Best Android circa NZD$4-500

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251 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 198

#1862120 11-Sep-2017 09:19

Got a Redmi note 4 on order after my 6p died an instantaneous horrible bootloop death. Want to see if a cheap and cheerful china phone will do and also taking the path of rooting it so I can get Lineage on it too. All pending for whenever it arrives from overseas.

Painted Minis | Steam Profile | PSN Profile

Currently Playing: Heroes of the Storm (PC) | Half-Life 2 (PC)

elbrownos

109 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#1863107 12-Sep-2017 23:31

I'm interested in the Redmi Note 4. What site did you buy it from?

I see Parallel Imported have the top spec model (4GB / 64GB) for $300 which is only a bit dearer than you can buy it from Asia.

PsychoSmiley

251 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 198

#1863283 13-Sep-2017 09:28

Went from the Xiaomi store on AliExpress for the 64GB/4GB model in black with the global rom. Didn't think my cunning plan all the way through when I realised that the shipping would be as slow as hell.

About $270 or so but at that price I'm not too concerned about the warranty due to buying overseas. It's more a disposable item compared to a flagship.

Painted Minis | Steam Profile | PSN Profile

Currently Playing: Heroes of the Storm (PC) | Half-Life 2 (PC)

elbrownos

109 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#1873939 28-Sep-2017 08:13

I ordered a 3GB/16GB Redmi Note 4X from Aliexpress on September 12th and it arrived yesterday after 15 days.

It looks pretty good for $190! I'm in the middle of installing a new ROM as I don't trust the factory ROM so I haven't started using it properly yet.

elbrownos

109 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#1878210 5-Oct-2017 23:31

I've been very impressed with the Redmi Note 4. It ticks every box except for the mediocre camera.

The fingerprint reader is great, I've never had one before and thought it was just a fad but it's not.

LineageOS is easy to install and works well. I followed these instructions: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/mido/install

You have to apply to Xiaomi to unlock the bootloader which is easy to do but then they make you wait 3 days before unlocking it, for no apparent reason. Rooting with the LineageOS su addon didn't work but flashing TWRP works (https://twrp.me/xiaomi/xiaomiredminote4.html)

matisyahu

1644 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 356

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#1878218 6-Oct-2017 00:43

Nokia 5: https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/mobile/phones/nokia-5---black.html?servicePlanId=ServicePlan3069&intfree=24m

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

AliExpress

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PsychoSmiley

251 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 198

#1878364 6-Oct-2017 10:39

elbrownos:

You have to apply to Xiaomi to unlock the bootloader which is easy to do but then they make you wait 3 days before unlocking it, for no apparent reason. Rooting with the LineageOS su addon didn't work but flashing TWRP works (https://twrp.me/xiaomi/xiaomiredminote4.html)

Got mine (64GB/4GB) this week after I got back from overseas. I'm actually very impressed with hardware for something so cheap. I did the unlock request first thing and I should be at the end of the 3 day wait this evening. I look forward to switching to Lineage as I'm currently using the phone with no account sync's or application installations so it's just a dumb phone at this point.

Only reason I can think for the time limit is to stop people mass buying them, flashing and reselling; especially the one phone per 30 days limit.

Painted Minis | Steam Profile | PSN Profile

Currently Playing: Heroes of the Storm (PC) | Half-Life 2 (PC)

PsychoSmiley

251 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 198

#1879183 7-Oct-2017 20:09

Got Lineage on the Redmi now. Actually a really nice phone. Performance honestly is much more stable than my 6p which always throttled.

Only issue is that it's like a bar of soap without a case.

Painted Minis | Steam Profile | PSN Profile

Currently Playing: Heroes of the Storm (PC) | Half-Life 2 (PC)

solaybro

631 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 224

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#1879843 9-Oct-2017 12:26

Would it be better to get the Huawei P10 Lite or the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3?

flynkiwi

152 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 13

#1879955 9-Oct-2017 15:15

I got a refurbished LG V20 off trademe for $470. It was like new and was in perfect new condition.

I have had it for 2 weeks can can say that it is an amazing phone and camera for the price.

It has features that some of the top phones dont have such as FM radio, Infrared remote blaster.

The camera can record 4k video and it has two lenses for normal and wide angle shots.

It is a rather big phone with an amazingly clear screen and I am very happy with it.

Great for Instagram, facebook and watching locally downloaded netflix!!

jonb

1797 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

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#1879964 9-Oct-2017 15:37

The new Xiaomi Mi A1 is now worth considering, Xiaomi quality hardware - dual camera, 64GB, 4GB - and price but with stock Android.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

TeaLeaf

6437 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1243

#1884964 17-Oct-2017 11:06

Meizu M6

sd625

f1.9 sony sensor and dual cam for bokeh

4000mah

fastcharge

$230-50

muppet

2650 posts

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#1885035 17-Oct-2017 12:23

Missing Band28 is a pain if you want 4G everywhere.

I know a lot of people think "Oh 4G who cares I don't need that speed" but you're missing the best aspect of 4G: Latency.

Things are just faster on 4G due to its reduced latency. This is super noticeable when tethered and doing SSH, but even browsing in general is faster.

However, if your use case is mostly social media, uploading the odd photo etc, then yes you can be happy without Band28.

kobiak

1615 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 551

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#1885048 17-Oct-2017 12:39

jonb:

The new Xiaomi Mi A1 is now worth considering, Xiaomi quality hardware - dual camera, 64GB, 4GB - and price but with stock Android.

I've got one for missus a week ago. perfect device (nfc is missing). also ordered another for myself to replace nexus 5.

helping others at evgenyk.nz

itey

479 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 84

#1886366 19-Oct-2017 17:24

muppet:

Missing Band28 is a pain if you want 4G everywhere.

.

How much of NZ 4g is on band 28? The Mi A1 supports 4g bands 3, 7, 40 but just not 28. Wouldn't these bands offer suitable coverage?

Cheers

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