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Even compared to a $5 Android Tracfone you can get at any Safeway, these are pretty underwhelming. Why would I pay 12x more and only get double the RAM & LTE co

Even compared to a $5 Android Tracfone you can get at any Safeway, these are pretty underwhelming. Why would I pay 12x more and only get double the RAM & LTE compared to a $5 Alcatel Android phone? Essentially the only reason is for modern Android, but its not as though any of these Android phones (except the Nokia) will ever see multiple years of software updates.

ktpsns 9y ago
Can you provide a link to a shop where to buy a smartphone for $5?
- StudentStuff 9y ago
  Sure, I bought a bunch of LG Sunrise phones, but the current offer seems much better: https://slickdeals.net/f/11329603-8gb-alcatel-pop-icon-2-lte-tracfone-prepaid-smartphone-5-free-shipping https://slickdeals.net/f/11329603-8gb-alcatel-pop-icon-2-lte... Brick and mortar only though, and stock varies. I usually power dial all the local stores, then go to the ones with the most stock and clean 'em out. Easy way to get a few dozen Androids in short order. Sadly, at the $5 price point Amazon and eBay will never beat Brick & Mortar stores, as shipping is more than half the cost.
  - pulse7 9y ago
    Crazy if you compare this with Raspberry Pi Zero at $5 - you get: better CPU, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB storage, display, 2 cameras, GSM, GPS, microphone, speakers, battery, enclosure and a charger... if this continues, in 5-10 years you will get a solid machine for $5...
    - StudentStuff 9y ago
      The Raspberry Pi Zero is a board of compromises. Look at what the OrangePi Zero is in comparison, then wonder why Broadcom couldn't compete with two guys in Shenzen on features, price or getting their hardware mainlined into the kernel.
  - imtringued 9y ago
    Isn't LG sunrise complete garbage because of the 16bit screen? It can't properly display more than 65k colors and has to use dithering which effectively turns the 320p screen into a 160p screen.
    - StudentStuff 9y ago
      It might be a 16bit screen, regardless the phone is hot garbage as it only has 3G and Android 4.4. Can't expect much for a few bucks tho!
  - emerod 9y ago
    The [older, lower capacity] Pop Icon, by the way, is free right now with airtime. https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/tracfonestore/phones/tf-alcatel-onetouch-pop-icon-a564c-parent https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/tracfonestore/phones/tf-al...
    - StudentStuff 9y ago
      Jeez, see, this is why low end Androids are never sold unlocked in the US.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
- emerod 9y ago
  You can get one online from Tracfone for $10, but then you have to pay shipping. https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/tracfonestore/phones/tf-alcatel-one-touch-pixi-avion-lte https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/tracfonestore/phones/tf-al...
  - StudentStuff 9y ago
    Hence buying in store. Plus, pay in cash and your new burner phone is way less traceable! Use the White House Switchboard phone number (202-456-1414) when prompted for a rewards card for bonus confusion points :P

ktpsns 9y ago

Can you provide a link to a shop where to buy a smartphone for $5?

StudentStuff 9y ago
Sure, I bought a bunch of LG Sunrise phones, but the current offer seems much better: https://slickdeals.net/f/11329603-8gb-alcatel-pop-icon-2-lte-tracfone-prepaid-smartphone-5-free-shipping https://slickdeals.net/f/11329603-8gb-alcatel-pop-icon-2-lte... Brick and mortar only though, and stock varies. I usually power dial all the local stores, then go to the ones with the most stock and clean 'em out. Easy way to get a few dozen Androids in short order. Sadly, at the $5 price point Amazon and eBay will never beat Brick & Mortar stores, as shipping is more than half the cost.
- pulse7 9y ago
  Crazy if you compare this with Raspberry Pi Zero at $5 - you get: better CPU, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB storage, display, 2 cameras, GSM, GPS, microphone, speakers, battery, enclosure and a charger... if this continues, in 5-10 years you will get a solid machine for $5...
  - StudentStuff 9y ago
    The Raspberry Pi Zero is a board of compromises. Look at what the OrangePi Zero is in comparison, then wonder why Broadcom couldn't compete with two guys in Shenzen on features, price or getting their hardware mainlined into the kernel.
- imtringued 9y ago
  Isn't LG sunrise complete garbage because of the 16bit screen? It can't properly display more than 65k colors and has to use dithering which effectively turns the 320p screen into a 160p screen.
  - StudentStuff 9y ago
    It might be a 16bit screen, regardless the phone is hot garbage as it only has 3G and Android 4.4. Can't expect much for a few bucks tho!
- emerod 9y ago
  The [older, lower capacity] Pop Icon, by the way, is free right now with airtime. https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/tracfonestore/phones/tf-alcatel-onetouch-pop-icon-a564c-parent https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/tracfonestore/phones/tf-al...
  - StudentStuff 9y ago
    Jeez, see, this is why low end Androids are never sold unlocked in the US.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
emerod 9y ago
You can get one online from Tracfone for $10, but then you have to pay shipping. https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/tracfonestore/phones/tf-alcatel-one-touch-pixi-avion-lte https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/tracfonestore/phones/tf-al...
- StudentStuff 9y ago
  Hence buying in store. Plus, pay in cash and your new burner phone is way less traceable! Use the White House Switchboard phone number (202-456-1414) when prompted for a rewards card for bonus confusion points :P