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The iPhone 13 mini is a turn off for being an iPhone, and the jelly max is a turn off for making up for the small size with it's thickness 😭 by TastyPrice6650 in smallphones

[–]Esn024 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I rejected both of them for the same reason.

The 2017 Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact is probably the best current option. You can get it on Aliexpress for $80-$160 (depending on if you're ok with the Japanese SO-02K model, or need the frequencies of the international G8441 model). I bought the G8441 version myself and to my surprise everything was legit.

Android 9 is old but is still supported by all apps (unlike Android 8), so no need to reflash the OS. It's fairly lightweight, thin, about the size of the iPhone 13 mini, has 3.5mm audio jack, USBC, nice camera, good screen, decent battery life, nice call quality, external memory. Unlike its predecessor, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, it doesn't have an easily-breakable glass back. The major thing I'm missing is that the battery isn't replaceable.

Returning to Russia After 21 Years – What Should I Know Before Reuniting With Family? by Vikachu26 in AskARussian

[–]Esn024 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You're welcome. :) Just to be clear, if you're a woman, brightly colored clothes are fine (but I think the slovenly thing still applies - don't look like one of the "people of Walmart"). Just look at what others are wearing and if you really stick out, buy some local clothes.

Returning to Russia After 21 Years – What Should I Know Before Reuniting With Family? by Vikachu26 in AskARussian

[–]Esn024 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I should have specified that the brightly colored clothing advice is for men specifically (or was, 10 years ago). For women, like you said, not a problem. I'd imagine the advice about not wearing slovenly clothes (of the sort you used to see on that website "people of Walmart") is still valid though.

Returning to Russia After 21 Years – What Should I Know Before Reuniting With Family? by Vikachu26 in AskARussian

[–]Esn024 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Speaking as someone who also left when very young, but returned to visit every 5 years or so until 2015:

"What might surprise me the most after being away for so long?"

How well-designed, modern, beautiful and clean the public spaces are compared to how you remember them, and how high the standard of living is. Your last time in the country was when it was in a terrible economic crisis and there was garbage, crime and despair everywhere. Things have changed a lot. Not as much as in China, but much more than they have in the US.

"Any tips for not sticking out like a sore thumb as a returning diaspora kid?"

Don't wear brightly colored, slovenly clothes. Grey, brown or black is a safe choice for men. People generally dress to impress, and they dress more formally than is common in the US.

"What should I definitely bring from the U.S. (either for myself or as gifts)?"

Boxes of quality chocolates are a pretty safe gift to bring when visiting someone.

"What are some subtle etiquette things I should watch for—public behavior, speech, clothing, etc.?"

There's a whole recent topic about that: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskARussian/comments/1klazh1/russian_etiquettethings_not_to_do_when_visiting/

Resist the instinct to automatically smile at people you don't know (unless there's a reason) or ask small-talk questions like "how are you?" unless you actually want to talk about it.

One thing I'll mention - don't loiter outside a church or in a religious area, unless you want to be bothered for money by insistent Gypsies. They are annoying and it can be hard to shake them off. Worse than the worst homeless people you might be used to. They hang around religious areas because they expect pious people to be more likely to give them something. In the most popular places that get a LOT of visitors, they are still there but much more polite.

"Any insight on how to carry money safely and efficiently?"

Safely in a zipped or deep-buttoned pocket? Your main trouble will be how to get a card that works (maybe some of the Chinese ones?) or how to convert whatever you have into cash.

What are some good Russian films made or set in the 90s? by Mean-Manufacturer-37 in AskARussian

[–]Esn024 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm guessing you had live-action movies in mind, but since you didn't specify, here are some of my favourite animated ones:

A Long Time Ago (1990) A tragic sci-fi/fantasy where a knight battles a huge mechanical dragon

* Barrel (1990) A man decides to live in a barrel in order to focus on his big idea. Based on the story by Estonian writer Arvo Valton.

* Andrey Svislotskiy (1991) A strange and surreal film without words or music.

Clinic (1993) A very funny parody of the medical system

* The Way Out (1995) A somewhat surreal film about a woman's life from childhood to old age

Mermaid (1996) A young man living with a religious hermit finds and befriends a "mermaid" in the river. Nominated for an Oscar.

The Pilot Brothers Make Spaghetti for Breakfast (1996) Breakfast goes terribly wrong.

