Early thoughts on the $99AUD Android dumbphone - RUIO Joy 4G
Like u/mat383 posted here, I also picked up the RUIO Joy 4G yesterday. Had a few early thoughts I'd thought I'd share with anyone interested.
Tl;dr - so far I'm pretty happy with the device, but you have to set expectations around a $99AUD phone with an old Android OS on it.
Pros
- Surprisingly decent build for the price, with a good quality touch screen
- Australian carrier support (this seems like a weird thing to list, but we are limited for compatible dumbphone options here)
- Clean Android build without Google services and minimal app bloat
- Fairly response as a result, despite the low specs
- Decent call quality so far
- Most third party apps pre-installed can be uninstalled; except weirdly the YouTube weblink
- Wi-Fi and USB hotspot available out of the box (works solidly)
- USB-C charging
- GPS for maps support (no mapping app pre-loaded though)
- MicroSD card support up to 128GB
- Alternative app stores and manual APK install easily available (have Obtainium and Aurora store on mine)
- Comes with a case and lanyard (I use neither but good it's included)
Cons
- Keypad entry not T9 enabled out of the box, so text entry is very clunky. Can be fixed via TT9 app
- Stock browser requires ALL permissions enabled before it will work, including contacts. A big 'F^$! No' on that one.
- Also comes with Firefox lite pre-installed, but that stopped being updated in 2021.
- Android build is version 11 with only the November 2022 security patch installed. DO NOT use this for critical data such as password managers, banking apps (if they even work) etc
- RCS not supported (not an issue for me, but a factor for some)
- No NFC (also not a factor for me)
- No dedicated volume keys. * and # keys act as volume controls in most instances but it is not consistent
- Comes pre-installed with Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. While easily uninstalled, just a little dubious to be pre-installed
- Bluetooth audio only supports AAC and SBC codecs
- No headphone jack, which wouldn't be an issue except...
- USB-C headphone support is listed on the site but isn't working on my unit. If anyone else can test that would be cool to see if it's just my unit faulty or if it's a wider problem
- 2mp fixed focus main camera and 0.3mp front camera are just as good as you would expect (a.k.a. not good unless you are into the aesthetic).
- Can't see this surviving a fall very well (subjective, but I'm not willing to test it)
- With a little effort, you can install a bunch of apps which may take away from the dumbphone simplicity you were originally after
Apps I've installed so far
- Obtainium as my main app installer
- Aurora store for apps only available via the Play Store
- Transperth (local public transport app)
- AntennaPod (podcasts)
- LocalSend (wireless file transfers)
- Auxio (local music playback. Stock music app technically works but doesn't read tagged libraries properly)
- TT9 (to have a usable typing experience)
- Chromite (browser to replace dubious default)
- Organic Maps (just in case functionality)