Hi everyone! First of all excuse me if this isn't the right category for this thread.
The time has come to retire my iPhone 4S (which I'm guessing is not very popular around here ) and I'm ready to ditch iOS for Android.
As I never had an Android device, my expectations are to be able to use the factory OS, get OTA updates, etc, without having to install custom ROMs in order to get a good experience.
Fundamental specs:
- Dual-SIM support.
- Dedicated microSD slot or, if not, at least 32GB/64GB storage.
- Good/great camera
- Fingerprint reader
- Android Marshmallow.
- Priced around 300-350 Euros.
Nice-to-have but not fundamental stuff:
- Quick Charge.
- I'd rather have dedicated navigation keys and not on-screen ones.
- Ideally I'd like to avoid a 5.5" display or higher, but it was though for me to find smaller phones with good specs. I'm used to my 3.5" and I'd rather stay in that 3.5"-4" spectrum. 5" would be better than 5.5" too
From the phones I was able to find, I'd highlight the following: Motorola Moto G4 Plus, Asus Zenfone 3 and OnePlus 3 (unconfirmed specs).
My indecision also has to do with bloatware.
Since I'd rather not 'customize' my phone, at least for starters, I'd have to live with the factory software.
Out of the 3 brands, which one has the best reputation and most pleasant/stable software?
From what I read, OnePlus is close to stock Android, but it seems like their bug-fixing/updating hasn't been the best lately?
Do you have any other phone suggestions that I should look into?
Please use this existing thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1620179
Please search before posting and try not to create duplicate threads, thanks!
Thread closed.
Related
Hi
I was figuring buying a Spark X. I see the Spark series have no entry here, so I wander I had a good idea. Although, following various links here I think I found the man Porridgek3 works on this X model from a somewhat old COS13.0.2 (comparing to COS13.1.4 for others, e.g. Swift series).
Not being a coder myself I can't read the code at github, so I'd like if this is not stupid question/request to read a thread about what are the changes from stock COS13 to the Porridge custom CM13.
Thank you and happy new year to everyboby at XDA.
The Spark devices are pretty poor. They all have Mediatek processors and updates are much slower than for other Wileyfox devices.
flibblesan said:
The Spark devices are pretty poor. They all have Mediatek processors and updates are much slower than for other Wileyfox devices.
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My aim is not to have a speed daemon. I search something with good and removable battery (Spark X has one and as about same hardware than Spark/Spark+, I guess the autonomy would be better), and I could easily remove the bloatware (stock CN13 would help, I believe, to switch to CMod if exists).
I currently have a Liquid-MT (my first smartphone) for which by chance there was a custom ROM available based on GB-2.3.6, and it was so difficult for me to jailbreak it that I decided to keep it as is until now when mechanical problems with the internal microphone make replacement nearly mandatory.
Also, I'm focused to keep as far away as possible from google and GAFAs I have no confidence in Samsung so I don't even try to know if their devices are easy to make free. That's why I was so happy to discover my target from a single European manufacturer (at least designer) that ships his own with CN, and I easily accept to have a poor camera inside, only 802.11bg and basic 4G. I also know that the Spark X has poor dpi compared to other Sparks because of larger screen, and accept this as a consequence of my decision on battery... an so on...
Not being very much aware in ROMs, I don't know by which tail to catch the beast. I don't really choose for a model, instead I exclude others: GAFA, big Broth, God keeps me away! High end... for tainted kids (or their backward parents), out! Chinese, let's them make phones for ... themselves. So what does remain? Here is my way.
SparkX continued
Hi, how did things go with the sparkx ? I have one here and after no updates for a long time the updates arrived and bumped to nougat and I began to feel like i was signing my life away.
A while back I found an old release of sailfish for my ZTE open C so ive been making steps towards porting sailfish to the sparkx. still in early stages but i am confident it is possible.
1stStep said:
My aim is not to have a speed daemon. I search something with good and removable battery (Spark X has one and as about same hardware than Spark/Spark+, I guess the autonomy would be better), and I could easily remove the bloatware (stock CN13 would help, I believe, to switch to CMod if exists).
I currently have a Liquid-MT (my first smartphone) for which by chance there was a custom ROM available based on GB-2.3.6, and it was so difficult for me to jailbreak it that I decided to keep it as is until now when mechanical problems with the internal microphone make replacement nearly mandatory.
