Compatible, rootable, built to last. Is it even possible, anymore? I'm just not seeing it.

[bcrichster]

Ok folks, let's realise that it is frustrating that modern phones seem to have limited battery life, and causes real problems for many people.

I wish I could provide some useful advice, and if you can, please do.
But if not, try to refrain from chipping in flippant remarks, which could be taken the wrong way. Thanks!

I wasn't trying to make any remarks, I had posted a screenshot of my SoT and just gave up, removed it and went to bed. No offense intended

 

[Deleted User]

I wasn't trying to make any remarks, I had posted a screenshot of my SoT and just gave up, removed it and went to bed. No offense intended

I know. Just had to say something because some feathers were getting ruffled. I'm pretty sure no offence was intended by anyone.

 

[codezer0]

Whelp, finally happened. The camera lens on my g4 cracked. Not sure how, but doesn't really matter now. Of course when i am trying to deal witg other, more expensive real life stuff to even think about saving money for yet another phone.

I already know i am still unwilling to consider the moto e4, mostly because of the absolute lack of support on the mxpe; and also because it is such a downgrade in many aspects to the g4 even now.

I'm not even wanting to consider a contract for a phone either. In the literal half of my life on this earth since I've had a mobile phone, I've never had a phone on payments still work after that first year concluded. At the same time, I've yet to have a sealed battery phone that even made it through the first year without it being positively ruined on battery life.

 

[codezer0]

Okay, i would rather hear of some more readily available alternatives.

$160 is too much imo for the kind of downgrade in specs, and to be stuck with a sealed battery that i know won't even last a month, let alone a year.

 

[Rico ANDROID]

Try a used Galaxy Note 4 on amazon. these are very reliable and good battery life

 

[codezer0]

Try a used Galaxy Note 4 on amazon. these are very reliable and good battery life

Huh, completely forgot about that phone.
Sadly, at this point in time, the version I would prefer to have is MIA at Swappa: https://swappa.com/buy/samsung-galaxy-note-4-n910w8

Amazon's search system, I swear, is being intentionally elusive with me. I'll have to keep looking.

 

[Davdi]

try one of these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cubot-X18-...27:m:mRZ15RFm5PilaD0qZI15NxA&var=631589375990
The Nova/J3/J3Pro all have removable batteries. I've got a Nova and just had an Android security update (unusual for Chinese phones). I get 2 days moderate use on a charge but YMMV. the X18 has a larger battery but it's sealed.
Oh, and I still have a 2012 MotoG and the original battery can still get me through a day.
Also, I'm genuinely curious, how do you manage to kill batteries so quickly

 

[codezer0]

Looking at the specs in your listing, that phone has no compatible bands with any of the carriers here, let alone with T-Mobile.

If it were possible, i would have used an oukitel k10000 based on its ridiculous factory battery; that it was ruggedized as well was just a bonus. But i would have the same issue - it wouldn't physically work with any carrier here.

What do you mean, me killing my phone batteries? What do i do? Use the phones. Surf, message, video, watching twitch (or managing when i stream gameplay). There aren't many things i don't do. Even on the clock, it's handy to snap photos to help with filling out forms as needed. But mostly in between split shifts when i have break time, and otherwise squat to do.

 

[codezer0]

Ugh, this is getting so aggravating.

Had lucked out where I was able to find a proper V20 I could have been happy with, but of course it's sold before I could have my payday to be able to have actually bought it and be done with it. and regarding the note 4, most of the time finding too many listings of people faking it's an N910w8 (that I'd need), and selling a carrier locked model instead, which does me no good. I was hoping to pick up a suitable phone by my next payday (this coming Thursday).

... What do I do? I've been having to slug away for months now to get to this position, and getting forever teased and taunted in the market.

 

[Rico ANDROID]

I really feel for you buddy. i wish i had a n extra device is give you. What about ebay? anything doable on there? Too bad Amazon isn't proving to have some sort of acceptable item to purchase. What you doing in the meantime do you have a cellular at all to hold you over?

 

[codezer0]

I really feel for you buddy. i wish i had a n extra device is give you. What about ebay? anything doable on there? Too bad Amazon isn't proving to have some sort of acceptable item to purchase. What you doing in the meantime do you have a cellular at all to hold you over?

I've been trying ebay for the best part of a year.

A v20 that is in usable condition goes for almost $300, and no listing will guarantee the country code needed for a full bootloader unlock. The cheapest buy-it-now for a working v20 US996 is still the best part of $400. Which makes no sense and is way past what I could spare.
Too many listings for an N910W8 (the unlocked Note 4), are actually fakes... or rather, selling a Carrier locked model (like the 910V,A, et al), as a W8. While part of me would want to take the bait anyway and use ebay buyer protection to call them out on it, I'd rather not go through that in the first place, because I'm already angry enough with ebay as it is for all the other stuff I end up having to get from there for no other reason than because nobody else sells it.

