Xone Phone Review: A $199 Android Phone Running Software From 2017

Our verdict

No, not in 2026, unless you only need a cheap second phone for calls and texts. Xone Phone is a 5.7-inch dual-SIM Android phone with a fingerprint reader and a dual rear camera, and on paper the $199 price looks reasonable. The trouble is the software. The page lists Android 8.1 Oreo, released in 2017, with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, and Chrome stopped updating on Android 8 and 9 in 2025. Samsung's Galaxy A16 5G launched at the same $199 with six years of updates promised. Xone Phone scores 3.0 out of 10, held back by outdated software and its price.

The short version

• What it is: a budget dual-SIM Android phone with a 5.7-inch screen, a 16MP dual rear camera and a fingerprint reader, according to the page.
• Price: $199 for one on 6 October 2026, with a five-pack for $699 flagged as the best seller.
• Best trait: two SIM slots and a familiar Android layout with the Play Store.
• Biggest drawback: Android 8.1 with 2GB of RAM, old software that gets no browser updates and runs current apps poorly.
• Our score: 3.0 out of 10.

Pros & cons

The pros are the basics any smartphone offers: two SIMs, a fingerprint reader, a decent screen size. The cons are about time. A phone is only as safe and useful as the software it runs, and this one starts years behind.

How it works

Xone Phone is an ordinary Android smartphone. You insert a micro SIM and a nano SIM, sign in with a Google account, and use the Play Store to install apps. The phone's title on the offer page reads "Official Android 8.1 Smartphone, Android Oreo 5.7" Smartphone, 4G Dual-SIM", with "2GB RAM 16GB Storage 16MP Dual-Back Camera + 5MP Front Camera". The bullets add a "High Capacity Battery" and fingerprint unlock.

1. 01

   Insert your SIM cards

   Step 1: The phone takes one micro SIM and one nano SIM, so you can run two numbers. Check your carrier supports the phone's 4G bands before relying on it.

2. 02

   Sign in to Google

   Step 2: It runs Android with the Google Play Store, so you sign in with a Google account and install apps as on any Android phone, as far as the old Android version allows.

3. 03

   Set up fingerprint unlock

   Step 3: Register a fingerprint on the reader to unlock the phone, then use it for calls, messages, maps, photos and video calls.

The page does not name the processor, the screen resolution, the battery capacity in mAh, the 4G bands, the Wi-Fi standard, the charging port or the weight. It also does not say who makes the phone. Sponsored pages that rank for the name add a 3,350mAh battery, a 19:9 screen and face unlock, but those figures do not appear on the offer page, so we have not counted them.

The phone photos show a notched screen with Google's search bar, Duo, Play Store and Chrome icons, which fits Android software of around 2018 and 2019. Duo has since been folded into Google Meet.

Who it's for

Xone Phone suits a narrow buyer: someone who needs a cheap spare phone with two SIM slots for calls and texts, perhaps for travel or as a backup, and who will not use it for banking, shopping or anything that stores personal data. Everyone else is better served by a current budget phone with updates.

• Someone who needs a cheap second phone for calls, texts and two SIM cards
• Buyers who want a basic phone for a trip and do not mind old software
• People who mostly use calls, SMS and a few light apps

A spare or travel phone

A second phone for a local SIM on holiday, or a backup in the glovebox, does not need the latest software. For calls, texts and maps, an older Android phone can do the job, as long as your carrier's bands are supported. Even here, a used phone from a major brand often costs less and runs newer software.

Dual-SIM users

Two numbers on one phone is genuinely useful if you keep work and personal lines apart, or use a local SIM abroad. Many current budget phones also offer dual SIM, often with one physical SIM and an eSIM. Check before assuming you need an unusual phone for this.

First phones for children

Parents sometimes want a cheap phone for a child. Old Android versions do not get current parental control features or security patches, and many apps a child might want, such as messaging apps, set minimum Android versions. A basic feature phone or a current budget smartphone with Google Family Link support is usually the safer choice.

Older relatives

A large screen and simple layout help older users. Old software does not, because scam protection, spam call filtering and browser safety features arrive through updates. For a relative who is less confident online, a phone that receives security updates matters more than a low price.

Site workers and outdoor jobs

Some people want a cheap phone they will not mind breaking on a building site or a farm. The Xone Phone has no water or dust rating and no rugged case as standard. A rugged phone with a stated IP rating, or a current budget phone in a tough case, is a better fit for that work.

