- cross-posted to:
- android@lemdro.id
- cross-posted to:
- android@lemdro.id
I’ve been looking at phones lately and I’ve seen this company called Enough from their YouTube kickstarter video. It’s them and SLEKE (maker of OdesseyOS) working on building a nice size phone. I’m thinking of supporting their kickstarter because I am tired of these humongous phablets, and I can’t stand on how they feel in my hand when holding them.
The phone has everything I want but I am really wondering if the bootloader will be unlockable.
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Some important edits that should be added; (after looking on Enough’s website and kickstarter)
- No unlockable bootloader
- No sideloading
- On Enough’s website, storage is expandable by MicroSD or that same space is using a physical SIM card and you have the option for eSIM
- No headphone jack, but a USBC to 3.5mm converter is given if you do the kickstarter
- Stock android or OdessyOS only (from SLEKE); no flashing capabilities at all
- Replaceable battery
- Price of phone from kickstarter:
- Super Early bird price: $399 USD (sold out)
- Early bird: $449 USD
- Kickstarter special; $499 USD
- Retail price after campaign: $599 USD
Dam, not even close. Are band size is so small .
We have here 2,4,5,12,13,14,66,71. 13 and 71 are critical for rural coverage.
Hmm. I think the issue with all these phones is that the modems can support those bands just fine but they’re generally tuned for Asian and European markets. Predominantly because those sorts of phones sell en mass there, maybe.
For example, I have a duoquin F22 pro (think modern Nokia). I know that folks over on XDA have flashed CFW to region unlock them for US.
You might be able to find what you want (the Cubots sound like a near match) quite cheaply but you’ll have to check XDA for CFWs first. Quite a few of these phones ship with unlocked bootloaders and AOSP by default so they are pretty easy to tinker with.
Else… How do you feel about the JellyStar?
https://www.unihertz.com/products/jelly-star
The US unfortunately has a monopolized market of either Google, Apple, Samsung or Oneplus phones. We really don’t have a lot of options unless if you buy an older phone from like 2016-2018 that can still give you LTE service, with the screen size is about 5.8 inches. Everything else is either too old/ obsolete, can’t used bands due to shutdown of 2G/3G, or it doesn’t ship here cause of lack of band support or cost.
And these niche communities of phones (unless you look at some of the privacy focused ones) is not really helping that market either.
I also tried to look up on where to buy the Duolingo F22 Pro, I couldn’t find it anywhere on where to buy i, but I know you can use it here.
I got mine off Aliexpress, fwiw.
https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-duoqin-f22-pro-phone.html
The phone itself is awesome. The T9 keyboard is ass (the membrane they used is just not good). I got mine in 2022 iirc. I cycle between my Samsung A20 (yes, it still works well, 9 yrs in) and the local equivalent of the TCL flip (android 8.1 based).
I actually just installed this on it and it’s blazing fast STT now -
https://github.com/maxmilneaus/tt9-whistle
Edit to add: I have the F21 (the smaller one, candybar). The F22 is about the same height and an iphone, except halfish of the width.
I had one but the software was ass. I only had it for 3 months before recycling it. Screen is way too small, debugging it made it hella glitchy, there’s not really a true custom rom installation for it, and launching most apps made it buggy. I got so tired of it. Then I started reading about Unihertz’s track record of their devices receiving poor software and customer support, so I decided to not deal with that company ever again.
when it comes to small screens like that, the smallest I’ll do is close to 4.3-4.5 inches. 3 is way to small.
Yeah, that was my feeling on it too. Cute, but too itty bitty. I already have an android flip phone if I want that form factor.
It sounds like the Cubots would be ideal for you…IF you can find evidence of CFW unlocking your regional bands.
Sorry dude. Chin up - they nuked 3G here entirely. Which means none of the good, old phones work at all. I have a Nokia N95 that’s awesome but I can’t do squat with it as a phone any more.