Android phones, apps and tablets

They explain what that specification offers in terms of drop tests - it's x ft onto plywood.

Anyway, proper soldiers don't drop their kit.

This is my phone! There are many like it but this one is mine!

If you want a stupid hardened phone, like what builders buy then they are either stupid expensive or just some normal phone in a massive case, which still has no guarantees about lasting a drop.

https://www.catphones.com/en_gb/cat-s61-smartphone.html

https://www.toughgadget.com/best-rugged-smartphones-unlocked/

I get that. I meant more that everything is built in there. The last phone contract I had in the UK was £35/month for unlimited data, texts and 1000 minutes. Every two years or so I could get a new phone without paying anything. Correct me if this has changed.

Here I pay $60/month for 3gb data and thats if I have my own phone. If I want a new phone whilst on this contract I have a choice of certain phones (iPhone SE, iPhone 6, Galaxy A5, Essential Phone) where i put $0 down and pay an extra $15/month for 24months to pay for the phone. If I want any of the new generation phones (iPhone 7 <, Galaxy Note 8, Pixel 2 etc) I have to move to a larger spend monthly plan, plus put upwards of $200 down PLUS an extra $30/month for 24months.

LongStoryShort: phone plans are a lot more expensive here and you get less for your money, hence me thinking about buying a budget android phone outright and trying to get more for my money.

everything is built in there

If that's what you choose. I've been on SIM-only plans for about 20 years, so I obviously support your proposition of buying a handset outright :)

If I was looking for a bargain smartphone, what should I be looking for in the Android market?

You really need to define "bargain", some people would consider a Nokia 6.1 (or something else in the C$350-400 range) as the least amount of phone they could live with, others might be fine with a C$70 Alcatel Pixi 3(4)

I'd define it as anything under $500 as the alternative would be to have to spend $1000 on the new generation of obvious smartphones are. As long as I've had smartphones I've always owned iPhones (3GS, 4S, 5S).

I have limited knowledge of the other side of the market aside from that the newest OS is Oreo. I basically want something that will last, has decent battery life, can be used well with apps like Instagram and Whatsapp. I still use a mac but I'd like to look at alternatives to try and unhook myself from the Apple teat and the things that have started to piss me off about their products.

Now the phone app has stopped working. It dials but no tone, caller can't hear me, I can't hear them. I hang up and the app hangs. When inforced quit the app, 6 times out of ten it returns of its own accord. When I open up Messages to SMS the caller and say my phone isn't working it just dials them when I click on the corresponding message. I haven't installed any new apps in months. Hard reset did nothing. Let's see what safe mode does...

But you're still playing Indiana Jones aren't you?

If only.

Safe mode result: receive a call, unable to answer (slide up and blank screen, phone restarts).

FUCK

Google are sending me a new one. Which is good. Issue is that I'm moving house next week and it can take up to 10 working days to send off old device and receive replacement. Burner time I guess :/

In terms of things lasting it's worth having a look at the Android One phones since they will actually get a decent update schedule (decent in terms of Android but sadly still not as long as Apple support their devices). Best bargain phone is probably still the Xiaomi Mi A1 which will easily cope with everyday things like Instagram and Whatsapp, although check with your network whether it will be supported; think one or two people here have it and rate it? The aforementioned Nokia 6.1 is a bit more but is also built like a tank if that's important to you.

Outside Android One Sony have one of the better track records with updates for their devices and will generally give you a couple of OS updates at least. I saw the Xperia XA2 was on offer for Prime Day for £199 here, which seemed like a pretty good deal actually and I was considering it myself. They have more needless stuff installed on them than you'd get on stock Android but they will let you get rid of it unlike a few companies who'll only let you disable the apps, not uninstall them.

Is it possible to have a joint calendar with an android and an iphone? Cross platform app?

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/google-calendar/id909319292?mt=8

cheers!

Thanks for the pointers @squidink , I checked Prime Day here yesterday and the best deal (apart from one that was incorrectly priced for the Essential Phone) was for an ASUS Zenphone 3 Zoom. I'll look into the Xperia XA2 and I want to see a Xiaomi in the flesh so I've got some things to work on.

Going to recommend my Mi A1 again. With my fairly light usage (maps, internet, YouTube, Spotify - no games) I'd say it's on par with the Nexus 5 and 6p that I had previously

Yep love my Mi A1, the new version A2 comes out at the end of the month. Haven't really had a look to see what's new in it as I'm happy with the A1

I got at refurbished Moto G4 for $89usd from Amazon US last autumn. A new one was ~$130 at the time.

The nice thing about Motorola is the lack of bloatwear and that its a well know company, warrantees, etc. So they have always been my default choice.

Other than the camera being OK its handled everything I need. Unless you are a "power user" (cringe) most androids between $150-200 will handle your smartphone needs...and Tbh nothing you've listed requires spending >$150 on a smartphone. The only limitations of cheaper androids IME are the cameras. But a $3-400 android will generally have a good camera, albeit sometimes requiring a bit more consideration than an iPhone - which seem to be able to make even taking a photo in your pocket come out well.

Thanks @frankenbike , @CanonAxe & @hugo7
I'll definitely take a look at all of those. The MI A1 sounds like a great shout.

When my water resistant Motorola got wet, they said no warranty it got too wet.

Wtf. Jokers.

Trolol. Annoyingly I left it a bit to late to fix my charging port on my Moto X and so it wasn't covered by warranty.

Tbh it all goes to show that it's usually not worth having an expensive item that gets so much use and is so sceptical to damage.

(unless of course its through a company contract with a bullet-proof insurance / replacement policy)

I have the 2017 Samsung A5 that looks very similar to that X'cover. IP68, microSD, USB-C so fast charging, put a bumper on it and it's been very solid for the 18mo I've had it

I guess it’s not milspec though so won’t like being dropped.

Interesting that’s it’s got ant+.

The battery in teh A5 is twice 3000 that of my iphone 6s, 1600. xcover isnt far behind at 2800.