Vodafone Smart E9 4G: Plans | Pricing | Specs

The Vodafone Smart E9 4G is a budget phone running the specially optimised Android Oreo Go operating system for folks who like to keep it affordable and simple.

Last Updated Jan 1, 2021

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Display

Display Size

5 inches

Resolution

480 x 960px

Pixels per inch (PPI)

215 ppi

Camera

Rear camera megapixels

5MP

Video recording

N/A

Front camera megapixels

2MP

Physical Dimensions

Dimensions

137.6mm x 65.7mm x 9.8mm

Weight

134g

Connectivity

NFC

Wi-Fi

802.11 a/b/g/n

Network category speed

N/A

Power, storage and battery

Processor

Mediatek MT6739 Quad-core 1.28GHz

RAM

1GB

Operating system

Android Go

Internal storage

8GB

External storage support

Up to 16GB

Battery capacity

2,000mAh

Device features

Headphone jack

Yes

Fingerprint sensor

Water resistance rating

N/A

Wireless charging

Launch price (RRP)	$99
Launch date	2018-11

Go to Vodafone's site More info

Where to buy

The Vodafone Smart E9 4G is a low-cost handset pitched directly at Vodafone's prepaid customer community. It's a potentially good match for those on limited budgets, or those whose communication and app needs are relatively modest.

Design

5-inch display
Low resolution screen

Vodafone pitches the Vodafone Smart E9 4G as a "compact" handset, and measuring in at just 137.6mm x 65.7mm x 9.8mm, they've got a point. With a 5-inch screen and a carrying weight of just 134g, this isn't a phone that's likely to stress your pocket or purse.
It's also not a phone with much of a distinct "style", but that's somewhat expected for handsets in the sub-$100 space. Its 5-inch LCD screen is relatively low resolution at just 960x480 pixels, so it won't be the best Netflix or YouTube player, but for basic web tasks and call taking and making, it should suffice, if not thrill.

Camera

5MP rear and 2MP front camera for simple photography only

The Vodafone Smart E9 4G features a front-facing 2MP fixed focus camera, paired with a rear 5MP autofocus camera with digital zoom only. As a package that's rudimentary but totally in line with what you'd expect to get when you're spending this little.
As such, simple selfies in good light and basic landscape shots should come out acceptable but not much more. Shooting fast sports or shots late at night would be essentially out of the question, although you might not notice too many issues if you're keeping your shots only on the Vodafone Smart E9 4G's low resolution display. Share them to friends with phones with better screens, or out to a laptop or tablet, and you're more likely to see their limitations.

Performance

Slow processor, low RAM
Android Oreo Go apps give it more
Locked to the Vodafone network

The Vodafone Smart E9 4G sells for the price it does because it's not equipped with a particularly fast processor, or for that matter a lot of RAM. The Quad-core 1.28GHz processor at its core, paired with just 1GB of RAM, is quite low-end but then the Vodafone Smart E9 4G has a trick up its sleeve.
Like an increasing number of budget handsets, the Vodafone Smart E9 4G runs Android Oreo Go, a specially optimised version of Android 8 that ships with specially coded versions of all your favourite Google apps. That means you can access apps like YouTube or Google Maps with special "Go" versions that run leaner and lighter than the full apps do, making the most of the Vodafone Smart E9 4G's simple processor.
As with most self-branded handsets on a network, the Vodafone Smart E9 4G is locked to its parent network. We've got a guide to unlocking phones on the Vodafone network right here for you to read. (https://www.finder.com.au/network-unlock-mobile-phone)

Battery

2,000mAh battery

The low power processor in the Vodafone Smart E9 4G doesn't draw much power, and that's for the best given its internal 2,000mAh battery isn't particularly large.
Again, this is a function of meeting a price point, and to a certain extent the target market for the Vodafone Smart E9 4G. If you're after a phone that you're going to use extensively in a given day, keeping a charger nearby might be wise if the Vodafone Smart E9 4G otherwise meets your needs.

