Thinnest, lightest (smallest?)

[calypsos15]

Maybe I should have changed the subject...it doesn't have to be the MOST EXTREME thinnest, lightest. But close! I've been avoiding smartphones because they're just too big (remember when everyone wanted the smallest?), but now that my LG GD880 died after 5 years usage, I'd like something similar (it's a small phone but heavy).
Also, I'd like this new phone to be viable for the next 4 years or so, so that would mean some pretty mean specs, something like 2.0 GHz, 3 GB ram, high ROM, very high PPI, stuff like that.
I bought a Chinese phone before for a friend, the Haier W910, and it has performed swimmingly until it took a drink and died (even though it's supposed to be waterproof). I'm willing to buy another Chinese phone since China is where it's at now. THANK UUUUU for your advice
BTW, Hi.

[WuddaWaste]

I'm unfortunately not aware of any phones containing 3GB of RAM that are smaller than 5 inches. What area do you live in? Do you know what frequency bands you need?

At 5 inches, you have a ton of options. The upcoming Doogee F3 Pro has a small-looking form factor despite the screen size. The Zopo Speed 7 looks like a solid phone. But the phone that has really captured my attention (and adoration) is the Innos D6000. Sure, it's a little chunky. It's actually REALLY chunky, but it has a 5" display and dual batteries. It's coming out in a couple of weeks and looks immensely promising (dare I even say game changing?) for practical cell phone use.

Rather than thinking of a cell phone as a 4 year investment, I'd opt for paying a little less and shortening your timetable by at least two years. 4 years is a really long time in modern cell technology. There are a lot of physically small ultra-budget phones that will get you through the next year or so. Consider socking away some of that extra cash and just be prepared to buy another phone in a year or two.

For instance, this dude looks pretty minimalist and small:
http://www.chinaphonearena.com/forum/Thr...7#pid46107

[Sniper47]

Really don't count on anything lasting 4 years. Seriously, in 4 years any phone you buy now will be a dinosaur Whether you spend $600 on an iPhone or $100. And these are electronics... They could last 6 months or less, or 10 years. Again, that goes for a $600 phone or a $50 phone.

Don't concentrate so much on RAM. 1GB, 2GB or 10GB, they will all run Android in a similar manner. Also there are very few 2.0GHz China phones. You might take a look at Meizu MX5 for a very powerful phone.

In short, no phone I know of will meet all of your requirements. Something will have to give, whether it be size, or power.

[calypsos15]

I'm unfortunately not aware of any phones containing 3GB of RAM that are smaller than 5 inches. What area do you live in? Do you know what frequency bands you need?

At 5 inches, you have a ton of options. The upcoming Doogee F3 Pro has a small-looking form factor despite the screen size. The Zopo Speed 7 looks like a solid phone. But the phone that has really captured my attention (and adoration) is the Innos D6000. Sure, it's a little chunky. It's actually REALLY chunky, but it has a 5" display and dual batteries. It's coming out in a couple of weeks and looks immensely promising (dare I even say game changing?) for practical cell phone use.

Rather than thinking of a cell phone as a 4 year investment, I'd opt for paying a little less and shortening your timetable by at least two years. 4 years is a really long time in modern cell technology. There are a lot of physically small ultra-budget phones that will get you through the next year or so. Consider socking away some of that extra cash and just be prepared to buy another phone in a year or two.

For instance, this dude looks pretty minimalist and small:
http://www.chinaphonearena.com/forum/Thr...7#pid46107

Hi. The Alife P1-pro was looking real good and I was going to put it in my chart/list but it has a 1.0 GHz computer, which is a bit slow. I checked out the Doogee F3 Pro and Zoppo speed 7. The last one is nice. It's kinda "big" but goes on the list.
One I had in mind, the Zoppo 3X, has 3 GB ram but is 5" ("big"), 2.0 GHz, high PPI, good camera, looks pretty good so far. Similar to the Zoppo speed 7.
I read somewhere that dual batteries have been around. How is the Innos D6000 gamechanging otherwise?
I use to play the "consumer" game and buy a phone like every year or so but... people really don't want to hear what I have to say about that, I'm sure. Now I live in Asia. I view the phone as a secondary device, stays in pocket and forgotten, which is why smaller/lighter is better for me. Thx man for your help

[Sniper47]

I'm unfortunately not aware of any phones containing 3GB of RAM that are smaller than 5 inches. What area do you live in? Do you know what frequency bands you need?

