Help How Do I Find A Phone That Supports OTG Without Buying It First?

[MikeRivers]

It seems that it's nearly impossible to determine whether a phone provides OTG hosting without having the phone in hand. How does one choose one to purchase? I've been on the phone with Samsung's "tech" support several time and it seems that they don't have a clue (and they have more OTG phones than just about anyone else).

I'm doing research for an article on the dearth of USB audio applications for Android devices, and I figure the best way to have something interesting to write about is to get something working. I know that my cheap ZTE phone doesn't support it (I'm on the AT&T GoPhone plan) so I went looking for something to upgrade to. I was told twice by Samsung that their Express 3 and Express Prime phones supported OTG, so I bought one and it doesn't. It doesn't even supply power out the USB port. So I took it back.

It seems like, at least in the Samsung line, you need to get above about $350 to get something that clearlly supports OTG. I can't justify that for my own personal needs. This probably isn't a big deal for users with a plan that provides a new phone every year or two, but that doesn't work for me.

Nobody's spec sheet, even the Samsungs that offer OTG hosting, says anything about it. It's like it's a secret. What gives? I've found a couple of lists of OTG phones on the 'net, but most are pretty expensive, and I haven't found anything later than 2015, which means that some phones on the list are probably no longer available.

Is anyone keeping up with this? I can't keep buying phones, keeping them for long enough to plug in a digital mic or download and run the USB OTG Checker app (Google Play, in case you're wondering if YOUR phone supports it), and returning them. They'll kick me out of the store.

 

[kate]

There are several phone spec websites that list phone features. Some will list OTG for phones that have it, and OTG is sometimes called USB Host. Although some OTG phones might be omitted since it's not as common a thing to keep track of.

http://www.gsmarena.com
http://www.phonescoop.com
http://www.phonearena.com

 

[MikeRivers]

There are several phone spec websites that list phone features. Some will list OTG for phones that have it. Although some OTG phones might be omitted since it's not as common a thing to keep track of.

This is exactly my point. I've looked at all of those web sites and have yet to see a mention of OTG. Phonescoop's Phone Finder looked like it would be just the ticket, but OTG isn't mentioned in the full list of features you can search for. I hate to sound like a crank here, but I've done a good bit of homework. If you can actually point me to a list of phones that offer OTG, please direct me to it.

 

[Mikestony]

This appears to be the most recent list: (midway down the page)
http://beebom.com/how-check-usb-otg-support-android-phone/

An older, 1-1/2 year old list:
http://www.symlis.com/blog/2015/1/12/list-of-otg-supported-devices

 

[badcatz]

Well that link isn't what I'd call exhaustive. It shows no Motorola phones at all and my Maxx 2 supports OTG.
I'm pretty sure I knew the Maxx 2 supported it before I purchased it but I don't remember where I saw that.

 

[kate]

OTG is also called USB Host, so you can look for that on spec sites.

For example GSM Arena lists the Galaxy S7. S6. and S5 as having it:
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=7821&idPhone2=6849&idPhone3=6033

Nexus 5, Moto X 2nd gen, and Moto G4 all listed as having OTG/USB Host:
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=5705&idPhone2=6649&idPhone3=8103

 

[MikeRivers]

This appears to be the most recent list: (midway down the page)
http://beebom.com/how-check-usb-otg-support-android-phone/

Thanks. That's a pretty long list, 235 devices, though there are a good many tablets there, and a lot of brands that I've never heard of. I'd feel more comfortable with something from a retailer like Best Buy or the AT&T phone store than something I'd have to mail order. I haven't looked up prices for any of those unfamiliar brands. Anything below the Galaxy range?

An older, 1-1/2 year old list:
http://www.symlis.com/blog/2015/1/12/list-of-otg-supported-devices

That's one that I found myself.

 

[Mikestony]

Well that link isn't what I'd call exhaustive. It shows no Motorola phones at all and my Maxx 2 supports OTG.
I'm pretty sure I knew the Maxx 2 supported it before I purchased it but I don't remember where I saw that.

Oh yeah, I understand It doesn't list the LG G5 and I'm under the assumption that it does support usb-otg from what I've read here and there. I have the G5 but never tried it

 

[Mikestony]

Thanks. That's a pretty long list, 235 devices, though there are a good many tablets there, and a lot of brands that I've never heard of. I'd feel more comfortable with something from a retailer like Best Buy or the AT&T phone store than something I'd have to mail order. I haven't looked up prices for any of those unfamiliar brands. Anything below the Galaxy range?



That's one that I found myself.

Galaxy---like the S3 or 4 etc? To be used with AT&T ?

 

[MikeRivers]

OTG is also called USB Host, so you can look for that on spec sites.

Phone Arena calls it USB Mass Storage:
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/co...-X-2014,Google-Nexus-5/phones/10054,8897,8148

The "USB Mass Storage" is a little misleading, perhaps even to the Samsung reps that told me that the Galaxy Express 3 and Express Prime supported OTG. Both of those phones have the following text on their respective spec sheets, yet no OTG:

• USB:
  • • USB 2.0
  • Connector:
    • microUSB
  • Features:
    • Mass storage device, USB charging

What that actually means is that it's capable of appearing to a computer like an external mass storage device. I don't know of a phone that doesn't do that.

 

[eddiekeyton]

Here is a list for you I found online

OTG Supported Devices List:

Acer

ICONIA A1-810, ICONIA Tab A700

Asus

MeMO Pad 10 ME102, MeMO Pad ME172V, MeMO Pad ME301T, MeMO Pad ME302, MeMO Pad 8 (ME180A)

MeMO Pad 10 (ME180A), MeMO Pad FHD 10 LTE, MeMO Pad FHD 10, Transformer Pad TF700T, Transformer Pad 701T, Transformer Pad TF-100, Nexus 7 (need” "Nexus Media Importer” app), PadFone, PadFone 2, PadFone Infinity

BlackBerry

Z30, Passport

Fujitsu

LTE F-01D

Huawei

MediaPad S7-301u(P), MediaPad 7 Lite, P6-00, Youth, Vogue, MediaPad 10 FHD, Ascend D2, Ascend P1, Ascend P6, Stream X GL07S(Japan)

HTC

Butterfly, Butterfly S, Desire (A8181), Desire VC T328d, One Dual, One mini, HTC J (Z321e), One (M8), One Max, One X

InFocus

M320

Lenovo

Lenovo LePhone P770, Lenovo Vibe Z K910, Lenovo Vibe X S960, IdeaTab A3000, IdeaTab A1000, IdeaTab S6000

LG

Nexus 5, Optimus G Pro, Optimus G Pro lite, G2 (D800), G2 (D802)

Motorola

Droid Razr HD (XT926)

Samsung

Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note (GT-N7000), Galaxy Note II (GT-N7100), Galaxy Note III (GT-N900), Galaxy Note IIII, Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition), Galaxy R (GT-I9103), Galaxy J, Galaxy S2, Galaxy S2 Plus, Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 (SM-T310), Galaxy Mega 6.3 (GT-I9200), Galaxy Mega 6.3 (GT-I9205), Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Ace 2, Galaxy Ace 3

Sony

SGPT111JP/S, SGPT112TW/S, SGPT211JP/S, Xperia AX (SO-01E), Xperia ACRO S (LT26W), Xperia T (LT30P), Xperia TX LT29i, Xperia Z2a, Xperia Z (C6602), Xperia Z ULTRA (C6802), Xperia ZL (C6502), Xperia ZR (C5502)

Xiaomi

MI1S, MI2, MI2A, MI2S, MI3, Red Rice, Red Rice Note