BLU Advance L5

The BLU Advance L5 suits buyers after a small, light basic phone; its main trade-off is a 1300 mAh battery, among the smallest of its time. At 104 g, it weighs less than almost all phones of that period. Its 124.8 mm height and 65.2 mm width also make for a compact form.

The 4-inch IPS LCD display has a density of 233 ppi, among the lowest of its time. Memory is limited too: 512 MB of RAM and 16 GB of storage are among the smallest capacities of the period. Storage is expandable. The processor has four cores and a maximum clock speed of 1.3 GHz.

The rear camera is 5 MP and records video at 720p and 30 fps; the front camera is 2 MP. Connectivity includes Dual Micro-SIM with Dual SIM Dual Standby, GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.1. There is also an FM radio and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The operating system is Android 8.1.

Overall, the BLU Advance L5 is a basic phone for buyers who put low weight and compact dimensions first. Its small-capacity battery and limited memory are the clearest compromises. Expandable storage helps with the latter, but does not change the phone’s simple, entry-level character.