A separate business line

Sole traders sometimes want a second number for customers without paying for a second contract phone. A dual-SIM phone can do that, but so can most current phones with an eSIM, which lets you add a business number to the phone you already carry. That avoids a second device altogether, and keeps the business line on updated software.

Who should skip it

Skip Xone Phone if you will use it for banking, payments, email or work, if you want it to last more than a year or two, or if you are on a carrier that needs specific 4G bands.

• Anyone who banks, shops or stores personal data on their phone
• Buyers who want a phone that will still run current apps in two or three years
• Anyone on a US carrier that needs specific 4G bands the page does not list
• People who want a camera that matches the numbers on the box

Why does Android 8.1 matter in 2026?

Because old Android versions stop getting security fixes and app updates, and Android 8.1 is very old. Google released Android 8.1 Oreo in late 2017. Chrome, the phone's main browser, stopped releasing updates for Android 8 and 9 after Chrome 138 in 2025. A phone on Android 8.1 is exposed to security flaws that newer versions fix, and more apps drop support for it each year.

What Chrome's change means

9to5Google reported in June 2025 that Chrome 138 is the last version for Android 8.0 and 9.0, and that Chrome 139, due in August 2025, requires Android 10 or later. Older versions keep working but get no further updates. The report notes that pages will eventually stop working on those old versions too.

What this means for you: on Xone Phone, the built-in browser is frozen. Every security hole found in Chrome since August 2025 stays open on this phone, and that includes the browser you would use to log in to websites.

Security patches

Android phones get monthly security patches from Google, passed on by the phone's maker. The Xone page names no maker and makes no promise of updates. Phones from small, unnamed brands rarely receive patches after sale. Combined with Android 8.1, that means the phone is likely to be years behind on fixes from the day it arrives.

App support

App developers set a minimum Android version. As each year passes, more apps move their minimum up. Banking apps, which care most about security, tend to move first. Messaging, streaming and ride apps follow. You may find some apps will not install, and others stop updating and eventually stop working.

Two-step codes and logins

Many people receive two-step login codes by text or in an authenticator app. On a phone with old software, those codes and the apps that hold them sit on a device that is easier to attack. If you use the Xone Phone as a second line, keep your authenticator app and banking codes on your main, updated phone.

2GB of RAM

RAM is the phone's working memory. With 2GB, Android has little room to keep apps open, so switching between a browser, a map and a messaging app means reloading each time. Current budget phones from major brands typically start at 4GB. The difference shows most when you have several apps open.

16GB of storage

Android, preinstalled apps and updates take a large share of 16GB before you add anything. Photos, videos and app data fill the rest quickly. The listing mentions memory card support only through the SIM tray description, so check whether a microSD slot is free when both SIMs are in use.

A different spec in the box

One owner who bought a Xone Phone in 2019 reported on the Earlybird forum that theirs arrived with Android 9, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, all better than listed. The same buyer reported an 8MP rear camera instead of the advertised 16MP and a smaller battery. Specs on unbranded phones can change between batches, so the phone you receive may not match the page in either direction.

Do the Xone Phone's specs and claims hold up?

Partly. Dual SIM, 4G, a 5.7-inch screen and a fingerprint reader are ordinary claims for a budget phone, but "Official Android" and the camera figures need care. The page gives no processor, battery capacity or band list, and an owner reported a camera and battery below what was advertised. "Official Android" most likely means it runs Android with Google's apps, not that it is current or supported.

"Official Android Smartphone"

The phrase sounds like an endorsement from Google. Android itself is open source and runs on thousands of phone models. Phones that ship with the Play Store usually pass Google's compatibility tests, which may be what "official" refers to. It does not mean the phone gets updates or that Google stands behind it.

"16MP dual back camera"

On budget phones, the second rear lens is often a low-resolution depth sensor that helps blur backgrounds rather than a second full camera. The page does not say what the second lens does. The owner report of an 8MP main camera, with the seller citing a shortage of 16MP parts, suggests the headline number is not guaranteed.

What to do: check the camera resolution in the phone's camera settings on the day it arrives. If it does not match, contact support inside 30 days.