At 5 inches, you have a ton of options. The upcoming Doogee F3 Pro has a small-looking form factor despite the screen size. The Zopo Speed 7 looks like a solid phone. But the phone that has really captured my attention (and adoration) is the Innos D6000. Sure, it's a little chunky. It's actually REALLY chunky, but it has a 5" display and dual batteries. It's coming out in a couple of weeks and looks immensely promising (dare I even say game changing?) for practical cell phone use.

Rather than thinking of a cell phone as a 4 year investment, I'd opt for paying a little less and shortening your timetable by at least two years. 4 years is a really long time in modern cell technology. There are a lot of physically small ultra-budget phones that will get you through the next year or so. Consider socking away some of that extra cash and just be prepared to buy another phone in a year or two.

For instance, this dude looks pretty minimalist and small:
http://www.chinaphonearena.com/forum/Thr...7#pid46107

Hi. The Alife P1-pro was looking real good and I was going to put it in my chart/list but it has a 1.0 GHz computer, which is a bit slow. I checked out the Doogee F3 Pro and Zoppo speed 7. The last one is nice. It's kinda "big" but goes on the list.
One I had in mind, the Huawei P8Lite, has 3 GB ram but is 5" ("big"), 2.0 GHz, high PPI, good camera, looks pretty good so far. Similar to the Zoppo speed 7.
I read somewhere that dual batteries have been around. How is the Innos D6000 gamechanging otherwise?
I use to play the "consumer" game and buy a phone like every year or so but... people really don't want to hear what I have to say about that, I'm sure. Now I live in Asia. I view the phone as a secondary device, stays in pocket and forgotten, which is why smaller/lighter is better for me. Thx man for your help

Several things about the Innos D6000. The most obvious advantage is the huge battery.

See the preview on Gizbeat. Has a few other very interesting specs, 1/2.3" camera, Wolfson sound chip, 1080p JDI display, 3gb RAM, 32GB storage + SD expansion slot and removable battery.

That being said, its not thin or light. Far from it.

You're not going to find small phones with high specs (3gb RAM 2.0GHz CPU) anymore. Everything is 5" or bigger now.

I don't think you can go wrong with the Huawei you mentioned... I'd also say that don't worry so much about 1.5GHz or 2.0GHz. You'll very rarely, if ever know the difference. Actually the 1.0GHz 64-bit chips are very capable too.

Mentioned previously.. You can now get good phones for $80. They're practically disposable. Seriously, don't worry about it lasting 5 years. In 5 years, the phone will be worth $10 and a modern phone with much higher specs will be $50.

[calypsos15]

Really don't count on anything lasting 4 years. Seriously, in 4 years any phone you buy now will be a dinosaur Whether you spend $600 on an iPhone or $100. And these are electronics... They could last 6 months or less, or 10 years. Again, that goes for a $600 phone or a $50 phone.

Don't concentrate so much on RAM. 1GB, 2GB or 10GB, they will all run Android in a similar manner. Also there are very few 2.0GHz China phones. You might take a look at Meizu MX5 for a very powerful phone.

In short, no phone I know of will meet all of your requirements. Something will have to give, whether it be size, or power.

