[fiat_tarun]

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

Anybody in the forum has been using a flip phone (Samsung/Moto/others) as part of a two phone set up ? ...

I used a Flip4 along with my work iPhone13 for about 1.5 years. I am an Android person, so the Flip was my primary device. I absolutely loved the experience and it was such a conversation starter wherever you go.

While it was very pocketable, when folded it was thicker than a normal phone, so you need to account for that.

After a point of time, I realised opening the phone every time was getting too much and long term reliability of the screen was a concern basis experience from friends who had foldables. Of course current gen. flip phones have larger front screens and hence might need to be opened less.

Got a good resale price along with a deal on the Pixel 8 about a year back and now prefer a traditional compact phone.

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Pixel 8 was available at Flipkart for a few days at 45% discount, making even the 256gb version "affordable" at around 45k. I resisted the temptation,plus I still find it very hard to spend even that much on a phone!

Four Pixel models are available within Rs. 12,000 price range:

Pixel 7a: Rs. 28,000
Pixel 7: Rs. 30,500
Pixel 8a: Rs. 35,000
Pixel 8: Rs. 40,000

These 'a' models seem to be good value for money. Biggest difference is:

- Plastic body instead of metal (most of us put a case anyway)
- Smaller screen (which can actually be considered a positive)

'a' models might have lower spec camera hardware though.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Chroma and Reliance (as well as Flipkart) are now Google-approved suppliers. If and when I buy I would certainly check them out. Partly because it would be nice to walk into a store and walk out with a phone. Buying from anywhere else would not include any local warranty.

Interesting thing I learnt only a few days ago. The 8 screen is only very slightly bigger than the 8a, but the overall body size is smaller.

the plastic back of the a series is, in the opinion of many, better than the glass back that has become a necessary part of "flagship" phones. Crazy fashion, to unnecessarily make them more fragile!

[tbppjpr]

Google has extended the OS support for the Pixel 6 and 7 series by two more years. That means Pixel 6 series owners will get two more Android updates from here on.

Google's initial commitment was to release 3 years of OS updates along with security updates of 2 additional years. That way OS updates for Pixel 6/6 Pro OS have ended in 2024 with the release of Android 15. But now seems like Pixel 6/6Pro will get Android 16 and 17 as well. Pixel 7 series and Pixel 6a will get updates upto Android 18.

https://support.google.com/pixelphon...and-pixel-fold


Google also releases the Android QPR1 feature drop for Pixels.

80% battery charge limit is supposed to come with this QPR1 release.

December Pixel Feature Drop: Gemini Call Screen replies, Simple View, Identity Check, more

Android 15 QPR1 rolling out with December security update

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by tbppjpr

80% battery charge limit is supposed to come with this QPR1 release.

Still not there in Pixel 7a. Just installed the latest update.

[tbppjpr]

Originally Posted by shipnil

Still not there in Pixel 7a. Just installed the latest update.

Update all the play store apps and then restart the phone again. It will not show up with the first restart after the update. I got it after the second restart on my Pixel 6.

In the mean time the exposure and white balance controls are coming back on the main camera screen for quick control in Google Camera app.

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Chroma and Reliance...

Reliance Digital had better in-store discounts recently, and actual demo devices. Croma wanted me to pay before they retrieved one for me from their warehouse. No, thank you!

...the plastic back of the a series is, in the opinion of many, better than the glass back that has become a necessary part of "flagship" phones. Crazy fashion, to unnecessarily make them more fragile!

There used to be a time you could drop your Nokia brick from the first floor balcony, put the pieces back together and pretend nothing ever happened. Lord rest the poor sod in peace if one happened to be passing by underneath when said drop happened.

Now, the delicate glass sandwich darlings manifest an ugly scratch if you just look at them with anything less than 100% devotion. Drop one from a balcony, and you might as well save yourself the trouble checking because the two cardiac events that follow (#1 witnessing the damage, #2 getting a repair estimate) will likely be denied as a pre-existing condition by your health insurer (knowingly bought a phone made of glass).

Phones are meant to be things you carry everywhere, and a bump or drop or two should be par for the course, not 'prepare to sell the other kidney' events. No, wrapping a device that costs as much as a vital organ, in cheap bits of ugly plastic on each square millimeter is not the answer.

/rant

[procrj]

Originally Posted by tbppjpr

Pixel 7 series and Pixel 6a will get updates upto Android 18

This is good news. I don't need to think about a new phone for 3 more years

[am1m]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

There used to be a time you could drop your Nokia brick from the first floor balcony, put the pieces back together and pretend nothing ever happened.

This actually happened to my friend's phone, the legendary Nokia 6600- he dropped it from one floor up, inside a building, internal stairwell, straight drop to the ground floor lobby. We searched for and collected the 3-4 parts, put it together, no issues. My 6600 fell out of my pocket while riding, just put it together again and was fine!

And now, I've already replaced the front glass on my Samsung twice, at a total cost probably more than the original phone!

A small, tough Android phone, basic features, even with just a passable camera with just one rear lens will do. Any manufacturer willing to address this Luddite, non-selfie obsessed (and I guess minuscule, non-profitable) market segment?!

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by am1m

This actually happened to my friend's phone, the legendary Nokia...

Anyone who's owned a Nokia 33xx or 11xx series (or a Motorola of that era) has dropped their phone at least once from a height a modern phone would die just from the idea of the fall.

My first phone was a 3315, and it survived the trials and travails of a college-goer without complaint. My Pixel 4a isn't indestructible by any means, but 3 corners of the plastic back are cracked from falls a glass sandwich won't survive. To be fair, the camera bump corner is a design defect and would've cracked anyhow.

There is a market for no-fuss robust affordable devices, they just won't make them anymore because there's an entire multi-billion dollar industry built around 'protect your expensive babies'.

[Venkatesh]

OnePlus now offers a lifetime warranty on green line display issues.



Link

[IamNikhil]

Originally Posted by Venkatesh

OnePlus now offers a lifetime warranty on green line display issues.

Wish Samsung would take a leaf out of the OnePlus playbook! There are scores of customers harangued by Samsung when trying to resolve the green/pink line issues on their phones after a software update (myself included). On the other hand, when OnePlus faced backlash from customers because of this issue occurring in their devices, they proactively took steps to assuage the ruffled feathers.

[shipnil]

A query related to recently introduced feature 'Private Space' in Google Pixel devices.

Has anyone managed to install bank apps inside private space? I have tried with HDFC Bank and SBI Yono app and failed both times. The apps try to bind with device through sms verification but sms sending fails as the sms app is outside private space.

[SmartCat]

Those who have shortlisted CMF Phone 1:

CMF Phone 1 reportedly explodes in India killing one and injuring another person
https://www.91mobiles.com/hub/cmf-ph...ashtra-report/

ABP Majha reports that the CMF Phone 1 was purchased a little over a month ago.
The device is said to have exploded when its owner was riding a bike, though there’s no confirmation of this so far. The explosion reportedly resulted in the loss of control, unfortunately killing the owner. The other person has suffered serious injuries.

[nova.19_exe]

Originally Posted by SmartCat

CMF Phone 1 reportedly explodes in India killing one and injuring another person

From what I read, the explosion was due to post accidental phone impact on the road, causing damage to the battery, and exploding

Man, now I'm scared.. I'm gonna keep my phone in my bag next time I'm on a bike or something