[Q] Cheapest Windows Phone 8 Handset for Development - Windows Phone 8 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Does anyone have any idea which may be the cheapest second hand Windows Phone 8 compatible handset on the market? I'm having trouble searching for something so specific!
Looking to develop and would very much like to use a physical handset rather than the emulator.
Regards, Daniel.

dfrear said:
Does anyone have any idea which may be the cheapest second hand Windows Phone 8 compatible handset on the market? I'm having trouble searching for something so specific!
Looking to develop and would very much like to use a physical handset rather than the emulator.
Regards, Daniel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lumia 620 would be nice. Next in line is Lumia 820 followed by the ATIV S.

mcosmin222 said:
A lumia 620 would be nice. Next in line is Lumia 820 followed by the ATIV S.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers - looks like I should be able to pick one up reasonably cheap too

The Ativ S is one of the "flagship" models with top-end specs; you can buy a Lumia 520 brand new for cheaper than the cheapest used Ativ S I found online.
That said, the Attiv S is a sweet phone if you can afford it. Biggest screen and largest battery of any WP8 device, and the only one with both dual-core 1.5GHz CPU and a microSD slot.

GoodDayToDie said:
The Ativ S is one of the "flagship" models with top-end specs; you can buy a Lumia 520 brand new for cheaper than the cheapest used Ativ S I found online.
That said, the Attiv S is a sweet phone if you can afford it. Biggest screen and largest battery of any WP8 device, and the only one with both dual-core 1.5GHz CPU and a microSD slot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ativ S has the weird 720p resolution that lumia 820 is lacking. Other than that, for a developer point of view, the two are identical.

I guess it will be the Lumia 520...
Sent from my GT-S5660 using xda premium

Huawei Ascend W1

If you don't need the full gig of RAM (which will limit apps a bit), the Lumia 520/521 or Huawei phones are probably the cheapest options. If you want to investigate deeper hacks into the OS, then the Huawei Ascend W1 is possibly the best bet right now; it's the only phone with a public "jailbreak".

If you are in UK the 8S and 8X are cheap as hell. So are the Lumias. Most if not all WindowsPhones are cheap as...
Sent from my HTC One S using xda premium

Thanks for the input guys, I'll go through eBay and see what I can find.

Related

[q] htc hd7s

Currently I have a Samsung GSII but I want to get back to WP7, I was going to wait for the WP7 version of the GSII but I did like my HD7.
I was thinking about trying to pick up an HD7S on ebay and use it in the UK (Vodafone UK) however I was wondering if you guys could run me through a few pit falls.
Will it actually work on the Vodafone network?
Can I unlock the phone if needs be?
Is it possible for me just to put a total generic ROM on the phone so there is no AT&T branding, will I run into problems?
I know these may sounds like daft questions but I have never purchased a phone from the states and I'm not sure about the network bands, etc.
Many thanks for the help guys, hope to be back in the fold soon
Since you are coming from the Samsung GSII you might want to wait and pick up the Samsung Focus S that coming soon. The Focus S is a follow-up to the original Samsung Focus, featuring a large 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus panel , 1.4GHz processor and is just one-third of an inch thick. You get a 1.3MP front-facing camera and 8MP rear-facing.
Basicly a SGSII with WP7.5.
I myself was hoping to get this or the HTC Titan (It has a 4.7 inch S-LCD screen making it the largest available on any Windows Phone. The HTC Titan also has a 1.5GHz processor with 512MB RAM, 16GB internal memory, and 8MP rear and 1.3MP FFC.) but they are both going to AT&T and I'm on T-Mobile.
I was thinking about waiting for that but I'm not sure if it will be released in the UK (I'm sure it will) plus I'm not sure about pricing, I know I could sell my SGII now, get an HD7 (S or non S model) and have a bit of cash in my pocket).
I might just sell the SGII now and use an old... HTC Desire (or SE K850) for the next few months...
Dont get the S... you will be stuck on EDGE as AT&T use a different frequency (1900mhz?) to UK carriers for 3G/HSPA (2100mhz).
EDGE is painful.
Well I sold my SG2 and have been using an old htc desire and I'm liking the smaller screen so i have gone for an omnia 7 (16gb), I like the screen size being between the desire and hd7. With the cash left over I may put it towards a Sony tablet s
I would suggest you wait for the new phones coming out instead of going for the already released WP7 devices, reason being atleast they will be a bit future proof.
I had an HD7 and then went for a SGS2, but because HD7 has no front facing camera I will miss out on the kinet features on mango, so I am waiting for either Nokia WP7 ( as I still feel nokia has the best hardware) or get one of the New HTC devices with WP7.
I have already the RTM MANGO and boy it rocks, currently can't make up my mind between the HD7 and SGS2

