It's pretty hard to get excited about budget 'droids. Value for money is all too often a euphemism for 'sluggish, small and shonky'. But, every so often, a cheap-as-chips Android phone comes along that knocks our socks off.
This year we've been singing the praises of an exceptionally good value blower made by Chinese mobile maker Huawei: the Ascend G300.
This phone costs £100 on pay as you go with Vodafone and for that you get a 1GHz chip and a clear and colourful 4-inch screen. It's not going to impress owners of the quad-core-packin' Samsung Galaxy S3 -- but for about the fifth of the price you get a stylish, capable droid that will handle web browsing, apps, videos and more.
As with many budget blowers, the G300 runs the Gingerbread iteration of Android. Huawei originally told me it would be getting an Ice Cream Sandwich update this summer -- but that timeframe looks to have been pushed on a little.
According to a tweet sent from a Huawei Twitter account yesterday a "customised version of ICS" will be released to people who bought the phone via Vodafone "later this year".
The G300 was launched as a Vodafone exclusive -- slated to run for three months. That period has now elapsed but a SIM-free version of the device also remains elusive. Another tweet from Huawei's account notes only that it will keep followers updated on "news of a SIM-free version" of the phone.
Huawei is already lining up an Ice Cream Sandwich-flavoured sequel to the G300 -- the G330, announced at IFA yesterday. This will have a dual-core 1GHz chip and a slightly more premium price tag. It's due to hit UK shops by the end of the year.
Do you own the Huawei Ascend G300? Let us know what you think of it in the comments below or over on our Facebook page.
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Comments 24
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anonymous 31 August, 2012 16:24
Really disapointed with this news. Not sure why.
anonymous 31 August, 2012 16:57
I like the Ascend G300, It is a much better phone than my old iphone 3G, However , one of the reasons I chose the Ascend was the promise of an upgrade to ics this summer. This seems to have been delayed, I do hope iit is coming soon or I am going to feel very let down by Huawei.
anonymous 31 August, 2012 20:49
It's not Huawei that's let us down though, they've already released the ICS update on their website; many people have used this to update already. I believe the delay is with Vodafone testing. Come on Voda.
anonymous 1 September, 2012 00:10
The delay is NOT due to Vodafone testing, ICS B934 already works perfectly without bloatware, it's Vodafone technicians inability to add their own bloatware to this clean OS which is causing the delay.
Why wait for Vodafone to release their version of ICS with their VodaBloatware ? Go download the Android V4.0.3 ICS Build Number U8815V100R001C00B934 from the Huawei site with little/no bloatware, install and you'd have a £100 ICS Mobile device (many people have been using ICS for a couple of Weeks). NB. The Baseband Version will be altered to 2030.
Android 4.1 now that's a different ball game................................................................
anonymous 2 September, 2012 00:51
the new ics in the huawei website is only for some build numbers the as i downloaded this myself to find out my build number wasnt compatable unfortunetly :( very disapointing.
anonymous 2 September, 2012 12:44
My sentiments exactly to these comments - i downloaded the software upgrade from HUWEI's site but it will not install so obviously my build no is not compatible either - love the phone but i am disapointed with the ICS upgrade hype
anonymous 2 September, 2012 22:00
am thinking.maybe the people that has 2.3.6 has to downgrade to 2.3 or something to get ics not sure tho but if thats the case then what a faff that will be .
anonymous 4 September, 2012 09:50
love the g300 originally purchased as a stop gap while i saved to buy iphone 4 or 5 or samsung s3, i am very tempted to keep this as it is suprisingly good for £100!! dissapointed to here ics update is delayed please hurry it through huawei or i may just be tempted to go elsewhere
anonymous 4 September, 2012 22:39
Sounds like a good phone for £100, as good as my Motorola Defy 2.2, exceot that mine is rugedized.
I empathise as regards the long wait for OS updates, and also with Vodafone's 'bloatware'. Over time all manner of annoying and unwanted software Apps appeared on my phone that were not there originally. I never use them but cannot uninstall them, and am constantly getting reminders to update them.
