I love exploring the world of lesser-known phone brands and experimental devices. While the temptation to stray beyond the comfortable world of Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones is always strong, the reality of “alternative” brands is usually disappointing.

Google and Samsung don’t always get it rightbut you generally have a good idea of what you can expect each year. Outside the big phone brands, it’s a hit or a miss, and often a miss.

I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up the NUU B40 5G and found myself reaching for it again and again.

While the design feels dated (it reminds me most of the Galaxy S7 Edge), its bloatware-free software, functionality-first secondary screen, and reliable hardware make it one of the best budget Android phones.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a breath of fresh air for anyone tired of the AI bloatware of recent flagships.

When is a gimmick not a gimmick? When it’s useful

The best implementation of a secondary screen I’ve seen yet

Secondary displays are nothing new. Foldables and flip phones from Samsung and Motorola prove that the technology is well-established, but there’s often a catch.

Price is usually the biggest complication, and they tend to offer more features than you need.

If you’re not familiar with NUU, it’s been quietly making budget Android phones of varying quality for years. They’ve generally been outclassed by Samsung’s and Motorola’s offerings, but the B40 5G is the first that offers something fresh without significant compromise.

Rather than packing as many features as possible into its first foray into secondary displays, NUU took a refreshingly simple approach.

Built into the B40 5G’s camera bar is a 1.6-inch secondary display. You can choose between a time/date/steps/battery life display, media player, camera display for selfies, and a compass.

It can also show charging status, incoming calls, and notifications. That’s it. Customizability is limited to a few time/date displays.

This might seem overly restrictive at first, but I think it’s genius. While Motorola likes to point out you can use any app on the Razr 2025’s secondary displaywhy bother when you can open them in full in less than a second?

NUU has ensured that its secondary display only shows information you can check at a glance, and refined it so it works perfectly.

A level of restraint in this era of AI-powered features is a breath of fresh air. Not only does NUU keep its fantastic hardware focused on functionality, but it also extends these ideas to the software, which is far closer to stock Android than Google Pixels.

Stripped-down software and effective hardware

The B40 5G hits a solid middle ground

Apart from the suite of Google apps I expect on every new Android phone, the NUU B40 5G came with just three extra apps preinstalled: FM Radio, Sound Recorder, and NUU’s tech support app.

There are also a few extra background apps, but I applaud NUU for not pulling a Samsung and forcing us to waste time uninstalling apps we don’t need.

My biggest concern ahead of testing the phone was performance.

I’ve had enough experience with budget Samsung phones to know how quickly they sour, but after two weeks with the B40 5G, I can see that it performs slightly better than I would expect from a $300 Android phone.

The MediaTek Dimensity 7025 processor is the same one found in the Motorola Moto G64 and G55. It’s great for most games, but don’t expect to settle down with Genshin Impact at smooth framerates.

The main camera is good enough, and thanks to the secondary display, you don’t have to rely on the poor front camera for selfies. The less said about the macro camera, the better.

I don’t usually recommend budget Android phones, as patience and a keen eye can score you deals on fantastic midrange and flagship phones. But the B40 5G, despite its flaws, is well worth the money.

Functionality and fun

I enjoy using the B40 5G. What more could I want?

Every time I see a new hardware gimmick teased, my initial reaction is skepticism.

A single-screen design has served me well for my whole life. Why would I spend extra on hardware features that don’t solve a problem? Functionality is king for Android, and the NUU B40 5G knows it.

The bare-bones secondary display’s hidden benefit is that it doesn’t get old. From the moment I started using it, I was constantly using the display for all its intended purposes.

It’s fun to have a little feature like this that you use regularly. I don’t feel guilty about not diving into extensive customization opportunities, as I would on a Galaxy Z Flip.

The lack of bloatware and preinstalled widgets (looking at you, Google, for pinning At a Glance and Google Search to my Pixel 8’s home screen) means I feel more encouraged than ever to delve into Android customization apps rather than relying on the options provided to me by default.

The B40 5G isn’t perfect, but that’s not the point

NUU doesn’t get everything right. I groaned when I saw the curved display, and the flexible plastic case shipped with the phone is best described with adjectives like splurty, squelchy, or slug-like.

Touching it is a repulsive sensation that sends the case on a first-class flight from the box to the bin.

I wish there were third-party app support for the secondary display, and the haptics are akin to the feeling of gently shaking a wet sock full of dried beans.

Nevertheless, NUU has greatly impressed me with a phone that adds something new (or something NUU?) without compromising on what makes a budget Android device great.

Nothing in particular could learn from this brilliant example of how to make the back of a phone useful.

If you can deal with the flaws mentioned above, then I can’t think of a better way to spend $300 on a new phone than the VILLAGE B40 5G ($200 if you take advantage of NUU’s launch deal).