BLU G8 review
The BLU G8 is a relic of 2019-era budget phones, and it shows its age badly now. Its only audience today is someone with no other choice and minimal demands: a person who needs a phone for calls, texts, and very light use, and cannot spend anything. Anyone with the option should look for a 2023 or newer budget device instead.
This review is written with AI assistance from BLU’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the BLU G8, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The BLU G8 is a 2019 budget phone that got the bare essentials right for casual use but belongs in the past now: LTE connectivity, dual SIM, a usable camera, and a 6.3-inch screen in a reasonably slim 181g frame. By today's standards it is obsolete—old Android version, weak chipset, low resolution, and no support for modern network speeds—making it a phone for someone with no other option rather than a choice.
Design & build
At 181 grams and 9.6mm thick, the G8 is slim and genuinely comfortable to grip—a strength for a budget phone of that era. The form factor does not feel cheap or toy-like, and dual nano-SIM support makes it practical for users who need two numbers. The trade-off is that there is nothing here that stands out or justifies the design over rivals that year; it is adequate, nothing more. By 2024 standards, the microUSB port and the absence of any water resistance feel archaic.
Display
The 6.3-inch IPS LCD panel and 19:9 ratio were modern choices for 2019, and the screen-to-body ratio of 78.7% is respectable for its time. However, 720p resolution over a 6.3-inch diagonal is a real problem: at 267 ppi, individual pixels are visible during normal use, text looks slightly soft, and scrolling through web pages feels rough. Rivals at the same price that year offered at least 1080p on a 6-inch screen. Five years on, this resolution is inexcusable for any daily driver, no matter the budget.
Performance
The Unisoc SC9863A clocked at 1.6 GHz with 8 cores was already behind the curve in 2019, when MediaTek Helio and Qualcomm Snapdragon 400-series chips delivered noticeably better real-world speed. The 3GB RAM compounds the problem: even casual multitasking leads to app reloads and stuttering. Basic tasks—messaging, email, light browsing—work, but not smoothly. Expect visible lag when opening apps, switching between them, or running any process in the background. By today's standards this chipset is effectively unusable for anything beyond essential phone calls and texts.
Software
Android 9.0 Pie out of the box was already a generation behind when the phone shipped in July 2019; Android 10 was out the same month. More critically, there is no indication BLU provided any system updates or security patches during the phone's lifecycle. Running a 2018-era OS in 2024 leaves the device exposed to known vulnerabilities and incompatible with modern apps. Any Google Play Store updates will eventually refuse to work, and the OS itself will fall further behind as Android 15 and 16 roll out.
Camera
Both cameras are 13MP, which is not inherently bad, but the lack of detail in the main camera's output and the absence of night mode, ultra-wide, or macro options made the G8 a compromise even in 2019. The LED flash helps indoors, but photos are often soft and lacking contrast. The 1080p video at 30fps on both front and rear is functional for video calls and basic clips, but nothing more. Rivals at the same price offered either higher resolution sensors or wider apertures that genuinely improved image quality.
Battery & charging
The 4000 mAh battery is modest but realistic for the slim, light form factor. Real-world battery life with the weak SC9863A should stretch to a full day of light to moderate use, which is acceptable. However, no charging wattage is specified—the spec sheet is blank—and given the era, this likely means a basic 5W charger. Rivals were already offering 10W or 15W charging by 2019, cutting charge time by half. The lack of any fast-charging option, combined with the battery's modest capacity, means overnight charging is the norm.
Value & verdict
In July 2019, the BLU G8 was a credible budget phone for users who needed LTE, dual SIM, and a large screen without spending much. It was not good, but it was functional. Five years later, it is genuinely out of date: a slow, low-resolution device running an outdated OS with no security updates. The microSD slot and dual SIM are still useful, and the slim build is still pleasant, but these cannot overcome the fundamental obsolescence of the hardware and software. If you own one, it is past the time to upgrade. If you are considering buying one secondhand, do so only if you have absolutely no budget for anything newer—even a mid-range phone from 2023 will be faster, have a sharper screen, longer software support, and better cameras.
Verdict
The BLU G8 is a relic of 2019-era budget phones, and it shows its age badly now. Its only audience today is someone with no other choice and minimal demands: a person who needs a phone for calls, texts, and very light use, and cannot spend anything. Anyone with the option should look for a 2023 or newer budget device instead.
- Dual SIM and a microSD slot (64GB base storage is tight, but expandable)
- 1080p video recording on both cameras and a reasonable 6.3-inch screen for watching content
- Slim at 9.6mm and light at 181g; comfortable to hold and carry
- Low 720p display resolution at 267 ppi is noticeably grainy, especially at arm's length
- Unisoc SC9863A is from 2017; slow by 2019 standards and completely obsolete now, making the phone stutter on everyday tasks
- Android 9.0 (2018 release) with no guarantee of security updates or path to Android 10; running an outdated OS after five years
BLU G8 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2019, July. Released 2019, July |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.3 inches, 99.1 cm2 (~78.7% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863AProcessor clock: 1.60 GHzNumber of cores: 8GPU: IMG8322 @550 MHz |
| RAM & storage | 64GB 3GB RAM |
| Main camera | 13 MP, AF Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 13 MP |
| Battery | 4000 mAh |
| Software | Android 9.0 (Pie) |
| Dimensions | 161.4 x 78 x 9.6 mm (6.35 x 3.07 x 0.38 in) |
| Weight | 181 g (6.38 oz) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 |
BLU G8 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the G8 support 5G?
No. The G8 tops out at GSM / HSPA / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the G8 use?
The G8 runs on the Unisoc SC9863AProcessor clock: 1.60 GHzNumber of cores: 8GPU: IMG8322 @550 MHz.
What display does the G8 have?
A 6.3 inches, 99.1 cm2 (~78.7% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~267 ppi density).
How big is the G8 battery?
The G8 has a 4000 mAh battery.
Does the G8 have NFC?
No, the G8 does not list NFC support.
Does the G8 support a microSD card?
Yes, the G8 supports expandable storage (microSDXC).
Alternatives to consider
If the G8 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
G6
G9 Pro
G5 Plus
G5
Galaxy A21
