What is the Best Cheap Smartphone from Family Dollar?

[@johnzoid74]

hey guys answering some quick questions! - I tried inserting my sim (active T-Mobile) and it did not unlock. I also ran hard Recovery mode and reset cache + factory data reset but it didn’t change anything.. If you have any guides to unlock send to me on Discord! -The PuckiPuppy bike, when I left outside the stoor, I watched super closely and had the manager watch it for me too. I freakin love the bike and will use it as a commuter til it snows! -The Blue View 5 does update, and currently rocks Android 14

[@JesusAramil]

You can try to accessibility bypass it.

[@RakibJeagerOfficial]

The blu Smartphones aren't Suppose to update Not sure why

[@korydrake4567]

Hey man for what its worth you probably are not going to get around that screen. A lot of these devices are secured at the Processor level by a company called Trustonic or another similar company. Without being able to directly communicate with the processor unfortunately it is highly unlikely you will get around that page. UScellular does the same exact thing with their prepaids now.

[@L4ftyOne]

Recovery mode and just flash a new stock android on it dude

[@L4ftyOne]

​@@korydrake4567yes he does just 10mins of new android flashing

[@Truthhunter7777]

In UK now illegal to sell phone locked to any network

[@CDNSpartan]

Same with Canada. Since 2017.

[@trr5291]

UK and the rest of the free world are always ahead of the US. I had to keep my service active for a year for them to unlock my phone.

[@nooneinpart]

@@trr5291 There's an FCC proposal to force carriers to unlock phones after 60 days. Not as good as mandatory unlocked phones, but not too shabby.

[@vylettesky]

i use pixel samsung and iphone (i collect phones and modify them)

[@TBVGAMING34]

Yup​@@CDNSpartan

[@kylehfeng5677]

Those video is actually entertaining to me! It's still nice! great content!

[@mirorblx3]

underrated comment

[@PatrickBaptist]

I bought this phone based on your review, thanks, at family dollar in my area, phone was on sale $45 and then I clipped a $10 coupon on their website before going to the store so I got this phone for $35 whoohoo!

[@ted_the_ed8592]

I bought one of those Verizon sim-locked phones, and ran into that lock too but I had a $10 TracFone sim card on hand. I put it in there and it bypassed the message and accepted it, so my guess is it's backwards compatible, since Verizon owns TracFone.

[@johnzoid74]

I think you’re right. I put t Mobile in there and couldn’t get past it

[@ted_the_ed8592]

@@johnzoid74 it's worth a try

[@AidentheAnderson]

Would a Verizon sim work?

[@ted_the_ed8592]

@@AidentheAnderson yeah

[@ted_the_ed8592]

I think

[@crazycube32]

That Moto G Stylus is a steal of a deal, although I’d wish it came with more storage and RAM. 6GB and 128GB at the minimum.

[@giovanigeorgis3848]

Well then it wouldn’t be much of a budget phone lol. Apples current flagship comes with 6GB/128GB default.

[@crazycube32]

@@giovanigeorgis3848 highway robbery

[@giovanigeorgis3848]

@@crazycube32 huh?

[@Talondrone]

After looking it up I'm guessing that's the 4G model from 2023. I got the 5G model from the year before when switching to T-Mobile and it has 6 gigs of RAM and 128 gigs of storage as a baseline.

[@crazycube32]

@@Talondrone That’s nice! I’m about to get an S24 Plus from T-Mobile!

[@shawntimothyli]

I came across your last video and ran to family dollar today. Got myself a moto g stylus for $38 with the sale and coupon! I’m definitely impressed with the moto!

[@palacioestrella]

It’s too bad we don’t have Family Dollar at my place no more.

[@Zvxers7]

You used to have a family dollar in your house?

[@palacioestrella]

@@Zvxers7 I meant to say there used to be a Family Dollar near me.

[@Zvxers7]

@@palacioestrella i know, im just joking

[@joyboy9072]

Was it tear down and what replaced it ?

