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expired Posted by BTspkrguru • Nov 27, 2023
expired Posted by BTspkrguru • Nov 27, 2023

Bold N2 Unlocked Phone 256/8gb Dimensity 810 6.6 AMOLED 90hz $120 $119.99

$120

Amazon
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Great specs for the price on a $120 budget phone.
Feels very high end in the hand with faux leather back.
Bought one for my 11 year old as a first phone. Its running all her games smoothly.
Works well on T-Mobiles 5g network.
Seems to get quarterly Android security updates, most recent being Sept 2023.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Un...6e4cdc8f10
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Great specs for the price on a $120 budget phone.
Feels very high end in the hand with faux leather back.
Bought one for my 11 year old as a first phone. Its running all her games smoothly.
Works well on T-Mobiles 5g network.
Seems to get quarterly Android security updates, most recent being Sept 2023.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Un...6e4cdc8f10

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Original Poster
Nov 28, 2023
743 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
Nov 28, 2023
BTspkrguru
Original Poster
Nov 28, 2023
743 Posts
The price has gone back up. I only posted this as a great budget option with some surprising features, and a decent amount of memory given the price. My personal phones are a Pixel 7 pro for work and a Moto Razr Plus as my personal device. Not everyone has the budget for high end phones. This Bold N2 was a cheap option that didn't require jumping through any hoops, loopholes, or waiting 60 days for an unlock like some other deals.
Nov 29, 2023
8,565 Posts
Joined Apr 2020
Nov 29, 2023
SlickCrowd6832
Nov 29, 2023
8,565 Posts
Quote from bengalih :
I don't know anything about this phone so I won't comment other than to say I think it's strange a new phone is shipping with A11.
But I'm more concerned about feature updated then security.

It's undeniable that phones without security updates are technically more vulnerable, but I don't know of anyone getting compromised because they are running a few Android versions behind.
As a professional granted I manage all my security risks better. Protect my passwords, know common sense with scams etc.

I think it is infinitely more likely someone is getting hacked because they clicked on a bad link and gave their information out than they got a rogue app from the Play Store that exploited them.
If they are side loading , etc, they know the risks. I run with an unlocked bootloader for development and use side loaded apps. I bank on my phone, etc, etc.

This is equivalent to saying no one should use a Windows 10 computer which is arguably way older than A11. And while I would agree that using an old PC version is more dangerous than an old Android version the fact is millions of people still use it because not every computer can run Windows 11.

A lot of things are true in theory, but in practice you are going to get compromised by your own stupidity nor by your decision to run a phone that's a couple years out of date.
Not that there aren't some legitimate loopholes that have been patched, but the whole industry especially around phones and personal computers is scare tactics to force you into a never ending upgrade cycle. Even the security "experts" know their job depends on it.
We don't see eye to eye plus I feel you have some things backwards.

1. As you know, you don't even have to be doing anything, just being attached to the internet can make you vulnerable, we learned this with windows. I personally have not heard of a virus that is attacking android's older versions, but it is possible and it is only a matter of time.
2. Your reasoning about Windows 10 VS 11 makes no sense to me. Microsoft has both OS unto date, neither is better then the other regarding security. Implying your windows 10 is old so it is at risk makes no sense if your OS is "up to date".
To elaborate, I have stated that BLU has stated that they will keep their phones upto date with security patches for TWO years... this phone is still secure but in 7 months from now it will not be.
3. Of course you are more likely to get hacked by fishing... 100% correct. BUT, having an out of date device just adds more risk.
4. You even stated, "Not that there aren't some legitimate loopholes that have been patched", well if your phone stopped providing updates you no longer will be patched and new holes are found all the time.

I am not trying to add a scare tactic, I just want people to realize that buying this phone may put them at risk in the near future due to no more security updates.
Nov 29, 2023
958 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
Nov 29, 2023
bengalih
Nov 29, 2023
958 Posts
Quote from SlickCrowd6832 :
I am not trying to add a scare tactic, I just want people to realize that buying this phone may put them at risk in the near future due to no more security updates.
I agree with you on preferably getting a newer phone - like the 6a deal, but I look at the benefits being more from a usability then a security standpoint.

I also don't argue that theoretically you are 100% correct. I would be stupid to argue that being patched < not being patched.

But theory and practice are different. If you look at a distributions chart for Android OS usage, only about 35% are on A12/A13. The rest of the Android devices out there are on 11 or before.

All that being said, choosing a phone running A11 if everything else is attractive (features/price/etc), is not something I would dissuade against *solely* on the basis that it is insecure and using it is going to get you hacked. That simply isn't true in reality. If it was don't you think the thieves would be targeting the over 50% share of users who are still on 11 or prior?

I'm very technically minded, but also a bit of a cheapskate (hence being on SD Smilie), and so I often will run older hardware. Theoretically I can upgrade to 12 on my older phone, but due to some "bugs" introduced with A12 I choose to stay with A11 to have my features over security. This is always the trade-off.

Hackers are almost always going after low hanging fruit and for the average person being a couple of versions behind in their phone OS is likely the least of their worries when it comes to protecting themsleves.

I can't put it more succinctly, and we can continue to debate it and not see completely eye-to-eye. I'm just here to give a counter point to your initial posts which, I'm sorry to say, came off as scare tactics IMHO.

Again, all of this has nothing to do with this phone specifically, because as I mentioned I don't really know anything about this phone other than A11.
Nov 29, 2023
260 Posts
Joined Mar 2012
Nov 29, 2023
hammermint
Nov 29, 2023
260 Posts
Quote from MedullaOblongata :
Is this better than my current Essential phone ph-1?
I love that there's someone out there still running an Essential. Liked mine enough to replace the battery, but it ended up dying in a fall :-(
Dec 1, 2023
54 Posts
Joined May 2018
Dec 1, 2023
MedullaOblongata
Dec 1, 2023
54 Posts
Quote from hammermint :
I love that there's someone out there still running an Essential. Liked mine enough to replace the battery, but it ended up dying in a fall :-(
Didn't know the battery can be replaced. Currently only last 1.5 days, barely using it. Sorry for your lost.

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