Think about buying a new gadget but still on budget? Then, this Cricket Debut review will be your helper in putting this phone on the lists. It packs all of the device’s important information.
The Cricket Debut smartphone was released in September 2021. This phone is positioned as a budget smartphone with plenty of standard features. Instead of being a fancy smartphone just like others, it’s more of a practical one.
Cricket Debut is a decent smartphone with a 2,500mAh battery capacity, a 5.5-inch display screen, and Android 11 Go Edition. It also has only a single rear camera and a front camera. Yes, as you can see, it doesn’t have outstanding features or functions. But we just know the surface and need to dig a little bit deeper, right?
A Cricket Debut review is coming here to enlighten you before you settle on what device you will buy. Make sure to read this review, and afterward, you’ll see if it is worth it or not?
Page Contents:
Cricket Debut Specifications
Cricket Debut specifications:
| Weight | 161g |
| Dimensions | 149.8 x 72.8 x 9.6mm |
| OS | Android 11 Go Edition |
| Screen size | 5.5-inch |
| Resolution | 1440 x 720 |
| CPU | 1.8GHz Quad-core, MediaTek Helio A20 MT6761 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Battery | 2,500mAh, Non-removable |
| Rear camera | 8MP |
| Front camera | 5MP |
| Features | Hearing Aid Compatibility M4/T4 |
Cricket Debut Design
As an entry-level smartphone, the Cricket Debut’s appearance has a basic build. If you notice, it’s slightly bulkier and smaller than other smartphones. It is because of the dimensions which are 149.8 x 72.8 x 9.6mm and a weight of 161g. However, this phone is still fitted in most people’s pockets, and you can still operate the device one-handedly.
The phone’s appearance shows an ergonomic design with a rectangular shape and curved edges. The front area consists of a 5.5-inch display screen surrounded by thin bezels but got thicker at the top and bottom. There is a front camera placed at the top bezel.
In the back area, it doesn’t have any interesting twists. It comes in Royal Blue color, which gives modern aesthetics. It looks ordinary, with a single rear camera at the phone’s center and the LED flash.
Cricket Debut Display
The Cricket Debut comes in a 5.5-inch display screen. If you’re compared with today’s smartphones, the screen size feels really small. However, if you prefer the small screen instead the big one. It may be a perfect choice for you. To be honest, with this size, we find it still comfortable to use.
This phone uses 1440 x 720 resolutions, which is not the best quality we can get. But again, since it’s a budget smartphone, the resolution is quite enough. Even more, it’s a perfect pair with the screen size that we’ve mentioned above.
With that resolution, it means you can enjoy HD+ screen quality. Not as good as the full HD one, but it is sharp enough, and the color also comes quite accurately. The phone’s brightness is also quite good–at least, the device is still readable outdoors.
Cricket Debut Camera
Cricket Debut doesn’t follow the hype of a double, triple, or even quad-cameras. They still stick to the single rear camera as their main camera. It could be a downgrade for most people, but considering the price, it’s understandable to see this specification.
The camera quality itself is not as fancy as the other current smartphones. It only consists of an 8MP which is decent quality. However, as we try the camera, it’s still good for capturing every moment and sharing it with social media. The coming of LED flash enhances the camera’s output while capturing in a dim light condition.
At the front, you will get a decent 5MP front camera. It can be used for a selfie, or you can use it for video calling.
Read also: Nokia G100 Review: The Maximum Experience on an Entry-Level Phone
Cricket Debut Storage
The Cricket Debut’s files and apps will be stored in 32GB of internal storage. A bare minimum size of a budget device. Despite that, no full storage will be reserved for users. Unfortunately, we can only enjoy half or a quarter of the total capacity. It’s quite sad because, as a smartphone, we need more space to save our files and apps.
But don’t worry because the Cricket Debut kindly let their users install the MicroSD card into the phone’s slot to extend the storage capacity. They allow you to add up to 128GB of external storage. Such a convenience!
Cricket Debut Performance
Cricket Debut’s performance relies on the 1.8GHz Quad-core MediaTek Helio A20 MT6761, a standard processor on an affordable entry-level smartphone. Instead of offering a blazing performance, this chipset is more concerned with the device’s power efficiency.
The chipsets are paired with 2GB of RAM. If you didn’t know, RAM is short for Random Access Memory. It is where the temporary data is stored. Basically, the bigger RAM, the better.
We considered 2GB RAM to be enough for a smartphone that doesn’t have any extravagant specifications. For the first time, we launched some apps on the Cricket Debut smartphone, and we didn’t find any delays or glitches. Multitasking and switching some apps simultaneously also feel smooth. However, it can be different if you use it over and over.
Open and operating heavy apps like online shopping or 3D games will also cause lags. The performance will decrease faster. This situation makes us have doubts while using this smartphone.
As a match of low processor specs, the Cricket Debut chooses Android 11 Go Edition as its operating system. Even though it’s an Android 11, the Go Edition version means there are some limitations you will get. It also comes lighter because it’s purposely made for entry-level smartphones with low-performing processors.
With this Go Edition version, you can’t enjoy some of the features that are available on the normal one. The user interface also becomes simpler and more ordinary since it is more oriented toward performance efficiency.
There are not many sensor features on the Cricket Debut smartphone. There are no fingerprint readers, face recognition, and NFC either. We notice that this phone supports a Hearing Aid Compatibility M4/T4.
Cricket Debut Connectivity
Like many entry-level smartphones, the Cricket Debut still utilizes 4G technology as its main network. Even though it’s not 5G, we didn’t have any complaints about it since the 4G network is still capable of connectivity to users worldwide. We can still enjoy a fast and stable network connection.
This phone also has some wireless connectivity, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Bluetooth is for sending some files or connecting with other devices. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi connects to the internet without using your mobile data.
In addition, there is also an option to share your personal files with Files by Google. This feature allows you to share it securely to the nearest device without using mobile data.
Cricket Debut Battery
The Cricket Debut’s battery setup is not very impressive at all. It only has a 2,500mAh battery capacity, which is not a decent size for even an entry-level smartphone. With all of the features and some daily tasks we need to do, we feel the battery size won’t be enough to accompany us all day long.
But if we see from the written specs info, the Cricket Debut provides us with a talk time of up to 16 hours and a standby time of up to 22 days. Again, it’s just what they promised to us. The real consumed time will be different for every user.
Is the Cricket Debut a good phone?
The most highlighted finding in the Cricket Debut review is how affordable the device is. You can get this device for only $20 if you subscribe with a new Cricket number, and you can get it for free if you bring your old number. If you’re looking more into an affordable price, then this is a yes for you.
But, if you still prioritize the phone’s quality and advanced features over a low price, then it’s time to look at other options. All of the features on this device are not worth it. Talk about the low battery size, low-performing processors, and a standard single rear camera.
Cricket Debut Pros:
- Affordable price
- Dependable for basic tasks
Cricket Debut Cons:
- Small battery size
Alternatives
Before we end the article, we want to give you two other alternatives. First, there is a Cricket Icon 3. It basically has the same specifications. The difference is the Cricket Icon 3 has a fingerprint feature, and the price is twenty dollars more expensive than the Debut.
The other alternative is the TCL 30 Z. This phone’s price is $30. It’s a little bit higher than the Cricket Debut. Still, positively, it is already equipped with Android 12 as its operating system.