Chinese Android Phones 2 - Read First Post!

Doctor Nick

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

How are people finding ulefone phones in the sub 200 bracket? My experience isn't great.i got a ulefone armour for use on the sites. It's been about 3 months since I used it but as far as I remember is was a bit glitch and prone to slowness. I picked up a power 2 about 3 weeks ago and due to breaking her phone the missus is using it. It's very prone to freezing when using things like Facebook .it'll regularly stop responding and she wants rid. I'm wondering is this a trait of their devices or am I being unlucky. The annoying , or more to the point annoying to find a replacement for , charging cable for the armour has soured me a bit too. There's no issue getting long tipped micro usb cables , but the plastic on them is too big and they catch the side of the armour shell so won't go fully in. Is the slowness just down to mediatek cpus maybe?

In contrast , for similar money I'm using a redmi note 4x (3gb model) and it's been excellent. I'd have happily paid much more for it. So much so I've ordered her the 4gb model.

I came across the armour 2 and like the look of it but I'm reluctant to give them another go.

I had a metal and loved it initially. I had no problems with apps freezing or it being slow. What I did experience was the battery lasting less than half a day. Going down 20-30% just sitting there doing nothing. Sporadic network connection, sometimes couldn't use it at all indoors. Probably would not buy another Ulefone.

Guy:Incognito

Doctor Nick wrote: »

Had an update over the weekend. Xiaomi pushed out Nougat on the redmi note 4x. Wasn't aware they were going to do that so sweet. I believe it's just the 4X for now, the 4 will be staying on Marshmallow.

No sign of it on mine yet .

Doctor Nick

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

No sign of it on mine yet .

Well that's weird. I had two updates, one to MIUI first and then the Android 7 update. Have you updated to MIUI 8.5 yet? Or gone into About Phone in your settings and clicked on system updates? I got a screen prompt to update MIUI and when I installed that I got another screen prompt. Currently Android version is 7.0 NRD90M.

Guy:Incognito

I'm on miui version 8.2.4.

I'd checked for updates on Thursday or Friday. Checked again there. Rebooted and tried again. Nothing yet.

SmallBalls

Anyone got a Xiaomi MiPad? Looking for a half decent tablet and was wondering if these are any good?

Digital Solitude

SmallBalls wrote: »

Anyone got a Xiaomi MiPad? Looking for a half decent tablet and was wondering if these are any good?

I have the first gen one, and it was a pan of ****e. Worked really really well for a few months and then just stagnated. No source code meant it was years before any ROMs came out, even now CM12 reboots itself about 5 times a day for me.

MiUi didn't even work on it once the slowdown set it, it's pretty much unusable, constant crashes and reboots and no support from Xiaomi. They dropped it and released the second gen version as quickly as they could.

Not sure what Gen they're on now, but if you see a 1st Gen going cheap, its still too much.

ED E

Digital Solitude wrote: »

I have the first gen one, and it was a pan of ****e. Worked really really well for a few months and then just stagnated. No source code meant it was years before any ROMs came out, even now CM12 reboots itself about 5 times a day for me.

MiUi didn't even work on it once the slowdown set it, it's pretty much unusable, constant crashes and reboots and no support from Xiaomi. They dropped it and released the second gen version as quickly as they could.

Not sure what Gen they're on now, but if you see a 1st Gen going cheap, its still too much.

Sounds a lot like the original Nexus 7

Digital Solitude

funkey_monkey wrote: »

Looking to get myself a new phone and have spent a lot of time on Kimovil looking at specs etc.
Is it fair to say there is nothing worthwhile now running Android south of 5" screen size (or 15cm height)?

The closest I've found is the Mi5 at 144.6mm. There is a Redmi 3s slightly shorter at 139mm, but its Antutu score is roughly 1/4 of the former?

I've also been looking on gsmarena and notice that there are a number of Motorola handsets in and around the same range - such as the G5.

There doesn't seem to be lot in it and TBH I'm baulking at buying a chinese handset. Can anyone give me a recommendation outside of these for a smallish Android handset with good performance and quality?

Small androids has very much been a budget market for a couple of years now, meaning the phones are probably crap. The Asian markets prefer larger phones, its why Chinese 5-6" phones have been the norm for years, whereas its relatively new for Sony, HTC, Apple to have phones above 5".

Even Sonys "Compact" line are about 4.7" iirc, small androids are a dying market.

