yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Questions and Answers] Fallingwater:
Hi all. I have a 5-inch midrange-six-months-ago phone that's doing everything I need it to do, except I find myself wanting a bigger screen. Now, being that this one is already fairly large, I don't want to go to all the trouble of getting a new device and switching over for a mere half inch of increased diagonal, so I've decided it must be six inches, no compromises. Hell, I'd go straight for a 7-inch tablet with 3G features weren't it for my absolute hatred of bags and man-purses (my usual pockets can fit a 5" just fine and a 6" with some effort, but a 7" is beyond the realm of possibility unless it had no bezel at all, and I've yet to find one that's made that way).

I'd like to stay as close to €200 as possible. I can stretch the budget somewhat, but not too much. Note that I'm in Italy, which means the market is very different from the US - we usually get unlocked contract-free phones by default, so no subsidizing from the networks.

Oh, and it has to be an Android - I've used WinPhone in the past and it isn't really an experience I'm looking forward to repeat.

THL T200, €240: impressive specs, but I'm not sure how trustworthy the THL brand is, or how well-used octacore processors are.

Asus Zenfone 6, the 2GB/2GHz model, €230: decent specs, good battery and a superior camera for its class, but I have no experience with Atom-running phones so I don't know what performance to expect from its CPU. I assume it being x86 means the dualcore/hyperthreaded architecture is about as fast as a standard Arm quadcore? (I checked a few benchmarks but I don't trust Antutu all that much, it seems to just crunch numbers with little regard to actual real-life applications).

Lenovo S939, €170: another octacore CPU mated, unfortunately, to just one gig of RAM. The price would make this one an instant winner in the price-performance department, but the small amount of RAM has me worried about the future - how long is a single gig going to be enough?

What do you suggest? Are there other models in this price range I should be considering?
[General Questions and Answers] chillman88:
Hey all,

I'm considering buying a new phone. I have a "Sonim A8" chinese phone right now. I generally like it, but It's slow (512 ram and 1.2ghz Cortex processor) and likes to connect calls with NO AUDIO EITHER WAY! I can leave it off the charger for 3 days, so that's nice (3000mAh battery)

I want to be able to run something similar to Cyanogenmod. I don't want to be stuck with the OEM ROM. Ideally I'd be able to run the latest version of Android, but I at least want KitKat.

From reading the specs I like the Droid Razr Maxx, but I need to be able to use Straight Talk with an AT&T SIM card. I want at LEAST 3g capability. 4g would be nice, but not a deal breaker.

I don't want to spend more than 200USD. I can get a Razr Maxx for about 180USD but Can't figure out if it can be used with AT&T and get 3g data speeds?

My Required specs:

At least 1 day battery life with average use (12-14 hours, more if buying extended battery)

At least 1GB RAM

At least 1GHZ CPU

3G capability on AT&T network. (Straight Talk)

Ability to ROOT

3rd party ROM availability.

Around or cheaper than $200 USD

KitKat or Newer.

Things I'd like but can live without:

2GB+ RAM

3000mAh or higher Battery (aftermarket extended battery is okay)

4G AT&T capability (Straight Talk)

Latest Android Version.

I know I'm picky but I'm tired of getting phones and putting up with crap that doesn't work or is horrendously slow.

If getting what I want means breaking my budget I'll go from there, I'm Just sick of phones that don't work right.

Thanks for your time! :fingers-crossed:
[General Questions and Answers] OfficerJimLahey:
Not sure about Straight Talk (first I heard of it), but there is the Moto G. If its more than 200 dollars, its not much more. Canada (where everything is more expensive) has it at $230.

Sent from my Asus MeMO Pad 8"
[General Questions and Answers] chillman88:
Straight Talk is basically a services reseller. They charge $45 for unlimited talk text and data and provide a sim card or preloaded phone. They use either T-mobil or AT&T networks. I believe they are owned by T-mobil but I'm not certain.

