Looking for an Android Phone to Replace My iPhone 5s

LSDF05 on 16/01/2018 - 16:48

Hey guys,

I'm looking for an android phone that's in Android version 7 or higher, has good specs, has IR and NFC (don't mind not having FM radio) as well as a 3.5mm audio jack area being available. I've got about $500 to spend and i don't wanna spend too much on a phone so i'm looking for recommendations.

I've done tons of research (including looking at polls and stuff) and recently bought a Xiaomi Redmi Note 4x for my grandma, and seeing how good the IR blaster (and having missed using Android for a long long time) i'm hunting down on a phone that can satisfy my requirements above. I was looking at Xiaomi Mi Note 2 since it's probably the best phone that comes close to what i need, but i'm not still sure as they have International (which is cheaper, with 4/64 GB) and Global (expensive, with 6/128 GB) in there, with not having Australia as a region (as with any Xiaomi phone).

So i came here to see whether it's a good idea buying this phone, or if there are other alternatives that better matches what i need. All replies are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Mobile

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 16/01/2018 - 17:00
    +3

    I was looking at Xiaomi Mi Note 2 since it's probably the best phone that comes close to what i need, but i'm not still sure as they have International (which is cheaper, with 4/64 GB) and Global (expensive, with 6/128 GB) in there, with not having Australia as a region (as with any Xiaomi phone).

    You can typically root and flash ROMS on most Xiaomi phones. You just need to unlock the bootloader — the only time consuming part — and then you have access to a large number of stock Lineage roms.

    The ROMS are the only difference between international / china version. Hardware, AFAIK, is identical.

    • SDF05 on 16/01/2018 - 20:12

      Awesome, that's good to know. I was a bit afraid with the difference, but good to know that it's only the software side and not hardware related.

      I was kind of looking at the RAM part too. Is it alright to have 4 GB compared to 6 GB? I thought that getting 6/128 GB would be a long term solution compared to the 4/64 GB, but then again the 6/128 GB is very expensive (about $530 AUD), and if that's not the case i'll be happy to get the 4/64 GB version.

      Although another user told me that the Mi Note 2 is not supported much by Xiaomi anymore (despite how much of a beast it is) and recommended me the Mi 5s Plus, which is very similar to Mi Note 2 but it's expensive and (about $439 AUD looking from Gearbest) and is supported by Xiaomi (since it's getting a Nougat upgrade and is already equipped with MiUI 9). What do you think about that?

      • scrimshaw on 16/01/2018 - 20:20
        +1

        list of Xiaomi's that'll get Oreo (rumour mills only so take it with a heaping spoon of salt)

        Well, if you think about Xiaomi being a company that focuses on cheaper, affordable phones, they won't really be spending that much money on paying developers to keep supporting older devices. The Note 2 has already be replaced by the Note 3 4 months ago, and at some point the Note 3 too will become outdated and Xiaomi will leave the owners of older devices high and dry without any updates.

        Xiaomi is not Apple, they like to release lots of products in a short amount of time. This is their business model - keep churning out stuff.

        If you're looking for a phone that has plenty of support, then you'd buy something that has lots of community / developer attention.

        • SDF05 on 16/01/2018 - 20:26

          Yeah, i completely understand. No phone can be considered long term solutions, and Xiaomi will probably leave someone like me who is going to get a Note 2 high and dry in the future (and possibly getting it rooted afterwards anyways).

          I actually saw the rumour that possibly the Note 2 will get the Oreo version too (well i saw a dev rom containing MiUi 9 with possibly Nougat being there). Mi Note 2 is still a beast phone and i'm just contemplating getting that or the Mi 5s Plus.

  • Salmando on 16/01/2018 - 17:23
    +2

    Flashing the global ROM onto the cheaper is simple, though takes about 72 hours (assuming you didn't screw up with the first step)

    If you get lucky with the unlock permission time, might only take 25 hours. The phone will be usable in the meantime.

    Either way, you should be able to find the 4/64 gb version in global.

    • SDF05 on 16/01/2018 - 20:13

      Awesome. That's very good to know.

      But now a user told me about Mi 5s Plus so i'm in a tough situation between choosing this (which is officially supported by Xiaomi, but is expensive, about $430 AUD) or the Mi Note 2 (which isn't supported officially by Xiaomi, but is cheaper).

      • Salmando on 16/01/2018 - 20:44
        +1

        I'm using mi Max 2, which I was going to recommend, but it doesn't have NFC…

  • surethang on 16/01/2018 - 18:06
    +1

    Another possibility is the Xiaomi Mi 5. It has IR, NFC, audio jack, etc. The camera is slightly better than the Mi Note 2 with optical image stabilisation. The price is generally cheaper than the Mi Note 2. There are, however, some trade-offs, so here's a side-by-side comparison of both phones: https://www.kimovil.com/en/compare/xiaomi-mi-note-2,xiaomi-m…

    If you haven't already, you might also want to take a look at the Xiaomi Mi5s Plus: https://www.kimovil.com/en/compare/xiaomi-mi-note-2,xiaomi-m…

    And like the Mi Note 2, you'll have to flash these other phones with a new ROM to get Android 7.

