One of the best cheap Android phones I’ve tested isn’t made by Samsung or TCL

I’ve seen almost every type of Android phone on the market, from the cheap to the ridiculously expensive. Some of these handsets impressed me with their combination of price and performance while others left me wondering, “Why is this necessary?”

And then there are the cheap devices — the ones you’d expect to find for sale at a pharmacy or truck stop. Those phones are rarely worth the time and effort to unpack.

Also: This cool $399 Motorola comes with a built-in stylus and a free pair of Bose headphones

However, every now and then, a cheap Android phone falls into my hands and changes my opinion on price. (After all, not everyone can afford it 1,000 USD phone.)

When the NUU Mobile representative asked me if I wanted to try out the new version NUT N10I was happy to oblige. I reviewed an NUU device before ( NUT B30) and came away quite impressed. Will the N10 make a similar splash?

Let’s find out.

specifications

• CPU: UNISOC T606 Octa-Core at 1.4 GHz
• DAM: 4GB
• Internal storage: 128GB with microSD card support
• Service provider: T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Q Link Wireless, ULTRA Mobile, Google Fi, Hello Mobile, Tello Mobile, Lycamobile, Patriot Mobile, Republic Wireless, Simple Mobile, StandUp Wireless, SpeedTalk and Telcel America.
• Display: 6.6-inch HD+ with 90Hz refresh rate
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Camera: 13MP main, 2MP macro, 5MP selfie and LED flash
• Operating system: Android 14

Note: N10 is Are not Compatible with Verizon, AT&T, Cricket, Boost Mobile, Tracfone, Pulse Cellular, Union Wireless, Spectrum or any CDMA carrier.

My experience

First of all, let me remind you that this is a $99 phone, so understand that the N10 won’t be on par with the Pixel 9 Pro. That said, the N10 is an impressive device for its price.

Yes, it can be a little laggy (with animations and app switching), but overall, the UI is quite responsive. Talking about the user interface, the N10 offers a pretty basic Android experience. There are no additional UI overlays or even bloatware. the just one Additional software is the NUU Help application. Other than that, it’s pure Android.

Also: Best cheap phones: Expert tests and reviews

The phone is a bit taller than my Pixel 9 pro and a bit heavier (when I remove the Pixel from its case). Even with the added height, the phone still fits comfortably in my hand (smaller than average).

Setting up the N10 is the same as any other method Android phonemeaning it’s just a matter of connecting to a Wi-Fi network (or inserting a supported SIM) and connecting to your Google account. Once that’s done, the setup process will complete itself and you’ll have a very familiar interface.

N10 offers PIN/fingerprint/face unlock options; Even though the fingerprint scanner is embedded in the Power button, it still works well. The facial scanner is quite impressive and unlocks the phone almost instantly. I’ve had much more expensive Android phones but the face unlock option was slow and not even decent at unlocking. The N10 has no such problems.

Also: One of the most durable Android phones I’ve tested is also one of the cheapest

Perhaps the most important thing you’re wondering about is performance. How can a $99 phone stand up to the fierce competition in today’s market? As noted above, this is not a Pixel phone, so don’t expect Pixel performance. However, for its price, the N10’s performance is impressive. Sure, there will be some lag when opening certain apps, pulling down the Notification Panel or the App Drawer.

The display isn’t bad. YouTube videos look good and even sound clear (albeit a bit tinny – which is to be expected from phone speakers), so no complaints there.

Also: 5 hidden Android features that can simplify your life

The cameras on this phone won’t win any awards but they are serviceable. With plenty of light, the main camera can take pretty good photos. In low light, images can become quite “noisy” with too much grain, but when testing the camera in low light, I pushed the N10’s limits. Give the camera enough light and you’ll be impressed with the results.

ZDNET Buying Tips

Finally, the thing that surprised me the most NUT N10 is that it performs better for a $99 phone. If I didn’t know about the price, I would have guessed that this phone would cost close to $200. If you’re on a tight budget or looking for a phone to hand to your child, the N10 is a great choice. It won’t usurp anything offered by Google, Samsung, OnePlus, Nothing or any of the major manufacturers, but it can match any manufacturer. budget phone I have tested so far.

NUU may not be a household name but if you’re an Android user, you’ll feel right at home on their phone.