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A $4 phone? India's Freedom 251 doesn't add up

Analysts say the "world's cheapest smartphone" is too good to be true. Meanwhile, other quirky phones emerge before Mobile World Congress, including the cloud-centric Nextbit Robin and Caterpillar's thermal-imaging S60.

Bridget Carey Principal Video Producer
Bridget Carey is an award-winning reporter who helps you level-up your life -- while having a good time geeking out. Her exclusive CNET videos get you behind the scenes as she covers new trends, experiences and quirky gadgets. Her weekly video show, "One More Thing," explores what's new in the world of Apple and what's to come. She started as a reporter at The Miami Herald with syndicated newspaper columns for product reviews and social media advice. Now she's a mom who also stays on top of toy industry trends and robots. (Kids love robots.)
Expertise Consumer technology, Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, social media, mobile, robots, future tech, immersive technology, toys, culture Credentials
  • Bridget has spent over 18 years as a consumer tech reporter, hosting daily tech news shows and writing syndicated newspaper columns. She's often a guest on national radio and television stations, including ABC, CBS, CNBC and NBC.
Bridget Carey

A phone should not cost the same as a cup of coffee.

A new smartphone company in India, Ringing Bells, is getting lots of attention for introducing an Android phone called Freedom 251, which only costs about $3.70. It sounds great to have such an affordable phone, but the math for the parts doesn't add up. Watch CNET Update to learn more about the phone and what reporters in India experienced when they got sample units:

Watch this: A $4 phone? India's Freedom 251 doesn't add up

Also in this tech-news roundup, check out a few other unique phones trying to stand out in a crowded market. Newcomer Nextbit Robin stores your apps and photos online to give you more storage, and Caterpillar's latest ultra-rugged phone has a thermal-imaging sensor built into the camera.

Get ready for a ton more mobile news over the next few days as the Mobile World Congress expo kicks off in Barcelona, Spain.

CNET Update delivers the tech news you need in under 3 minutes. Watch Bridget Carey every afternoon for a breakdown of the big stories, hot devices, new apps and what's ahead. Subscribe to the podcast via the links below.

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