"High capacity battery"

The page gives no figure. Sponsored pages say 3,350mAh, and the 2019 owner reported 3,250mAh. Either is modest by current standards, where many budget phones have 5,000mAh. With an older, less efficient processor, expect a day of light use at best.

"4G LTE fast internet"

4G only works if the phone supports the bands your carrier uses. The page lists none. Each carrier publishes the bands it uses, and a phone missing the important ones may fall back to slower service or struggle indoors. What to do: ask the seller for the full band list and compare it with your carrier's published bands before you buy.

Screen

A 5.7-inch IPS screen is a reasonable size, smaller than most current phones, which many people find easier to use in one hand. The page gives no resolution. At this price, older phones of this kind often used HD+ panels, which look slightly soft next to sharper screens but are fine for messages and maps.

Processor

The page does not name the chip. That is the single most important spec for how fast a phone feels, and its absence makes comparison impossible. Budget phones from 2018 and 2019 commonly used entry-level quad-core chips that feel slow by today's standards, especially with only 2GB of RAM.

Charging port

The 2019 owner noted a micro USB port rather than USB-C. Micro USB charges more slowly, only fits one way round, and means a separate cable from most current phones and accessories.

Fingerprint unlock

A rear or side fingerprint reader is standard even on cheap phones and is a genuine convenience. On an unsupported Android version, it does not make the phone secure if the software underneath has unpatched holes, but it does stop a casual stranger opening it.

How much does Xone Phone cost, and what is in the add-ons?

On 6 October 2026, one Xone Phone cost $199, with the five-pack at $699 flagged as the best seller. The checkout offered a carbon-pattern case for $19, two extra screen protectors for $14, a car charger for $9 and a 3-year warranty for $39. Import duties may also apply when the phone arrives, which one owner said were not mentioned at checkout.

Xone Phone price and bundles

Prices are in US dollars as listed on 6 October 2026. Nobody needs five phones by accident, so change the order to one. You can check today's packages on the Xone Phone order page (opens G Com Pte Ltd in a new tab).

The case

The $19 "Quality Protective Case" has a carbon-fibre pattern on the back. Unbranded phones are hard to find cases for later, as the 2019 owner found when their gel case was missing from the order. If you buy the phone, the case is one add-on worth considering.

Screen protectors

The add-on description says the phone arrives with one protector already fitted, and the $14 option adds a spare plus one more layer. If one is fitted, you may not need extras straight away.

What two years with it would cost

Add the $19 case to the $199 phone and you are at $218 before any duties. Spread over two years, that is about $9 a month for a phone that starts out unsupported. A Galaxy A16 5G at its $199.99 launch price, kept for six years of promised updates, works out at under $3 a month. Cheap upfront and cheap to own are not the same thing.

Car charger and warranty

The $9 car charger is a USB car adapter. The 3-year warranty costs $39, a fifth of the phone's price. The seller's terms already cover defective goods for two years once you have a returns number, so you are paying for one more year on a phone whose software is already unsupported.

Import duties

The 2019 owner was charged about £19.65 in import charges on delivery in the UK and said the seller had not mentioned them. The seller offered a partial refund or a return. Duties and handling fees depend on your country and the declared value. What to do: check your country's import rules for electronics before ordering, and budget for a fee at the door.

The "regular price"

The page shows reduced prices and a countdown timer. We found no evidence that the Xone Phone sells at a higher regular price anywhere. The phone photos match a style of unbranded Android phone sold under several names.

Who sells it

The order page names G Com Pte Ltd at 137 Market Street in Singapore, with the email support@g63com.com and a phone number. The footer gives the country as Hong Kong. The page code says charges appear on your card statement as drone720x.com, a name that has nothing to do with phones, so note it down.

Is Xone Phone better than a Samsung Galaxy A16 or a used phone?

No. For the same $199, Samsung's Galaxy A16 5G launched with current Android and a promise of six years of updates. A used or refurbished phone from a major brand is another way to get newer software for less. The Xone Phone only wins if you specifically want its size and dual micro and nano SIM layout and accept the old software.

Xone Phone vs Samsung Galaxy A16 5G

Android Central reported in January 2025 that the Galaxy A16 5G arrived in the US at $199 with six generations of Android upgrades and six years of security updates promised. That is the clearest case where a rival wins: the same money buys a phone that will still be patched years after the Xone Phone stopped being safe to use for banking.

