0

I recently bought a generic 10" tablet by E-CrossStu that stated it is on Android 11 with 512GB storage with 4GB RAM. I thought this is a great deal for $100.

I am now going through trying to add the apps I use and many say "incompatible with OS version" or just don't show up in the Play Store at all. I thought this can't be right if it's Android 11. Then I get emails from Gmail and Amazon trying to confirm that it is me signing in from a different device stating the sign-ins are from an Android 5.1 tablet. Did I just get duped?

I cannot find ANYTHING on the web regarding this happening to others. In the tablet settings, it does state Android 11 with specs advertised. When I try System Update, Software Updates, or Wireless Updates, it just goes to the About Tablet page which states:

  • Android 11
  • Model # & Custom Build: TAB910
  • Baseband Version: MOLY.WR8.W1449.MD.WG.MP.V16
  • CPU: 10cores2.3GHz
  • Kernel: 3.10.72 root@twd-PowerEdge-R720xd
  • Build Number: K1008P95_V1.0.3_211119.

And None of those lines can be opened to get further settings.

I am just confused and think my device has some fake information locked into it somehow so I'm not really getting what it states even in the System Settings...and I'm a little concerned about privacy/security if that is something that can really be done...

Any thoughts?

Improve this question
1
  • Found another reporting a similar issue. Searching for the model number "TAB910", I found 2 reported specs: TAB 910 TAB910 (SDK22 = Android 5.1, 16GB storage, 1GB RAM), Jlinksz TAB910 (SDK 19 = Android 4.4.4., 16GB storage, 1GB RAM). There are others listings on ecommerce sites mentioning Android >8, >128GB storage and >6 RAM, but they can't be easily proven.
    – Andrew T. ♦
    Commented Feb 20, 2022 at 15:41

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
0

There are a few questions on forged phones here on Android Stackexchange at least a few per year.

Fake phones usually hide their real hardware spec by manipulating the UI. So the phone info shown by Android settings as well as from system info apps like Aida64 are forged and do not show the real spec.

In your case a phone with 512GB flash but only 4GB RAM for $100 should have warned you. Such a combination is next to non-existent even for a used phone.

The common way to create a fake phone is to use an old outdated, replace some software system components and then sell it with a hardware spec next to high-end phone for a very cheap price.

To identify the real hardware spec of such a phone it is recommended not use an app as the forging the shown value is not that difficult. Not so easy to forge are values directly generated by the kernel. So the best option is to enable Developer options and Android Debug Bridge or use Termux. Then check the output of the commands:

RAM

Free, used and total RAM size can be displayed using

free
cat /proc/meminfo

Flash storage

df -h

CPU

cat /proc/cpuinfo
Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .