Huawei may not be a brand that immediately comes to mind when you think of mobile phones, but its IDEOS X5 Android phone will certainly get you thinking — it is claimed to offer a better experience than smartphones that are twice the price.
Read our comprehensive Huawei IDEOS U8150 review, and check out our guide to the best budget Android phones.
Not content with selling the Huawei IDEOS U8150 in Australia — currently the cheapest Android phone sold in the country — the Chinese company is expanding its Android arsenal with the IDEOS X5. It retails for $349, which is significantly less than other brands' smartphones with similar specifications.
The Huawei IDEOS X5 runs the 2.2 'Froyo' version of Google's Android operating system, has a 3.8in capacitive touchscreen display and a 5-megapixel camera that doubles as a 720p HD video recorder. The IDEOS X5 smartphone also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS connectivity, and is powered by a single-core 800MHz processor.
The Huawei IDEOS X5 seems to tick all the boxes when it comes to specifications. Its 3.8in display is larger than the iPhone 4's 3.5in screen, and the IDEOS X5 uses capacitive touch technology which should mean it is responsive. It also records HD video and has a microSD card slot, so storage can be expanded up to 32GB. According to Huawei, upgrading the IDEOS X5 smartphone to the 2.3 Gingerbread version of Android is "technically possible" but the company can't confirm any upgrade plans yet. We wouldn't hold our breath, but an upgrade to the latest version of Android would certainly enhance the credentials of the IDEOS X5, even if it remains appealing in its current state.
We'll be keen to test performance and battery life in particular when we put the Huawei IDEOS X5 through its paces for a full review, but its 800MHz processor and a 1500mAh battery do look promising on paper.
The Huawei IDEOS X5 Android phone is available now for $0 on a $29 cap from Crazy John's, and can also be purchased for $349 outright at Crazy John's and Dick Smith stores.
