Bit of a favourite for people looking for a low cost 4G Mobile
*Locked to Vodafone (prepaid) but you may be able to get an unlock cheap or free from
https://unlock.vodafone.com.au/voila/handsetunlock/self-serv…
other unlockers will be able to help also…
http://consumer.huawei.com/en/mobile-phones/tech-specs/g526-…
Info : G526-L22:
LTE: B3 1800Mhz /B7 2600Mhz
UMTS: 850/900/2100MHz
GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
We tried to install them onto the sd card but that doesn't seem to be working either. That was after resetting to default as recommended by the phone guy. Be careful though as while there is a back-up option there is no restore.
There is. It is built into the phone. To install apps to SD card instead of phone memory:
Go to Settings -> Storage -> Default Storage Location -> SD Card (instead of internal memory)
Reasons you want to use the built in feature:
- Works, does not require root
- No need to partition your SD card
- Fastboot still in tact (any other method will delay the fast boot)
Can confirm that works. Don't know why people believe you can't store apps on SD card. It's just a matter of changing Storage Settings, set SD card as default storage. About the first thing I did with mine.
Most of the other Android phones don't offer this feature. I didn't know that until someone pointed out to me. It is really good Huawei provided the option for this phone. Wish more low / mid range phones have this feature.
The other really good feature is the fast boot. Again, it would be nice if more Android phones support fast boot.
Those 2 features + 4G + the price really make this phone hard to beat. Even after 1 year, still a bargain.
set SD card as default storage.
yes, did that when I first got it, but many of the apps will not move to the SD card…
@jv:
I had the same problem. Ran out of space within a few days. Root + Link2SD with 1GB partition is the way to go.
Only some apps install on the SD card. Many of they will only install into RAM, the 'move to SD card' option is greyed out… Also, nearly all the apps pre-installed will not move to the SD card.
If you want pre-installed apps to move to SD card, you need to root the phone and use Link2SD. Some of them (e.g. Play Store) should remain on phone memory / ROM.
It is possible to still use root + Link2SD + SM Manager to force more apps to SD card. However, the provided feature is more reliable. You will need the following script to hack it (BUT if you were to use it, you need to switch the Default Storage Location to phone memory). You also need 2 partitions on your SD cards.
#!/system/bin/sh
busybox mount --bind /mnt/sdcard2 /mnt/sdcard/external_sd
Basic UNIX/Linux knowledge will help. It is troublesome and it slows down fastboot. The phone memory you gained back using that method is not much. Also, if the linux partition on your SD card is corrupted, you will have a hard time repairing it.
thanks.
Basic UNIX/Linux knowledge will help.
Dennis Ritchie and I were besties… May he rest in peace…
@jv: I was using root + Link2D + SM Manager + Titanium Backup Pro on this phone (because I wanted complete control on which app goes where). However, the linux native partition got corrupted again and it is just too frustrating to fix the partition every time. So I am using the built in feature.
The tricky part about this phone is Huawei implemented that use SD card as default storage feature. Initially, I didn't know and I was really upset with the way Huawei setup the mount points.
Since you know UNIX and Android, you know it is not technically possible to push every single file out of phone memory. The more files you move to SD card, the higher the risk.
Since you know UNIX and Android
I know UNIX and iPhone, and Android is soooooo frustrating…
I've ended up just using this as just a phone and do everything on my iphone…
@jv: With Android, every vendor does its own tweaks, so there is no standard to follow. However, deep down it is still linux and still can be figured out.
It is still a low end phone with 2GB (system) + 2GB (app) partition setup. I would prefer a 4GB (system + app) partition setup, rather than the Huawei SDCard parition hack. Anyway, at least Huawei tried. It is a bit unfair to compare this phone to an iPhone though. An Android phone with 16GB or more phone memory won't have the issue.
Don't use the hack. The phone already has that feature built in (see my post above).
Even if you root the phone, create scripts and stuff etc…, it is still very messy.
