Small smartphone recommendations

[taichiplanet]

i am after a small sized android smart phone, with dual sim. i'd prefer a screen around 4" but maybe 4.5" would be okay, as don't want to lug around a bigger phone. Below THB 8k. Other than using it as a phone, i'd occassionally use google maps or a map app (i have a lousy sense of direction) and maybe Line/Whatsapp. Don't want to do anything else on it!

So far i've only found 2;

 - Samsung J1 Mini,  4" screen, 1500 mAh removable battery (THB 2,500)

- Huawei Y3 II,  4.5" screen,  2100mAh removable battery (THB 3,000)

 

Anyone using the above 2 phones and like them or have issues with them?

Any other phones available that have a 4" screen?

[Adeeos]

I've used Samsungs for many many years,, last one I had was an S5,, after a year+,, they'd all tend to start eating batteries,, even a factory new one would never last as long as the phone did when new,,, and ALWAYS full of crapware,, stuff you CAN'T delete without rooting them,, Now in the States,, I ended up buying a brand new, Motorola Moto G4,, they're now made by Lenovo,, Battery last's like 2 days,, and NO,, "bloatware",, none,, runs the latest Android,, and was $200 USD out the door,,, love the phone,, anything ,, feature I missed from my Samsungs, is a simple free app download,, It's larger than the S5, has better camera,, 16g internal memory, expandable to like 128g,,, I'm sure they make something in a dual sim...  But also, look at the "OPPO" phones,, they have all the features you'd need, and MANY are around $8000 baht brand new,,,, but not sure about the bloatware,, I'd suggest at least looking for a Motorola,, like the Moto G4,, but with dual SIMs.. at 1st,, I was not happy with the loss of, "features",,, now I LOOVE it, as there's NO apps in it i do not want in it,, 

Edited March 3, 2017 by Adeeos

[lopburi3]

4" Wiko Sunny looks like something you could use.  And only about 1,800 baht.

http://www.invadeit.co.th/category/smartphones/wiko/3-4-inches/

[AlfonsV]

I would prefer Huawai

[david555]

Hoping myself that one day they make a clamshell smart .So i can put in pocket as before my samsung sgh-x "egg" model as very practical contrary those big flat smarts when wearing jeans

Edited March 3, 2017 by david555

[bangkokorbust]

Hoping myself that one day they make a clamshell smart .So i can put in pocket as before my samsung sgh-x "egg" model as very practical contrary those big flat smarts when wearing jeans

You must wear them skin tight the current smart phones are pretty slim. Up to 5.5 they won't give you problems, even bar girls with shorts painted on use them

[taichiplanet]

thanks for the replies. i've no experience with smartphones, still using a Nokia E72. i know there will come a day (with my non existent sense of direction) that i will have to look at a map app on the phone that has a 'You Are Here'. Especially as i become more adventurous on my bike. i want to keep it in my pants pocket hence the smaller size, even for walking around i prefer a smaller phone.

 

The Wiko Sunny has mixed reviews and a small non-removable battery, the Samsung J1 Mini runs Lollipop and as mentioned suffers from bloatware. I was tempted by the Oppo A37 but don't want to go that big, at least not yet. So it looks like i will have to go with the Huawei Y3 and see how i cope with the 4.5" screen.

 

My ideal smart phone would be a 4" screen, dual sim, large removable battery (keep a spare), running Android 6 or 7, and semi decent chip. Funny how Steve Jobs was adament that the iPhone was not going to go large, now it seems it is difficult to get a smaller screen smartphone. http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-was-wrong-about-big-phones-2014-9

 

BTW: ZTE now do a budget clamshell  http://www.androidguys.com/2016/11/03/zte-launches-the-cymbal-t-clamshell-phone-for-99/    But I'd be more interested in a phone with a foldable screen; once it becomes cheaper tech! https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaymcgregor/2017/02/06/samsung-edges-closer-to-a-foldable-phone-in-new-images/#1daf360110ab

[pby92]

There is also" Honor" brand sistership from Huawai but cheaper use to have double sim one you can use only for call or sms.

I have before Samsung Note 3 Honor is really cheaper and as not all this Samsung app that you cannot delete.

As heavy user of Line battery last all day.