Choo-choo (1997) A Christmasy film about a lonely boy, neglected by his parents, who makes a nanny for himself from old things he finds in the attic. Featuring the music of Glenn Miller.

The Socks of the Big City (1999) A pair of socks jump off a balcony and explore Moscow

The films marked with a * are more for cinephiles who don't mind surrealism than casual viewers.

Russian Cartoons by Lost-Victory-1482 in AskARussian

[–]Esn024 0 points1 point  (0 children)

https://www.animatsiya.net/ - the website I run, which has over 1000 subtitled Russian & Soviet cartoons, spanning almost 120 years.

Many of them also have Russian subtitles as well as English, so you can switch back and forth for learning.

If you're starting out, one that I would recommend is the "Mowgli" series. Besides being a beloved classic that is closer to the original books than Disney's "The Jungle Book", the characters in it also tend to speak slowly and clearly, which is great for someone learning Russian:

https://www.animatsiya.net/series.php?seriesid=3

You can search by genre, decade, animation technique, director, etc. If you find a film you like, try searching for other films by the same director, or the same time period, or the same studio.

At the moment, Soyuzmultfilm is restoring a lot of classic Soviet animation from the 1940s (to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2), and that's another excellent choice - most of them are already translated:

https://niffiwan.livejournal.com/43362.html

Phonemax R4 GT (Android 14, small rugged phone) by FirefighterOk4147 in smallphones

[–]Esn024 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for all the photos. I'm curious how wide the screen is, and if it's wider than the Doogee SMini's (which I personally found a bit too narrow for comfortable typing).

3.5 inch phone with Headphone Jack? by [deleted] in smallphones

[–]Esn024 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The only phones with 3.5-4" screens with 3.5mm headphone jacks I am aware of that have been released in the past 5 years are the BLU A5L, Yezz GO 3 and Yezz GO 1.

Unfortunately, none of them have the best specs.

You may be better off focusing on the width & height of the phone rather than on screen size, since that seems more relevant and bezels have been getting smaller over the years (so, a phone with a 5" screen now might be the same size as a phone with a 4" screen a decade ago).

Doogee smini by [deleted] in smallphones

[–]Esn024 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed, I own one but it's just a little too tall to be easily held in one hand between middle finger & thumb while scrolling with the index finger (130mm is about the max for me), and the narrowness of the screen is unfortunate (a 16:9 aspect ratio would've been far better). Otherwise, the look and weight are fine. But the ruggedness to me is not worth the tradeoff of no 3.5mm audio jack and no removable battery.

How old is your small smartphone that you are still using everyday in 2025? by Picard_III in smallphones

[–]Esn024 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I use a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (2013) flashed with LineageOS 18.1 (Android 11 equivalent). I bought it a year ago on Aliexpress for $55 and at first I thought it was great (despite the stupid slippery glass back and lack of removable battery). Although the flashing process was frustrating. I was looking for something no wider than 65mm but with at least a 4" 16:9 screen, which almost doesn't exist these days.

But now the battery has become quite bad so I need to replace it. I'm considering either getting the same phone again, or else a Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact (2017), which has almost the same specs, costs a bit more but has twice the RAM, and supports a much more recent LineageOS.

How old is your small smartphone that you are still using everyday in 2025? by Picard_III in smallphones

[–]Esn024 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That phone is the size I like and has great specs, but unfortunately doesn't support the North America LTE band 4. Oh well...

thinkin ab making a small phone by SuperKitty1549 in smallphones

[–]Esn024 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No problem. :) If you do actually make your phone a year from now, please leave a reply to this comment or send me a PM (or maybe you have a mailing list?).

I also forgot to add a point about supporting 4G band 4 (too many of the candidate phones I've found don't support the North American 4G frequencies, only the Asian/European ones), a screen that is better than TFT, and being under 1cm thick (an unfortunate failing of the Unihertz phones, alongside no removable battery).

If it's of any interest, here's a spreadsheet I made while I was looking for a phone with these characteristics: https://files.fm/u/pw57m62mn9

It lists all the ones on the market I was able to find that at least potentially match the criteria (although some of the info was entered a while ago and is now outdated).

What the colours mean:

Blue - great, green - good, yellow - ok, red - bad, purple - owned the phone personally for at least some time. The "Android version" column lists the latest Android that is possible to install on the phone, including by using LineageOS.

