Android Police

Nextbit Robin

Readers like you help support Android Police. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More.

latest

Out with the old, in with the new: LineageOS cut support for Android 9 Pie earlier this year, and to make up for the loss, the open-source project has just released version 18.1 based on Android 11. It comes with official support for about 60 phones and tablets.

The Nextbit Robin launched in 2016, and one of its unique features was 'Smart Storage.' Nextbit offered 100GB of cloud storage with every phone, where users could offload unused apps (along with the app data) to the cloud, and then easily restore them later. Support for the Robin has been winding down over the past few months, so it should come as no surprise that the cloud functionality will soon stop working.

The Razer Phone was designed by the same folks who handled the Nextbit Robin, which snapped like a twig in JerryRigEverything's hands. Fortunately, this metal-clad phone fares a bit better, though it's by no means a durability champ like some other phones. But hey, at least it doesn't completely bend in half, right?

The Nextbit Robin, much like the legendary HP TouchPad, became a much better device after the price dropped. The cost has continued to fall over the past few months, and now you can buy one for just $109.99 on eBay - the lowest we've seen it drop.

How little can you spend on a phone in 2017 and still have a good experience? Companies like Lenovo-owned Motorola and BLU are pushing the envelope when it comes to the budget segment in the US. But, even a dated flagship can outcompete almost everything in the current entry-level market, and right now you can pick up one of 2016's most overlooked examples, the Nextbit Robin, for around 0 from Amazon. We think that deserves a second look.We already reviewed the Robin once back when it came out, but with how fast the price has fallen recently, it's not the same phone it was. The perspective on a piece of hardware drastically changes with the cost, and we felt that, at this new low price, it really deserved a re-examination. Since we already reviewed it, don't expect things to be too in-depth, but I will cover details when needed.

The Nextbit Robin is one of the best options, if not the best option, for Android phone buyers on a tight budget. After Nextbit was purchased by Razer, prices for the phone began to drastically fall from its $299 MSRP, and now you can buy it for just $117.99 on Amazon.The Robin was released in early 2016, with a 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display, Snapdragon 808 CPU, 13MP camera, and 2,680mAh battery. It has a fingerprint scanner on the side power button, which can be a bit finicky. There's also a Type-C port for charging, but it uses Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0, not USB-PD like Nexus and Pixel phones. To top it all off, the phone was just updated to Android 7.1.1.Before you rush off to buy a Robin, there are a few issues you should be aware of. The Robin isn't very durable, and the exterior finish scratches off easily, so maybe a case and/or screen protector would be a good idea. Also, Nextbit won't honor any warranties past the end of June, so if your phone breaks after that you're out of luck. Finally, the Robin is only compatible with GSM networks, so it won't work on Verizon or Sprint.Still, this is easily the best phone you can get new for under $120 (in the US) right now. As of the time of writing, it's only on sale for 15 more hours, so you better grab it quick.Source: Amazon

The Nextbit Robin was a good value when it was released, and an even greater value for those who have bought it on sale recently. Many, including myself, didn't expect to see major software updates once Nextbit was purchased by Razer, but the phone is surprisingly now receiving an update to Android 7.1.1.

After earning $1.3 million on Kickstarer, the Nextbit Robin was released to the public to mostly good reviews. Earlier this year, Nextbit was acquired by Razer, seemingly putting an end to the Robin lineup. On the bright side, the Robin has continued to drop in price, and now you can find it for just $129.99 on eBay.

Since LineageOS rose from the ashes of the ever popular CyanogenMod custom ROM at the beginning of the year, the community has been hard at work releasing incremental updates on a bi-weekly basis. Each one brings new features and support for more devices. The previous update to LineageOS 14.1 arrived with support for 9 further devices, including the Moto Z Play and Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5. The latest changelog includes additional support for just 1 extra device, the Nextbit Robin, which has been re-added. It also announces that the Nexus 4 will no longer be officially supported.

The Nextbit Robin was released to the general public last year, after it finished its Kickstarter campaign at over $1.3 million. It was an interesting phone, and over the past few months, we've seen it drop lower and lower in price. Now you can get the Robin for just $136.99 - a $163 discount from its current MSRP.

Nextbit started testing out its Android Nougat update last November through a closed beta program that required users to sign up. Today, a few months later, the final Nougat build is starting to roll to everyone, no beta sign-up needed.

A few days ago, Lineage OS announced that new builds of its custom ROM would be released during the weekend and it has kept its word. On Sunday night, the team started uploading builds for a few devices, picking up where CyanogenMod had left off.

The Nextbit Robin came out a little over a year ago, and it was a pretty good phone. It's actually amazing when you consider Nextbit had never made a phone before. It's also an undeniably funky device, so good on them for that. The price has been coming down as it gets older, and now the Robin has reached an all-time low price on Amazon—just $139 with Prime shipping.Both the mint and midnight colorways are included in the sale, but I'm personally partial to mint. This device has a 5.2-inch 1080p LCD, a hexa-core Snapdragon 808, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. There's also a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and front-facing speakers.The Robin runs Android 6.0 out of the box, and Nougat is in testing. Nextbit's claim to fame is a cloud backup system that stores your photos and apps as you run short on space, then restores them automatically. It's not a game changer, but yeah, it works. The current $250 default price is a little high, but $139 is hard to pass up if you're in need of a cheap phone.Source: Robin Mint, Robin Midnight

The Nextbit Robin is a quirky little phone, selling itself on a unique cloud storage-based Android ROM and a striking squared-off body. Ryan gave it a solid review when it debuted earlier this year, noting its appealing design and budget price. The phone frequently goes on sale from various retailers, but today's deal on eBay might be the best yet: it's down to just 9.99, a whopping $250 off of the original price.

The Nextbit Robin is one of the few crowdfunded smartphones that have actually shipped. After being released earlier this year, we gave it solid marks for its dual front-facing speakers and design. Now you can grab your very own Nextbit Robin for only $169.99, a whopping $130 off the $300 MSRP (and $30 off the normal Amazon price).With a Snapdragon 808 CPU, 3GB of RAM, USB Type-C, 32GB of internal storage, and a 1080p display, the Robin should still suit most of your smartphone needs in 2016 and beyond. The Robin's main feature is the 100GB of online storage bundled with the device, where the Robin archives unused applications and data automatically. Keep in mind that the Robin still only officially has Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but Nextbit has promised Nougat before the end of 2016.Only the Midnight color is on sale, the Mint variety is $196. The device is not sold by Amazon directly, but is shipped by Amazon and One-Day Shipping is available.Source: Amazon

Earlier in the year, Paranoid Android made a comeback with a clean, well-built ROM and support for a number of Nexus and OnePlus devices. Since then, they've only updated the ROM three times, but they've all included a significant amount of changes. Now, thanks to a PA-Nextbit partnership, the ROM is available for the Nextbit Robin. In addition, the OnePlus 3's ROM has been updated with some new features.

Ever since its start as a Kickstarter campaign, the Nextbit Robin has been available in two color schemes: Mint and Midnight. Now a third color is joining the ranks, and it's just as interesting and even a little bolder and brighter than the Mint variant: Ember.

The Nextbit Robin is a nice phone, but it's the software that makes or breaks the experience. People who purchase one are not merely getting nice hardware and specs, they're buying the idea of using remote servers to offload apps and data they've run out of space for on their phones.

See more articles +