Cheap Chinese android phones...

jemdna

jemdna

jemdna

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Not sure which section to chuck this in so mods please move :)

Noticed on a well known auction site more and more of these chinese clone phones - One for example has quad core 1.3ghz, 1gb ram, 5.5" Screen (560x960) etc so not a bad spec especially when only £100!

My main concern is do they connect to the genuine play store allowing me to get apps such as FB etc or (as I've seen on phones a couple of years ago) just a dodgy chinese version which has no real apps etc?

And is the screen actually going to be usable? I know it certainly isn't going to be as reliable as its genuine samsung counterpart or easily update-able to 5.0 etc BUT for the price its surely worth a look?

Cheers
 
Just to point out - The main reason I am looking is I am a fiend for big screens and 5" or even 5.5" would be amazing...
 
I would avoid most to be honest, specs wise it does sound great, but support for it isn't exactly perfect either. Some don't have access to the Play store, meaning you may need to root and flash the Google apps package via custom recovery in order to have access to it. Some also have a few backdoors in the software as well to access your phone...

Have you had a look at the Moto G 2014? A little more expensive than cheap Chinese phones but pretty much the same specs with good stable software + support. It's also owned by a Chinese company now :p...

EDIT: Found it, Coolpad is a brand to avoid: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/18/chinese-android-phones-coolpad-hacker-backdoor
 
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£100 gets you the likes of a Moto G or a second-hand Nexus 4 which are far more appealing options than a dodgy Chinese device with virtually no support or software updates.
 
I think there's good things to be had if you stick to the bigger brands and make sure to check the exact hardware specification beforehand, and also if it's running a vanilla version of Android or a custom build. Like somebody else mentioned, always check the carrier frequencies it supports beforehand to make sure it'll actually work! (99.9% will be standard, but some countries use different frequencies for 4G connection)

I've had a Xiaomi Mi4 for around 4 months, and it's probably been the best Android phone I've had so far (previous were Motorola Milestone and Sony Xperia S). Flagship specs when I bought it (Snapdragon 801, 3GB RAM, 64GB storage) and the build quality is flawless. Admittedly, it's very much marketed as a 'premium' handset but for me it beat all of the other big players hands down - and at £2-300 less than domestic options.

Even if it cost the same amount as other options, I would have still chosen this phone.
 
As you guys have pointed out - The access to the proper playstore is probably one of my biggest concerns. I've used custom roms in the past (Cyanogen) so I'm not completely out of place but yes being able to install proper apps is probably a big one.

I agree sticking to the name brands is ideal however I'm not going to get a 5/5.5" screen with £100ish budget. I had the Moto G and whilst it was a cracking phone, im a screen whore and like the bigger screens...

So - Definitely avoid or proceed with caution, if proceeding can you guys recommend any kind of way of checking its access to play store or is that part of the gamble...
 
I could not see you having an experience as consistent as the Moto G for that price point for a chinese phone. The Moto has good build quality, reliable software and has a relatively up to date version of Android.
 
AGD said:
Pay a little more for a Moto G.
Click to expand...

He's already had the Moto G and wants a bigger screen. does no-one actually read what he's looking for?

OP, your best bet is the Xiaomi Redmi Note but its slightly more than your budget but goes for 117 at lightinthebox.com. offer ends in 3 days tho!

another option for about 30 quid more is the UMi Zero or the THL 5000 but both are about 150.

All are much much better than what you are looking at on ebay. octocore, 2gb ram, 5inch screen, 16 or 32gb storage and sd slots and 4g.
 
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The Xiaomi Rednmi is a good shout, 5.5" and only slightly more than your budget. Xiaomi is perhaps one of the best Chinese brands to stick to.

Which Moto G did you have? As the 2013 version is 4.5" while the 2014 version is 5", hence why I recommended it.
 
I bought a Xiaomi Redmi Note in November and for the money you cant beat it

Comes with play store installed and this newest version also has 4G

Bought mine direct from Xiaomi for about £115 from their EU wharehouse and it arrived in three days with no customs tax to pay
 
topdog555 said:
I bought a Xiaomi Redmi Note in November and for the money you cant beat it

Comes with play store installed and this newest version also has 4G

Bought mine direct from Xiaomi for about £115 from their EU wharehouse and it arrived in three days with no customs tax to pay
Click to expand...

thats great to hear, I wasnt sure of its play store status but thought the OP would like to investigate it.

Honestly, what is this forums singlemindedness on the Moto G as the only budget phone? I've got it and its not bad as a backup phone but certainly not what I would recommend to someone who wants a big screen and decent specs.
 
Last year one of my mates bought a Chinese phone for his girlfriend since then and because of that initial purchase at least another 3 mates have bought Chinese all off Amazon so the purchase is relatively safe.
 
My brother bought a Huawei mobile phone for my dad when he traveled in China last year.The problem is that there is no google store on that phone,but my brother installed it himself.
I am really surprised that it has a huge screen like a tablet, only for about 180 pounds. The battery can last for nearly a week,maybe because my dad doesn't play it very often, but really surprises me.
 
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