• expired

Telstra Urbane/ZTE T22 4" 1GHz Android 4.0 Smartphone $60 @ JB was $149

101

Jb hifi is selling the Telstra Urbane smartphone for $60, less than half price. The way you get it for that price is to enter on a one-month contract and terminate it before it rolls into the second month. The JB rep at Chadstone says that is perfectly OK. The contract gives you $600 calls and 2GB during that month.

It's an Android 4 ICS 4inch 800x480 touch screen phone with 1ghz processor and 4GB storage. It appears to be the same as a ZTE Acqua (ZTE-U V880E) reviewed at: http://www.clevermunkey.com/2012/12/zte-acqua-zte-u-v880e-sm… with similarities to the ZTE Blade III: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_blade_iii-4983.php . Specs as per http://www.zte.com.au/telstra/T22.htm

  • 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A Cortex-A5 CPU, 512MB RAM, Adreno 200 GPU
  • 4" capacitive screen with 480×800 (WVGA) resolution
  • 1600 mAh battery
  • FM radio
  • 3MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera
  • Running Android 4.0.4 ICS
  • 4GB Flash with 2.5GB user space, plus up to 32GB microSD external storage
  • 3G UMTS: 850, 2100 MHz with 7.2Mbps data
  • GSM: 900, 1800, 1900 MHz

Next cheapest competitor

With nearly identical specs but better 5MP rear camera, no front camera, smaller 1500mA battery, older Android 2.3 but upgradable to ICS, supports 900Mhz 3G for Optus, better IPS LCD with Gorilla Glass rather than TFT LCD, would be a Vodafone Huawei G300+ available for $99 at DSE reduced from $129: http://dicksmith.com.au/product/EM5187/vodafone-huawei-ascen…

Unlocking: found three ways of going about it:

Things you need to know with Telstra No Lock-In Contract

as per http://www.jbhifi.com.au/terms-conditions/#phones (thanks ccwayne)

You can cancel your plan at any time but if you cancel you will be charged the minimum monthly spend for that >month. You will also need to pay any additional charges up to the point of cancellation. Only available to >new customers and those with a 13 digit account number. Included allowance and Unlimited Text excludes some >usage; such as calls/text/MMS to premium numbers (e.g. 19xx numbers), 1234, 12455, 12456 numbers and to some >satellite numbers, content charges and use while overseas. Unused allowances expire monthly. Bonus 1G data >offer is available to customers that connect by 1 July 2013. These plans require you to bring your own (BYO) >Next G® compatible handset. Handsets that operate on 2100 MHz networks are not compatible with our Next G® >network. To find out more, visit telstra.com.au/2100-devices. The spectrum device and ™ are trademarks and ® >are registered trademarks of Telstra Corporation Limited ABN 33 051 775 556.

Jelly Bean (Android 4.2) upgrade

CM 10.1 (Jelly Bean 4.2) confirmed to work on Telecom R22, the NZ rebrand of this Telstra Urbane/T22: http://www.modaco.com/topic/360987-devrom184-cyanogenmod-101…

Useful links

Related Stores

JB Hi-Fi
JB Hi-Fi

closed Comments

  • +4

    great research!

  • +1

    Not really much point unlocking, unless you want to go with Vodafone. Doesn't support Optus 900Mhz on 3G

    • Assuming you spend all your time in Australia.

  • Looks like a great deal, especially since you get up to $600 calls and 2GB during the first month before you cancel, along with the phone.

    JB were selling this at $74 (half price) last year: http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/89309 . There are some other unlocking options in that post.

  • Will these work using an ALDI sim if you don't unlock ?

    • Yes, any provider offering Telstra wholesale (Aldi, Kogan, Boost, etc) will work without unlocking.

      Edit: Not so sure now. I'm almost certain it works, but seen one or 2 say otherwise. Perhaps someone will clarify.

      • Works without unlocking in their 3G and 4G modems, so likely works in a handset.

        • just a heads up. i tried using a boost(telstra) sim in a telstra locked iphone5 and it wont work (activation required error)

          Am not sure if its just iphones or similar story with the other phones too

  • Nice to see you can opt out of a contract on the 1st month

  • +1

    Seriously this phone is REALLY crap, it lags like hell and the screen quality sucks, very blueish… Coles Huawei Y201 is a much better phone for $39.50

    I don't even want to buy this even if it is $40. ZTE makes all crappy products, Huawei phone has a much better quality products.

    • Y201 has a 3.5" 480x320 LCD, 800Mhz MSM7225A single-core CPU, 1400mA battery, no front facing camera and plasticky build. This T22/Urbane unit has a 480x800 4" LCD, faste 1Ghz MSM7227A single-core CPU + GPU, 1600mA battery, VGA front camera and more solid build. The 4" higher-resolution LCD making it much nicer for browsing info. A decent buy at $60. If need Optus 900Mhz 3G or a better IPS LCD with Gorilla Glass then consider the mentioned Huawei G300+ for $99 on Vodafone http://dicksmith.com.au/product/EM5187/vodafone-huawei-ascen… . There you're paying an extra $39/65% over this deal.

