Huawei U8300 Prepaid Android Qwerty Handset on Optus $98.10

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  Mikinoz on 11/06/2011 - 08:44

  This was an interesting line "Bringing the lastest Android™ platform" wonder when it was released.

  Reviews are 50/50 , to me seems like a phone you would get for a child or someone for limited usage ie one or two months.

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  Teddo on 11/06/2011 - 08:57

  picked up one from DSE some weeks ago for $110 with a $20 sim pack adding to my assortment of Androids.
  Its a cute thing that is just fast enough to stream stuff from a Slingbox.

  Sure it would have 2.2 as its dated somewhat. But no.

  Am running a TPG sim ok.

  As with other cheap Androids has limited storage ram.

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    compingqueen on 13/06/2011 - 14:38

    if I buy it, it will be my first Android phone. Any idea how much space apps take up? That's one thing I'm worried about.

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  Balls on 11/06/2011 - 09:24

  now if only this had some flip mechanic id jump on it.like the moto flipout android

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  bargainr on 11/06/2011 - 10:13

  Good find. I like Huawei as handsets. Had an great little IDEOS for a while until it was nicked. I'm now waiting for the X5 to drop in price.

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    merriman02 on 11/06/2011 - 10:35

    its 299in crazy johns

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      bargainr on 11/06/2011 - 11:53

      Thanks. Waiting for sub $150. Seeing all of the Galaxy Tabs and Optus Tab price drops must only be a matter of time.

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        camelgrass on 11/06/2011 - 14:47

        Sub $150 for the X5, you're dreamin'. You'll be waiting a long, long, time and by then there will be better offerings out there.,

        Those Tabs are another matter. It doesn't automatically mean the phones will drop just as dramatically.

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        venu on 11/06/2011 - 16:21

        +1

        just coz the tabs got a bigger screen and similar specs, doesnt mean this huawei is gong to price drop. its probably cheaper producing an item where you dont need to stuff everything into a small case. 300 is a good deal for it. dont think it will ever go below 200, and if it does its probably end of line.

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  [Deactivated] on 11/06/2011 - 11:09

  Isn't boost locked to boost only?
  i.e. Like Virgin?

  Aren't the buttons on this one a tad too small?
  i.e. Not recommended for adults.

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    rav0 on 12/06/2011 - 00:23

    Locked to the Optus network. While locked, works with Boost, Optus, TPG etc.

    Keys are a bit small. They are domed, usable with few errors, but a bit slow. For comparison, the keyboard on Nokia C3 is easier to use.

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  freddy on 11/06/2011 - 12:19

  Interested to see that there is an HSPA Android phone available for sub $100.

  So you missed all the threads on the ZTE-V9 ? :-) OK, 7", but it is a phone. I have big pockets.

  BTW, this one is: 320 x 240 pixels, 2.6 inches. How useful is android on such a small screen?

  • 

    scrimshaw on 11/06/2011 - 13:45

    Good enough for calls, messaging, light web browsing, music and Gps use. Not good for games, camera or media player.

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    Charlotta on 12/06/2011 - 00:23

    My semantic definition would diverge from yours in calling the V9 a phone - like Optus I would call it a Tablet. (And no, I didn't miss it - Optus delivered my V9 on Thurs - but I won't see it till I get back home on Tuesday!)

    • 

      freddy on 12/06/2011 - 00:29

      It is both, just like the Nokia N900. Well, Nokia calls it a tablet. Everybody else calls it a phone.

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      camelgrass on 12/06/2011 - 01:17

      Lol, yeah, I would never call a 7 inch tablet a phone, even if it has a calling function. That's a bloody big phone! I thought it was only possible to make calls on the mytab via Bluetooth in any case. As sw said, semantically speaking its a tablet that happens to have a calling funtion. You could say that about most tablets that are 3G or wifi enabled, nearly all of them can make calls via VoIP.

      Now the Nokia N900 is definitely a phone. It's half the size and weight of the mytab.

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  Geewhizz on 11/06/2011 - 14:10

  The telstra smart touch retails for $99 but there are several offers running at the moment whereby you can get up to $50 included credit with that. Easy to unlock and a3.2mp camera.

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    jellybox on 11/06/2011 - 15:07

    self removed

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  rav0 on 12/06/2011 - 00:21

  Adding some more information for everybody

  slow processor <— actually a fast processor but overall slow performance (poor software)
  lousy camera <— true, significantly poorer than MOTORAZR V3x (2 Mpx phone from 2005)

  Key questions for me are:-
  is it 2.2 upgradeable? <— not officially, hacks exist with some issues (is faster though) (see xda)
  (to allow wifi tethering) <— comes with wifi hotspot out-of-the-box
  easily unlockable? (i.e. low-cost/no-cost) <— not that i have found

  PS $109 RRP, available at Kmart et al

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    Charlotta on 12/06/2011 - 00:27

    great feedback - ta!

    interesting what you say re wifi tethering. I thought that was only standard as of 2.2 and later…?

    • 

      rav0 on 12/06/2011 - 00:33

      That's what I've read also (actually I double-checked the Android version). However, the phone does indeed have Wifi tether.

      PS Posted via my Wifi tether :D

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  compingqueen on 12/06/2011 - 13:30

  I need a simple phone and one of the specs I def want is Qwerty keyboard so I'm thinking this might be a good phone for me. I'm moving to TPG from Optus when I get back from holidays next month. Wonder how long this offer is available…

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  aton on 25/07/2011 - 08:22

  The specs say it's 362gms… that seems a bit heavy, no?

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    rav0 on 25/07/2011 - 13:42

    Who says that? GSM Arena lists it as 104 g. I've measured it at 110 g.

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  rav0 on 25/07/2011 - 14:21

  Huawei U8300 $49 Boost Droid at Dick Smith
  http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/49507