Best Android phone for app development / programming?

Cromulent · 28 Nov 2017 at 05:14

I was a bit unsure whether I should post this here or in the programming forum but I guess the mobile phone section will have people who know much more about Android phones in general so I posted it here.

I'm looking for a new Android phone to develop a small Android app on and I was wondering what people would recommend for the job?

My requirements are pretty simple:

* Must be as fast as possible
* Must run the latest version of Android (8.1 I believe?)
* Must have very accurate GPS / location tracking
* Must be able to take photos and video with both the front and the rear camera
* Bigger screen is better for my purposes

If possible I'd like a phone that can be upgraded using unofficial builds of Android once it is no longer supported by the device manufacturer as that should increase the life of the device.

Edit: Seems I can get a Samsung S8 for £23 a month. Does that sound like a good deal?

UnworthyBean · 28 Nov 2017 at 08:55

With Samsung devices you normally have to wait a little while for the latest updates.

Something from Google is your best bet if you want it to always be running the latest version. Still very powerful devices.

tom_e · 28 Nov 2017 at 09:00

Your only option is a Google device if you want it to be running on the bleeding edge of android. It's also a sensible choice as you've not got any oem bloat/skins/additional features getting in the way.

malachi · 28 Nov 2017 at 10:16

When I was doing android development it was always best to pick an pure android device. The Pixel series will suite you fine.

Cromulent · 28 Nov 2017 at 11:50

Awesome. Thank you all. The Pixel 2 it is then.

Big Elf · 28 Nov 2017 at 18:06

I'd also get a crappy used phone to make sure that the App runs OK on that as well.

izzop · 28 Nov 2017 at 21:41

^^ Very much this.

Not everyone runs the latest tech, regardless how good an app you've developed.

Cromulent · 29 Nov 2017 at 05:31

I've got a Nexus 4 running Android 5.1.1 at the moment. That should be good enough to use as an old phone but having said that I really want to be able to incorporate some of the features of the latest version of Android into my app.

If I remember correctly though you can require a lower version of Android and then do checks in your code to see if you are running on a newer version and if so you can enable the newer features. I'll have to do some reading into that particular issue.

jonneymendoza · 29 Nov 2017 at 08:18

samsung devices are actually the best phone to test on especially when doing hardware things like cameras and NFC.

tom_e · 29 Nov 2017 at 08:31

jonneymendoza said:
samsung devices are actually the best phone to test on especially when doing hardware things like cameras and NFC.

That's interesting I'd have thought it'd be the opposite considering how customised touchwiz is. What's the reason?

jonneymendoza · 29 Nov 2017 at 08:45

tom_e said:
That's interesting I'd have thought it'd be the opposite considering how customised touchwiz is. What's the reason?

Two reasons.

Its the most popular android manufacturer
Lots of issues when using there camera nfc etc so if it works on there. It will work also on the pixel etc. Samsung seem to botch there android system to try and force you to use their own sdk for interacting with there hardware

Tee Hee Johnson · 29 Nov 2017 at 13:20

I use a Pixel for my development, works a charm.