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Think I’m fixing to come back to android from iOS, few questions...

So I’ve been out of the Android game for a while, but think I’m going to come back. I’ve been pretty happy with the Mac ecosystem for the past 3 or so years but lately ios11 seems to have borked my 6s+ as well as my wife’s 6s. That coupled with the plethora of seemingly good $250 range android phones available from GearBest, etc makes a strong case for making the switch back to android. But I have a few questions for you guys that are up to date in the android realm.
1 - any Chinese brands I should avoid due to poor build quality and being prone to failures?
2 - any Chinese brands that are known to be of a good quality build?
3 - best way to cope with the loss of iMessage? A lot of pictures and videos are exchanged between my wife and I of our child (soon to be children). I don’t want to exchange videos that looked to have been filmed on a kumquat.
3 - best way to send pics/vids to the iOS users in the family circle?
4 - I’m assuming people are still rooting and running custom roms......what are the popular, stable custom roms people are using? Cyanogen mod still a thing?
Thanks in advance for the help. I’ve recently sold my atv4, Mac mini and am currently attempting to sell my MacBook Air. Have already purchased a google home mini to test out and looking at the chrome books now. If I make the switch I plan on embracing google’s ecosystem.

No one can offer any guidance?

1- the cloned devices and try to avoid buying mtk based devices
2. Huawei and Xiomei ( well know for their good phone and cheap prices )
3. Google photos where you can sync photos over gmail ( from iphone to android and vice versa)
Or by using Send anywhere app :
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/send-anywhere-file-transfer/id596642855?mt=8
also there is a copy on playstore:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estmob.android.sendanywhere
4.There is LineageOS now (CM dead now but LOS is the CM in a new name and a new uniform)
AOSPA Android Paranoid
and more like the Resurrection remix etc

Thanks for the reply. Ive kind of narrowed in on the ZTE axon 7, the Lenovo zuk z2 or the xiaomi mi a1. The first two have a snapdragon 820 and the ZTE seems to be the most feature packed of the bunch. Any issues with ZTE in general? I’m fixing to see what custom rims are available for the zuk and ZTE. I prefer a pretty barebones, vanilla android rom.

First update from Vivo

Hello Nex-Fans,
Vivo has announced the first OS update for our device which improves the overall, the game, camera and fingerprintscanner performance.
Source:
Gizchina

Thanks! I suppose we will get that automatically (when checked in update settings), but thanks anyway for notifying it here.

Despiter updates(there's even newer update than those at first page) the underscreen display scanner remain problematic according to fresh reviews from android authority.
https://www.androidauthority.com/vivo-nex-review-875140/
Hopping retail unit perfom better.

Saw many reviews and tests on YouTube and nobody has mentioned such problems with the Fingerprintscanner. I think this will be a "Pre-Release-Device" problem.

paatha13 said:
Despiter updates(there's even newer update than those at first page) the underscreen display scanner remain problematic according to fresh reviews from android authority.
https://www.androidauthority.com/vivo-nex-review-875140/
Hopping retail unit perfom better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn that's a really scathing review especially re. the software and OS. Makes me kind of disinterested tbh, because the UX sounds like a ****ing hassle

I'm not so negative ... In my opinion it's a very early stage of the device and i think some points are related to the Pre-Release-Device he has. On the software side i think it's only a question of time until there are some other options.
I have a Zuk Z2 Pro and know what i'm talking about. The ZUI interface was only crap but now it's running AOSP Android 8.1 and i'm really really happy with the device. It's better then my S8 was.

Yes but the kicker is as always, does the bootloader get unlocked... I don't know about Vivo and their practices on this.

I actually received my second update on my Nex already... and while the fingerprint reader can be finicky it has worked well (one thing that helped was adding both thumbs 2times)

MixEvo said:
I actually received my second update on my Nex already... and while the fingerprint reader can be finicky it has worked well (one thing that helped was adding both thumbs 2times)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the update a day or two ago as well.....
Any idea (translation) of what it actually encompassed?

only thing i have noticed a improvement on is the Fingerprint reader(seems much more consistent) , the camera seems to focus better and give slightly better results. Also the three bars at the bottom of the home screen are at the absolute bottom now and much wider.

