Lesser known cell phones.

I am not a fan of the modern cell phone offers. In fact, I do not like being trapped into the quandary of Apple or Samsung. Both, in my experience and what I have used, are...less than par.

So, I have this weird thing of looking for the abnormal, or the lesser known cell phones. Granted, I have found several that are just out there price wise (Libre 5 being one example) but I have found many others that are hit or miss on my cell service.

Here are a few of the ones I have found: Light Phone; Punkt; Pine Phone; Wise Phone; Murena, etc.

My previous phone finally was giving up the ghost (yes, at the time I was trapped with a Samsung), and I was digging and looking for something outside the box.

I found it. It is a Doogee S41 with an unlocked an a custom Rom built on AOSP (basically the open source version of Android which, I know, Android is owned by Google).

This phone is pretty awesome and is a cross between the Light Phone, and a phone running Graphene. Built like a tank for sure.

The OS is really amazing as it does not have all the "smartphone" stuff, so I am very minimal, yet has what I need where I need it.

What do you all have?

 

I run a standard iPhone, but I did a deep dive into intrinsically safe devices at work. Most of the devices are very expensive but there is a surprising variety.

Take a few minutes and dive into that rabbit hole.

 

I have an IPhone 13 , my son has a Samsung .

 

I have done a little bit. For security, I believe IPhone was pretty high. For Anonymity, neither Apple or Google were really high, but Librem 5 was very high.

Perhaps you will know more than I do, but a phone itself is not the most secure form of communication, but some hardware and software changes can help. I believe I understood all of what I have read, but will do some more looking as I go. It is fun to read, but only when I have some time.

 

Ha, I just did that.
I Googled Doogee S41 just to see what it was.
Interesting, but reading the OP's description is like reading a foreign language to me.
I didn't know they existed...

DOOGEE Official Website & Mall | World Leading Rugged Phone Brand – doogee.com

I run an iPhone 15+, but I do know it listens to every word it hears, not just 'Hey Siri'..

 

I tried the Samsung, and I don't know if it is me, but the phone just would not work. It would freeze, not respond, respond in ways I didn't want it to, and just all around cause me heartburn trying to just keep it floating.

I Phone, as simple as the layout, it did't flow the way my mind works or how I think things should work.

Of course, this post, and all that I say is not to say anyone is wrong for using main line phones, so I hope everyone knows that. This is just wondering what else is out there that I may not be aware of.

 

I’ve heard Asus phones are pretty good

 

I do have the rugged phone, and yes, it is built hard. Sorry for the confusing OP.

Let me try to describe it. I am using the phone built on Android, but without a Play store or any app store, social medias, web browser, anything. The OS does allow me to do basic stuff on it but I have to pre-load them (my calendar that I share with the family being one of them). It does have texting, phone use, camera, etc. but I do not have email, web or anything that is "smart phone" like. So I have a small blend.

If I missed or still am not clear, please let me know where I am missing this, and I will fix it.

 

I looked at them, and they looked really good. But that was about the time I was looking at BlackBerry before they went to Android 10.

One big draw I had was to find a way to move away from the Google and Apple OS.

 

^This sounds like something my son would say.
I don't mean that as an insult, it's just the way his mind works.
I think he has run Droid phones over the years.
He does internet security for Toyota HQ.

Years ago my wife refused to get an iPhone even though I kept telling her it was easy to use.
She tried an Andriod, too complicated, she is inst tech savy.
Then she tired a Windows phone, would come to me for help and all I could do was google her issue.
She finally got an iPhone and has stuck with it.

 

Oh no, you're fine.
It's all the technical stuff I don't get.

 

No insult taken. It is how each mind works, and I know mine sometimes is not conducive to IPhones setup. Not sure why, just cannot get it. I know how my mind works, and I can sympathize with him. But, seeing as how he works security, he is far ahead of me in this sphere for sure.

Windows Phone is one I have not heard much about, and my wife runs a standard Android on a Motorola (I don't know which model). She thinks I am weird and waste my time with all of these off the wall phones, LOL!

But this phone just fits with how my mind thinks things should work. I can do special swipes to move screens, shift from one side to the other. The apps are not many so I am able to keep it organized and the layout easy.

