It’s spreading! Google’s version of Android aimed at phones with 1GB of RAM or less, Android Go, has found a home on Vodafone with their own branded Smart C9 now available to purchase for $69.
As you’d expect for an Android Go phone, the Vodafone Smart C9 isn’t exactly high-end. It’s 3G only for a start and the lower end 1.3GHz Mediatek MT 6580M quad-core processor is paired with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage which can be bolstered with a microSD card up to 128GB. The phone has a 1500mAh Li-Ion battery and a 4″ WVGA (480x 800) resolution display
There is a basic 2MP rear camera with an LED flash and 0.3MP VGA resolution front-facing camera on-board, but not a whole lot else.
It does come with Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) which on phones running the OS from other manufacturers comes with at least two years of feature updates and 3 years of security updates. We’re reaching out to Vodafone to clarify this for the Smart C9.
If you’re wanting to grab one you can head in-store to get one in Black only from places including Target and Vodafone to check them out.
This looks very interesting. The problem with most other Android phones is that you don’t get prompt updates. Even the highest-end Samsung phones don’t get OS updates for years, which is a security risk. Android Go might be the answer, for those who can’t outlay $1000+ for a Google Pixel phone (which gets instant updates). I’d be interested to hear if this Vodafone Android Go phone will get prompt updates.