[NEWS] HTC Schubert TMO US has been EOL'd on 17 Dec 11

source WMPowerUser.
T-Mobile has gotten rid of its last large-screened Windows Phone 7 handset, effectively leaving prospective Windows Phone 7 buyers with currently only the choice of the HTC Radar or in the near future the Nokia Lumia 710.
Rightly or wrongly, buyers associate large screens with high end devices, effectively meaning if you want a high-end handset the only choice is to go to AT&T, where the 4.3 inch Samsung Focus S or 4.7 inch HTC Titan can be purchased for considerably more of course.
The same issue exists on Verizon with the HTC Trophy and Sprint with the HTC Arrive.
While we recognize Microsoft’s decision to attack the low-end high volume value segment of the market with Windows Phone 7, not having high-end hero devices available on the same network will do real damage to the brand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw this. I'm hoping it means something bigger or similar is on its way in the near future. Smaller than 4" just doesn't do it for me. I'm hoping Titan or Nokia 900. Either would make this ending acceptable.
Fortunately, I have the HD7 and I'm still loving it. I would consider the Titan for its front-facing camera and higher quality sound for my mp3's. I always wondered who decides what model goes where. It seems AT&T is getting most of the phones. If Windows Phone is expected to take off, the people need to see options. Microsoft, please give us options!
I'd also like to see more options also. I just recently bought an HD7 on ebay because I was curious to see how windows evolved since the days of the Wing which had windows mobile 6 professional (which was pretty terrible in my opinion). I've had my Sensation since it came out in June and was getting bored so I wanted to try a windows phone again and boy is it different. Overall, I think I like it though. Maybe I'll buy another someday. But not if the only phone t-mobile is offering with WP7 is the radar. I'm not a fan of white phones at all.
patience lad....don't do anything stupid !
2012 is the year of Windows Phone's
PS: Can you quote the video game reference above ??
backlashsid said:
patience lad....don't do anything stupid !
2012 is the year of Windows Phone's
PS: Can you quote the video game reference above ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
20XX is the year of the PS3. lol

Nexus 7 ($250) vs IdeaPad A2107 ($230)

