Very cheap android - under £100

[gmaz]

I need a very cheap and basic android phone as we develop mobile web apps for work and have to check if they look ok on the most basic phones.

I'm thinking either a Xiaomi 9AT

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2252753

Or a refurbed Samsung S6/S7

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353913872643

Any others I should consider, or places to look?

[somouk]

Do you have to have a physical device? Why not just use the Android SDK (Android Studio) and Virtual Device it in there?

[Whataguy]

I’ve had several of the moto G phones, usually available around £100 with offers.

[vikingaero]

Nokia G11? Around £99

[Shiv_P]

Do you need to check if it works on basic phones or *old* phones?

[gmaz]

Shiv_P said:

Do you need to check if it works on basic phones or *old* phones?

Yeah good point. As wide a variety of old good phone to new basic as possible.

SDK is an option but it also needs to be used as a phone, i.e. accept SMS, calls to automated IVR systems etc.

[wilbo83]

Picked up a Moto G31 recently for my wife and I'm impressed by it. Does everything it should well and the screen is impressive at the price point, as it is OLED

[Kes Arevo]

gmaz said:

I need a very cheap and basic android phone as we develop mobile web apps for work and have to check if they look ok on the most basic phones.

I'm thinking either a Xiaomi 9AT

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2252753

Or a refurbed Samsung S6/S7

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353913872643

Any others I should consider, or places to look?

The 9at has a pretty poor camera. I have this as my current phone. Other than that, works well enough, but I'm not staring at it all day.

[QJumper]

I've had a couple of Moto G's and find them very good, I think I paid £60-70 for good condition used/refurbs on Ebay, if you don't need new.

[douglasb]

The Motorola E20 is available at Argos SIM free for £79.99. I've got a previous version (about a couple of years old) and it fits the "cheap and cheerful" description. I only use it for calls, texts, Whatsapp and some web browsing and it does it all. It's only 4G if that makes a difference.

[numtumfutunch]

douglasb said:

The Motorola E20 is available at Argos SIM free for £79.99. I've got a previous version (about a couple of years old) and it fits the "cheap and cheerful" description. I only use it for calls, texts, Whatsapp and some web browsing and it does it all. It's only 4G if that makes a difference.

Another vote here for whatever Motorola is selling for 80 notes or less at Argos

I have a Motorola "something" in the man drawer from last year when I needed a burner Android for a couple of weeks. It was £80 and perfectly decent.

Yes the camera was cr4p, battery life non existent, memory feeble and it has a snail for a processor but it ran the stuff I use the most without quibble which was a nice surprise

Have to admit to not buying a case and dropping it from a height of about 50cm which produced a crack across half the screen but guess what - you get what you pay for and its still useable with a PAYG SIM for visitors from overseas

Cheers