Looking for smartphone

[4wd]

if he travels outside the EU, in this case a dual SIM phone comes in handy

-4wd (February 26, 2019, 06:13 PM)

That's one of the features of the Nokia 6.1 ...

-Ath (February 27, 2019, 01:06 AM)

And the Moto G5(+), G5S(+), & G6(+) (EU/APAC versions) without sacrificing the microSD card. 

[app103]

if he travels outside the EU, in this case a dual SIM phone comes in handy

-4wd (February 26, 2019, 06:13 PM)

That's one of the features of the Nokia 6.1 ...

-Ath (February 27, 2019, 01:06 AM)

And the Moto G5(+), G5S(+), & G6(+) (EU/APAC versions) without sacrificing the microSD card. 

-4wd (February 27, 2019, 07:32 AM)

And the G7 recently released in the US, so will probably hit the EU market soon. Might want to wait a bit, if possible, to see if there will be a G7+ with dual SIM. If not, there may be a G7 Power, with longer battery life.

[rgdot]

I assume you meant market availability otherwise G7 and G7 plus will have versions with dual SIM

[4wd]

I assume you meant market availability otherwise G7 and G7 plus will have versions with dual SIM

-rgdot (February 28, 2019, 10:47 PM)

Motorola usually only offer the Dual SIM Moto G versions in EU, Asia Pacific, and India - for some reason the US seems to only get the single SIM version.  Like the rest of the world gets NFC but the USA get the Magnetometer instead - very strange decisions, (although it looks like the other regions might get the Magnetometer also with the G7).

Just wish they had kept the fingerprint reader on the front for the G7 where it's more convenient - something they probably could have done easily since they still have One Button Nav on the front, (like the G5(S) and G6), along with the space wasted with the Motorola printing.

[rgdot]

Strange decisions for sure, for Canada I always check the bands and if compatible consider buying a non region phone (not from Amazon or ebay though  ). My current phone, Moto G5 Plus, was never released in Canada but works here.

[tomos]

Surprised: I'm just after getting Android 9 update on my Moto G6
Haven't had time to mess around with it yet, but seems to have updated okay

[4wd]

New phone after 2.5 years: Oppo A52, probably one of the best bang-for-buck phones currently available.



SnapDragon 665
Adreno 610
4GB/64GB
Android 10
1080x2400 LTPS IPS display
NFC
Dual 4G SIM + uSD (not hybrid tray)
Quad camera
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi
BT5.0
5000mAh battery with QC3.0
Fingerprint reader on the power button
etc

Included a pair of Oppo ENCO Free earphones free.

[MilesAhead]

New phone after 2.5 years: Oppo A52, probably one of the best bang-for-buck phones currently available.

-4wd (July 01, 2020, 07:57 AM)

My Moto e5 plus is 1.5 years old.  3 GB ram, 32 GB storage, 5000 mah battery for about $150 from Metro by TMobile.  The main thing I find disappointing is that the new Moto phones do not seem to want to improve on 720P resolution.  Such a big heavy phone should have 1080P FHD.  Also I have short fingers so I have to work the touch screen using both hands.

Another less than stellar "feature" of my e5 is that any photos I take look like total crap.  Streaming video isn't too bad if the WiFi has good bandwidth, but anything less than 1080P is unacceptable these days.  My $100 W10 Laptop is 1920x1080 FHD for that matter.   

Edit:  I should also note the phone came with Android 8.0 Oreo with no upgrade path I know of.  Just the occasional security update that nags incessantly until you install it.

[4wd]

The main thing I find disappointing is that the new Moto phones do not seem to want to improve on 720P resolution.  Such a big heavy phone should have 1080P FHD.

...

Another less than stellar "feature" of my e5 is that any photos I take look like total crap.  Streaming video isn't too bad if the WiFi has good bandwidth, but anything less than 1080P is unacceptable these days.

-MilesAhead (July 01, 2020, 09:44 AM)

Well, it is their budget phone series, most manufacturers have a line that is 720p, ordinary camera, 2-3GB RAM, 16-32GB eMMC Flash, MTK or SD4xx SoC, etc, (eg. Samsung Galaxy A01) ... you'd need to move to their G series for better specs ... which is what they hope you do.

[tomos]

The main thing I find disappointing is that the new Moto phones do not seem to want to improve on 720P resolution.  Such a big heavy phone should have 1080P FHD.

