Vanilla Android smart phone

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ronw

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Topic # 184015 6-Nov-2015 14:43

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Any suggestions for a vanilla Android phone without any fancy stuff loaded on top of Android. I would love a Nexus but the new models are just over priced.
Suggestions please

Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"
Samsung Galaxy SIV rooted
Asus Nexus Tablet 7.0

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Reply # 1422438 6-Nov-2015 14:48

Motorola tend to be pretty plain. Moto G perhaps.

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edwinprakash

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Reply # 1422442 6-Nov-2015 14:53

The Nexus 5 is still a pretty good phone if you can still get your hands on one... If you're considering second hand as well, then I've got a 16GB one that I could part with for the right price ;)

nakedmolerat

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Reply # 1422444 6-Nov-2015 14:57

Sony range is not bad either.

Actually most of the phones now not heavily skinned even for Samsung except for their Note range because of the S-Pen specific software.

NikT

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Reply # 1422459 6-Nov-2015 15:31

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Smart ultra and Smart prime at $299 and $149 respectively are exactly what you're after if cost is a concern. Vanilla plus double tap to wake and permissions management.

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ronw

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Reply # 1422462 6-Nov-2015 15:33

Sorry what brand is that. Not familiar with Smart brand

Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"
Samsung Galaxy SIV rooted
Asus Nexus Tablet 7.0

Hammerer

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Reply # 1422465 6-Nov-2015 15:38

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ronw: Sorry what brand is that. Not familiar with Smart brand

Vodafone brand. check their website.

Good review at AndroidAuthority.com:

While most carrier branded handsets come with as much preloaded bloatware as possible, the Smart Ultra 6 bucks the trend and as a results, delivers performance and the Android experience as Google imagined it to be. If you’re looking for a low-cost handset that’s almost a blank slate for you to customise as you see fit, the Smart Ultra 6 is a good bet and is a shining example the experience that all carrier-branded devices (or any other smartphone really) should deliver.

NikT

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Reply # 1422467 6-Nov-2015 15:39

ronw: Sorry what brand is that. Not familiar with Smart brand

http://vodafone.co.nz/smartultravideo :)

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Wade

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Reply # 1422487 6-Nov-2015 15:47

NikT: Smart ultra and Smart prime at $299 and $149 respectively are exactly what you're after if cost is a concern. Vanilla plus double tap to wake and permissions management.

And maybe a Marshmellow update in the near future? :P

For the closest to Nexus bang for buck experience you simply cannot go past the Smart Ultra, before this i was running a pure google HTC One M7 and in everyday use the Ultra is every bit as vanilla as the HTC (and in all honesty every bit as good if not better)

There is a couple of VF apps preinstalled of which only one cannot be uninstalled, but no issue as it just sits dormant

The only major feature missing is the gyroscope so no 360deg in google camera app and no gorilla glass :P

Go and compare specs of the Moto X Play, twice the price and virtually the same spec bar a couple of things

NikT

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Reply # 1422490 6-Nov-2015 15:50

Wade:
And maybe a Marshmellow update in the near future? :P

5.1 will be on the way soon. :)

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Wade

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Reply # 1422492 6-Nov-2015 15:53

NikT:
Wade:
And maybe a Marshmellow update in the near future? :P

5.1 will be on the way soon. :)

Is there any plan in the pipeline for 6.0? Or will we have to wait for the Ultra 6's successor?

NikT

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Reply # 1422493 6-Nov-2015 15:58

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Wade:

Is there any plan in the pipeline for 6.0? Or will we have to wait for the Ultra 6's successor?

Yep, it's planned. For Smart prime as well. Great move by Vodafone Group IMO. As for next year's successor - there's some very cool stuff in the works.

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ronw

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Reply # 1422507 6-Nov-2015 16:20

I gather the phone is locked to Vodafone so two questions.
Can it be unlocked
And if so will it work on Spark LTE

Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"
Samsung Galaxy SIV rooted
Asus Nexus Tablet 7.0

Brumfondl

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Reply # 1422525 6-Nov-2015 16:53

ronw: I gather the phone is locked to Vodafone so two questions.
Can it be unlocked
And if so will it work on Spark LTE

Yes and no, in that order. Smart Ultra is actually unlocked as standard. Neither the Prime nor the Ultra can do Band 28 (700MHz) so Spark and Skinny LTE is generally out.
Apart from that the Smart Ultra is a bloody good phone for the money and I love mine :)

macuser

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Reply # 1422527 6-Nov-2015 17:05

Smart Ultra +1

Such an amazing phone for the money, love mine and get heaps of 'what is that?' from friends

ronw

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Reply # 1422534 6-Nov-2015 17:19

Dam I was just going to go have a look at them. It looks like I will have to go for a Nexus 5 then. I currently have a Nexus 6 and have the Nexus 5 to my wife who dropped it and cracked the screen. It still goes but will cost $200 to fix according to first shop I asked. Thought there might be a cheaper option but after using Marshmallow for a month I don't want to go backwards to Android 5

Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"
Samsung Galaxy SIV rooted
Asus Nexus Tablet 7.0

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