There is still a Nexus 7 vs IdeaPad A2109 running,
but now that the A2107 is available (at least in some Asian countries)
it seems more logical to compare the Nexus 7 with this other 7" tablet rather than with the 9" one.
The A2107 in Hong-Kong is today at 3/4 price of A2109.
It should make the 16 GB version at about $225 in USA while the Nexus 7 is $249 .
A2107 details: lenovo.co.uk , including 3G and microSD port
A preview can be found on trustedreviews.com or asking Google
More pictures on China Lenovo propotion page : http://shop.lenovo.com.cn/promotion/a2107
Oukiva said:
There is still a Nexus 7 vs IdeaPad A2109 running,
but now that the A2107 is available (at least in some Asian countries)
it seems more logical to compare the Nexus 7 with this other 7" tablet rather than with the 9" one.
The A2107 in Hong-Kong is today at 3/4 price of A2109.
It should make the 16 GB version at about $225 in USA while the Nexus 7 is $249 .
A2107 details: lenovo.co.uk , including 3G and microSD port
A preview can be found on trustedreviews.com or asking Google
More pictures on China Lenovo propotion page : http://shop.lenovo.com.cn/promotion/a2107
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the baby - the Lenovo A2107 - in my hands at the moment... It's quite a nice piece of hardware... Quite responsive, web browsing with the stock browser is fine, videos are played correctly...
The slate fits quite nicely in the hands... The size is quite close from my GTab 7", just a bit slimmer.
The display is good, good enough to read a pdf on the go (I don't really like tabs to read ebooks for a long time). I haven't seen the Nexus yet, but I feel that, with proper resellers, it could find its way to a number of homes...
I'd easily get used to it... Too bad it's not mine...
Considering my screen decided to crack without me throwing it against the wall or dropping it or anything like that, I'm looking at alternatives to the Nexus 7 now since I'm not sure ASUS will own up to their obvious design flaw that caused the issue. The only thing that catches my eye is the processor. Is it a dual core or quad core? I'm having trouble finding definitive references to it online. I'd assume at that price it'd be a dual, but who knows... and the resolution is a little :/ but other than that the rest of it is enticing.
Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 specs:
http://device.androidcommunity.com/ideatab-a2107-3183/
Video hands-on:
The A2107 is a successor to 1107, and has similar specs & pricing. The main hook is its built-in 3G and dual-SIM support, which matters more for regions outside of the US. Otherwise, features and specs are lackluster, with MediaTek MTK6575 SoC and 1024x600 TN LCD, and aren't competitive with the Nexus 7.
e.mote said:
Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 specs:
http://device.androidcommunity.com/ideatab-a2107-3183/
Video hands-on:
The A2107 is a successor to 1107, and has similar specs & pricing. The main hook is its built-in 3G and dual-SIM support, which matters more for regions outside of the US. Otherwise, features and specs are lackluster, with MediaTek MTK6575 SoC and 1024x600 TN LCD, and aren't competitive with the Nexus 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's a severe bummer.
e.mote said:
Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 specs:
Otherwise, features and specs are lackluster, with MediaTek MTK6575 SoC and 1024x600 TN LCD, and aren't competitive with the Nexus 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not competitive? Depends...
The processor is maybe not the one of the Nexus 7 but the same we find in the Samsung Galaxy Note and all reviews said this phone/tablet was really responsive.
The screen is maybe not the excellent one of the Nexus 7 but is a good one. Not every one is fan of these high resolutions. For me it's mean I having to zoom most of the time on Nexus 7 to be able to read...
Final point is that the 3G Nexus 7 will be probably 40% or $100 more expensive that this model and will still not have microSD.
Not such a bad choice.
After hearing about these Lenovo tablets and having my Nexus 7 screen randomly crack without dropping I decided to look further into a Nexus 7 replacement. Here are the two ultimate bummers I've found about these Lenovo tablets.
2107 = dual core, not quad core
2109 = quad core, but TN panel
Maybe I'm just severely spoiled, but really? A TN panel in a brand new 2012 tablet?
LENOVO Idea Pad A2107A - A lot of questions ??? Please help me !!!
hello,
i bought the new lenovo ideapad a2107a in germany last week.
unfortunately there is no good support by lenovo until now.
i want to buy the original case shown on lenovo us website but can´t find it on web.
where can i buy it ???
another question is, i read about a build in fm-radio at the tablet, but i can´t find the way to switch it on.
can anybody help me ?
and i don´t understand why there are 2 sim slots for 3g / gsm. is there any telephon function too ?
i hope there is somebody who can help me ?
where can i find a manual and description which shows me all functions ?
thank you and best wishes
herbert
N7, FTW!
Pure Google just can't be beaten, especially for Those of us that like to tinker!
Oukiva said:
Not competitive? Depends...
