₦airaland Forum

d3cod3r:
Some people will avoid this thread like the plague. Even display quality matters a lot. All panels aren't born equal. High end phones use better displays which offer greater color gamut and better contrast levels that's why samsung takes the lead in display tech.

You are really looking for trouble...
I don't even want to go talk about AMOLED screen quality... �
I am using 120Hz AMOLED with the latest E4 AMOLED technology with Poco F3. The major problem is that Xiaomi hasn't learned how to tune the AMOLED. There is either red or green tint in displays in lower brightness. Fortunately, the tint is almost non existent in several custom Roms. The wahala with Android OEMs that sell phone cheap plenty o. Make we dey take am small small

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AuXQA_A-dY

You may already know that Android OEMs reduce premium glass back down to cheap plastic, Replace Aluminium phone chassis with plastic and use a cheaper two-year-old processor in their midrange phone to sell cheaper. However, they cut a corner that you probably haven't heard about yet - USB-C display port! Yes, your Android phone with USB type C is capable of displaying your phone to any HDMI device but Transition OEMs won't let that happen.

Watch the video to see more details but if you don't have data, below is the video script.



Have you ever wondered why the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra retails at $1,000 while Realme GT with the same processor and 120Hz Amoled Screen retails at $460 - less than half the price of the Samsung?
Today, I will show you how most Android phone manufacturers cut corners to sell many Android phones cheaply without most users knowing.
Is this really a bad thing? Em! The Answer is not a straight yes or no as I'll explain shortly in the video.
But today, we will focus on one act of cutting corners that proves costly when your Android screen breaks or the Touch screen stops working - the USB Alt mode!
A rich feature of Android that should be on every Android phone, but it's not, and most OEMs who sell phones cheaper don’t want you to know.
But if You'd like to know more about it, let’s go check it out.


Okay! Welcome back to Smart Depot.
Before we go into the USB ALT mode,
How do Android OEMs keep cutting corners and selling phones cheap?
The most straightforward answer is the Android Midrange phone segment!
As Android Midrange phones got better and better over the past three years, more premium features like Flagship processors, top quality camera sensors, NFC, super quick charging, bigger batteries, 120Hz refresh rate AMOLED screens and more. You don't need to spend $1000 to get a good Android phone. $400 - $500 will give you a good Android phone that serves all your phone needs and there are plenty of options in this top midrange segment.

Wireless charging, IP certification for dust and water resistance, latest camera sensors and optical image stabilisation may just be the few features exclusive to premium Android Flagship phones. The reality is over 90% of Android phone users can comfortably use their phones without wireless charging and IP certification. Which means that Android OEMs can continue to cut corners, sell phones cheaper and still keep the majority of the users happy.

You may already know that Android OEMs reduce premium glass back down to cheap plastic, Replace Aluminium phone chassis with plastic and use a two-year-old processor in their midrange phone. However, they cut a corner that you probably haven't heard about yet.

Before this gets intense, a sub to the channel would be satisfying, to say the least. So, click on that subscribe button and like this video, it really helps us out.

While Android OEMs can cramp in more hardware into midrange phones, these hardwares are poorly Utilized. Top-end processors - poor cooling system, great camera sensor - no optical image stabilization. I can go on and on about underutilized hardware in Android midrange phones. It gets even worse when it comes to software optimisation in Android midrange and Flagship killers.

You barely get 2 years of Android OS upgrade, security updates don’t come monthly and after sale support amongst Android midrange is next to none. If you think this is all, just fasten your seat belt cause we are about to take off.

The USB Alternative mode exposes how Android OEMs cut deep corners to the detriment, growth and robustness of the Android ecosystem.

What is USB ALT Mode?
USB ALT Mode is a functional extension of USB type C which enables USB connections to carry non-USB signals. ALT MODES are optional capabilities that are unique to the USB-C connector or port that allow technologies like Display Port, Thunderbolt, reversible charging, transmitted via USB-C.

The USB ALT mode allows your Android phone to deliver up to 4k video at 60FPS from your USB C port, charge another device, Receive digital sound or multiple joystick connections all from your USB C port. Let's stick to the USB C display out function because several Android Flagship devices already have this function.

