When it comes to buying a phone for $169 it’s pretty much a case of deciding which corners you can accept being cut, and it’s no different with the absurdly named ‘Freedom Turbo XL’ from Schok. While the phone offers headline features such as a 6.53-inch FHD+ display, NFC, a 48MP main camera, and incredibly, wireless charging, the Freedom Turbo XL doesn’t support 5G networks and weirdly, runs Android 10 out of the box in 2022.
For $169, you expect to see a number of corners to be cut, and while the lack of 5G support isn’t great, it is representative of similarly priced handsets. The main issue in my opinion is that it runs Android 10 in 2022 where Android 12 is the norm and many brands are lining up the update to Android 13 in the coming months. It’s not just Android snobbery on my part, it’s more about security and the likelihood that Schok will not be rolling out much in the way of OS or security updates to the Freedom Turbo XL.
It is just $169, and incredibly, it does feature wireless charging and a USB-C port, which again are major positives. As are the 6.53-inch FHD+ display, the 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of expandable storage, although perhaps the less said about the Snapdragon 665, the better .
The 48MP main rear camera has a 16MP ultra-wide angle lens and 2MP macro lens for company, with a 24MP selfie camera housed above the display. Speaking of the rear cameras, the housing has an RGB Halo lighting effect around the camera module which is called ‘Schok mood control’ which acts as a flash.
There’s an IR blaster, a 3.5mm audio jack, and the phone is certified by Netflix for HD streaming. A pair of stereo speakers are present, and can be adjusted to your personal preference via the included SoundID app from Sonarwarks. The 4,000mAh battery supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 (18W),
The first 1000 units sold will come with an accessories bundle which Schok says is worth an additional $70 and includes the following:
Like I said, the Freedom Turbo XL has an awful lot going for it on paper, and so long as you don’t expect software or security updates and 5G connectivity isn’t of great importance to you, it could be the phone you need as opposed to the phone you want. Which isn’t a terrible thing at just $169.
What do you think of Schok’s Freedom Turbo XL which is just $169? Would it be more appealing without the ridiculous name? Let us know in the comments below.
He's been an Android fan ever since owning an HTC Hero, with the Dell Streak being his first phablet. He currently carries a Realme GT Neo 2 in his pockets, a Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 in his backpack, and thinks nothing of lugging a 17-inch laptop around the world. When not immersed in the world of Android and gadgets, he's an avid sports fan, and like all South Africans, he loves a good Braai (BBQ).