The processor is maybe not the one of the Nexus 7 but the same we find in the Samsung Galaxy Note and all reviews said this phone/tablet was really responsive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 2107 has a single core MediaTek 1GHz CPU. The Galaxy Note has a 1.4GHz dual core Exynos. I don't know how crappy the MediaTek is (never even heard of it before) but my gut tells me there is a world of difference between that 1GHz single core and the 1.4GHz dual core SoCs.
Oukiva said:
The screen is maybe not the excellent one of the Nexus 7 but is a good one. Not every one is fan of these high resolutions. For me it's mean I having to zoom most of the time on Nexus 7 to be able to read...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When we complain about the Nexus 7 screen, it's usually in relation to other high end IPS displays. However even with is substandard color quality, the Nexus 7 IPS display at 1280x800 is going to be a LOT better looking than a TN 1024x600 display.
And you have it backwards. Higher resolution displays mean you don't have to zoom in more to read. Lower resolution means the text is less clear forcing you to do the zooming more often.
Oukiva said:
Final point is that the 3G Nexus 7 will be probably 40% or $100 more expensive that this model and will still not have microSD.
Not such a bad choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may not be a bad deal if you have to have 3G on your tablet for $230 (or something). This is going to be a small number of people. Most could probably just tether with a phone and save money on the extra data plan.
But this is a pretty low end tablet and not even in the same ballpark as a Nexus 7. I can't imagine why anyone would want this, except for the possible need for 3G on a very cheap tablet.
---------- Post added at 01:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:36 PM ----------
JaSauders said:
2107 = dual core, not quad core
2109 = quad core, but TN panel
Maybe I'm just severely spoiled, but really? A TN panel in a brand new 2012 tablet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I was able to dig up, the 2107 isn't even dual core, it's a single core. And a TN panel on a tablet is an instant deal breaker.
JaSauders said:
After hearing about these Lenovo tablets and having my Nexus 7 screen randomly crack without dropping I decided to look further into a Nexus 7 replacement. Here are the two ultimate bummers I've found about these Lenovo tablets.
2107 = dual core, not quad core
2109 = quad core, but TN panel
Maybe I'm just severely spoiled, but really? A TN panel in a brand new 2012 tablet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ten panel isn't as bad as you think. Still 170 ppi and decent colors. Just the viewing angles is all. Which isn't as bad since its not like you'll be frequently looking at it from an angle. Plus your friends won't be able to see what you're doing, which can be good lol
Sent from my IdeaTabA2109A using xda app-developers app
Hard to argue against a Nexus tablet IMO, unless the other tablet being compared is just as powerful but somehow a lot cheaper.
lag
Its just me or some1 else saw a lag when the guy rotate the screen? (creepy)
CWM/CM?
Is there any chance to run CyanogenMod 9+ on this marvel?
I've seen a post about a port of CM on Lenovo tablet, but I fear it's for a different unit.
Any other info?
how is the camera? [email protected]
nioupy said:
I got the baby - the Lenovo A2107 - in my hands at the moment... It's quite a nice piece of hardware... Quite responsive, web browsing with the stock browser is fine, videos are played correctly...
The slate fits quite nicely in the hands... The size is quite close from my GTab 7", just a bit slimmer.
The display is good, good enough to read a pdf on the go (I don't really like tabs to read ebooks for a long time). I haven't seen the Nexus yet, but I feel that, with proper resellers, it could find its way to a number of homes...
I'd easily get used to it... Too bad it's not mine...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried the rear camera? Is it Autofocus? I'm looking to get one and use if for detailed fairly close-up shots. I just got a Galaxy Tab 2; the camera is fixed focus and not good at all for anything close up. Also, the Tab 2 does not allow programs/aps on the miniSD card. How about the speakers and the battery so far? thanks!
Google update, always the nexus...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
OP should update the prices to reflect the current 32/16 gig N7 pricing.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
i got the lenovo for 200€
screen is good, gps responsive, wifi reception great.
it handles lag free, besides when rotating screens. dual sim is a nice touch. would buy it again any day.
Sent from my IdeaTab A2107A-H using xda app-developers app
ps: rooten is easy too. just did a repost over there. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2005349
valravn said:
i got the lenovo for 200€
screen is good, gps responsive, wifi reception great.
it handles lag free, besides when rotating screens. dual sim is a nice touch. would buy it again any day.
Sent from my IdeaTab A2107A-H using xda app-developers app
ps: rooten is easy too. just did a repost over there. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2005349
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed only needs a fix for rotating screens otherwise very good
Sent from my IdeaTab A2107A-F using xda app-developers app
Ps feel free to check out my thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2067791