I think you're right in that 5" is about the minimum worth getting

Del007

I'm looking to get the Xiaomi redmi note 4 for the Mother. Which shop would be best to get the global/international version with quick delivery?

Cheers lads

mikeybrennan

very happy with my note 4x ,battery life is great

the usb port on the old redmi note 2 failed after a year so i've switched to wsken magnetic cables for all new devices
http://www.dx.com/p/wsken-xcable-mini-2-magnetic-cable-with-micro-usb-adapter-916474353?tc=EUR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkOW61-P61QIVzLDtCh3r7gjaEAQYASABEgIW3_D_BwE#.WaR-b_iGN6k

as.eirinn

got mine here...161 posted global version, very happy, cracking phone 

[font=arial, sans-serif]http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Xiaomi-Redmi-Note-4X-32GB-Rom-3GB-Ram-Snapdragon-625-Grey-Smartphone/122376416606?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649[/font]

mikeybrennan

as.eirinn wrote: »

got mine here...161 posted global version, very happy, cracking phone 

[font=arial, sans-serif]http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Xiaomi-Redmi-Note-4X-32GB-Rom-3GB-Ram-Snapdragon-625-Grey-Smartphone/122376416606?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649[/font]

got the same off goldway for 130 delivered (7 days)

these don't have band 20

Del007

as.eirinn wrote: »

got mine here...161 posted global version, very happy, cracking phone 

[font=arial, sans-serif]http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Xiaomi-Redmi-Note-4X-32GB-Rom-3GB-Ram-Snapdragon-625-Grey-Smartphone/122376416606?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649[/font]

Out of stock, cheers anyway

Del007

mikeybrennan wrote: »

got the same off goldway for 130 delivered (7 days)

these don't have band 20

Is band 20 the international version?

Del007

I'm going to go with this one

As it's for the mother, I'm thinking whether the 4gb version is over kill or if she'll be grand with the 3gb version

https://www.honorbuy.com/1103-xiaomi-redmi-note-4-international-version-64gb-black.html

Guy:Incognito

Doctor Nick wrote: »

Well that's weird. I had two updates, one to MIUI first and then the Android 7 update. Have you updated to MIUI 8.5 yet? Or gone into About Phone in your settings and clicked on system updates? I got a screen prompt to update MIUI and when I installed that I got another screen prompt. Currently Android version is 7.0 NRD90M.

Is there anywhere the updates can be downloaded from manually or do they have to come ota from xiaomi?

corkie

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Is there anywhere the updates can be downloaded from manually or do they have to come ota from xiaomi?

Recovery roms also can be used with updater app can be got here.

^^^ Only can be used to update same version of rom or to goto developer from stable. Can not be used to change from global to china(vice versa), or developer to stable.

Fastboot roms to be used with MiFlash can be got here.

Differences between Fastboot ROMs and Recovery ROMs

mikeybrennan

corkie wrote: »

Recovery roms also can be used with updater app can be got here.

^^^ Only can be used to update same version of rom or to goto developer from stable. Can not be used to change from global to china(vice versa), or developer to stable.

Fastboot roms to be used with MiFlash can be got here.

Differences between Fastboot ROMs and Recovery ROMs

Is there a way to recover or flash new redmis without installing twrp

corkie

mikeybrennan wrote: »

Is there a way to recover or flash new redmis without installing twrp

For snapdragon devices you can use EDL Mode (Locked bootloader).

Check the /r/xiaomi wiki, i linked earlier.

There is also a window tools available XiaoMiTool that can also be used.


^^^ Alpha software, have not used it myself!

mikeybrennan

I'm going to apply for unlock permission here
http://en.miui.com/unlock/index.html

Do I give them the international phone number +3538****** and they send me a text ?

Thanks

dancingqueen

I got my Redmi Note 4X yesterday.. the selfie mode on the camera is infuriatingly close to your face - mega zoom stuff. The ratio is at the lowest, so I don't know how to change it. Particularly annoying on Snapchat. Don't suppose anyone would have any tips for me on how to change it?

corkie

dancingqueen wrote: »

I got my Redmi Note 4X yesterday.. the selfie mode on the camera is infuriatingly close to your face - mega zoom stuff. The ratio is at the lowest, so I don't know how to change it. Particularly annoying on Snapchat. Don't suppose anyone would have any tips for me on how to change it?

