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.
Related
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
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:
Hello i live in Greece and i was interested in purchasing a new phone.
In Greece the only model that is available is the Helio Deca core model and i will be going for the 3 GB Ram 64 Rom version.
I came across a deal and i am seriously considering to purchase the device but i have some questions first
1 ) is the phone rootable?
2) will custom roms such as cyanogen mod and such be available for the device ?
I cant explain what i need from a phone well enough but the case is that i need a smartphone that its software can be altered easily and there are many roms available for it without having to pay the premium for a flagship device.
I do not care about Camera quality only for the core hardware (cpu ram gpu and a good DAC)
Sorry for the confusing explanation if you have any questions i will be more than happy to explain what i mean.
Thank you in advance.
jackaros said:
Hello i live in Greece and i was interested in purchasing a new phone.
In Greece the only model that is available is the Helio Deca core model and i will be going for the 3 GB Ram 64 Rom version.
I came across a deal and i am seriously considering to purchase the device but i have some questions first
1 ) is the phone rootable?
2) will custom roms such as cyanogen mod and such be available for the device ?
I cant explain what i need from a phone well enough but the case is that i need a smartphone that its software can be altered easily and there are many roms available for it without having to pay the premium for a flagship device.
I do not care about Camera quality only for the core hardware (cpu ram gpu and a good DAC)
Sorry for the confusing explanation if you have any questions i will be more than happy to explain what i mean.
Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its really going to be a toss up between this and the Redmi Note 3 Pro. I have the Note 4 and really like it, I can confirm it is fully rootable and you can install TWRP custom recovery also.
There are some custom roms available, although nowhere near as many as the Note 3/Pro. You will see an AOSP rom by cofface which was only released a couple of weeks ago but many have been using as a daily driver (see link below to rom dev thread). There is also a cyanogen rom which is an alpha but again is still a work in progress. You can also get custom/modified versions of the stock MIUI ROM, personally I find MIUI really good (smooth and lots of customisation options), although if you're a stock android enthusiast it might not be for you. And I've used just about all versions of android over the years, be it nexus/CM mod, AOSP/htc sense/touchwiz.
I'd say if your into modding and ROMs, then the Note 3 Pro would be a great option. The specs are pretty similar and the Note 3 seems to have better battery life, which could be the Snapdragon 650, which seems to be a great processor in terms of power and efficiency. As for audio, I'm loving the audio output via the 3.5mm jack, I actually find it better than the Galaxy S7 that I had, which sounded pretty cheap to be honest and was a disappointment for me (probably the only one on the S7) . I havent tried the Note 3 so cant really comment on it, but Im certain there are more than a few audio mods to play around with and if you check the Note 3 forum, you should get an idea of user opinions.
My reason for choosing the Note 4 over the Note 3 was the Note 4's build quality. The all metal body looks and feels really nice, but if thats not really a big deal for you, the Note 3 is supposed to be very solid also, as it does have a metal back (but plastic at the top and bottom for radio signal). It will also be better for glass screen protectors due to the flat panel of glass, where as the Note 4 has 2.5 curved edges which makes screen protectors a bit more hit and miss in terms of fit.
ROM development
http://forum.xda-developers.com/redmi-note-4/development
gsmyth said:
Its really going to be a toss up between this and the Redmi Note 3 Pro. I have the Note 4 and really like it, I can confirm it is fully rootable and you can install TWRP custom recovery also.
There are some custom roms available, although nowhere near as many as the Note 3/Pro. You will see an AOSP rom by cofface which was only released a couple of weeks ago but many have been using as a daily driver (see link below to rom dev thread). There is also a cyanogen rom which is an alpha but again is still a work in progress. You can also get custom/modified versions of the stock MIUI ROM, personally I find MIUI really good (smooth and lots of customisation options), although if you're a stock android enthusiast it might not be for you. And I've used just about all versions of android over the years, be it nexus/CM mod, AOSP/htc sense/touchwiz.
I'd say if your into modding and ROMs, then the Note 3 Pro would be a great option. The specs are pretty similar and the Note 3 seems to have better battery life, which could be the Snapdragon 650, which seems to be a great processor in terms of power and efficiency. As for audio, I'm loving the audio output via the 3.5mm jack, I actually find it better than the Galaxy S7 that I had, which sounded pretty cheap to be honest and was a disappointment for me (probably the only one on the S7) . I havent tried the Note 3 so cant really comment on it, but Im certain there are more than a few audio mods to play around with and if you check the Note 3 forum, you should get an idea of user opinions.
