Vodafone Smart - Android - €40 (+ €22.50 cashback till June 27th)

witnessmenow · 16-06-2011 12:26am #1

EDIT2: Fatcheese now only offering €12.50 cashback
Edit: Unexpiring, Both colours in stock for me at 20:18

Vodafone are after bringing out a new phone the Vodafone Smart (Huawei U8160). Its a PAYG android phone for €40 if you port your number over. Not a bad looking phone imo (other than the big chin)

specs arent bad either:

Running Andorid 2.2
Capacitive touch screen
Wifi
GPS
1gb micro SD
Can be rooted

Link to phone. N.B. Read the below and go to Vodafones website via fatcheese.ie!

Cant go wrong for €40. EDIT: To get the phone for €39.99 you need to click "Im thinking of switching to Vodafone"

NB at time of me writing this I can see no way of unlocking it for other networks

Also The only stable custom rom that I can see is a debranded vodafone one

At time of posting white one was out of stock online.

But it gets better. Fatcheese announced this evening that they are offering €20 cashback on any vodafone payg phone purchased off the vodafone website, making this phone €20 :eek:
Down to €12.50 cashback

Sign up to fatcheese here (plain link)

or if your that way inclined this [snip] earns you (and me) €0.50

Dman001 · 16-06-2011 12:36am

Not a bad spec phone at all for that price. Also has smaller features like a FM Radio and support for a 32GB Micro SD card which can come in handy. A quick Google suggests it's clocked at 528Mhz.

witnessmenow · 16-06-2011 12:43am

There is a bit of a review about it here. tl;dr Decent phone for the price (£60) not to be considered in the same league as top level androids. Woeful camera. A little sub par on web browsing due to low res screen.

And for £60 you can’t complain too much. It’s kind of reassuring that newcomers on a budget are going to get a relatively decent phone that does at least tick most of the boxes and works well enough as an entry to Android. Just don’t think of it as an “upgrade” to anything else out there. It’s very much “entry level” Android for new smartphone users.

Ruby_Woo · 16-06-2011 1:18am

Sweet! Thanks OP!

Looks like a great deal!

From the Fatcheese site;

"€20.00 cashback on Vodafone Prepaid FTC new connection or Prepaid Upgrade"

What is a FTC new connection?

Thinking of going for the offer now - would like to make sure I get the €20.00 cashback aswell though!

witnessmenow · 16-06-2011 1:23am

Good question, i dont know!

On fatcheese main page though:

Vodafone Ireland
Thinking of switching to Vodafone? Keep your current Irish mobile number when switching to a Pay as you go phone and you can get the Vodafone Smart black for only €19.99 after your €20 saving with FatCheese!

So the offer defiantly applies to this phone!

Ruby_Woo · 16-06-2011 1:40am

Awh

"We're sorry, an error has occurred. Please review the error below
There was a problem processing your order details, please try again later (DF-CO-01)"

Snaggerman · 16-06-2011 1:51am

Thanks OP, just ordered one through your referral link. Got sons b/day coming up soon, looks ideal for him, thanks again:)

jj73 · 16-06-2011 2:05am

Ruby_Woo wrote: »

Awh

"We're sorry, an error has occurred. Please review the error below
There was a problem processing your order details, please try again later (DF-CO-01)"

Got the same message, cleared my cache, history, and cookies. Ordered again, and it went through.

breathn · 16-06-2011 2:16am

Could I pick up a free sim from any of the networks and not bother topping it up to use for this? Would be nice to avoid the networks that don't let you port without topping up by any amount.

raveni · 16-06-2011 2:16am

This is a grand phone for the price, vodafone/perlico fixed line customers can get 50 euros off. Got two vouchers with our recent bill, my Ma got it, a decent enough phone for 9.99:D

Mimikyu · 16-06-2011 6:28am

This post has been deleted.

Ghost Train · 16-06-2011 7:06am

Ruby_Woo wrote: »

Sweet! Thanks OP!

Looks like a great deal!

From the Fatcheese site;

"€20.00 cashback on Vodafone Prepaid FTC new connection or Prepaid Upgrade"

What is a FTC new connection?

Thinking of going for the offer now - would like to make sure I get the €20.00 cashback aswell though!

First time connection maybe

zu · 16-06-2011 11:06am

available for 9.99 with voucher included in this month's Perlico bill

kaizersoze · 16-06-2011 11:18am

Ordered using your referral OP. Ta.