Unlike most phones, Huawei did provide an option to install everything to SD card with this phone. Just use it.
It looks like it might be what I'm after…
Moving Your ‘Non-Movable’
the built in feature only moves some apps, not all…
I'm using Link2SD with a class 10 SD card… no issue so far
(Device needs to be rooted first)
@jv
I thought i saw something on Whirlpool about that will have a look…
Here but if you are unsure what you are doing you may end up with a $99 brick ;)
https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2286278#…
thanks…
Great phone. Got it a couple of years ago through another OzB deal. Has survived many falls and water damage. In the tradition of shitty sunglasses, sometimes the less you pay, the longer it lasts.
there are $89 at kmart at the moment
Cheers.
Hmm I just rang kmart and they say on special for $95. Where in Oz are you?
Says Geelong on profile
in geelong i'm sure it was $89 maybe i have i
t wrong.
They are $95 in most kmart.
KMart Hornsby sold out today by 7:00pm
Very happy with this phone, but I use it as mobile 4G modem / internet access. (Posting on it now.)
Bought at Target for $79 in previous deal. Many unlocked free on Vodafone site. I checked most stock at local store, but all showed $25 to unlocked. (Ask to see the IMEI before buying & check if free to unlock!) Unlocked for $3.85 on eBay. Used ING card for 5% rebate - covered unlock cost.
can you unlock via Vodfones site without being a Voda customer or does it need a Voda sim first? (ie will it still unlock with a Telstra sim in it?
Yes. No need to be a customer. (Comes with a $2 Vodafone SIM.)
can you unlock via Vodfones site without being a Voda customer
yes, I did. Mine unlocked free, so must have been > 6 months in the store…
Mine was from newish store with recent stock, so no free unlock on any. Considered a search of other stores, but time & travel costs weren't worth the small cost to unlock on eBay. Never paid for unlock with any other Vodafone phones or modems.
How long does the battery last for when being used as a modem ?
4G does chew through power. Hard to know how long as I don't use it continuously. Rarely use it tethered, just use it for internet on the screen. Just get occasional incoming call. Pretty happy with it.
yeah got mine a few weeks ago on 25% off voda… pretty awesome phone for the price! (and also unlocked free)
Would this be any good for Optus 3G once unlocked?
Thanks.
Yep the specs cover 900/2100 3G (optus)
Cheers. Thanks for that.
I am using my optus sim with G526. perfect.
I remember it was a dual core cup from a while back but it says quad core on the spec sheet. Can those who have the phone confirm?
@maxhu 1.2 GHz Dual Core
I crushed mine recently, bloody magpies…
Tough, tough phone! Would get another one but storage/power was a bit lacking for what I needed it for. But for the price point? Nothing sold in Australia comes close! If I didn't have access to a million suppliers I'd get another one in a heartbeat. Just sold two of these to people I know.
Great phones!
I crushed mine recently, bloody magpies…
How exactly did you crush it?
Collingwood fan and was watching the footy on it and got so frustrated you smashed the phone with a rock?
Swooped by a bird, causing you to crash your bicycle and thereby crush the phone?
Please explain.
The second one, barely a scratch on the bike or myself, but 85KG of body weight crushed the screen, didn't shatter the glass itself, just the LCD panel inside.
Bought 1 at Kmart for $95
Went to the Vodafone link and they wanted to charge $50. Where can I go to unlock.
ebay, about $3.95
I bought one from Target at $79 with ING 5% cashback;
Saw issues of small rom, sold it for $100;
Later realised it is the cheapest yet decent 4G phone, purchased a secondhand one from ebay at $83 after 15% cachback;
Happy now.
Are these going to be seconds? According to the whirlpool forum, you need to look at the sticker… I don't know what exactly I'm looking at though…
Just bought for 1 for $95 from K-Mart Marrickville Metro - Vodafone want $50 to unlock so ordered ebay unlock code.
Is there some way of tweaking this phone to get apps to use the SD card?
Many apps don't seem to be able to move from the main memory so can hardly install many apps,