BLU

An attractive unlocked phone for bargain hunters. But unfortunately, its quality doesn’t rise above its low price.

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The $160 Blu R1 Plus is affordable, but beyond that, it just doesn't have much to offer. The phone is outmatched in nearly all regards by the Life One X2, which we think is well worth the extra $40 for its sharper display, faster processor, fingerprint sensor, and superior battery life.

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If you want a no-frills smartphone at an affordable price, the $159.99 Blu R1 Plus deserves consideration, thanks to its better-than-average battery life and decent rear camera. You will have to use the phone on a GSM-based carrier, however, and you'll need to live with less-than-peppy performance and a not-as-vibrant display.

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If all you want is an unlocked phone with a big screen and killer battery life, then perhaps you'll be happy with the R1 Plus. I generally want more from my phone, which is why I find the R1 Plus hard to recommend.

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The Blu R1 Plus is the 2017 sequel to one of the cheapest Android phones on Amazon, and it’s back: faster, sturdier and longer lasting than before. At $159 (or $109 on sale at launch) it has a completely adequate HD display, metal finish and long battery life. Just don’t expect 3D games to perform well or have it run the latest version of Android anytime soon. This is a true budget phone for the sub-$200 crowd.

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The BLU Advance 5.0 shows that $60 can take you places, but those places are often bumpy, with problems to follow. Many praise its lack of bloatware, pure Android experience, budget-friendly price tag and ability to run games with relative ease.

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BLU’s R1 HD should only really be on the table if you’re trying to buy the most phone you can for the least amount of money. Other phones are faster and have better cameras and receive updates more consistently. But it’s a solid bargain even at its non-Amazon price of $100 (or $110 for the 2GB version I’d strongly recommend).

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This phone gets a lot right, with a solid design and build quality, decent performance, a clean software package, and an unbeatable price point. The camera experience is a bit of a let down, and the ads, if you go for the Prime version, can get annoying, but at this price, these are understandable compromises to make. If you are looking for a good option on a budget, the BLU R1 HD should definitely be considered.

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This is the phone for when you break your real phone and need to fill the gap until you’re ready for a true upgrade. This is the phone you get if you feel like your life would benefit from a second smartphone but don’t want to commit to the idea. Better still, this is the phone you don’t get, but use as a baseline for how inconceivably good and how cheap smartphones have gotten. The Blu R1 HD isn’t better than anything. But it’s still plenty good.

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The Blu R1 HD is certainly affordable, but that doesn't necessarily make it a bargain. The phone's design, display and battery life are satisfactory for a low-cost device, but its weak camera and inability to run graphically demanding apps serve as a constant reminder that this is a budget option.

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