Thanks for the reccomendation, I'll look into it!
[General Questions and Answers] gujax05:
Any advice please?
[General Questions and Answers] chillman88:
Well I don't know about the other phones, but I have a Sonim A8 (land rover A8) And it looks like the 9 is just a tiny bit more powerful. I LOVE the battery life (3 days with light usage, bluetooth and wifi turned off), and it seems pretty durable. The only complaints I have is that once in a while it connects calls with no audio, and the headphone jack doesn't always want to work (have to wiggle the plug). The other issue is that it's slow, but the A9 has twice the RAM and a faster processor so I think that should be fine. The audio problem might be just a glitch with mine though I don't know.
[General Questions and Answers] rgraville:
I am beginning to plan a hiking trip next summer (2016) and one aspect I am thinking about is tracking my progress with a smartphone. I want to be able to run a GPS mapping app, and the app Runkeeper. The device will need a GPS radio for location, a WiFi radio for periodic syncing, a very low battery consumption rate, and a large or expandable battery. It would need to run GPS tracking up to 16 hrs a day. Almost no screen on time. The age of the device doesn't matter as long as it runs a compatible version of Android with current apps. Screen size doesn't matter as most of the time screen will be off anyway. It does not need any cellular or phone communication/data capability, so tablets are in the running.

For charging I will figure out some solar or kinetic options. Not at that point in the planning yet.

Ideas?

I do have an old HTC Incredible and a Samsung Galaxy S3 available as options, but not sure they have the best options for battery conservation.
[General Questions and Answers] Planterz:
I think you'd be better off with an actual GPS device, like for hunting/hiking/camping. Running GPS on your phone is a serious drain on the battery. I don't know if even a Zerolemon battery/case would last the full 16 hours. Maybe. Another option is to hook it up with an external power bank. Heat could be a problem though. Running the GPS non-stop generates a good amount of heat..which won't be safely dissipated if you keep it in your pack or whatever. Combined with the sun and summer heat, you're looking at the phone turning off to protect itself (and its battery).

Another problem might be maps. GPS doesn't require a data signal, but downloading the maps does. Does Runkeeper allow off-line maps and/or recording without maps? Maybe try My Tracks (a google app). Because it works with Maps, it works with downloaded off-line maps (I think), plus you can sync it and export it to Drive.
[General Questions and Answers] kromastorm:
Hi,

I am looking for a phone to gift it to my wife. basic use includes lots of facebook, whatsapp messaging, listening songs and taking selfies. I have narrowed down to HTC 816 and HTC 820, reasons are bigger display, good front camera, build quality and dual sim options. I have spent three days now to narrow it down to one option. but I am unable to figure out what criteria to take.

please help me out with which one is better. 820 looks like best hardware spec, but does it improve from 816 to that extent ?

Thanks
[General Questions and Answers] gorilla p:
That 820 looks like a good phone. In that price range, I would personally be looking at the LG G3 and OnePlus One.

Sent from my Nexus 4
[General Questions and Answers] extrem0:
If you're using a backpack, you'll probably want an external battery. There are many 10A external batteries for $20 which can charge most phones more than 3 times.
[General Questions and Answers] kromastorm:
Okay, will look at LG G3 also. Thanks for the suggestion.
[General Questions and Answers] mahmoud dafer:
Hello guys.... I have a nexus 5.... But i want to buy a new one.... I have about 450$ but i dont know what to buy...... So what do you suggest me?
[General Questions and Answers] gorilla p:
Country/carrier please

Sent from my Nexus 4
[General Questions and Answers] mahmoud dafer:
Lebanon
[General Questions and Answers] gorilla p:
Ecoo E04 Aurora

Meizu M1 Meilan Note

Xiaomi Mi4

LG G2

LG G3

OnePlus One

Sent from my Nexus 4
[General Questions and Answers] mahmoud dafer:
Thanx alot :)
[General Questions and Answers] gorilla p:
You're welcome.

It looks like 3G frequency is 2100MHz in Lebanon, which is supported by most phones. No 4G/LTE freqs were listed. If your carrier has 4G/LTE, let us know the carrier so we can look up the frequency

Sent from my Nexus 4
[General Questions and Answers] Boier:
New phone

Hey guys - lovely thread!

I'm looking for a new phone, and it appears to be quite the process!

I'm currently using a Huawei P6, which I (apart from the design) have grown very tired of. It has no support, next to no development going on, and it's pretty sluggish performance-wise.

I heard a lot good about the Moto X, but it ended up being quite pricy in 64gb versions, which had LTE-support in Denmark.

