Choosing A New Android Mobile

[Archev]

My first phones were android but I’ve been on Apples for a number of years. My Son wouldn’t change from Apple I don’t think whereas my Daughter prefers the Android type. Is it just what you get used to or are there indeed any fundamental differences that make either one any better overall ? I always thought the Apple system was more secure but was, or is that the case ?
I suppose this argument could last forever.

 

[siteguru]

There are ardent supporters of both types, those who won't consider anything else and anyone of the opposite camp must be a moron. Then there are those who have actually used both and make a decision which to go ahead with - I'm in this latter camp, and decided that Android better-suited my needs.

 

[securespark]

I find Apple very overpriced and generally have smaller screens. But I do concede that they have very good lenses and the speakers sound good.

However, you're paying a huge premium for that.

My eldest and youngest sons are both Apple fans. The middle son, a techie who works in IT, hates Apple products. He was a great fan of Motorola phones until they became part of Lenovo and stopped giving so many OS updates, then he started buying Pixel phones (which you could argue are as equally highly priced as Apple products). He likes the fact that both Moto and Pixel software is skin and bloatware free. Me and Mrs S have only ever had Android phones. Both of us had Samsung, I moved away from them and Mrs S has stuck with them.

I'd quite like a Pixel because they have several updates guaranteed, but I haven't got the budget for a larger screen model and they don't have a dual physical SIM model.

Looks like the Redmi Note 13 or 14 is the one to go for, it seems they have a number of updates, but their version of Android isn't unadulterated.

Choices, choices!

 

[siteguru]

The Redmi Note series uses Xiaomi's HyperOS, which is their skinned version of Android. It has its foibles (and bloatware, so you probably need to uninstall several preinstalled apps when first setting up) but I find it works well. In fact, since getting this Redmi Note 13 I've switched to using Gesture navigation on the phone (vs the buttons at the bottom of the screen) as it works so well.

 

[dsimpkins]

I have a POCO Android phone, it's apparently the "youth" brand of Xiaomi, but thought it was a great value replacement for my Moto phone. Have had many Motorola Motos, iPhones, and now the POCO. Daughter bought a Pixel 8a, about a year ago which was good value as it had just been replaced by the PIxel 9. Guessing there will be deals on the 9a now the 10 is out. Dislike Samsung with their skin and bloatware.

 

[securespark]

Yes, I found my Galaxy Mega 6.3 of 2013 OK, but later versions of their skins were more Samsungy and less Androidy.

OOI, which POCO model? I will consider all comers!

 

[5teep]

Yes, I found my Galaxy Mega 6.3 of 2013 OK, but later versions of their skins were more Samsungy and less Androidy.

OOI, which POCO model? I will consider all comers!

Hah! I still have my Samsung Mega, used to think that thing was huge!!

 

[dsimpkins]

Yes, I found my Galaxy Mega 6.3 of 2013 OK, but later versions of their skins were more Samsungy and less Androidy.

OOI, which POCO model? I will consider all comers!

It's a POCO M4 Pro. It's a few years old now, so no doubt there's a newer version by now

 

[securespark]

Hah! I still have my Samsung Mega, used to think that thing was huge!!

Yes, me too.

What was huge, and I loved it, was my Huawei Media Pad X2. Still have it, but the software is well out of date. If I could get it flashed and updated with a newer OS, it might be worth raising it from the dead.

It was a 7 inch screen but in the days when the ratio was 16:10 so it was like a tablet, but it was a phone! 184 x 104mm!

 

[securespark]

Am currently chewing over the specs of a Poco F7.

Larger screen, 6.83", larger battery, 6.5Ah.

But Vs the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, the camera takes a big hit.

Decisions, decisions! I think I will look on GSM Arena and use their phone finder to see what else is available.

 

[Gomev]

Am currently chewing over the specs of a Poco F7.

Larger screen, 6.83", larger battery, 6.5Ah.

But Vs the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, the camera takes a big hit.

Decisions, decisions! I think I will look on GSM Arena and use their phone finder to see what else is available.

Do you ever look at the pictures you have taken on anything other than the phone ? and how often ? Do you ever print the pictures ?
I ask because I don't, in fact I've come to the conclusion that I don't know why I take pictures !!

If you are anything like me then the camera could be a box brownie as anything else.

 

[siteguru]

I find the camera on my Redmi Note 13 Pro+ to be very good. And it works fine in the car together with my wireless AA dongle.