My reason for choosing the Note 4 over the Note 3 was the Note 4's build quality. The all metal body looks and feels really nice, but if thats not really a big deal for you, the Note 3 is supposed to be very solid also, as it does have a metal back (but plastic at the top and bottom for radio signal). It will also be better for glass screen protectors due to the flat panel of glass, where as the Note 4 has 2.5 curved edges which makes screen protectors a bit more hit and miss in terms of fit.
ROM development
http://forum.xda-developers.com/redmi-note-4/development
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your answer and it was amazing that you have the device and that you judged it fairly (in my opinion).
But i learned something that may change my mind ...
For 50 eur more i could get the Samsung Galaxy A5 . And still i do not know what should i do.
I told a friend and he told me that even if the Galaxy phone had even lower specs he would go with it just because its a more reliable brand . ( I dont think this is a very good argument but still using big brand phones like LG Samsung etc and paying more for them "pays back" in a way in support from developers and official support from the company)
Whats your opinion ?
jackaros said:
Thank you very much for your answer and it was amazing that you have the device and that you judged it fairly (in my opinion).
But i learned something that may change my mind ...
For 50 eur more i could get the Samsung Galaxy A5 . And still i do not know what should i do.
I told a friend and he told me that even if the Galaxy phone had even lower specs he would go with it just because its a more reliable brand . ( I dont think this is a very good argument but still using big brand phones like LG Samsung etc and paying more for them "pays back" in a way in support from developers and official support from the company)
Whats your opinion ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand what he is saying, but in terms of support Xiaomi arent actually that bad. The Note 4 is currently on Android 6.0, but there are continual security updates, like most flagships these days. Its not known for certain whether it will officially get updated to 7.0, but they certainly seem to continue with updates whether they be small fixes and security patches.
I would generally recommend Samsung as well to any friends who want a decent reliable device, although I personally wouldnt choose it over the Note 4 as its got 16GB storage and 2GB RAM. I'm not all about having the biggest screen/fastest processor/most RAM, etc etc, but I've had 16GB phones (my previous one was 32GB) and I just like having the extra internal space, 16GB feels limited these days. And with 64GB the Note 4 just feels like you've no worries about running out, I had a Oneplus One previously as well and it also had 64GB. The bonus on the Note for is the sd card option as well, so you get the best of both worlds.
gsmyth said:
I understand what he is saying, but in terms of support Xiaomi arent actually that bad. The Note 4 is currently on Android 6.0, but there are continual security updates, like most flagships these days. Its not known for certain whether it will officially get updated to 7.0, but they certainly seem to continue with updates whether they be small fixes and security patches.
I would generally recommend Samsung as well to any friends who want a decent reliable device, although I personally wouldnt choose it over the Note 4 as its got 16GB storage and 2GB RAM. I'm not all about having the biggest screen/fastest processor/most RAM, etc etc, but I've had 16GB phones (my previous one was 32GB) and I just like having the extra internal space, 16GB feels limited these days. And with 64GB the Note 4 just feels like you've no worries about running out, I had a Oneplus One previously as well and it also had 64GB. The bonus on the Note for is the sd card option as well, so you get the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your answer.
I want my device to be reliable but i also need it to be snappy and futureproof (my S3 has served me well for 4 years with custom roms ) i want a fast smartphone that will go a long way and the A5 lacks on internal storage and Ram ... so yeah i am seriously thinking the possibility of buying Redmi note 4 but i still have my doubts about it .. i am just not sure if it is worth the investment.
jackaros said:
Thank you for your answer.
I want my device to be reliable but i also need it to be snappy and futureproof (my S3 has served me well for 4 years with custom roms ) i want a fast smartphone that will go a long way and the A5 lacks on internal storage and Ram ... so yeah i am seriously thinking the possibility of buying Redmi note 4 but i still have my doubts about it .. i am just not sure if it is worth the investment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want longevity and futureproof with custom roms, I would definitely take a look at the Note 3, just look at the ROM development thread at the link below. It reminds me of the Oneplus One or Nexus 5 forums, where you could not only get official cyanogen roms, but all the other great custom roms, so you're really spoilt for choice. Its really only the other phone I considered apart from the Note 4 and again i was just really impressed with the Note 4's build quality.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/redmi-note-3/development
Sorry not meaning to hijack the thread, just a quick question abotu which OS to choose @gsmyth you seem to be the right person to ask... I have my Redmi Note 4 on order and I think MIUI 8 will work well for me. It seems lik there is still some issues with cofface's AOSP. I will probably debloat it and use Nova Launcher. Of all the different options with MIUI 8, which one would you recommend to use?
mrchrister said:
Sorry not meaning to hijack the thread, just a quick question abotu which OS to choose @gsmyth you seem to be the right person to ask... I have my Redmi Note 4 on order and I think MIUI 8 will work well for me. It seems lik there is still some issues with cofface's AOSP. I will probably debloat it and use Nova Launcher. Of all the different options with MIUI 8, which one would you recommend to use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the CM/AOSP roms are still early in development, but worth keeping an eye on. I'm really enjoying MIUI to be honest and nova launcher is excellent too. You should be grand with the global rom or the EU rom which is basically the Chinese rom but with all the Chinese content removed. I'd recommend unlocking the bootloader when you get it and installing TWRP, it's great to be able to make full backups if you're trying out roms.
Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk
mrchrister said:
Sorry not meaning to hijack the thread, just a quick question abotu which OS to choose @gsmyth you seem to be the right person to ask... I have my Redmi Note 4 on order and I think MIUI 8 will work well for me. It seems lik there is still some issues with cofface's AOSP. I will probably debloat it and use Nova Launcher. Of all the different options with MIUI 8, which one would you recommend to use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
latest ROM for Nikel (our device codename) from XIAOMI.EU should be fine
custom roms for this phone require Unlocked BL and root
https://xiaomi.eu/community/threads/6-12-15.36782/
Official Global Beta rom is also another option that but DOES NOT require unlocked BL and Root
http://en.miui.com/thread-440133-1-1.html
This phone is worth every penny, specially the 64 gb and 3 gb version. I'm still on the latest EU MIUI 8.2, and it's actually a pretty great rom, but I do prefer CM... For now I'll keep Miui.
Hi there, just want to pitch you my 2 cents regarding the Redmi Note 4.
I have been looking for a smarthphone for a while and i end up getting a Redmi Note 4 a month ago. Really happy with it and imo my best purchase of the year 2016 :fingers-crossed:
The Redmi Note 4 build quality looks and feel absolutely superb as i'm used to seeing plastic phones in this price category. Most of my friends seeing my Redmi Note 4 for the first time thought it was something more expensive than it actually was.
On the performance side: it's great, but not as great as equal Snapdragon based product with Adreno GPU. But it's definitely and absolutely no sloth! The weakest link imo is the Mali GPU, but still good enough to have a great gaming experience with it (half of my internal storage is currently occupied by huge amount of Android games). But not strong enough for smooth VR experience.
Also, consider the Redmi Note 4 only got released in August, give it some time for developers to make their ROMs compatible with the Redmi Note 4. Even Xiaomi themselves seems to be more focussed on Redmi Note 3 support than Note 4 atm.
jackaros said:
Thank you very much for your answer and it was amazing that you have the device and that you judged it fairly (in my opinion).
But i learned something that may change my mind ...
For 50 eur more i could get the Samsung Galaxy A5 . And still i do not know what should i do.
I told a friend and he told me that even if the Galaxy phone had even lower specs he would go with it just because its a more reliable brand . ( I dont think this is a very good argument but still using big brand phones like LG Samsung etc and paying more for them "pays back" in a way in support from developers and official support from the company)
Whats your opinion ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I woulnd't recommend anyone to pay 50 euro MORE for a 'lesser' product (about it's core functionality and hardware):
- Galaxy A5 has lower resolution screen: 720 vs 1080p
- Slower performance, Antutu 20k on the A5 vs 85k on Redmi Note 4
- Less RAM and less storage space (assuming you going for the 3GB model, other wise it would be the same)
- No fingerprint sensor for security and unlocking the phone, and the Redmi Note 4 fingerprint sensor is very quick!
- No 4G(LTE) support on the Galaxy A5
- No USB On-The-Go (OTG) support on the Galaxy A5, which is very handy for anyone with lots of USB devices
If anything, they should be paying you 50 euro to stay loyal to their brand....
I always gets giddy when i read people base their purchase on the argument: "They are a reliable brand". That always makes me wonder what exactly makes a brand "reliable"? Reliable on trying to make you upgrade the product every year? Honestly, those are the hallmark of a fanboi
There are a few reasons however i can think of someone going for the Galaxy A5 anyway:
- Form factor: the Redmi Note 4 is considerably bigger
- Accessories: Having a hard time finding a cover for it locally: not much luck so far. Not surprising however as Xiaomi is not even active in Europe makes it pretty much fail quest to begin with. Online is the only way i guess, same as selling them online (where i got it from) is what Xiaomi business is about; to keep them cheap.
- Repairs or guarantees. No European office means this is going to be a problem if your phone is broken.
