Konka U3: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Where to buy

From its classic clamshell design to its large physical keypad, the Konka U3 provides an accessible and affordable alternative to the modern feature-packed smartphone.

Design

• Classic flip-phone design makes it easy to carry and use
• SOS button is an invaluable feature for mitigating emergencies

• Read more on the Konka U3's design

  The Konka U3 takes a lot of inspiration from phones of the early 2000s, and that's immediately apparent in its clamshell design. Hinged halves protect the main 2.4-inch screen and extra-large keypad from accidental contact when stored in your pocket or bag, and you don't even need to open the phone to answer or hang up a call – the top half features a smaller 1.77-inch screen for displaying caller information and the current time, plus there are physical call buttons on the face for managing incoming calls. Alternatively, you can configure the U3 to automatically answer as soon as you flip it open, saving you from fumbling with buttons and accidentally rejecting an important call.

  Accessibility is core to the U3's design. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the back side of the phone's bottom half, where there's an SOS button for requesting assistance in the event of an emergency. Holding the SOS button down for three seconds will fire off an SMS to the numbers you've designated as emergency contacts (up to a maximum of five) and then proceed to call each one in turn. For folks with medical conditions or those who spend a lot of time in hazardous environments, this feature can be a literal live-saver.

  While the Konka U3 is built for simplicity, it does pack a few extra features beyond its basic call and SMS functionality. A multimedia player allows you to listen to music and watch videos stored on the device, though you won't be able to load the U3 up with all that many files out of the box given its limited 128MB of internal storage. If you want to expand this, the U3 supports microSD cards of up to 32GB in size. Alternatively, the U3 includes an FM radio for tuning into your favourite station. Whichever form of entertainment you prefer, you have the choice of listening through the built-in speaker, by connecting wired headphones to the 3.5mm audio jack or by syncing a pair of wireless headphones over Bluetooth.

  In keeping with its traditional design, the Konka U3 features only basic network connectivity. There's no Wi-Fi support, and mobile network compatibility is limited to 3G. This has minimal impact on calls or texts but does mean significantly slower speeds when using mobile data. Of course, while the U3 does include a barebones web browser, it's not intended for any sort of serious surfing. However, should you plan on tethering the U3 to another device over USB and sharing its Internet connection, those slower 3G speeds might be more of an issue.

Camera

• Basic camera best suited for recording information you don't want to forget

• Read more on the Konka U3's camera

  A streamlined phone like the Konka U3 doesn't need a professional-quality camera or a vast suite of photography tools, but having the means to quickly take a snapshot of information you'll need later on or details you don't want to forget is always handy. The U3's basic 0.3MP camera serves just this purpose, allowing for the capture of both static photos and video at low but still usable quality.

Performance

• Sufficiently powerful for handling its basic functionality

• Read more on the Konka U3's performance

  Speed and performance matter less in a phone like the U3 than your typical modern smartphone. Because it's intended primarily for making calls, texts and little else, it doesn't need the raw grunt of an iPhone or a Galaxy S handset. This is how the U3 gets away with only including 64MB and a low-power MediaTek MT6276A processor. So long as you don't expect cutting-edge responsiveness, this should be sufficient for handling your basic day-to-day phone needs.

Battery

• 900mAh battery is small, but should be suitable for infrequent use

• Read more on the Konka U3's battery

  At first blush, the 900mAh battery in the Konka U3 might seem rather scrawny compared to the 2,000mAh+ batteries you'll find in most modern smartphones. However, the comparison isn't quite apples to apples. Since the U3 only has to perform relatively simple tasks like fielding calls and powering a simplified operating system, it doesn't chew through battery at the same rate its more capable brethren tend to. Furthermore, the U3 is intended for light and infrequent use while spending most of its time in standby, allowing it to go further on a single charge than a phone under more regular use.

Pricing and availability

• Price: RRP $69
• Where to buy: Bing Lee | eBay

Compare SIM-only plans for the Konka U3

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Optus Flex Plus $35 PrepaidNo lock-in contract $35 SIM for $12. Ends 9.5.24. Activate by 3.6.24 for 60GB on 1st, 40GB for 2nd & 3rd recharges, then 20GB/recharge. Excludes eSIM. New services only. T&Cs apply Optus Flex Plus $35 Prepaid $35 SIM for $12. Ends 9.5.24. Activate by 3.6.24 for 60GB on 1st, 40GB for 2nd & 3rd recharges, then 20GB/recharge. Excludes eSIM. New services only. T&Cs apply	Unlimited national calls & texts Optus 5G/4G network	20GB	$35 per 28 day recharge	Go to site View details	$35 SIM for $12. Ends 9.5.24. Activate by 3.6.24 for 60GB on 1st, 40GB for 2nd & 3rd recharges, then 20GB/recharge. Excludes eSIM. New services only. T&Cs apply Unlimited standard national calls & texts 20 GB Data $35 per 28 days expiry Go to siteView details		loading Fetching your data...
felix Subscription Unlimited SubscriptionNo lock-in contract $20/mth for the first 3 months, then $40/mth with code FELIX50. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 30.6.24 felix Subscription Unlimited Subscription $20/mth for the first 3 months, then $40/mth with code FELIX50. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 30.6.24 Finder Award	Unlimited national calls & texts Vodafone 4G network	Unlimited data At speeds up to 20Mbps	$20 per month	Go to site View details	GREEN COMPANY $20/mth for the first 3 months, then $40/mth with code FELIX50. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 30.6.24 Unlimited standard national calls & texts Unlimited data At speeds up to 20Mbps $20 per month Go to siteView details		loading Fetching your data...
iiNet Medium Plan PrepaidNo lock-in contract $12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $24.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. iiNet Medium Plan Prepaid $12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $24.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.	Unlimited national calls & texts Vodafone 4G/3G network	16GB	$12.50 per month	Go to site View details	-50% $12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $24.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Unlimited standard national calls & texts 16 GB Data $12.50 per month Go to siteView details		loading Fetching your data...
TPG Large PrepaidNo lock-in contract $15/mth for the first 6 months, then $30/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. TPG Large Prepaid $15/mth for the first 6 months, then $30/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Finder Award	Unlimited national calls & texts Vodafone 4G network	45GB	$15 per month	Go to site View details	-50% $15/mth for the first 6 months, then $30/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Unlimited standard national calls & texts 45 GB Data $15 per month Go to siteView details		loading Fetching your data...
Southern Phone Finder Exclusive PostpaidNo lock-in contract 100GB for $20/mth for the first 3 months, then 100GB for $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 29.4.24 Southern Phone Finder Exclusive Postpaid 100GB for $20/mth for the first 3 months, then 100GB for $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 29.4.24 Exclusive	Unlimited national calls & texts Optus 4G/3G network	100GB	$20 per month	Go to site View details	Exclusive 100GB for $20/mth for the first 3 months, then 100GB for $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 29.4.24 Unlimited standard national calls & texts 100 GB Data $20 per month Go to siteView details		loading Fetching your data...
amaysim 32GB Plan PrepaidNo lock-in contract amaysim 32GB Plan Prepaid	Unlimited national calls & texts Optus 5G/4G network	32GB	$30 per 28 day recharge	Go to site View details	Unlimited standard national calls & texts 32GB Data $30 per 28 days expiry Go to siteView details		loading Fetching your data...

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