High-end phones get a lot of attention, and right now the pricing scale has been stretched to new limits with the iPhone X[1] casually sauntering into our market priced at up to Rs. 1,02,000[2]. Google[3] and Samsung[4] aren't far behind, and we're sure to see other companies try their luck at this end of the market. However, no matter how tempting such phones are, the overwhelming majority of us will simply never be able to afford such a price tag. Smartphones are too easily lost or stolen, and they become outdated every year.
On the other hand, how low-end would you go to avoid spending money? At what point have too many corners been cut? Affordability is all well and good, but if your phone can't actually do what you need it to do, what have you really saved?
Lyf[5] serves the lower end of the market, and in conjunction with Jio[6], parent company Reliance[7] hopes to connect millions of Indians who have been priced out of the digital economy so far. The Lyf C451[8] is one of two phones in the new Connect series[9], and it's priced at just under Rs. 5,000[10]. Reliance is currently offering buyers benefits of up to Rs. 2,307 in the form of free Jio Prime membership and additional data for nine months, bringing its "effective price" down to Rs. 2,692[11]. The offer - which is slated to end on November 15 as we publish this review - changes the value proposition of this phone completely.
Lyf C451 look and feel
This is an incredibly basic...