Dash Budget Android Phones From BLU Bring More Smartphone Users Into The Fold, Start At $49 Unlocked
Earlier this year, BLU Products introduced a pair of unlocked smartphones that cost $199 off-contract, and the company is back with three more handsets at even lower price points; the least expensive of the group, the Dash Jr, costs just $49 unlocked.
BLU CEO Samuel Ohev-Zion put the company’s goal succinctly in a press release by saying, “Almost 1 billion feature phones are going to be shipped this year. Our job is to facilitate the transition from feature phones by bringing affordable internet and smartphone connectivity to consumers without compromise on quality, user experience and overall satisfaction."
Thus, although the new Dash phones won’t blow anyone away with killer specs, they do offer a solid option for those on a budget, such as folks who are getting their first smartphone in the U.S. and Latin America.
The $49 Dash Jr runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and offers a 3.5-inch display (320x480), 1GHz processor (Spreadtrum 6820 with Mali 400 GPU), 2MP camera, 256GB RAM, 512MB internal storage with expandable storage via a microSD slot, dual-SIM functionality, a-GPS, and WiFi. In other words, it’s a true budget smartphone, with sacrifices in functionality and features, but hey--it’s still a $49 smartphone.
The bigger brothers in the lineup offer more compelling features but maintain a relatively low price. The Dash Music 4.0 has a 4-inch (480x800) display, dual-core 1.3GHz processor (MediaTek MT6572 plus Mali 400 GPU), 512MB RAM, 4GB of internal memory plus microSD expandability, 3.2MP camera that can shoot in 720pHD at 30FPS, an accelerometer and gyroscope, a-GPS, and the same WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity as the Dash Jr.
The Dash Music 5.0 has the same processor, connectivity features, and storage configuration, but it sports a 5-inch (480x854) display, a 5MP camera with LED flash with a front-facing VGA camera, and a proximity sensor.
Both the Dash Music 4.0 and 5.0 run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and they cost $99 and $129, respectively. All three phones come in six different colors and will be available for purchase in stores and online within a month’s time.
BLU CEO Samuel Ohev-Zion put the company’s goal succinctly in a press release by saying, “Almost 1 billion feature phones are going to be shipped this year. Our job is to facilitate the transition from feature phones by bringing affordable internet and smartphone connectivity to consumers without compromise on quality, user experience and overall satisfaction."
Thus, although the new Dash phones won’t blow anyone away with killer specs, they do offer a solid option for those on a budget, such as folks who are getting their first smartphone in the U.S. and Latin America.
The $49 Dash Jr runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and offers a 3.5-inch display (320x480), 1GHz processor (Spreadtrum 6820 with Mali 400 GPU), 2MP camera, 256GB RAM, 512MB internal storage with expandable storage via a microSD slot, dual-SIM functionality, a-GPS, and WiFi. In other words, it’s a true budget smartphone, with sacrifices in functionality and features, but hey--it’s still a $49 smartphone.
The bigger brothers in the lineup offer more compelling features but maintain a relatively low price. The Dash Music 4.0 has a 4-inch (480x800) display, dual-core 1.3GHz processor (MediaTek MT6572 plus Mali 400 GPU), 512MB RAM, 4GB of internal memory plus microSD expandability, 3.2MP camera that can shoot in 720pHD at 30FPS, an accelerometer and gyroscope, a-GPS, and the same WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity as the Dash Jr.
The Dash Music 5.0 has the same processor, connectivity features, and storage configuration, but it sports a 5-inch (480x854) display, a 5MP camera with LED flash with a front-facing VGA camera, and a proximity sensor.
Both the Dash Music 4.0 and 5.0 run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and they cost $99 and $129, respectively. All three phones come in six different colors and will be available for purchase in stores and online within a month’s time.
