walk through step by step insert SIM card and I was all setup. Use was pretty decent for a budget phone. Bloatware was kind of there but not as much as carrier locked phones. Text, phone and messaging was good. No lag. I tested this on Google Fi. So LTE connection was good overall. Comes with Android 14 loaded. Camera was ok. Not what I wanted or was used to with higher grade phone. But it was decent. Also on board memory was decent too. I would highly recommend a case.... Right out of the box I dropped it.... Yup. It was close. The skin of the phone is a bit slippery so it slipped out of my hands and it hit the ground. Lucky it did not get cracked or dented. Game play on simple games were fine. So overall for a budget phone I would recommend this phone. If you are thinking this is for heavy high end use then I would dissuade you from getting this phone.

This model is a basic device, doesn’t have eSIM, but it’s good for the price.

Good phone and price to give to older love ones or kids. Occasionally/rarely will lag on apps or connect to services/web. Camera or videos are poor quality, not ideal for influencers.

Only bad thing for a cheap phone it doesn’t have NFC capabilities

I bought this on a whim I wanted something that wasn't as powerful but wasn't an old style flip phone. So far after a few days I can say that it has been fantastic. It doesn't have the fast or greatest camera or processor like most high end phones but it's just enough that I'm not constantly on it. It works very well with total Verizon and happy so far with the purchase.

It definitely gets the job done. Gifted one to my mother this season and she uses apps like Whatsapp and Facebook. Great for handling apps like those. She travel between Ecuador and the US so she likes having the unlocked ability as well. Fast and swift experience hands down.

This is a nice phone. I've been using it for quite a while and it's still working good and the battery still holds.

HMD is a Finnish company, but the phone is built in China. The Vibe is incredibly low priced, yet it has features that you might expect on a higher priced phone. These features include: *OS is Android13 (latest version), Snapdragon 68 Octa-Core *Cameras: There are two, front 5 megapixels and rear 13 megapixels. Digital zoom is 4x. While the quality of pictures may not be as sharp as higher cost phone cameras, the output is surprisingly good. What they lack is the detail generally found in cameras on more expensive mobile phones. Even so, if you can’t or don’t want to spend a lot of money, the Vibe can resolve the situation. *Display: The 6.5” screen is high def and has a 90Hz refresh rate. *Memory: 128GB with MicroSD slot supporting additional memory up to 512GB. RAM is 6GB, with an additional virtual RAM of 3 GB. *Battery: This is an area where the Vibe is outstanding. With full charge and average usage, the battery will last for several days. At full charge, usage for evaluating the phone and camera features, and leaving the phone turned on 24-7 for 5 days, utilization is only 47% at the time of this writing. Two days later without charging, the battery is at 44%. That is amazing! Other: Vibe is GPS Enabled, has facial recognition for security, and supports Google Pay. The information provided says it is water resistant; however, the details say its maximum depth of resistance is 0 feet. Bottom-line, don’t get it wet more than a slight splash. Quirks and Dislikes: *Call voice quality is good, but not great. *Contrary to some comments, the Vibe is not compatible with 5G. *On every Android phone or tablet I own(ed), I tap the screen to wake up the phone. It is so easy to do without even picking up the phone, especially in dim light. With the Vibe, you must use the black-on-black on/off button on the side of the phone. This is not as easily done as simply tapping the screen…especially in dim lighting or the dark. *Installing the SIM card into the card holder slot was a real chore. In the past, never has that been difficult. Place into the holder slot, slide the holder into its port and the phone is ready. Not so with Vibe, it felt like trying to put the proverbial square peg into a round hole! At much trial and error, the SIM finally fitted and stayed in the slot. Also, if you wish to insert a memory card, it goes into the same holder as the SIM. *It comes with a lot of what I call “non-productive” apps. After the Vibe is up and running, you might want to do some “housecleaning” to rid the phone of power parasites. For a first-time phone, affordability concerns, or for someone who tends to easily lose things, Vibe would be a particularly good buy. Or, if your primary goal for a mobile phone is mainly making/receiving calls, or for use in an emergency, the Vibe is an excellent value. Your cost would be roughly 10% of the “name brands.” If you catch a sale, then it’s even better.

The HMD - Vibe 128GB Unlocked phone is a good budget smartphone that certainly isn’t for everyone, but I can see it being just the right phone for select groups of people and/or use cases. It comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage but also has a microSD media card slot that accepts cards up to 512GB in size. The display is a 6.56” IPS-LCD screen with a refresh rate of 90Hz and a resolution of 1520 x 720. This large display was one of the first things that stood out to me while unboxing the HMD Vibe followed shortly by the weight and feel of the phone itself. I really like the weight and feel of the phone, especially the rounded edges. The design is pretty typical with the power and volume buttons located on the right side of the phone, a USB-C charging port on the middle-bottom of the phone, and it even comes with a headphone jack on the bottom of the phone. The package also includes a wall charger and USB-C charging cable which is surprising since most phones do not include these nowadays. When it comes to performance, the HMD Vibe worked as well as it should be expected to work considering its price and the fact that it is specifically designed to be a low-budget phone. If you try comparing this phone to a big name-brand phone, it obviously can’t compete, but at this price point, I honestly can’t complain about how well it performs. Sure, it isn’t as smooth and responsive as other high-budget phones, but if you have patience and simply need a smart phone that works without all the other bells and whistles that are available on more advanced phones, you might actually like the HMD Vibe and its large screen. The picture quality from using the camera is naturally much worse than other more expensive phones but again, I would say it is in line with its price point so as long as you don’t expect more from this phone than what you should, I don’t think you will be disappointed. With all of this in mind, I think the HMD Vibe is a good option for elderly people who want a phone with smart-phone features but who don’t need the premium features that come with much more expensive phones. I also think it would be a good first smartphone for kids due to its low cost. Kids are prone to having accidents and it is much better for them to accidentally destroy a budget phone like this HMD Vibe instead of a much more expensive phone. The other use case I think the HMD Vibe serves well is for it to be used as a backup phone in case your main phone becomes unusable. Overall, I think the HMD - Vibe 128GB Unlocked phone is a good option for those who understand its limitations and are in the market for a low-budget smartphone.