[@tino768]

It's too bad people can now say "F school 'Imma be a content creator'" and then go on to think a sentence like that is grammatically correct...

[@ScottyGFRP]

Bloatware is a given on Motorola and Samsung smartphones but after gaining root you can uninstall unnecessary system apps that would normally be running silently in the background slowing the phones down significantly.

[@csonweedagain5054]

The main thing with phones like this at least in the US is the software is so obscure it's not worth it for crackers to make root access possible unless they're using stock android and have their apps side loaded. I only say this because I used to live off those phones and tried with at least the ones in used at it was moot.

[@dylanlindsay1993]

with the samsung phones as long as the model number ends in the letter u, you can usually just flash the u1 firmware to it and it will remove all of the carrier bloat! i got a galaxy a15 5g sm-a156u and i flashed the sm-a156u1 firmware to it and i got rid of all the verizon bs that came with it.... also i got this phone for 15$ cuz the dude at walmart hooked me up! sadly though what he didnt mention was that the bill is 80$ a month which includes 5$ a month in the bill for the phone lease payment which im stuck in for 3 years! but i can pay the phone off early if i want to then wait 60 days after its paid off for it to unlock.... but its a very good phone though and the plan is good to! its literally unlimited data with no high speed cap then it be slow!

[@korydrake4567]

@@dylanlindsay1993 the guy at Walmart did not "hook you up" he signed you up for a contract in which you are going to pay $2,880 to get a freaking A15 for $15.

[@ScottyGFRP]

@@dylanlindsay1993 you have forgotten that binary or bit number is the only piece of information that Samsung Odin flash tool is going 5o consider or care about and if your device is recently updated or just newly activated the last few characters will always be higher than U1 for example U6 etc.

[@03Sys]

Or just use ADB, requiring the ADB software (or any software that has ADB) on a PC and the charging cable. No need to factory reset & all that, and your warranty is not voided. Heck, you don't even need a PC if your phone runs Android 11+, you just install a few apps (Shizuku and AShell/Canta), and have wireless connection.

[@notaacreativehandle]

That cod running smoothly! I'm impressed, I'm a Motorola razr user but if I didn't have my current phone I wouldn't mind picking this up. It's a steal!

[@WhateverWhenever888]

It’s pretty amazing how you can get smartphones that work and do everything you need and sometimes more for so cheap, we’ve come so far since the early days of smartphones. Also can we get more videos of you on your bike? That was so fun to watch. A nice little touch to your usual phone videos.

[@swtich24]

I work for a a wirleess provider. i know with samsung we can bypass the sim activation by pressing the volume down on start screen.. i think you have to press it like 3 times

[@bluzeorc9449]

How about use an already activated sim card?

[@NelsonTheCat-o6i]

Exactly!! He can just pay $60 once and put the SIM into the other phones to activate them as well. As long as the SIM is active theoretically the other Verizon phones should accept them as well.

[@2048Megabytes.]

@@NelsonTheCat-o6imy exact thoughts as well

[@Banner.]

@@NelsonTheCat-o6i what i was thinking. it isnt a big brain thing to think of.

[@NelsonTheCat-o6i]

@Banner. I'm glad you agree. He also mentioned that he wants to try test driving the Moto G as a daily driver for a month. So, when he activates that phone he could just use the same exact SIM card in the other phones.

[@davionwest9300]

I'm pretty sure if that works then that would be one pretty busted chip for unlocking thoes phones, I'm also assuming if it was to work you can't remove it still or it's gonna lock up on ya or something

[@andyfloyd8583]

I bought a very cheap Tracfone a few years ago because it was $40 and came with triple minutes and 1 year of service. I reloaded that phone with minutes a few times. That sim currently has 35k of talk minutes, 3.5k of texts, and 2 gb data. In about 3 years that sim has been in about 30 phones. When ever I get a cheap phone I put that sim in it. It's currently in an iPhone 7 I got for $20.