Xone Phone vs a refurbished phone

Refurbished phones from major brands sold by carriers and large retailers often come with a warranty and a known update end date, which you can look up on the maker's site. A two or three-year-old model from a big brand usually runs far newer Android than 8.1 and has better cameras. Check the remaining years of updates before you buy.

Xone Phone vs a carrier's own budget phone

US carriers and their prepaid brands sell budget phones that are certified for their network and often discounted when you switch or add a line. Those phones are guaranteed to support the carrier's bands, which the Xone page cannot promise. If you are buying a phone mainly to use with one carrier, start with that carrier's budget range and compare the update promise.

Xone Phone vs a basic feature phone

If calls and texts are all you need, a simple feature phone from a known brand costs less, lasts days on a charge and has no apps to go out of date. You lose maps and messaging apps, but you also lose the security risk of an unpatched smartphone.

Same seller, same issue

Our AndroidTV review looks at a TV box from the same checkout with a similar problem of old Android software, and our is AndroidTV legit article explains what we found about that offer. If you are shopping for phone add-ons instead, our GoDonut review and CordBrick review cover two accessories with better scores, and our guide to the best phone accessories ranks the rest.

If you still want a basic dual-SIM spare phone, you can see today's bundles on the Xone Phone offer page (opens G Com Pte Ltd in a new tab) and pick a single unit.

Is Xone Phone legit, and what should you check before buying?

Xone Phone is a real phone from a named seller, and a phone should arrive if you order. The checks are about software, compatibility and cost: confirm the Android version and 4G bands, switch the order to one phone, budget for import duties, note the card statement name and keep in mind that return postage is yours to pay.

Confirm the software

What to do: ask support which Android version and security patch date the phone ships with. You can check both on arrival in Settings, under About phone. If it shows Android 8.1 or 9 with an old patch date, decide whether you are comfortable using it for anything personal.

Confirm the bands

What to do: ask for the full 2G, 3G and 4G band list and compare it with your carrier's bands. Without that, you are guessing whether it will connect at full speed.

Check the selected bundle

The five-pack for $699 is flagged as the best seller in the page code. What to do: change the order to one phone before you enter your details.

Card statement name and memberships

The charge appears as drone720x.com. Pages on this checkout have carried text for a "Gadget Discount Club" membership that is free for 30 days and then billed. What to do: note the statement name, read every checkbox, and untick anything you did not choose.

Refunds and returns

The page code offers a 30-day guarantee for a full refund or replacement, less shipping and handling. The terms we recorded on 4 October 2026 focus on defective goods, which can be returned within two years once you have a returns number, with return postage at your cost. A phone that works but runs old software may not count as defective. Import duties you paid may not be refunded.

What to do: check the software, camera and bands on the first day, and contact support at once if anything does not match the listing.

Your data

A phone on unsupported software is a weak place for personal data. What to do: if you use it, avoid banking and payment apps, use a separate Google account if you can, and do not store passwords or sensitive photos on it.

Delivery and support

The seller ships from overseas, and the page gives no delivery estimate. What to do: keep your confirmation email, note the order date, and if nothing arrives within three weeks, email support@g63com.com with your order number and ask for tracking.

Repairs and spare parts

Screens and batteries for unbranded phones are hard to source, and local repair shops may not stock them. A cracked screen can mean the end of the phone. What to do: use a case and keep the fitted screen protector on from day one.

How to buy Xone Phone the smart way

1. Ask support for the Android version and the 4G band list.
2. Open the Xone Phone order page (opens G Com Pte Ltd in a new tab) and select your country.
3. Change the five-pack to a single phone.
4. Add the case if you want one, since cases for unbranded phones are hard to find later.
5. Note the card statement name, drone720x.com, and save your order email.
6. Check Settings, the camera resolution and your SIM on the day it arrives.

How did we score Xone Phone?

Xone Phone scores 3.0 out of 10: claim accuracy 0.5, build durability 0.8, price competitiveness 0.3, usability 0.9 and owner satisfaction 0.5, each out of 2. It covers the basics of a dual-SIM Android phone, but its software is years out of date, its specs are incomplete and an owner reported parts below the advertised figures. The same money buys a current phone with six years of updates.

How the score breaks down

We use the five criteria on our how we test page, each out of 2.

