₦airaland Forum

Prologue

It's almost half past five in the evening, and the boy's are already packing their working tools into the cabin of my car, what a lovely evening, work completed and delivered, and now happily waiting for my client to wire my balance into my Opay account so i can transfer cash payments for each of the boy's, they're already expecting their treasure after a hard day labor, one of them wants cash for SMA GOLD for his baby, another wants to fund his younger sisters weekend as she called him earlier in the morning laying complaint's after complaint's of the hunger in UNIBEN the last one wants to do some groceries for his fiancee as there is no food left at home that day, if i fail to pay them, what explanation will i provide?

Alert came and i settled them, (i could see the relief in their faces) and just as we were about driving back to Benin City, i received a call from this same client telling me there's a new gate design she wants in one of her hotels in Benin and she was trying to send its pic to me through WhatsApp (oops my smartphone is already bricked) and presently, getting a smartphone is becoming a burdensome task, it's actually not that I can't get a new one, but that is not part of my agenda for now as I've got bills to clear up at home, so I had to settle for a feature phone or should I call it a semi-Dumb Phone for now

That brings us to the topic

To be honest the nature of my job is mostly the culprit for almost all my bricked smartphones, as many of them mix up with paints and alcohols, and presently the prices of smartphones used and new are not that friendly, i figured feature phones will be easier but for the same nature of the job, not just any feature phone will fit in, but a Dumb feature phone (smart feature phone) would suffice.

Now I considered a feature phone with Kai Os or Yun Os, but i was disappointed with the both OS because their reviews were very poor and as at now, both OS doesn't even have support for WhatsApp

And then I decided to get a Dumb phone with Android OS, the Mobiwire Oneida, and I was disappointed as the Android 4.4 KitKat was already obsolete and WhatsApp is outdated for it

I had to get a Tecno T902 4G semi-Dumb phone it doesn't WhatsApp though.

I think Meta services are now exclusively solely available only for Android and iOS devices

This is not good for me, but on the flip side, one had to stay online as a work Man.

Would have gone for HMD global Nokia, but they're darn expensive even with their generic mediatek mocor os. This transsion feature phone is not bad, but it's still bland for my kind of tech salvation, so

My Advice For Feature/Dumb Phone Makers Like Transsion, HMD, Gionee, Alcatel, imose, ZTE etc

1 Spice it up

Presently for the record, I will pick any Nokia symbian smart feature phone's ahead of these modern day feature phone's

2 WhatsApp, (Meta services) telegram, maps and many modern day apps are essential for many artisans and businesses today, and not everyone likes to use smartphones (let's be honest) but we just have to always still be on the go and heck, Dumb Phone user's still need to have a fair share of what the real smartphones user's are privileged to have even if it's not all.


Opinion

Like in the case of My Tecno T902 4G,

Transsion could have done better.

1 Since they couldn't use the already almost dead KaiOs like they did with the T901, they could've Actually port the Artificial intelligence called HiOs into an actual real time Os but ONLY based on Android Go from Android 8/9 (as it is actually a low grade phone so it's SOC won't be fanciful) and maybe rename the OS

Something like HiOs x lite etc

2 Get your app store and get more developer's for Android go apps with support for updates (HiOs update on apps)

3 most people love to type fast, and so there's possibilities for a QWERTY keyboards in some of their feature phones like we have back then in blackberries and many symbian phones

4 they can still actually make the Ai HiOs an independent OS and get developer's to bring in some good HiOs signed apps (in collaboration with option 2) and make this os exclusively available for their dumb feature phones like Nokia did with symbian phones (am not sure of this one if they can pull it off, but it's worth it)

5 Use some modern low grade chips like some low unisoc and most low grade mediatek chips as these will handle 3G/4G/Wi-Fi / Hotspots easily even when the phones are embedded with 512 mb 1/2 gig RAM and 64/128/246/512 mb 1/2/3/4 gig ROM

6 Bring ota updates for the HiOs either Android Go based or independent real time Os for at least a year

7 this also applies to the other phone brands like Alcatel, Gionee, HMD, Imose, ZTE etc invent and be spontaneous


Epilogue

Africa's population of youths are growing to smartphones and dumb feature phone's benefits, but the bitter truth remains that majority of them are not tech savvy, unlike their Asian counterparts, if you doubt me, search for itels and Tecno feature phones made for Asian market vs Tecno and itel feature phone's made for African markets you will see great difference, heck there was an itel feature phone for Pakistan that has 4g plus KaiOs and Google maps two years back, or should I talk about how the Jio phone is the best Dumb Phone in India and Pakistan today?
HMD goofed really big, and since KaiOs has become past tense, they shouldn't have gone to the mocor os, Yun Os would have even been better although it would have only sold in the Asian market, Alcatel couldn't do without KaiOs, i don't know what they're planning next, Transsion? That one na anywhere Belle face 😂, but the most important thing is African youths should speak up

This is just my opinion, i could be wrong, correct me if you think I am, we're all here to learn

What do you guys think?

