Today Google announced that it has officially expanded Android One to Turkey. The launch represents the program’s debut in Europe, and brings the total count (so far) to seven countries. Android One, which Google unveiled last September, aims to spread affordable smartphones throughout the developing world. The devices run a close-to-stock version of Android, though up until now the hardware has been somewhat underwhelming.
Do we have an Indian readers with Android One devices? How has the experience been?
It seems a little worse than a Nexus 5 but with better cameras.
I’ve been using the Micromax A1 for a few months now (since mid Jan’15) and have to say it’s awesome.
Can the HW specs get better … absolutely … but for my usage ie. Chrome, WhatsApp, Gmail, Youtube, FM, Calls, Dual-SIM etc. the A1 more than holds it’s own.
Even the update to Android 5.1 seems really smooth. I was afraid that like my N7 (2012) … putting 5.1 would slow this thing down to a crawl. But that hasn’t happened.
All in all, I think Google is on to something here with the Android One program.
Regarding the 2012 N7, the performance problems are not at all generally related to Android updates, but rather to Asus cutting corners and using some low-quality flash storage which slows down to unbearable level after some time.
Everyone’s 2012 N7 has the same issue eventually, and no matter the tricks (clearing cache, using a specialized flash-optimized filesystem, reinstalling ROMs, different ROMs, etc), it always slows right back down to unbearable.
My N7 has sat unused for months now, I don’t even want to try selling it because I would feel bad about giving these troubles to someone else…
Although I technically agree, there is no denying the problem is much worse with Android 5.x then it ever was with 4.4. When downgrading to a factory image of 4.4 performance comes back to ‘acceptable levels’, instead of the dog-slow 5.x performance.
Again, I agree with it having to do with cheaper/older/crappier flash storage, but the difference in performance hit between <5.0 and >=5.0 _is_ very noticeable….
It is unbelievable how much slower the N7 2012 feels with Lollipop. It has sunk from fine to almost unusable.
The N7 2012 has always had POS Wifi, but the behavior with Lollipop is intolerable. Connections show very low signal strength and continually drop out, to come back only after a minute, while my cellphone enjoys a perfect connection in exactly the same conditions.
Edited 2015-05-13 08:00 UTC
Have you tried changing /data to f2fs? Some people say that it makes a lot of difference. I used it in my Asus TF700T and it improved quite a bit.
Edited 2015-05-13 12:08 UTC
give me the Moto E LTE
(well no need, I’ve already got it)
It’s half the price and works really well.
I thought Android One was all about affordable phones? Seems to me that Motorola does a better job…
Yep! Motorola seems to be better choice.
Turkey is not part of Europe.(!?)
Edit: My geography knowledge is sub par. Istanbul seems to be part of Europe.
Edited 2015-05-13 08:48 UTC
because of the funny history of the region you’re not a total asshole for thinking that
Turkey and Russian Federation are two “countries” (is that the correct term for Russia these days?) that are located within two continents.
Well Australia isn’t, but that hasn’t stopped anyone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Conte…
This is One to avoid, so to speak.
There is no shortage of value smartphones in third world countries. Usually rebranded Chinese phones like Micromax and Gionee in India. The only advantage of Android One would be stock Android and updates directly from Google HQ.