Gadget Weekly
Be a part of Namerah Saud Fatmi as she explores the cool, quirky, and generally downright odd world of smartphone equipment, devices, and different nerdy toys each week.
A $100 Android cellphone may sound too good to be true, however that is precisely what the NUU N10 is. This impossibly low cost cellphone comes with Android 14 and Gemini baked in, plus it has zero bloatware. I used to be provided the chance to check the machine, and I believed, how unhealthy might it probably be? Just one approach to discover out — through the use of it.
Thus, use it I did.
I used to be absolutely ready for a completely abhorrent expertise with the NUU N10. When an organization refuses to reveal the identify of the cellphone’s processor, one can solely assume they’re ashamed of it. However the spec sheet is not all trash, and even a no-name 1.6GHz octa-core processor can carry out properly sufficient.
All through my testing, I felt the necessity to periodically remind myself that this cellphone prices simply $100. It mitigated numerous my harsh judgment as a result of, actually, how a lot can (or ought to) you anticipate for that amount of cash?
It is loopy what $100 will get you…
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Put the worth tag apart for a couple of seconds, and listen to me out. The NUU N10 comes with some beneficiant display screen actual property, boasting a big 6.6-inch IPS LCD display screen with an HD+ decision and a 90Hz refresh price. The next display screen refresh price actually helps enhance the snappiness of the cellphone, even when it is not the sharpest software within the shed.
The physique of the cellphone has a pleasant weightiness to it and the smooth matte again paired with the silver steel body appears fashionable and enticing. Sadly, the rear could be very clearly fabricated from plastic and feels uncomfortably flimsy. There is no in-screen fingerprint reader, however that is fantastic as a result of the side-mounted one inside the facility button works splendidly properly.
Accompanying the N10’s mammoth 5,000mAh battery helps 18W USB-C quick charging, with a Sort-A-to-C cable and a 10W energy brick within the field. The three.5mm headphone jack, microSD card slot for increasing the 128GB onboard storage, and twin SIM slots are a pleasant contact, seeing as most flagship telephones ditched this golden trio a number of generations in the past.
NUU tied all of it collectively by offering the whole lot a consumer may need within the field, ranging from fundamentals like a cable and SIM card elimination software to extras like a cellphone case and energy adapter.
In contrast to previous NUU fashions, the N10 favors the full-fledged Android 14 over the lighter Android Go model of the OS, in all probability as a result of it has 4GB of RAM, which will be prolonged to 8GB through the use of native storage through digital RAM.
It is not a lot, however NUU guarantees one yr of software program updates for all of its telephones. As talked about earlier, the cellphone comes with completely no bloatware pre-installed, nor does it have adverts. General, the inventory Android 14 expertise could be very neat and clear.
Frills corresponding to water or mud resistance IP rankings and assist for CDMA carriers are lacking right here. You’ll be able to nonetheless use the NUU N10 on GSM carriers like T-Cell and MVNOs like Mint Cell or Tello.
However it’s a funds cellphone nonetheless
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Let’s be actual; it is virtually not possible for one thing this reasonably priced to be an all-rounder. NUU must lose cash for that to occur. So, whereas there are lots of successful traits of the N10, there’s so much to really feel icky about as properly.
Plastic physique apart, the show simply does not get vibrant sufficient. You may actually wrestle with out of doors utilization, particularly within the daytime with the solar shining mightily.
Then there’s the speaker setup, which defies widespread sense. The NUU N10 has bottom-firing audio system that sound terrible, with warbled audio that’s virtually utterly muffled by the consumer’s hand when in panorama orientation.
The mic does not yield any higher outcomes both, failing to seize the total vary of vocals however by some means choosing up background noises and occasional echoes.
I might have forgiven all these crimes to a sure extent, however it’s loopy that the NUU N10 solely comes with one 13MP main digital camera and a ineffective 2MP macro lens. The primary lens is godawful at its job.
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The so-called “AI” digital camera does nothing for image high quality, which is missing intimately, depth, and coloration stability. Overlook about capturing photographs within the spur of the second as a result of the N10’s digital camera offers you blurry photographs even in case you blink too aggressively. The 5MP entrance digital camera is not any higher both, with a poorly practical face unlock.
It is a terrific first cellphone for youths to begin with
NUU integrated intensive parental controls into the N10, making this cellphone superb for tweens or youngsters. For the reason that cellphone does not value a lot, the enchantment is way increased for youthful audiences who cannot afford costlier units or aren’t allowed to have premium telephones.
Contemplating the worth and construct high quality, the NUU N10 is a perfect starter cellphone for youths. If it breaks, it will not harm their guardians a lot because the funding is so low to start with. The parental controls add a layer of reassurance. And with no heavy-duty bloatware put in, the machine runs properly sufficient for kids to make use of on the each day with out getting caught or hanging.
For the longest time, I could not think about any model apart from Xiaomi when contemplating such a good funds. And let’s be sincere, the one purpose why Xiaomi is ready to promote you a decked-out low cost cellphone is as a result of it comes chock-full of clunky bloatware and adverts. It is a marvel how little this cellphone prices regardless of having none of these issues.
The lengthy and the in need of it’s that that is a cheap Android cellphone with no creature comforts. It does not instantly look low cost, however it definitely feels prefer it to a sure extent. The lackluster audio gear reveals cost-effective traits as properly. However, the NUU N10 is likely one of the few $100 Android telephones that can be utilized with out ripping all of the hair off your head. In the event you’re in a pinch, it will do.
Not half unhealthy
For the worth, the NUU N10 is not so unhealthy in spite of everything. You get a really clear, inventory Android expertise with Materials You goodies, Gemini, and options like a headphone jack and expandable storage.