All these won’t help the devices. There are midrange phones running a super fast Snap dragon chip, 90hz or 120hz refresh rate.

First of all your long write up defeats the purpose of this post. It’s supposed to be straightforward
By the way there is a dumb phone I need
I’ll like you to check out the Nokia 8000 and 6300 or something like that. It’s a a really nice phone with YouTube and WhatsApp ability but I don’t know how to get my hands on them. No really new phones though but I’ll recommended these companies to create more phones like that

Obviouslyblunt:
All these won’t help the devices. There are midrange phones running a super fast Snap dragon chip, 90hz or 120hz refresh rate.

Yes truly there are, but the main bone of contention is that not everyone wants to carry a smartphone around for everyday stuffs and most people would like a Dumb phone with a smartphone vibe like the good old days

Personally IMO, it would be better if OEM s use lower end chips plus Android Go os on dumb feature phone's and scrap out that low budget Android phone's as you will agree with me, they don't actually meet up and presently in Nigeria, not everyone can even afford the supposed mid range phone you're talking about.

Longpriq:
First of all your long write up defeats the purpose of this post. It’s supposed to be straightforward
By the way there is a dumb phone I need
I’ll like you to check out the Nokia 8000 and 6300 or something like that. It’s a a really nice phone with YouTube and WhatsApp ability but I don’t know how to get my hands on them. No really new phones though but I’ll recommended these companies to create more phones like that

Sorry for that Sir, but in my own way, i was trying to pass a message signifying the importance of a Dumb Phone for a artisan like myself or people on the go

The Nokia 6300 4G got very poor reviews and i even heard many of them were recalled, the one's you will see now in the Nigerian market are the 2G versions from the Asian North Africa market, you will only see the 4G probably maybe refurbished or used

As for the Nokia 8000 4G, that phone was lovely, a friend of mine was using it some year's back as a side Phone, but the truth is both phones are good as useless in 2025

No more KaiOs update

No more Google services

They're only practically good as modem for the Wi-Fi/hotspot, if only the Jio phone could support band's that works with NIGERIA network's that could have been better, as they are working towards something new

But for now all dumb phones are now practically Phone call making modems.
HMD are lost in the ocean of confusion, they don't have any idea so they rather stick with mocor rtos, Transsion? Nothing, hence the reason I say African tech reviewers and individuals should make these complaint's to these OEMs

My good friends over here Atheistandproud

Flame

Mrbone2

Sunshine v

Zesushvwritter

Is thepoweruser still active?

Edoairways

Abiodunspectre

Etc

I just want to hear your thoughts on this, I know not everyone wants a feature Phone

I need a summary of that write-up before I can present an opinion.

eepeepook:
I need a summary of that write-up before I can present an opinion.

Simply saying

Dumb Phone's can/ should be tweaked and customizable like smartphones for user's on the go too

Gander/Goose stuff's

Smartphones/Dumb Phone's stuff's

I agree... But I think realme is trying to redefine that aspect. They are using UNISOC processors for their entry level devices and it's especially durable for workmen and the likes

ParadoxWrites:
I agree... But I think realme is trying to redefine that aspect. They are using UNISOC processors for their entry level devices and it's especially durable for workmen and the likes

Yeah...which is a really nice idea

ParadoxWrites:
I agree... But I think realme is trying to redefine that aspect. They are using UNISOC processors for their entry level devices and it's especially durable for workmen and the likes

Okay true, but only on smartphones

We need this concept on Dumb Phone's too don't you think?

