Why You Can Trust CNET Blu debuts two new Android phones with monster batteries
Sold direct-to-consumer, the Studio Energy 2 and Energy X unlocked smartphones pack some of the largest batteries in the industry.
Two new Android devices from Miami-based phone-maker Blu Products offer something that you don't find in other models: batteries that last up to three days on a single charge. Announced Thursday and available immediately through Blu's website, the Studio Energy 2 and Energy X pack in 5,000mAh and 4,000mAh batteries, respectively.
Blu is one device vendor trying to make quiet inroads through direct-to-consumer sales from its own website and Amazon. Like many others in this space, including Alcatel and ZTE, the unlocked GSM smartphones -- which work on AT&T and T-Mobile networks -- typically offer a set of promising features for a price that undercuts premium phones sold through carriers. Blu is one of the few US-based companies to take this path.
The more feature-loaded of the two, the aluminum Studio Energy 2 runs Android 5.0 Lollipop and features a 5-inch display with a 1,280x720-pixel resolution. The rear holds an 8-megapixel camera capable of recording high-definition video in 1,080p, while the front offers up a 5-megapixel shooter for selfies and video chat.
Inside, you'll find a quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek processor with 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. There is, of course, that 5,000mAh battery, which Blu says could yield up to 30 days stand-by or three days of usage on a single charge. Typically, batteries take up the most space; in this case, it's squeezed into a chassis that measures 0.4-inch thick. The phone includes a microSD expansion card slot for additional storage as well as support for two SIM cards.
On the other hand, the Studio Energy X dials things down a smidge, but still packs a punch in the battery department. Running Android 5.1 Lollipop, it, too, comes with the 5-inch display, 8-megapixel rear camera, microSD slot and dual-SIM capability.
However, the Energy X has half the Energy 2's storage -- 8GB instead of 16GB -- and only 1GB RAM. Its battery, which is rated at 4,000mAh, is still a higher capacity than most Android phones and should last for a good, long time.
You can buy the Blu Studio Energy 2 from Amazon for $179 in Midnight Gray or Ceramic White with Rose Gold. The Energy X retails for $109 with Midnight Gray and Luxury Gold options.