If you’re looking for an inexpensive Android phone for doing development work or testing, or just as a phone, Motorola, my go-to vendor for inexpensive Android devices is having a Labor Day sale!
Here are three of the phones that are currently on sale that I think would be good for someone who wants to get started with Android development. Yes, you can always use an emulator, but there’s no substitute for developing and testing on an actual device.
All of these devices are fully unlocked, which means they’ll work on any carrier. Motorola don’t include much junkware on their phones — it’s as close to stock Android as you’re going to get without buying a Pixel. All were released this year.
Motorola’s G line has always been a reliable way to get mid-level features at a starter phone price. If you want to get a device that performs at the level of the typical Android phone for users who live outside the G7 bubble (and let’s face it, that’s most of the world), or need to provide a workforce with a mobile computing device, you want this one.
- Release date: January 14, 2021.
- OS: Android 10
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm). Here’s a list of phones that use this chipset.
- GPU: Adreno 610. Here’s a list of phones that use this GPU.
- Memory: 2 versions
- 3 GB RAM, 32 GB “disk”
- 4 GB RAM, 64 GB “disk”
- Main camera:
- Selfie camera:
- 8 megapixel sensor, f/2.0, 1.12µm
- Shoots 1080p video at 30 fps with gyro-EIS
- Battery: Li-PO 5000 mAh
At the current discount price of $250, the Moto G Stylus is the phone on this list that provides the best bang for the buck. As its name implies, it has a stylus, and if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the Galaxy Note line (and a much better choice than the LG Stylo), give this one a look.
- Release date: January 14, 2021.
- OS: Android 10
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 (11 nm). Here’s a list of phones that use this chipset.
- GPU: Adreno 612. Here’s a list of phones that use this GPU.
- Memory: 4 GB RAM, 128 GB “disk”
- Main camera:
- Selfie camera:
- 16 megapixel sensor, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06″, 1.0µm
- Shoots 1080p video at 30 fps with gyro-EIS
- Battery: Li-PO 4000 mAh
I’m including this phone in this list just to make this list of $500-and-lower phones complete. My personal recommendation is to pay $50 less and get the RedMagic 6R, which gives you Samsung Galaxy S21-level power.
At its normal price of $700, I’d say “no”, but at a $200 discount, I’d say “think about it”. You’re getting near-flagship level features at mid-level prices. This phone boasts a 144Hz screen refresh rate (good for gaming), a solid chipset, and cameras with great specs.
But still, I’d say that if you’re looking for maximum computing bang for the buck at this price point, you want the RedMagic 6R, which currently starts at $450.
- Release date: September 2, 2021.
- OS: Android 11
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm). Here’s a list of phones that use this chipset.
- GPU: Adreno 642L. Here’s a list of phones that use this GPU.
- Memory: 8 GB RAM, 256 GB “disk”
- Main camera:
- 108 megapixel wide sensor, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52″, 0.7µm, PDAF
- 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm, AF
- 2 megapixel depth sensor, f/2.4, (depth), 1.75µm
- Video:
- 4K at 30 fps
- 1080p at 30, 60 or 120 fps
- 720p at 960 fps
- Gyro-EIS
- Selfie camera:
- 32 megapixel sensor, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm
- Shoots 1080p video at 30 fps with gyro-EIS
- Battery: Li-PO 5000 mAh