[@zeeweenor]

i want to see you try to bypass the activation on verizon might be interesting

[@hey-qi6ko]

Man, my momma has a Motorola Edge 30 NEON, and all I could say to you is that this phone literally ROCKS. Its processor’s speed, default system, programmable and gaming efficiency power thus camera and video quality, for the price, it’s way more than a fair trade. $231 is pretty much, although you could just search it in other sides or sell-out other sites. There’re tons of stores online nowadays Just get careful to the scammers!

[@SDRIFTERAbdlmounaim]

ma boi i miss 2016 phone designs with the home button n all, cool video as always btw🎉

[@johnzoid74]

thanks dude, yeah I miss them too! I think they’re gone for good other than companies like these haha

[@Jakeinlivincolor]

Man, seeing the Motorola brought me back to my first android phone, the Moto G first gen... I loved it so much

[@davidguillory4311]

I'm a Samsung person and I also work on these phones. The only way you're going to get it bypassed is to buy a motherboard for it that is factory unlock for any phone company.

[@TBVGAMING34]

Duhhhh

[@heatherpratchler1509]

Im a life long Motorola user. My first smart phone was a moto g then i got the g3, the moto z play, moto one zoom, now the motorola edge. My first three phones my dad bought for me. The only reason ive stuck with Motorola this long is there moto actions, chopp twice to turn on flashlight is a life saver, no button to accidentally turn it on. And the flick wrist twice ti activate camera, then again to change to front camera. Also i dont need something super fancy, this gives me speed, good camera, good screen, what most people want, but also cheaper. Ive tried my mom and dads samsungs, (not the super top of line ones but teir down) and their fine, but Motorola does something with the software that makes it enjoyable. I dont need latest and greatest, as long as battery is good, camera is good, and performance is good, them im good. I got a phone to call text and watch youtube vides on. Highly recommend using motorola as a daily driver.

[@vmangobob]

Motorola user here. Had the original Moto E from way back then the Moto G6 which was just replaced with a Moto G Power 2024 that was free with 1 month on Straight Talk, around $48.

[@juniorondeck3760]

As others have mentioned in the comments, it’s best to use an old Verizon sim if you have one laying around and that should usually bypass the activation screen idk if one can be sourced on eBay for this sole purpose. The least favorable option is to activate service on one of the phones and move the SIM card around to bypass activation and test the service but that’s $60 down the drain imo

[@Burgercat]

For the A03s, you can download the firmware for A037U1 XAA or VZW CSC then flash it using Odin. It'll still be locked to Verizon but it won't have that activation screen anymore.

[@0T_46]

Either, Get an old verizon sim thats been activated before. Activate one of the phones and just use that sim card across the other phones or try using the total by verizon sim.

[@LukeTheNotSoGreat]

I use the Samsung galaxy a03s and I got it from Wal-Mart for $40 - $60 and it cost $35 per month to keep the service through straight talk. overall it is a good phone for everyday use and light games.

[@Scrap_Goblin]

I'm currently using that samsung. 2 years of a use later its still working but its seen better days

[@collinsgichuhi8255]

You should play a Shmup like Bullet Hell Monday or Galaga Wars with a Stylus, its really dreamy and feels right. I have played with those simple capacitive tip pens and I really cant go back

[@adamthestonerful]

I use the Moto G Power and I have to say it's a great device for its $100 price tag. It's a straight talk prepaid. Find it at any Walmart or other stores I'm sure highly recommend giving it a go.

[@thedreflacko]

Spending $300+ on phones no problem ✔️ Spending $60 on activation is where he draws the line ❌

[@LopazIRL]

One Is permanent, other is permanent 👀

[@trr5291]

Our family dollar stores closed down a long time ago. I didn't know any still existed.

[@Vannderbow]

just bought a moto stylus yesterday, so far so good!