Comparison: www kimovil com/en/compare/samsung-galaxy-a5-dual-sim-a500h,xiaomi-redmi-note-4-3gb-32gb
(link is missing "." in the domain name because i'm new and still hasn't posted enough to be allowed putting outside links in my post)
I bought Redmi Note 4 3GB RAM and 64 GB ROM model. I am thoroughly enjoying it.
jackaros said:
Thank you very much for your answer and it was amazing that you have the device and that you judged it fairly (in my opinion).
But i learned something that may change my mind ...
For 50 eur more i could get the Samsung Galaxy A5 . And still i do not know what should i do.
I told a friend and he told me that even if the Galaxy phone had even lower specs he would go with it just because its a more reliable brand . ( I dont think this is a very good argument but still using big brand phones like LG Samsung etc and paying more for them "pays back" in a way in support from developers and official support from the company)
Whats your opinion ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously now, how can Samsung be considered "reliable" after their latest explosive device?
Wow guys thank you so much for the answers.
I would first like to thank the bro who hijacked the thread because i got informed about the roms too i know that the phone is quite more powerful than the A5 and i would like to add something .
How does it do next to Redmi Pro
i now what i am asking is terrible but
Could please do a quick comparison of the two ?
Why go RedMi Note 4 instead of Redmi Pro and vice versa
Redmi Pro Version Decacore 64GB 3GB Ram
Redmi Note 4 Decacore 64GB 3GB Ram
jackaros said:
Wow guys thank you so much for the answers.
I would first like to thank the bro who hijacked the thread because i got informed about the roms too i know that the phone is quite more powerful than the A5 and i would like to add something .
How does it do next to Redmi Pro
i now what i am asking is terrible but
Could please do a quick comparison of the two ?
Why go RedMi Note 4 instead of Redmi Pro and vice versa
Redmi Pro Version Decacore 64GB 3GB Ram
Redmi Note 4 Decacore 64GB 3GB Ram
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too looked between the Redmi Pro & Note 4 but decided to go with the Note 4 as I wanted the larger screen & was happy to go MTK.
Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk
Hi guys, I am planning to get Moto Z and price is 200$ about. Do you think it is worth getting it now? I don't want to spend much money since it's a secondary device for me.
Also, I noticed it has many variants. Which variant is good for custom ROM, Unlock BL and Root support?
So far, I came across XT1650-05, XT1650-01, XT1650-03 etc
Ampicillin said:
Hi guys, I am planning to get Moto Z and price is 200$ about. Do you think it is worth getting it now? I don't want to spend much money since it's a secondary device for me.
Also, I noticed it has many variants. Which variant is good for custom ROM, Unlock BL and Root support?
So far, I came across XT1650-05, XT1650-01, XT1650-03 etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It`s the same phone. Difference is the software update channel. 05 - China, 03 - EU and USA. Maybe some little changes in frequency, but HW the same.
Just try some google, man.
Also moto z in 2018? In the end of its lifecycle? Meh.
Ampicillin said:
Hi guys, I am planning to get Moto Z and price is 200$ about. Do you think it is worth getting it now? I don't want to spend much money since it's a secondary device for me.
Also, I noticed it has many variants. Which variant is good for custom ROM, Unlock BL and Root support?
So far, I came across XT1650-05, XT1650-01, XT1650-03 etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same camera as that Nexus 6 of yours there.
New or used? If it's used you might wanna get a battery replacement for it, the Nougat 7.0 update kinda overstressed the battery
I'd get the G5+ or G5S, TBH (better battery life with Snapdragon 625)
Defaultnickname said:
It`s the same phone. Difference is the software update channel. 05 - China, 03 - EU and USA. Maybe some little changes in frequency, but HW the same.
Just try some google, man.
Also moto z in 2018? In the end of its lifecycle? Meh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks mate,
I just sold my Nexus 6 and looking for a replacement as a secondary device. I came across Moto Z, LGV20, HTC 10, Honor 8, Nexus 6P. I do not want to spend more than 200-230$ and I merely keep my secondary device for 6-9 months.
I am getting a good deal if I get XT1650-01 and I believe it is verizon model but what I came to know is that it cannot unlock BL and root. I usually customize my phones.
41LY45 said:
Same camera as that Nexus 6 of yours there.
New or used? If it's used you might wanna get a battery replacement for it, the Nougat 7.0 update kinda overstressed the battery
I'd get the G5+ or G5S, TBH (better battery life with Snapdragon 625)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's brand new if I get Verizon variant. I am not into photography that much. I am looking for a better Snapdragon processor with the good amount of RAM so that it still holds resell value in the future. If I opt for a mid-range device like Xiaomi or Huawei I am getting a good deal in 200$ but then it would not hold much resell values after 6-9 months.