So, How do Android Phone Manufacturers avoid adding a display port to their phone's USB C?

The easiest way Android OEMs cut this corner is simple - continue to use USB C v2.0 instead of V3.1 and beyond. USB ALT MODE Display port requires USB C v3.1 and Above therefore, Android OEMs stick with USB C v2.0 and boom, no need to talk about Display port

Let's take a little quiz - Is your current Smartphone using USB C v2.0, 3.0, 3.1 or 3.2?

Let's make it practical. The Realme GT2 Pro and the OnePlus 10 Pro are similar devices or a clone of each other as they share the same specs in everything but one. The Oneplus 10 Pro costs 18% higher than Realme GT 2 Pro and you want to know how Realme cut that corner? The GT 2 Pro Uses USB type C v2.0, While the Oneplus 10 pro uses USB type C v3.1 with a display port function


So, what’s my point?
There will be no need for me to make a series of videos on how to access or use your phone with a dead or broken screen if your USB-C is also a display port. It could have been the same way you plug in an external monitor to your Laptop, PC or Mac when the internal screen is bad or not good enough.


USB ALT Mode was released in 2014 and 8 years later, it is not available in any Android Midrange phones.

Sadly, Google was the first Android OEM that failed to implement the USB Alt mode display port when the Pixel 2 launched with USB-C v3.1 in 2017. Maybe Google trying to sell more Chromecast devices contributed to that as it. Today, Chromecast is probably half dead and Google still disabled USB C display out for recent Pixel phones.

In 2018, Samsung implemented the USB ALT mode Display port with the debut of the Samsung Galaxy S8 series. However, Samsung had to add their interest to display port, launched Samsung Dex and sold a composite product - the Dex Duck- for over $100 if you want to use the display port features in all its glory. Samsung Dex didn’t turn out so successful and my $5 knockoff adapter works fine for USB C to HDMI display and enables Samsung Dex if I connect the charger. I will put a link to the adaptor in the video description. It is also available for iPhones starting from the iPhone 6s.

There is no way I will end this video without mentioning Xiaomi. Four years after Samsung started using USB-C v3.1 and display port in its flagship phone, Xiaomi’s 2022 flagship Mi 12 Pro is still stuck with USB-C v2.0. USB ALT mode Display Port cannot be implemented with USB-C v2.0 so, don’t bother checking.

Xiaomi has migrated into the Android Top tier of premium phones but somehow, still cuts corner. The Mi 11 Ultra that retailed for $1100 for the base configuration - a true premium flagship Android phone from Xiaomi. However, corners were still cut because the Mi 11 Ultra had a USB-C v2.0 without the Display port function of the USB ALT mode. How do you sell a phone over $1000 dollar with USB C v2.0? I will put a list of Android devices that support USB-C display port in the video description, do check it out before thinking of your next phone.


I just feel that Android OEMs should stop this madness of upping the specs each year without maximising the available Hardware features in improving software experience.
so, focusing on hardware/software optimizations will do the Android ecosystem a whole world of Good.

I really recommend Samsung for giving 4 years of Android OS upgrade from S22 series and I want Google and other Android OEMs to do likewise for all Android phones.

Let me know what you think in the comment section. Do you think Android OEMs should focus on improving the general software experience more than just specs sheets? If you watched till this point, you like this video, so please click on the subscribe button, like, share and until I see you in the next one; peace!

maasoap:
I'm considering it too. Any tip on how to get the best deal in terms of its price?

The big problem is that you have to import it from abroad to get the best price. The wahala come be how you go fit pay for Anything above $100 with Naira debit card.
I used my dollar account when I ordered mine from Aliexpress.
You can see this video below and check its description. The link to where I bought from is there.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZYFsh3JBrw

maasoap:
Which Xiaomi model did you opt for?

Poco F3

Goldenhoney:
Bros no b new tin now, if u can root ur samsung fone u just need to w8 for a custom rom and upgrade d fone. We don de do am 4 long.
I like to know how to upgrade d samsung fone.

