This Android phone reminds me of an iPhone from the back, but it's a fraction of the price

While iOS users are now accustomed to paying close to a thousand dollars for a phone, Android users don't have to. Sure, expensive Android phones exist, but there are also plenty of Android handsets that cost a couple of hundred dollars and that are perfectly capable.

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Take the new Blackview Shark 9. If you're looking for a basic day-to-day handset, this is definitely worth a look. 

Blackview Shark 9 tech specs

OS: DokeOS 4.0 based on Android 14Display: 6.67-inch HD+IPS, 720 x 1604 with a 90Hz refresh rateRear camera: 50-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL JN1 f1.8, 1/2.76-inch sensor + 2-megapixel macro f2.4, 1/5-inch sensor + 2-megapixel depth camera f2.8, 1/5-inch sensorFront camera: 8-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL 4H7 f2.0, 1/3.1-inch sensorMax video resolution: 4K@30fpsCPU: Octa-core 5G Unisoc T820GPU: Mali-G57 MP4 RAM: 8GB RAM LPDDR4X (plus optional 12GB expansion memory)Storage: 256GB UFS2.2Battery: 5,000mAhCharging: 18W Fast ChargingCard slot: Dual slot (2x SIM or 1x SlM + 1x TF Card)Audio jack: Yes, 3.5mmBiometrics: Face and fingerprint unlockDimensions: 164.8 x 75.6 x 8.65mmWeight: 200gColor: Starry Rock Black, Ethereal Blue

Let's start with the most obvious thing first... this looks a lot like an iPhone. I don't mean the form factor -- most smartphones look rather generic.

I'm referring to that triple camera array on the back. That's deliberate, and it's quite striking how that single design choice screams iPhone Pro Max.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Apart from looking like an iPhone, the Shark 9 is a striking handset. My review unit came in Blackview's "Ethereal Blue" finish, and the rear of the case has a fiery opal glow that's quite spectacular.

It's one of the most stunning finishes I've seen on a smartphone. I'd be hard-pressed to put this handset in a case!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The phone is powered by a Unisoc T820 processor, an octa-core chip with a single 2.7 GHz Cortex-A76 performance core, three 2.3 GHz Cortex-A76 performance cores, and four 2.1 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. While this chip is very much a budget processor and is in no way going to win performance awards, combined with the default 8GB of RAM and 5GB of expansion memory, it does a very good job of running stock apps smoothly. Bumping up the expansion memory to the full 12GB makes a real difference when running more demanding apps or when Google Chrome has dozens of tabs open.

To get the best performance, I always recommend setting the expansion memory to maximum, unless storage is going to be an issue (and if that's the case, add a microSD card).

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It's amazing just how smooth Android can run on a smartphone with a modest processor and reasonable amount of RAM. Sure, there are going to be workloads that push it to the limits -- for example, gaming or photo/video editing -- but for the majority of users, this handset is going to be more than enough.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The cameras are acceptable for a handset that's in that budget/mainstream price range. If you're coming from a flagship handset you're definitely going to feel that the photos lack pop, but if you're just posting to Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram, you won't be disappointed.

The main 50-megapixel camera uses quad-Bayer technology and pixel binning to boost low light performance, making this in the traditionally sense a 12.5-megapixel sensor. The output, especially in low light, is great. There is, as always with high megapixel count smartphone cameras, the option to shoot in 50-megapixel, but I'm hard-pressed to see a difference between these photos and similar normal shots. If anything, I feel the 50-megapixel shots show a high degree of sharpening, which I don't like. There are some limitations to the cameras: while you can record 4K video, for example, it's only 30fps.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The 5,000mAh battery offers over 600 hours of standby time -- almost a month -- and I found that during a normal day I could get a good 12 hours of mixed-use runtime, which is acceptable. The Shark 9 supports 18W wired charging, which takes the battery from flat to 20% in 10 minutes. Thankfully, the Shark 9 is one of the few smartphones on the market today that still have a 3.5mm headphone jack.

ZDNET's buying advice

You can currently grab the Blackview Shark 9 for $122, which is a very, very competitive price. The handset has a recommended selling price of $280, and even at that price, it's a good handset that'll do everything the average user needs from a smartphone. Sure, it's not going to satisfy the power users, but even at the full price, the Shark 9 is a fraction of the cost of an iPhone 16 Pro Max or a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Power users are always going to be happy to pay to be at the cutting edge. This is a smartphone for those who just want a tool to do a job.