Vodafone Smart Ultra 6

The budget phone market continues to see phones grow in power while dropping in price. With help from ZTE, the Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 is hoping to take the top spot. But budget phones often require compromises.

Did Vodafone cut corners in the right places? The reviews are rolling out and we’ve dug through them to bring you this summary!

One of the first things mentioned by many reviewers was how plain the phone looks. While it sports a slim unibody design, it’s plastic not metal. Talk Android noted, “For a 5.5-inch handset, it’s quite pocketable.” However, most review echoed Trusted Reviews, who said, “There are no serious practical issues with the Vodafone Smart Ultra 6’s blueprint, but it is a total style vacuum.”

Flip the phone around and reviews improve. Everyone loved the 5.5-inch 1080p IPS display. If you’re looking to play games or stream video, the touch buttons on the lower bezel allow you to use every pixel. Android Authority summed up opinions well, saying, “It’s not the best display on the market as sunlight legibility is a little suspect but overall, definitely impressive given the handset’s target market.”

Powering those pixels, you’ll find a 1.5GHz octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor. Paired with 2GB of RAM, reviewers had no complaints regarding load times or delays. Expert Reviews UK even called the phone’s performance “truly astonishing.” Talk Android was the most critical, saying, “While the Smart Ultra 6 isn’t going to set new benchmark records, it will do the job, without noticeable strain.”

You should have plenty of room to keep your favourite games and media on hand. If the 16GB isn’t enough, you can add more with a microSD card. While the phone runs an older version of Android—5.1 Lollipop—reviewers noted that they appreciated the ability to uninstall most of the pre-installed Vodafone apps.

A 3000mAh non-removable battery keeps everything running. Pocket-Lint put their review model through the ringer and said, “[The battery will] generally last you a full day, leaving around 30 per cent in the tank by bed time.”

Reviews of 13MP rear camera and 5MP front-facing lens weren’t as nice. Trusted Reviews summed up opinions well, saying, “It’s not a fool-proof camera, then, but thanks to the high-resolution sensor it can capture quite a lot of detail once you learn how to get the most out of it, and swallow the idea that you’ll just have to discard some duds.” Most reviewers noted inconsistent image quality and slow shutter speeds. But, when pictures were good, they raved.

Reviewers agreed that the phone is an excellent choice for the budget-conscious. TechRadar said, “For the average user, the Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 ought to suffice nicely. I generally found it a pleasant surprise in day-to-day use. If you don’t expect a blazing-fast gaming demon, then this will certainly do.”