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Affordable way to test Android?

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Sdreed91

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 10, 2011
263
0
After using the Google Inbox app beta it has really gotten me interested in Android. However, I just got my iPhone 6 about a month ago can anyone recommend a cheap or affordable way to play with Android lollipop? Being they do not offer an iPod touch style device I do not know where to turn.

Thank you!
 
iBlazed

iBlazed

macrumors 68000
Feb 27, 2014
1,594
1,249
New Jersey, United States
Lollipop might be a challenge. Even the cheapest budget phones pretty much max out at Kit Kat at this point with no updates guaranteed. Have you considered a used Nexus 5? Or a used nexus 7 tablet? I completely understand your android curiosity though, I have a cheap android phone and a Nokia Lumia windows phone in addition to my iPhone 6. This is the Android phone I went with.
 
JaySoul

JaySoul

macrumors 68030
Jan 30, 2008
2,629
2,865
Best thing to do is pick up a Moto G.

If I were you, get the 2013 Moto G on eBay. It's a great little phone and will be getting Lollipop soon!

Should cost you very little. Or just buy a brand new 2014 Moto G, still cheaper than an iPod Touch if I remember correctly.

If I ever go back to iPhone (might do in a year or two) then I'd definitely keep something like a Moto G around.
 
Lloydbm41

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
Sdreed91 said:
After using the Google Inbox app beta it has really gotten me interested in Android. However, I just got my iPhone 6 about a month ago can anyone recommend a cheap or affordable way to play with Android lollipop? Being they do not offer an iPod touch style device I do not know where to turn.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Here ya go: Nexus 4 and 7 (older models and refurbs) bundle for $159. About as cheap a deal you are gonna get. (Both are now running Lollipop btw)

Link: http://www.androidauthority.com/crazy-deal-nexus-4-nexus-7-bundle-low-159-99-569559/
 
TacticalDesire

TacticalDesire

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2012
2,286
23
Michigan
Moto G 2014. Already has Lollipop and is less than $200. No other real option at this time. Nexus 4 would also be a decent choice but battery life is poor.
 
S

Sdreed91

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 10, 2011
263
0
Thanks everyone for the help! I think I'm going to aim for the Nexus 5
 
MRU

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
Affordable way to test Android?

Moto G,

But....... If you just want to just try more of Google apps / services like inbox app - most are actually available on iOS anyway.

Hangouts, Google Maps, Google Play Music, Google Play Books, Google Search with now card integration, Gmail, YouTube, Google News & Weather, Chrome, Google Earth, Google +, Google Translate, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, etc ....

To be honest pretty much all the Google services you would use on an android device other than play store.

If you really just want to experience Android as a mobile OS, go for the Moto G. Even the 2013 model will get Lollipop shortly (it's starting to roll out).

Whatever you do, do not buy other budget androids from manufacturers as they tend to be dog slow, underpowered, overworked, lack memory (ram & rom).
 
DeathTheKid

DeathTheKid

macrumors member
Aug 12, 2013
77
1
Genymotion or Virtualbox

Look up Genymotion. It is an Android emulation that is pretty fast and can run Play Store apps. You can run it on your desktop and it's free. You could also use Virtualbox and download an Android ISO. If anything, stay away from Google's Android emulator. It is sloooooowwww.
 
Menel

Menel

Suspended
Aug 4, 2011
6,351
1,356
Sdreed91 said:
After using the Google Inbox app beta it has really gotten me interested in Android. However, I just got my iPhone 6 about a month ago can anyone recommend a cheap or affordable way to play with Android lollipop? Being they do not offer an iPod touch style device I do not know where to turn.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Moto E is cheap. Less than an iPod Touch.
 
iBlazed

iBlazed

macrumors 68000
Feb 27, 2014
1,594
1,249
New Jersey, United States
I hereby retract my recommendation for the BLU phone. The battery life was horrific and I don't trust them with update support. They don't have a proven track record and the "tech support" seemed to have no clue what I was talking about when I called to ask. I returned it to amazon and ordered a Moto G 2nd generation. There's already an official Lollipop update from Motorola, so I trust them in that aspect, and I'm hoping for good battery life. For $70 more, it was a no brainer.
 
C

cdmoore74

macrumors 68020
Jun 24, 2010
2,413
711
This thread made me laugh. I bought a Moto E for $10 from Walmart 2 days ago. Just couldn't pass up a purchase so cheap. I already have a Note 4 but figured that for $10 I will use it as a gps unit on my Motocycle or workout mp3 player.
Just check out slickdeals. I even got a LG L90 for $50 and I considered that cheap.
 
A

AppleRobert

macrumors 603
Nov 12, 2012
5,729
1,133
cdmoore74 said:
This thread made me laugh. I bought a Moto E for $10 from Walmart 2 days ago. Just couldn't pass up a purchase so cheap. I already have a Note 4 but figured that for $10 I will use it as a gps unit on my Motocycle or workout mp3 player.
Just check out slickdeals. I even got a LG L90 for $50 and I considered that cheap.
Click to expand...

I would have scarfed up both of those myself with those prices.
 
TacticalDesire

TacticalDesire

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2012
2,286
23
Michigan
cdmoore74 said:
This thread made me laugh. I bought a Moto E for $10 from Walmart 2 days ago. Just couldn't pass up a purchase so cheap. I already have a Note 4 but figured that for $10 I will use it as a gps unit on my Motocycle or workout mp3 player.
Just check out slickdeals. I even got a LG L90 for $50 and I considered that cheap.
Click to expand...

$10? Prepaid promotion or something?
 
bmxracer

bmxracer

macrumors member
Apr 19, 2014
75
1
I think the one they had the other day for $10 dollars was a straight talk one.
 
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