Affordable foldable smartphones are becoming more common, and the Blackview Hero 10 has recently been delivered to our office. Priced at €429, it is currently the most affordable foldable option available, offering appealing features such as a 6.9-inch foldable AMOLED display, a 108MP main camera, and 45W wired charging. However, in order to achieve this low price point, some compromises were made. In the following paragraphs, we will share our thoughts on the Hero 10 and compare it to other competing devices.
The retail package contains a two-piece plastic case, a 45W charging brick, and a double-sided USB-C cable.
The Blackview Hero 10 has a sturdy feel in the hand due to its brushed aluminum frame and gentle curves along the edges, providing a comfortable grip. Our review model comes in the stylish Eclipse Black color, but Blackview also has a Sakura Purple option available for those looking for a more vibrant choice.
The back of the Hero 10 has a leather-like surface that improves grip and is expected to be durable. The 1.19-inch OLED cover screen is relatively small for clamshell foldables and primarily serves for notifications, media controls, and camera usage. Users have a range of watch face options to choose from.
The main AMOLED display, measuring 6.9 inches, provides FHD+ resolution and decent brightness of up to 1,300 nits. However, it is disappointing that it only has a 60Hz refresh rate compared to other foldable devices. Even budget options like the nubia Flip feature 120Hz panels.
Blackview is utilizing a waterdrop hinge rated for 250,000 folds, and we are pleased to announce that the crease in the center of the display is hardly noticeable. Additionally, the hinge enables the phone to close entirely flat.
Hero 10 comes preinstalled with DokeOS 4.0, which is based on Android 13, but is considered outdated by mid-2024. Blackview has announced plans to release an update to Android 14 later this year, as well as provide updates up to Android 16 for the next three years. However, there were no additional features added for the folding screen, which was a missed opportunity.
We don’t anticipate high benchmark scores from the Helio G99 chipset, as it only supports 4G connectivity compared to its competitors that use 5G chips. The main camera features a 108MP sensor (Samsung ISOCELL HM6 1/1.67″) along with an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 32MP front-facing camera.
That is the brief summary of the Blackview Hero 10 story – currently the most affordable foldable phone available. While we wish there were more software adjustments to maximize the foldable screen’s potential, the Helio G99 chipset may pose limitations in the future. Nonetheless, it is encouraging to witness the decreasing barrier to entry in the foldable phone market, and we eagerly anticipate future developments.
