SourceCode: Invasion of the value Androids

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

There have always been low-cost Android phones and tablets but these were rarely any good. Mired down by outdated versions of the operating system, inferior display and touch technology plus poor construction, proved that you got what you paid for. Not anymore.

Some impressive entrants into the Android smartphone and tablet space bring relatively recent features and functionality, decent form factors and build quality at affordable prices. These are cheap Android devices you wouldn’t mind owning and they’re not made by the usual suspects.

I’ve spent the last month using the ZTE VZ2A Lite 7-inch tablet on Rogers as well as the Huawei Ascend Y300 smartphone on Bell and TELUS and can happily report that life isn’t so bad in the Android entry level.

The ZTE VZ2A Lite, a Rogers exclusive costing $199 outright and compatible with various prepaid data plans, features a fairly recent version of Android Jelly Bean 4.1 OS, the tablet is powered by a Qualcomm dual processor, 4GB capacity and up to 32 GB microSD expandable memory. It weighs in at just 0.92 pounds and is 11.6 mm thin.

The tablet is on the heavy side but it is built for durability and feels rather solid compared to the skinny and fragile tablets in the market today. Display is so-so, quite reflective and has less pop in terms of colour and definition, but it is completely serviceable and works well for video playback, Netflix streaming and even for playing games, just don’t expect great viewing angles.

I found it reliable for accessing email, managing social media networks remotely and for reading news and eBooks. It is the most affordable connected Android tablet in the market right now.

On the phone front, we’re seeing increasingly impressive entry-level smartphones from Huawei, another Chinese manufacturer with a large cache of products overseas. The Huawei Ascend Y300 offers ‘just enough’ in terms of features and functionality for a sub $100 smartphone.

Available from Bell Mobility in black, the Huawei Ascend Y300 runs on Android 4.1, has a 4.0 inch screen and a 5.0 megapixel camera with video recording capabilities. 

It also has voice command capabilities, which allow the user to make calls and compose text messages hands-free. It ships with 4GB onboard memory, which isn’t enough, but you can pop in a microSD card to manage files and apps.  It also has HSPA data speeds.

Like the ZTE Lite, screen quality or clarity on the Ascend Y300 isn’t the best, and viewing angles leave much to be desired, but it is still quite impressive for an entry-level Android device.

What differentiates these new low-cost alternatives from previous low-cost options is that manufacturers are shipping with a more recent version of the Android OS, which keeps these products in step with more expensive devices.

Build quality is also much better now, as these devices are designed to withstand the rigours of day-to-day use without needing protective cases. These are also practical devices that parents would approve of.

For manufacturers like ZTE and Huawei, cheap and reliable devices are a great way into the consumer consciousness, preparing them for more premium products in the near future.

For users who are looking for a low cost option, and who want most of the basic features offered by more expensive devices, these low-cost Androids will deliver reasonably well without breaking the bank.