MixEvo said:
only thing i have noticed a improvement on is the Fingerprint reader(seems much more consistent) , the camera seems to focus better and give slightly better results. Also the three bars at the bottom of the home screen are at the absolute bottom now and much wider.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THX!....
After you posted this,I decided to take a look in the Settings > System Update & found the update notes in English (probably translated to whatever default language you choose) & pretty much line-up with your observations/usage:
The notes may have been available in the previous updates,but,I didn't notice the little arrow to click on to read the notes (probably there all along)......

KOLIOSIS said:
THX!....
After you posted this,I decided to take a look in the Settings > System Update & found the update notes in English (probably translated to whatever default language you choose) & pretty much line-up with your observations/usage:
The notes may have been available in the previous updates,but,I didn't notice the little arrow to click on to read the notes (probably there all along)......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha yeah the arrow has been there to check the changelog but the improvements they claim are actually noticable to me at least ?

FunTouch OS is the only thing that's keeping me from buying this phone... Any thoughts on the overall phone functionality from people that have it? I currently own a Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 and love it except for the selfie camera being on the bottom of my screen. My main thing would be to be able to get the Play Store and use Bluetooth with my car audio system... Any thoughts appreciated ?

tacopicante123 said:
FunTouch OS is the only thing that's keeping me from buying this phone... Any thoughts on the overall phone functionality from people that have it? I currently own a Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 and love it except for the selfie camera being on the bottom of my screen. My main thing would be to be able to get the Play Store and use Bluetooth with my car audio system... Any thoughts appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might be having one serious BLONDE MOMENT :laugh: ,but,I can't seem to find how to make the YouTube app play by default,from links in email/texts/etc.....
Again,it could just be me,the settings on this phone are convoluted,makes Huawei & Xiaomi look clean & simple by comparison.......
So,in the meantime,I'm using this default picker app to help out:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aboutmycode.betteropenwith&hl=en_US

KOLIOSIS said:
I might be having one serious BLONDE MOMENT [emoji23] ,but,I can't seem to find how to make the YouTube app play by default,from links in email/texts/etc.....
Again,it could just be me,the settings on this phone are convoluted,makes Huawei & Xiaomi look clean & simple by comparison.......
So,in the meantime,I'm using this default picker app to help out:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aboutmycode.betteropenwith&hl=en_US
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does YouTube Vanced non root version works on Vivo Nex or not.
Have you tried it?
On my OP5T works both version(root or not root )as well 6 months now
https://vanced.azurewebsites.net/APKs?type=NONROOT
Thanks
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

paatha13 said:
Does YouTube Vanced non root version works on Vivo Nex or not.
Have you tried it?
On my OP5T works both version(root or not root )as well 6 months now
https://vanced.azurewebsites.net/APKs?type=NONROOT
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, it works, but, as stated on the site, no Micro G, no log in......
Sent from my vivo NEX S using XDA Labs

KOLIOSIS said:
Yeah, it works, but, as stated on the site, no Micro G, no log in......
Sent from my vivo NEX S using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Installing the micro g file from above link doesn’t work??
I used 0.2.4-105 version from above link and always works great.
You can try both of them providing.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

paatha13 said:
Installing the micro g file from above link doesn’t work??
I used 0.2.4-105 version from above link and always works great.
You can try both of them providing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just loaded up no root Micro G, good to go, signed-in successfully.
Sent from my vivo NEX S using XDA Labs