...

Another less than stellar "feature" of my e5 is that any photos I take look like total crap.  Streaming video isn't too bad if the WiFi has good bandwidth, but anything less than 1080P is unacceptable these days.

-MilesAhead (July 01, 2020, 09:44 AM)

Well, it is their budget phone series, most manufacturers have a line that is 720p, ordinary camera, 2-3GB RAM, 16-32GB eMMC Flash, MTK or SD4xx SoC, etc, (eg. Samsung Galaxy A01) ... you'd need to move to their G series for better specs ... which is what they hope you do.

-4wd (July 01, 2020, 07:44 PM)

Yeah, I paid 240€ or so two years ago for a Moto G6.
Beyond 3GB RAM and 32GB, I dont know the specifications -- it does what I want and need (I dont play games so no idea how good there), and battery lasts over a day. I should have gotten 64GB, but do have a 128GB SD card for images etc.. But the screen is nice (could be brighter in day/sunlight), and is 1080 x 2XXX. Camera is quite good for stills (and at the time for its price bracket), no idea about video beyond there being no stabilisation.
I will never buy another phone with a glass back -- was cracked within a month.

But yeah, if you want a half-decent camera and display, you will have to move up in price. I see the one 4wd got is available here (.de) for under 200€ but couldnt find it on uk amazon...
@4wd, maybe you could let us know how the screen and camera/s fare (just generally -- I'll have a look at an in depth review at some stage). I presume you'll be ripping out the OS, or have you done it already? :-)

[4wd]

I see the one 4wd got is available here (.de) for under 200€ but couldnt find it on uk amazon...

-tomos (July 02, 2020, 04:46 AM)

I got it for AU$297, (~€183), from Amazon AU but it had a Oppo Promo and they included their ET102 ENCO Free earphones, (normally AU$149 apparently).

@4wd, maybe you could let us know how the screen and camera/s fare (just generally -- I'll have a look at an in depth review at some stage).

Screen is great compared to the G5+, (comes with a screen protector already fitted plus a TPU case), bright enough for me to use it inside/outside and very sharp.

Camera uses Omnivision sensors and the default camera app is apparently a little underwhelming, (it does have Electronic Image Stabilisation), but there is a GCam port [direct apk link] available that you can sideload that improves photos a lot.

I presume you'll be ripping out the OS, or have you done it already? :-)

Atm, I'm leaving it stock, (first Android phone I haven't rooted pretty much immediately but probably will in a couple of months when I start getting annoyed at the limitations of a non-rooted phone).
What's really annoying is some messaging apps don't provide any means of a complete chat backup, (Viber for instance, compared to Signal/WhatsApp which backup everything), which I could restore fully if I had root.

Most I'll do currently is disable some of the stock apps via ADB, (eg. GMail, some Oppo apps), otherwise their version of Android 10, ColorOs 7, is reasonably stock ... I'm probably going to miss some of the Moto Actions and I'll miss the Moto Clock because of the easy to read battery level.

Some nice things I didn't know:

• You can do gestures when the screen is off to start things, V = torch, O = camera, || = play/pause track, < = previous track, > = next track, plus you can set others, (^, W, M, etc), to run apps.
• A system wide Dark Mode
• You can have the nav buttons autohide, (like Windows taskbar), or forego them altogether and use swipes up from the bottom, left-side = back, middle = home, swipe and hold = recent, (good for me because I always used Moto's single button nav which used the FPR for navigation).
• Besides VoLTE it can also do VoWiFi, (if your provider lets you - which mine does).

A local review.

... and it doesn't crash when this image is used as the backdrop

[MilesAhead]

The main thing I find disappointing is that the new Moto phones do not seem to want to improve on 720P resolution.  Such a big heavy phone should have 1080P FHD.

...

Another less than stellar "feature" of my e5 is that any photos I take look like total crap.  Streaming video isn't too bad if the WiFi has good bandwidth, but anything less than 1080P is unacceptable these days.

-MilesAhead (July 01, 2020, 09:44 AM)

Well, it is their budget phone series, most manufacturers have a line that is 720p, ordinary camera, 2-3GB RAM, 16-32GB eMMC Flash, MTK or SD4xx SoC, etc, (eg. Samsung Galaxy A01) ... you'd need to move to their G series for better specs ... which is what they hope you do.