Also, I'm focused to keep as far away as possible from google and GAFAs I have no confidence in Samsung so I don't even try to know if their devices are easy to make free. That's why I was so happy to discover my target from a single European manufacturer (at least designer) that ships his own with CN, and I easily accept to have a poor camera inside, only 802.11bg and basic 4G. I also know that the Spark X has poor dpi compared to other Sparks because of larger screen, and accept this as a consequence of my decision on battery... an so on...
Not being very much aware in ROMs, I don't know by which tail to catch the beast. I don't really choose for a model, instead I exclude others: GAFA, big Broth, God keeps me away! High end... for tainted kids (or their backward parents), out! Chinese, let's them make phones for ... themselves. So what does remain? Here is my way.
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Click to collapse
Hi all
I used AOKP on Samsung and LG some years ago, and it was incredible. I've tried many other ROMs (like 2 a month for a year), it was not the same. crDroid came close, but is still lacking. I want to buy a new phone that is known to have very stable AOKP support. I'm talking about someone who's used the device for 6-12 months at least with no known issues (or minor issues that legit don't bother them), and uses almost every aspect of the ROM's features (I've seen phones that don't support the ribbon, for example, which is a deal breaker).
My budget is anywhere from $300-$1000, I don't really care, so long as the device has at least 2GB RAM and an OK processor.
I don't care too much about the GPU because modern games block rooted devices anyway.
Phone size etc doesn't matter, though I'd prefer bigger rather than smaller.
At least 1920x1080 res, but larger is fine.
I'd prefer very good battery life. I don't want a second hand phone as people tend to ruin batteries, and replacements tend to have terrible shelf lives.
Getdroidtips dot com has some phones listed (I can't post the exact link to the list because too low rep ). The Google Pixel XL looks like a very good choice, but it seems you can't buy them new anymore.
Any suggestions from existing AOKP users? All advice will be much appreciated.
@aggregate1166877
I'm not an AOKP user.
The latest AOKP Custom ROM is based on Android 8.1. A Custom ROM such as TWRP is required to flash it, what presupposes that device's bootloader can get unlocked.
So your options are restricted to Android devices a TWRP exists for and its bootloader can get unlocked.
[Please read the edit at the end. Thank you!]
Hi. I recently bought an Xperia 1 III, coming from a Xiaomi Mi 9T. I didn't realize how many things from MiUI I would miss straight from day one, namely the following.
Things I miss from the MiUI "recent apps" screen:
- The 2x2 layout. The stock Android horizontal layout is almost useless on a 21:9 display, I can't see to the side of the current app.
- The ability to pin apps to prevent them being closed when pressing "close all".
(- The ability to blur apps, but this isn't really an important one.)
More general concerns:
- Native support for scrolling screenshots.
Somewhat stupidly on my part, I did not factor in the UI before buying a Sony phone and now my experience with it is somewhat frustrating. I also just now realize that the scarce popularity of Sony devices means that few custom ROMs will likely be made. I invested in this phone and I intended to keep it for several years (it has everything I might need, hardware-wise) but the software experience is currently a let down.
Since I am still in time for a refund, what do you recommend? Are the custom ROMs (for other devices) that solve my issues, besides of course MiUI, that I might hope to see on the Xperia?
EDIT: I only now find out that you can, in fact, change the recent apps screen since Android Pie. I had read you could not, but the article was from 2017. My bad.
I guess my question now becomes: is there a way to install the MiUI recent apps screen?
I wouldn't think that you can install the MiUI recent apps screen without having to have full MiUI on it through some sort of custom ROM (though I may be completely wrong about that). Hoping to see some sort of ROMs start to exist in the near future.
I've been in a similar boat too though. Coming from a Oneplus 8 Pro, the software experience is very much lacking by comparison.
For me personally, one of the seemingly minute, but still noticeable things that really bothers me, is the old-school looking Android font. Sony doesn't allow you to change it, either. Also, even with an 888, the phone also struggles a lot when it splits two apps onto the screen, where the Oneplus (on an 855) didn't.
See:
OPPO’s Find N foldable is more compact and cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
The OPPO Find N is a new foldable featuring a large landscape screen and an affordable price tag. Read on to learn more.
www.xda-developers.com
Anyone has Any idea on how to link my oppo find N to an external monitor for desktop mode?
