4 ms·

With 6" phones with great batteries, I just didn't have any more of a tablet use case. I'd have loved to have a Nexus 7 phone, but Google send intent on blockin

With 6" phones with great batteries, I just didn't have any more of a tablet use case. I'd have loved to have a Nexus 7 phone, but Google send intent on blocking that. So a Chinese 6" Android and it handles a surprising number if scenarios. I just wish it were another inch bigger.

sliverstorm 12y ago
A Nexus 7 phone? I'm holding a Nexus 7 tablet right now. This is way to big for a phone. It just fits into my cargo pants leg pockets. Although, if you really want one that bad, get a Nexus 7 tablet with data, and run a VoIP number on it.
- MichaelGG 12y ago
  The 2013 N7 was pretty ideal. It won't fit in my shirt pocket, but it fits in my pants pocket. Or jacket. There aren't that many times when I really need something that fits into stylish clothing pockets (I made a conscious effort to notice). The N7 is easier to type on, and the one arcade game I play (emulator called Pinball Arcade) works so much better on the slightly larger device. So now I just play pinball a lot less. VoIP isn't a real option. For instance, yesterday I had to reactivate one SIM at the airport, and could only do it by making a real phone call on the SIM. Google intentionally disabled this on the N7, and even people that hacked up the ROM couldn't get it working. And many times when I want a phone/SMS, for "emergencies", I don't want to hope my data is working well enough.
- maxerickson 12y ago
  ASUS has several of them: http://www.asus.com/Phones/PadFone_Products/ http://www.asus.com/Phones/PadFone_Products/
  - maxerickson 12y ago
    Should be this link: http://www.asus.com/Phones/Fonepad_Products/ http://www.asus.com/Phones/Fonepad_Products/
gnah 12y ago
Same story for me. I owned a 2012 Nexus 7 because phones weren't big enough to use for much. Now I have an Xperia Z Ultra and couldn't be happier. It's so good it has replaced my desktop for a lot of web browsing and media at home.
nunb 12y ago
Which chinese phablet, if I may ask? > with great batteries A phablet with a big battery plus not-ultraHD screen would solve the abysmal battery life problems of modern phones... it's likely thinness suffers though?
- MichaelGG 12y ago
  Huawei Mate 2 ($300). It has a 4000 mAh battery, and I get 30-40+ hours out of it. I couldn't ever go back to having a "day long charge" requiring seeking out power within 24h. The problem is that Huawei ships a terrible, messed up version of 4.3. Complete with a button to accidentally force close all programs (and boast about memory "freed"). And a shiny button bar, instead of just black. And bits of Engrish, which would otherwise be endearing, on the custom apps. It sucks. But if I could run Cyanogen on it, it'd be the best phone ever. There's also the Blu Energy with a 5000mAh battery, but I don't know how good the phone is yet (it's only $150). Blu seems to ship mostly stock Android. The problem is they have many dozens of models (most under $200, a few around the $100 point), so it's hard to figure out what's what. They seem to be targeting Latam with cheap-but-nice devices, like Vivo Air. If they'd focus on a couple of top models, they could easily become the dev phone of choice. Not sure what the unlocking situation is.

sliverstorm 12y ago

A Nexus 7 phone? I'm holding a Nexus 7 tablet right now. This is way to big for a phone. It just fits into my cargo pants leg pockets. Although, if you really want one that bad, get a Nexus 7 tablet with data, and run a VoIP number on it.

MichaelGG 12y ago
The 2013 N7 was pretty ideal. It won't fit in my shirt pocket, but it fits in my pants pocket. Or jacket. There aren't that many times when I really need something that fits into stylish clothing pockets (I made a conscious effort to notice). The N7 is easier to type on, and the one arcade game I play (emulator called Pinball Arcade) works so much better on the slightly larger device. So now I just play pinball a lot less. VoIP isn't a real option. For instance, yesterday I had to reactivate one SIM at the airport, and could only do it by making a real phone call on the SIM. Google intentionally disabled this on the N7, and even people that hacked up the ROM couldn't get it working. And many times when I want a phone/SMS, for "emergencies", I don't want to hope my data is working well enough.
maxerickson 12y ago
ASUS has several of them: http://www.asus.com/Phones/PadFone_Products/ http://www.asus.com/Phones/PadFone_Products/
- maxerickson 12y ago
  Should be this link: http://www.asus.com/Phones/Fonepad_Products/ http://www.asus.com/Phones/Fonepad_Products/

gnah 12y ago

Same story for me. I owned a 2012 Nexus 7 because phones weren't big enough to use for much. Now I have an Xperia Z Ultra and couldn't be happier. It's so good it has replaced my desktop for a lot of web browsing and media at home.

nunb 12y ago

Which chinese phablet, if I may ask? > with great batteries A phablet with a big battery plus not-ultraHD screen would solve the abysmal battery life problems of modern phones... it's likely thinness suffers though?

MichaelGG 12y ago
Huawei Mate 2 ($300). It has a 4000 mAh battery, and I get 30-40+ hours out of it. I couldn't ever go back to having a "day long charge" requiring seeking out power within 24h. The problem is that Huawei ships a terrible, messed up version of 4.3. Complete with a button to accidentally force close all programs (and boast about memory "freed"). And a shiny button bar, instead of just black. And bits of Engrish, which would otherwise be endearing, on the custom apps. It sucks. But if I could run Cyanogen on it, it'd be the best phone ever. There's also the Blu Energy with a 5000mAh battery, but I don't know how good the phone is yet (it's only $150). Blu seems to ship mostly stock Android. The problem is they have many dozens of models (most under $200, a few around the $100 point), so it's hard to figure out what's what. They seem to be targeting Latam with cheap-but-nice devices, like Vivo Air. If they'd focus on a couple of top models, they could easily become the dev phone of choice. Not sure what the unlocking situation is.