As you may have noticed, the days of
dirt-cheap Android smartphones with massive screen bezels, modest dual-core
processors, and tiny batteries on deck are long gone, with the freshly unveiled
AT&T Radiant Max acting as the latest reminder that the low-end market
segment has made some great progress in the last couple of years.
Typically priced at US$ 129.99, the 6.5-inch
handset will be available right off the bat for as little as US$79.99 for new
AT&T Prepaid customers opting for an unlimited plan costing at least US $ 65 a
month before discounts.
That means the Radiant Max can be yours at
an even lower price than the US$ 115 Samsung Galaxy A01, for instance, despite
offering vastly superior specs and features including a 4,000mAh battery and a
grand total of four cameras, among others.
Since the 6.5-inch HD+ display doesn't
sound particularly power-hungry, and the same probably goes for the phone's
unnamed octa-core SoC, said 4,000mAh cell should be large enough to keep the
lights on for up to two whole days on a single charge. Meanwhile, the four
imaging sensors include a modest-sounding 8MP selfie shooter and a triple
rear-facing camera system composed of a 13MP primary snapper, 5MP
ultra-wide-angle lens, and 2MP "super macro" sensor.
Although far from impressive by high-end
or mid-range standards, that camera setup looks a lot better on paper than the
13 + 2MP dual lens arrangement on the back of the aforementioned Galaxy A01.
The AT&T Radiant Max sounds like it can take on Samsung's Galaxy A11, the
LG Aristo 5, and the Moto E (2020) as well, especially when you consider its
sheer screen size and relatively sleek waterdrop notch design.
Available in a single Cobalt Blue hue
starting this Friday, August 28, the jumbo-sized budget-friendly device also
comes with a trusty old rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, as well as 32 gigs of
internal storage space, DTS audio technology, and surprise, surprise, a
two-year warranty included as standard. That's... not something you usually
expect to get at 80 or 130 bucks.