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It seems impossible that in 2023, you can buy a 4G smartphone with facial recognition and a replaceable battery for under $100. Yet here we are, with the launch of the Aspera AS5 4G in Australia.
The new device looks impressive on the specs front. You get a 1.6GHz octa-core processor, 2GB RAM and 32GB of on board storage.
A dual 4G SIM card slot, a removable 2,000mAh battery and 5MP cameras front and back seem remarkably decent for a phone at this price point.
The cameras even offer facial recognition, helping you unlock your phone effortlessly.
So how did they make a phone so cheap?
The 5-inch display offers 854 x 480 resolution, which is clearly where some of the cost cutting has occurred. It’s also worth noting that the processor isn’t going to compete with a high end smartphone.
But it’s not supposed to – this is a budget device targeting a budget-conscious customer.
One of the cool things the phone offers is the ability to convert up to a gigabyte of unused storage to extra virtual RAM. This helps improve performance of the device.
The Aspera AS5 is unlocked and supports all of Australia’s 4G networks. It is available now, and available from retailers including Big W, Ritchies IGA, Seasons IGA, Freedom Fuels, Trinity Petroleum, Mobiciti and Personal Digital.
Will the phone perform well enough to be included in our roundup of the best cheap phones in Australia? Stay tuned – we’re looking to review it soon.