Maybe try alternative camera apps.

Google Camera <--- ApkMirror because no longer in Play store <--- Get a version that support your Android version


Open Camera


AZ Camera - Manual Pro Cam

Above two support Camera2 Api if enabled on your device.

dancingqueen

corkie wrote: »

Maybe try alternative camera apps.

Google Camera <--- ApkMirror because no longer in Play store <--- Get a version that support your Android version


Open Camera


AZ Camera - Manual Pro Cam

Above two support Camera2 Api if enabled on your device.

thank you so much, I will give these a try!

CiDeRmAn

Finally, my Maze Alpha has arrived... in Eindhoven!
Still, it's moving in the right direction with an expected final delivery on the 4th.
Fingers crossed there'll be no duty due...

gn3dr

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

How are people finding ulefone phones in the sub 200 bracket? My experience isn't great.i got a ulefone armour for use on the sites. It's been about 3 months since I used it but as far as I remember is was a bit glitch and prone to slowness. I picked up a power 2 about 3 weeks ago and due to breaking her phone the missus is using it. It's very prone to freezing when using things like Facebook .it'll regularly stop responding and she wants rid. I'm wondering is this a trait of their devices or am I being unlucky. The annoying , or more to the point annoying to find a replacement for , charging cable for the armour has soured me a bit too. There's no issue getting long tipped micro usb cables , but the plastic on them is too big and they catch the side of the armour shell so won't go fully in. Is the slowness just down to mediatek cpus maybe?

In contrast , for similar money I'm using a redmi note 4x (3gb model) and it's been excellent. I'd have happily paid much more for it. So much so I've ordered her the 4gb model.

I came across the armour 2 and like the look of it but I'm reluctant to give them another go.

I bought a Ulefone Power last year. Was very happy with it, battery life being one of the main reasons I bought it over some of the other brands. However after about 6 weeks the screen developed a dead spot about 8 mm high in the centre. Sent it back for repair (Gizchina - so repaired i Europe.) Got tired of waiting for it to return so bought a Oukitel K6000 pro - similar phone to the Power. The Power came back with new screen and sat in a drawer until recently when I dropped the Oukitel on teh edge of a table screen down and broke the screen (my fault - not the phones), so I started using the Power again. After 3 months it has again developed a screen problem - but this time at the top of the screen. It is seeing a touch as two touches about 10 mm apart - with the result that everytime I try to touch the top 10 mm of the screen, say to type into a browser address, it pulls down the settings menu. Searching the web it seems like there are a lot of Ulefone Power users with similar types screen / digitiser issues. So having experienced it twice I would be slow to buy another Ulefone product. The Oukitel on other hand had no problems and I would not hesitate to buy another Oukitel phone.

Scotty #

gn3dr wrote: »

After 3 months it has again developed a screen problem...

Are you by any chance using a phone cover with a magnetic clasp? or storing the phone anywhere a magnet or speaker? My Galaxy Note 3 had screen problems that were caused by a magnetic clasp in the cover but would dissipate after a few hours of being out of it's cover.

gn3dr

Scotty # wrote: »

Are you by any chance using a phone cover with a magnetic clasp? or storing the phone anywhere a magnet or speaker? My Galaxy Note 3 had screen problems that were caused by a magnetic clasp in the cover but would dissipate after a few hours of being out of it's cover.

Hi, no I just use the standard gel type case. No magnetic item used. I think it may be related to heat. With the big battery and fast charge it does get quite hot when charging.

Digital Solitude

gn3dr wrote: »

Hi, no I just use the standard gel type case. No magnetic item used. I think it may be related to heat. With the big battery and fast charge it does get quite hot when charging.

Try charging without the gel case, without the back cover if possible. And place the screen facing down.

Doctor Nick

Can anyone recommend a decent looking case for the Redmi Note 4X? After smashing the screen on my first one a few weeks ago I ended up buying another and I do not want the same thing to happen to this one. I have a screen protector on but am still nervous so would like to get some sort of case.

ImARebel

I got one of these just to get out of a hole and have something covering it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hybrid-Shockproof-Ultra-Thin-Slim-Clear-Gel-Case-Cover-For-Xiaomi-Mobiles/112480079151?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=412865432634&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

turns out it looks really well and doesn't need replacing! worth getting and you can always upgrade to a better one if you want it