While the vast majority of smartphones these days come unlocked for use on any mobile network you so choose, network-locked handsets are still quite common in the ultra-budget space. Here, the big three network providers offer a range of prepaid smartphones aimed at folks looking for a simple, no-frills device at an accessible price.
The Vodafone Smart C9 3G is one such phone. A 3G-only handset locked to the Vodafone network, it's a cheap, unremarkable alternative to the pricier smartphones dominating the market.
Design
4-inch touch screen
Android Oreo Go
Locked to 3G Vodafone network
The Vodafone Smart C9 3G is as plain as they come. Thick bezels surround a 4-inch WVGA screen sporting a low resolution of 800x480. Three large capacitive buttons take up additional space below the screen, though with such a relatively small screen, the Smart C9 is still quite compact.
Outside of its nondescript appearance, the Smart C9 offers a decent range of modern smartphone amenities. Onboard storage is a little low at just 4GB, but support for microSD expansion lets you increase that by as much as 128GB. Coupled with the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack and compatibility with Bluetooth 4.0, this makes the Smart C9 a solid on-the-go music player.
Speaking of connectivity, it's worth emphasising the "3G" in the Smart C9's name. It can only connect to Vodafone's 3G network, the slower counterpart to its 4G sibling. This doesn't affect the quality of standard calls or texts, but it does mean any web browsing, streaming or downloading takes considerably longer than it would on a 4G handset. Fortunately, the Smart C9 also packs Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can connect it to your home wireless network and browse at the speed of your home broadband connection if you'd prefer.
Where the Vodafone Smart C9 distinguishes itself from a lot of ultra-budget smartphones is its software. It comes pre-loaded with Android 8.1 ("Oreo") Go Edition, the version of Android 8.1 designed specifically for low-powered devices. Along with optimised versions of popular apps like Gmail, Google Maps and Facebook, Oreo Go offers a number of data- and power-saver features useful for squeezing the most out of phones like the Smart C9.
Camera
2MP rear-facing camera
0.3MP VGA front-facing camera
For all the advances in smartphone camera technology over the years, few have found their way down to the ultra-budget space. High-quality camera lenses still cost a decent chunk of cash, so it's not surprising that many low-end smartphones stick with the barebones approach.
Such is the case with the Vodafone Smart C9. Its primary rear-facing camera features a basic 2MP lens with an LED flash. That's functional enough for personal photos, but don't expect tremendous clarity when viewing the shots on a large computer screen or printed out.
It's a similar story for selfies. The front-facing camera uses a VGA sensor, roughly equivalent to 0.3MP. Again, this is typical of phones at this price point, but be sure to temper your expectations accordingly.
Performance
A budget processor and 512MB of RAM is what you'd expect at this price
Android Oreo Go somewhat compensates for the low-powered hardware
You have to make a lot of sacrifices when buying an ultra-budget smartphone and performance is one of the biggest. With the Vodafone Smart C9, this means accepting a low-powered Mediatek MT6580M processor and just 512MB of RAM. That's a barebones combination that should be able to handle basic web browsing and checking your email, though it's likely to struggle with anything more demanding.
The ace up the Smart C9's sleeve here is its inclusion of Android Oreo Go. Built specifically for low-powered hardware like the Smart C9, Android Oreo Go features optimised versions of core apps like Gmail, Google Maps, Google Chrome and more. These Go-optimised apps feature streamlined interfaces and lower power requirements, enabling better performance than their non-optimised counterparts.
Battery
1,500mAh removable battery
Promises up to 5 hours of talk time
As a relatively compact smartphone, it's no surprise that the Smart C9 makes do with a similarly small 1,500mAh battery. In a more-powerful handset that would effectively rule out all-day battery life, but it's here that the less-capable hardware of the Smart C9 works to its advantage.
Manufacturer tests claim it can deliver up to 5 hours of talk time and survive for as long as 10 days on standby. Those aren't record-breaking numbers by any stretch, but they're decent enough if you're only going to be using the Smart C9 occasionally.
It's also worth noting that the Smart C9's battery is completely removable, so you can extend its longevity by purchasing spare batteries and swapping them in and out as needed.
Matt Sayer is a technology writer and editorial engineer for Finder, combining industry expertise with data-driven solutions to help people make better decisions. His extensive portfolio spans investigate reporting on the roll-out of 5G, statistical analysis on the legacy of E3 and guides for popular products like mobile phones and smart speakers. Matt has a Bachelor of Computer Science from RMIT University and is passionate about finding ways that technology can better our lives.
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