Recommendations for the cheapest Android that can do Skype

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lchiu7

6462 posts

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#95590 9-Jan-2012 00:23

I want a phone that will be used for Skype primarily and only audio.

I tried a Vodafone 858 but it was terrible over wifi even. Using the Skype test call, the voice broke up all the time and it was basically unusable. I suspect the CPU in that phone can't cut the mustard.

I am looking now at the LG P500 which is abour $199 at the moment on both Telecom and Vodafone. It should be upgradable to 2.3 but Skype should work on 2.2.

Anybody have any experiences with low end Android phones and Skype?

Thanks

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Batman

Mad Scientist
29685 posts

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#566328 9-Jan-2012 00:46

sounds like you mean skype voice only no video -

have you considered VIBER? some people are concerned about privacy issues but i find low battery drain and very good voice quality ...

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Kiwi1971

696 posts

Ultimate Geek

#566365 9-Jan-2012 08:30

lchiu7: I want a phone that will be used for Skype primarily and only audio.

I tried a Vodafone 858 but it was terrible over wifi even. Using the Skype test call, the voice broke up all the time and it was basically unusable. I suspect the CPU in that phone can't cut the mustard.

I am looking now at the LG P500 which is abour $199 at the moment on both Telecom and Vodafone. It should be upgradable to 2.3 but Skype should work on 2.2.

Anybody have any experiences with low end Android phones and Skype?

Thanks

I have a 1ghz Desire and Skype was pretty awful on it. +1 for Viber, it was 100x better.

Not so much use if you only want to call people with Skype but if it is for a small group of specific people, you might be able to get them to use an alternative.

DLS

tigercorp

667 posts

Ultimate Geek

#566369 9-Jan-2012 08:47

Kiwi1971: [...

I have a 1ghz Desire and Skype was pretty awful on it. +1 for Viber, it was 100x better.

I've a 1 Ghz Galaxy Tab 7" and Skype works great, even video over Vodafone 3G.

Viber does seem to have better quality though, although I haven't done any A/B tests in the same locations.

tanivula

991 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#566388 9-Jan-2012 09:23

I haven't had any issues with Skype on my Galaxy S i9000. Worked well for video with the FCC if there was enough light. Have also used it for Skype out (making toll calls) without any issues.

However, like everyone else, Viber has amazing call quality - even over 3G and has bugger all battery drain.

blackjack17

1702 posts

Uber Geek

#566390 9-Jan-2012 09:29

I was looking for a cheap andriod skype and xbmc remote as well.

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minigopher17

281 posts

Ultimate Geek

#566417 9-Jan-2012 10:58

I have Skype working fine for voice calls on my Ideos U8150. I thought lack of CPU would be an issue too, but it works so not complaining. Does drain the battery heavily though.

(The phone also works very well using XBMC Remote.)

dtpnz

25 posts

Geek

#566428 9-Jan-2012 11:10

Skype on my HTC Desire is unusable, breaks up and drops calls. On my Asus Transformer it's OK so I put it down to the processor. Viber worrks well on the HTC but I'm hard pressed to find anyone else outside the iPhone world who actually uses it.

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#566443 9-Jan-2012 11:42

Viber rocks on my HTC sensation.. use it daily! Sometimes for hours.
skype drains the battery like a b*stard