KOLIOSIS said:
Just loaded up no root Micro G, good to go, signed-in successfully.
Sent from my vivo NEX S using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok well done one less trouble with Funtouch OS hahahaha.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

tacopicante123 said:
FunTouch OS is the only thing that's keeping me from buying this phone... Any thoughts on the overall phone functionality from people that have it? I currently own a Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 and love it except for the selfie camera being on the bottom of my screen. My main thing would be to be able to get the Play Store and use Bluetooth with my car audio system... Any thoughts appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I go back and forth seemingly daily. I lust for the hardware, it is to me the next step on the path to OLED in-display cameras, but that bizarre Android iOS clone nonsense they have going on is pushing me away. Funtouch sounds like a waking nightmare.
I currently have a Mi Mix 2, and already the rumor mill is in full swing re. the Mix 3. Google Mi Mix 3 and check out some early leaks, they are rumored to follow the Nex style. Admitted MIUI is not all that great either, but at least Xiaomi is a bit more dev friendly on releasing the kernels etc. And sorry for the hijack

Oppo r15 Pro Android P

Anybody got it to work?
I'm over Coloros already (sick of the security, want vanilla android)
I downloaded Android P but it says Flash Failed when I try to flash it in (Coloros) recovery.

Yeah, I have it running on mine, but it's the first beta, so a bunch of stuff isn't working, hoping they will release a new rom soon...

What version of the phone do you guys have? Mine is the Australian one from Optus. I assume it doesnt automatically update the beta version like my Nexus 6P did when I enrolled in the program?
I also am getting annoyed with ColorOS as it has broken so many simple things my previous phone did e.g. Google Photos no longer wants to sync, calendar doesnt send me reminder notifications, googles alarm clock no longer works etc.
Would love to flash to stock android that automatically updated and be able to ditch ColorOS as overall the phones hardware seems very decent.
My main concern is the instructions say only Chinese phones should use that upgrade process and its impossible to revert without sending it to service in China. I am an IT Professional but I have never tried to flash with a custom rom in the past so a little wary of bricking my brand new phone =P
My model is CPH1831
Build number CPH1831AU_11_A.07_180705

Vyviel said:
What version of the phone do you guys have? Mine is the Australian one from Optus. I assume it doesnt automatically update the beta version like my Nexus 6P did when I enrolled in the program?
I also am getting annoyed with ColorOS as it has broken so many simple things my previous phone did e.g. Google Photos no longer wants to sync, calendar doesnt send me reminder notifications, googles alarm clock no longer works etc.
Would love to flash to stock android that automatically updated and be able to ditch ColorOS as overall the phones hardware seems very decent.
My main concern is the instructions say only Chinese phones should use that upgrade process and its impossible to revert without sending it to service in China. I am an IT Professional but I have never tried to flash with a custom rom in the past so a little wary of bricking my brand new phone =P
My model is CPH1831
Build number CPH1831AU_11_A.07_180705
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey there Vyviel,
I have the Oppo R15 Pro CPH1831 also and purchased it outright from JB HiFi a couple of weeks back now - carrier is Telstra.
This is my very first Android device after having shifted over from a 6s Plus... I will say that I personally don't mind this ColorOS business ATM but then again I am unfamiliar with any of this custom ROM business... You are right about the hardware though... for let's say $600 AUD less than the Samsung Galaxy S9 it stands pretty tall in the spec department for the price of $779.
I am also in IT... that is to say that I have been tinkering now for about 15 years and at present I have 4 and a half units remaining on my Bachelor of IT degree.
Like yourself... I have not flashed a custom ROM, rooted an Android based device or recovered back to out of the box state in case one might need to get that all important warranty back in the game if the process manages to kick you in the proverbial sack... so we are in the same boat in not wanting to create a mid range in the expense scale paperweight.
I would really like to know how to do all of this in the safest way possible though and to be quite honest am finding it somewhat difficult to find a great deal of info on this phone.
I'm willing to share a few links that I have found in relation to flashing a ROM on one of these things if you wanna send me a PM (I'm unsure of the legalities of posting links here as I have only just joined XDA)... I'm not 100% sure of what to trust when it comes to the links (one is a Vietnamese site I believe) and all of these processes in general but it would be good to get a second opinion.
Anyways... this post is starting to read a bit like a book so I'll leave it at that for now.
Cheers mate
PS: Nothing against the Vietnamese people intended whatsoever - peace out

shayne77 said:
Anybody got it to work?
I'm over Coloros already (sick of the security, want vanilla android)
I downloaded Android P but it says Flash Failed when I try to flash it in (Coloros) recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You aren't only here buddy, tried flashing my phone as well. Didn't work, got the same error. I think it's for the Chinese version of the phone, I'm not entirely sure.