 

[Rico ANDROID]

I agree, I've had some not so good experiences with purchases from amazon and ebay. Amazon rectified the issue and banned the seller and i was reimbursed but like you've said, why go through the trouble to begin with. And phones this days even used ones, are so pricy.

you might have to take the bait and hope for the best with Amazon after some due dilligence

 

[codezer0]

I agree, I've had some not so good experiences with purchases from amazon and ebay. Amazon rectified the issue and banned the seller and i was reimbursed but like you've said, why go through the trouble to begin with. And phones this days even used ones, are so pricy.

you might have to take the bait and hope for the best with Amazon after some due dilligence

Amazon doesn't even bother carry the phone anymore. Just parts.

eBay is the only place acting like they have the Note 4. But too many are obvious fakes that wouldn't even halfway work on T-Mobile, let alone any other network than what they were locked to be on.

 

[Rico ANDROID]

Amazon doesn't even bother carry the phone anymore. Just parts.

eBay is the only place acting like they have the Note 4. But too many are obvious fakes that wouldn't even halfway work on T-Mobile, let alone any other network than what they were locked to be on.

i wouldn't trust other online auction-type sites other than Amazon or eBay. For me the Note4 and Note8 are the best out there. Would be nice if someone on this site may have a device to let go.

 

[codezer0]

i wouldn't trust other online auction-type sites other than Amazon or eBay. For me the Note4 and Note8 are the best out there. Would be nice if someone on this site may have a device to let go.

If my N900 note 3 even had any viable LTE bands, I would have still been using it even now, thanks to the sudden influx of roms that gave it a new lease on life. I would have had no reason to shop for another phone until coverage transitioned to require new bands. It was just that good, and that enduring for me.

It was also from a time when Samsung didn't try to intentionally scare away users from rooting and tinkering with their phones, or more recently, making certified explosives for the price of a gaming notebook.

 

[Rico ANDROID]

If my N900 note 3 even had any viable LTE bands, I would have still been using it even now, thanks to the sudden influx of roms that gave it a new lease on life. I would have had no reason to shop for another phone until coverage transitioned to require new bands. It was just that good, and that enduring for me.

It was also from a time when Samsung didn't try to intentionally scare away users from rooting and tinkering with their phones, or more recently, making certified explosives for the price of a gaming notebook.

My Note3 was stolen. If it hadn't been, and still have it today too. it was that good. The only reason i would have upgraded would be due to network changes etc. i rooted it too and loved it. that was also back when ATT subsidised decices. days you have to be rich to buy a new phone outright.

 

[codezer0]

What else is there?

I can't begin to express how unbelievably aggravated I am right now. I really do not want to have to consider another Motorola phone, after the unmitigated horror story that was with the MXPE, and the constant agony, with it basically spending more time draining the charger, than actually charging.

At this point, I would be frustrated enough to want to have a few choices paragraphs with the likes of Samsung, LG, and especially Google, for letting it get this bad.

 

[Rico ANDROID]

you're right. There was a time when there were a good variety of choices and very reasonably priced. Now most devices look alike and theres primarily two high options Galaxy Note or iphone. I'm not an apple fan. i even liked my old Dell Streak5 over later devices. it still works but can't get the very odd charging cable.

 

[Xavier Black]

Try Offerup application..better prices in there..I'm in a §5 but I've been thinking to but an used unlocked Note 4 just to have as an extra one..besides I always wanted one due to all the the specs you mentioned above and more..so I came across this page and the prices are nothing expensive like Amazon's are..

 

[codezer0]

Try Offerup application..better prices in there..I'm in a §5 but I've been thinking to but an used unlocked Note 4 just to have as an extra one..besides I always wanted one due to all the the specs you mentioned above and more..so I came across this page and the prices are nothing expensive like Amazon's are..

They want $250 for a v20, without even specifying the model number, let alone if it's one whose bootloader I could unlock.
Same situation for a Note 4. Every single listing for it is actually a carrier locked model trying to list itself as an unlocked one.

 

[Xavier Black]

Boy, you need to listen a little bit more..

 

[Xavier Black]

The page is very reputable..I just bought a limo in there three days ago..didn't get ripped off

 

[codezer0]

Boy, you need to listen a little bit more..

Not found on my end. Not a single N910w8 anywhere.

Same situation with the V20. Not a single us996 model, let alone one with confirmed Country code USA, which is the only sub-version that can have its bootloader unlocked.

 

[codezer0]

Okay, I need to confirm something. I'm finding conflicting reports on this and I am in need of clarity.

While I have no need to worry about the root-ability of the Note 4, I'm being told at some points that even though the US996 Unlocked V20 is the desired model to be able to get full bootloader unlock from LG, I was more recently told about how there were multiple separate versions, most commonly [ UCL / BPT / USA ] Country codes, and that only the USA model would actually get the full experience.

Is this true? I need to know this, because there might be a chance of me being able to pick one up on Swappa, finally. https://swappa.com/buy/lg-v20-unlocked

 

[Rico ANDROID]

I wish i knew. i will keep watching this thread to learn. Good question too.