-4wd (July 01, 2020, 07:44 PM)

I just checked out the Moto G8 Power specs.  At $250 USD it does provide 1080P screen res, 4GB ram, 64GB storage.  What I find inexplicable with the Moto series is the inability of the unlucky few like myself, to use the earphone jack.  As incredible as it sounds if you look through the Motorola forums you will see a small percentage of reports that describe how no standard stereo set of earbuds will work.  How can such old technology not work?  It is totally bizarre.  I have to use a blue tooth headset.  Granted the sound is much better but I would like to be able to keep a set of buds in my pocket for stuff like listening to phone messages without digging out a headset.  Needless to say with the volume maxed I still cannot hear my messages through the speakers.

I am sure some will think I am crazy but it seems these complaints span several years.  There always seems to be a fly in the ointment with every electronic device I purchase.  It is very frustrating.  I tried 3 sets of bud-like blue tooth headphones thinking they would at least be easier to carry.  None lasted more than two weeks.  They all instantly transitioned from working fine to dead door nail.

[tomos]

There always seems to be a fly in the ointment with every electronic device I purchase.

-MilesAhead (July 02, 2020, 09:25 AM)

I reckon that's always (nearly always?) the case. I dont use earphones, so never came across the problem. But did have other problems with connectivity (and needing to reboot to recover). In fairness that problem seems to have been resolved at some stage, but it's not that I'd particularly recommend Moto -- but I would at least consider buying again.

When looking to purchase something, I generally start by reading the Amazon one star reviews. That can get depressing though, cause there doesnt seem to be anything out there that doesnt come with problems -- maybe a lot of that is to do with the minimal quality control these days.

[4wd]

There always seems to be a fly in the ointment with every electronic device I purchase.  It is very frustrating.  I tried 3 sets of bud-like blue tooth headphones thinking they would at least be easier to carry.  None lasted more than two weeks.  They all instantly transitioned from working fine to dead door nail.

-MilesAhead (July 02, 2020, 09:25 AM)

My experience only with the G5+, it's audio output during phone calls is loud, very loud ... easily the loudest phone I've ever had.  It's like someone speaking directly into your ear at something a little louder than normal talking volume, I've never had a problem trying to hear what someone is saying no matter what environment I'm in.

Earphones, for wired I use MEE Audio M6P or the older MEE Audio M9P, (prefer the M6P's due to the memory wire retainer).

Bluetooth, (where to start):
Bluedio N2 (these were absolute rubbish, uncomfortable and low audio)
AWEI A960BL
Xiaomi Mi Bluetooth Headset
QCY Q26 (both these QCY sets and the SoundPEATS are a little too "square" to be really comfortable but the audio is good from all of them)
QCY T1C
SoundPEATS TWS
Tronsmart Spunky Beat
Tronsmart Onyx Free
OPPO ENCO Free (haven't tried these yet)

Plus two BT headphones:
MEE Audio Wave
MEE Audio Air-Fi Touch

All the earphones/headphones still work fine, all except the Bluedio N2, (which I threw out after using once), have been used for months both on the phone, tablets, and computer.

The two Tronsmart sets are my current daily use earphones, one set for the tablet/phones, the other for the computer.  The M6P's are used when I have to wear ear protectors so I can listen to music while I'm brush-cutting, etc.

NOTE: The above links aren't necessarily where I bought the item from.

[MilesAhead]

NOTE: The above links aren't necessarily where I bought the item from.

-4wd (July 02, 2020, 07:57 PM)

Thanks for the info.  The earphone jack thing is kind of insidious.  When buying a phone you are likely to worry if other stuff will work rather than the jack.  For example I might want to make sure the fingerprint scanner works and just assume the earphone jack will since they have had so many decades to perfect it.   

[MilesAhead]

When looking to purchase something, I generally start by reading the Amazon one star reviews. That can get depressing though, cause there doesnt seem to be anything out there that doesnt come with problems -- maybe a lot of that is to do with the minimal quality control these days.

-tomos (July 02, 2020, 03:28 PM)

I know what you mean about the very negative reviews.  I try to read somme positive ones to start.  But I keep an eye out for minor disappointments about a feature that may be more important to me than the general user.  Then I check out a couple of the "do not buy this piece of crap" reviews just in case there is a major problem that does not show up on all units.