Agreed, bought phone outright. No carrier/network lock. I've had it a week and also I am over the colour os!! I have had a bit of trouble with compatibility with my other home devices like screen mirroring, cloning/switching device data, Wi-Fi stabilisation etc... But have discovered that most option menus change and have slot more options if you have developer mode active whilst browsing through the setup menus.. Especially with device connections!!
But all in all I think I just want a normal android rom that will look like every other android menus but will utilise this devices nice hardware specs considering it bang for your buck price point!!
Sometimes you have to relise expectations and reality get clouded by hope...

Need Link to firmware - Oppo R15 Pro for latest Android P Beta
I happened to have the Chinese version (I believe). Can anyone post the link to the firmware being discussed on here?

look
https: //drive.google.com/file/d/1-G_1V9Zt1NGyhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1-G_1V9Zt1NGy5qwtit-owiHw3jdbFUIb/view5qwtit-owiHw3jdbFUIb/view

Android 9 has been out officially for more than a month I wonder why the lazy Oppo developers have still not released a software update for it. ColorOS is pure trash just give me stock Android 9.

Vyviel said:
Android 9 has been out officially for more than a month I wonder why the lazy Oppo developers have still not released a software update for it. ColorOS is pure trash just give me stock Android 9.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ColorOS and Oppo aren't exactly known for their "immediate updates" if you wanted the stock experience and quick updates why not pick the Pixel?

Lemagex said:
ColorOS and Oppo aren't exactly known for their "immediate updates" if you wanted the stock experience and quick updates why not pick the Pixel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because the Pixel phones are an absolute ripoff for mediocre hardware. Google lost their way after the Nexus 6P.
Next time I will go for a OnePlus =)

Is it possible to use new android P on the ' OPPO R15 ' ? (not the pro version)
my phone (oppo r15) runs on color os 5.0 so i thought i could update the android version to ' Android P ' so that the chinese version will be gone.. so i can finally use the google app and services, guys does it work on the oppo r15?

Yeah i'm wanting to know this as well! ColourOS seems to be a pretty big limitation although judging on the firmware difference (CPH1835 vs CPH1831) i'm unsure if i can flash Android P yet.. anyone have a definitive answer?

Lemagex said:
ColorOS and Oppo aren't exactly known for their "immediate updates" if you wanted the stock experience and quick updates why not pick the Pixel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i believe it's because of the money...

I've had the May 2018 P Beta on a R15 Pro Chinese since... forever. It's pure trash, 80% of apps don't work due to mysterious crashes. It has not received an update at all since May 2018.
So now we either use trash ColorOS on which it is impossible to install GPlay on because of weird proprietary security, or we use near-stock but almost useless P beta. Either way it's almost a brick.

ULAMSS5 said:
I've had the May 2018 P Beta on a R15 Pro Chinese since... forever. It's pure trash, 80% of apps don't work due to mysterious crashes. It has not received an update at all since May 2018.
So now we either use trash ColorOS on which it is impossible to install GPlay on because of weird proprietary security, or we use near-stock but almost useless P beta. Either way it's almost a brick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too,can r15 Pro get in pixel experience or asop?

liliu said:
look
https: //drive.google.com/file/d/1-G_1V9Zt1NGyhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1-G_1V9Zt1NGy5qwtit-owiHw3jdbFUIb/view5qwtit-owiHw3jdbFUIb/view
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry but this link is not avaiable anymore
i got r15 pro china stuck logo after upgrade to android P beta

con_sau_may_tinh said:
sorry but this link is not avaiable anymore
i got r15 pro china stuck logo after upgrade to android P beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now you can get Coloros 6(https://www.coloros.com/topic/coloros6.html)
which has completely different UI from Coloros5.2/5.0, enough of too many bugs in Android P beta also , but things got changed now

They sure are taking their time with coloros 6. Im reading it should have been released in May but still nothing confirmed. I will never buy an oppo again as this is bad. Android Q (10) will be released soon and oppo is struggling to release android 9. What a joke.

