Hisense A5

[eReader fan]

New price!

There are two versions: one with 32Gb rom at 155€, and another with 64Gb rom at 195€

The only thing I don't like about that phone is not having a better camera. Even only having a eInk screen we would like to do good photos

https://www.gizmochina.com/2019/10/2...tery-launched/

[pdurrant]

Translated launch article

Translated listing at jd.com


1199 yuan for 32GN storage, 1499 for 64GB storage.

With VAT, that's around £160 for the cheaper version.

Clearly more than originally suggested, but still a very good price. If it becomes available in the UK I think I'll be getting one.

[norweger]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

If it becomes available in the UK I think I'll be getting one.

#metoo

I would most def try the H5 if it were for sale in Europe, as it's so much more handy to buy them from a local distributor, so you could return it in case the phone, for some reason, falls short of expectations. I don't know if any Hisense e-ink phone has been for sale in Europe previously, though rumor has it the new ones might.

[norweger]

They'll prolly not reply, but I wrote them. Asking if it'll be released in Europe or America. Both the A5 and A6L looks promising, promising indeed.

[kova4a]

There's a new pretty detailed video of the A5, don't know if anyone else linked it anywhere here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9mWonYybeU

[cartz]

Originally Posted by kova4a

There's a new pretty detailed video of the A5, don't know if anyone else linked it anywhere here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9mWonYybeU

Wow! This really does look to be everything I want in a phone. As soon as it is available on AliExpress I'm ordering it.

[cartz]

Actually it is available now on AliExpress. I have now ordered it.

It does say "Original Firmware". I'm assuming that means that it doesn't currently have the Google Play Store. I currently have the Hisense A2 Pro and while that has the Play Store, I do believe it was hacked onto it by the seller on AliExpress and was never standard from Hisense. As I had thought it unlikely that the A5 would ship with Google Play I have been replacing my apps and altering my usage of the A2 Pro so that I am no longer dependant on having the Play Store. Of course I could be wrong and it may be on there and there's every chance it will be hacked on there by the sellers in the future or by users like it was with the A6 (albeit with some bugs) but it's not super important to me.

[Question Mark]

Yup, I ordered one as well. Probably should have waited until November 11th to see if there would be a bit of a deal on Chinese Singles Day... but I've already waited long enough for such a device. It will be interesting to see how it compares to my A2 Pro.

[norweger]

Originally Posted by cartz

I have now ordered it.

Originally Posted by Question Mark

I ordered one as well

Great! I am eager to know your thoughts, when you've had your first impressions!

@cartz, with no Google Play do you just download whatever apps you need to another Android device and then use an apk extractor and send the apk files to the e-ink device?

[cartz]

Originally Posted by norweger

@cartz, with no Google Play do you just download whatever apps you need to another Android device and then use an apk extractor and send the apk files to the e-ink device?

I install the f-droid store and from there install the Aurora Store. I will also install the Amazon App Store.

If there is an app I need that is not on the Amazon store I will install it using the Aurora store which grabs the apps from the Play store.

Not all apps will work though as some require google play services to function. For example you won't get Google Maps to work. Instead I install HereWeGo for navigation using Aurora which I have come to prefer now anyway.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by cartz

For example you won't get Google Maps to work. Instead I install HereWeGo for navigation using Aurora which I have come to prefer now anyway.

I have installed google maps on my Kingrow K1, which has not Google Play/Services and, unfortunately, not even a GSF id to try a manual registration, like Onyx for example does.
If i remember well. i took google maps package from apkpure store.
Google Maps happen to work fine the same, though you can't login to see your chronology for instance.
Gmail work with any IMAP client, for youtube there is newpipe.
What i missed the most on a google-less phone was Google Calendar.
No workaround there, i had to migrate my appointments and contacts to a CalDav/Cardav server.

[bookyboy]

These don’t have the correct bands to work in the US do they?

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

These don’t have the correct bands to work in the US do they?

Not sure about the US. However, the Hisense A2 Pro works in Toronto, Canada. So hopefully the A5 will as well.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

These don’t have the correct bands to work in the US do they?

It looks like it has bands for all US carriers except US Cellular.

See this link.

This link seems to have a full list of supported frequencies

[bookyboy]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It looks like it has bands for all US carriers except US Cellular.

See this link.

This link seems to have a full list of supported frequencies

Interesting..
It does seem like it's missing several LTE bands for different US carriers though. That could be a problem in spots for some..