As expected, BLU is following up last year’s popular BLU R1 HD smartphone with a new model called the BLU R1 Plus. But while I was expecting the new phone to be another Amazon Prime Exclusive, it turns out it’s actually available from both Amazon and Best Buy… but the Best Buy version is cheaper, with a $140 price tag… although if you spend an extra $20 for the Amazon model, you get a phone with 50% more memory and twice as much storage.

The Blu R1 Plus has a 5.5 inch, 1280 x 720 pixel display, a 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT6737 quad-core processor, a 13MP rear camera, and an 8MP front camera.

It’s a dual SIM phone with 4G LTE and support for AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, but not Sprint or Verison. The phone also has a microSD card slot for up to 64GB of removable storage.

Amazon sells a $160 model with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, while the Best Buy exclusive $140 model has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage.

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7 replies on “Blu R1 Plus smartphone now available for $140”

  1. Amazon pulled back the item for review. My guess is most likely because the promised TPU case to be included was not included for most buyers: Currently unavailable.
    We don’t know when or if this item will be back in stock.

    Item Under Review
    This item is currently unavailable because customers have told us there may be something wrong with our inventory of the item, the way we are shipping it, or the way it’s described here. (Thanks for the tip!)

    We’re working to fix the problem as quickly as possible.

  3. is this a good upgrade from the BLU HD 1 (2gb) amazon version? I know it is a bigger screen and more memory? Is it an upgraded processor from the HD1?

    1. supposedly slightly upgraded processor. don’t know the details. most importantly, the amazon version is supposed to be on sale on Saturday only for $110! very tempting at that price. I have two of the R1 HD’s that are working fine, but I’m tempted to pick this up tomorrow if I can get it at this price.

  4. I would rather squeeze in a extra $40 and get the blu life One X2 which has 4GB Ram/64GB of storage, 1080p display, SD 430, and a fingerprint reader. They even have like new versions available on amazon warehouse for just $161 if $180 is too expensive for you.

  5. I would say the extra $20 bucks are worth it. Seems like a nice basic phone.

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