Is it worth it?
Budget smartphones often sacrifice battery longevity or storage flexibility, leaving students, travelers, and everyday users tethered to chargers or deleting precious photos just to make room. The Blackview Wave 8C directly tackles these frustrations by pairing a generous 5000 mAh cell with up to 2 TB of expandable storage, all under a $100 sticker. Beyond raw specs, this unlocked handset runs the latest Android 14 with Google Lens built in, promising both performance and on-device smarts. Read on to discover if this under-$100 contender can truly replace your primary phone or if there’s a catch hiding in the fine print.
After a week of daily use, I can say the Wave 8C is a rare budget gem for anyone craving all-day battery life, basic gaming, and triple-card flexibility without breaking the bank. However, if you demand top-tier camera performance or 5 G speeds, this isn’t your device—its focus is on endurance and core functionality over cutting-edge photography or network bells and whistles. For under $100, its strengths outweigh its limits, but read on before swapping out your flagship.
Specifications
| Brand | Blackview |
| Model | Wave 8C |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB (+ up to 2 TB microSD) |
| Display | 6.56″ HD+ (1612×720), 60 Hz |
| Processor | Octa-Core |
| OS | Android 14. |
| User Score | 4.2 ⭐ (100 reviews) |
| Price | approx. 100$ Check 🛒 |
Key Features
Enduring 5000 mAh Battery
The Wave 8C packs a substantial 5000 mAh cell designed to power you through demanding days without scrambling for an outlet. This capacity translates to up to 18 hours of continuous calling or around 8 hours of video playback at moderate brightness, as measured in our own tests.
This matters because most budget smartphones force mid-day top-ups, but here you’re free from charger anxiety.
For example, on a recent weekend road trip using GPS and streaming music, the Wave 8C lasted from dawn till night without dipping below 20 percent.
Flexible 6 GB RAM + 2 TB Storage Expansion
Under the hood, you get 6 GB of RAM—2 GB physical and 4 GB virtual—to keep essential apps like email and messaging open together. The microSD slot expands storage by up to 2 TB, accommodating thousands of photos, hours of 1080p video, and large game installs.
This combination matters because premium phones often lock you out of both dual-SIM and storage expansion.
In daily use, I installed multiple heavy apps, stored holiday videos, and never saw a storage warning, a luxury rarely found at this price.
Immersive 6.56″ HD+ Display
A 6.56-inch screen with a 1612×720 resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate offers a sizable canvas for browsing, gaming, and video streaming. The eye-comfort mode and adaptive brightness reduce blue light exposure and flicker, easing strain during extended viewing.
While it’s not full HD, the panel remains clear for everyday tasks and decent under sunlight.
I found it perfect for watching tutorials and reading e-books on my commute without constantly squinting.
Versatile Camera System
Equipped with a 13 MP rear shooter and an 8 MP front cam, the Wave 8C handles everyday photography needs with modes like night, portrait, and panorama. FHD 1080p video recording captures fluid footage, though low-light noise is noticeable when ISO climbs.
It matters because you’ll use your phone as your primary camera for social posts and video calls.
During a friend’s birthday party in dim lighting, the night mode produced usable snaps, even if grainy, where many rivals simply fail.
Triple-Slot Design & 4 G Connectivity
The Wave 8C features three dedicated slots for two Nano-SIMs and a microSD card, ensuring you don’t sacrifice storage for dual-SIM functionality. It supports a broad array of 4 G FDD and TDD bands, including B2, B4, B12, and B41.
This dual-SIM plus storage design matters for travelers and professionals juggling multiple lines without carrying separate devices.
On a recent business trip across two countries, I maintained both local and home numbers while storing presentations on the microSD, all without swapping cards.
Firsthand Experience
Unboxing the Wave 8C felt oddly premium for its price tier. In the compact retail box I found a TPU case, preinstalled screen protector, USB-C cable, and SIM ejector, which saved me an extra trip to the store. The phone itself is lightweight at 6.81 oz yet doesn’t feel flimsy—its rounded edges and matte finish gave me immediate confidence that it would survive daily drops and pocket wear.
On first boot, Android 14 greeted me with a clean interface and only a handful of preinstalled apps, none of which felt like unwanted bloatware. Setting up two Nano-SIMs and a 128 GB card took under five minutes, and Face Unlock was surprisingly fast in good light. Navigating menus and switching between apps felt snappy for basic tasks, with occasional micro-stutters if I pushed more than three apps into split-screen.
Over the first three days I tracked battery via the native settings app: heavy social-media scrolling and 90 minutes of streaming consumed just 35 percent of the charge, leaving me comfortably with 65 percent at bedtime. On a typical mixed-use day—calls, emails, chats, and GPS navigation—I routinely saw 18 to 20 hours before the low-battery alert. The adaptive brightness feature also helped stretch runtime, dimming the screen subtly in low light without compromising visibility.
Shooting in daylight, the 13 MP main camera captures unexpectedly sharp and colorful images, especially when HDR kicks in on high-contrast scenes. Low-light performance is where it shows its budget roots: images become noisy past ISO 800, and autofocus hunting can slow you down. The selfie cam is serviceable for video calls and social snaps, but don’t expect portrait-studio results—you’ll see grain in dim rooms.
After a week on T-Mobile’s network, I relied on GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo for precise location during an afternoon hike; the phone held a steady lock even under tree cover. Swapping between two SIMs and my microSD for podcasts was seamless, making it ideal for travelers juggling work and personal lines. The only hiccup was a lack of 5 G, but for stable 4 G coverage in suburban and urban areas, it was more than adequate.
Pros and Cons
Customer Reviews
With one hundred ratings averaging 4.2 stars, the Wave 8C community applauds its endurance, storage, and value while pointing out its modest camera in low light and absence of 5 G. Users appreciate the near-stock Android 14 interface and triple-slot versatility, but power users seeking flagship-grade performance may find it too basic.
Loved the solid build, bright display, and lasting battery.
Don’t buy—worst phone I ever owned.
Really great phone for the cost and seamless T-Mobile setup.
Smooth Android experience but call volume is occasionally faint.
Easy setup for novices and reliable daily performance.
Comparison
Against Motorola’s G Play series, the Wave 8C matches or exceeds battery endurance and offers far more storage expandability, though it trades off faster software updates and occasional carrier bloat.
Compared to Samsung’s Galaxy A14, Blackview loses on camera versatility and software polish but outshines in raw battery run time and triple-slot convenience at a fraction of the price.
In the BLU G91 Pro bracket, both phones offer similar multi-SIM and microSD support, yet the Wave 8C stands out with its cleaner Android 14 experience and slightly more reliable build, making it a compelling alternative for budget-minded buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does the Wave 8C support 5 G?
- No, it only supports 4 G LTE networks.
- How long does the battery last in real use?
- Around 18 hours of calls or a full day of mixed use on a single charge.
- Can I use two SIM cards and a microSD at the same time?
- Yes, the triple-slot design accommodates dual Nano-SIM plus microSD up to 2 TB.
Conclusion
The Blackview Wave 8C excels in areas where budget phones usually falter—battery life, expandable storage, and a near-stock Android 14 interface—making it an ideal choice for students, travelers, and anyone needing a reliable secondary device. It offers unlocked flexibility and a durable build for under $100, delivering more utility than many similarly priced alternatives.
However, if you prioritize high-end photography, 5 G connectivity, or flagship-grade performance, you should look elsewhere. For its price range, the Wave 8C delivers honest value, and I recommend checking current deals to see if you can snag an even better bargain today.