Join xda-developers.com
It was Samsung galaxy note 2 that made me join XDA in 2013 when they officially announced that they won't upgrade the phone to Android 5 lollipop. With custom Roms, I used the phone till Android 7 before the screen died

11Anonymous:
Tecno and Infinix flagships are actually midrange devices.

This one enter....

TradingMaestro:
Lol
The high end snapdragon processors are released just once in a year so no difference in processors...

So you mean the cameras are different?

There was Snapdragon
855 later that year 855+
865 later that year 865+ they later added 870
888 and later last year 888+
I don't know whether they will do it with 8th Gen1
But the plus version of Snapdragon processors are overclocked CPU/GPU that gives up to 15% performance boost.

jaxxy:
Samsung loosing focus. Software alone doesn’t make a great fone. The New s series are to big and crappy looking already. Then u want to merge it with note more features seems more confusing.

Samsung lost its way in terms of Innovation with the Note after the Note 7 debacle. They started playing safe to the point that they don't see any difference between S series and Note.
However, I like the way they are giving more focus on software. That way, the users are not losing on two front

TradingMaestro:
For a lay man like me, give me two significant differences between S series n note series aside Spen

S series comes out with Flagship Qualcomm's Snapdragon processor in February. The Note Series comes out with August/September with the newer Snapdragon Plus Flagship processor. About 10 to 20% performance increase.
The Note is usually the first to get New Android Updates if the release is September.
Samsung camera sensors used in S series are better optimized in the Note or sometimes, the Note gets newer camera sensors or some completely new features

TradingMaestro:
Lol.. because it isn't called a note?

If truly you are a note series follower then you'll know the s22 ultra design is a carbon copy of a note series design coupled with the spen

I bought the Note 2 in 2012 December, used it for 2 years, jumped to Note 4, skipped the Note 5 because it had no SD card slot or removable battery (little did I know that the phone came b4 its time). There was no Note 6 as Samsung wanted to merge the numbering between the Note and S series. The Note 7 was a disaster - it blew itself up.
I came back to Note 8. Na the cost of replacing the screen bought me a more powerful Xiaomi phone.
So yes, I am a Note lover, adict and follower.

Samsung Galaxy Note Series was the disruptor in innovation for Android then. The S series comes out in the middle of the first quarter of the year. The Note launches in the Fall - among the last Flagships of the year. It usually comes with the overclocked CPU than the S series Flagship and could carry a new feature that's not available on the S series.
Samsung started the Unifying experiment from Note 10 when they created 2 version the Note 10+ just like the S series. By Note (11) 20, they did the Note 20 dirty and dignified the Note 20 Ultra (which also had Expandable memory - SD card -)
They Skipped the Note in 2021 completely and killed it off in 2022. So, yes, the Note is a little bit more than an S series Flagship with an Spen.
I like the direction of Samsung focusing more on improving Software experience and length of OS upgrade. I'll still wait to see what they do with the S23 Ultra Next year

Flamees:
And some company are busy producing trash without ba single OS upgrade guarantee

I just hope this will influence other Android OEMs to raise their software upgrade game.

Flamees:
transsion left the group

Hahaha... �
We need to have a word with Infinix and Tecno about Android software upgrade. Their Flagship phones barely manage to get one in their lifetime and nothing for the midrangers

Joeblazeochola:
Bros no b new tin now, if u can root ur samsung fone u just need to w8 for a custom rom and upgrade d fone. We don de do am 4 long.

As a lover of Android custom Roms I get you but for those who don't know how to root or not interested in taking the risk (the number of this group is many too) 4 years of update is a wonderful thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=562SsqQ5WOI

The Samsung Galaxy Note Series is officially dead!
Samsung sealed the deal by moving the Spen to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra but will the Note brand be sorely missed?
Let's look at the good side to the move. Samsung will now give 4 years of Android Upgrade to The S22 series which is almost on par with Apple's 5 years guaranteed OS upgrade on the iPhone. This is something that is very new to Android and might be the start of software revolution for all other Android OEMs.
The bad side is the drippi g of the expandable storage (SD card). The Note is known for productivity and having an SD card gives you an option even if you are not using it. The innovative disruptions that the Note brings may not come with S - Ultra because it is just an S series with a bigger battery.

