I'm new in Android world, and I have to buy cheapest Android phone that will be able to handle Android 4.4 or newer.
I have found that the best option is Galaxy S3 and that there's one on Aliexpress. I'm aware that it might be a clone but it will not be my primary phone. It just has to be able to handle newer Android.
Can't post a link, search for the top ordered Samsung Galaxy S3 I9300 on Aliexpress.
Has anyone tried it? Will software see it as genuin S3? Thank you!
if it's a real i9300 then you are only able to upgrade via custom rom. Official support via samsung stopped at 4.3
If You need official KK (4.4), then You must search form S3 4G/LTE (9305). Basic S3 ended with 4.3 (as maultasche said).
This must be S3? If not, try search Moto E - it's cheap and small chance to buy fake one - in S3 (generally in Samsung phones) it quite ease to buy fake/copy when your search for cheap phone.
You are right, thank you! And I will check Moto E but what about S3 Neo?
S3 Neo has 4.4.
You can check every Samsung phone here: http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/
Just type model name/code (S3 or 9301) and it will find all/latest version of firmware.
It you want a phone for calling/texting (and using in general), you should list your needs/requierements/max price and ask what to choice - XDA probably has a place for it.
If you want a phone for testing/development Android apps, you should think about Motorola/Nexus or some new models with offical long support (ie Xperia family).
I just need a >4.5" phone for general use, with at least 4.4 (to use with smart watches and bands). With as low cost as possible. Galaxy S3 Neo is my leader now.
I don't know where I You from, what models ara in your country and in what prices, so it's hard to suggest any model.
I suggest You to use some kind of price comparation site (in our country), choice your requierements and list devices. Then choice what you like (what looks nice to You) and has a good price.
Then paste list of interesting devices.
For example there are couple of cheap models named "Core" or "Grand" (from Samsung) with screen size obove 4.5 inch and new Android.
Downsides are: not so "strong" CPU/GPU (for games) and lack of light sensor - it shoudn't be a issue as You want to use smartwatch anyway.
In my opinion s3 is best choice As long as there is ANY chance to get some cm (official/ unofficial)
Ekci said:
I'm new in Android world, and I have to buy cheapest Android phone that will be able to handle Android 4.4 or newer.
I have found that the best option is Galaxy S3 and that there's one on Aliexpress. I'm aware that it might be a clone but it will not be my primary phone. It just has to be able to handle newer Android.
Can't post a link, search for the top ordered Samsung Galaxy S3 I9300 on Aliexpress.
Has anyone tried it? Will software see it as genuin S3? Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can upgrade it even to marshmallow why KitKat?
As we are expecting the official cm to release tomorrow so I think that s3 is the best choice. And if you just like touchwiz s3 has 4.4.4 ports from touchwiz and you can install them. But I recommend you to install lollipop 5.1.1 rom if you buy a s3 device. You chose the best device if you want any help on how to flash these roms just reply my post.
If I helped you hit the tnx button.:good:
Related
I recently visited china and bought a samsung galaxy note, it turns out to not have the play store and doesn't have the android ice cream sandwich upgrade yet plus it has locked down post of the google features due to the dispute google and china had
Is there any possible way to re install a normal version of android in to this phone????
Pls help me
Nope, cause it's not real Galaxy Note.
sthEn said:
Nope, cause it's not real Galaxy Note.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be a real galaxy note. I've seen roms and ruus from China without gapps. OP: post some screenshots and pictures of the phone.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using xda premium
99 percents is Chinese fake product!
100% true Galaxy Note
I also bought it in China in Samsung store without play.google
There is already ICS on our device, but still without play.google (ggaps)
9220 with google play
I also have the GT-I9220 and it is 100% real Samsung if you want google play on it flash via odin the FM-Note-Kernel_V2.0.tar and then ICS AlBa Full DDLPA rom. Or see my answer how to make a N7000 out of it here :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=27943515#post27943515
Jens
ICS 4.0.4 could be flashed via KIES, but not OTA.
