Apr 20, 2024 | Updated: 11:35 AM EDT

'Better Than The Original iPhone': Walmart Is Rolling Out A $10 Smartphone

Nov 16, 2015 02:45 AM EST

In a time when mobile phone makers are racing to create bigger, badder, more expensive phones, Walmart is rolling out a $10 smartphone, with specs “better than the original iPhone.” That sounds pretty awesome, right? Until one remembers that the original iPhone was released in 2007, a whole eight years ago. Not only is the original iPhone obsolete and definitely “ancient,” it was powered by a 620 MHz Samsung CPU and a 128 MB RAM module. The base model only had 4 GB in flash memory space and a 3.5-inch display. It was dubbed as the “Invention of the Year” by Time Magazine, however.

Yes, the $10 Walmart smartphone, named the “TracFone LG Prepaid Lucky LG16 Smartphone,” does appear to have better specs than the “Invention of the Year” for 2007:

Processor/Chipset: 1.2 GHz dual-core processor

OS: Android 4.4 (KitKat) OS

Connectivity: 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0

Expandable Storage: MicroSD card support up to 32 GB, with 4 GB microSD card included in the box.

Display: 3.8 inches

Cameras: Primary: 3 MP

Battery: Li-Ion battery with a potential Talk Time of up to 7.3 h and a Standby Time or up to 9.9 days

Sure, the specs sound like a run of the mill entry-level Android that didn’t quite pass the Android One standards, but at the price of a pizza or around two Starbucks lattes, the specs sound like a steal. Really.

So, what could one do with a $10 phone with meager specs?

-Use it as a backup phone. If one is the forgetful type, leave one of these in the office drawer. It’s perfect for those moments when one just dashed out of the apartment and forgot everything else but the clothes on the back.

-Give it to someone who doesn’t care about taking the perfect selfie. Maybe one wants to keep in touch with his or her mom or gramma, and they aren’t into the whole Facebook and Instagram craze. If one just wants a way to be able to call or exchange texts every now and then, this is the perfect, absolutely affordable gift.

-Bring it when traveling. Lock the $800 flagship Android in the safe. Seriously. When planning a trip to a foreign country, especially those that are hot spots for hotel theft, pickpockets and the like, this $10 TracFone would be perfect to bring instead of the obscenely expensive flagship Android or iPhone.

Yes, a $10 smartphone would be a good buy this Christmas. In fact, it could be a good buy, today. As per our suggestions, it does sound pretty useful, right?

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Walmart’s Product Page for the TracFone LG Prepaid Lucky LG16 Smartphone: https://www.walmart.com/ip/45822125?u1=8a1835348ae611e59da8e6fb3409ace10000&oid=289955.1&wmlspartner=lw9MynSeamY&sourceid=07079407560200143898&affillinktype=10&veh=aff

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