If it just works reasonably well for just $100 who cares? For most here it would just be a backup phone or the one you use in the workshop/building site. To be honest updates/patches is an over-hyped issue IMO. Outside of tech forums like this I have never heard an Average Joe moan or even mention it.
dumbass beware! had once a Apple phone - received a “single” software update, even with security updates, the phone was trashed. iOS 9 to 11 accidentally on 6s did not address meltdown and spectre issues, only slowing the phone down.
App and software devs know people like you love “security” updates. I would give you one every week.
The only security update that would be meaningful on an Android platform would be the one that stops the device from backhauling everything you do up to Alphabet's servers for data analysis and resale.
Which of the cheaper brands actually have the best stock/update experience?
So far for me HMD-Nokia good (but their phones have some flaws). Archos - bad (been a while) Alcatel - bad (been a while) Samsung -poor
Anyone have experience with other budget brands/phones? And by budget i mean 90-130euro without contract on sale or at launch like nokia 5 and nokia 2.1 for example.
Blu phones are $50-80 at microcenter, I really don't think we should expect software updates for that price. I, for one, would be happy to have it not drop calls and not blow up during use.
I'm not a fan of their UI and stock apps, nor their troublesome bootloader unlocking procedure, but they're okay in price/hardware ratio, and they have a large following so there's a good chance to find software mods.
It's annoying that they delay unlocking. But you get it in the end, and then there's plenty to throw on - e.g. LineageOS not out yet? Try Pixel Experience. (And it did come out eventually.)
Their unlocking procedure is cryptic and unreliable. If it fails (internet connection breaks or it doesn't like something about your phone settings) it's back to waiting another 2 weeks.
Nearly two year old Alcatel phone here running Marshmallow I snagged for $30. Not a single update from them ever, but I'm not sure I expected that for the price. Then again, my previous phone was an LG that I got new in Wally World for $10 back in early 2014 and it did get a single vendor update. Anyhow, the Alcatel UI is stock Marshmallow and it was lean on additional, useless apps aside from the two-of-everything-becasue-Google default programs that were easy enough to disable and ignore for the last 20 months.
Xiaomi's Redmi series is the best in budget for updates. If they are available in your region. Also in India we have Asus Zenfone Lite L1 which is a great phone for its price (~ USD 85) . It gives stock android and one major OS update garaunteed.
If you're in that market, why not go for an Android One phone like the Xiaomi Mi A2 lite? Bigger battery, way better design, updates? Anyone gotta love that..?
Oh gawd, people spend $100 on their phones and expecting updates. Though I am surprised about the phone with the spreadtrum soc. Personally I would like to see more soc phone makers than the usual suspects.
Interesting SoC - http://www.unisoc.com/sc9863a - octo-A55, LTE, etc. Has fairly recent PowerVR graphics as well, a lot of the cheap SoCs still use Mali 450 or similar.
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ceisserer - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
buyers beware!had once a TCL phone - did not receive a *single* software update, not even security updates.
jabber - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
If it just works reasonably well for just $100 who cares? For most here it would just be a backup phone or the one you use in the workshop/building site. To be honest updates/patches is an over-hyped issue IMO. Outside of tech forums like this I have never heard an Average Joe moan or even mention it.sonny73n - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
dumbass beware!had once a Apple phone - received a “single” software update, even with security updates, the phone was trashed.
iOS 9 to 11 accidentally on 6s did not address meltdown and spectre issues, only slowing the phone down.
App and software devs know people like you love “security” updates. I would give you one every week.
sonny73n - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
People always cry about updates.Security updates - why do you still need anti- virus?
Feature updates - isn’t the freaking phone already clogged up with useless features?
PeachNCream - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
The only security update that would be meaningful on an Android platform would be the one that stops the device from backhauling everything you do up to Alphabet's servers for data analysis and resale.plopke - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
Which of the cheaper brands actually have the best stock/update experience?So far for me
HMD-Nokia good (but their phones have some flaws).
Archos - bad (been a while)
Alcatel - bad (been a while)
Samsung -poor
Anyone have experience with other budget brands/phones? And by budget i mean 90-130euro without contract on sale or at launch like nokia 5 and nokia 2.1 for example.
kaidenshi - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
Stay away from BLU. Besides the fact they are bad clones of Chinese grey-market low end devices, they promise updates and never deliver.PEJUman - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
Blu phones are $50-80 at microcenter, I really don't think we should expect software updates for that price. I, for one, would be happy to have it not drop calls and not blow up during use.sheh - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
Xiaomi are common.I'm not a fan of their UI and stock apps, nor their troublesome bootloader unlocking procedure, but they're okay in price/hardware ratio, and they have a large following so there's a good chance to find software mods.
GreenReaper - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
It's annoying that they delay unlocking. But you get it in the end, and then there's plenty to throw on - e.g. LineageOS not out yet? Try Pixel Experience. (And it did come out eventually.)sheh - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Their unlocking procedure is cryptic and unreliable. If it fails (internet connection breaks or it doesn't like something about your phone settings) it's back to waiting another 2 weeks.sonny73n - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Do you necessarily need updates? Go spend $1000 on your fruit phone, fanboi.PeachNCream - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Nearly two year old Alcatel phone here running Marshmallow I snagged for $30. Not a single update from them ever, but I'm not sure I expected that for the price. Then again, my previous phone was an LG that I got new in Wally World for $10 back in early 2014 and it did get a single vendor update. Anyhow, the Alcatel UI is stock Marshmallow and it was lean on additional, useless apps aside from the two-of-everything-becasue-Google default programs that were easy enough to disable and ignore for the last 20 months.patel21 - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
Xiaomi's Redmi series is the best in budget for updates. If they are available in your region. Also in India we have Asus Zenfone Lite L1 which is a great phone for its price (~ USD 85) . It gives stock android and one major OS update garaunteed.jvl - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
If you're in that market, why not go for an Android One phone like the Xiaomi Mi A2 lite?Bigger battery, way better design, updates? Anyone gotta love that..?
pugster - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
Oh gawd, people spend $100 on their phones and expecting updates. Though I am surprised about the phone with the spreadtrum soc. Personally I would like to see more soc phone makers than the usual suspects.psychobriggsy - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
Interesting SoC - http://www.unisoc.com/sc9863a - octo-A55, LTE, etc.Has fairly recent PowerVR graphics as well, a lot of the cheap SoCs still use Mali 450 or similar.