Pricing and availability

Price: RRP $99
Where to buy: Target Australia | eBay | Big W

Compare SIM-only plans for the Vodafone Smart E9

1 - 5 of 5

Name	Product	Features	Data	Price
$12 instead of $30. T&Cs apply. Ends 14.07.22 Unlimited standard national calls & texts 40GB Data $0.75 per GB $30 per 28 days expiry View details	Vodafone $30 Prepaid Plus Starter Pack SIM-Only - Prepaid Vodafone 4G,5G network	$12 instead of $30. T&Cs apply. Ends 14.07.22 Unlimited standard national calls & texts Data bank up to 200GB Get $5 off with every auto-recharge. T&C apply.	40GB Data Slowed to 1.5Mbps after full speed data used up $0.75/GB	$30 per 28 days expiry View details	loading Fetching your data...
$20 instead of $50. T&Cs apply. Ends 02.08.22 Unlimited standard national calls & texts 60GB Data $0.83 per GB $50 per 28 days expiry View details	Vodafone $50 Prepaid Plus Starter Pack SIM-Only - Prepaid Vodafone 4G,5G network	$20 instead of $50. T&Cs apply. Ends 02.08.22 Unlimited standard national calls & texts Data bank up to 200GB Get $5 off with every auto-recharge. T&C apply.	60GB Data Slowed to 1.5Mbps after full speed data used up $0.83/GB	$50 per 28 days expiry View details	loading Fetching your data...
Unlimited standard national calls & texts 50GB Data $0.80 per GB $40 per 28 days expiry View details	Vodafone $40 Prepaid Plus Starter Pack SIM-Only - Prepaid Vodafone 4G,5G network	Unlimited standard national calls & texts Data bank up to 200GB Get $5 off with every auto-recharge. T&C apply.	50GB Data Slowed to 1.5Mbps after full speed data used up $0.80/GB	$40 per 28 days expiry View details	loading Fetching your data...
$80 instead of $150. T&Cs apply. Ends 02.08.22 Unlimited standard national calls & texts 80GB Data $1.00 per GB $80 per 185 days expiry View details	Vodafone $150 Prepaid Plus Starter Pack SIM-Only - Prepaid Vodafone 4G,5G network	$80 instead of $150. T&Cs apply. Ends 02.08.22 Unlimited standard national calls & texts Data bank up to 200GB Get $5 off with every auto-recharge. T&C apply.	80GB Data $1.00/GB	$80 per 185 days expiry View details	loading Fetching your data...
Unlimited standard national calls & texts 150GB Data $1.67 per GB $250 per 365 days expiry View details	Vodafone $250 Prepaid Plus Starter Pack SIM-Only - Prepaid Vodafone 4G,5G network	Unlimited standard national calls & texts Data bank up to 200GB Get $5 off with every auto-recharge. T&C apply.	150GB Data $1.67/GB	$250 per 365 days expiry View details	loading Fetching your data...

Compare up to 4 providers

Specifications

Display

Display Size

5 inches

Resolution

480 x 960px

Pixels per inch (PPI)

215 ppi

Camera

Rear camera megapixels

5MP

Video recording

N/A

Front camera megapixels

2MP

Physical Dimensions

Dimensions

137.6mm x 65.7mm x 9.8mm

Weight

134g

Connectivity

NFC

Wi-Fi

802.11 a/b/g/n

Network category speed

N/A

Power, storage and battery

Processor

Mediatek MT6739 Quad-core 1.28GHz

RAM

1GB

Operating system

Android Go

Internal storage

8GB

External storage support

Up to 16GB

Battery capacity

2,000mAh

Device features

Headphone jack

Yes

Fingerprint sensor

Water resistance rating

N/A

Wireless charging

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Alex Kidman

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A multi-award winning journalist, Alex has written about consumer technology for over 20 years. He has written and edited for virtually every Australian tech publication including Gizmodo, CNET, PC Magazine, Kotaku and more. He has also been the Editor of Gizmodo Australia, PC Mag Australia, CNET.com.au and the Tech and Telco section at Finder. Alex has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England and a serious passion for retro gaming.

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Vodafone Smart E9 4G: Plans | Pricing | Specs