PS. I see that you Malaysian too
Ampicillin said:
Thanks mate,
I just sold my Nexus 6 and looking for a replacement as a secondary device. I came across Moto Z, LGV20, HTC 10, Honor 8, Nexus 6P. I do not want to spend more than 200-230$ and I merely keep my secondary device for 6-9 months.
I am getting a good deal if I get XT1650-01 and I believe it is verizon model but what I came to know is that it cannot unlock BL and root. I usually customize my phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, don`t know about Verizon`s bootloader. But I can install verizons FW on my 05. Look at the thread [How to unlock bootloader]
Defaultnickname said:
Sorry, don`t know about Verizon`s bootloader. But I can install verizons FW on my 05. Look at the thread [How to unlock bootloader]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, I will check it out :good:
I am not sure what section to post this question in and I am not aware that this question has been answered.
Where to I find a list of recent phones or tablets suitable for Lineage OS? The LineageOS own site is a mix of really old phones with more recent ones and omits all non official ports.
The question is actually quite simple: suppose I want to buy a phone or a tablet today to install LineageOS. What are the options?
The requirements are:
-the device should not be too old (issued in 2017-2018), or I can't buy it new
-it should support Lineage 14 or 15
-Lineage should be installable on the current version, ideally without needing to register as a developper by the manufacturer.
The latter is more tricky than it seems. For example, the Samsung A5 is officially supported by LineageOS 14, but there is no LineageOS 15 rom available. Current versions come with Android 8.0 and cannot be downgraded to LineageOS 14. Besides, Samsung added extra security on their bootloader which makes installation a real pain.
jerome_m said:
I am not sure what section to post this question in and I am not aware that this question has been answered.
Where to I find a list of recent phones or tablets suitable for Lineage OS? The LineageOS own site is a mix of really old phones with more recent ones and omits all non official ports.
The question is actually quite simple: suppose I want to buy a phone or a tablet today to install LineageOS. What are the options?
The requirements are:
-the device should not be too old (issued in 2017-2018), or I can't buy it new
-it should support Lineage 14 or 15
-Lineage should be installable on the current version, ideally without needing to register as a developper by the manufacturer.
The latter is more tricky than it seems. For example, the Samsung A5 is officially supported by LineageOS 14, but there is no LineageOS 15 rom available. Current versions come with Android 8.0 and cannot be downgraded to LineageOS 14. Besides, Samsung added extra security on their bootloader which makes installation a real pain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not just shortlist a few devices you like and then checking whether they have good dev support?
Samsung is the toughest to get a bug-free lineage os rom, so strike that
OnePlus has good dev support and some Xiaomi phones too
RVR said:
Why not just shortlist a few devices you like and then checking whether they have good dev support?
Samsung is the toughest to get a bug-free lineage os rom, so strike that
OnePlus has good dev support and some Xiaomi phones too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your answer.
I did not consider OnePlus, because their phones are only available for a short period of time. When LineageOS is available, the phone is usually out of production. Xiaomi, I don't know about their phones.
Do you know if OnePlus and Xiaomi allow installation of alternatrive roms without requiring an unlock key from the manufacturer?
jerome_m said:
Thank you for your answer.
I did not consider OnePlus, because their phones are only available for a short period of time. When LineageOS is available, the phone is usually out of production. Xiaomi, I don't know about their phones.
Do you know if OnePlus and Xiaomi allow installation of alternatrive roms without requiring an unlock key from the manufacturer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OnePlus doesn't require a key from the manufacturer. OnePlus 6 or 6t should be a good bet if you don't mind the notch . However, unlocking a Xiaomi bootloader may be time-consuming since you need a code and it can take time to get.
EDIT; You can't go wrong with a Google Pixel 2XL , all roms will work seamlessly
RVR said:
OnePlus doesn't require a key from the manufacturer. OnePlus 6 or 6t should be a good bet if you don't mind the notch . However, unlocking a Xiaomi bootloader may be time-consuming since you need a code and it can take time to get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, Xiaomi would be a second choice. I don't really want to have to beg the manufacturer for an unlock code.
I checked about the OnePlus 6 and 6T. No real development yet on 6T, since the phone is not publicly available (expected). LineageOS 15 does not appear to be maintained any more on the 6. Bummer.
RVR said:
EDIT; You can't go wrong with a Google Pixel 2XL , all roms will work seamlessly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked the Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL. There are difficulties with these phones because of encryption, but they can be solved. Lineage is a special build that comes with gapps pre-installed. I dont want gapps at all.
Thank you for your help, but I still don't have what I am looking for: a phone, reasonably recent so as to be available new, with a reasonably usable Lineage OS 15 installable without too much trouble.
I also asked about a tablet, but that seems even more difficult.