4 ms·

I'm still hoping for a $250-$350 USD Android device that has * a headphone jack * removable battery * 4 years of updates * no installed software except Play

I'm still hoping for a $250-$350 USD Android device that has * a headphone jack * removable battery * 4 years of updates * no installed software except Play Store * no modifications to stock AOSP. As you mentioned, I would install maps, mail and be done with it.

njarboe 8y ago
I would love to have a small flip phone again. Digital keyboard on bottom with small screen on top. Just need call and text and way to summon Uber/Lyft. Maps are useful sometimes, but I just want something smaller in my pocket.
detaro 8y ago
Aren't Android One phones at least close to that?
- clumsysmurf 8y ago
  The Lumia 6.1 comes close, unfortunately got poor reviews. Do you have any other suggestions?
  - klipt 8y ago
    I have a Nokia 6.1 (Android One) that I like. It does have a couple of quirks though (which show up every few days and disappear after a reboot).
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- vahji 8y ago
  Most Android One phones tick none of those boxes except maybe for the headphone jack.
tln 8y ago
Moto E4 might come close, although it's $100 instead of $250. Moto doesn't modify AOSP very much and the one app it has provides some nice features (shake for flashlight being my favorite).
apatters 8y ago
The Samsung A5 meets these criteria except that it's got Samsung's junkware stack. Edit: oops, battery isn't removable either. Can't remember the last time I saw a phone with that:(
existencebox 8y ago
Here's the sad part. I swear we _used to have this._ I will probably be exposed as a curmudgeon by saying this. The v1 droid, with the sliding keyboard. I would buy again in an instant if a comparable phone existed. It was _tiny_ too, and indestructible. Loved that phone. Software updates not what you requested, but from a featureset perspective, other than "turning up the dials" I feel like i'm paying more for less with every upgrade, although that may be blamed in part by app/web bloat. (This post is an expression of a broad similar gripe I have across much of tech, e.g. within chat software; we peaked with desktop gchat/pidgin >decade ago, the hell have we been doing since then. Discord is a great evolutionary branch but it doesn't fill the original niche) Edit: As a sister post says, the E4 isn't a terrible alternative, but I find it to be bigger, more finniky, and less functional than the OG droid (currently using an E4). Good price point though.

njarboe 8y ago

I would love to have a small flip phone again. Digital keyboard on bottom with small screen on top. Just need call and text and way to summon Uber/Lyft. Maps are useful sometimes, but I just want something smaller in my pocket.

detaro 8y ago

Aren't Android One phones at least close to that?

clumsysmurf 8y ago
The Lumia 6.1 comes close, unfortunately got poor reviews. Do you have any other suggestions?
- klipt 8y ago
  I have a Nokia 6.1 (Android One) that I like. It does have a couple of quirks though (which show up every few days and disappear after a reboot).
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
vahji 8y ago
Most Android One phones tick none of those boxes except maybe for the headphone jack.

tln 8y ago

Moto E4 might come close, although it's $100 instead of $250. Moto doesn't modify AOSP very much and the one app it has provides some nice features (shake for flashlight being my favorite).

apatters 8y ago

The Samsung A5 meets these criteria except that it's got Samsung's junkware stack. Edit: oops, battery isn't removable either. Can't remember the last time I saw a phone with that:(

existencebox 8y ago

Here's the sad part. I swear we _used to have this._ I will probably be exposed as a curmudgeon by saying this. The v1 droid, with the sliding keyboard. I would buy again in an instant if a comparable phone existed. It was _tiny_ too, and indestructible. Loved that phone. Software updates not what you requested, but from a featureset perspective, other than "turning up the dials" I feel like i'm paying more for less with every upgrade, although that may be blamed in part by app/web bloat. (This post is an expression of a broad similar gripe I have across much of tech, e.g. within chat software; we peaked with desktop gchat/pidgin >decade ago, the hell have we been doing since then. Discord is a great evolutionary branch but it doesn't fill the original niche) Edit: As a sister post says, the E4 isn't a terrible alternative, but I find it to be bigger, more finniky, and less functional than the OG droid (currently using an E4). Good price point though.