There is an integrated oppo proprietary option to replicate the phones screen to the PC (also works in big screen mode). This is called PC Connect and can be accessed via the toggles. Probably not what you were looking for but if its to use your phone on a PC, it will be ok. If you look for something like DeX.
Looking at the Fold 4, I still see our beloved Find N ways ahead. Hope we will get the AA issues solved with Android 13 but chances are small.
deepsync said:
Looking at the Fold 4, I still see our beloved Find N ways ahead. Hope we will get the AA issues solved with Android 13 but chances are small.
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I have my Fold 4 on pre-order. After struggling to do anything semi functionally with the Find N since release I have had enough. I will be sad to see the size, build quality and colour (purple) of the Find N go, but I am ridiculously excited about regaining seamless functionality (along with my sanity). On top of the lack of user friendliness / simplicity aside, not having Android Auto and Google Pay has almost killed me (haha)
I am just looking forward to everything seamlessly working out of the box, not to mention what Samsung have achieved with 4 generations of folding devices. S Pen / crazy multitasking / independent cover + home screens etc.
Oppo might have Samsung up against the ropes regarding innovative design and build quality, but they have a hell of a lot to catch up on in terms of user friendliness / software / functionality (which at the end of the day I have come to realise is far more important to me)
Tim-2.0 said:
I have my Fold 4 on pre-order. After struggling to do anything semi functionally with the Find N since release I have had enough. I will be sad to see the size, build quality and colour (purple) of the Find N go, but I am ridiculously excited about regaining seamless functionality (along with my sanity). On top of the lack of user friendliness / simplicity aside, not having Android Auto and Google Pay has almost killed me (haha)
I am just looking forward to everything seamlessly working out of the box, not to mention what Samsung have achieved with 4 generations of folding devices. S Pen / crazy multitasking / independent cover + home screens etc.
Oppo might have Samsung up against the ropes regarding innovative design and build quality, but they have a hell of a lot to catch up on in terms of user friendliness / software / functionality (which at the end of the day I have come to realise is far more important to me)
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BTW Google Pay works seamlessly on the find N.
But I get your point. At the end it's android to support big screens and multitasking. As such I guess we will see a lot of improvements with the A13 release for the Find N as well.
(please delete - replied in wrong section)
deepsync said:
BTW Google Pay works seamlessly on the find N.
But I get your point. At the end it's android to support big screens and multitasking. As such I guess we will see a lot of improvements with the A13 release for the Find N as well.
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I see people saying it works fine, however I found that it kept on automatically removing / deleting my cards (which got pretty annoying)
Also, it completely stopped working once I installed Android 13 developer preview (which I am currently running), as the firmware isn't officially signed by Google and it thinks the device is compromised / rooted / custom ROM etc
Is there anything that predicts developers will take more interest in the Galaxy S23 range, so we can finally have a custom ROM scene for Galaxy?
Maybe because the S23 (all devices: S23, S23 Ultra, S23 Plus) ditch Exynos in favour of a Qualcomm SM8550-AC, an S23-exclusive version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Did we need a change of wind to make things turn out differently for this device versus earlier Galaxy S ranges? I really hope it's time for renewal, as if im not wrong, the last one that had a nice ROM scene & development going on was the Galaxy S5+ which is so many years ago..
I am talking about a sizable custom ROM scene (all recent devices were dealt a bad hand, or completely lacked it) and the least that would make me very happy: the entry of LineageOS, something that's not been there for years, surely for reasons.
Due to having been away from Galaxy as a result of the lack of ROM scenes in prior devices, I am out of the loop regarding Samsung Galaxy platforms for development support, can anyone state what the main things holding it back have been in recent years? Things being locked down too much, like with other major brands? For what the main blockers are, is there reason to believe that the S23, or the move from Exynos to Qualcomm chips on the other hand, will make a difference? Because as far i know, Qualcomm is the proficient & preferred platform for most devs.
Well as much as Samsung makes everything depend on Knox not being tripped, I doubt it.