All the same, I personally prefer having 4 years of Android OS than expandable storage.
What are your thoughts about the Demise of the Note? Let me hear from you in the comments section

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbqUxvzIRbc

The MIUI 13 From Xiaomi was released today. Many have accused Xiaomi of copying Apple iOS but it seems from the look of things at the MIUI 13 launch event today that Xiaomi go going all out to create their own ecosystem starting with MIUI 13.

The Xiaomi Mi 12 series of devices were launched today too but what interests me most is the handy number of other phones that received MIUI 13 from day one like the Poco F3.

However, this video will help Poco F3 and MIUI lovers get a preview of what's new and also help them to install MIUI on Poco F3 instantly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISuwN3lmmqI
It did take a while (60 days to be pricise) for a new update to come to Poco F3 but it is finally here and it came with some performance improvements.

The new update is an incremental OTA update of about 305Mb so, you can check or refresh your phone update now to see if you got it.

MIUI 12.5.7 is for RKHEUXM EU version but new Update with MIUI 12.5.5 is also out for International version RKHMIXM of Poco F3.

So, check update and enjoy.

Lass lass na average Nigerians go suffer am. FACEBOOK will just 7.5% on top of what they are already charging Nigerians for ads. That means adding more pains to people already paying more due to the degradation of the Naira against the dollar. Image if Bụbu made N1 = $1 there won't be any problem paying VAT as we will be getting great Value.

Does The FG that there is something called Facebook Pay? That they can negotiate with Facebook to add great Incentives to teeming Nigerians who use the app? Other countries are working out great incentives and getting rebates for their nation ours is to add VAT to ads which kills or slow down small and medium scale online entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, online business is a global competition and as it stands, people in Benin are at better advantage than Nigeria in getting value from Facebook - thanks to some of these 'living ancestors' that won't leave power.

Lass lass, Facebook go still dey cash out, Nigerians will be paying more and getting less in return. And if business bad, Facebook will pull out some of its investment in Nigeria and move it to let's say Ghana.

Corroro:
why will you even want to root a phone, i always advice against it so you don't have issues when you want to update.

Have you ever used a Windows PC or Laptop when you are not the administrator? You can't even install or uninstall apps if you are not an admin user.
If you know what Custom Roms bring in Android, then rooting won't be a problem if you know what you are doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBPHHHRFH18

The beauty of Android is in its abundance of customizations but before now, it was very hard to Root Android 12 And Enjoy Advanced Android Customizations.
Thanks to XDA senior developer Top John Wu - the creator of Magisk since 2016, you can now root Android 12 with the latest magisk canary.

SafetyNet passes with some tweaks I've already explained in another video.
You'll first need to unlock bootloader and Flash Custom Recovery before you can install magisk module.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq2rX4r4Y0U
The beauty of using some Xiaomi phones is the abundance of custom Roms and the Poco F3 already have it in abundance. Over last weekend, I flashed 6 different Android 12 Custom Roms and was massively impressed on how stable they already are.

Then I said to myself, why not share the process with other people? So, that's how this video was born.
The steps in the video is applicable to other Xiaomi Phones but you have to follow the Rom developer's instructions while flashing any custom Roms.

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC79dQ0f-g8

Many Android phone users don't usually bother about their Play Protect certification until maybe they run into problems like, searching for Netflix on Google play store and not seeing it.
Other noticeable problem could be try to watch DSTV NOW app from your Android phone but playback is unavailable (see attached images)

Any Android device that has unlocked bootloader, Rooted, or somehow virus entered the phone and gained system access will not pass Google's SafetyNet Security Test. Google has in 2021 doubled down in system integrity and security. With hardware-backed attestation, combined with phone model's fingerprint release keys and signature, more Android phones are now failing SafetyNet test which means device is not certified.