      • A Cortex A5, 512MB RAM, 4" @ 480x800 and Adreno 200 GPU is crap, but I don't think this deserves a NEG, this chap on YT had to change to a custom rom and still noticed lag it seems… Video

    • +4

      Be careful with wild statements. I've had a ZTE V9 tablet (aka Optus My Tab) for two years and its been purrfect at the price. Not a single solitary issue in all that time and it's been around the world four times as a browser/phone/GPS/emailer/music player you name it!! As I said, just be careful with wild statements…

      • +1

        Good to see your MyTab still running strong :D

        • My Optus ZTE My Tab from DSE is also still running and I found it here on Ozbargain couple of years ago. Perfect for travelling and watching video on the train. Works best as a kindle reader because you can read in a room with low or no lights. I use it to put myself to sleep. Also works as a phone if you don't mind the size but the new phones coming out are getting bigger because people seems to like bigger screens anyways.

    • I bought both of these and the ZTE is not that bad, the screen is much much better than the Huawei, you might just get the crap one. The Huawei lags even more. But the camera is crap and you see yourself or friends up side down when using Skype.

  • +7

    Seriously people expect a lot for 60 bucks. :-)

    • +1

      Especially on OzBargain's….

      • +1

        yea, they will stop whinging when the phones are free.

        • speak for yourself please, I wont be happy until they pay me to take the phone and then that will depend on how much. :)

        • Sadly there are stiill people on ozbargain that whinge on freebie posts.

  • Cause the smartphones nowadays are way too cheap… such as Telstra Sony Ericsson Xperia Play $59.87 from previous deal

  • My nephew has one of these. His last phone was an ancient Nokia pre-smart phone, so he was not coming from a high starting point, but he is pretty happy with it. He uses it mainly for calls and SMSs rather than much social media and he says that it has pretty good reception where he lives (N suburbs of Melbourne). At $60 it looks like a snack.

  • How about cancel the plan straight after you sign? It means a free phone + a sim with $10 credit?

    • +1

      Things you need to know with Telstra No Lock-In Contract:

      You can cancel your plan at any time but if you cancel you will be charged the minimum monthly spend for that month. You will also need to pay any additional charges up to the point of cancellation. Only available to new customers and those with a 13 digit account number. Included allowance and Unlimited Text excludes some usage; such as calls/text/MMS to premium numbers (e.g. 19xx numbers), 1234, 12455, 12456 numbers and to some satellite numbers, content charges and use while overseas. Unused allowances expire monthly. Bonus 1G data offer is available to customers that connect by 1 July 2013. These plans require you to bring your own (BYO) Next G® compatible handset. Handsets that operate on 2100 MHz networks are not compatible with our Next G® network. To find out more, visit telstra.com.au/2100-devices. The spectrum device and ™ are trademarks and ® are registered trademarks of Telstra Corporation Limited ABN 33 051 775 556.

      more infos up link attached:
      http://www.jbhifi.com.au/phones/offer-2/?utm_source=adserver…

    • How about cancel the plan straight after you sign? It means a free phone + a sim with $10 credit?

      How is it a free phone when you've just paid $60 for it?

  • Sorry a bit off-topic, but which would be the best value brandname (Eg. samsung and sony etc, not LG) android phones out there for under $200?? Thanks

      • HTC Windows 8S outright @$189 from Mobiciti, was listed cheaper somewhere, can't recall
      • Samsung Galaxy Ace plus @189 with Telstra pre paid
      • +1

        Galaxy Ace Plus has mediocre 3.65" 320x480 LCD. HTC W8S runs WP rather than the more popular Android. I consider both poor value when you consider:

        Locally, Sony Xperia Sola for $179 is a good deal: http://dicksmith.com.au/product/EM5145/vodafone-sony-xperia-… . Compact 3.7" 854x480 LCD but with a smallish 1320ma battery though.

        If prepared to buy from overseas then consider Huawei Y300 and Lenovo A789. Both are 4" 800x480, dual-core, dual-SIM and have higher capacity 1730ma and 2000ma batteries respectively. Can get these for ~$130-$140 from ebay/merimobiles. Just note the 3G frequencies you need (850, 900, 2100). Optus requires 900+2100 for dual-band 3G on their network with some overseas models missing these.

        5" quad-core phones coming for under $200

        We'll be seeing quad-core, 5" 1280x720 or FHD phones coming from China in the next month available for less than $200. They'll put a price pressure on this 2012 models so expect more deals.

        See http://www.gizchina.com/category/phones/

  • Thanks ruraro, BTW I dont mind buying grey imports…Sony Sola sounds alright except it has non-removable battery and screen is on the smallish side (should've mentioned before, but I was hoping for something at least 4") :)

  • Local JB rep advises this deal is still on and expects it to continue. Appears Telstra is wanting to offload those Urbane phones for a low price.

    Relative speaking a great deal if you are on a Telstra or affiliated network such as Aldi mobile. Works out to be a $50 phone if you could as the 3GB of DATA being equivalent to a Telstra prepaid iphone broadband SIM (3GB / $10 on special).

  • Are JB still offering this deal?

    • Unfortunately JB are no longer offering this deal.

Login or Join to leave a comment