 

[securespark]

Do you ever look at the pictures you have taken on anything other than the phone ? and how often ? Do you ever print the pictures ?
I ask because I don't, in fact I've come to the conclusion that I don't know why I take pictures !!

If you are anything like me then the camera could be a box brownie as anything else.

We view ours on the TV.

 

[securespark]

I, securespark, the Procrastinator-in-Chief, hereby declares, after much deliberation, the purchase of a new highly portable telephonic device!

I wish to thank contributors for all your collective input which has led to my decision.

About time too, because the battery in this one has had it. It will cut out unexpectedly at any charge below 70%...so basically now it is plugged in most of the time.

It's an immobile mobile.

Re the new one, I wanted something with a large screen and a decent camera that was this side of £500.

Got one with a Leica lens. £200 off, bringing it down to £450.

Xiaomi 15T Pro. The reviewers say it's a decent thing, but it has a lot of bloatware on it. So the first thing I will do is hand it to my IT-employed lad to delete all the bloatware off it.

Next on the shopping list, a decent case for it.

Ideally, I'd like a two-part case with a rubbery bit that goes on first (Oooh, Matron!), followed by a plastic part that holds it in place, but I can't find anything like it.

 

[siteguru]

The 15T Pro will probably come with a "condom case" in the box ... most Xiaomi phones do. That's what I use day-to-day when I'm driving my taxi/bus, so the phone can easily go in a windscreen mount. Otherwise I use a leatherette type case (with a fold over flap that latches magnetically) if I'm on holiday so not needing to put the phone in a windscreen mount.

PS - the 15T Pro will probably also come preinstalled with a screen protector. I've had my Redmi Note 13 Pro+ for a year now and the preinstalled screen protector still looks decent.

 

[securespark]

"condom case"

 

[5teep]

I, securespark, the Procrastinator-in-Chief, hereby declares, after much deliberation, the purchase of a new highly portable telephonic device!

I wish to thank contributors for all your collective input which has led to my decision.

About time too, because the battery in this one has had it. It will cut out unexpectedly at any charge below 70%...so basically now it is plugged in most of the time.

It's an immobile mobile.

Re the new one, I wanted something with a large screen and a decent camera that was this side of £500.

Got one with a Leica lens. £200 off, bringing it down to £450.

Xiaomi 15T Pro. The reviewers say it's a decent thing, but it has a lot of bloatware on it. So the first thing I will do is hand it to my IT-employed lad to delete all the bloatware off it.

Next on the shopping list, a decent case for it.

Ideally, I'd like a two-part case with a rubbery bit that goes on first (Oooh, Matron!), followed by a plastic part that holds it in place, but I can't find anything like it.

Love Xiaomi phones, I currently have the 14 Ultra and it does just what it says on the tin. Apart from finger print log on not working in bright sunlight (

 

[MG Clive]

"condom case"

To quote your previous words @securespark "Oooh, Matron!"

 

[siteguru]

A guy I follow on YouTube (Tech Spurt) always uses that definition for a flexible case supplied with phones.

 

[securespark]

Well, I've had it a short while, but I've only just got round to transferring everything over to it.

Transferring the apps was dead easy, but I had to set them all up and me being disorganised, I had to dig around for passwords etc...

Most awkward was the Chase app, which demanded I upload another copy of my passport and ugly mug, but I didn't really mind as it's all about safeguarding your money.

Looking forward now to taking lots of photos with it.

As an aside, our BT WiFi 6 mesh discs are playing up, which is really frustrating. They are always flaky when the power goes off, but this time they have really had a hissy fit.

According to the BT helpline, there are two methods of installation. Use the Whole Home App, or plug them into the Smart Hub 2 one by one until they register, wait 20 minutes, then relocate them to the desired position.

I tried the second method yesterday while on the phone with them and initially it appeared to work, but later, the SSID dropped off our devices and was nowhere to be seen.

So today I tried the first method. I reinstalled the app, as advised by BT, then attached the first disc to the hub. The next step has the hub trying to recognise the disc, but it repeatedly failed.

So I'm tearing my hair out at the moment, trying to get it working.

I'll give BT another call in a bit to see what else they suggest, but Mrs S is so frustrated, she's prepared to go out and buy a whole new mesh system!

But thanks again to everyone for all your help and advice re the mobile.