CUBOT A20 Review: Inexpensive Phone with Two Screens

In our world, where technology is evolving at a rapid pace, it’s impossible to create a perfect phone that satisfies all customers. Even the biggest giants like Apple, Xiaomi, and Samsung can’t achieve this, especially since flagship ultra-modern gadgets come with a hefty price tag. Therefore, for those who need a simple smartphone without breaking the bank, I recommend looking into devices from lesser-known manufacturers. For example, Cubot is a Chinese company that offers affordable smartphones that combine basic functionality with attractive pricing. It specializes in devices for less demanding users who seek balanced solutions for everyday tasks. The Cubot A20 smartphone is yet another model from the brand that offers a convenient design and reliable specifications for its category.

Positioning and price

The Cubot A20 was launched in September this year and is positioned as a budget smartphone. It features a 6.75-inch HD+ display, an UNISOC Tiger T616 processor, and runs on Android 14. The device comes with 4 GB of RAM (with the option to expand by an additional 8 GB) and 128 GB of internal storage, supporting microSD cards up to 2 TB. Its key advantages include a 48 MP main camera and a large 5100 mAh battery.

It’s hard to specify the exact price of the gadget since prices vary depending on the market. However, on AliExpress, the CUBOT A20 is priced at $78. The phone is available in three colors: black, pink, and blue.

Read also: Cubot KingKong ES Review: Rugged Budget Phone at Reasonable Price

Package contents

I noticed an interesting pattern: the less the phone costs, the richer the package it has. The CUBOT A20 came with a charger, a case, a protective glass, a SIM card clip, and documentation. and the screen has a factory protective film on it.

Design

When it comes to design, it’s quite decent for the price. The phone is large and comfortable to hold; it’s elongated but not too wide, making it easy to use. Of course, there are some drawbacks, such as the large bezels and chin, as well as the outdated design of the selfie camera. Overall, though, the CUBOT A20 has a universal and classic look.

The phone is white on the back, but the sides are pink. On the right side we find two buttons – power and volume. At the bottom of the case there is a charging connector and a mono speaker. The left side contains a SIM card slot.

What immediately catches the eye is the interesting look of the back: there is an island with a dual module, a flashlight and an additional 1.83-inch display, and the body surface is glossy and pleasant, and moreover, it does not leave fingerprints.

Read also: Cubot MAX 5 Review: An Affordable Gaming Smartphone

Display

The CUBOT A20 features a 6.75-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720×1600 pixels. The pixel density is 260 ppi, providing decent image quality, although the detail isn’t the highest. The maximum refresh rate is 90 Hz, but if you want to extend battery life, you can switch to 60 Hz; however, this will result in a less smooth visual experience.

The screen supports multitouch and responds quickly to touches. It also offers wide viewing angles and reproduces colors well, providing good contrast. Even outdoors, every element on the display remains bright and clear.

In the settings, you can choose a theme, enable dark mode, enhance video quality for selected apps, and customize the functionality of the mini-screen.

What disappointed me the most was the lack of a fingerprint scanner, as it’s the fastest way to unlock the screen. There’s also no Face ID, so users will always need to enter a password or PIN, which takes a lot of time and can be quite frustrating.

Mini screen

The CUBOT A20 also features an additional mini screen on the back panel. It can be used for quickly checking the time, messages, or other important notifications without needing to unlock the main screen. This is convenient for saving battery life and provides quick access to information when the phone is lying face down..

In the settings, you can choose which apps will send you notifications. The mini screen displays the number of steps taken throughout the day, the currently playing music, and a mini-camera widget that takes reasonably good photos. However, I personally don’t see much purpose in this feature, as if you already have the phone in your hands, you can simply open the app on the main screen and take a shot.

