This $99 Android smartphone isn’t a Pixel 9 Pro, but it performs much better than phones costing twice as much

Important points of ZDNET

• The NUU N10 Android phone is currently available on Amazon for $99
• This phone is good enough even on a limited budget
• The NUU N10 has some lag in animations, but the camera doesn’t wow you.

I’ve seen just about every type of Android smartphone on the market, from the questionably cheap to the ridiculously expensive. Some of these devices impressed me with their combination of price and performance, while others left me wondering, “Why do I need this?”

And then there are the most common devices, which are likely sold at drug stores and truck stops. These phones are hardly worth the time and effort it takes to open the package.

Also: One of the best cheap Android smartphones I’ve tested isn’t from Samsung or OnePlus

But every once in a while, you get a budget Android smartphone and your attitude towards price changes. (After all, not everyone can afford a $1,000 cell phone.)

When a representative from NUU Mobile asked if I wanted to check out their new service; Nuu N10I was happy to accommodate. I had already reviewed a previous NUU device (NUU B30) and was very impressed. Will the N10 make a similar splash?

Let’s find out.

specification

• CPU: Octa-core UNISONIC T606 (1.4 GHz).
• rum: 4GB.
• Internal storage: 128GB, supports microSD card.
• Career: Unlocked 4G GSM networks (T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Metro, Q Link Wireless, Google Fi, Hello Mobile, Tello Mobile, Lycamobile, Patriot Mobile, Republic Wireless, Simple Mobile, StandUp Wireless, SpeedTalk, Telcel America, and VLTE/HD)).
• screen: 6.6-inch HD+ with 90Hz refresh rate.
• battery: 5000mAh.
• camera: 13MP main, 2MP macro, 5MP selfie, LED flash.
• OS: Android 14.

Note: N10 is do not have Verizon, AT&T, Cricket, Boost Mobile, Tracfone, Pulse Cellular, Union Wireless, Spectrum, or Any CDMA carrier.

my experience

First of all, please understand that this is a $99 smartphone, so the N10 is no match for something like the Pixel 9 Pro. That said, the N10 is an impressive device for the price.

Yes, there can be a little lag (due to animations and app switching), but overall the UI is pretty responsive. When it comes to the UI, the N10 offers a fairly basic Android experience. There are no additional UI overlays or even bloatware. of only Additional software is the NUU Help app. Other than that, it’s pure Android.

Related article: Best cheap mobile phones: tested and reviewed by experts

The phone is a little taller and a little heavier than my Pixel 9 pro (when I take the Pixel out of the case). Even with the extra height, the phone fits well in my hand (smaller than average).

Setting up the N10 is the same as any other Android smartphone. That means just connect to your Wi-Fi network (or insert a supported SIM) and connect to your Google Account. Once that’s done, the setup will complete automatically and you’ll be presented with a very familiar interface.

N10 offers PIN/fingerprint/face unlock options. The fingerprint scanner is embedded in the power button and works fine. The face scanner is very impressive and unlocks the phone almost instantly. On a much more expensive Android smartphone I owned, the facial recognition option lagged and didn’t even match the unlock feature. N10 has no such problem.

One of the most durable Android smartphones I’ve tested is also one of the cheapest.

Probably the most important thing you care about is performance. How can a $99 phone hold up against the cutthroat competition in today’s market? As I said above, this is not a Pixel smartphone, so don’t expect Pixel performance. But considering its price, the N10’s performance is impressive. Admittedly, there is some lag when opening certain apps or pulling down the notification shade or app drawer.

The display isn’t bad either. YouTube videos look great and the audio is clear (though a bit tinny, which is to be expected from a phone’s speakers). No complaints.

This phone’s camera won’t win any awards, but it’s practical. The main camera can take pretty decent photos if there’s enough light. In low-light conditions, too much grain can make images quite “noisy,” but when I tested the camera in low-light conditions, it exceeded the N10’s limits. Give your camera enough light and you’ll be impressed with the results.

ZDNET purchase advice

In the end, what surprised me the most was Nuu N10 That said, it has over-the-top performance for a $99 phone. If I didn’t know about the price, I would have guessed that this device would be in the near $200 price range. If you’re on a budget or looking for a phone to give to your kids, the N10 is great value. We’re not trying to steal anything from Google, Samsung, OnePlus, Nothing, or any of the major manufacturers, but it’s likely to work with any budget phone we’ve tested so far.

Related article: 5 hidden Android features that can simplify your life

NUU may be an unfamiliar name, but if you’re an Android user, you’ll feel safe using your phone.