Hisense A9 January 2024 Update + Dumbphone Giveaway

[@Daniel-oq7xy]

Really been wanting one of these. To me it seems like a nice blend of smart and dumb phones. All the benefits of a smart phone but on a screen that will make it harder to take in distracting content. The only thing stopping me is the possible lack of coverage, I've gotta do more research into that. Maybe we'll get lucky and someone like Onyx will release a Boox Palma with SIM card capability

[@samlee6240]

thats what i want.

[@B-RaDD]

im hoping for that too......plzzzzzzzz boox

[@rlc949]

I have a lightphone, yet this interests me just due to the size of the screen. I struggle a bit with the tiny light phone. I need to put my reading glasses on to use it, particularly when reading or sending txt messages. Fingers crossed for a super-sized lightphone

[@ryanbenzian1789]

🙌🏻🙌🏻 thank you for the giveaway Jose we appreciate it

[@padenmrl]

Thanks for the update! I have been thinking of getting this for a few months now.

[@drainboy]

You can set the eink speed mode for particular apps and it will remember the settings!! for example i usually set clear mode for reading apps so that the contrast is better

[@killsweep4588]

Yes it remembers so for reading for me it's clear and most others its on balanced but can go on fast for video.

[@ez5993]

love your channel man. this video is perfect timing for me, i've been looking into e ink phones for myself, i didn't even realise they existed! my main issue though is that they're just too big for me lol.

[@Ronzo777]

Do you have any concerns with Hisense being Chinese in terms of data snooping etc.?

[@JoseBriones]

I use nextdns and hardcode it into the OS via ADB. This way there are no trackers and I can block all traffic from other countries and ads. I highly recommend everyone does the same when they get devices that come from Aliexpress

[@boardcrf2763]

@@JoseBriones Can you make video how to do that 😢

[@Dustmadeout]

Hi Jose, I heard a community of bikers and bicycle riders have been interested in the eink phones because of possible use of them in direct sunlight in their handlebars. Could you maybe make a video about offline vector navigation apps on an eink display? Apps like Locus Map, OsmAnd, Sygic, TomTom, Komoot etc. All of them are loved and used among bike backpackers and offroaders.

[@brandonwoodruff7248]

Hey Bud, I think this is exactly what I'm looking for. I would love to see more camera quality examples and a Zoom call example. I have reasonable expectations for how the screen will do during telehealth calls. How do you think it would do with mint in the Atlanta GA, or Southeast.

[@JoseBriones]

Zoom performs fine as long as you are ok with the slower video being displayed. Camera is what you saw and for the most part it's comparable to an iPhone 6 or so. As far as coverage in ATL, you should get some, but don't expect it to be stellar just due to the fact that is lacking bands.

[@MustachedMovieMan]

The chapter markers are off, just fyi :) Thank you for these reviews!

[@brandonwoodruff7248]

1: Are there more name-brand e-ink phones out there? I found the BOOX Palma Mobile ePaper 6G 128G on Amazon, but I'm leery of it being preloaded with malware and other security issues

[@rickyandrews9127]

Boox is a great company and I would recommend the Palma over this device, except for the palma isn't actually a phone, but a phone-shaped E-reader. But it comes with Google play and it's a great device aside from not having a SIM slot.

[@escgoogle3865]

Torn between the F22 or the Lightphone bin. I want to use the F22 but I want to touch and tinker with the lightphone.

[@musicmania3945]

Thank you Jose! It's an interesting phone. Your reviews are truly amazing and and informative keep up the great work 🤘

[@Songbird12]

I honestly want a light phone or any dumbphone really so that I can finally prioritize my time on other things like spending time with family and not having to be on social media so often. Thank you for the giveaway

[@nfterestt]

Hello! I have a Q - can you download the Signal messaging app on this thing? Any thoughts on the privacy? I am between Norway and Germany - both of which do not have lightphone coverage... wah! Really want an e-ink screen. Big on privacy too...Thoughts?

[@AmandaBelleVideos]

Know of any issues with mint mobile? (with the att&t sim in DFW area). Been going back and forth between iphone and Nokia 6300. I realize how much I feel limited but not having spotify or more podcast options. Thanks!

[@JoseBriones]

It should work in theory since you are in a well covered area by T-mobile

[@carlosvillareal267]

Did you have it in smooth or speedy mode?

[@VIN2984]

This looks perfect, a shame about the coverage though. Fingers crossed i win the light phone 2 but if not heres hoping they work on something similar. 🤞

[@miketsai75]

I listen to KZbin. How is the sound?