[@doughy041]

I watched your first family dollar video. I got to a store that I thought was in a decent to ok part of town (I was wrong) thankfully I locked my car and previously threw most everything in my trunk. They had the two that told me WIFI wasn't available, ignored them and bought the Moto G stylus. Nice upgrade from my Galaxy J7 crown which is still stuck on Android 9. My opinion on this phone after three days on it. It's a very good upgrade from what I had. It's not a Samsung or Pixel but it handles what I throw at it decently. Can I tell that its lagging sometimes? Yes Is it slower than any current Samsung A or S tier phone? Yes. but for less than 50 bucks including tax who cares and an included stylus its a damn good phone!

[@martontichi8611]

why would u need to pay $60 it's a prepaid phone. no contract

[@mattlowe5566]

i shouldn’t be this excited to see the follow up 😭😂

[@johnzoid74]

lol 😂

[@biancagerade4229]

I just bought a Motorola g play last week for Sixty Dollars,, at Walmart thank you for your videos

[@Andythemanman3]

I'm currently on a launch day S22 Ultra, 1tb. I run it almost exclusively on power saving mode.

[@baileyboy3021]

Haven't searched comments, but wondered if I'm already on Verizon & put my SIM in one of these 2 locked phones would they work like a "regular" phone? That Moto G Stylus looks nice! May have to check it out...maybe try my SIM in that??

[@Amphy002]

Here in the UK, Motorola offer a range of budget phones and they have better specifications than the more expensive Samsung phones. They have great battery life and are robust.

[@johnzoid74]

that’s good they’re budget priced. here in the USA people drool over iPhone 💀

[@nooneinpart]

@@johnzoid74 Concerning iPhones, I will at least say that the SE is very impressive when carriers give it out for (almost) free in exchange for using it for at least 2 years. I've found myself more happy with it than my previous Galaxy S10e. Though the obsession people have with blue bubbles is weird.

[@StarHope1986]

I have the Samsung Galaxy A03s with my QLink wireless service. I bought it unlocked when I was with AirTalk wireless. I love the phone. It's basic, but it's simply sweet for my use. Response time is a little slower than my main phone, an iPhone 13, but I don't mind. When it comes time to sell my iPhone, I will most likely go with a Samsung Galaxy model.

[@milesnewplot]

I use a Motorola and it's really worth it. I have 2 Moto g play 2024s, a Motorola RAZR 2019, and Motorola RAZR 2023

[@SpaxtheWarrior]

I currently daily drive a Moto G stylus 5G. It's a 2021 model on TracFone.

[@ESKJR]

Same '23 w snapdragon 6 gen 1 for $10 best deal of my life on a phone 🤳 4k video and Dolby Atmos damn I'm blessed

[@TerrorSyxke]

The downside of Motorola phones at this price are their screens, also I've found one of its gestures was to open an app, but its automatically set to TikTok, pretty odd, knowing Lenovo owns Motorolas branding

[@Vaporfro]

Had the Galaxy S23 for a couple years, love it dearly

[@lasportslive6814]

Great Video (again) John!! 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@trevorstepoo8838]

My main phone is the Samsung Galaxy s24 ultra which is a $1,600.00 phone 1 TB storage

[@corey7219]

I just missed you! I go to the mcdonalds next to this dollar store every day during my lunch break!

[@GnarpyGaming-shimmyYa]

Every day?

[@Kaydenqoutes]

Can I get the Moto G 5G cause I want an upgrade from my moto G stylus that only runs on 4G plus I can get it unlocked

[@deadchannel991]

I currently have the moto g stylus 5g 2024(newest one) this is an awesome phone. Works great, love it. My previous phone was a s22+, love this phone more. Had a g stylus 5g 22 before that, loved that phone too.

[@rick00770]

Thanks for review . Subscribed.

[@bloxyarii]

I use the Galaxy A03s as a daily driver and its really slow. The 32 GB Model has only 5ish GB of free space after apps and system. I don't recommend it!!

[@scottdunn4506]

If you can find a old Verizon sim that was activated along time ago it will activate the phone without service

[@RaccNerd]

good idea

[@Ike32]

Did you ever find a way around that carrier lock, to use the wifi?