    Just to add to what others have said above, of the 50-100 phones that Xiaomi makes, less than a dozen are officially supported by the LineageOS organisation (see https://download.lineageos.org/), and the Mi Note 2 is unfortunately not one of them. But there are however other people who have ported it: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=lineageos+xiaomi+"mi+note… IMHO, I'd stick to the officially supported phones if you're going to go with a custom ROM.

    All the best.

    • SDF05 on 16/01/2018 - 20:07
      +1

      I was looking at the Mi 5 and the Mi 5s Plus, but it's really really hard to find a place to buy either one of them, especially Mi 5.

      But i had problems with the two.

      Mi 5 only comes with 3/32 GB, and that's not enough for me (i would prefer the 3/64 GB but it's only sells in China so i'm very hesitant on buying it, since it's not a global edition).

      Mi 5s Plus, i couldn't find a black version for it (they only had Grey, but most sites, including Gearbest and Banggood didn't even have that colour available). And it's camera specs a bit low too (22.5 MP and 8 MP on the Mi Note 2 compared to 13 MP and 4 MP on the Mi 5s Plus, although i've heard complaints about how shitty the camera is on the Mi Note 2).

      I think i'm debating whether to get the Mi 5s Plus or the Mi Note 2. So far i'm siding to the Mi 5s Plus since it's cheaper and it's officially supported by Xiaomi and it gets Nougat and MiUI 9.0 with it whereas Mi Note 2 is stuck with with Marshmellow and MiUI 8.1. Do you know anywhere else i can buy the Mi 5s Plus with a grey kind of colour?

      • surethang on 16/01/2018 - 21:02
        +1

        I just did a check on AliExpress randomly looking at a few sellers. Some have the grey-coloured stock, but they are the pricier suppliers. The lower priced suppliers I looked at didn't have grey available at the moment.

        Here's a link to the listings (sorted by ascending price). Maybe you'll have better luck with a thorough check.

        https://www.aliexpress.com/af/xiaomi-mi-5s-plus.html?site=gl…

        Buying through AliExpress has the advantage of additional buyer protections and their escrow service, and there's optionally cashback through Cash Rewards.

  • ihbh on 16/01/2018 - 19:14
    +1

    Samsung S7. Check recent posts around Boxing Day. Not sure if prices have increased since.

    • SDF05 on 16/01/2018 - 20:16

      Thanks for the recommendation. I was looking for Samsung phones as well, but they don't equip the IR blaster anymore, which i really like, and i'm not sure about Exynos hardware (and i've heard some users having trouble with the Exynos versions of phones before). And it seems pretty expensive too.

  • PerthectDeal on 16/01/2018 - 20:16
    +2

    If you want to pay the least possible for an Australian stock NFC phone, highly recommend the Motor G5 Plus that is going for under $250 at the moment.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/355409

    I brought one a month ago for my wife and I am very impressed for the great battery life, speed and price. The camera is very good as well.

    If you want to spend all of your $500 then the Samsung S7 was going for that a few weeks ago (not sure now).

    Just to add unfortunately both don't have IR (that is why I can't give up my S4 as can change the TV channels at the gym!

    • SDF05 on 16/01/2018 - 20:19

      Oh yeah, heard of the Moto G5 Plus. Seems like a very good phone, until i saw the SD 625 and the fact that it doesn't have the IR blaster. SD 625 is okay (since i've heard it's a bit similar to the 820 version too), but lacking the IR blaster was a no deal for me. Although it could be one of those phones, if there is no good offer, and i finally ditch the attempt to get a phone that has an IR blaster in it, i would buy it. Saw it for a good price too.

      • PerthectDeal on 16/01/2018 - 21:41
        +1

        What do you use the IR port for?

        • SDF05 on 16/01/2018 - 22:27

          Well, i want to use it to turn off the TV, A/V receiver and A/C at my home as well as the A/C at the place i work (instead of going to the manager's office every time to get the remote).

        • scrimshaw on 16/01/2018 - 23:27
          +1

          look into getting a broadlink RM Mini blackbean and for your A/C at place at work you can usually grab a cheap universal aircond remote for $7 that works with 100 types of brands.

          Broadlink RM controls all types of infrared appliances, you just gotta have the app installed on your phone in order to start copying all the remote functions.

        • SDF05 on 17/01/2018 - 21:34

          Buying a universal remote is not something i would specifically do for work since i'm just an employee and this is retail work (as in i work in Woolies), so not at all convenient imo.

          And besides, having IR in my phone would be something people would be jealous about (especially my sister who's got an iPhone, who i really wanna annoy).

  • Zelda on 19/01/2018 - 21:48
    +1

    Nothing specific, but I recently bought a ZTE Axon 7 from Officeworks for $200…. I think it was a good deal. There's probably still lots of the gold coloured ones left for $255. It's pretty good in comparison to Samsung's S7, but I'm not too sure since I've only had it for a week or so.

    • SDF05 on 20/01/2018 - 01:56

      ZTE Axon 7 is a great phone, but i've heard problems with it's chip (overheating problems specifically), SD 820, which would be a reason why some people don't buy the phone.

      Also it doesn't fill my needs (as in, it lacks an IR blaster, which i really like). But nonetheless, a great phone. And really cheap too.

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