Neatly packed around the thick, light, shiny phone were headphones, a case, and a screen protector. I installed my SIM and slotted in an $8 SD card. I activated the phone and installed my apps. The screen was fine, the software was Android (4.2.2, aka “Jelly Bean”: not new but not abandoned). The camera took pictures, the internet connected. It was mostly charged, and so we began
Sure you’re going to have to make some sacrifices to switch from an iPhone to a shitphone, but you’ll also save a ton of money. BLU Advance 4.0, the famous “not so bad” shitphone, is on sale for $49.99 shipped today at Amazon, which is 44% below list and the best deal we’ve seen. It has a 4-inch WVGA Display, runs Android 4.2.2 (Jelly bean – and who knows maybe Cyanogen can get it up and beyond 5?), and sports a 1.3GHz Processor. The camera is a decent 5 Megapixels and you can scoff at your iPhone bearing friends because it has a built-in FM radio and it accepts up to Micro SD cards (grab a 32GB SanDisk for $14).
Did we mention it costs $50? In Black OR White. Works on AT&T, T-Mobile or any GSM carrier. Even 2 at a time!
You probably spend that much on drinks at your local watering hole on a moderate night. Maybe you are just interested in checking out (an outdated version of) Android or need a backup device that has 2 SIM cards. Or maybe your kid who breaks everything needs something you aren’t going to cry over when the screen comes back cracked? Maybe someone you don’t like has a birthday coming up? Maybe you want to make a stack of 17 of these and put it next to a decked out iPhone 6 Plus that costs more and ask which would you rather have? There are lots of reasons to buy a shitphone. Heck, it is an Amazon BestSeller for crying out loud and gets 4.3/5 star ratings? How is this even possible?
In any case, this is a phone with year or two old specs for $50. What have you got to lose?
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