With smartphones being what they are these days, it is tough to find that one smartphone that suits your needs. Often times, most people do not really care on what smartphone they use; all they care about is that it gets the job done. It doesn’t have to be from one of the big boys like Apple or Samsung, two brands in particular that usually sets a very high bar for everyone else.

Wiko is hoping to break the trend by introducing an entry-level device that gives you just what you need: a smartphone that is insanely affordable, yet capable of performing. The Wiko Tommy3 is one such device, coming in at only RM329. Of course, with such a low price, you would expect the phone to be horrible, which isn’t necessarily the case.

FullView Entry-Level Device?

The latest smartphone to come out from Wiko – the Wiko Tommy3 – is somewhat eye-catching. With FullView displays now trending, entry-level smartphones also want in on the action. The Wiko Tommy3 is an example of that as it comes with a FullView panel, measuring at 5.45-inch and rocking a 960 x 480-pixel resolution. It also comes with thin side-bezels. Unfortunately, it sports a large chin and forehead as well. However, this doesn’t dismiss the fact that this Wiko smartphone is pushing boundaries.

For an entry level device with such a small screen, the Wiko Tommy3 actually holds up its end of the bargain. Colours were bright and vivid and there were no signs of stuttering when streaming videos through Netflix and YouTube. Again, I must reiterate that the display on the Wiko Tommy3 is great for a smartphone at its size and price. The phone also gives a good grip for your fingers, ensuring it wouldn’t easily slip.

Too Good to be True

At that price and featuring a FullView display, you’d think the Wiko Tommy3 is too good to be true. At its core is the MediaTek MT6739 Quad-Core processor, coming with 1GB RAM and 16GB storage. Personally, the device isn’t extremely slow, but with a high-spec devices as my daily driver, switching over resulted in a slight culture shock for me. It doesn’t mean it’s slower than your grandparents; it’s just slower than normal. It’s certainly perfect for those that don’t need the top-side performance.

However, be sure to lay off of keeping up with your social media channels simultaneously as it does tend to get bogged down when overloaded. The Wiko Tommy3 started slowing down when I was switching between Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and Waze at the same time. Scrolling through your feed can also become a chore as it does take a second to react rather than in an instance for other smartphones.

Perfect for your Kids

What makes the Wiko Tommy3 great is not only its price point, but also its very existence as an entry-level device. Running on Google Android 7.1, it is still fairly great in its own right and is compact enough to hold in one hand. If you’re looking to get your kid their first smartphone without breaking the bank or your heart, you can always opt for the Wiko Tommy3. It may not be the greatest smartphone around, it does get the job done.

At the back also sits an 8-megapixel shooter, which is sub-standard for the most part. Pictures are decent but a little bit too grainy for my taste. The Wiko Tommy3 also comes with a removable battery at the rear, which is a rare find in today’s smartphone market. Surprisingly, the 2,500mAh battery is a tough one; it managed to last almost the entire day on a single charge. One thing that did irk me about the device was its weird port placements. Both the 3.5 mm headphone jack and micro USB port were at the top of the device rather than below. While it isn’t enough to not make you consider the device, it was odd at first.

Verdict: It may be the very basics of smartphones but it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.