[@Mitcheller41]

The Moto G Stylus is the phone I use and I love the thing. The cameras good, battery is amazing and long lasting battery. Its a solid device

[@ESKJR]

I have the 5g 23 Verizon thing is bulletproof I I dropped and through so many times

[@Mitcheller41]

@@ESKJR I have the AT&T version. Things durable and I'm happy with it. It's a prepaid phone that was under a 100 bucks. It gets the job done for me

[@Joe-ey7cu]

I have 5 Moto phones 2019-2024 and they all work fine. Only one had a swollen battery that I had to replace.

[@OrganicAct]

in theory is it possible to use one of these phones unlocked as an alternative to the iPod touch since it’s been discontinued?

[@oneonlycargeek9057]

TO ACCESS YOUR VERIZON PHONE YOU GOT FROM FAMILY DOLLAR, PAY FOR ONE SIM OR USE YOUR OWN VERIZON SIM THAT'S ACTIVE THEN PUT IT I THE PHONE ONCE YOU DO THAT SET IT UP WITH WIFI THE REMOVE IT your welcome

[@marcosrabadanhernandez]

In the Moto G 5G you can simply put a SIM card you know works (like your mobile phone's one) and I think it'll work. Hope this helps you! P.S.: In the other phones you could also do this.

[@croissantumm-idk]

You can put an active sim for a Verizon NVMO in (i.e total by Verizon, straight talk or the Verizon tracfone sim) and it should work just finde

[@rowanedward5079]

I've got a Moto G14 and I love it, great budget phone 🙌

[@iPhoneMuseum]

Is it fast?

[@rowanedward5079]

@@iPhoneMuseum yea I'd say so, I've never noticed that it's slow!

[@b.m.2293]

Just use a cheaply activated Verizon sim for them and use the same one to get through setup

[@davinp]

Samsung provides more Android updates then Motorola does. It also has NFC which the Motorola phone does not

[@shamdesfines]

I bought my mother the Samsung Galaxy A03s. She loves that thing..

[@Ex-gx5qi]

I want that moto stylus... unfortunately I'm not in the USA 😢

[@Driftwood740EvSide]

my moto stylus 2021 was pretty easy to root, still using it running Android 14

[@amrsupcarmona5402]

I had that phone but I upgraded to the razr

[@Driftwood740EvSide]

@@amrsupcarmona5402 thought about it, does it have root?

[@dylanlindsay1993]

@@amrsupcarmona5402 i had that phone through straigt talk but i gave it to my grandma to use for mobile games.... she has like 5 of my old phones for that lol!

[@androidtopman9507]

Dont have to root you can use tools to skip to the setup i can show you how by a few instructions and a laptop

[@Jakeinlivincolor]

We need a Dollar General cell phone video now

[@nikkoscrivani52]

I use Motorola edge 2024 free at Walmart with three months of service through straight talk great deal

[@Khloya69]

Not owning a flagship until 2017 is crazy

[@johnzoid74]

yea crazy I was… 23 years old for my first LOL

[@averagegamer9162]

I got my first one with 18

[@Sunny-ju1lr]

Still using the moto g stylus 2024 and no complaints.

[@loser.council]

does the blu view 5 still get android version updates

[@johnzoid74]

Yes it does! It’s on Android 14 currently

[@timmy1878]

stopping kids from saying first

[@faihthegamer1320]

You didn't have a good comment, please do better next time :V

[@Realtoalla93]

r/woosh (I think)

[@timmy1878]

@@faihthegamer1320 🙂

[@quzşewıti.0_0]

you are failed

[@faihthegamer1320]

​@@timmy1878brotha maybe just talk abt the value of the phone and how good they are and why verizon (i think so?) sucks at not giving you the permission to go inside of your own phone and have to spend 60$ MORE to open the locked phone :V ( sorry if im pretty mad, im tired of all of these comments that has no originallity and no engagement on the video)

[@emadhamidnaja]

For samsung use samfw to bypass whatever wizard comes up at setup

[@pabloandthebucketeers698]

I just went from a pixel 7 to a moto edge '24 and so far the transition has had a lot of ups and some downs

[@TheWalkthroughKiller]

Nice video! Where did you get that desk mat?

