ZDNET’s key takeaways.
- NUU N30 available on Amazon now for $129 This $129 phone is a great first phone for children or as a backup device.
- On the N30, the fingerprint scanner is located in the power button. This means that there is no under-screen biometrics on the phone and it does not support wireless charging.
Let’s face it: The low-end Android phone market is awash with all kinds of phones in all sizes, colors and specs. However, the majority of these $200-$300 handsets have varying degrees of performance, lag and bloatware. They also vary in terms of cameras, sound and display.
Things get interesting when you start looking at phones in the $100-$200 price range. I think that part of the problem is expectations. If you’re using $129 phone there’s no reason to expect it to perform as well as $1,000 device. This kind of wishful-thinking is useless. Once expectations are tempered you will be pleasantly surprised.
Also,The $350 Android phone almost made me forget the flagships.
And so it is with the. Village N30 () This $129 phone is a great value. This phone’s specs aren’t impressive, but it performs well in the hands of people who don’t want to run AI or play games.
The specs.
- Display-6.7-inch HD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate.
- Processor – Octa-core processor with up to 2.0Ghz, 6GB RAM, and 128GB storage.
- Camcorders – 50MP AI autofocus main camera, 2MP macro lens with LED light, and 8MP camera on the front.
- Batteries – 5000mAh.
- [196590][196590][19][19][19][19][19][19][19][19][19][19][][19][19][19][19][19][19][19][19][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] I have reviewed NUU phones in the past, so I knew exactly what to expect. NUU devices claim to optimize RAM with features such as DuraSpeed. According to NUU, DuraSpeed optimizes system resources so that apps run more efficiently. DuraSpeed, which prioritizes foreground apps, is supposed to free RAM and CPU cycles through the control of background processes. DuraSpeed, in other words prioritizes system resources only for active apps.
Does this work? DuraSpeed allows you to enable this feature and then only allow certain apps to run in background mode. You can, for example, only allow Google Play Services to run as a background app. You can also block a specific app from running in the background. This can cause some apps to not work as expected, especially since they cannot update data if you don’t allow them to run in background.
I thought privacy screen protectors were a great idea, until I put one on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Then I enabled DuraSpeed. I also chose to not allow a single application to run in background. I then opened Chrome, and to my surprise found that the browser ran noticeably faster, and animations appeared to run more smoothly. I was quite impressed, given that this device only has six gigabytes of RAM.
You can add 2-6 GB of storage space dedicated to RAM.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
And then there’s the Extended RAM feature, which converts storage space into extended memory (sort of like the swap space on Linux). This only works when there’s sufficient storage on the device. With Extended RAM, you can add an extra 2, 4, or 6 GB to the built-in RAM. After enabling and configuring, you do have to restart the phone for changes to take effect.
How effective was it? I noticed a slight improvement with apps opening faster and a bit less lag for animations. The NUU N30 can’t compete with the likes of my Pixel 9 Pro, of course. But considering the cost of the N30, this device is impressive.
Also: The best cheap phones in 2025: Expert tested and reviewed
There’s one other benefit to using DuraSpeed. With the ability to seriously limit background apps, you can eke out a bit more battery life from the phone.
The look and feel of the NUU N30
Like its pricier cousin — the NUU B30 — the N30’s look and feel is pretty premium. It feels good in the hand, making you think you’re using a device that costs considerably more than $129. The design of the case is similar to that of the Pixel 9 — boxy but elegant. The unit I was shipped is a beautiful purple color that sports nothing more than the NUU logo on the back — along with the usual array of cameras.
Speaking of which…
The N30 camera
I don’t typically judge a phone by its camera, especially when that phone is not one of the Pixel devices (because they’ve seriously spoiled me on the camera front). However, I was pretty impressed with the N30 camera. It includes a Pro mode, so you can adjust ISO, white balance, shutter speed, and more. You can even shoot in RAW, a feature even some mid-range phones don’t offer.
This photo was taken with the Pro mode on the N30 phone.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
I took several photos in different lighting conditions and found the N30 phone to beat many mid-range phones I’ve used. No, these photos are not Pixel-quality, but that’s a high bar to reach.
For me, the N30’s Pro mode was best for getting the shots I wanted, but to use that mode effectively, you need to understand settings like ISO, white balance, and shutter speed. Including the Pro mode is a real boon for the N30 phone.
ZDNET’s buying advice
If you have a teenager looking for their first phone, and you don’t want to spend much for a device that will get lost, beaten up, and/or mishandled, the The NUU N30
is an excellent buy. This first-time phone, which costs only $129, will be a hit with your child because it does not look, feel or perform like an inexpensive device.And: The best Android smartphones you can buy
Maybe you’re looking for an Android backup phone or a device that is cost-effective to give out to your employees. The N30 is another great option. The N30 is a device that could easily pass for a midrange device without costing a midrange price.
