1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. Design4. Display5. Software6. Performance7. Camera8. Battery9. Closing Thoughts10. View All Pages

 For £30, Vodafone seem to have done a decent job with the Smart First 6. The simple design is no bad thing, it just means the First 6 is easy to use and has no tacky gimmicks. The phone is even impressively light, weighing in at 112g – the same as an iPhone 5.

Similarly, the display is basic but functional. Brightness levels are not incredible, but the phone is still usable outside (as we would expect with any other smartphone). Viewing angles are a slight letdown, but as long as you hold the phone in a regular fashion everything looks fine.

It is also good to see Vodafone have left Android alone, bar a few bloatware apps. KitKat remains a solid mobile OS and it is perhaps more suitable to first-time Android users than Lollipop.

Performance of the First 6 is hindered by the lack of RAM, with 512MB proving too little in 2015. This is because, when too many apps are open in the background, phone performance simply grinds to a halt. However, if memory is frequently freed up, performance is not bad. It is just crucial to know what the operating constraints of the First 6 are, else it could to be difficult to get on with.

The camera is adequate, with a 2MP sensor taking half-decent photos. Low contrast is the biggest issue, but HDR mode seems to take better images.

Battery life, though, is surprisingly good, with a 9 hour time in the Geekbench 3 battery test proving the best time I have seen. It should last a day and a half comfortably in real-world terms.

In everything, it is key to remember the price. A £30 smartphone is an ultra-budget offering, so even expecting low to mid-range performance is unreasonable. Nothing is particularly good, but the first 6 does what it sets out to do – namely, it brings a complete smartphone experience for a paltry fee. And for that, it is commendable.

You can buy the Smart First 6 from Vodafone for £30 inc VAT here.

Pros:

• Proper smartphone for £30.
• Strong battery life.
• Light handset.
• A camera for £30 is impressive.
• Stock KitKat.

Cons:

• Bloatware apps use vital storage space.
• Viewing angles are poor.
• Lack of RAM hurts performance.

KitGuru says: This is a real smartphone for £30. It does everything another smartphone would – admittedly a bit slower. Still, for £30, that is mightily impressive.

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