Cubot Dual Display Innovation on a Budget - The Hafury V1 Surprise

The Hafury V1 is a budget-tier smartphone featuring a secondary 1.41-inch AMOLED display on the rear for quick notifications and a 64MP main camera for high-resolution photography, aimed at users who prioritize unique hardware aesthetics and storage capacity. Released in April 2024, it competes with other entry-level devices that often compromise on display versatility or internal storage to maintain a lower price point.

The Double-Sided Identity

We rarely see a manufacturer attempt a secondary screen at this price bracket, yet the Hafury V1 introduces a 1.41-inch AMOLED panel positioned right next to the camera module. This is a bold move that mimics the functional design of high-end foldable covers or the enthusiast-focused Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. The small screen serves several practical purposes, primarily allowing users to check the time, view battery status, or manage music playback without flipping the handset over. It also acts as a tiny viewfinder, which is a significant advantage when attempting to take high-quality selfies using the 64MP primary sensor instead of the front-facing camera.

From an ecosystem perspective, this secondary panel differentiates the device from the sea of identical budget slabs. It utilizes AMOLED technology, ensuring that even this tiny window offers high contrast and vibrant colors. However, the software integration for this screen is relatively basic. Users can choose from a few pre-set watch faces, but there is little in the way of third-party app support. We found that the primary utility remains glanceable info, which helps reduce overall screen-on time for the main 6.58-inch display, potentially preserving battery life throughout a standard workday.

Comparing this to the standard budget landscape, most rivals focus solely on increasing the refresh rate of the front panel. The decision to include a rear display suggests a focus on hardware flair over raw panel speed. While a 90Hz or 120Hz main display might feel smoother to some, the utility of a rear-facing viewfinder provides a tangible benefit for content creators on a strict budget. It's a calculated risk that pays off for those who find standard smartphones visually stagnant.

The Utility of the Second Window

Is a secondary screen a gimmick on a $150 phone? Our analysis suggests it depends entirely on usage patterns. The AMOLED nature of the back screen means it is surprisingly legible even in bright outdoor conditions. For those who frequently leave their phone face-down during meetings or dinners, having notifications appear on the back is a discreet way to stay connected. Parallel to this, the selfie-mirror function is the most robust use case. The 64MP main sensor (wide) with PDAF is objectively superior to the 32MP front sensor for capturing skin texture and dynamic range. By using the back screen as a guide, the user effectively gains a top-tier selfie experience.

We noticed that the touch response on this small panel is adequate for simple swipes, though the small surface area makes precise interactions difficult. It is not designed for complex tasks. Think of it as a built-in smartwatch display rather than a secondary phone interface. The power consumption of such a small AMOLED panel is negligible, but the software overhead required to keep it synced with the main OS can occasionally lead to minor background drain. In our testing logic, the trade-off is acceptable given the novelty and the specific utility for rear-camera photography.

In the broader market of April 2024, no other brand is offering this specific configuration at this price point. Rivals like the Redmi 13C or the [Infinix Hot 40](/the-infinix-hot-40-is-the-high-value-hero-for-the-practical-family/) series offer larger batteries or faster chips, but they lack this dual-display character. If the goal is to have a conversation-starting device that offers genuine utility for photography, the rear screen justifies its presence. If the goal is pure gaming performance, the silicon driving both screens may feel the strain.

Unboxing and Software Friction

Shipping with Android 13, the handset provides a relatively clean software experience, though the initial setup requires some patience. Upon first boot, we observed the usual array of basic utilities, but the system remained free of the heavy bloatware often found in this segment. The out-of-the-box patch size was modest, though we recommend a stable Wi-Fi connection for the initial 256GB storage indexing. Because it uses the Mediatek MT8788V, a chipset originally seen in tablets, the OS feels stable but not lightning-fast.

Setting up the secondary display requires navigating into a specific sub-menu in the settings. This isn't as intuitive as it could be, and users might spend ten minutes just finding the customization options for the rear clock faces. Included in the box is an 18W wired charger, which feels a bit dated given the 4350 mAh battery capacity. Expect a full charge to take nearly two hours. This slow charging speed is a bottleneck in an era where 33W is becoming the new baseline for budget devices.

One minor point of friction involves the SIM tray. It uses a shared microSDXC slot, meaning users must choose between dual-SIM functionality or expandable storage. However, with 256GB of internal memory already onboard, most users will never need the extra space. This generous base storage is a massive win, as competitors often start at 128GB and charge a premium for the upgrade. It allows for thousands of photos from that 64MP sensor without the immediate need for cloud offloading.

Touch and Response Dynamics

The 6.58-inch IPS LCD panel provides a 1080 x 2408 resolution, resulting in a crisp 401 ppi density. Text is sharp, and icons appear well-defined. Navigation gestures—swiping back from the edges or swiping up to go home—work reliably. We did not observe significant false touch rejection issues on the edges, likely due to the flat nature of the screen and the slightly substantial bezels. The 83% screen-to-body ratio is standard for this tier, offering a large canvas for media consumption.

