Newcomer WUUM is launching into the Android smartphone and tablet market with a credo: offering affordable and eco-responsible products exclusively on Amazon. An original idea but one that risks running into tough competition.
A new brand called WUUM has appeared on Amazon’s virtual shelves! Coming straight from Spain, it offers smartphones and tablets at an affordable price, of which the e-commerce platform is the exclusive distributor. To stand out from its competitors, WUUM has chosen to adopt an original positioning of “responsible brand”. Its slogan, “No Need” (“No need” in French), perfectly illustrates its strategy, which is to respond to the real needs of the consumer, and not to arouse “fictitious” needs, by selling useless functions or technologies. It is betting on sensible purchases rather than impulse purchases, on solid products that last over time rather than obsolescence. A most laudable intention on paper, but what does it give once on the market?
WUUM: a commendable concept but with some glitches
WUUM is showing its desire to create a sustainable product line, and to do so, it intends to make its products as easy as possible to repair – a bit like what Fairphone ultimately offers. The brand promises in particular a longer availability of spare parts – 10 years! – and a quality local technical support service. Of course, if its products are designed in Europe, they are manufactured in China, as are almost all other brands in the sector.
Another originality, it decided to sell its products only on Amazon. A rather audacious exclusivity, which the brand justifies with a “sharing values”. In any case, WUUM starts with four models in its catalog: two smartphones and two tablets, all under Android obviously, and at very reasonable prices.
These products are placed in the entry-level segment, with prices ranging from 120 euros to 170 euros. If we look at the technical specifications of the devices, we can however notice some small problems. The definition of the screens is quite low, the processors, not very powerful, risk showing their limits in multitasking, the installed operating system is Android 13… So, of course, for this price, we don’t expect anything extraordinary, and WUUM keeps its promises by limiting itself to the essentials, nothing more.
Some points remain interesting, such as a long battery life, the mini-jack audio jack, the management of facial recognition and NPC, or the availability of spare parts for ten years. This means that by purchasing the device today, it will be possible to repair it until 2034… in theory. Because WUUM only offers software support for two years. This means that its devices may not be able to benefit from future versions of Android. And that we will just have to rely on Google for subsequent security updates, which are essential these days, with the incessant arrival of new threats and the regular discovery of flaws.
Last but not least, there are currently more powerful products on the market at the same price. So it’s a safe bet that, apart from the eco-responsible aspect, consumers will turn to the competition. So watch this space, even if these great promises should be welcomed.