I would probably prefer (not require) the following in a new phone:

Price: Below 500 USD

Memory: 64gb preferably for a lot of music (SD card-support is OK aswell)

Screen: Around 5 inches. The OnePlus One is a tad too big for me (and my skinny jeans)

Performance: Definitely better than the Huawei P6.. But i'd think most is.

Apart from that, I'd like if there was a bit of a community/development for the phone. It's not required however, if the phone's just working briliantly out of the box.

Country/network: Denmark/3

And i'm going to USA for a week (on holiday) soon, and i think some phones are a bit cheaper over there, if that makes any difference. To import that is.

Thanks in advance!
[General Questions and Answers] gorilla p:
Need to know what US carrier you're gonna use. I recommend T-Mobile.

But fibding a better phone than the OPO, with a <5" screen is gonna be tough.

Sent from my Nexus 4
[General Questions and Answers] Boier:
Oh, i'm living in Denmark. I'm just vacationing in the US for a few weeks!

And the screen doesn't necessarily have to be less than 5", just around. 4,7" or 5" inches is probably preferred actually.
[General Questions and Answers] MiyagiSan:
Qualcomm Samsung S5

Xperia Z3 Compact

HTC One M8

Qualcomm Samsung S5 Mini

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua (midranger)

The OnePlus One is a strong contender if size is not an issue...
[General Questions and Answers] OfficerJimLahey:
Canada/Eastlink here (so AWS 1700 LTE/HSPA+)...

Figure I have plenty of time to plan a new phone, but here goes:

Currently have the Moto G 2013 LTE and the LG G3s (Vigor) on my radar. I figure what I want in a phone is MicroSD card, 5 inch screen (or less), removable battery, a phone that is not heavily skinned, and potential for custom ROMs.

For the Moto G 3013 LTE...

Pros:

MicroSD

4.7" screen

MotoBlur closer to stock than most OEMs

ROMs available

Cons:

Non-removable battery

For the LG G3s (AT&T version)...

Pros:

MicroSD

Removable battery

5" screen

Familiar and well-liked Optimus UI (I own an F3Q)

Cons:

Too soon for development.

Any preferences and why? And, any other device I should keep a watch on?

Many thanks.

Sent from my Asus MeMO Pad 8"
[General Questions and Answers] gorilla p:
I think you're on the right track with the LG G3. You can find them for under $300 now. The OnePlus One is good as well.

However with the rollout of the Cortex A53/57 64-bit ARMv8 devices being rolled out, I am waiting.

Sent from my Nexus 4
[General Questions and Answers] suterusudake:
Flip smartphones

I've been working with a Samsung S3 for a while now and just recently had gotten rid of it. Over time I had tried three different Operating Systems on it including Hellfire Jellyfish (one of my favorites) and a generic Root Access one along with another that slips my mind. I've grown fond of having root access and a custom ROM on my phone. I am looking for a new smartphone, and really wanting something with a keyboard or pad, preferably a flip phone. Does anyone know of one that is rootable, and possibly what services are available for it? The only one I have seen so far is Lenovo A588t. I saw a Samsung Galaxy but it was over $700 no-contract. I am looking for something in the $200 range, but I am willing to go up if the product is good enough. I want something that can be used on a prepaid plan via Verizon, Tmobile, Net10, ATT, Straight Talk but want to stay away from Boost Mobile and the like as they offer horrible service in the Texas Panhandle area. Any related advice or a point in the right direction would be helpful.
[General Questions and Answers] gorilla p:
Flip phones and keypads are a thing of the past.

For under $200, you best bet is going to be the 2nd Gen Moto E or Moto G.

Sent from my Nexus 4
[General Questions and Answers] OfficerJimLahey:
I looked at the G3 in the Bell store. Nice device. The 5.5" screen didn't look to be too much of a bother, but then again, I (particularly my pocket) have been used to phones with a screen size of 4" or less. I was a bit ecstatic when I found out that they made a (slightly) miniaturized version of the G3.

I have idolized the 1+1 in the past, but it has too many cons in my criteria. Maybe when the 1+2 comes out (with possibly a mini version) that will be corrected.

