Good value unlocked phones that get security updates from T-Mo US?

[YaSo]

I am wondering what unlocked phones people are using on T-Mo US that get security updates. I am looking for value, but good quality as well, and thought to start a general thread of what is good out there.

 

[YaSo]

(OP here) I will say for me, my Nexus 4 was updated monthly until Google stopped support in Fall of 2015 with 5.1.1. My Nexus 6P got monthly updates to 7.1.1 until August 2017 (never got Oreo as of October when I sent it back to Google for extended warranty replacement) and my 'new to me' Pixel XL came with 7.1 but was updated, now on 8.1.0 on the 2017 December 5th update.

 

[YaSo]

(OP here again) I want to buy an unlocked phone 'with a good camera' for my Aunt for the holidays. She currently has a Moto G3 that is still on an early 2017 patch with 6.1.1.

She mostly uses it to check Facebook and play basic games, but also wants a good camera for times when she goes to birthday parties or concerts. She is used to her big Sony DSLR camera, but I think she could get good phone pics if she tries. So what good camera phones are there at a good cost, with updates?

I was thinking about a Moto G5 Plus which is $185 if you get Amazon's lockscreen ads on it, but read low-light photos aren't great.

I thought an Honor 6X ($150 sold by Amazon with US warranty) would be a steal, but users say they haven't gotten an update from the 7.x / EMUI 5 version past March 2017.

Then I thought I'd splurge and get an LG G6 (US997 model) with the Amazon lockscreen ads for $400 but I have yet to see the phone actually available for sale. It was supposed to be available on Dec. 11, but now it shows as 'temporarily out of stock'. A chat with LG support says that the unlocked version would get delayed updates 'from Google' a month late.

Does anyone have any experience with a mid-range (or budget) phone with a good camera and updates? Thanks in advance

 

[gtt1]

Take a look at the Honor 7x which I heard starts shipping today for $200. Camera is expected to be excellent and if anything like my Honor 8 camera should be a terrific buy especially for the purpose of your Aunt.

http://www.hihonor.com/us/index.html

Iphones take terrific photos so maybe a used 6s for a about $200 +

 

[djrakowski]

Take a look at the Honor 7x which I heard starts shipping today for $200. Camera is expected to be excellent and if anything like my Honor 8 camera should be a terrific buy especially for the purpose of your Aunt.

http://www.hihonor.com/us/index.html

Iphones take terrific photos so maybe a used 6s for a about $200 +

The Honor 7X definitely looks like a winner... my only caution is that it doesn’t provide access to band 66.

 

[YaSo]

Thanks for the Honor 7x suggestion. I am not beholden to one brand, just as long as it isn't customized so much that I can't easily troubleshoot questions she has. What concerns me is the seemingly few updates the 6x got from Honor, which has me leaning towards a Moto G5 plus.

(edit)

Does anyone have a (last years) Honor 6x on T-Mo and are you getting recent security patches? Since they are relatively new to the US, that's the only way I can track if the 7x would get updates or not.

 

[Sedp23]

Thanks for the Honor 7x suggestion. I am not beholden to one brand, just as long as it isn't customized so much that I can't easily troubleshoot questions she has. What concerns me is the seemingly few updates the 6x got from Honor, which has me leaning towards a Moto G5 plus.

(edit)

Does anyone have a (last years) Honor 6x on T-Mo and are you getting recent security patches? Since they are relatively new to the US, that's the only way I can track if the 7x would get updates or not.

My friend just bought a 6x the other day don't expect Oreo from it there was one recent update pushed out but doesn't seem to be in their line up for updates

 

[YaSo]

My friend just bought a 6x the other day don't expect Oreo from it there was one recent update pushed out but doesn't seem to be in their line up for updates

Thanks Sedp23 for the info. I'm not so much interested in new features, but to know it will get security updates for a while.

I ended up getting a Moto G5 Plus, hoping it would be supported for a longer period of time. $200 for the 4gb / 64gb version from Amazon. The lock-screen ads are not a big deal with the fingerprint unlock, but out of the box so far it only got updated to the August 2017 patch, which is pre-KRACK. I'm going to see if any more updates come in the next week before deciding to return it or not.

Can you find out what patch your friends 6x updated to? (Check in Settings, System, System Updates page. Should say the month or date of the last update)

What Update level is the 7x coming with?

 

[Androidistopdawg]

the updates come from the manufacturer not the carrier on factory unlocked phones

 

[Ry]

I am wondering what unlocked phones people are using on T-Mo US that get security updates. I am looking for value, but good quality as well, and thought to start a general thread of what is good out there.

Unlocked phones usually don't get updates from a carrier.

However, the OEM could restrict roll-out of an update depending on the SIM installed in the phone.

 

[anon(123856)]

Thanks Sedp23 for the info. I'm not so much interested in new features, but to know it will get security updates for a while.

I ended up getting a Moto G5 Plus, hoping it would be supported for a longer period of time. $200 for the 4gb / 64gb version from Amazon. The lock-screen ads are not a big deal with the fingerprint unlock, but out of the box so far it only got updated to the August 2017 patch, which is pre-KRACK. I'm going to see if any more updates come in the next week before deciding to return it or not.

Can you find out what patch your friends 6x updated to? (Check in Settings, System, System Updates page. Should say the month or date of the last update)

What Update level is the 7x coming with?

My G5 Plus is still stuck on the August patch as well. Moto is not the best choice if updates are a major concern.

 

[hawklet00]

the only two manufacturers that are consistently sending out the security updates are blackberry and google. if you go BlackBerry you should get the keyone, cb is saying the camera on the motion is a bit lacking

 

[OhAlfie]

My backup phone the Axon 7 has been getting updated at a decent rate. It's due to get Oreo in the next couple of months or so as well. Really is a great unlocked phone. I believe the mini version is popular as well.

 

[scrannel]

Recently bought a BBerry Motion. Nice phone, gets updates, but also has full functionality on T-Mo. Wifi-calling being the most important for me.

 

[Nubwy]

Can't go wrong with a 2nd Gen Pixel man.