Darklantern:
Yeah...which is a really nice idea

It's not

Infact low grade, low end budget Android devices should be phased out and replaced with dumb feature phone's

There should be the mid-range, High-End and the feature phone's

I see this low grade smartphones as a waste of time, because with updates, they become useless quickly compared to mid-range and High-End devices.

skywalker240:
Sorry for that Sir, but in my own way, i was trying to pass a message signifying the importance of a Dumb Phone for a artisan like myself or people on the go

The Nokia 6300 4G got very poor reviews and i even heard many of them were recalled, the one's you will see now in the Nigerian market are the 2G versions from the Asian North Africa market, you will only see the 4G probably maybe refurbished or used

As for the Nokia 8000 4G, that phone was lovely, a friend of mine was using it some year's back as a side Phone, but the truth is both phones are good as useless in 2025

No more KaiOs update

No more Google services

They're only practically good as modem for the Wi-Fi/hotspot, if only the Jio phone could support band's that works with NIGERIA network's that could have been better, as they are working towards something new

But for now all dumb phones are now practically Phone call making modems.
HMD are lost in the ocean of confusion, they don't have any idea so they rather stick with mocor rtos, Transsion? Nothing, hence the reason I say African tech reviewers and individuals should make these complaint's to these OEMs

You have a point

Longpriq:
You have a point

Thanks 😊

Glad you are now seeing things somehow from my perspective

Now am planning on writing to these OEM's on These suggestions

Let's try to reach them on every available channels and emails

Darklantern:
Yeah...which is a really nice idea

Does it support fast charging

Did I said itel Transsion lost?

Scratch that

They must have read this thread as they came out with something innovative, but not that much exciting


Itel Neo R60+

Like i said earlier, there are great differences between Transsion phones made for the African and the Asian market

Now this Neo dumb phone, was only made for the Asian market, but something might have changed their minds, as the device is available for the African market now

Though this phone doesn't have a genuine Os, it uses cloud to access X (Twitter) , Facebook, YouTube videos, BBC etc

I heard developer's are working on how to run WhatsApp on this phone

4G, WI-FI, Hotspot present and it comes with a type C charging with a decent 2000mah battery bla bla bla

I don't know if the cloud access can be trusted compared to an average app, but it's a step in the right direction I guess.


Now am not trying to advertise this phone,

Am just saying things like this are what's needed on dumb feature phone's

This phone is 38% what am trying to say in this thread

Oops, this access TikTok too, but with cloud access Yes.

This is the phone

It's an upgrade, but it's still not what the African market really need (tech reviewer's in Nigeria won't tell you this) I know their Kenyan opposite are even more bolder, that's why the Kenya market gets the new goodies before their Nigerian counterpart, story for another day though.

Actually, this is what the African market really need from these OEM's like Transsion, HMD, Imose, ZTE etc

This one is solely available for the Asian and some parts of the European markets

It's made in Bangladesh and it's a handy devices on the go for a workman who doesn't like carrying android smartphones around

The name is Geo T30

Though it is a Feature phone, it has support for Android (android Go i believe)

4G, Wi-Fi, Hotspots, mail's all accessable. Also i believe it function as both keypad and touch screen,, the volume and power button are side mounted like we see in most android smartphones

This is actually what this thread is all about

I don't know why our tech reviewer's won't challenge these OEM's, (who takes them serious anyways) but these OEM's doesn't still give a hoot (maybe until a worthy competition shows up)

Now i can't tell how reliable this phone would be as am yet to get a firsthand review (hoping to place order if actually it support Nigeria band's) but i am tremendously impressed by it's features, it's a bonus for it's capabilities,

this is the bone of contention on this topic.

skywalker240:
The name is Geo T30

Though it is a Feature phone, it has support for Android (android Go i believe)

4G, Wi-Fi, Hotspots, mail's all accessable. Also i believe it function as both keypad and touch screen,, the volume and power button are side mounted like we see in most android smartphones

This is actually what this thread is all about

I don't know why our tech reviewer's won't challenge these OEM's, (who takes them serious anyways) but these OEM's doesn't still give a hoot (maybe until a worthy competition shows up)

Now i can't tell how reliable this phone would be as am yet to get a firsthand review (hoping to place order if actually it support Nigeria band's) but i am tremendously impressed by it's features, it's a bonus for it's capabilities,

this is the bone of contention on this topic.

Used to use Nokia 6300 with kaios before it got stolen ...

Then I bought tenco t902 cos the Nokia was expensive and too slow.

I enjoyed using the YouTube though it usually crashes.

Typing on it was a chore.

Even the hotspot used to crash.

So I thought if the phone would be this useless to operate why not just go for the t902 Tecno.

At least I was able to use that one though it had limited use and no apps like the Nokia due to limited os.

The Tecno t902 also got stolen.

I just ordered for another one and was searching for reviews of it and I stumbled upon this post.


Really wished the gio was being sold in the country.