[david555]

1 hour ago, bangkokorbust said:

You must wear them skin tight the current smart phones are pretty slim. Up to 5.5 they won't give you problems, even bar girls with shorts painted on use them

Can never beat the easy wearing with this one , my favorite 12 years old still working fine (only battery getting old ...) never make blib blib like the sam j1 even when putting screen of my thight jeans ppress the on button again ....great options ....too many to be safe ..., is final a reserve  pc not a phone any more , very rare I take with me out .... thinking to put another sim in" oldie " to take with me out as now I walk most phoneless ...

Hope is there as I saw for future a phone ... no a small cylinder ..... the screen you have to pull out as you do whit a rolling meter ....this the coming flexible folie screens ....future things

 

PS: bar girls line : yes and they loose the regular time as careless with them , as long LDOP farangs keep replacing them

 

8 CM. X 2CM. round corners perfect fitting in pocket ,

Edited March 3, 2017 by david555

[bangkokorbust]

Can never beat the easy wearing with this one , my favorite 8 years old still working fine (only battery getting old ...) never make blib blib like the sam j1 even when putting screen of my thight jeans ppress the on button again ....great options ....too many to be safe ..., is final a reserve  pc not a phone any more , very rare I take with me out .... thinking to put another sim in" oldie " to take with me out as now I walk most phoneless ...
Hope is there as I saw for future a phone ... no a small cylinder ..... the screen you have to pull out as you do whit a rolling meter ....this the coming flexible folie screens ....future things
 
PS: bar girls line : yes and they loose the regular time as careless with them , as long LDOP farangs keep replacing them
 
8 CM. X 2CM. round corners perfect fitting in pocket ,

Would give you a nice "bulge" if positioned correctly so that's a bonus

[Catoni]

13 hours ago, Adeeos said:

I've used Samsungs for many many years,, last one I had was an S5,, after a year+,, they'd all tend to start eating batteries,, even a factory new one would never last as long as the phone did when new,,, and ALWAYS full of crapware,, stuff you CAN'T delete without rooting them,, Now in the States,, I ended up buying a brand new, Motorola Moto G4,, they're now made by Lenovo,, Battery last's like 2 days,, and NO,, "bloatware",, none,, runs the latest Android,, and was $200 USD out the door,,, love the phone,, anything ,, feature I missed from my Samsungs, is a simple free app download,, It's larger than the S5, has better camera,, 16g internal memory, expandable to like 128g,,, I'm sure they make something in a dual sim...  But also, look at the "OPPO" phones,, they have all the features you'd need, and MANY are around $8000 baht brand new,,,, but not sure about the bloatware,, I'd suggest at least looking for a Motorola,, like the Moto G4,, but with dual SIMs.. at 1st,, I was not happy with the loss of, "features",,, now I LOOVE it, as there's NO apps in it i do not want in it,, 

      Samsungs make great products. I love their old Samsung Rugby II flip phone and used it for travel. But now I have the even better Kyocera Dura XE.  Unlocked.....Built like a tank to MIL Specs, and can be dropped on concrete from 6', or dropped into 6' of water for thirty minutes with no ill effects. 3G/4G with many frequencies and bands.... it works round the world...just switch out the SIM. 

       I know what $8000 is......... and I know what 8000 baht is.....  But I'm not sure what $8000 baht is... that's a new one for me.

        555555 

 

Edited March 3, 2017 by Catoni
Addition

[themerg]

Where can a flip phone, or clamshell phone, wit 2-3 GB RAM be found in Thailand ?

[Langsuan Man]

2 hours ago, themerg said:

Where can a flip phone, or clamshell phone, wit 2-3 GB RAM be found in Thailand ?

Here, this is the only one I could find online:

 

http://www.lazada.co.th/samsung-galaxy-folder-g150-smartphone-black-intl-10365587.html?mp=1&rs=2232

[david555]

The cherry on the cake is at the end of the video as showing a extractable screen tablet ...

Edited March 5, 2017 by david555

[taichiplanet]

8 hours ago, david555 said:

The cherry on the cake is at the end of the video as showing a extractable screen tablet ...

Love it! That vid and the tablet with the retractable/rollable screen at the end reminds me of the old Mae West line rephrased; "Is that rollable tablet in your pocket or are you just glad to see me".

 

Imagine a rollable screen TV! No longer will you need to have a big black screen staring back at you when not in use, just roll it up.

[taichiplanet]

While waiting for the new gen flexi-screens, I will probably go for the Huawei or Asus.