And I have no problem with waiting. I had my LG F3Q for less than a year now. Nothing particularly wrong with it, just the small internal memory (will never go back to a 4GB ROM). But a man can dream can't he? ;)
[General Questions and Answers] suterusudake:
They can't be a thing of the past. I've ran into this problem on the S3. I'm not sure what caused it, but if the phone died from loss of power and was turned back on by having it plugged into a charger, then the screen becomes unresponsive and the battery has to be pulled and then replaced and turned back on with the power button before plugging back into the charger before it would be responsive again. Keypads and keyboards are nice to have in case something bad happens and your screen doesn't want to respond to touch anymore. And also, on a strictly professional side, I didn't ask for an opinion on how dated they are. And neither of those phones you suggested are anything close to what I am looking for. I know much better phones in that category of screen only, oh I don't know, like the Samsung S3, S4, S5, HTC one, jeez... Don't degrade my post with useless replying please. Might be my first time posting on here, but I expect better from someone taking their time to reply. I came here for information, not someone's personal opinion on how dated technology is or a suggestion that doesn't even fit the topic that I mentioned. You wasted your time and mine by typing that. Thank you.
[General Questions and Answers] MiyagiSan:
Samsung i9230 Galaxy Golden perhaps?

Qualcomm internals so, you might be lucky with 3rd party development...

UPDATE: Can't see any development activity for the i9230 anywhere.
[General Questions and Answers] gorilla p:
Good luck.

Sent from my Nexus 4
[General Questions and Answers] suterusudake:
Thank you Miyagisan. (had to remove the link in the quote since i am a new user)

---------- Post added at 07:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:22 PM ----------

Lol too bad I saw the original part of what you had to say. For one, it WAS and IS my post that you replied to, the actual thread is not mine of course. You instantly expect someone to buy into your opinion and then get mad when they tell you they didn't want and don't want your opinion. They aren't a thing of the past. Pretty sure there are still plenty of phones coming out that have keyboards/pads on them. Just because you are picturing a crappy little barely out of the analog age nokia phone in that little mind of yours doesn't mean I am. Don't go insulting me and think that I am not going to give you a piece back. I could care less what you think about my "crap" response as you put it. If you read my post fully before instantly assuming that I wanted to hear about your idea of what is or isn't outdated (which wasn't a part of my question what so ever so you are the one that had the idiotic response, my not-so-good sir) then you would have noticed that I said I am willing to go up in my spending range if the device is worth it (which is the only part that really requested an actual opinion, anything else requested in my original post was a request for facts, being what flip smartphones are out there.) Now then, I just went to the ATT store yesterday and saw plenty of phones that had keyboards, shall I go back and take pictures of them and post them so you can be proven oh so wrong? In all honesty, I don't care for these forums anyway. I haven't seen a site so slow and unresponsive at first click as this one in a long while, but I do appreciate the fact that it is a plethora of information. And don't you dare tell me to leave you little rat. You're the one who is taking opinions of an unrelated subject into a post replying to something that didn't ask for it at all, let alone getting upset over something as trivial as someone not liking what you have to say. Get bent.
[General Questions and Answers] OfficerJimLahey:
Going against my better judgement...

I'm sorry, but a $200 price point but "willing to go up if the product is good enough" is a tough ask.

Last summer, I have imported a new LG Optimus F3Q (slide sliding keyboard Android), and it cost me over $400. Are the specs worth it? Not with a 4GB ROM, and a model no one really cares about to have a development community for. They are finally down to $120 on eBay (apparently new as well), but T-Mo hasn't marked them down on a long-term basis yet. Finally a price point that's worth it, but you are not really doing any better then the older Samsung Relay, Motorlola Photon Q, or HTC Doubleshot (in some cases, the specs are worse).

Granted, I did not know there was such a thing as Android flip phones. The industry has been trying to squash everything but bar style ever since Samsung released the Galaxy S, and Apple sued them for making a device that looks too much like their iPhone.

The market has been so guided by iPhone clones the we are even losing removable batteries, and MicroSD slots, and the ones that do stand out in this regard (including physical keyboards) have internals two, maybe even three years behind, and yet, don't come cheap. They are also had to come by these days. The AT&T store you mentioned has only one Android keyboard phone. If you were talking about proprietary OS'es (which is an assumption that didn't come into play for the Android/Windows site that this is), then yes, there is probably plenty. But then, rooting and custom ROMs aren't really an option for feature phones.

Just my nickels worth on the plight a lot of us are facing (I will probably succumb to the pressure, like a lot of us already have, next cycle in favour of more recent technology).
[General Questions and Answers] Planterz:
Settle down, not everything written on the internet is a personal insult towards you.

