Under $400 Android Phone for Custom ROM

shaybisc on 07/04/2022 - 17:13

I gather those custom ROMS are only good for as long as someone maintains the build on a particular phone. Which cheaper Android phones do you think are most likely to maintain the interest of maintainers for the longest time?

Mobile Mobile Phone Android

Comments

  • AndyC1 on 07/04/2022 - 17:29
    +1

    One that they have.

  • ozhunter on 07/04/2022 - 17:33

    pixel phones

    • AndyC1 on 07/04/2022 - 17:48

      I thought pixel phones were middle to high prices.

      • dcep on 07/04/2022 - 19:57

        pixel 3

        pixel 4a

  • c64 on 07/04/2022 - 17:43
    +1

    xiaomi/redmi/poco phone + xiaomi.eu

    • ESEMCE on 07/04/2022 - 17:56
      +3

      Yeah any Xiaomi with a Snapdragon SoC

    • CheepAsChips on 09/04/2022 - 01:09

      Poco X4 Pro 6/128 - Need your help with purchase.

      1.AliExpress - selling EU "global version" for apx $20 less than Banggood, advising "This phone is Global Version, sealed box.
      Including multi-language and Google play store,it has OTA update. Please don't worry."
      2. Banggood have two separate items a) EU version b) Other area version. Australian clients should select (b)
      I have purchased from Banggood previously by selecting (b) without any problems.
      Wondering what the difference is between EU & other area version.
      Should I have concerns purchasing from AliExpress.

      (ALiExpress price was apx $20 cheaper after adding 10% tax.)

      • peteru on 10/04/2022 - 00:24
        +1

        POCO X3 Pro is actually a better phone than POCO X4 Pro as long as you don't insist on having 5G. The POCO X3 Pro sees a healthy level of 3rd party developer activity and has a largish user base. It's likely to receive 3rd party firmware images for a long time.

        It is also an excellent phone if you want long battery life. We have two POCO X3 Pro phones in the house. I need to charge mine once a week, maybe twice if I use it often. (A mobile phone is my last choice of device, I prefer 27" monitor desktops, laptops, tablets and phones in that order, so I am not a heavy user.) The other POCO X3 Pro user in the house is a phone addict and spends many hours every day playing games, editing videos and watching YouTube. That phone usually goes all day without requiring any charging. The included charger is pretty fast, it goes from 40% to 80% in about 10 minutes, so top up charging is not a major problem and can be done during coffee (toilet?) breaks.

        We got our POCO X3 Pros in December 2021 for about $330 each. One was ordered from Banggood HK, the other from Banggood AU, both were delivered in about a week. The one from HK came with EU to AU power plug adaptor, the one ordered from AU did not! Bunnings have suitable adaptors for $5.

        • peteru on 10/04/2022 - 00:30
          +1

          We ordered the Global Version models and they work without any issues.

          It is my understanding that the EU versions utilise the same hardware, but the firmware is different to meet various EU regulatory requirements. In some cases, that means loss of some integrations/functionality. I'm not sure if it is possible to convert a EU model to utilise non-EU firmware images. I'd stick with the global version. To be sure, to be sure.

          • CheepAsChips on 17/04/2022 - 01:18

            @peteru: Thanks peteru, I was unable to locate a reasonably priced Poco X3 pro, so went ahead with Poco X4 pro global version from AliExpress Dragon-X store AU$337.46 plus 10% tax and free shipping.

  • Hithere on 07/04/2022 - 18:03
    +6

    The XDA Forums would be a good place to start looking.

  • USER DC on 07/04/2022 - 18:41

    Dude i have got Redmi Note 9t 5G, Still cannot figure out how to JUST ROOT THE PHONE

    • OMGJL on 07/04/2022 - 23:45
      1. Unlock Boot Loader, 2. Install Custom Recovery(TWRP), 3.Flash Root.zip (for the particular android version) via TWRP

      works exactly the same for every android phone ever

      • ESEMCE on 08/04/2022 - 09:41

        Gotta jump through Xiaomi's Bootloader unlock hoops, but still not too easy

        • ESEMCE on 11/04/2022 - 08:23

          I think I actually meant to type easy difficult…

      • USER DC on 08/04/2022 - 13:17

        yes stuck on TWRP file, and root .zip file i cant seem to find a reliable source to have it downloaded

  • Kangal on 07/04/2022 - 21:19

    Any details?
    What do you want out of the phone. For instance:
    …Used/Brand New, Older Model/2022 release, Big/Small size, IPS/OLED, microSD/none, Headphone Jack/none, Camera Quality, etc etc.

    • shaybisc on 14/04/2022 - 09:08

      Extended support, cheap.

  • OMGJL on 07/04/2022 - 23:49

    https://download.pixelexperience.org/devices
    https://download.lineageos.org/
    https://paranoidandroid.co/downloads

    Phones that are listed in all 3 main custom rom distros and still have rom released after 2022 are definitely the way to go.

  • OMGJL on 07/04/2022 - 23:54

    I see ASUS/OnePlus/Google/Certain Samsung Galaxy/Xiaomi as some good choices, preferably something with snapdragon 865

    whatever you can get your hand on in Australia. Product Availability and Varity in Australia sucks.

  • bazingaa on 08/04/2022 - 07:51
    +1

    Redmi Note Snapdragon versions, there are still upgrades for my Redmi Note 4 SD from 2017

  • Presence on 08/04/2022 - 09:21

    Curious, why do people want to root phones and install custom ROMs these days?

    Don't been to be critical, I am just curious what I am missing out on

    • OMGJL on 08/04/2022 - 14:33

      Have update longer/more often than stock rom
      Remove ad, install plugin to modify certain app
      Cheat on mobile games

    • ESEMCE on 08/04/2022 - 16:21

      For me longer software support and (for my Mi 9T) cause the most recent Xiaomi update broke some key features.
      I kept it stock until then though.

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