My two negative-ish things I can say: 1. The texting app does not send large files. I may be able to send two pictures at a time, but that is it. Words have never had an issue. 2. the built in calendar just shows the dates. I cannot add anything or schedule anything to it, so I had to side load my calendar and it does work to share with my wife. That is the only real two things, but I am not missing the web, social media, or anything else like that.

 

Got ya. I know some, but I have a few friends who run circle around me. My eyes glass over, and they stop mid sentence and ask if I understood. Usually my response is, "Can I call with it?" LOL!

 

Yes. A job I had used something like it. As long as they run on 4G LTE, they work. The Punkt phone said it would, but it was not able to function well at all. Calls may or may not go through. Texts would be days late, if they ever came, etc.

But yes, that phone is awesome. I am not looking for a phone now, as the one I have is working (I would die if I said I wanted to buy another one this soon after getting the one I have!!!), and I am pretty happy with it. One of the last flips I had, and granted, I am very hard on things, the top part that flips open, the screen, I snapped it off . It was not on purpose, but I was using it and it caught on something and off it went!

 

Several of my friends say I am the only one they know that could destroy a CAT with a rubber mallet.

Yeah.

There is a reason I wear a G-Shock watch. First four hours I had already scratched the face. I have fried my computer twice, my wife's computer four times. I have gone through three desktops on top of that. Not to mention how many kids toys I wrecked trying to play with the kids, when they were little.

I have broken several pieces of jewelry of my wife's that she asked me to grab. I have gone through four or five wedding bands myself.

So...needless to say, if it is used, and tested, great. If it is new, should have a warranty. And if anyone wants to know if something will last, they usually let me handle it for a while .

Used computers with Linux is great because I can put that on any old used computer and not spend a fortune. Plus the OS is free.

 

2017 Motorola G5. Already owned by Chinese, yes Not super-paranoid, but camera app having difficulties starting up when there's no cell signal is very concerning.

I want a Linux phone with good camera. I'm a Linux kernel dev and can fix shit on my own, if I have access to source code and build system.

Also taking quality pictures when I'm out and enjoying the memories years later means a lot me. Cheaper offerings have a crappy main camera, unfortunately. I may bite a bullet and get a Librem 5 or something similar soon.

 

As a dev, have you looked at the Pine Phone? They say it is not ready for consumer use, but a power user would be good to go, I think.

The Librem 5 looks really good. Just too pricey on my end.

 

I'm not following. Is this more of a hardware post, OS or mix?

I once got interested in pairing Ubuntu Touch with a Pinephone but don't have the time to go down that path.

 

Yes, was looking at their Pro for a few years. Then it became totally obsolete =)

I can technically install a free Android version onto my old G5 and fix a few problems they have there, like bad battery efficiency. But the phone itself does not match my life style, so that would be time spent unwisely.

 

I guess mix. OS was kinda jumped into, and I am good with that. I was looking at hardware at the beginning and am interested in out of the way type phones. But OS is good because that adds variety to it as well.

I heard Ubuntu Touch was launching its own phone, then it was ending, but then it was being picked up again. Too much uncertainty for me and I know basic stuff, but not anything to fix problems if I run across them.

 

Wow, I didn't know their Pro was obsolete. I was watching it for a little, then just drifted elsewhere. Was looking for it to become more mainstream before jumping on it. Then I moved on and, well, here I am now.

 

My kid does IT security for a major university and he jokes about the new Apple ad saying Safari doesn't spy on you. They don't need to. The iphone does it for the browser.

 

That was my takeaway - too much uncertainty across OS and opensource HW. I'm proficient, but not at dev level, so that pushed me away on the whole idea.

For just a tough phone, I'd be looking at the flip offerings like above.

 

I heard that. The IPhone is SECURE. not PRIVATE. The emphasis is what I stress to my kids. My poor wife because now my kids are running Linux on their chrome books, and they want the same phone as me.

My wife just shakes her head, LOL.

 

I do like the looks of the flips that are built hard. I used to look at one made by CAT, I think, but then a long spell of other things, and just never went back to them.

The flip phones right now, I am afraid of due to how hard I am. I just could see it being snapped and then being out of the money!

An acquaintance of mine wanted me to carry their phone. It was the new Motorola flip, that folds on itself but is a smart phone.

I thanked them but then suggested I not. I could just see myself now, dropping it down the stairs, or on the tile, and then I am again buying a new phone. LOL.