The HMD Vibe is a budget android phone with 128GB storage. It actually came with a power adapter which is a delightful change of pace lately. It came with a USB-A to USB-C cable which I usually believe that to mean no fast charging, however specs say that it is capable of fast charging, but only up to 10 watts. The battery is 4000 mAh so that should last most of the day with heavy usage. The back is plastic but feels alright. We don't have to worry about glass breaking if dropped on its back. Once it was charged, I turned it on and signed into google. I didn't attempt to transfer from my previous phone, I wanted a fresh install, but it did have the option to do so. This phone uses a nano sim as well as microSD card for additional storage. The option of additional storage is a blessing since most phone manufacturers try to get customers to purchase upgraded devices for additional storage. With the storage, there's a decent amount of RAM for a budget phone, 6GB. There is an option to boost RAM using some of the 128 phone memory which adds an additional 4GB. That's pretty cool and also impressive for a budget device. Enabling it does help make quite a few games perform much better than before enabling. It does operate at 4G rather than 5G but that's also to be expected from a budget device. It worked just fine on T-Mobile. The wifi usage was pretty responsive overall. I had no issues with wifi. The Vibe uses android 14 for its operating system. There was a slight delay when clicking on apps or well anything really. It's not enough to be annoying but it is a bit noticeable until using the memory boost. I was not impressed with the camera. The pictures I took are blurry at best. There's no NFC so no possibility for tap to pay with this phone. If you're used to this feature, it may be a deal breaker. Another feature that most people are used to is no fingerprint sensor. That's another option that people may miss too much. The screen is decent and good size. I did drop it once and the screen surprisingly didn't shatter. If you're needing a no frills device, this one is priced right. It's a decent budget model without the bells and whistles found on most devices today. As long as you're not looking for a great camera, this would do nicely.

[PROS] Does the Basics Right: Calling and texting works well. Also, I'm able to use applications like Google Maps, Facebook, and YouTube without issue. Furthermore, the bluetooth maintains connectivity to my headset without any degradation to quality. Decent Battery: To compare, the Vibe has the same battery capacity as a Samsung S21. Its a phone that is almost four years old, but it still in used by many consumers. From my usage, I got at least a day's worth with light to moderate activity. Relying on Wi-Fi while disabling Location and Bluetooth greatly extends any phone's battery life, and this statement rings true with the Vibe. Headphone Jack: Wireless headphones are becoming cheaper, but wired phones are still the best value. Sometimes you just want to plug and play and the headphone jack gives you that ability. MicroSD Card Slot: I haven't had an memory card slot in my primary device for years, and I do miss it. I know that the industry has shifted, but additional phone storage for cheap is an underrated feature. [CONS] Subpar Camera: Sigh...you won't be taking amazing pictures with this device. They'll be okay at best. You just have to keep in mind that this is one of the tradeoffs. Not Many Bells and Whistles: The HMD phone is very bare bones. Here are the things you will have to do without: 5G, wireless charging, fast charging, fingerprint reader, NFC, WiFi 6, OLED Screen, Gorilla Glass, and No Android Upgrades (Has 14, but 15 is released now). [CONCLUSION] The HMD targets a certain type of audience. Its for those who desire to talk, text, and have some modern software amenities. I think its best for cash strapped individuals or families and those who may have young teens. It's not a poor phone. It's just a very stripped down device compared to other makers. I don't plan to use it as it a daily driver, but I think it makes a great media player.

For a cheap Android phone, it’s solid. It’s not going to win any performance awards and the wireless connectivity is limited to WiFi 5 and 4G LTE, but it’s still useable and snappy. The screen does have a 90Hz refresh rate, but you do have ghosting since it’s a LCD and not an OLED. Just make sure your carrier supports SIM phones, as eSIM is not an option here. All in all, it’s a solid option for a cheap phone. Unboxing and setup: The packaging feels far better than what you would expect in a phone at this price point, somewhere along the lines of a $700+ unboxing experience. You’ll find the phone, a USB-C charging cable, SIM tool, instruction manuals - and a USB power adapter, something fewer phones come with these days. The worst part about setup is inserting a SIM card. The tray also has room for a micro SD card, but with 128GB of storage, you have plenty of internal space for pictures, video, apps, and games. Usage: Once you log in with a Google account (because face it, you’re not using Android without a Google account), you’re greeted with a stock Android 14 experience. Stock Android should prove familiar for most anyone that has used a smartphone in the last decade. Performance is adequate. It’s not going to play the high-end games that require the latest high-end phones, but for casual games, it’s perfectly smooth and fine. Camera performance is what you expect at this price point. Battery life is solid, easily lasting all day with moderate usage. WiFi is relatively okay - I averaged about 250 mbps on my connection. LTE averaged about 35 mbps on Mint, which uses the T-Mobile network. The only real drawback to this device is the lack of eSIM. All in all, it’s a great backup phone or something for the kids.