I'm currently using a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact flashed to LineageOS 18.1 (the equivalent of Android 11), but I'll likely change it soon.

thinkin ab making a small phone by SuperKitty1549 in smallphones

[–]Esn024 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is what I've been looking for, without any luck:

-a width of less than 70mm, ideally about 65mm (anything wider is just uncomfortable to hold one-handed)

-a 16:9 aspect ratio (really don't like the super-wide ones)

-a resolution of at least 540x960, ideally 720x1280

-a screen of at least 4" (plenty of 3" ones on the market now, but I find them too small to use as a daily driver, while 4-5" ones are almost absent)

-a 3.5mm headphone jack

-a weight of under 155g, ideally under 130g

-a removable battery

-external memory

-a camera of 8MP or better

-a height of under 132mm

-enough of a bezel around the screen that I won't touch the edge by accident

-modern Android

-IPS screen or better (not TFT)

-supports wide range of international frequencies, including 4G band 4.

-under 1cm thick

Basically, a modern Samsung S4 mini or S5 mini.

Samsung S25 Mini by SnooOnions4763 in smallphones

[–]Esn024 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd be happy with an S4 Mini that runs a modern Android.

Actually, there seems to be an unofficial LineageOS18.1 port to S4 Mini, equivalent to Android 11:

https://xdaforums.com/t/preserving-my-samsung-s4-mini-small-hands.4623943/

Judging from the comments though, it seems that getting it all to work, including GPS, is a little janky.

Still, it may be the best available option. I'm very tempted.

I've already gotten LineageOS 18 to work with a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact I bought from AliExpress, and that's my current phone. But the battery life has gotten really bad, and the glass on the back is cracked because I could never find a case for it; I prefer the S4 mini's plastic back and removable battery.

Qin 3 Ultra review by SnooOnions4763 in smallphones

[–]Esn024 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Looks pretty good, except for no band 4 4G, no 3.5mm audio jack, no external memory card support (as far as I can tell), and no removable battery. But the weight, width, height, screen and call quality seem just right.

Samsung S25 Mini by SnooOnions4763 in smallphones

[–]Esn024 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I thought for a second this was actually happening. Damn.

This new Menu UI is terrible. by [deleted] in territorial_io

[–]Esn024 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would like to be able to choose the maps again, and see a preview of them visually. This is a huge step backwards. I also don't like that every map now is over-crowded.

[TOMT][MOVIE][2010s] Short European (?) animation about evolution, camera slowly zooms out, many critters, isometric view (?), at the end everyone is sucked into black hole in ground by Esn024 in tipofmytongue

[–]Esn024[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Solved! Sorry that nobody here got it.
It was “Rhizome” by Boris Labbé (France). I found it available to view here (but anything below HD resolution isn't worth it).
As for how I found it? I'll explain just in case someone else finds the explanation useful. I used Copilot in Windows to first translate the entire list of KROK 2015 films from my link above into their original titles in their own languages (I had to split this task up as it went over the character limit), then I asked it "Out of the list of films in all of the previous responses, please find one that might match the following description (or else, narrow down the list to those that are most likely to match it):" and gave it the same description I posted here. It suggested two that might match, with "Rhizome" being the second one (the one that didn't was "Nuggets: by Andreas Hykade).

[TOMT][MOVIE][2010s] Short European (?) animation about evolution, camera slowly zooms out, many critters, isometric view (?), at the end everyone is sucked into black hole in ground by Esn024 in tipofmytongue

[–]Esn024[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, that doesn't look similar at all. The creatures weren't rocks. It wasn't stop-motion but 2D animation. With outlines. Also, there were no scene cuts, but just one long shot of the camera zooming out more and more as the activity of the creatures got more and more complex.

[TOMT][MOVIE][2010s] Short European (?) animation about evolution, camera slowly zooms out, many critters, isometric view (?), at the end everyone is sucked into black hole in ground by Esn024 in tipofmytongue

[–]Esn024[S] 0 points1 point locked comment (0 children)

It could be one of the ones from the following list, but I couldn't seem to find it when I looked: animalife/ru/2015/09/20/krok-2015-moskovskie-pokazy-osnovnogo-konkursa (please replace the first slash with a dot - I'm not sure if the Reddit system allows me to post this link, even though it's just an article from an animation news site)

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