I noticed that something may be ongoing when it comes to custom ROM (LineageOS, chipset) work for Galaxy S23+, see: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/lineageos-progress.4582781/
Development there can benefit S23 Ultra vice versa, as it's similar and also sm8550-ac, who knows if that person succeeds they'll move on to S23 Ultra afterwards. I know it's speculation, but in my book these are hopeful signs.
Rom scene has been dull on this side due to Samsung Crippling devices when rooted (Knox being permanently tripped - hence killing resale value) and Dev's losing interest in Samung. We have 2 roms and 2 devs actively supporting the development here which is nothing like the Galaxy S5 or Note 4 Days.
Aside to the above, The stock devices are so good, that there's nothing more you can achieve by rooting which can outweigh the cons of rooting.
JazonX said:
... We have 2 roms and 2 devs actively supporting the development here...
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There exist at least 2 other very good and stable Roms with lots of mods for the Ultra.
ATN Rom and VN Rom.
just noticed this thread about gsis on the s23 range : https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/how-to-gsi-on-s23-ultra.4564249/#post-88279455 (seems to be interesting)
(also noticed a discussion on installing other gsis on the xiaomi 13 : https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/xiaomi-13-gsi.4572035 )
seems to be interesting to me ... maybe I ll buy an S23 to try (I saw a used one that was not too expensive) but maybe I am not avanced enough to succeed
pierro78 said:
seems to be interesting to me ... maybe I ll buy an S23 to try (I saw a used one that was not too expensive) but maybe I am not avanced enough to succeed
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Nice, i was mainly interested in LineageOS/for development to get going on something like the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (sm8550) chipsets, if only we can get a flagship from today in the best possible software package which is where i won't settle for anything less than LineageOS. Not in any case, no matter how good the stock ROM is - it's about freedom, control, privacy & security - where in LOS everything is opensource and auditable (as opposed to OEM.. you don't know what may be running and how secure it is). Not to speak of even faster security patch levels than from any vendor. I also believe you won't feel the true power of your high end hardware until you're running an OS that's practically as clean as AOSP, such as LOS. It's like people dont know any better, and that raw performance (flagships..) offsets your perception anyways.
Since this topic, i've set my gaze on a new device with the same chipset (sm8550) as the Galaxy S23 range - the Motorola Edge 40 Pro, a flagship.. even if chaptsand (as per https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/lineageos-progress.4582781/) can pull it off for Galaxy, i found a way to kickstart the effort for Moto Edge 40 Pro as well, by sponsoring it and bringing a few devs together. If you're interested in that effort, read some comments before and after this one: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...-motorola-edge-30-dubai.4536169/post-88509185, and it still has to be moved into its own topic. But if that gets accomplished and for Galaxy it doesn't turn out well, at least ill have something to recommend to anyone that wants LineageOS on a latest tech flagship. For those that think like me, and won't ever settle for less.
mxz55 said:
Since this topic, i've set my gaze on a new device with the same chipset (sm8550) as the Galaxy S23 range - the Motorola Edge 40 Pro, a flagship.. even if chaptsand (as per https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/lineageos-progress.4582781/) can pull it off for Galaxy, i found a way to kickstart the effort for Moto Edge 40 Pro as well, by sponsoring it and bringing a few devs together. If you're interested in that effort, read some comments before and after this one: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...-motorola-edge-30-dubai.4536169/post-88509185, and it still has to be moved into its own topic. But if that gets accomplished and for Galaxy it doesn't turn out well, at least ill have something to recommend to anyone that wants LineageOS on a latest tech flagship. For those that think like me, and won't ever settle for less.
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thanks ! very interesting and generous from you !!
but I must say I am more interested in a hardware with a "flater" screen than the Edge 40 Pro.
an inconvenience with the S23 is that you are losing OTA with stock rom if you root it ( https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-unlock-bootloader-root-magisk-samsung-galaxy-s23/ )
so, unless there is some AOSP rom with updates for the S23, it seems safer to me to go for the Xiaomi 13 (after I had a look at this guide : https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...bootloader-root-flash-twrp-flash-rom.4538433/ ) ... or maybe I ll go for the Poco F5 pro 12/256 as it should start with an early bird price of 499E tomorrow, although it s an SD 8+ gen 1 instead of an SD 8 gen 2 (oh it will be 479E with the 20E coupon on https://ams.event.mi.com/fr/poco-f5-series-product-launch ) ...
good luck !