Yeah, you are absolutely right, a phone may last a few months or a few years. My LG GD880 lasted 5 years. It was "damaged" five times and I was lucky that there was a service center here to fix it. My friend's waterproof Chinese Haier W910 lasted two years until water touched it and now the screen doesn't respond to touch and there is no service center here to fix it. So she's out of luck. And buying a Chinese phone may also limit me here if something breaks, just like it probably limits you where you live because there are no readily available service centers or parts around to fix a "minor" problem. Btw, the Meizu MX5 is REALLY NICE but a 5.5" screen, and I'd like something smaller. Maybe a 4" screen but with high screen-to-real-estate (?) ratio (the screen takes up most of the space)
You are right, I won't be worrying too much about the GHz. BTW, I made a mistake, I didn't mean to write the Huawei, I changed it to the Zoppo 3X. Thanks

[WuddaWaste]

I think it's pretty sweet that you know what you want. That puts you ahead of the game in a lot of aspects. Now it's just a matter of seeing what is available vs what you want, and making some decisions in priorities.

In regards to your thoughts on consumerism and buying a new phone every few years, I'd actually really like to hear your thought. It's always good to challenge the status quo. That's actually one of the things that led me here.

My version: Most people erroneously view expensive items as some kind of investment. They lie to themselves. The thought process is along the lines of, "Well, I only get to buy one of these once every several years so I'd better get a good one so it'll keep me happy that whole time. " Perhaps that train of thinking was derived from budgeting or perhaps it was from the archaic 2-year contract cell phone model from the early 2000s. In either case, it's wrong. An investment implies a return on money. With electronics, it's at best a durable good. When you buy a new phone it's worth as much as it'll ever be worth. It will continue to depreciate until it is worth nothing. Because of that, my personal goal with electronics is to not spend a lot of money on them. I think of cell phones kind of like I think of bananas. Don't spend too much, and replace as often as necessary.

This model works for me. It doesn't work for everyone. I understand that.

I get that you're comparing your LG GD880 to the Haier W910 based on your own personal experience. It's a valid comparison with good considerations. That said, the phone market has changed a LOT since those days (2010). I suspect you'll be pretty happy with any of the reputable, modern budget phones. As of this year, they all come in as significant powerhouses compared to the budget phones of yesteryear.

All that said, it still boils down to what's most important to you. Size? Power? Cost? If it were me in the same market, I'd keep my eyes open for a small (4.7 - 5.0 inch) phone with a solid (30k+ antutu) benchmark score. For me personally, I'd want 16GB of storage 'cuz I *HATE* running out of space. 1GB/2GB/3GB of RAM would be fine -- more is better, but I'd take storage space and processing power over sheer RAM.

In any case, there are a ton of options. I hope you find something you're going to love.

Addendum. Gizbeat just did a spec review on the Blackview Alife P1 Pro. For a smallish budget phone, it might be one to keep an eye on.
http://www.chinaphonearena.com/forum/Thr...7#pid46107

[edcoolio]

This is a great discussion that brings up a lot of valid and important points.

Personally, I would also love to find a very small Android based decent spec device with a recent OS version. The truth is, it seems as if they just don't sell them.

As a heavy phone swapper, it would be nice to have another option in regards to size. Unfortunately, this may not matter for long as the industry is attempting to abolish SIM cards, removing the freedom to use whatever we want whenever we want..

[calypsos15]

I think it's pretty sweet that you know what you want. That puts you ahead of the game in a lot of aspects. Now it's just a matter of seeing what is available vs what you want, and making some decisions in priorities.

In regards to your thoughts on consumerism and buying a new phone every few years, I'd actually really like to hear your thought. It's always good to challenge the status quo. That's actually one of the things that led me here.

My version: Most people erroneously view expensive items as some kind of investment. They lie to themselves. The thought process is along the lines of, "Well, I only get to buy one of these once every several years so I'd better get a good one so it'll keep me happy that whole time. " Perhaps that train of thinking was derived from budgeting or perhaps it was from the archaic 2-year contract cell phone model from the early 2000s. In either case, it's wrong. An investment implies a return on money. With electronics, it's at best a durable good. When you buy a new phone it's worth as much as it'll ever be worth. It will continue to depreciate until it is worth nothing. Because of that, my personal goal with electronics is to not spend a lot of money on them. I think of cell phones kind of like I think of bananas. Don't spend too much, and replace as often as necessary.

This model works for me. It doesn't work for everyone. I understand that.

