Cheap Android phone(ATT) for development purposes (used is fine)

[Leros]

I have an iPhone that I'm very happy with, but I need an Android phone for development purposes (class project). I don't have a lot of money to spend.

Obviously I can search Craigslist for used phones, which is fine. New is great too.

I don't pay attention to phones, so I'm not really sure what to be looking for. Any ideas as to what kind of used Android phones would be best to look for?

 

[zerocool84]

Any that's not Samsung.

 

[Leros]

Any that's not Samsung.

I thought the Samsung S models were the best ones available now? (Like I said, I know very little about these phones).

 

[zerocool84]

I thought the Samsung S models were the best ones available now? (Like I said, I know very little about these phones).

They are buggy and don't even have close to the latest OS. The only good one is the Nexus S which is made by Samsung but it's not going to be that cheap and if you want a cheap phone maybe pick up something like the LG Optimus phones. They're low end phones and you can get them for cheap.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Are you developing a game? If you're don't need the 3D capabilities, you could just target the Android emulator in the SDK.

 

[Leros]

Are you developing a game? If you're don't need the 3D capabilities, you could just target the Android emulator in the SDK.

Not a game, but I need the camera and GPS capabilities. Doesn't seem like the emulator will be good enough for me.

 

[sciwizam]

Not a game, but I need the camera and GPS capabilities. Doesn't seem like the emulator will be good enough for me.

LG Optimus V from Virgin Mobile, no contract price is $150. Froyo (Android 2.2), GPS and 3.2M camera.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LG_Optimus_One_P500#LG_Optimus_V_-_VM670_-_Virgin_Mobile_USA

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

pick up a cheap HTC Desire? or Nexus One.

the Nexus S won't have 3G bands and that's kinda a waste.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

They are buggy and don't even have close to the latest OS. The only good one is the Nexus S which is made by Samsung but it's not going to be that cheap and if you want a cheap phone maybe pick up something like the LG Optimus phones. They're low end phones and you can get them for cheap.

The Vibrant, Epic and Captiavte are all on Android 2.2 just like HTC and Motorola's top phones.

The Captivate is on AT&T and as their only good android phone until very recently there seem to be a decent number of them floating around. The Vibrant (TMobile) will also work on At&t if you find an unlocked one but it won't have access to 3g.

 

[zerocool84]

The Vibrant, Epic and Captiavte are all on Android 2.2 just like HTC and Motorola's top phones.

The Captivate is on AT&T and as their only good android phone until very recently there seem to be a decent number of them floating around. The Vibrant (TMobile) will also work on At&t if you find an unlocked one but it won't have access to 3g.

Epic still doesn't have 2.2, it got pulled right when it was getting released.

 

[gsaldivar]

LG Optimus V from Virgin Mobile, no contract price is $150. Froyo (Android 2.2), GPS and 3.2M camera.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LG_Optimus_One_P500#LG_Optimus_V_-_VM670_-_Virgin_Mobile_USA

On sale this week for $129 at Best Buy :thumbsup:

 

[macwinlin]

Also for around $150 new is the T-Mobile Comet. But the LG Optimus V is a good choice if you can actually get one.

 

[Leros]

On sale this week for $129 at Best Buy :thumbsup:

Seems like the optimum deal. I might have to go check it out.

 

[dguy6789]

I think a used Nexus One would be excellent for development purposes. It's completely unlocked and usually gets the newest version of Android before most other phones. I haven't kept up with how much they go for used however.

 

[Deeko]

If you just want cheap, the HTC Aria and Motorola Backflip are both going for about $150 used on eBay. The Captivate is a much better phone, selling in the mid 200's on eBay. The Sony XPeria X10 is in the Captivate's realm, and is going for the low to mid 200s.

Frankly, for all the talk of "which phones get the latest updates", for actual development purposes, you're fine with an older phone. You want apps to be able to run on as many devices as possible.

 

[Leros]

If you just want cheap, the HTC Aria and Motorola Backflip are both going for about $150 used on eBay. The Captivate is a much better phone, selling in the mid 200's on eBay. The Sony XPeria X10 is in the Captivate's realm, and is going for the low to mid 200s.

Frankly, for all the talk of "which phones get the latest updates", for actual development purposes, you're fine with an older phone. You want apps to be able to run on as many devices as possible.

Yeah, cheap is good. I don't envision myself using this phone full time. Apple sucked me into the iPhone world and I can't escape.

$150 is really the max I want to spend.