Aspera's $99 smartphone has a removable battery

Anula Wiwatowska - Offsite Editorial Lead

Last updated 26 July 2023

Aspera Mobile celebrates its 10 year Australian anniversary today with the launch of a throwback-style device - the 4G AS5 smartphone. Sporting a removable 2000mAh battery and a headphone jack the $99 device really takes us for a walk down memory lane by including a wall-plug charge and headphones in the box. It's compatible with the 4G, 3G, and 2G networks.

Along with the classics, the Aspera AS5 includes facial recognition, dual SIM slots, a 5MP primary lens and 5MP selfie lens. Powered by an octa-core 1.6GHz processor, the AS5 runs a stripped-down version of Android 13 called Android Go. Go edition apps are streamlined for phones with less than 2GB of RAM to keep the phone operating more efficiently.

According to Aspera Mobile MD Allan Robertson, the device is geared to the younger demographic.

"The AS5 and the other phones we will launch this year set us apart from our competitors. The AS5 is a compact, well-featured but lower-cost smartphone aimed squarely at the younger audience," said Robertson.

Robertson noted that it may also be suited for budget-conscious consumers.

All Aspera phones come unlocked so you can grab the cheap SIM of your choosing to go along with it. These are the most popular mobile plans under $20 in our database at the moment.

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Aspera Mobile’s AS5 is available to purchase outright for $99 at retailers including Big W, Ritchies IGA, Seasons IGA, Freedom Fuels, Trinity Petroleum, Mobiciti and Personal Digital.

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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