BLU Bold N3 review
The BLU Bold N3 suits someone who wants a large, smooth screen and fast charging on a tight budget and trusts BLU's minimal software approach. Anyone shopping now should look at fresher midrange alternatives with newer chips and clearer update roadmaps."
This review is based on BLU’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the BLU Bold N3, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The BLU Bold N3 delivers a large AMOLED screen with 120Hz smoothness, rapid 66W charging, and 5G on a tight budget—but the 1080p resolution and aging Dimensity chipset mean it lags rivals that have since raised the bar at this price point.
Design & build
At 180g and 8.8mm thin, the Bold N3 feels light and compact enough to pocket despite its 6.78-inch footprint. The aluminum frame with glass front and back is a competent mid-range choice—nothing that will survive a drop unscathed, but standard for the era and price. The Sage Green finish shown is understated without being dull. The build feels solid in hand; no flex or rattle, though you'll want a case to protect the back glass. Dimensions are well-balanced: wide enough that the screen real estate justifies the size, narrow enough (74.7mm) that one-handed grip is possible if you have normal-sized hands.
Display
The 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh is the phone's clearest strength. Scrolling through social feeds and apps feels buttery smooth compared to 60Hz budget phones, and AMOLED's blacks are genuinely black—no washed-out look like entry-level LCDs. At 388 ppi, sharpness is acceptable for a 1080p screen at this diagonal; reading small text or viewing detailed photos sits on the line between clear and slightly soft, whereas a QHD panel would eliminate doubt. Colors pop thanks to AMOLED's natural contrast, and the 90.5% screen-to-body ratio means minimal bezels. For video streaming and gaming, this display punches above its price, though the refresh advantage only matters if you actually use smooth-scrolling-optimized apps.
Performance
The Mediatek Dimensity 7050 is a mainstream midrange chip from 2022, now two years old as of the Bold N3's August 2023 launch. It handles everyday tasks—email, messaging, light social media, video playback—without hiccup. Gaming depends on expectations: casual titles and puzzle games run fine, but demanding 3D games at high settings will either force medium graphics or cap frame rates below 60fps. App switching is quick thanks to 8GB RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The GPU (Mali-G68 MC4) is dated by 2025 standards; rivals at this price have since moved to newer MediaTek or Snapdragon chips with noticeably faster graphics. For a 2023 phone at €250, the Dimensity 7050 was respectable but not exciting—adequately fast for its class, not a bargain relative to what you'd pay a little more to get.
Software
The phone launched with Android 13 and is now discontinued, which means no guarantee of further OS updates. That's a significant caveat: if security patches and Android 14+ support matter to you, this device is stuck. For users who don't chase every update, Android 13 is stable and feature-complete. BLU's software overlay appears minimal based on the spec sheet, which is good news—no bloatware cruft expected. Long-term, you're buying for the present, not future-proofing.
Camera
The 50MP main sensor with f/1.9 aperture and 1-micron pixels is a capable wide shooter. In daylight, detail is excellent, and the large aperture helps in dim light—though 50MP often benefits from pixel-binning to 12.5MP for cleaner results. The 8MP ultrawide at 112 degrees is honest for the price; it won't match a flagship's edge sharpness, and there's noticeable distortion at frame edges, but it's useful for group shots and landscapes. The 2MP macro is a filler spec; macro shots will be low-resolution and underwhelming. The 16MP selfie camera is standard. Video maxes at 4K@30fps, which is fine for social media but lacks the 60fps smoothness rivals offer. Overall, this is a budget camera that does the fundamentals competently without excelling in any mode—good enough for casual photography, not for anyone chasing raw image quality.
Battery & charging
The 4700mAh battery delivers roughly one day of mixed use, though heavy video or gaming shortens that to under a day. On light days, you might stretch it to evening. The real story is 66W wired charging, which BLU claims reaches full in 39 minutes—realistic enough for a fast top-up before heading out. Reaching 80% typically takes under 30 minutes, which is practical. There's no wireless charging, but at this price point, that's not an omission; wired charging at this speed is the trade-off rivals make. For a phone you'll likely charge daily anyway, the quick turnaround is handy.
Value & verdict
At €250 in mid-2023, the BLU Bold N3 offered solid value: a large smooth AMOLED screen, 5G connectivity, rapid charging, and a main camera that worked. Now discontinued and a year and a half old, its appeal has faded. The Dimensity 7050 feels long in the tooth against newer midrange chips, the 1080p resolution is passable but not generous for the screen size, and lack of update guarantee is a real concern. You'd mostly choose this phone today in markets where it's heavily discounted, where alternatives are unavailable, or if you genuinely prefer BLU's minimal software approach to mainstream brands. For most buyers shopping a midrange budget now, competitors with newer chipsets, higher resolution displays, or longer software support offer better value.
Verdict
The BLU Bold N3 suits someone who wants a large, smooth screen and fast charging on a tight budget and trusts BLU's minimal software approach. Anyone shopping now should look at fresher midrange alternatives with newer chips and clearer update roadmaps."
- Large 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh smoothness—genuinely pleasant to use compared to entry-level LCDs
- 66W wired charging reaches full in 39 minutes, practical for daily top-ups and fast enough to beat most rivals at the price point at launch
- 5G connectivity with Sub-6 bands covering most regional deployments
- Light weight (180g) and thin profile (8.8mm) despite the big screen
- Dimensity 7050 chipset was already aging in mid-2023 and feels outdated now; newer rivals offer faster performance and better graphics
- 1080p resolution on a 6.78-inch screen leaves text and photos slightly soft; QHD competitors at similar prices offer sharper displays
- Discontinued with no update guarantee—stuck on Android 13, raising long-term security concerns
BLU Bold N3 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2023, July. Released 2023, August |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 7050 (6 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm |
| Battery | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 66W wired, 100% in 39 min |
| Software | Android 13 |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 74.7 x 8.8 mm (6.46 x 2.94 x 0.35 in) |
| Weight | 180 g (6.35 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
BLU Bold N3 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Bold N3 support 5G?
Yes. The Bold N3 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Bold N3 use?
The Bold N3 runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 7050 (6 nm).
What display does the Bold N3 have?
A 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density).
How big is the Bold N3 battery?
The Bold N3 has a 4700 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 66W wired, 100% in 39 min.
Does the Bold N3 have NFC?
Yes, the Bold N3 has NFC.
Does the Bold N3 support a microSD card?
No, the Bold N3 does not support expandable storage.
Does the Bold N3 have a headphone jack?
No, the Bold N3 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Bold N3 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
G93
Bold N2
G63
F91
Galaxy A35 5G