[@eugene_tripping]

I've bought same device and it's awesome! Is your recent apps button works well with custom launcher?

[@JoseBriones]

Yes. It's been working so far

[@Brinkmasterj]

can you tell me about accessablity like screen zoom or large print?

[@JoseBriones]

All those features are available

[@templar1694]

In my opinion this kind of smartphone is the recommended phone for 18 years below. Where elementary and high school campuses should only allow.

[@PlatypusxOuroboros]

Hi Jose, you should probably update your linked apps. The Moment website does not work.

[@JoseBriones]

Thank you! I’ll do that!

[@johncarloroberto2635]

Thank you for the update! Does your A9 come with rootless google play services or with root?

[@JoseBriones]

Rootless as far as I can see

[@musicman9945]

I got mine that had google play store on there without root. I ended up rooting it and deleting all I could especially chinese apps. I have tried to make it into a lightphone like phone. I have a light phone as well and have been using both pretty regularly.

[@johncarloroberto2635]

@@musicman9945 Do you use banking apps? If yes, did you use Magisk/Zygisk to hide the root from the banking apps?

[@lawbinson]

Curious, how is the device in the dark? Does it have backlight?

[@JoseBriones]

It does have a backlight

[@sarozkc]

Dear Jose, I am looking to switch for this phone. Could you please answer couple of my qustions, firstly since Hisense has shutdown E INK phone production will the phone stop working now? Secondly does the Android App Store support third party apps like mobile banking? lastly, could you please tell if the I can used android auto on my car by connecting Hisense A9 phone. Thank you in adavnce for your valuable answer. Thank you

[@JoseBriones]

The phone will continue working. They just won't update it anymore. Mobile banking is supported. Android Auto should work as well.

[@_MR.UNKN0WN_]

Hey sir, Did you get any valuable information about Ratio or making ratio an open source? Thanks for your response ❤

[@JoseBriones]

Nothing yet.

[@Michael-Archonaeus]

This could be my next phone. Too bad I can't participate in the giveaway, since I'm in Europe🙃

[@markotomasevic8028]

So Jose, can you say has using Hisense A9 reduced your screen time significantly?

[@JoseBriones]

Absolutely. I am down to 1 hour on the work phone max per day nowadays.

[@markotomasevic8028]

@@JoseBriones wow, thats amazing, close to me using a dumbphone

[@mosygelb5676]

One small question I cannot find your video from how to make the qin F21 Pro work in the US can you please send me the link for upload it again I need it thank you I'm enjoying u

[@JoseBriones]

There is no video. Go to XDA developers and search for the guide there. That's the only way because of some legal matters

[@mosygelb5676]

@@JoseBriones but I couldn't figure it out

[@samocooper9070]

I understand, but its a bit sad we don't get in on the giveaway

[@JoseBriones]

I will try to find a solution by middle of the year. UPS is one that I've been looking into. I am hoping to include everyone by June for sure :)

[@Angela-mw5ho]

how does the speaker on this device compare to the one on the cat s22 (or phone 11 or pixel 6)?

[@musicman9945]

I have it and it sounds pretty good. Probably not iPhone level but again this phone is 360 bucks for the 6GB version.

[@Angela-mw5ho]

@@musicman9945 Thanks for sharing!

[@Angela-mw5ho]

@@musicman9945 thanks for sharing!

[@KonradsHD]

@@musicman9945 where are you finding it for that price? also im guessing you're using the 6gb > 8gb version?

[@gokuljosh1186]

How does ratio launcher perform on this phone?

[@killsweep4588]

Any launcher other than default doesn't let you use the app switcher but other than that I'm sure it would be fine also someone is working on a lineageos 20 port which should fix this and all other issues

[@Pearl-hs4zh]

Whats d battery lifespan?

[@JoseBriones]

3-4 days

[@ezitslieliskais]

Dose it have a hotspot ability?

[@JoseBriones]

Yes

[@Luis16183]

Es un teléfono muy interesante y la verdad es que me gustaría comprar uno. Pero quisiera antes saber si es compatible con Android Auto, ya que para mí es una necesidad.

[@JoseBriones]

Si es compatible.

[@jhunjhenjhan]

I can't participate in the giveaway, I'm from Central America 😔

[@JoseBriones]

Sorry. I am still trying to find a way to ship outside the states, but right now it's not cheap or possible sadly :(

[@drummajorgirl]

How’s the battery life?

[@JoseBriones]

2-3 days easy.

[@FrankoBurolo]

There's a lot of glare on that screen for an e-ink display...

[@arsonne]

Has anyone used this with ATT?

