My very first smartphone was the HTC Wildfire S, a budget Android handset from 2011. The Wildfire S runs the now-outdated Android 2.3 operating system, and features a tiny 2.3-inch display panel.

The HTC Wildfire E5 Plus quietly entered the market, and it’s available for roughly $95. Of course, a phone that inexpensive comes with a number of compromises. It’s not a powerhouse ...