DjFlin · 16-06-2011 11:26am

Not a bad looking yoke, but definately not the on the high or even mid-range of Android phones. With a Clock Speed of 528 MHz and only 256MB of RAM, you wouldnt want to be doing much other than calling texting and using basic apps.

Still, for that price, its pretty nice.

jenno86 · 16-06-2011 11:32am

Ruby_Woo wrote: »

What is a FTC new connection?

First Time Connection

witnessmenow · 16-06-2011 12:14pm

jenno86 wrote: »

First Time Connection

That does make sense on its own, but int eh context of the sentence it seems wierd

Vodafone Prepaid First Time Connection new connection

:pac:

Alanstrainor · 16-06-2011 1:04pm

DjFlin wrote: »

Not a bad looking yoke, but definately not the on the high or even mid-range of Android phones. With a Clock Speed of 528 MHz and only 256MB of RAM, you wouldnt want to be doing much other than calling texting and using basic apps.

Still, for that price, its pretty nice.

To be fair, its a grand spec! Last year 256mb RAM would have been the norm. It should be grand. Considering the type of handset you'd usually get for 40 or less it seems good!

If you want a smart phone look elsewhere. LG optimus 7 is where its at! Check out the other bargain alerts thread!

DjFlin · 16-06-2011 6:07pm

Alanstrainor wrote: »

If you want a smart phone look elsewhere. LG optimus 7 is where its at! Check out the other bargain alerts thread!

Thats exactly what I've got, replaced my old Android with it, never looked back

witnessmenow · 16-06-2011 6:46pm

Come on guys your comparing a phone that literally costs 10 times as much! Its not exactly ever going to compete with that!

Ruby_Woo · 16-06-2011 7:07pm

Re: FTC Connection - with regards to getting the E20 cashback from Fatcheese

Sorry if this is glaringly obvious buuut...

Does this mean when getting a new connection in the sense that you're getting a brand new phone number, or does this include keeping your old number and porting over?

Ruby_Woo · 16-06-2011 7:42pm

SOLD OUT! Gah!

duffman85 · 16-06-2011 9:45pm

Ruby_Woo wrote: »

SOLD OUT! Gah!

Try again I bought one half an hour ago and the order went through.

Just checked now and both black & white versions are still available

double GG · 16-06-2011 11:05pm

Hey guys, I just signed up to fatcheese to get this 20 cashback, however when I'm on the vodafone fatcheese website page and I click 'Get Cashback' it takes me directly to the Vodafone page, do I just continue with my order or how do I sign up for this €20 cash back?

Excuse the noob

Ruby_Woo · 16-06-2011 11:15pm

Yeah, just continue with the sale, Fatcheese will know you clicked onto the Vodafone site through theirs - so just go ahead and order it, it may take a few weeks before you get confirmation of the money back though

powerstation · 17-06-2011 1:14am

Fatcheese is giving a 12.50 cashback according to http://www.fatcheese.ie/cashback/vodafone-ireland/

"€12.50 cashback on Vodafone Prepaid new connection or Prepaid Upgrade"

Could they have reduced the cashback amount since the original post?

Yakult · 17-06-2011 1:49am

Gonna buy this just to test my patience with touch screen. Normally a qwerty guy but for 40squid, why not?

edit - for some reason I cant find the phone for €40 anymore, only €59.95

biebiebie · 17-06-2011 7:18am

What's this like for games like Angry Birds? Specifically looking to hear first hand experience from those who already have the phone.

justsomebloke · 17-06-2011 8:19am

biebiebie wrote: »

What's this like for games like Angry Birds? Specifically looking to hear first hand experience from those who already have the phone.

Truthfully all though I don't have the phone I can tell you now it will be pretty much unplayable.

witnessmenow · 17-06-2011 9:23am

I've updated the OP with some of the questions you have had guys.

Cashback: Yes cashback has been reduced since yesterday

€40: Click "Thinking of switching to vodafone" after you hit the buy button to get it for €40

Angry Birds: I dont have the phone yet but the review I linked to earlier suggested that it was playable but slowed down during "Physicsy" things (i guess towers falling)

heid · 17-06-2011 11:35am

Much of an upgrade from a SE K750i?

Dymo · 17-06-2011 12:11pm

I read one really bad review of the phone, but feck it I'm still getting it. They reviewed everything except the actual phone part, but for that money its great value.(I think)

biebiebie · 17-06-2011 1:08pm

I see that it doesn't have multi-touch (not complaining due to cheap price!). But does anyone know if this is due to hardware limitations, or if can possibly be introduced later on using a rooted ROM?

