When people begin the conversation about going without a cellular contract, one of the biggest arguments is that top quality handsets are just too expensive to purchase without one. It’s true, not everyone has $750 burning a hole in their pockets to pick up a new HTC One M9 or that iPhone 6, but that doesn’t mean that they have to settle on the quality of a new device. With the new wave of devices from BLU Products, a person doesn’t have to settle for anything and can still get a remarkable phone for way less than they think. The BLU Vivo Air is one such handset.
The Vivo Air has already been coined the slimmest smartphone in the world. Measuring in at 5.1mm, it is almost impossible to imagine anything thinner. Our of the box, the Vivo Air is running Android 4.4 through a MediaTek octa-core processor and 1GB of RAM. It also has 16GB of internal memory, but doe not have that coveted external memory slot. The device features a 4G HSPA+21 radio that will work with AT&T, T-Mobile or either of their MVNO’s out of the box. There is no LTE capability on the Vivo Air.
The 4.8” Super AMOLED HD display is clean and clear and delivers excellent color. The 8MP rear camera on the Vivo Air features BLU”s Bright+ technology for good images in low light conditions. The front shooter also captures those low-light restaurant selfies without any issue at all using the same Bright+ software.
What is the most amazing part of the Vivo Air experience is the out of pocket cost. The suggested retail of the Vivo Air is $299.99 unlocked and without contract. That pins the thinnest device around, with an octa-core processor and compatibility with almost all of those MVNO carriers at about the same as the contract price as the big boys. Then, it gets better. The Vivo Air is available right now for under $200. It is available in Black or a White/Gold configuration.
The BLU Vivo Air is quite a delightful handset for the average user. Power users and media hounds might fight this one tough to swallow without having that additional media card slot, but with a good Wi-Fi connection and a decent amount of cloud storage, even they might be OK. Our recommendation would be to purchase an external card reader for the Vivo Air, like the Leef Access microSD card reader. It’s a $13 purchase that will let you expand the memory of any device you have with a micro USB port on board.
All in all, the Vivo Air is quite an amazing device. The sub-$200 price point brings the Vivo Air down to the point of being ultra affordable for the feature set that it offers. The octa-core processor, HD display and ultra-thin design are all features you’d expect to find on a much more expensive handset. BLU Products cut the right corners on the Vivo Air, like chopping the resolution of the primary camera to 8MP, while not compromising the integrity of the device with a slower processor or lower quality finishes. If you are in the market for a lower cost, yet premium feeling device, check out the BLU Vivo Air and see what you think.
Link: BLU Vivo Air
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