Most Android phone makers expect you to replace your device every few years. Even Google only promises 3 years of OS and security updates for its Pixel phones (the last update for the Pixel 2 is set to drop in December).

But a startup called Teracube is betting that there’s a market for inexpensive phones that you’ll hold onto for a long time.

Earlier this year the company began shipping a $300 smartphone that comes with a 4-year warranty, after running a successful crowdfunding campaign. Now Teracube back with a $200 phone covered by the same 4-year warranty. It’s actually cheaper than that if you are one of the first folks to pre-order through a new crowdfunding campaign.

The Teracube 2e is hardly the most impressive phone available. It has a 6.1 inch, 1560 x 720 pixel display, a MediaTek Helio A25 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and 13MP + 8MP rear cameras plus an 8MP front-facing camera.

But it does have 4,000 mAh user replaceable battery, a headphone jack and microSD card slot, dual SIM support, and NFC.

Other features include a fingerprint reader, a USB-C port, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and 4G LTE. The phone ships with Android 10.

But what makes the Teracube 2e stand out are its relatively low price, and its repairability. The folks at Teracube note that the phone is easy to take apart since it’s only held together by screws and uses nothing is glued down. The company plans to offer spare parts for customers that want to make repairs at home, as well as instructions. And the 4-year warranty means that if you’re uncomfortable performing your own smartphone surgery, you can send a broken phone to Teracube and have it repaired for a flat fee of $40, which covers the cost of shipping as well as repairs.

Teracube also notes that the phone comes with “minimalistic and eco-friendly packaging,” that uses recycled paper, less packaging than many other phone makers, and… no charger in the box. Odds are you’ve already got one lying around anyway, but if this is your first USB-C device then you may need to buy a power adapter or charging cable separately.

I’m not mad at the company’s efforts to reduce e-waste though. It’d just be nice if there were an option to pay a few bucks extra if you wanted a charger thrown in. Update: According to the crowdfunding campaign FAQ, Teracube will let you add a USB-C charger to your order for an extra $8 if you need one.

The phone’s body is also made from 25-percent recycled polycarbonate.

While the Teracube 2e is expected to have a retail price of $200, early backers of the Indiegogo crowfunding campaign can get one for as little as half price:

  • Super Early Bird – $99 (250 units)
  • Late Early Bird – $119 (250 units)
  • Indiegogo Special – $139 (250 units)

The phone is expected to ship in December.

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10 replies on “Teracube 2e is a $200 smartphone with a 4-year warranty (crowfunding)”

  1. Looks just like a Moto e6 model (world version) 4gb ram 64gb storage.Which is a decent phone for price. Just with some hardware updates,etc.

  2. It looks like there’s actually an option to get it with a charger, according to the FAQ section on the indiegogo page,
    “If you need one, we can provide you one for USD 8 (add it during checkout).”

  3. I’m really skeptical about this. What incentive is there for them to stick around and support the phone for that long? How will they ensure parts will be available? Who is paying for another batch of parts to be manufactured when they run out?

    If their plan is based on this being supported by an economy of scale based on further sales or future SKUs, then I have zero faith in this working out for their customers.

    These Kickstarters are getting more dubious each time they appear.

    1. What incentive is there for them to stick around and support the phone for that long?

      What incentive does any company in any sector has to deliver to on its promises to customers?

      How will they ensure parts will be available?

      Good question, I don’t know. Maybe you can ask it on their forum. The fact that they have a user forum where employees mingle with their users is a sign that they have longer than plans to the trust you’ve given them. People suggested they should work together with the /e/ ROM folks on both companies forums. According to the notes, they are doing exactly that. Cool.

      If their plan is based on this being supported by an economy of scale based on further sales or future SKUs, then I have zero faith in this working out for their customers.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2H7s-6I2mE

      Their CEO and founder, Sharad Mital seems like a trustworthy person to the venture capitalist in me. B)

      These Kickstarters are getting more dubious each time they appear.

      Ah. So you aren’t against Teracube in particular, you just ranted about the average, generic Kickstarter/Indiegogo project. Fine. Newsflash: most new businesses fail regardless of industry and funding, for various reasons.

      OK, I’m not sure if we’ve read the same article but Teracube has delivered its first phone a year ago. YouTube has some reviews. There’s also a Best of CES 2020 Finalist by Engadget badge on their home page, it that means anything.

      1. Ok you’re right that I was harsh on how well established they are, but I still don’t believe the 4 year repair-service part.

        I read more deeply into this in some other articles, and it sounds like there might be some inconsistent info about their warranty.

        Some other sites are reporting the 4 year warranty only covers factory defects, with no mention of a $40 repair fee for broken phones.

        I have no problem believing that they can honor a 4 year warranty against factory defects. I don’t believe they will offer a $40 repair service for 4 years.

        I think perhaps this $40 repair service might be unrelated to their warranty period.

  4. Of course, that warranty assumes that Teracube itself exists that long. According to the Indiegogo, they were founded in June, 2018.

    The campaign also doesn’t mention how long they’ll offer Android updates for.

    I want to believe, but that price just seems way too low.

Comments are closed.