With so many mobile phones available on the consumer market today, it can be difficult to decide which option to choose. Although Android remains the most popular choice among consumers and its software is primarily tailored to different devices, there are other things to consider when making a purchase. It is the hardware required to run an operating system. Android smartphones come in all shapes and sizes, some with much better features than others, and prices range from less than $100 to more than $1,000.
Despite the variety, it’s hard to go wrong when buying your next cell phone these days. There have been some notable mishaps over the past decade, such as the infamous Samsung Galaxy Note 7, which could easily catch fire due to a defective battery, but there aren’t that many outright scary smartphones on the market. But there are always winners and losers in the technology field, and some companies’ latest phone versions just can’t keep up when compared to their competitors.
TCL 30 V 5G
The TCL 30V 5G is an affordable phone, but it’s also probably one of the worst 5G phones on the market today. Considering this phone costs just $89 at Walmart, you might not expect much, but it might still be more trouble than it’s worth. This model is available as a Verizon exclusive prepaid, and after looking at the spec sheet, you’d think it wouldn’t perform as poorly as reviewers claim.
After all, the device has a large 6.67-inch 1080p display with a 60Hz refresh rate, and it also has 128GB of storage, which is quite a bit for a budget device. However, the obvious failing is the slow and outdated Snapdragon 480 5G processor, coupled with just 4GB of RAM and out-of-the-box Android 11, making the phone slow and outdated.
Users have reported that their phones freeze, stop, or stop working altogether. Additionally, the 4,500mAh battery seems to be unoptimized, resulting in very short battery life and requiring frequent charging. Although it is a very affordable 5G option, performance is important to many users and you can get a higher quality terminal for a little more money.
Nokia C110 Mobile
Even though the Nokia C110 is one of the cheapest phones on the market, available at Straight Talk for $39.99 at the time of this writing, it’s not a cheap smartphone, especially when it launches in June 2023. The specs are very low even among smartphones. Because this phone is equipped with his 2018 chipset, MediaTek MT6762. Additionally, the C110 comes with just 32GB of internal storage and 3GB of RAM, a 720 x 1560 HD+ display, and 5W charging.
There’s not much else that makes this phone special other than the price. Still, it may still be a waste of money considering most users are likely to want higher levels of functionality. With up to 4G connectivity and a mediocre 3,000mAh battery capacity combined with a subpar 13MP rear camera, performance is very limited, and after installing a few apps, the only thing you’ll probably need is a microSD slot. is. Advantages of this device Internal storage capacity.
Blu Bold N3
Like many Blu devices, the Blu Bold N3’s marketing uses buzzwords like “epic 5G speeds” and “immersive visuals” to paint a great picture of the device. This model, released in September 2023, costs $299.99 on Amazon, and the specs are not bad. With the MediaTek Dimsenity 7050, buyers get an impressive 6.78-inch screen, a 120 Hz refresh rate, 256 GB of internal memory, and a relatively new CPU.
While it looks good on paper, there is one good reason to reconsider purchasing this model. That being said, Blu has a poor track record when it comes to software updates. As is often the case with budget smartphones, most Blu smartphones don’t offer any major Android OS upgrades, and many don’t even offer security updates. The company typically ships phones with older versions of Android, but the Bold N3 is a welcome exception as it ships with Android 13 out 58of the box.
However, Blu hasn’t mentioned any plans for future updates, and like most phones, buyers shouldn’t expect anything. Even if Blu releases his Android update, you’d better think twice before installing it. In 2017, Blu released his Android update that caused many users to stop using their phones. Some Amazon users are already complaining about bloatware and possible hardware issues, plus uncertainty about future software updates, so your $300 might be better spent elsewhere. not.
Avoid Phones That No Longer Get Software Updates
You’ll Want to Avoid These Options
While it’s tempting to buy a high-quality refurbished old cell phone, it may not be the best idea. why? Over time, your phone will no longer receive security patches, making it more vulnerable to attacks by malicious attackers. However, not all Android smartphones will lose support for security updates at the same time, as some models receive updates for a much longer period of time than others.
For example, certain high-end Samsung smartphones currently provide security updates for five years from the date of the phone’s release, not the date of purchase. Therefore, the Samsung Galaxy S20 released in 2020 will still receive security patches, but older phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S9 released in 2018 will not.
If you want a high-end smartphone without spending too much money, a good option is to buy a used Android smartphone that can still receive security updates. However, if you want to buy a new one, there are budget phones on the market like the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G for $449.99 on Amazon and the OnePlus Nord N30 5G for $299.99 on Amazon.
