When we talk about budget-friendly, affordable, or even ultra-low-cost smartphones, we usually mean devices available for under US$ 400, US$ 300, or US$ 200 a pop with no carrier strings attached. But when it comes to prepaid products you can buy from "minor" operators like Boost Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, or Cricket Wireless, it's not unusual to be charged less than US$ 100, especially if you're willing to port in an existing phone number from a different carrier.
That being said, the Wiko Ride 3 is still
pretty special, fetching as little as US$ 34.99 at Boost Mobile starting this week
with absolutely no special requirements and going all the way down to US$ 0 if
you don't have a problem switching from your current wireless service provider
to the T-Mobile-operated MVNO. Owned by Dish after last year's T-Mobile/Sprint
merger, Boost obviously sells a wide array of dirt-cheap Android handsets,
ranging from the Samsung Galaxy A02s to the Moto G Play (2021) and the Wiko
Ride 2.
Technically priced at 10 bucks higher than
its US$ 89.99 predecessor, the Ride 3 is on sale right off the bat for a cool US$ 65
less than "usual" with a much more modern design in tow and a
surprisingly respectable spec sheet.
Granted, the appeal of its waterdrop-style
notch is largely offset by a comically thick "chin", but the
pre-loaded Android 11 software, relatively generous 3GB RAM count, dual
rear-facing camera system, "all-day" 3,400mAh battery, and even the
unspecified octa-core processor undoubtedly make this thing an outstanding
bargain at 35 bucks, not to mention US$ 0.
By no means the best Boost Mobile phone
money can buy in 2021, the Wiko Ride 3 looks like a more than decent
alternative to the costlier Samsung Galaxy A11, for instance, with an extra gig
of memory on deck albeit a smaller display, smaller battery, and less versatile
photographic setup as well.
As the name suggests, the new low to
mid-end device follows in the footsteps of not one but two other Wiko phones
released on Boost Mobile in 2019 and 2020, being exclusively available online
for the time being before expanding to Walmart and the carrier's own physical
stores on June 12 and sometime near the "end of June" respectively.
