Technology

59390 readers

4323 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

Follow the lemmy.world rules.
Only tech related content.
Be excellent to each another!
Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
Politics threads may be removed.
No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

237

Affordable Android Excellence: Best Smartphones Under $200 in 2024 (www.gizchina.com)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

123 comments fedilink hide all child comments

While flagship smartphones boast impressive features, spending $1,000 is not a prerequisite for a satisfying Android experience nowadays. If you’re in need of a new smartphone and have a budget of approximately $200, there are numerous excellent options available. Surprisingly, some of the best Android phones under $200 come equipped with features like 5,000mAh batteries, multi-lens camera setups, and the promise of extended software updates.

We thoroughly evaluate various Android phones to ensure optimal performance without encountering unexpected issues down the line. If we were to recommend one Android smartphone in the sub-$200 price range, it would be the latest addition to Samsung’s lineup, the Galaxy A15 5G. Boasting a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen, a sizable battery with 25W fast charging support, and more, it offers a compelling package. Alternatively, consider Motorola’s Moto G Play (2024) for a straightforward yet functional device.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 23 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (24 children)

I flash custom ROMs, so get updates pretty frequently, but that is beyond most people's capabilities, for sure. I currently use the OnePlus Nord N200 which i got new for $250 and installed LineageOS 20 (Android 13) on it. You can still tell it's a $250 phone compared to like $1000 phones but the differences aren't noticeable enough to cause me issues and make me want to upgrade.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (10 children)

For the uninitiated, what's Lineage OS? Is that like a FOSS alternative OS?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (4 children)

Yes. Its basically AOSP (android Open Source Project) with just enough stuff to make the device useable and you have to add everything else on top of it. A lot of custom ROMs use LineageOS as their base and build from that point.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Unfortunately IME it's a no go if you're using banking or government/authenticator apps. (Your mileage may vary and this may change.)

Not how it should be, but how it is.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I think it depends a lot on the app itself. My banking app works perfectly fine, on it with no Google Play services, but I have seen apps that completely will not open at all, except to give an error message, so I know what you mean. That is not specifically a lineage problem as much as its a google play services problem. Yoi can install gapps and those apps will work, but IMO that defeats the point.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

It doesn't necessarily defeat the point if the only reason you are using Lineage is for OS updates and not for privacy reasons. That was my original reason for using it before de-googling.

I don't have google play services anymore but I do still use microG just for Revanced because I am a psychopath that actually likes YouTube recommendations.