The chinese guys would “recovery” the zip file of GMS package. Another kind of jailbreak
More young chinese guys would buy phones of local bands, such as Huawei, Meizu, which treat with the GMS issue in a diplomatic way ; and they would buy phones of sumsung, sony from Hongkong, Europe...
gnutirt said:
99 percents is Chinese fake product!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nurrrrr......dont think you live here or have any idea about the market here...
Believe me....your % are somewhat out by 90%...
Every Chinese around me have either a iPhone on plan from China Telecom or a HTC or Samsung..
And would not be caught dead with a fake..
HTC are killing it here...love to see their figures for China sales..
Re..Android without Gapps...its the norm here for most brands..
They have stripped Google out of the picture and steering the plebs to their own markets..
And or alt markets that are popping up...
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Hi there.
I am planning on buying a new Android phone in place of my old ageing Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE. I'm choosing between the Nexus 5, HTC One (M7) and the Galaxy S4. A "third" option is the G2/G2 mini. One thing that is common to these phones are they all h have Snapdragon processors.
I want to ask about the cameras of these phones as regards the current, latest & most recent software update to them:
1. Which phone between the four you think boots up the quickest?
2. I wont be asking which ones takes the better photos of them all but rather...Are there any good alternative 1st-party or 3rd-party camera app I can install for my new phone?
Thank you.
Gino76ph said:
Hi there.
I am planning on buying a new Android phone in place of my old ageing Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE. I'm choosing between the Nexus 5, HTC One (M7) and the Galaxy S4. A "third" option is the G2/G2 mini. One thing that is common to these phones are they all h have Snapdragon processors.
I want to ask about the cameras of these phones as regards the current, latest & most recent software update to them:
1. Which phone between the four you think boots up the quickest?
2. I wont be asking which ones takes the better photos of them all but rather...Are there any good alternative 1st-party or 3rd-party camera app I can install for my new phone?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go here and read and use search for your answers...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1620179 or http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2229761
Hi, I can get a deal offer for the s3 at the price of $233. But I have some questions
Is it still worth getting the galaxy s3 in 2014?
WIll it get official android L from samsung (there is already official kitkat right?)
if there's no official android L, does it have official Cyanogenmod support and so will it get android L cyanogenmod?
for future android L custom roms , will there be problems with some drivers? (e.g. my htc desure never got proper camera support on android 4.X roms as the drivers are not available). Are all drivers(and source code) released by samsung for the s3?
how does it compare with the galaxy s4? is the latter worth the price difference
how is camera (important for me) as compared to smarphones in the same price range available today (e.g. xperia sp, galaxy s4 mini)
thx for your time reading my long list of questions and waiting your replies and suggestions guys. Thx
No, no and no, yes and unlikely, yes and no, s4 is better but not by much, camera is good but only on stock rom.
is camera bad on custom roms? and there's no cyanogenmod official support?
yeahman45 said:
Hi, I can get a deal offer for the s3 at the price of $233. But I have some questions
Is it still worth getting the galaxy s3 in 2014?
WIll it get official android L from samsung (there is already official kitkat right?)
if there's no official android L, does it have official Cyanogenmod support and so will it get android L cyanogenmod?
for future android L custom roms , will there be problems with some drivers? (e.g. my htc desure never got proper camera support on android 4.X roms as the drivers are not available). Are all drivers(and source code) released by samsung for the s3?
how does it compare with the galaxy s4? is the latter worth the price difference
how is camera (important for me) as compared to smarphones in the same price range available today (e.g. xperia sp, galaxy s4 mini)
thx for your time reading my long list of questions and waiting your replies and suggestions guys. Thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Absolutely no for the only 1 GB of RAM.
Actually on Amazon is very sold its Neo variant with 1,5 GB, but according to me it's a madness: a newer hardware is highly preferable and x64 architecture is coming.
2) Absolutely no and you are wrong: no KitKat official support for S3, why it should be extended to Android L? It's impossible!
3) Yes, it's promised by Cyanogen team, but never more the bull**** did with CM 10.2, working of course on a stable rom to switch to CM 11 nightlies as soon as possible.
When CM 11 stable is released, you can stay on CM 12 nightlies.
4) Samsung drivers are already released for custom rom, except for the 2-way call recording.
