Three years in, keyboard-equipped Astro Slide is a dead end
- s
- still phoneless
- jq1
- 06 Mar 2024
Anonymous, 24 Nov 2023same here...Me three. or, more accurately, me 8242. As it seems we nearly all got ripped off. Over the past few years, I was determined to stay out of the negative comments, and just be patient; because things did get weird with the lockdowns, and this after all is a known company. But now I think it is our duty to warn the rest of humanity that this is a scam. Whatever the company was before, it is a scam now.
- M
- Michel
- 3g5
- 05 Mar 2024
I've ordered one device thru Planet's website in July 2022. Then, I've seen the offer, better, on Indiegogo. After chating with the sales support, they have promised me to refund my first order. I've kept evidences of this.
In June 2023, I've received my device.
I was a BlackBerry user over 18 years, I'm used to have good quality devices, especially keyboards, of course.
I'm using this phone mostly for professional purposes. I was member of the Delta test team, from TCL, when the BB Keyone and Keytwo were launched.
I've upgraded the memory to 2 TB, I've installed all BlackBerry suite on the Planet device.
In terms of use, it's quite ok. Battery life is also ok.
The software quality is acceptable, from time to time the touch screen is not working properly, I would say twice in a month, acceptable, so far.
The quality of the keyboard is poor, but here again, it's acceptable.
Now comes the very negative point: the company itself.
They have never refunded me double order. I've never received my accessories.
After many promises, I've made the trip to UK, to see their offices and discuss directly.
It's very simple: there is no office! The address used is owned by the bookkeeping company.
At first, the bookkeeping company was thinking that I was the delivery guy, picking up faulty devices!
Very interesting, they have very bad service, of course. Impossible to get the real address, I believe that there is none.
Only few guys dealing with China and AI on email answering.
By email, I get the same shit as all users, don't trust them, never.
Anyway, I'm still using it.
Good luck to all.
- D
- Deano
- IbL
- 29 Dec 2023
I too have been flim-flamed by Planet Computers as well as FX-tech boys! Neither could keep their words or promises.Both phone had inferior cpu's installed cause poor management put the "cart before the horse"so to speak. I liked the fx keyboard better but that's all: everything else sucked because of the degraded changes in both phones!! What happened to Nokia's communicators??
- w
- waiting still
- T3K
- 24 Dec 2023
Anonymous, 08 Dec 2023I put money into the indiegogo in January 2022, and I still... moreshould all indigogo have commitrend to an wifi 5 deveice when on the order sheet it clearly stated wifi 6 ...
if planet comp have to make the remaoning 1000 unota.. why not upgrade the hardware to the better soc and modems?
- ?
- Anonymous
- MCD
- 08 Dec 2023
I put money into the indiegogo in January 2022, and I still haven't received mine. Planet Computers haven't posted a new update to that campaign for months now, but they were consistent in shifting blame to their Chinese manufacturers. I can only accept that so far. In 2020 it had become clear to anyone in hardware that you need your own staff on site for QA and communication if you want to outsource to China, and Planet Computers somehow hadn't learned that lesson from their previous products, two of which were phones with physical keyboards. Even without complications from the still ongoing pandemic, it's clear that PC handled the Astro Slide without care for well-known risks or best practices.
- ?
- Anonymous
- nGJ
- 08 Dec 2023
Has anybody any news on this I presume its gone bust and we have lost all
- ?
- Anonymous
- D6g
- 24 Nov 2023
mck, 18 Oct 2023Original US backer still never received! Only been three yearssame here...
- D
- Dinoraptor101
- XHt
- 07 Nov 2023
In 2023, I placed an order for the Planet Computers Astro Slide 5G Transformer smartphone, which arrived after approximately three months. Contrary to some reports, the key travel is comparable to that of a MacBook keyboard. However, the build quality doesn't quite match Apple's standards, reminiscent instead of gadgets from the Palm OS era.
Here's more detailed feedback:
- Performance-wise, the device is impressively swift, though it's not without its quirks, such as adaptive brightness glitches and a persistent hum when using the audio jack—issues that can be sidestepped by avoiding these features.
- Investment in this device clearly prioritizes battery life, performance, and the keyboard.
- Speaking of the keyboard, it features a hybrid design with membrane mechanical "Scissor-style" keys, echoing the feel of vintage Palm devices. Some might prefer the modern chiclet-style keys, especially considering the device's price point, which could offer a typing experience closer to that of a MacBook Air. Nevertheless, after a break-in period to soften the membrane, you can expect to comfortably reach typing speeds of around 50 words per minute.
