Aspera F24: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Aspera F24

• Display

  2.4 inches

  N/A

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• Storage

  128MB

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• Battery size

  900 mAh

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Buy at Amazon

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The flip phone is back with the Aspera F24, a budget 3G handset that prioritises accessibility over bleeding-edge technology.

Styled after mobile phones of the early 2000s, the F24 serves as a pure communications device rather than a portable computer. By trading 4G connectivity and virtual buttons for a clean and simple interface driven by a large physical keypad, it provides an accessible and affordable alternative for keeping in touch on the go.

Design

• Flip-phone design is compact and convenient
• Second screen and emergency SOS button provide functionality even when the phone is closed

• Read more on the Aspera F24's design

  Aspera's classical approach to phone design with the F24 is evident from the first glance. Rather than ape the modern trend of large handsets with full-body screens, the F24 returns to the age of the humble flip phone. It follows the traditional clamshell design to a T, combining a physical numerical keypad on its bottom half with a non-touch 2.4-inch screen on its top half. When hinged shut, the top half reveals a second 1.8-inch screen that displays the time, battery and network information and notifies you when you have an incoming call or text.

  The bottom half also hides additional features for use when the F24 is closed. A small SOS button just below the hinge can be configured to call a specific number when you hold it down for three seconds. Alternatively, you can disable this feature if you're concerned about activating it accidentally.

  It's not just aesthetics the Aspera F24 takes from phones of the early 2000s: its features closely resemble phones of that era, too. For starters, there's no Wi-Fi functionality, so accessing the Internet is only possible through the phone's 3G network connection. A basic GPRS/WAP 2.0 web browser comes pre-installed, though between the F24's small screen and the limited functionality of such an old browser, mobile browsing is unlikely to be an ideal experience. However, the F24 does support tethering over USB, allowing you to use the phone's 3G connection to access the Internet on a laptop or PC.

  While it might not be a "smartphone", the Aspera F24 does pack a few neat features outside of its basic calling and texting functionality. Not only can it play audio and video files, it has a built-in FM radio for tuning into local stations. If you'd rather not blast your tunes for everyone to hear, there's a 3.5mm audio jack as well as Bluetooth 2.1 support for connecting wireless headphones. You won't be able to load the F24 up with many songs out of the box, though, as it only has 128MB of internal storage. Fortunately, you can expand this by slotting in a microSD card. Just bear in mind that the F24 only supports microSD cards up to 32GB.

Camera

• Handy for quick note-taking and chronicling sudden events
• Not ideal for taking photos you want to share

• Read more on the Aspera F24's camera

  Whether it's to preserve a memory, take a visual note or document proof of dangerous behaviour, having quick access to a camera is incredibly handy in our modern world. Aspera clearly recognises this, as the F24 includes a 0.3MP camera mounted just above its secondary screen. This is a low-resolution camera even by budget phone standards, but as a tool you can call upon at a moment's notice in situations like those mentioned above, it's a valuable addition to the F24's repertoire.

  Interestingly, even though the resolution is on the low side, the Aspera F24's camera includes an auto-focus feature, digital zoom and the ability to record video as well as capture still photos.

Performance

• Should handle all your basic needs without a hitch
• Phone functionality has some limitations worth keeping in mind

• Read more on the Aspera F24's performance

  Performance is an odd metric to judge for a phone like the Aspera F24. Since it does away with the app libraries and feature-packed operating systems of modern smartphones, the only tasks it needs to perform are making and receiving calls and texts, navigating your phone book and playing multimedia files. These are relatively straightforward tasks that require minimal processing power and should run smoothly on the F24.

  It is worth flagging a few limitations inherent to the F24's basic hardware. Its call log can only store the last 20 calls made, received or missed, and its speed dial feature only supports up to eight different phone numbers. The phone book has a hard limit of 200 contacts as well, so you may need to carry around a Rolodex if your retinue of friends and family exceeds that.

Battery

• 900mAh is small for a phone battery, but should prove adequate for infrequent use

• Read more on the Aspera F24's battery

  One virtue of the Aspera F24's pared-back design is its reduced power consumption compared to your average modern smartphone. This is important, since the F24's battery is a mere 900mAh. For reference, most current smartphones of both the budget and premium variety include batteries of 3,000mAh or higher.

  Unfortunately, Aspera does not provide any estimates on battery life for the F24.

Pricing and availability

Aspera F24

Bringing simple back

The Aspera F24 is a simple, fuss-free flip phone designed for folks who don't need the complexities of a modern smartphone.

Buy at Amazon

• The Aspera F24 retails for $99 and can be purchased from local retailers like Australia Post and Kogan.

Aspera F24 specs

Compare SIM-only plans for the Aspera F24

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