14 DAY TRIAL // Smartphones with 4G capabilities have been getting increasingly cheap, but the latest smartphone we’re going to be telling you about just reached a new “height” in affordability.
Introducing the EE Rook, a handset equipped with 4G connectivity that only costs £49 / $75 / €69 in the UK. However, if you’re an existing customer on the EE network, you’ll be able to get it for as little as £39 / $60 / €55 (as spotted at Trusted Reviews).
Naturally, you shouldn’t be expecting this handset to be packing the most amazing specs in the mobile world, but what EE offers here will get you through the day just fine.
The device arrives with a 4-inch “high-resolution” display with “high 854 x 480 pixels and a quad-core processor clocked at 1GHz nestled under the hood. The device is backed up by 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card up to 32GB). The phone also takes advantage of a 5MP shooter plus a 0.3MP selfie camera. The phone is supported by a 1,500 mAh battery.
The EE Rook offers Android 5.1 on the cheap
Unlike a lot of smartphones today coming with better specs, the EE Rook will ship out with Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box and who knows it might even get Android M at some point.
If you have a little more money to spend and you want a budget 4G phone from a better known manufacturer, there’s always the option to go with the Motorola Moto E handset.
By contrast, the device has a larger 4.5-inch display with 540 x 960 pixel resolution and draws life from a Snapdragon 410 processor fitted with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of expandable storage.
The handset dons a 5MP rear camera plus a VGA front-facing one for video calling. It can be yours for $149 / €131 which is a bit more than what the EE Rook sells for. The handset can be updated to Android 5.1 Lollipop, and as you can see, boasts comparable specs to the one offered by the UK carrier.
Another similar model is the LG F60, but this smartphone runs Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box.