TerrorFirmer · 17-06-2011 1:29pm

Definitely bought one. Considering for 39.99 with cashback you're getting an android 2.2 phone with wifi and 256mb ram, peoples expectations are far too high. What else would you get for that price? A nokia phone with a screen the size of my nail, with a flashlight and not much else....:p

Daniel S · 17-06-2011 1:55pm

I just ordered the LG Optimus 7 this morning!!! (Not dissappointed though

)

I'm also a Vodafone at Home subscriber, does that mean I'll get a €50 voucher when the bill comes?

... does that mean they'll give me the phone and €10?!?!?!?!?!

:pac:

Can't seem to figure out the fatcheese.ie

And here's a good review of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG4I4aoiT2w

Going to hack the living shíte out of this phone

mikesp · 17-06-2011 2:25pm

Does it come with a memory card? For this price I'm assuming that it doesn't.

Daniel S · 17-06-2011 2:25pm

mikesp wrote: »

Does it come with a memory card? For this price I'm assuming that it doesn't.

Comes with a 1gb I think

Daniel S · 17-06-2011 3:03pm

More info on installing custom roms on it:

http://android.modaco.com/content/vodafone-smart-smart-modaco-com/340961/vodafone-858-smart-huawei-u8160/

Also:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/New-Unlocked-Vodafone-Smart-858-Huawei-U8160-/260798600616?pt=UK_Mobile_Phones&hash=item3cb8ced5a8

€110 inc shipping lol!

m4rkiz · 17-06-2011 3:24pm

cover can be fully customized for €10.90

http://vodafonesmart-mydesign.com/designstudio

and can be unlocked at http://www.dc-unlocker.com/supported_models_1/huawei_1 for €10

kaizersoze · 17-06-2011 3:34pm

Got mine today. Nice little phone. Great value @ €20.:D

ciaran_ · 17-06-2011 3:58pm

whats the battery like on it for anyone who bought one??

Daniel S · 17-06-2011 4:00pm

ciaran_ wrote: »

whats the battery like on it for anyone who bought one??

Supposedly terrible, but if it's €20.....

Zardoz · 17-06-2011 4:27pm

mtb_kng wrote: »

Supposedly terrible, but if it's €20.....

Less than a day it seems .
Batteries on android phones in general are appalling,main reason I wont buy one.

bmaxi · 17-06-2011 4:59pm

Zardoz wrote: »

Less than a day it seems .
Batteries on android phones in general are appalling,main reason I wont buy one.

I bought the Orange San Francisco and all the reviews spoke of poor battery life. All I can say is, if you leave wifi and bluetooth on all the time the battery will last about a day, otherwise it's comparable to any phone I've ever had.

melekalikimaka · 17-06-2011 5:15pm

mtb_kng wrote: »

Comes with a 1gb I think

2gb it seems

Daniel S · 17-06-2011 5:18pm

melekalikimaka wrote: »

2gb it seems

If I can figure out how to get my vodafone at home discount, I'd run down right now to get it

mathie · 17-06-2011 5:50pm

Pay as you go on a smartphone ... Wont you get shafted for price per mb?

DjFlin · 17-06-2011 6:38pm

mathie wrote: »

Pay as you go on a smartphone ... Wont you get shafted for price per mb?

Its 99c to use the web per day on Vodafone PAYG. The allowance is 50MB, which is pretty reasonable, after that they'll charge you per MB.

biebiebie · 17-06-2011 6:42pm

mtb_kng wrote: »

If I can figure out how to get my vodafone at home discount, I'd run down right now to get it

Ditto. Online system is a crock of sh1t. Login to "At Home" then site asks to login again when viewing phones, even though its the same session. However this time the login *always* fails... wtf?!!

biebiebie · 17-06-2011 6:46pm

What free SIM can I get my hands on easily so I get the €20 porting off?

Tried to order O2 sim online, but the .Net system barfs up an error when I fill out the order form.

Honestly, have they all sacked their testing departments lately??

Zardoz · 17-06-2011 7:25pm

raveni wrote: »

This is a grand phone for the price, vodafone/perlico fixed line customers can get 50 euros off. Got two vouchers with our recent bill, my Ma got it, a decent enough phone for 9.99:D

I'm with Vodafone home and use online billing,I suppose I wont get any vouchers.

Vodafone Smart - Android - €40 (+ €22.50 cashback till June 27th)

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