CyanogenMod prefers to use the hybrid and open source drivers, but with a specific BOEFFLA kernel, actually experimental, you can get the official and proprietary drivers, much better than first.
5) Galaxy S4 is obviously greater than S3 under any aspect, its price is about €300-350.
6) S3 has an excellent camera, but in AOSP roms it's not provided of a good stabilization, so pictures are a bit more moving than in stock rom.
Yup I know there are better hardware (obviously.. it is 2 yrs old) but for the price of $233 is it worth it? I don't want to spend more than $300 on a phone.
yeahman45 said:
Yup I know there are better hardware (obviously.. it is 2 yrs old) but for the price of $233 is it worth it? I don't want to spend more than $300 on a phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LG G Pro Lite [emoji106]
Simone98RC said:
LG G Pro Lite [emoji106]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will check this out... if the community of custom roms is active (but 5.5" is a bit too big for me and i hope it has sdcard and removable battery)
edit: are you sure it is better than the S3? looking at the specs, it does not look that great and it's a mediatek cpu ... )
yeahman45 said:
will check this out... if the community of custom roms is active (but 5.5" is a bit too big for me and i hope it has sdcard and removable battery)
edit: are you sure it is better than the S3? looking at the specs, it does not look that great and it's a mediatek cpu ... )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know the Mediatek reputation, LG G Pro under many aspects is the ideal phone for your budget.
On Amazon.it its price is about €250, I think less on a bigger store such Amazon US or DE.
As me you want to root the device and flash a custom rom... LG is the only trademark who guarantee warranty also under root permissions.
Please can someone get me the quaraqumus QS-i9300-KK-v2.6 resumable link
Hi
Came across an article which states that Samsung will be producing a low-spec smartphone for sale in third-world countries
According to this article, the specs are quite low...with the handset only having about 1Gb memory
It also states that this handset will come out with Kit Kat, but will update shortly after release to Android L
My question is this....how is it possible they can update a brand new unit with the same specs as the Galaxy S3..., yet still remain ignorant of the S3 itself (which is most probable the most widely used handset I know of here)
Surely if they can get Android L running on this smartphone (Android One), then we could possible port it to the S3?
Article:
http://www.talkandroid.com/217404-a...-month-in-india-l-coming-the-following-month/
linuxson said:
Hi
Came across an article which states that Samsung will be producing a low-spec smartphone for sale in third-world countries
According to this article, the specs are quite low...with the handset only having about 1Gb memory
It also states that this handset will come out with Kit Kat, but will update shortly after release to Android L
My question is this....how is it possible they can update a brand new unit with the same specs as the Galaxy S3..., yet still remain ignorant of the S3 itself (which is most probable the most widely used handset I know of here)
Surely if they can get Android L running on this smartphone (Android One), then we could possible port it to the S3?
Article:
http://www.talkandroid.com/217404-a...-month-in-india-l-coming-the-following-month/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PS:
Even the S3's processor looks better?
View attachment 2912761
linuxson said:
PS:
Even the S3's processor looks better?
View attachment 2912761
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its possible when it becomes available of course. No guarantees however.
From my Wicked S3 running MIUI
Hi All,
I'm an engineer looking to upgrade a product which uses an old Altel smartphone. I'm experienced in Unlocking and flashing. I have already done a search, but now in 2020, there may be new info.
Looking for suggestions for the best CHEAP android phone which has good custom ROM support for android 7+ (ish).
I need to use the back camera, and connect via wifi, bluetooth, or Cellular Data. It will be tested in the US, but may benefit from support for many globally common 3g and 4g bands.
One last thing. Would love to find something I can still buy a few dozen of NEW, or at least MFG REFURB.
Can anyone suggest suitable phones? So far, been considering late nexus line and early pixel line, knowing they're flash unlockable.
Thank you for reading! Apologies if I hit the wrong section of the forum.
bizzzle said:
Hi All,
I'm an engineer looking to upgrade a product which uses an old Altel smartphone. I'm experienced in Unlocking and flashing. I have already done a search, but now in 2020, there may be new info.
Looking for suggestions for the best CHEAP android phone which has good custom ROM support for android 7+ (ish).
