Huawei Ideos review: Hands-on with the cheapest Android 2.2 phone

Huawei is bringing a cheap phone with the latest version of Android 2.2 to the pockets of pay-as-you-go peeps with the Huawei Ideos.

Huawei may not be a household name, but it's the company that brought you the T-Mobile Pulse Mini, among other phones that appear on our shelves under the network's own names.

For the Ideos, Huawei worked closely with Google to get the best possible Android experience onto a phone that won't break the bank. That means a pure Android experience, with no skin or added faffage, and the latest 2.2 Froyo version of the software. Huawei also promises prompt automatic updates to newer versions of Android, when they become available.

The phone also sports the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi standard, HSPA for fast Web surfing over 3G, and a capacitive, 2.8-inch touchscreen. The Ideos won't win any awards for its beauty, but it is innocuous-looking and will come in a choice of colours. 

When we took the Ideos for a hands-on spin, we were impressed by the speed and responsiveness of its touchscreen. In the battle for the cheap smart phone crown, we think it has an excellent shot of coming away the winner.

But even with a pack of high-end features and Android 2.2 to boast about, the Ideos's biggest bonus is the price. Huawei hasn't confirmed which networks will carry the phone, but it says that the Ideos will cost between £99 and £129 on pay-as-you-go. 

So if you're tempted by an Android smart phone like the Samsung Galaxy S but you can't afford the dosh, keep your eyes open for the Ideos. It should be landing in shops in mid-October. It may get branded with a network name such as Orange or T-Mobile, but Huawei says it will keep the Ideos title.