Budget phone maker BLU is introducing 3 new smartphones with 5 inch and larger displays. They may not have the best screens, the fastest processors, or the most storage. But the new BLU Studio line of devices do have a few things that help set them apart from bigger-name smartphones.

First, they all come unlocked, Second, they run stock Android software. Third, they all support dual SIM cards. Finally, and most importantly, the’re cheap. Prices start as low as $149.

 BLU Studio 5

All three models feature Android 4.1 Jelly Bean software and supports HSDPA 3G networks. They should be available soon from Amazon.

BLU Studio 5.0

The cheapest model sports a 5 inch, 800 x 480 pixel display, a 1 GHz MediaTek MT6577 dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, and PowerVR SGX531 graphics.

It has 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, a microSD card slot, and a 5MP auto-focus camera.

The phone carries a retail price of just $149.

BLU Studio 5.0 S

If you’re looking for a model with slightly better specs, the BLU Studio 5.0 S starts at $209, and features a faster 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor and Adreno 203 graphics.

blu 5s

This model also has 1GB of RAM, a higher-resolution 960 x 540 pixel display, and an 8MP camera, as well as a 2MP front-facing camera.

Unfortunately it still just has 4GB of built-in storage, but you can add extra storage with a microSD card.

BLU Studio 5.3 S

BLU also offers a model with a larger 5.3 inch display, although it still shows just 960 x 540 pixels. In fact, other than the larger screen and slightly thicker and heavier case, most of the specs on this model are the same as those for the BLU Studio 5.0 S.

blu 5.3 s

The BLU Studio 5.3 S will sell for $229.

via Android Police

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8 replies on “BLU launches new line of unlocked Android phones for $149 and up”

  1. I can’t find any info on their site about the phones’ compatibility with T-Mobile’s 2100 band, but either way these are very tempting upgrades.

  2. When I look at these specs they aren’t all that much different than the Droid Bionic I’m carrying now which is actually doing pretty well since the JB update came down the line.

    Like Ware wolf said, as long as they are reliable and you don’t have unreasonable expectations or needs it seems like they are all absolutely livable phones.

  3. I hope they bother to get Google authorized and feature access to the Play Store. While there may be other sources of Android apps, none of the Play alternatives has the number of apps that the Play Store has.

    1. I have an older Blu Tango. It shipped with access to Google’s store and apps. Didn’t come pre-rooted but was easy enough to get root.

      What I don’t like was the lack of a proper bootloader or recovery. But that seems to be Qualcomm’s fault since Blu just used a reference design with almost no changes.

      This phone is two years old already so it will be upgrade time soon. Bottom line; I’d consider another Blu if I found another deal on one. Yes it is cheap and pretty low spec. But they don’t claim to be anything else. And it does work.

  4. now if only Developers pick them up and we can get CM or AOKP or PA on them…

  5. Yeah, all the main attrib’s seem to be up-to-par with what ya actually NEED. At $200 it’s going to sell well, as long as it is relatively reliable/tough.

  6. Stock android, cheap, unlocked … all great concepts. I hope they do well.

Comments are closed.