 

Just to reiterate what I’d like; 4” screen, dual SIM, Android 6 or 7, large removable battery, Quad processor 1.3 +,  ROM 8GB or more.

I’ve put together a list of phones that might have suited my needs for a smaller smart phone, though some don’t seem readily available in Thailand (either limited sales or sold out).  Nothing in the 4” range appeals, they all seem to have problems in either specs or functionality. In the 4.5” range I am leaning towards the Huawei or Asus. The LG also looks okay but seems to be unavailable in Thailand.

 

Alcatel Pixi4 (4) – 4.0”, Batt 1500mAh (removable?), An6.0, 1.3G Quad 4GB ROM, THB 1,990

http://www.lazada.co.th/alcatel-pixie4-4-volcano-black-12086841.html

http://www.alcatel-mobile.com/global-en/products/detail/PIXI4#.WLp53zkjzoc

(various screen sizes for the Pixi4 – Alcatel is made by TCL)

 

Lenovo A1000 - 4.0”, Batt 2000mAh removable, An5.0, 1.3G Quad 8GB ROM, THB 1,800

http://www.lazada.co.th/lenovo-a1000-2016-8gb-black-7907947.html?rb=611

 

Samsung J1 Mini – 4.0”, Batt 1500mAh removable, An5.1, 1.2G Quad 8GB ROM, THB 1,990

http://www.lazada.co.th/samsung-j1-mini-40-3g-8gb-black-7700390.html

 

Wiko Sunny –  4.0”, Batt 1200mAh removable, An6.0, 1.2G Quad 8GB ROM, THB 1,790

http://www.invadeit.co.th/product/smartphones/wiko/sunny-android-smartphone-dual-sim-bleen-p026966/

 

LG K3 (LS450 K100) – 4.5”, Batt 1940mAh removable, An6.0, 1.1G Quad 8GB ROM,  THB?

https://www.mobile57.com/th/phones/lg-k3-5874

 

TWZ Y52 - 4.5”, Batt 1650mAh, An5.1, 1G Quad 8GB ROM, THB 2,300

http://www.lazada.co.th/twz-y52-8gb-black-7942950.html

 

Huawei Y3 II - 4.5”, Batt 2100mAh removable, An5.1, 1.3G Quad 8GB ROM, THB 2,760

http://www.lazada.co.th/huawei-y3ii-gold-13026044.html?rb=470

 

ASUS Zenfone ZB452 - 4.5”, Batt 2070mAh removable, An5.1, 1.2G Quad 8GB ROM,  THB 3,290

http://www.lazada.co.th/asus-zenfone-go-zb452kg-45-8gb-blue-9562642.html?rb=78

 

OPPO Joy 5 – 4.5”, Batt 2000mAh non-removable, An5.1, 1.3G Quad 16GB, THB 4,990

http://www.lazada.co.th/oppo-joy-5-3g-16gb-white-10086444.html?rb=1102

AIS Lava Iris 702 – 4.5”, Batt 2000mAh (non-removable?), An6.0, 1.3G Quad 8GB, THB 2,250

http://www.lazada.co.th/ais-lava-iris-702-45-11479647.html

http://www.ais.co.th/supercombo/iris702/index.html

 

[dddave]

All three carriers, AIS, DTAC & TRUE sell 4" smartphones with 1gb ram, 8gb rom for B1000 or less. I have no idea which version of Android they run.  For what you say you want to use it for, one of these would do.  One of the advantages is if something goes wrong, they will often replace the phone...something most retailers would never do.  A friend bought an AIS phone a few years ago.  The display started having problems after 6 months, she took it to the AIS store at Siam Paragon and they replaced the phone with a new model free, no questions asked.

[lopburi3]

Actually DTAC asked us to take such a branded phone to replace old Nokia 2G free of charge.  But only has .5k ram so next to useless unless you want to use only the programs they have loaded (as they do not allow removal).  But for basic 3G phone/sms use works fine and if into smart phone expect could make it work better.  ZTE Blade Android 5.1

[taichiplanet]

looks like the foldable screen will become a retaility later this year, though this one looks too big for me and i would think the price would be too big for me too. Though it points the way for future foldables.

 

http://tech.thaivisa.com/forget-about-the-galaxy-s8-samsung-to-release-a-foldable-smartphone-later-this-year/20400/