Android phones, apps and tablets

Think my Note 8 is not going to last much longer; I had hoped I could go another 6 months at least but now I'm not so sure. It's been doing this thing where it insists it has moisture in the charging port (I have no idea where it thinks that's coming from, and I clean it regularly so it's not just lint that got damp) and won't let me charge until that disappears. I had to get a wireless charger to avoid that just in case it happened when I needed to top up and go out, but now if I leave it sitting on that for too long it actually drains the battery until it's totally dead somehow?
Anyone have the OnePlus Nord 2 and recommend it? Or the Xiaomi 11T is not much more if you buy the lower storage/RAM version from a third party. Could also just go refurb again and get something closer to a flagship from a couple of years ago or an iPhone from that period, but the appeal of having a brand new phone with a brand new battery is quite appealing. Mainly want a decent camera and don't do any gaming.

Ah thanks will dl. I'm quite interested with Google across systems thought so will see if it syncs.

Firefox has it at the bottom of the screen on Android

Optionally. You can have it at the top instead. Surprised there isn't a setting for that in Chrome, assuming that there isn't, I don't use it.

I'm sure you'll all bored by now. But I am starting to get use to the size and in fact enjoy it. Well that was until just now when my wife asked me to look at something on her 13 mini. God the P6 is a huge brick!

Just been updated to Android 12 and noticed the number '3' at the bottom of the screen when I swipe down for the quick menu. Any idea what that's for? Tapping it does nothing.

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Can you swipe across to 2?

I have a OnePlus Nord 2 5g (PacMan)
its the 12gb RAM version, I think they do an 8gb one too.

Battery is impressive.
Charge in the morning, and then the next evening.
Also has a 65w fast charger that does a good job in getting it full, fast.

Camera is OK, but I don't use it that much to offer a proper review.

Noticeably better than the Moto G7 plus it replaced, in all aspects.

Is it not just your mobile network?

Not much in the way of hardened phones these days. Anyone know anything about "Ulefone" ?

https://www.gsmarena.com/ulefone_armor_x10_pro-11441.php

Yeah don't buy. Battery exploded. This is based on 5 plus years ago mind so maybe their battery explosion tech has improved ...

The fact that they're up to V10 or whatever means at least they didn't quit. Maybe they bangs are bigger now?

Go for it!

I expected safer advice from a 'goodhead' :P

Fairphone audio kid entertainer - works well - nova launcher lets you clean up the home screen and hide / delete general google bits. Ive got a lot of time for the Fairphone ethos / design.

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Fairphone

Never heard of them before, but they look like a great product.

https://shop.fairphone.com/media/wysiwyg/video/A_2_EXPLODED_GREY_001.mp4

TBH we should have legislation that enforces a lot of their design ethos on consumer goods.

TBH we should have legislation that enforces a lot of their design ethos on consumer goods.

Apple are still refusing to use a common charger as the law says they should. Imagine how much they would lobby against anything like that.

Such an odd flex.

Don't any of them have amazon accounts?

Other people sell cables. They're not cornering the charger market.

I think the drive was for everyone to use USB-C and Apple are not playing ball.

But why?

Just to socially isolate android users when they ask to borrow a charger at a mates house?

Socially isolating Android users is basically Apple policy, yes, see green bubbles

As is restricting your choice in hardware

How do you (and anyone else on android 12) like it? I've been resisting because I like 11 and how it looks and the layout. I've had the notification at the top of my screen for a few weeks now ha and cant get rid of it.

I'd like to know this too as I've had that bloody notification for about 6months now

So that you only need to have one charging cable rather than a cable for Apple stuff and a cable for everything else.

Would probably have saved a few billion cables being produced.

If you were on Android 12 you could mute that notification.

Pixel 6 users - have you had any WiFi/bluetooth/connectivity problems recently, especially from the March or April updates?

Reason I ask is:

I had connectivity (i.e. losing cell signal) problems with my Pixel 6 early on. I fixed this by installing the beta connectivity services app. Then the February update broke my WiFi - constant disconnects.

I installed the Android 12 Beta as a temporary fix until the March update came out - all was good, no problems. Decided to leave the Beta programme (meant wiping phone, annoying) recently and install the March update from scratch. Had the odd WiFi drop, only a few, but then I realised that when I tried to make phone calls with my Bluetooth headphones they would disconnect after a few minutes, then instantly reconnect, then disconnect ad infinitum leaving my caller on phone audio so I couldn't hear them (I always use Bluetooth headphones for phone calls).

After this my WiFi was also off and I couldn't turn it back on again without restarting the phone.

At this point I got pissed with having a £600 phone that doesn't work as a phone, so I contacted Google Support. After asking some questions they said my phone needed to go in for repair - post it to us (it'll take 10 days or something), go to iSmash or some place called SME or something.

Said OK but then couldn't actually get through to iSmash on the phone and you can't book a slot for a Pixel 6 'repair' on their website. Would be very difficult to not have a phone for over a week, so I called them and quoted my consumer rights at them and insisted on an 'Advanced Exchange' where they send me a phone first then I send mine back. I had to escalate to get this and the customer service lady initially denied it was an option even though I knew it was. All rather annoying/disappointing - it seems Google only treat bolshy customers right.

So fine, I'll do that, but my worry is I'm just going to get another pup. I don't want to have to worry about my expensive phone turning into a miniature tablet, so the choice is keep replacement and hope it's OK or just sell it and buy a phone that's not fundamentally flawed.

tl;dr - Shall I take a punt on another Google 6 or is life too short?