BLU Makes a Comeback with the Launch of Vivo XI+ Smartphone

Remember BLU? Yes, BLU — the Miami, Florida-based phone maker? It’s the same company that came up with a $99.99 smartphone that was sold by Amazon for $49.99 under Prime Exclusive program. That $50 phone called BLU R1 HD was selling like a hotcake in 2016.

Still doesn’t ring a bell? Well, it’s the same company that faced a patent lawsuit from BlackBerry. Moreover, it came under fire when a security firm detected remote surveillance software on their phones sold on Amazon and Best Buy.

And then there were software update issues and after-sale issues the company’s customers had to face.

The reason behind this introduction is that the company is making a comeback. Yes, a comeback, because they sort of… disappeared for a while. Now BLU is back with more focus on quality and performance — while producing only devices with a purpose.

New BLU, New Vivo XI+ Smartphone

In a tweet on 21st August, BLU Products published their CEO’s message. Samuel Ohev-Zion — the co-founder and CEO said in the message that they had been working hard on a ‘New BLU.’ He admitted that their obsession with launching new devices became excessive over time and there was no way they could support so many devices at the same time.

“We all make mistakes, the important thing is to learn from them, improve and move forward,” said Samuel.

Now the company is leaving the past behind and focusing on the future. BLU is beginning their second inning with a brand-new Android smartphone called Vivo XI+. Powered by a 2.0 GHz MediaTek Helio P60 octa-core processor, this 6.2-inch smartphone runs Android 8.1 Oreo. It also packs 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage — which can be expanded further with a Micro SD card.

Vivo XI+ supports wireless charging and has fingerprint and face unlock. There’s a 16 MP + 5MP dual camera system in the back with portrait mode and a 16MP camera in the front.

BLU has vowed to provide ‘guaranteed updates and support’ with their new phones and their Vivo XI+ will be upgraded to Android 9 Pie when it is released in March next year.

Despite some promising tech specs, BLU’s new phone is missing Wi-Fi calling. There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, either — something that could disappoint some faithful fans of the jack.

The price for BLU Vivo XI+ has been set at $279.99. In a matter of hours since its launch, BLU’s new smartphone has already became the bestseller on Amazon. Now that’s a very desirable comeback for BLU.

It seems that another variant of BLU’s new phone with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage will be available in future. In the meantime, the existing model is an ideal option for everyone looking for a budget-friendly smartphone.

Many of BLU’s previous phones also remain available on Amazon.