Agreed #perryano. Their hardware is fantastic, but this ColorOS BS just destroys the whole experience and controls everything you want to do like the PRC. If I could just run vanilla Android, I would be a happy camper.

A shortlist for my next phone, and two questions

Hey there,
I recently posted here about looking for a new phone on a budget. I'm happy to say that after a few weeks I've narrowed down my options to a shortlist of 10, using gsmarena to compare specs. I'm now at a point where I need to fill in the final gaps, but I'm unable to do so without an intimate knowledge of the devices, Android or the Android rooting scene, none of which I have, so so am at the mercy of the community for any further help.
I need to know whether each of the below phones satisfies two specific criteria.
These are the phones that I'm looking at:
- Honor 8
- Honor 8X
- Honor 9 Lite
- Honor 9
- Honor Play
- Huawei P20 Lite
- Motorola Moto G6
- Moto G6 Play
- Motorola Moto G5S
- Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite
For each of them, I'd like to know...
1. Whether it supports split-screen multitasking. Odd as it sounds, one of my biggest reasons for moving to Android is the ability to use YouTube while using other apps, so the phone I buy needs to support it. Based on my research, I have a feeling this is entirely independent of hardware, and that all of these phones should support a high enough Android version to use split-screen, but I'd like to confirm this.
2. The state of the modding/rooting community for the device; how much the phone supports modding and how active the community around it is. The other reason for moving to Android is the ability to customise things to my heart's content, based on the criteria outlined here. Does the phone in question support Magisk, TWRP, Treble, ElementalX? Are there any modding-related that I should know about it?
Once in again, thanks to anyone who's read through this properly and can answer these questions, it's much appreciated.
Thanks

If you want a rootable phone, drop all Huawei phones from your list

China vs Global ROMS

Hello. Im planning to upgrade my phone to a 'gaming phone'. Which as follows:
Red Magic 6, Lenovo Legion Duel 2, Xiaomi mi 11 Pro, Asus ROG 5, Black shark 4 pro?
The main problem is with software updates. From what I can find online, about 3 of the 5 phones listed, have really bad support. Pretty sure some older models are still stuck on android 9 and 10 on the global versions. While on the CN version, they are regularly updated.
So I was wondering if I could use the CN ROM instead, if support for the global ROM dont exist. If anyone with experience could share the pros and cons or insights, it would greatly appreciated.
Sorry if I sound really noob, because when it comes to mods and stuff, I have no experience at all. I would have gone the easier route with samsung, but these phones have specs that I am interested in trying out. Just that it would suck if I missed out on future android updates, like android 12 or something.
Thanks yall.

Bump

Bump

Makø said:
Hello. Im planning to upgrade my phone to a 'gaming phone'. Which as follows:
Red Magic 6, Lenovo Legion Duel 2, Xiaomi mi 11 Pro, Asus ROG 5, Black shark 4 pro?
The main problem is with software updates. From what I can find online, about 3 of the 5 phones listed, have really bad support. Pretty sure some older models are still stuck on android 9 and 10 on the global versions. While on the CN version, they are regularly updated.
So I was wondering if I could use the CN ROM instead, if support for the global ROM dont exist. If anyone with experience could share the pros and cons or insights, it would greatly appreciated.
Sorry if I sound really noob, because when it comes to mods and stuff, I have no experience at all. I would have gone the easier route with samsung, but these phones have specs that I am interested in trying out. Just that it would suck if I missed out on future android updates, like android 12 or something.
Thanks yall.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think global roms are better than China roms here's why
First reason why global roms has google apps pre-installed
While china roms only have google apps installed on older china roms devices the newer phones with china rom does not have google apps pre-installed u could try flashing a custom rom to get google Apps pre-installed but I don't know exactly if it's gonna work
Second reason why global rom Is better is the bugs
On china rom their more bugs than global rom
Third reason why it's better is how it feels global roms feels better than China roms because global rom feels faster than China rom