This is the Freedom 251. It gets the name from its rather modest 251-rupee price tag, which equates to about $4. And you know what? Its specs aren’t too bad, either.


The device features the kind of technical specification that many people would be quite content with: A 4-inch screen, 1.3 GHz quadcore processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 3.2-megapixel rear camera, 0.3-megapixel front camera and a 1,450mAh battery. On top of all that, it runs Android 5.1. That is not too shabby.

The phone is manufactured by Ringing Bells, a new Indian company set up to provide affordable smartphones. It’s already been selling a 4G-ready handset for 3,000 rupees—about £30—according to Hindustan Times.


There are likely some strings: It must be subsidized some how, though it’s not currently clear quite how. But it is very, very cheap. The phone goes on sale in India on Thursday February 18th, when it will undoubtedly be snapped up by locals keen for a smartphone on a budget.

[Freedom 251 via BBC and Hindustan Times]