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Comment by mdm_ | Hacker News Reader

I've been using Android since the HTC G1 and I'm planning to switch to the iPhone SE after Apple's rumoured March event where they are said to be introducing a 128gb model. I've had it with big phones and lack of OS updates (even on a current-gen flagship Galaxy S7). As far as I know, the only smallish Android phones available make huge sacrifices in performance and storage space, and if my S7 still doesn't have Nougat after 6 months, you can forget about some inexpensive small Android phone.

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I have a Sony Xperia Z5 Compact that just updated to Android 7.0. It's not 7.1 yet, but it's quite up to date. I think Sony updates their phones quite often.

Sony is one of the few Android vendors that mainlines the device drivers for their hardware, so you can reasonably build the newest AOSP version and go to 7.1 if you feel the inclination.

IIRC that excludes their custom camera software though, so the quality of your photos declines when you even do so much as root your phone.

How would rooting your phone (to be clear: enabling the ability to "su" to root, thus giving you full power over your system) screw your camera/image quality? I totally understand flashing 3rd Party ROMs where they can't speak to the hardware as well.

I'm not an expert, but it has something to do with rooting invalidating DRM keys. It was circumvented for the Z3C:

https://blog.al4.co.nz/2015/01/good-news-for-z3-compact-owne...

But it seems like it was a very deliberate choice by Sony.

I don't know who is in charge of Sony's smartphone business, but boy did they fucked up. What a confusing mess. Sony used to be a huge brand, innovative and look what happened.

I mean, they had everything; the design chops, the brand power, the tech, the Sony Stores, etc... Everybody knows the iPhone, Sams's Galaxy, LG G series, Moto phones, but Sony really failed to market their Xperia phones properly.

Just for fun, I went to Sony Canada's website to look at their phones and they have 21 models on the page. I'm not joking. https://www.sonymobile.com/ca-fr/products/phones/

I used that phone (the unlocked international w/ fingerprint scanner) for about a year, but the heat problems in the one I had left me helpless/incommunicado in a few inconvenient situations. Eventually preordered a Pixel and haven't looked back.

The only good Android phones I've used (and I've been using Android since the G1) have been ones Google had a hand in: Nexuses, the original Moto X, and the Pixel. The Sony came close, but the heat problems killed it for me.

I would still jump on a well done, small, Android phone.

If you're referring to the Z5C with the 810 I can tell you every phone that year with the 810 and some with the 808 ran very, very hot. Most companies ended up having the software throttle the processor to keep it from getting so hot. I've never used a sony personally but I hear lots of good things about them (except lack of models in the US).

I have a Z5 Compact as well. Nice little phone, and quite fast. However, I don't think that many developers test their apps on a sub-5" screen, because I've encountered issues with several apps where controls overlap. For example, in VLC's file list the context menu button overlaps with the invisible scroll bar track. It is easy to scroll accidentally. Amazon Music has exactly the same problem, too.

The Android ecosystem is difficult to recommend, and a small Android phone is even more difficult to recommend.

vlc ui is a mess regardless of screen size or even platform.

Also have this. Perfect size on this phone, and waterproof. Looks almost new after two years.

Realistically you can never expect updates from any non-nexus android phones. If you don't want an iphone (like me) and you want a phone that will get regular updates you have to get a nexus (or pixel now).

That's just untrue. Xiaomi ships weekly or bi-weekly updates that include Android security patches.

But is Xiaomi available in the US and what is version is their is based on?

I haven't seen an authorized seller for Xiaomi and I was under the impression that they are still using marshmallow or earlier. Also all their phones are 4.5"+ which is much larger than the comparably compact SE.

I'd love to get a xiaomi phone (esp. based on the price and alleged build quality) but it's just not worth the tradeoffs.

Xiaomi can be used in the US if you get it shipped over, but it's hard to find the right band coverage for the best experience.

I found that despite not always being on the latest version of Android, they had enough polish and stability on their OS to make it worth being a version behind. I used their ROMs back before they made hardware, and if there was ever a bug, it was usually fixed within a week (or at least acknowledged).

And I agree, I'd love for Xiaomi to sell phones, but like everyone else is stating, the iPhone SE is arguably one of the best compact phones. I hope to have mine for many years.

A very happy xiaomi note 4 user here; have switched from nexus (after battery on three nexus phones in my family became unsuable 2 hours of charge ...); I thought I'd miss nexus more; but xiaomi has been great.

To make sure that phone's frequency will work: https://www.frequencycheck.com/

Listings of great phone: https://www.kimovil.com/en/

One plus is also very consistent with updates.

One plus 3 owner here. Received nougat back in December and 3 additional updates since. For a fairly cheap phone I'm surprised with their commitment to software updates.

they also had the OnePlus X which was OPO hardware crammed into a smaller form factor. I would have loved to migrate from my OPO to that but alas they don't make the X anymore.

Have to say, I'm on a very budget, old Moto 3G and I still get regular updates.

BlackBerry's android phones (Priv and the DTEK series) get monthly security updates. They do lag behind in the major version updates though.

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