Can I buy an Android phone for development without signing up for a cell/data plan?

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

Andriod newbie here–I’d like to test my apps on an Android device but I don’t want to sign up for a cell/data plan for that device. Questions:

  1. Can I just buy an Android device and be able to use it for development without signing a contract with a service provider like Verizon or AT&T? 

  2. If so, are there certain models that are better for development than others?  I am interested in perhaps buying several devices with different screen resolutions.

  3. I have an old iPhone that no longer has a plan attached to it and it is still able to access the internet when connected to Wi-Fi.  Will an Andriod device with no data plan act in the same way and be able to connect to the internet and Google Play Store via Wi-Fi?

Thanks.

#2

Yes to Q1 and Q3.  I’ll defer to the others for recommended models…

Naomi

#3

Are you mostly interested in making apps/games for small screen devices or large?

I love the Nexus 7 (not a phone) for dev and it’s only $200 new.  That said, the next time I buy a device it will be the Nexus 10.  

Both of these are large screen devices (relative to say an iPod sized display).

#4

I’d echo what @roaminggamer said.  I have a Nexus 7 for my Android testing.  As long as you don’t need phone features, it’s a good choice, but if you did need phone features, you would need to have a phone plan in that case.

#5

This is great info, thanks.  I don’t need phone features, so Nexus 7 or 10 sounds like a good choice. 

Let me ask one more question, is it worth also getting an older device, e.g., an older Droid phone, to test performance.  I guess I’m wondering, just because it works well on a Nexus 7 can I make the jump that it will work just as well on an older, less state-of-the-art device. 

Thanks again. 

#6

on a recent, large Corona project, we needed to support a wide range of phones, a decision driven by the client. we discovered performance issues, but only on the models which were older / less powered. there were also inconsistencies between manufacturers even on newer devices. so for us it was beneficial to have a variety of devices.

so, for my own personal projects, i recently purchased two phones off of ebay, a samsung S and S3. the older S for testing performance / resolution on an older device with (by today’s standards) low memory, single core, etc. also, it can’t be upgraded past android 2.X. the S3 is for testing on a more modern phone and it runs the latest 4.X Android.

i use both without a data plan. if i need network connection i use WiFi. you can easily get temporary cell service buy either purchasing a pay-as-you-go SIM from a provider of your choice or, if your work/personal phone SIM fits in the device, you can just use that. i made sure both devices were unlocked before purchase.

this site is the bomb for looking up specs, comparing devices, etc:
http://smartphones.techcrunch.com/
http://tablets.techcrunch.com/

cheers,
dmc

#7

Yes to Q1 and Q3.  I’ll defer to the others for recommended models…

Naomi

#8

Are you mostly interested in making apps/games for small screen devices or large?

I love the Nexus 7 (not a phone) for dev and it’s only $200 new.  That said, the next time I buy a device it will be the Nexus 10.  

Both of these are large screen devices (relative to say an iPod sized display).

#9

I’d echo what @roaminggamer said.  I have a Nexus 7 for my Android testing.  As long as you don’t need phone features, it’s a good choice, but if you did need phone features, you would need to have a phone plan in that case.

#10

This is great info, thanks.  I don’t need phone features, so Nexus 7 or 10 sounds like a good choice. 

Let me ask one more question, is it worth also getting an older device, e.g., an older Droid phone, to test performance.  I guess I’m wondering, just because it works well on a Nexus 7 can I make the jump that it will work just as well on an older, less state-of-the-art device. 

Thanks again. 

#11

on a recent, large Corona project, we needed to support a wide range of phones, a decision driven by the client. we discovered performance issues, but only on the models which were older / less powered. there were also inconsistencies between manufacturers even on newer devices. so for us it was beneficial to have a variety of devices.

so, for my own personal projects, i recently purchased two phones off of ebay, a samsung S and S3. the older S for testing performance / resolution on an older device with (by today’s standards) low memory, single core, etc. also, it can’t be upgraded past android 2.X. the S3 is for testing on a more modern phone and it runs the latest 4.X Android.

i use both without a data plan. if i need network connection i use WiFi. you can easily get temporary cell service buy either purchasing a pay-as-you-go SIM from a provider of your choice or, if your work/personal phone SIM fits in the device, you can just use that. i made sure both devices were unlocked before purchase.

this site is the bomb for looking up specs, comparing devices, etc:
http://smartphones.techcrunch.com/
http://tablets.techcrunch.com/

cheers,
dmc