What owners say

We found no Trustpilot profile for the gadgetxaura.com store. The most detailed owner account we found is a 2019 Earlybird forum thread, "The Xone Phone saga", in which the buyer found the phone usable and the battery better than their previous phone, but reported an 8MP camera instead of 16MP, an unexpected import charge and a missing case.

What we did, and did not, do

Nobody on our team has used the Xone Phone. We read the offer page our link opens and its page code on 6 October 2026, along with the Earlybird owner thread, 9to5Google's report on Chrome's Android support and Android Central's report on the Galaxy A16 5G. The refund and returns terms are as we recorded them from the site's terms page on 4 October 2026.

How to use Xone Phone safely if you buy one

Check the software and bands on day one, keep personal and financial apps off it, install updates where offered and use it as a calls, texts and maps phone. Free up storage by keeping photos in the cloud, close apps you are not using to spare the 2GB of RAM, and plan to replace it when key apps stop installing.

1. Check About phone first. Note the Android version, security patch date, RAM and storage.
2. Test both SIMs. Make a call and check 4G on each before the 30 days are up.
3. Install any system updates. Go to Settings and check for updates, even if few arrive.
4. Keep banking off it. Use a phone with current software for payments and banking.
5. Use a lighter browser if Chrome stops working. Some browsers support older Android for longer.
6. Manage storage. Back up photos to cloud storage and clear app caches when space runs low.
7. Turn off unused apps. Disable preinstalled apps you do not need to save memory.

Setting up Google

Sign in with a Google account to get the Play Store. If you want to limit what is at risk, use a separate account rather than your main one with email, documents and saved passwords.

Moving your contacts and photos

If you are moving from another Android phone, signing in with the same Google account brings across contacts and, if backed up, photos and some settings. From an iPhone, export contacts to your Google account first. Some newer apps will not install on Android 8.1, so check that the ones you rely on are available before you wipe your old phone.

Parental controls on old Android

If the phone is for a child, set up Google's parental controls from a parent's phone and check that they work on this Android version. Some newer features need a newer Android release. Lock the Play Store so the child cannot install apps without approval.

Keeping it running smoothly

With 2GB of RAM, open only the apps you need. Restart the phone every few days to clear memory. Uninstall apps you never use, especially ones that run in the background, such as social media apps.

Camera tips

Good light matters more than megapixels on budget phones. Shoot outdoors or near a window, hold still, and tap the screen to focus. Check the resolution setting in the camera app, as some phones default to a lower setting.

Battery care

Charge between about 20% and 80% when you can, avoid leaving it on a hot dashboard, and turn off features such as Bluetooth and location when you do not need them.

When to replace it

When your messaging or maps app stops updating, or a website you need stops loading in the browser, it is time to move to a supported phone. Back up your contacts to your Google account so moving is quick.

What else do people ask about cheap Android phones?

Most questions are about how to check a phone's software support, whether old phones are dangerous to use and why unknown brands are cheaper. You can check the Android version and patch date in Settings, an unpatched phone is a risk for banking and logins, and unknown brands save money by skipping updates and support. Browse our tech gadget reviews for other devices we have checked.

How do I check a phone's security patch date?

On most Android phones, open Settings, then About phone, then Android version. You will see the version number and the security patch level as a date. If the date is more than a year old, the phone is missing many fixes.

Is it dangerous to use an old Android phone?

For calls and texts, the risk is low. For browsing, email, banking and payments, it rises, because known security holes stay open. Scam websites and malicious apps target exactly these unpatched phones.

Why are unbranded phones cheaper?

They often use older processors, smaller batteries and cheaper cameras, and they skip the cost of years of software updates, support and spare parts. The lower price reflects that, though not always enough to beat a budget phone from a major brand.

What is an eSIM, and does this phone have one?

An eSIM is a digital SIM built into the phone, which you add from your carrier's app or a QR code. Many current phones support one physical SIM plus an eSIM. The Xone Phone page lists two physical SIM slots and no eSIM, which is normal for older budget phones.

Will my old charger work?

The 2019 owner reported a micro USB port. If your other devices use USB-C, you will need a micro USB cable. Any USB wall charger will power it, though it will charge more slowly than a modern phone.

Can I install a newer Android version myself?

Not in any practical way. Updates have to come from the phone's maker. Enthusiast projects exist for some popular phones, but not for unbranded models, and installing them can break the phone and void any warranty.

Frequently asked questions