Usable Smartphones?

JTL FWIW, I've found the posts from @Vividblu99 (and some others) to be very helpful. He generally lists the phones that he's tried and how well they've worked for him.

If we did start a new thread, maybe we could enforce a format something like:

• iphone SE: gave me headaches within 30 seconds of using it.
• iphone 15: usable for 10 minutes
• ...

This wouldn't be perfect. For instance, the same model doesn't always have identical hardware or software. And what works for one person might not work for another. But I think I would find it much more useful than the last year's worth of the current thread.

jordan

What is this tool you are using? Have you found it helpful to find useable devices?

ocean10 This is the Mk350n premium by uprtek. Its helpful to test devices/bulbs for flicker and color spectrum but so far all devices just seem so bad for me. I actually have to view the meters screen through a phones camera because the lcd on it bugs my brain.

jordan I actually have to view the meters screen through a phones camera because the lcd on it bugs my brain.

I have to do the same thing when I need to do something on my son's phone. It's a pretty useful trick.

GregAtkinson it sure is! thats how I have to look at my moms phone if she shows me something. lol (iphone se 2020)

Rowe

No temporal dithering? All the mediatek devices I've used have all dithered.

I don't know, but when I've used devices with temporal dithering (e.g. macbooks) on e-ink screens the results have been very poor. Until it's switched off.

The optimisation on the Hibreak Pro is excellent, so I doubt this is an issue. They claim it is 'zero flicker'.

Clokwork Considering the device is Play Protect certified, what additional security concerns would there be if only using Play Store apps?

I’m not an expert on this, but I’ve seen comments suggesting that with Play certification, the CCP security risk is lower than that of the routers and networks the device connects through.

Security is good, but be realistic too.. The Chinese don't care about nobodies like us. Americans however, would add all of us to their databases.

Rowe If its running 100% pure Android, I suppose it could be ok. If there is any modification whatsoever to it, its possible to have any amounts of data be sent home.

Sunspark I can't say I agree with this 100%. We are cattle to any company, country, entity that can profit from our information.

But online comments warning of the security perils of fully Chinese devices are much more common, compared to all the other devices that are still assembled in China but fronted by Western companies. I also don't think CCP care about any of the data that would be on my device. But American companies want to mine that data much more. To be honest I don't really care about that much either outside of authentication and transactions.

Still on e-ink. Using a Hisense A9 these days. Faster than the older Hisense e-ink models and XDA got way more involved so it can run a range of systems rather than just root and add GApps.

Pity the next model with Kaleido 3 colour never came out.

I don't find using B/W that much of an issue, but would like a good small screen that doesn't trigger me too much to cast to for colour when I need it. Tried one that was meant to be flicker free, etc. and sent it back very quickly.

For anyone interested in the Realme 9 Pro 5g that lives in the US: I had previously been using the Realme 9 Pro 5g, but a couple months ago the cell service and mobile data started acting really funny. I called Mint Mobile and they said my phone is no longer compatible because my phone doesn't support one of the key bands (I don't remember which one). I tried a bunch of carriers (both AT&T and T-Mobile), but I could not find one that works. So, if you live in the U.S., you probably want to avoid this phone.

Aquila No good for me. Got me bad headaches early. I assume temporal dither, but could not test it and returned it the next day.