It seems like Dick Smith is covering the mid-range Android devices, which is about time considering there is really nothing of great interest in this part of the market, except for maybe the Millennius Apanda A60. So if you’re after a mid-range Android device head into your local Dick Smith store as they are starting to stock quite a few. Included in those ‘few’ are the Motorola XT5 and Huawei U8230, both with specs good enough for any smartphone user, and at a fairly reasonable price tags, $349 and $399 respectively. The funny thing about the XT5 is that it runs Android 2.1, something the Motorola Quench, Backflip & DEXT are never going to be able to do. Hit the break for full specs on both devices.

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Motorola XT5

– Android 2.1
– HSDPA 7.2Mbps (850/2100MHz)
– 3.2″ HVGA Capacitive Display
– WiFi b/g
– Bluetooth 2.0
– 512MB ROM
– 256MB RAM
– 5MP Camera w/ Flash
– 1270mAh Battery

Huawei U8230

– Android 2.1
– 528MHz CPU
– HSPA (2100MHz)
– 3.5″ HVGA Capacitive Display
– WiFi b/g
– Bluetooth 2.0
– 256MB RAM
– 3.15MP Camera w/ Flash
– 1500mAh Battery

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Karmen

I have a motorola XT5 and would really love a silicone case for it…..but cant find one anywhere…does anyone know where I can find one, or if another brand would fit?? please help :((

Cidalia

Where can I find/ buy phone cover for Huawei U8230. Canโ€™t find it anywhere?
thanks

Cidalia

Where can I find/ buy phone cover for Huawei U8230. Can’t it anywhere? ๐Ÿ™
thanks

Mike

I bought the motorola xt5 today and i,m using a virgin sim, seems to work ok. I spent about 30 mins on it and I am happy with it, feel’s good in the hand and pocket not to wide and it’s light.

Tony

Good to see your sim card appears to work ok, but I have a Telstra Next-G sim card, and in my research the last couple of days, I have found that only a very small percentage of Android phones work, with all the Next-G features anyway? Whatever that supposed to be. In a list of phones I seen on a web-site, neither of these phones were on it. But they do appeal, mainly because of the price and apparent value for money.

RogueX5

It will camp on Telstra’s 850 network and operate on that network. It will not support Foxtel etc if that’s what you’re talking about.

[MuffinMan]

Foolishly I am triple posting.. will these work on the optus/virgin network? they support the following:

ideos:
2G Network
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network
HSDPA 2100

xt5:
3G
WCDMA 850/1900/2100, GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps (Category 7/8), EDGE Class 12

[MuffinMan]

So are these network locked, coming from Dick Smith?

[MuffinMan]

Never mind, it I just checked the site (I didn’t expect that it would say there, but it did.. should have checked first, sorry).

They are both unlocked. Hooray!

tomascivinod

HOOOORAY FOR FREEEDOM!!!

Cooper

I still think the Optimus One is better than these two or the apanda:

If it hits around the $349/$29plan:

– Android 2.2 (MUCH Faster, Chrome-to-phone, Voice-to-Actions) and whatever else google come up with.
– 600MHz CPU with 512MB RAM
– 1500mAh Battery
– Car Cradle + Charger included in sales package
– turn-by-turn GPS navigation with free lifetime updates (NDrive)
– SWYPE preloaded

Only thing is the 3MP camera lets it’s down but i’d sacrifice MP for froyo and the other extras.

tomascivinod

I really want one, so good and SOOOO cheap

coder

Agreed. Tethering/WifiAccessPoint = major drawcard! Am close to purchasing a phone as present for my sister, looks like its between Optimus One and Huawei IDEOS at this stage.

ben

@coder, I dont think it is over priced at all, You know they actually provide you silicone case, 8gb memory, screen protectors.. I have never in my life bought a phone that has ever provided that to me. Actually the quality of the phone is just amazing and very handy. I didnt expect it to be this good

coder

Free memory card is one thing (although 8GB…), but to say that a free silicone case & free screen protectors justifies a heftier price than the competition is pushing it ๐Ÿ˜ฎ Rubber & plastic is super cheap, and the markup on those items when you buy them individually is like 10000%

Tony

I am reading Dicksmith’s catalog next to me now, and it says the Huawei U8230, has Android 2.1, with 528MHz processor. Is their advert incorrect?? and telling porkys?? or is the info on this site incorrect??

Tony

Ok, good to hear, and I see you’ve changed your info, so good stuff.
Also, I went into my local Dicksmith’s, to ask about and have a look at the Huawei U8230 and they didn’t have any there….but we’re expecting 6 in later today….yeah sure!! That was about 1.30pm this arvo.

tomascivinod

The moto looks alot like the millenius…

tomascivinod

forget i said that, they look very different, btw y would you buy the millienus apart from it being aussie when u can get this for the same money?

ben

Why wouldnt you buy a millennius, the phone looks great. It does actually look similar to the motorola come to think about it… The phone has great specs and if you see on there website you can see an android app developer has made a youtube video.. she says looks like she loves and she makes android apps so.. and there aussie and the phone is made in same factory as iphone. How about why wouldnt you, instead of bagging it… You guys are use to being with a brand that you have grown up with or heard of whilst… Read more ยป

coder

@Ben, I think its pretty fair to say that the Millenius Apanda A60 is overpriced. Its also pretty fair to say this Huawei U8230 is overpriced…there’s a Huawei IDEOS around the corner that’s going to blow a hole in the current pricing structure!

tomascivinod

Exactly, mortar stores. If you could buy the millenius from a mortar store, heaps of people would buy it with the right branding ie, AUSSSIE I can see a market for it. But it really is not convenient to get it shipped. I can go and buy the xt5 today at any dse shop. I have to wait, what, a week for the millenius to be shipped. If they could get their product into harvey norman or something, they would sell alot more.

chaosdave
BrainBeat

I was just reading my copy of their catalog and was trying to find the info about it and maybe suggest you post something but you beat me too it :).

ben

Huawei with 1.5 android what the hell is that. And no 900mhz for Motorola… too bad regional areas.