[@notaacreativehandle]

The charge block alone is a W

[@TheOddwill]

I have an Moto G Stylus and it is awesome for gaming and other things. I can get a clean 60 fps on anything I play.

[@_BASIC_INSTINCT]

4:50 is this a common thing now for newer prepaid phones?

[@giannis_kapelakos]

Motorola user here! Edge 30 neo.

[@sol-solthadon7012]

Thank you I got the Moto G Stylus for $37 dollars.

[@PinkAgaricus]

Moto G 5g (2022)[the replaced battery is getting swollen] as a content device since it still works and every day use a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Both bought factory unlocked from Amazon. The way I can tell that the battery of the former is swollen is that it fails the table test with a case on it. The latter is fine passes the case on table test.

[@da_cyberjudge]

2:28 is the most cursed line ever

[@pdbouie]

What!!!! Dude I think you just need to press the arrow key down at the bottom and it'll go past that activation screen I'm checking on that now

[@Kartma122]

first one is the phone used by daniel larson

[@StarFuryG7]

Where are you located? I live in NY and purchased the TracFone Blu View 5 on Friday and am using it now via WiFi. I have a work related convenience need for this device, but that is all. About a month earlier I purchased the Boost Mobile version of the Moto G Play for WiFi use at home only when my prior old phone ended up in the washing machine and got fried as a result. The Blu phone cost me $30 at BB in the City, and the Moto G Play cost me $60 at BB at a different BB store away from the City. I'm annoyed that the Moto G Play is only 4G, but I don't intend on activating it either and it suits my needs, but I also suspected that phones could be activation locked by a carrier, which doesn't thrill me.

[@sonumannambeth18]

Moto G54 5g . One of the best budget phones I have ever used.

[@shawnwhite3662]

The Stylus is a good phone but the screen brightness has a flickering problem. I had 3 of them and they all did the same thing.

[@Fidious]

Dude, what mousepad/pad is that I want Benjamin Franklin too

[@lorelailuthorkar-el137]

Zflip 4 and A12 Nacho user right here🙋🏻‍♀️😅

[@MrWeusi]

what about live streaming

[@mjmusictest2434]

3:50 I'm using Motorola (Moto One 5G Ace - 6GB+128GB)!! 💜💜💜

[@CoolCrescent186]

Good value of a phone. Consider installing LineageOS on it.

[@mjmusictest2434]

@@CoolCrescent186 Which one, OS 20? 🤔

[@CoolCrescent186]

@@mjmusictest2434 Yeah, it's based on Android 13, but I'm pretty sure it'll get an Android 14 update at some point. No reason to stay on stock (that ended support with Android 11).

[@mjmusictest2434]

@@CoolCrescent186 Okay, I'll see what I could do, thanks for the tip!! 😁

[@DJSekuHusky]

Straight Talk uses Verizon towers now, why not set up a Straight Talk line? Should be a lot cheaper to set up, and in theory it will bypass because it's an active line. Just a thought.

[@darkpyro2k10]

U can activate the phone without putting time on it you just need to activate it so you can use it on WiFi

[@2p3k0un]

If you flash the system it will remove that annoying verizon activation

[@setoth1234]

Some OEMs require a valid SIM, others do not, and TCL, you can just skip the SIM insertion step.

[@MrSnowball82811]

Dollar general phones next

[@yourpaljd]

I recommend the 5G version of the Stylus phone, it has better internals

[@daltanwerre8277]

I saw everybody commenting this but I knew it didn't work that only works with old Verizon phones not the new ones not the prepaid ones anyways

[@JeromeDenton]

I'm using a moto g power (2021) and honestly it's amazing 😍

[@renault_twingo_gen_one]

I am actively using an A03s on Straight Talk. my review: It do.

[@DanielTong-ru3yz]

My phone was the moto g slylus 2023 unlocked version and it's working fine