HMD Vibe TA-1590 Charcoal 128GB

At $65, the HMD Vibe is a steal for a backup or starter phone, thanks to its smooth 90Hz screen, headphone jack, and sturdy build. You don't get 5G, NFC, or any OS upgrades, so it's purely a basic-use device. For the price, it's hard to complain.

The HMD Vibe is one of those rare budget phones that actually feels like it costs more than it does. For around $65, you get a compact, well-built slab with a 6.5-inch 90Hz LCD, a headphone jack, expandable storage, and even a charger in the box. It's not going to turn heads at a coffee shop, but it does the basics without feeling like a disposable toy.

But the low price comes with some big trade-offs. There's no 5G, no NFC for tap-to-pay, and HMD has confirmed no OS upgrades are planned. If you just need a reliable backup phone, a kid's first device, or something for Wi-Fi streaming and calls, the Vibe punches above its weight. For anyone craving even a little future-proofing, though, it's a tough sell.

The Snapdragon 680 and 6GB of RAM keep daily tasks smooth enough—apps open without much lag, and the 90Hz panel makes scrolling feel nicer than you'd expect at this price. But this is not a gaming phone; anything beyond casual titles will chug. In our database, it sits near the bottom half for performance, and that tracks. The battery life is similarly middling—4000mAh gets you through a day of light use, but 10W charging means topping up is a slow affair. Camera performance is passable in good light, but the 2MP ultrawide is borderline useless.

At its current $65 price, the HMD Vibe is basically an impulse buy that gives you a functional smartphone without the heartache of a shattered screen on a pricier device. You're not getting cutting-edge anything, but you are getting a dependable secondary phone with a nice screen and solid build. If you can snag it at this price, it's a steal. If it climbs back up to $150, however, the value proposition crumbles fast against mid-range rivals.

Stacked against budget champs like the Moto G Power, the Vibe holds its own in display smoothness and build, but falls behind in battery life and camera versatility. The G Power packs a larger battery and cleaner Android experience with promised updates. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A0x series offers better software support and often a fingerprint sensor, though you'll pay more. Even the oddball GAMAKOO G16 Pro Max can't match the Vibe's 90Hz panel at this price. But step up to a used Pixel 6a or iPhone SE, and you'll get NFC, 5G, and vastly better cameras—albeit at a higher cost.

Skip the HMD Vibe if you need reliable NFC for payments, want 5G speeds, or plan to keep your phone for more than a year with up-to-date software. Also, anyone who takes a lot of photos should look to a used Pixel or Galaxy instead—the cameras here are just adequate.

The HMD Vibe is a smart buy for very specific people: anyone needing a dirt-cheap backup phone, a simple device for calls and music, or a first phone for a tween. The headphone jack and clean build are genuine highlights. But if you rely on mobile payments, want fast data, or plan to keep your phone for years, this isn't the one.