I am really angry at Vodafone for this but there appears nothing I can do about it. I have read many comments by other Vodafone customers who are equally pissed off that Vodafone dumps so much software rubbish on our phones without asking or allowing them to be uninstalled.
anonymous 17 September, 2012 02:51
Some ppl arnt techy, I have this phone and it was on voda I downloaded the ics update from their site (huawei) and installed it, what you have to do first though is go to modaco and download "middle package" put it on your memcard and install that (by the instructions that are posted on modaco, this then let's the phone update to 934 (the ics update) download the ics update from Huawei, unpack the file don't bother with the instructions they won't work, disgard them, put the other folder on your memcard, you can only upgrade from there, make sure it's the only file on card. You can then shut phone down, then hold vol + and power together which should take it into automatic update mode, it will find file itself and update.. If confused please check modaco, but remember unless you use middle package first you won't be able to update no matter what.. Unless you wait for Vodafone and their bloatware, Huawei update is clean...
anonymous 17 September, 2012 03:09
I wrote the comment above, I forgot to say ics looks and works a lot better than gingerbread and been using it since ics was put on huawei site, lots of options, menu system is cool, it's just better all round,you will have to download Flash player from play tho, it doesn't come with the download, but Google play does so no problems getting it, it's well worth the very little effort needed to install ics, trust me it really is that easy, it's only complicated explaining how to do it than actually doing it... Remember, without using middle package you won't be able to install the huawei update and will have to wait for Vodafone with their added crap.
anonymous 24 September, 2012 22:25
Where is the ICS download on the Huawei website, because i cant find it
anonymous 27 September, 2012 15:15
I updated my G300 (UK) weeks back firstly using the Vodafone NZ ICS then the UK version B936 that Vodafone UK claim shouldn't have been released by Huawei the only glitch was the dictionary but a bug fix sorted that out I'm certainly no techno freak but my phone does everything it's supposed to do even down to rooting it with a one click app like I said it does everything it's supposed to do looks like Vodafone are just dragging their feet hoping people will ride off into the sunset and be forgotten about!
anonymous 8 October, 2012 15:29
My first smart phone - Mainly use it for email, texting and accessing news websites through apps and widgets . Also use it as a Kindle book reader. Great looking , does all it has to with out any issues. Bought it after reading a 5 star review in one of the monthly what mobile magazines. Only little issue is that it sometimes disconnects from the network and I then have to restart the phone - this goes quickly. Have uninstalled many apps and the problem seem sorted. Battery life as with all smart phones not that great - needs the becharged every 24 -36 hours. My previous phone every 3-4 days!.
anonymous 16 October, 2012 11:05
Well, we're in the middle of October now. Have I overslept? I've checked for updates and am still on 2.3.6. I guess it must have melted in the summer heat!
anonymous 17 October, 2012 13:35
Download and install it yourself. No OTA http://www.huaweidevice.com/worldwide/downloadCenter.do?method=toDownloadFile&flay=software&softid=NDY1MTg=
anonymous 22 October, 2012 04:09
anonymous 17 September, 2012 03:09 states
you will have to download Flash player from play tho, it doesn't come with the download, but Google play does so no problems getting it,
Warning - You can NOT now download Flash player from Google play, So you had better wait for Vodafone to release it and hopefully they will include it . :(
anonymous 22 October, 2012 10:37
very anoyed with vodafone when i got this phone 3 months was told ics was updating very soon thinking of unlocking it and going with another service
anonymous 22 October, 2012 17:29
I had problems to start with all related to Vodafone and its elusive registration utility, but as far as the G300 is concerned I cannot fault it. The high res screen is superb quality when using BBC iPlayer, Google Earth/Sky Map and other Map apps. The text is clear when used as a Kindle. The camera is average. The 1Ghz processor copes well with all my uses. However I don't use it for games so can't comment in that area.
Best feature to me is the size, colours and resolution of the screen, second is the long battery life.
anonymous 25 October, 2012 01:04
Been waiting for official ICS upgrade for over three months and still counting. The phone is a bargain but I can see it ending up on eBay.
anonymous 27 October, 2012 12:11
I had an intro to smartphones with the hauwei vodafone smart,that led to the G300 which is top drawer I would recommend it unreservably to everyone,unless you are brand name freak.I also have a Asus transformer which knocks the "must have" ipad into a cocked hat. The ICS issue is a let down, as is the Skygo issue on some android tablets. These austere times should encourage yuppies to think outside the herd and see what they get for 75% less. Bugsy
anonymous 7 November, 2012 23:20
Advise anyone who gets a text from vodafone that the ics update is ready to wait.
its got more bugs than im a celeb get me outa here.
anonymous 24 November, 2012 11:22
This phone is huawei g300 latest version jelly bean software apk no file welcome par
anonymous 5 December, 2012 16:24
im soooo looking forward to my ics upgrade...