The reality is the industry has given up on "Q" style sliding keyboard smartphones. Featurephones don't count. If you want a Q Android, you're stuck with tech that's at least 3 years old by now (even if the phone is "newer" than that). It's unfortunate, but that's the situation. I know there's a good number of people who still like them (I personally know one who's on his third Droid 4), but I guess the industry has decided it's not a big enough market to be worth still catering to.

AT&T does have the NEC Terrain on their website (web only), which is sorta a BlackBerry styled Android. From what I could tell from some searching here on XDA, root hasn't been found yet.
[General Questions and Answers] MiyagiSan:
Profit margins. These highly useful form factors (sliding QWERTY, flip keyboard etc) are more expensive to manufacture but don't sell for appreciably more.

Android manufacturers are always engaged in a race to the bottom (price-wise) by no-name chinese vendors so, protect those margins...
[General Questions and Answers] Planterz:
EDIT: Wrong thread.
[General Questions and Answers] suterusudake:
Thank you very much, Joel. This is the kind of help I was looking for even if I didn't necessarily word it that way. I didn't take a close look at all the phones, as it was like throwing a kid in a candy store, and my time was very limited. I haven't been able to find a lot of flip style phones that were "smart", and the ones I did find were substandard on the specifications. (Though I did find some really nice flip phones that were water proof, HD screens, wifi, 3G (sadly no 4g) and all sorts of things, but they were also low on the specs and only Japanese. I guess I have almost no choice but to go with the touch screen only. I was wanting with a keypad of some sort, but I want something fully customizable that the OS can be changed on, but wasn't sure if there was anything besides what I have already messed with. I guess my next purchase is going to be an S5 perhaps. My question has been fully answered as far as I am concerned now. Thank you again, Joel and Miyagi. I'll be sure to throw a thanks both your ways.

---------- Post added at 11:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:35 PM ----------

Wasn't sure if you meant this towards my post, but kind of feel like it is since I kind of went off the handle with that previous post to Gorilla.. Heh. Bad day and all, shouldn't have taken it out on someone even if they did rub me the wrong way. I ended up doing just what I pointed out that he did by getting unnerved by something someone else said, because I didn't like it. Thank you for your insight as well. It really bites to see keyboards/pads going away, but I guess there are safety precautions in place so that screens are okay. Honestly though, what is someone to do if their screen is ever damaged, and they are in an emergency? Probably a question for a different topic, and if so then would an admin please move it to the appropriate spot or delete this.
[General Questions and Answers] OfficerJimLahey:
You're welcome :). I almost got the Samsung Relay 4G (and there are a few others I forgot to mention), and even though it doesn't have LTE, it's probably the most capable of the bunch (unless you're into modifying a phone for a SIM card slot).

Always have ADB on. If using Android 4.2 or better, pair with a trusted computer as well so you can always access your phone remotely if needed. Hope this helps.
[General Questions and Answers] dafie:
My contract is up and I'm looking for a new smartphone. My location is Germany.

The most important requirement: Moderate size and weight. So, screen no larger than 4,5" or 4,7" (ideally, with a decent screen-to-body ratio). Weight no higher than 130 g (that's 4.59 oz).

Further requirements: microSD card slot; at least 720p screen resolution; decent chance of good community support (XDA, Cyanogenmod, etc.).

Nice-to-have but not of critical importance: 802.11 AC Wifi; good battery life; good audio quality (of the headphone jack, not the speaker); aptX Bluetooth support.

What about the Z3 Compact? Any others I should look into (perhaps any new or upcoming "Mini" models I'm not aware of)?
[General Questions and Answers] Planterz:
The Z3 Compact is undoubtedly the king of small Androids. No "mini" can compare. The only thing that comes remotely close is the Z1 Compact. The Moto X (2013) is a nice, smaller Android too, but no SD card slot.
[General Questions and Answers] orlyjc:
Hello guys. This are the specs I'm looking for in my next phone.

5 inch screen

Dual or quad core processor

Up to 64gb micro SD support

8mp camera with flash

2mp to 5mp front facing camera

4g lte

AT&T or unlocked phone

2gb ram

8gb or 16gb rom

Android

Thin &/or lightweight phone

Able to be rooted and rom'd

Can anyone with any suggestions please let me know what they have in mind? Thanks guys. :)