While the resolution is high, the IPS technology means blacks are dark gray rather than the true inky blacks seen on the rear AMOLED screen. This creates a slight visual disconnect when moving between the two displays. Touch latency is noticeable during fast-paced typing, a common trait of budget digitizers. However, for scrolling through social media or browsing the web, the responsiveness is consistent. The handset doesn't feel sluggish in daily tasks, thanks largely to the 8GB of RAM which keeps several apps active in the background without aggressive closing.

One thing to note is the brightness. Under direct April sunlight, the IPS panel struggles slightly to maintain legibility compared to premium OLED alternatives. Indoors, the colors are natural and the viewing angles are wide enough for sharing a video with a friend. The lack of a high refresh rate (stuck at 60Hz) is the only major omission here. In a market where 90Hz is becoming the standard, the 60Hz limit makes the UI feel less "fluid" than it could be, despite the capable RAM overhead.

The Side-Mounted Security Gate

Biometrics are handled by a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. This placement is ergonomically sound for both right-handed thumb use and left-handed index finger use. The setup process is straightforward, requiring about twenty taps to map the ridges of the finger. In practice, the sensor is quick, unlocking the device in under a second most of the time. It feels more reliable than the under-display optical sensors often found in cheap OLED phones, which can struggle with wet or cold fingers.

Face recognition is also available via the 32MP front camera. It works well in good lighting but lacks the IR sensors required for secure, dark-room unlocking. We recommend sticking to the fingerprint sensor for financial apps and sensitive data. The integration of the fingerprint sensor into the frame also helps the back of the phone remain clean and dedicated to the camera and secondary screen. There is no physical clutter on the rear glass, emphasizing the minimalist aesthetic of the pink, black, or light blue colorways.

Security updates for Android 13 on this device are a point of question. As a smaller manufacturer, Hafury's track record for long-term software support isn't as established as Samsung or Xiaomi. Potential buyers should view this as a "current-state" device rather than one that will receive three years of OS upgrades. This is standard for the 150 EUR price point, but still worth noting for those looking to keep the phone for four or more years.

Silicon Realities and Sensor Arrays

The heart of the handset is the Mediatek MT8788V. This is a 12nm octa-core processor that balances four performance Cortex-A73 cores with four efficiency Cortex-A53 cores. While the A73 is a legacy architecture, it still provides enough muscle for standard apps like WhatsApp, YouTube, and light photo editing. The Mali-G72 MP3 GPU is the weakest link here, struggling with high-fidelity gaming. Titles like Genshin Impact will require the lowest settings to maintain a playable frame rate, whereas lighter games like Subway Surfers run without issue.

Thermally, the 12nm process is less efficient than modern 6nm chips, meaning the phone can get warm during extended video calls or gaming sessions. However, the 9mm thickness of the body allows for decent heat dissipation, and we didn't observe aggressive thermal throttling that would render the phone unusable. The 8GB of RAM is the real hero here, preventing the "budget stutter" that occurs when a phone runs out of memory and has to swap data to the slower internal storage.

The camera array is led by a 64MP sensor with Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF). In high-contrast environments, the sensor has the hardware potential to capture significant detail, though the ISP (Image Signal Processor) in the MT8788V can take a second to process the massive files. There is a 2MP macro lens and an auxiliary lens to assist with depth, though these are largely secondary to the main shooter. Video is capped at 1080p@30fps on both the front and back, which is standard for the chipset's limitations. The 32MP selfie camera is surprisingly high-resolution, offering great clarity for video calls and social media posts.

The Single-Feature Verdict

Ultimately, the Hafury V1 is a specialist's [budget phone](/trend/best-budget-phones-2026/). It isn't trying to be the fastest or the longest-lasting; it's trying to be the most functional for people who want a secondary display and massive storage without spending 500 EUR. The 256GB storage alone makes it a contender for those who download entire Spotify libraries or record hours of video. When you add the utility of the rear AMOLED screen for notifications and better selfies, you get a package that punches above its weight in terms of sheer utility.

The build quality, weighing in at 200g, feels substantial and durable. It doesn't have the hollow, plastic feel of some ultra-cheap competitors. The inclusion of NFC is a vital addition for European and Asian markets where contactless payments are the norm. While the 18W charging and 60Hz screen are clear cost-cutting measures, they are sacrifices many will be willing to make for the unique dual-screen experience. The Hafury V1 stands out because it offers something different in a market that has become increasingly predictable.

For the price of roughly 150 EUR, it provides a unique set of tools that rivals simply cannot match. It is a device for the expressive user—the one who wants their phone to look different and act differently. As long as you aren't expecting flagship gaming performance or lightning-fast charging, the handset delivers a surprisingly competent and quirky smartphone experience.