I get that you're comparing your LG GD880 to the Haier W910 based on your own personal experience. It's a valid comparison with good considerations. That said, the phone market has changed a LOT since those days (2010). I suspect you'll be pretty happy with any of the reputable, modern budget phones. As of this year, they all come in as significant powerhouses compared to the budget phones of yesteryear.

All that said, it still boils down to what's most important to you. Size? Power? Cost? If it were me in the same market, I'd keep my eyes open for a small (4.7 - 5.0 inch) phone with a solid (30k+ antutu) benchmark score. For me personally, I'd want 16GB of storage 'cuz I *HATE* running out of space. 1GB/2GB/3GB of RAM would be fine -- more is better, but I'd take storage space and processing power over sheer RAM.

In any case, there are a ton of options. I hope you find something you're going to love.

Addendum. Gizbeat just did a spec review on the Blackview Alife P1 Pro. For a smallish budget phone, it might be one to keep an eye on.
http://www.chinaphonearena.com/forum/Thr...7#pid46107

I checked out the Blackview phone, it looks really good. The screen-to-body ratio was a bit low and so is the resolution considering the amazing things to come.

I have my eye on the Lenovo Vibe X2 Pro, but I don't know where I can buy one online. I guess 5" phones are okay if they are light and thin. Other options I've narrowed down include the Xiaomi Mi4i and Huawei Honor 6, or the Meizi MX5 32GB if it is cheaper since it doesn't have a card slot.

I pretty much agree with you about buying smartphones. You have good ideas on phones, i might need to adapt some of them as I try to find this phone. Alas and since you asked...


Phones, or any electronics, are like new cars once rolled off the lot - they will not increase in value (rare exceptions excluded). On top of that, I am turned off by all the dirty tricks that companies pull, i.e, planned obsolescence; slight incremental technological advancements mixed with wizardly marketing ploys; consumerism/capitalism LOL. I'm being forced to buy what I don't need.

And people are isolating themselves in their technologies instead of hanging out/talking to each other. I've decided that my material objects will be tools against foreseen problems expected in the next half-decade or so. I won't let Facebook, chat rooms, etc, create the very problems for me that technology is trying to "defeat" for everyone. And that's why I like Chinese phones too, because they are taking away (not really by choice but because of the imbalance in global economics) the elitism of huge companies like Sony, Samsung, Apple etc, and putting people on a more equal field somehow eventually. Hope I didn't get too off track.

I've been using a tablet for the past two years for some critical apps like free long-distance calling, ip camera viewing, gps navigation. I've always followed the pace of electronics.

On a side note, I've read that sometimes there are "Chinese" version phones that have been converted to work in the international arena; and then there's the "International" phone, which is good for non-China living people because it readily accepts Google Play, etc. I'm afraid of buying a converted "Chinese" only phone. These Chinese websites, maybe they'll sell me a "China" phone!
Cheers

---

This is a great discussion that brings up a lot of valid and important points.

Personally, I would also love to find a very small Android based decent spec device with a recent OS version. The truth is, it seems as if they just don't sell them.

As a heavy phone swapper, it would be nice to have another option in regards to size. Unfortunately, this may not matter for long as the industry is attempting to abolish SIM cards, removing the freedom to use whatever we want whenever we want..

Hey man if you find one please let me know too. My 5 year old LG GD880 has like a 3" screen but the PPI is like 306. Almost everything under 5" now is much less than 300, what's up with that!

[WuddaWaste]

Thanks for your thoughts, @calypsos15 . You seem like the kind of dude I would love to sit down and have coffee with one day. (You too, @edcoolio !) It's an interesting discussion to see where and how we prioritize technology like this, since we really are the first generation to have this kind of power readily available. It has the capacity to be as destructive as it is helpful.

After reading your examples for phones, I was perusing a bit more and couldn't help but notice the Oppo R7 as well. It's in pre-sale right now, but it might be one to keep your eye on. The specs look promising and the footprint looks small. Here's the link I found just to take a gander:
http://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_226194.html