Please not that Android phones that are Chinese version will fail SafetyNet test even if the system is intact because phones made in China does not carry Google GMS or any Google certification or apps.
So, be careful if you are buying Android phone very cheap. Check if it can pass SafetyNet test as shown in the video.

NB. This method requires Rooting your Android device. It is only with Root (Admin) access that you can fix this problem permanently.
Let me know in the comments section if you want to give is a try.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGEc9A5WdA4

Hey guys have you wondered how to access or unlock your bootloader on your Xiaomi phone? Today's your lucky day here's a video that explains the full process on how to

For all Xiaomi users this video comes very insightful as it explains everything you need to know about unlocking your Xiaomi device.

You can flash the lastest Android 12 once you have successfully unlocked your bootloader or flash multitudes of custom Roms, kernels and recoveries for the best Android experience.
For Xiaomi phones, it is official! You can download the Xiaomi MIUI Unlock tool form their official website and get started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgC87iFMAU

It doesn't matter whether you use latest iPhone or Midrange Android, Smartphone Screens are made of glass and glass breaks. The funny part is that some smartphone screens can go off without breaking nevertheless, I'll bring you solution for all of it.
In this Video, I carefully listed most of the important settings you need to turn on when your phone screen is still working. These settings are your INSURANCE POLICY in case you accidentally drop your phone. From iOS 11, Apple introduced USB Accessories feature that turns off third party access to lightening port 1 hour after your phone is locked. Android from Android 5 Lollipop introduced mandatory USB debugging on screen authorisation prompt. If you turn on these settings, you will know peace in the day of broken screen.

However, if for some reason you didn't turn on most of these settings on, there's a way to still get something done. Sure, lt is the hard way but somethings, it could be the only way out to get data from a broken screen device without replacing the screen which will be costly.

In the video, I also gave the list of apps and software that make this work easier.
Let me know if you face any challenges even after seeing the video.

Gracias!

edictng:
Urrgh just shut up already.

I don't have to shut up. I just spitting facts in future tense.

riverbird:
Who know you?

Na why I ask o! Everyone has the potential to be the next big thing. But ten years from today, you'll be glad that you chatted with me sometime in the past

riverbird:
Who know you?

Na why I ask o! But ten years from today, you'll be glad that you chatted with me sometime in the past

riverbird:
Next big thing

Me or Xiaomi?

Princeton92:
Mine is 12.5.1.0 version

What's your device model?
Your MIUI version RKHEUXM?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDDxv6HC4V8

Whenever you are buying a Xiaomi device, if it is very cheap or cheaper than expected, it is most likely China Version.
If your Device is Global/International, EU or any other region other than China, then it will be a little bit costlier because of Google certification.

The next thing why you need to know this details is because of OTA update. Many Xiaomi Mi, Redmi And Poco Phone users may not get new updates immediately it is released. If you want to download it manually, you need to know your device model, MIUI version and code number.

So, enjoy the video and let me hear from you.

Earlystar698:
Team Huawei come here

How una dey do without Google play store?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrcCUyM-w7w

MIUI 12.5 Enhanced edition has started Rolling out for many Xiaomi users. It came with great performance improvements, features and more but I had to use it over two weeks before comparing it with the previous MIUI global Stable 12.5.3 on POCO F3.

DOES THE IMPROVED PERFORMANCE COME WITH A HIT IN BATTERY LIFE?
This one is the most difficult to balance in Android, if you push the performance, you will likely hit the battery life and in this case it seems to be true.

MIUI 12.5.3 VS MIUI 12.5.6 ENHANCED EDITION
The battery life was better in the older MIUI version but menh, I still prefer the performance of the Enhanced edition.

PHONE IDLE BATTERY DRAIN
It looked close between the two but MIUI 12.5.6 drains more battery when the phone is idle.

There were few issues with fast charging which I showed how to quickly resolve in the video as I intend to make a separate video for that.

So, transition people, how is your MIUI Version battery life performance?

Flamees:
Android studio gave me sleepless night
I had to quit because of Too much data the app takes and Nothing like cheap data plan

Yeah! Oyibo nọ sabi say we dey manage data.
I once had to download a repository from github over 400GB size. I just quit.