Looking at the front, you’ll notice there’s no selfie camera visible — that’s because a 13MP pop-up camera is tucked inside the phone’s border. The camera itself isn’t much to write home about, but it makes for one of the most impressive bezel-less designs we’ve ever seen. However, the Bold N1 still features a robust 16MP camera sitting atop a 5MP depth-sensing companion sensor packaged with MediaTek Helio P70’s AI capabilities for post-processing. The 2.1GHz octa-core chipset is mid-range hardware, but is still up to the task of smooth and consistent Android operation, especially with 4GB of RAM to help with multitasking. If all that isn’t enough, you have your choice of USB-C 18W fast charging or wireless charging for the 3,500mAh battery. Good luck finding another smartphone with all of this flagship tech for under $300. Performance-wise, the BLU G9 Pro is a very slight step under the flagship-like BLU Bold N1. MediaTek lends the Helio P60’s talents with a 2.0GHz octa-core architecture, plus there’s 4GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. That’s enough juice to do anything Android allows with no hiccups, like running some of Google Play’s top games with no issue. A 4,000mAh battery with wireless charging and a USB-C port capable of receiving 18W top-ups will keep you in action all day long. Unlike most BLU phones, the Vivo XL5 uses a chipset from little-known vendor Unisoc, which supplies its ARM Cortex-A55 1.6GHz octa-core processor. Pair that with 3GB of RAM and Android 9.0 Pie, and the phone will please anyone with reasonable expectations. The 720p display keeps performance high while retaining excellent battery life. With a 4,000mAh cell, some users claim that the Vivo XL5 can last two full days with moderate usage, and fast charging gets you back in action quickly. Other choice features include 64GB of expandable storage, a 13MP camera with depth-sensing, a 13MP selfie camera, and a fingerprint sensor. The G9 sacrifices many of the G9 Pro’s amenities to maintain a lower price point. The G9 features a 6.3-inch display, but it’s 720p, and there are only two rear cameras. You’re getting a 13MP + 2MP combo with an advertised 52MP Super Zoom, an AI-powered pixel trick to simulate a higher resolution. A 13MP selfie camera joins the party on the front. The G9 also steps down to the 2.0GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P22+, an average mid-range chipset with 4GB of RAM tagging along. These downgrades are certainly acceptable considering the price tag and quality of the build. The BLU G9 still features a fingerprint sensor, 4,000mAh quick charging battery, 64GB of storage with a microSD card slot, and more. The Studio Mega has a 13MP primary camera with an LED flash. The 8MP front-facing camera also has its own dedicated flash, a feature absent from most flagship phones. Everything sits inside an uninspired plastic chassis that has far more bezel than it needs, but the display curvature helps with aesthetics. And while its low price dictates you’ll lose out on nice extras like NFC and a fingerprint sensor, it’s easy to forgive those sins in the face of an otherwise acceptable and approachable smartphone experience. The BLU Studio Mega is a great beginner or business phone for those uninterested in spending hundreds of dollars. The resolution tops out at 720p, but that’s sharp enough for the modestly sized screen. Otherwise, the BLU Studio Mini is a pretty basic phone. Specs include a 1.6GHz octa-core chipset, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage with room for expansion, 13MP and 8MP cameras on the front and rear, each with an LED flash, a 3,000mAh battery, and dual-SIM. All of that is enough to run a solid Android 9.0 Pie experience with only slight modifications by BLU. And being that it’s a rung under the BLU Studio Mega, the Mini is even cheaper with a sub-$100 price point that fits any budget. The BLU Pure View serves an Android 7.0 Nougat experience with a 1.3GHz octa-core MediaTek chipset, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of expandable storage. BLU hasn’t committed to bringing newer versions of Android to the Pure View, however, something to consider if further updates are important to you.