[@xoxeverythingeuphoriaxox]

Does this work with boost mobile

[@JoseBriones]

It should since it's using T-mobile

[@dvdaltizer]

Alright!

[@gnocchidokie]

Can I use this phone on Verizon?

[@JoseBriones]

No.

[@gnocchidokie]

@@JoseBriones Thanks! I'm really interested in this phone, but I don't really want the headache of switching carriers for it. I'll keep holding out hope!

[@LagYT2]

I wish I could get this tho But I'm in Nigeria

[@bupbup777]

Batterylife?

[@JoseBriones]

2-4 days

[@sirajkp3642]

👍

[@FrozenBreaks]

very nice device

[@stealth9639]

I got myself a dumb phone already, so I will leave the giveaway for someone who needs it. The problem I have is that switching sim cards between my smartphone and my dumbphone is very hard. I wish I had two simcards with the same number on them so I could keep both running. I need my smartphone at work, but when I am home for a few days I really would just like to bring the dumbphone with me.

[@supercattelephone]

one thing that has helped me is setting up call forwarding so people can reach me on different devices with the same number

[@nef36]

If you get a feature phone with a hot spot then you can do everything you need to do on your smart phone while taking all of your calls on your dumbphone

[@michaelashe5265]

Great update, thanks!

[@bmbriefs]

Hi Jose- do you know if the A9 is capable of wifi calling?

[@JoseBriones]

It sure is. I got it working with T-mobile here in the US, but I am not sure if every carrier is supported.

[@bmbriefs]

That's great, thank you! It sounds like the Hisense models (a5, a7) are not able to do this. @@JoseBriones

[@angerock49]

Man I wish I could afford an A9 :( I've tried the CatS22 but it's just too inconvenient to get me to drop my smartphone And the screen of my smartphone just always drags me in. I've tried putting it in black and white but I always end up turning on the colour because it looks terrible on the LCD, and because I CAN turn on the colour

[@shisoy4809]

I want to switch my smartphone with an eink phone for productivity, but im afraid it will still distract me. Those who use eink phone as their daily driver, did you notice an improvement in time on screen and productivity?

[@soleanna14]

Been following the light phone since release, but been too tight on money to afford it. Here’s hoping i get lucky 🙏

[@ginkax]

Can it play iMusic?

[@JoseBriones]

Yes

[@FinancialFreedomAcademy-fx1yc]

Love from Bangladesh

[@Pilpup]

Would you show me spotify running on it please?

[@JoseBriones]

It runs well without issues.

[@Pilpup]

@@JoseBriones Thank you. I heard pretty bad things about the fact spotify is pretty dark.

[@jobaqwert7315]

Hi! greaaat vídeo! I have a quick question, have you tested it with android auto? I’m not that good of a driver without maps 😅

[@JoseBriones]

This phone is Android Auto capable so it should work with you car.

[@IAmTjay116]

Having trouble finding it for sale! Where can I buy this?

[@JoseBriones]

Aliexpress

[@gantas6804]

So wait, if I take pictures with such phone and transfer those elsewhere afterwards, will those be full colour?

[@JoseBriones]

Yes. I showcased some that I have taken in the past

[@jeureumeu]

Looks like it sounds very good. I would like to buy it for this and also because I have eye problems. I imagine it can runs all the different podcast apps (I use France Culture but probably nobody knows it...) and Audible and Spotify? Thank you for all the informations

[@JoseBriones]

Yes. It runs Audible, Spotify, and many podcast apps

[@jeureumeu]

@@JoseBriones muchas gracias. Es muy amable de su parte asi de contestar a la gente. Creo que ese telefono me va ayudar mucho con mis ojos

[@ninio9475]

Please review the Wisephone II when it comes out. Thank you.

[@JoseBriones]

I’ll see what I can do.

[@Balalaikaduo]

where did you buy this device?

[@JoseBriones]

AliExpress

[@dunknmoj]

How to join the giveaway?

[@JoseBriones]

Link in the description

[@sirajkp3642]

I am from UAE I would like to buy hisense A9 Where can i get this phone?

[@JoseBriones]

aliexpress

[@killsweep4588]

Don't buy it from goodEreaders

[@boardcrf2763]

@@killsweep4588why? I just ordered from them.

[@arthurkelley]

price is ridiculous high

[@JoseBriones]

For some yeah

[@arthurkelley]

@@JoseBriones I'd say for anyone outside USA and couple of rich EU countries. I am looking for a semi-smart-flip phone for myself around 40-60 USD and can not find anything. I can find a smartphone for that price but flip phones are now for rich fellas.