Budget Android Smartphones

[WeAreAllUnique]

Thanks to Android Central I enjoyed a ZenFone 2. The phone performed so well, I started to wonder if I really needed a flagship device. So I did the unspeakable, I sold my iPhone 6 Plus and bought an LG Escape 2. With the extra funds, I bought a Chromebook. Still had $250 left after selling a used iPhone 6 Plus. I wanted a phone with a smaller footprint. So far so good. When I thought about it, there are a lot of benefits to buying budget Android devices. First, the cost. Paying under $200 versus $950 is a huge difference. And I found that I opted not to go for the expensive case and screen protector because the phone is so cheap why spend half the price of the phone on accessories to protect it? I also really don't have the fear of breaking it. And like I mentioned before, I have money left to buy complementary devices. Really limiting liking the experiment so far.

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[WeAreAllUnique]

Found out some interesting things about using this budget device that are surprising. The first being that widget performance is poor. They have to refresh when going back to the home screen. So I just stopped using the widgets because that annoyed me. Second thing is that I am loving the smaller size. I have always preferred gesture typing, and being able to do it with one hand is awesome. The most interesting thing is, one of the knocks I had on Android was game performance on some of the hands that have intensive 3D graphics. Performance just never seemed to be as good it was on the iPhone. Well, I'm starting to think that it is about the resolution. My favorite game to play is Real Racing 3. On my Note 4, which has a 2K screen, the game was choppy and didn't look good at all. On the ZenFone 2 that has a 1080p, it looked better and played better, but still not as good as the iPhone. On the Escape 2, that has a 720p screen, performance was really good. It was actually a joy to play the game and it looked to be on par with the iPhone version. So is it just about the resolution?

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[WeAreAllUnique]

Decided to go without a case too.

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[WeAreAllUnique]

I will also be checking out how week I can keep up my phi one without a screen protector and case. It will be an interesting experiment to see if either is really necessary.

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[WeAreAllUnique]

Completely misjudged the comforts and convenience of using a smartphone with one hand. Absolutely love it.

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[syspry]

I have often considered getting a $250-300 budget model android for my next phone but here's the problem. None of them are much of if at all an upgrade from older flagships, even for my phone that was released in Fall '13. The way I see it, I can buy any of the big 2014 flagships right now for anywhere from $270-350 online, and they're all better built than the Zenphone2 or Alcatel Idol this year.

Phones like the Nexus 4 and 5 were a huge deal at the top end specs for subsidized prices they were selling for but those days are gone now for nexus phones. More recently we had the 1+1 offering nexus level specs for budget level pricing but at the time it wasn't really an upgrade for me anyway.

 

[LeoRex]

I have often considered getting a $250-300 budget model android for my next phone but here's the problem. None of them are much of if at all an upgrade from older flagships

That is true, but its also only a recent turn of events. Beginning with the arrival of the phones with the Snapdragon 800/1 chips, their effective life increased quite a bit. I mean, the LG G2 and Nexus 5 (SD800) are, even to this day, still pretty quick. If you then put them up against a budget phone with one of the cheaper, less powerful SoCs that we are getting in those phones, there's a good chance that those now-two year old phones will not only be faster, but noticeably so.

If I had to go the budget route... I'd try to hunt down the most pristine LG G2 I could get my hands on, load a custom ROM on it and whistle while I worked.

 

[Raptor007]

All I have ever purchased are flagship phones, and then entered the ASUS ZenFone 2 which I got from AC. I used it for a bit and the more I used it the more I realize it does what I need and while mine was free, for $300 you get a lot for your money and enough so that Samsung and others should take note. Storage, screen, MicroSD, 1080P display, the only issues I have are battery life and speaker sound, but with rapid charging its not the end of the world.

I am returning my new unopened GS6 Edge 128GB tomorrow and will rock the ASUS ZF2 for the next few months. I will also keep it around for use on many different things, media device, music and movie player, games, etc.

For $300, you also get 100GB of Google Drive for FREE, that is another $50 value making the phone only $250 in the end.

 

[Sergiusz Jasper]

I have done just that too...I'm on Note 4 but find it little big as a DD so I have Sony M4 aqua on order it's 300$ with great specs SD card and waterproof. ..will see how it goes .
Flagship area awesome but little scary with the day to day use ..dropping it etc cases help but still 800 bucks vs 300 ...anyway will see in the long run.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

One of the things that I am concerned with regarding budget phones is how long the budget Android devices will be supported. The Moto G has been supported well since it's release, but I haven't heard about other budget devices.

