This story is sponsored by Bluboo. PhoneArena's opinions in this article have not been affected in any way!
Bluboo is one of those China-based manufacturers that produce smartphones with looks and hardware specs well beyond what their price-tag suggests. The latest offer here is the Bluboo S3, which is currently on sale for $149.99. And, for that amount of money, it looks like it could be a real bargain. Let's explore it further!
The Bluboo S3 rocks an 18:9 display on its front, with next-to-non-existant side bezels and very thin forehead and chin. According to the manufacturer, the phone's screen-to-body ratio is about 91%. The back is refreshingly not a slippery glass, nor a flat metal surface. Instead, it has a pyramid texture, which should improve grip, especially paired with its curvy sides, designed to sit better in the palm.
The S3 is a mid-range device, but it does have a few special features that truly shine. So, starting with the processor — it's an octa-core MediaTek 6750, clocked at 1.5 GHz. Sure, nothing to write home about, but not too shabby either. We've got 4 GB of RAM, which is plenty enough even by contemporary flagship standards, and 64 GB of storage, which — again — is more than enough for most users. In case it's not, the phone also accepts microSD cards of up to 256 GB.
Moving on to the camera, you probably have noticed the dual lens module on the back. This one holds a 21 MP Samsung sensor for the main snapper and a 5 MP sensor for the assistive, depth-sensing camera. These will, of course, be used in conjunction to create Portrait Mode-like shots with simulated bokeh. On the front, we have another Samsung-made sensor — this one takes 13 MP selfies.
Now, here's the "wow" feature of the package. The Bluboo S3 rocks an 8,500 mAh battery in its trunk! The manufacturer claims that would provide 6 days of battery life, though, that'll definitely vary greatly depending on how you use it. Did you happen to say to yourself "That's as big as my portable power bank!"? Because the Bluboo S3 can, in fact, be used as a power bank to charge your other devices when you connect the included USB OTG cable to its USB Type-C port.
Speaking of the Type-C port at the bottom, you'll have to use that for headphones as well, as the phone lacks a 3.5 mm jack. It also doesn't seem to have water-resistance to offset this small inconvenience.
The Bluboo S3 will be updated to Android 8.1 post-launch (it's unclear which version it'll ship with) and will also have face unlock added as a feature with a future update. For the time being, you can still use the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner for security locks.
The phone is up for pre-sale with a price tag of $179.99. However, the first 3,000 sales will be at $149.99. Additionally, each day, 2 lucky winners will get their Bluboo S3 for free, and 10 more random customers will only pay $85 for their phone. For that price, it's probably not a bad choice as a backup device, thanks to its powerbank feature, or as your dedicated phone for hikes, camping, and beach trips.
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