Read also: CUBOT A10 Smartphone Review

Hardware and performance

The UNISOC Tiger T616 processor, along with 4 GB of RAM and the Mali G57MC1 GPU, is a combination commonly found in this price range. While the processor isn’t new, it performs adequately; throughout my testing, I didn’t encounter any performance issues—every task was handled quickly, without delays or stuttering. This ensures that the phone operates relatively smoothly. You can also play games, although the options are limited due to the amount of RAM. If anyone wants to compare the phone with other devices, I’ll provide the benchmark results below:

Cameras

The CUBOT A20 is equipped with two main cameras and a front-facing camera for selfies. The phone features a dual camera module on the back, which includes a 48 MP primary sensor and an additional 0.08 MP sensor. The 48 MP main camera delivers decent photo quality with sufficient detail in good lighting conditions. It is suitable for everyday shots, but the photo quality may decrease in low light due to the lack of optical stabilization and a weak sensor.

The additional 0.08 MP sensor is likely used for depth effects during portrait photography, although its impact is minimal.

The 16 MP front camera is suitable for selfies and video calls. It captures clear images with good colors in well-lit conditions, resulting in decent selfies.

Night photography on this model is decent; however, some blurriness can be noticed in the photos due to insufficient lighting. The sensor also takes longer to focus compared to daytime shots, which can affect the sharpness of the images, especially if the subject is moving or if the camera shakes slightly.

As for video recording, the main camera can shoot video at a resolution of 1080p, which is standard for phones in this category. The video is recorded with average detail and smoothness; however, even slight movements can cause frame shake.

Overall, the cameras on the CUBOT A20 are suitable for basic needs, but for more professional shooting or in low-light conditions, additional settings may be required—or simply a different phone.

ALL EXAMPLES OF PHOTOS AND VIDEOS IN FULL RESOLUTION

Sound

The sound on the phone is quite basic, featuring only a mono speaker located on the lower edge on the right side. The volume is sufficient for comfortable use, but I still recommend using wireless headphones to improve sound quality (and unfortunately, this model does not have a 3.5 mm mini-jack).

Read also: CUBOT X90 Smartphone Review: Budget Flagship from China

Software

The CUBOT A20 runs on the Android operating system, providing access to essential Google apps and the Google Play Store for downloading additional software. The phone’s interface is simple and intuitive, and the settings allow for personalization of features such as screen mode, themes, and app and notification management.

In the settings, you can also adjust the sound, display brightness, enable or disable dark mode, and configure device privacy and security. There are options for managing power-saving features and controlling how apps run in the background.

However, the CUBOT A20 does not support NFC, meaning you won’t be able to use it for contactless payments or other features that require this technology.

Battery life

In terms of battery life, the device is said to last 8-10 hours in active screen mode (according to the manufacturer). I comfortably used the phone for nearly two days while testing it in various scenarios, watching videos, playing games, messaging, and generally doing what most users do. The phone doesn’t heat up, making the experience with the CUBOT A20 quite pleasant. The battery has a capacity of 5100 mAh. However, there is no fast charging, so you’ll need to leave the phone plugged in overnight, as the charging process is relatively slow, taking about 1.35 hours to go from 5% to 100%.

Conclusions and competitors

The CUBOT A20 is an affordable smartphone with a large 6.75-inch display, a 90 Hz refresh rate, and a simple Android-based interface. It’s suitable for everyday use, such as watching videos, using social media, and handling basic tasks. However, it does have some limitations, including the absence of NFC, a headphone jack, and a fingerprint scanner. Nonetheless, I believe the CUBOT A20 is a good choice in its price range, making it an ideal first smartphone for a child or an elderly person.

Advantages:

• Large display (6.75 inches) with a refresh rate of 90 Hz for a smooth viewing experience
• Simple Android interface with basic Google applications
• Additional mini screen for quick access to notifications
• Affordable price

Disadvantages:

• Lacks NFC support, which makes contactless payments impossible
• No fingerprint scanner
• 3.5 mm mini-jack is also missing

What alternatives are available in the same category? The Xiaomi Redmi 12 is similarly priced but offers a better screen resolution and NFC support. The Realme C55 is an affordable smartphone with decent cameras, more RAM, and fast charging support. The Samsung Galaxy A14 is another option that includes NFC, a higher-quality display, and a better camera within this price segment.

Where to buy

• Official store on AliExpress