Note Edge

 

[applegloss]

I too feel buying budget phones is the best because of how hardware keeps getting better and it's easier to switch to a newer model if you own a budget phone. I have friends that bought really expensive phones in the early days and still have them around because they paid so much for them.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

I too feel buying budget phones is the best because of how hardware keeps getting better and it's easier to switch to a newer model if you own a budget phone. I have friends that bought really expensive phones in the early days and still have them around because they paid so much for them.

True. For those who like to switch phones constantly, budget Android devices could be a great alternative. But, that's only if the experience is comparable. I used to own a Moto G and though the phone was nice and very cheap, it lacked a lot of features that made it not worth the time in the end. No NFC, no LTE, 8GB of internal storage, and no full HD recording. There are some budget phones that offer these features. So it can be a hit tv miss depending on what you are looking at.

Note Edge

 

[anon8380037]

I am using a 2013 m. y. Moto G LTE 8gb solely for 5 weeks now.
8gb/1gb ram no problem. Response was sticky, but after its second reset in a year it is now buttery smooth.
I don't like reading on the led display and the overall screen size for a lot of screen time, but agree I am getting to love the overall size in the hand and it's pocketability.
It's a great backup, but I need a daily driver or a tablet, and don't think new flagships cut it for 2.5 times the price anymore. (I also am on a new low pay job).

I provisionally sold my 20 month Note 3 still on 4.4, amd am considering the Motorola direct deal for a Moto X 2014.
GB 269 for the 32gb

I would like a Note 4 @ 420 but it's kinda late and I cannot get a full idea how Lollipop affected features on non carrier versions.

The Sony Z3+ with audio bundle has a good contract price with 10 or 20 gb data but I don't want to commit.

I want to look more at mid range devices but I think a new Moto X 2 months before the next is good.
I would miss many (non S-Pen) Samsung features, but it would do the job for me, though I can't find one in the flesh.

c.300 US/GB or less gets you a good device, though previous flagship devices are not cheap in the UK apart from the Moto deal this month.

 

[Golfdriver97]

First, great thread idea.

Second, I truly wish OEMs would have multiple sizes (even if just 2) in flagships. Offer a 4.7-5.1" version and then the 5.5"+ version.

Completely misjudged the comforts and convenience of using a smartphone with one hand. Absolutely love it.

Me personally, I am not a fan of the hybrids, and the ZenFone is, even after 3 weeks of use, a little too big for me.

I am inclined to agree that a budget device isn't a bad idea. The Moto G is probably as low as I would go.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

First, great thread idea.

Second, I truly wish OEMs would have multiple sizes (even if just 2) in flagships. Offer a 4.7-5.1" version and then the 5.5"+ version.


Me personally, I am not a fan of the hybrids, and the ZenFone is, even after 3 weeks of use, a little too big for me.

I am inclined to agree that a budget device isn't a bad idea. The Moto G is probably as low as I would go.

I agree. There should be 2 sizes of the flagship models. Because I do believe there is a need for a flagship device that can be used one-handed. I believe this is where Apple got it right.

Note Edge

 

[Golfdriver97]

Because I do believe there is a need for a flagship device that can be used one-handed.

This is honestly something I look at when getting a new device. How easily can I hold it in one hand and use it. That is my preference though, and I can understand people who want a hybrid device. I just wish there was an unified cutoff for both.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

This is honestly something I look at when getting a new device. How easily can I hold it in one hand and use it. That is my preference though, and I can understand people who want a hybrid device. I just wish there was an unified cutoff for both.

I think manufacturers are leaning that way. Apple has two different sized iPhones, Samsung has the Galaxy S line and Note line, LG has the G series and the Flex series.

Note Edge

 

[anon8380037]

.... + Sony Z3, Z3 Compact

(now Z3+ / Z4v)

 

[mohit9206]

I've been using Moto E since 9 months as a daily driver and it certainly does most of what flagship phones do. The only problems are low internal storage and not so good camera but everything else is great. No lag, decent screen, stock Android, good battery life all for $100 without contract. Mine's the 1st gen but the 2nd gen is even better because it doubles the storage, improves the camera, higher capacity battery, 64 bit Snapdragon 410 cpu and most importantly adds 4G LTE all for $120.
I don't see why people need to buy $1000 phones other than status and showing off.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

I've been using Moto E since 9 months as a daily driver and it certainly does most of what flagship phones do. The only problems are low internal storage and not so good camera but everything else is great. No lag, decent screen, stock Android, good battery life all for $100 without contract. Mine's the 1st gen but the 2nd gen is even better because it doubles the storage, improves the camera, higher capacity battery, 64 bit Snapdragon 410 cpu and most importantly adds 4G LTE all for $120.
I don't see why people need to buy $1000 phones other than status and showing off.

The Moto E does seem to be a great buy. I'm glad that you are enjoying it.

Sent from my Nexus 5