[Q] Are there any new W8 phones coming up?

Hi,
Well i'm looking into a new phone and the windows 8 looks awesome, really- blew my away.
Now, I found the Lumia 1520 and liked it a lot, the problem is the screen, too big.
5.2" is the maximum for me after a big stratch (I'm used to a 3.5" Iphone 4 screen), and 6" is huge.
The ones that are under the 1520 don't have such good specs so I din't like them much.
Are there any upcoming windows 8 phones with good specs and normal screen?
Thanks!
ChromeS said:
Hi,
Well i'm looking into a new phone and the windows 8 looks awesome, really- blew my away.
Now, I found the Lumia 1520 and liked it a lot, the problem is the screen, too big.
5.2" is the maximum for me after a big stratch (I'm used to a 3.5" Iphone 4 screen), and 6" is huge.
The ones that are under the 1520 don't have such good specs so I din't like them much.
Are there any upcoming windows 8 phones with good specs and normal screen?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung is rumored to be making a 5 inch 1080p Windows Phone. So is HTC. Nokia just got bought by Microsoft so that would take awhile
There's a number of devices that are coming out. There's something potentially coming from HTC with a dualboot feature, the Lumia 929/Icon (Verizon/US exclusive), two Lumia's with dual-SIM as a feature, that's all I recall.
Apparently the 929/Icon will be something that will be just a hare bigger than the 928, but not as big as the 1520.
Aside from the 1320 and 1520, the current biggest WP8 device is the ATIV S, at 4.8". I really like mine; it's a good screen size and 1280x720 is still better resolution than the iPhone 5 lines have. It's not the newest CPU, but it's still pretty good; dual core 1.5GHz is plenty for everything I've tried on it.
New phones coming?
Well, there are rumors running that some manufacturers (I counted 3) will launch some new phones in the coming year (no sure, but possibilities).
There's probably a new top-notch Samsung coming soon. And a new generation of Nokia Lumias too. They're speculating about a Lumia 630/635 and a new flagship model, successor to 920/925. They must be announced in the coming months, still on Q1-2014.
If you want a large screen to buy right now, but not that large, I would recommend Lumia 625 or ATIV S/Neo for now. They're fascinating phones, and the batteries are damn good.
Like GoodDayToDie I alsoe have an ATIV S and I'm really happy about my choice.
I heard that Microsoft want to pay HTC and Samsung to develop some Dual-Boot devices like Android-WP8 so I think we can expect some pretty cool devices soon.
What I love about WP is you don't need ridiculously powerful hardware, it just works great as it is.
That's why I just purchased an Ativ S, it ticks all the boxes as is very affordable, the new Lumia may be great, but im not paying 4x the amount for a better camera.
Its worth keeping in mind, that one of the greatest benefits in my mind of new devices coming out is they drive down the cost of older parts, parts that will do just a fine job as the new one will in almost all cases
We just got a Lumia 920 for well under half the original MSRP -- they're moving "old" stock to make room for the 925, which is by all accounts actually *worse*. It was a good deal!
Absolutely, this "must have cutting edge" mentality is totally daft when older gear becomes so cheap and is still really good!
Sent from my Lumia 900 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Sony and Samsung are probably going to make one.
Sent from my Ativ S
matgras said:
Sony and Samsung are probably going to make one.
Sent from my Ativ S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope they will release it very soon ^^ Wanna a dual boot WP
matgras said:
Sony and Samsung are probably going to make one.
Sent from my Ativ S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just rumors, I see an immediate problem with a Sony Windows Phone : you'll have Sony hardware with Xbox Music & Videos on it (get it Xbox and Playstation, the two biggest rivals in the game console industry). There have also been rumors about Sony making a Windows Phone since WP7, they never delivered anything.
Samsung is more probable but I'm afraid the market is being too dominated by Nokia/Microsoft for other OEMs to be a part of it. Since the release of GDR3, only Nokia have officially announced and brought out a device with a Snapdragon 800 and a Full HD screen.

Microsoft launches Nokia Lumia 730, 830 and 930 in India!

So the much anticipated Lumia 930 is finally here but what got me excited is the price tag of Lumia 730 - just INR 15299? That is less than what 720 was launched at!
Lumia 730: Rs.15,299. Available from Oct 6th.
Lumia 830: Rs.28,799. Available from Oct 8th.
Lumia 930: Rs.38,649. Available from Oct 15th.
Source: NokiaViews.com
Yeah, best affordable phones.
but what about the forum ?
Microsoft launching Windows Phone 10.
djamol said:
Yeah, best affordable phones.
but what about the forum ?
Microsoft launching Windows Phone 10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The WP10 will be offered as free upgrade to exciting WP8 owners. So we will all be upgraded to next major WP release.
I though about buying a Nokia phone. I am going off the rep Nokia has from the brick phones back in the day. 5100 series. Great phone.
Claps1775 said:
I though about buying a Nokia phone. I am going off the rep Nokia has from the brick phones back in the day. 5100 series. Great phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is still as solid as it was back in the day. i got one a week ago.
kasdaman said:
it is still as solid as it was back in the day. i got one a week ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, congrats ?
Got Lumia 730 for Rs.14900/- from Kerala
Solid phone with very good camera.
No "3G only" mode is a stupid decision from Microsoft.
I am stuck with 2G mode always as it is the stronger signal (BSNL) while all other droid owners enjoying 3G :crying::crying:.
I can't recommend this phone to you if you are living outside major cities.
The Lumia 730 is repeatedly out of stock on almost all websites in India. Hopefully, they increase the supply, so that this low stock situation can be avoided for this much in demand phone.
Hi! If anyone knows how to put a full working and stable Android on Lumia 830. Please let us know
Bu android and change logos.

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