I need to use the back camera, and connect via wifi, bluetooth, or Cellular Data. It will be tested in the US, but may benefit from support for many globally common 3g and 4g bands.
One last thing. Would love to find something I can still buy a few dozen of NEW, or at least MFG REFURB.
Can anyone suggest suitable phones? So far, been considering late nexus line and early pixel line, knowing they're flash unlockable.
Thank you for reading! Apologies if I hit the wrong section of the forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are no *NEW* cheap phones that have custom ROM support unfortunately. But used phone are an option : ) If you want official ROM support (Even to this day!), you can get a Samsung Galaxy S4 for 50$, an S5, Note 3 (Android 9 - 10 support!).
If you want a used phone at 100-150$, you can get a A5 2017, Google Pixel 1, Nexus 6 (Don't buy the 6p)
If you want to get a Brand new phone: Moto G7 and G6 Plus (200-250$). (Theese phones have a more complicated process of modding)
You can check the Lineage OS download Page here: https://download.lineageos.org/ Theese are all of the supported devices.
If you don't want to have any difficulties, you can get a Samsung but be careful with the variants! Get the international or Canadian variant because if you get a US variant, there are no methods of unlocking the device (except for the S5 and less) You can also get the Google Pixel, but do not buy the US variant. Same for the nexus devices...
Your knowledge and help are much appreciated.
Can you offer advice on USB OTG Compatibility with various phones on Lineage? I've had mixed results in the past with stock ROMs.
alexenferman said:
There are no *NEW* cheap phones that have custom ROM support unfortunately. But used phone are an option : ) If you want official ROM support (Even to this day!), you can get a Samsung Galaxy S4 for 50$, an S5, Note 3 (Android 9 - 10 support!).
If you want a used phone at 100-150$, you can get a A5 2017, Google Pixel 1, Nexus 6 (Don't buy the 6p)
If you want to get a Brand new phone: Moto G7 and G6 Plus (200-250$). (Theese phones have a more complicated process of modding)
You can check the Lineage OS download Page here: https://download.lineageos.org/ Theese are all of the supported devices.
If you don't want to have any difficulties, you can get a Samsung but be careful with the variants! Get the international or Canadian variant because if you get a US variant, there are no methods of unlocking the device (except for the S5 and less) You can also get the Google Pixel, but do not buy the US variant. Same for the nexus devices...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bizzzle said:
Your knowledge and help are much appreciated.
Can you offer advice on USB OTG Compatibility with various phones on Lineage? I've had mixed results in the past with stock ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All of the phones I mentioned have OTG capability
Probably almost all phone supported by lineage have OTG. Don't worry about that.
bizzzle said:
Hi All,
I'm an engineer looking to upgrade a product which uses an old Altel smartphone. I'm experienced in Unlocking and flashing. I have already done a search, but now in 2020, there may be new info.
Looking for suggestions for the best CHEAP android phone which has good custom ROM support for android 7+ (ish).
I need to use the back camera, and connect via wifi, bluetooth, or Cellular Data. It will be tested in the US, but may benefit from support for many globally common 3g and 4g bands.
One last thing. Would love to find something I can still buy a few dozen of NEW, or at least MFG REFURB.
Can anyone suggest suitable phones? So far, been considering late nexus line and early pixel line, knowing they're flash unlockable.
Thank you for reading! Apologies if I hit the wrong section of the forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have 2 Samsung Galaxy S3 ( circa 2012 ) and while they are far from new, they are great phones to play around with.
I am far from experienced, but I have enjoyed flashing Custom ROM's , from CyanogenMod, thru various versions of Lineage, and now CrDroid. The newest O/S that I flashed is CrDroid 3.8.9 ( based on Android 7.1.2 - I think! ). Runs great. Stable. Long battery life. Ran ( 'right out of the box' ) without any need to install Gapps.
The nice thing is the Samsung Galaxy S3 is so darn abundant. Seems that everybody has one collecting dust in a drawer. And that means they are cheap ( as in give it away ). All the Samsung Galaxy S3 came with unlocked bootloader ( I think that is the term ) except for the Verizon model.
Icing on the cake is, a fellow from Montreal, alexenferman, is the genious authour of the CrDroid Custom ROM.