Is there a cheap Android device I can use to experiment with?

[Roger]

Is there a cheap Android device I can use to experiment with?

I'm a complete beginner with Android, although I have a lot of programming experience with other languages and operating systems. I'd like to experiment with writing apps for Android. I'm aware that I can download an emulator, write an app, and test it on my PC. But I still need a real android device to run it on and I don't have one. Can anyone recommend the cheapest good Android device that I can load my own app on and run it ? For example, ebay has a Kyocera Hydro with Android 4.0 for $25. Is this a good device to experiment with? Or is there something cheaper or better to use?

Once again, I am a complete beginner so any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks !!

 

[Rukbat]

Cheaper than $25 with 4.0? I'd wonder if that's a legitimate deal it's so low. Is it a working phone? The cheapest one I know of at the moment is Straight Talk's Precedent, for about $35, that you can flash Gingerbread (2.3) to. If that Kyocera is legit and working I don't think you'll do better unless someone hands you a phone for free.

 

[badblue1]

The LG Optimus V or S on eBay for $25 or $30,my daily phone for the past 3 years. I'm running gingerbread right now, just had Bean_Whiz rom 4.1.2 on it, but i need a bigger sdcard to keep as my daily driver. The guys on android central are close to having a working kit-kat 4.4 rom for it. Great little phone .

 

[kate]

For a working phone that came with Android 4.0, $25 is a good deal. Make sure it's not a "for parts" sale.

The Hydro isn't a great phone, but should be fine for testing/learning.

 

[BinaryJuice]

I don't know about the US, but in the UK the cheapest device you can buy used is the HTC Wildfire S, although it's still on Gingerbread and has a very poor 600 MHz processor.