- m
- mck
- kEp
- 18 Oct 2023
Original US backer still never received! Only been three years
- t
- toni
- gEj
- 07 Oct 2023
mecanily bad,cover do not match to base frame.cover slides shakes right and left.bad Chinese workmanshiftm,do not buy this phone because it is bad quality but of course made by riseburners CHINA
- D
- Desiac
- 8u{
- 17 Jul 2023
Bo, 24 Jun 202318 months in and still received nothingBo, have you finally received your Astro Slide 5G (built by Planet Computers (planetcom.co.uk)? I've been waiting for a little over 12 months.
When I purchased my Astro Slide 5G from Planet Computers (planetcom.co.uk) they claimed "Now Delivering" next to the buy button. I stupidly assumed I would receive the item within weeks... When I spoke to Planet Computers (planetcom.co.uk) last year their support team said yes we're delivering now, but with the backlog, my order just gets added to the queue; he said it should be dispatched in October. Planet Computers (planetcom.co.uk) refused to refund the item/ cancel the order.
Planet Computers (planetcom.co.uk) have been continually using the excuse "we need to inspect the factory" for the entire 12 months.
If Planet Computers (planetcom.co.uk) have built, assessed, and supplied one single unit to a consumer, they know their requirements. If the chosen manufacturer and their factory require multiple visits, they failed to negotiate a contract that would facilitate the construction, verification, and supply of the devices (Astro Slide 5g).
If there was transparency from the beginning, and if Planet Computers (planetcom.co.uk) provided sufficient, factual, and honest updates to the customer base regarding delays this review would read quite differently.
I will never purchase from Planet Computers (planetcom.co.uk) again and I would passionately advise anyone considering purchasing anything from Planet Computers (planetcom.co.uk) to walk away.
Like any business I am sure they can supply many items within a reasonable timeframe, regardless; the deceptive marketing and continual slippage of delivery dates provide insight into the company, management, and their care-free cavalier attitude with regards to their customers. The way they have managed the Astro Slide 5G rollout borders on the criminal.
- B
- Bo
- K@g
- 24 Jun 2023
18 months in and still received nothing
- EskeRahn
- n4L
- 16 Mar 2023
techgadget, 14 Mar 2023good luck with the fxtec LOL
it even can´t make calls lolThanks. For some odd reason I'm one of those not affected by the bug.
The odd thing is that for some the Pro1X works fine, and for others not, and we have no real idea of neither what triggers the issue nor how many are affected. As people rarely post that things are working, only when it is not. So frankly it could be anywhere between say 10% to 90% that has the issue...
We know that they unfortunately have problems reproducing it in the UK (similar here in DK), and I doubt they can manage to fix it before they can reproduce the problem, though they have requested people that got the issue to help sending them logs.
As far as I can deduce/guess from the various reports on the bug it is somehow related to band-switching. But the details are far from clear. As what seems to work for some does not for others. So a wild guess is that it depends on what is going on at the tower, if the Pro1X does not apply to some corner of the standards, that not all carriers/towers use, and other use heavily.
There are not that many Pro1X out yet, so we are yet to hear a case where it is working for one and not the other device side by side with the same carrier.
I GUESS that if I travelled to an area where people have the issue, and borrowed their sim, I would see the same bug, (and similar that theirs would work here), but we do not even know that for sure...
The REALLY big question is if it is a bug that can be remedied by firmware, or is somehow hardware related? - no one knows.
- t
- techgadget
- LiL
- 14 Mar 2023
EskeRahn, 20 Feb 2023One aspect you forgot, is that when we perk for a device on... moregood luck with the fxtec LOL
it even can´t make calls lol
- t
- techgadget
- LiL
- 14 Mar 2023
i think this is not fare to planet computers at all
i had the gemini and the cosmo, and the idea behind this is just amazing, unfortonally since there was no major android and security updates i can´t use them as first device. but the concept of android+linux is just amazing
about the astro, lot of people are receiving it, we cant forget the covid situation. i didnt back up but i will be frustate if i didnt received mine yet.
fxtec pro 1 make partnership with xda and LOL, the mobile phone loose conection all the time and it cant make calls lol, at least the devices from planet computers can make calls lol
i have a pixel 6a and its buggy and also fingerprint is from a mobile phone that cost 60 euros and its from google...
- B
- Bob M
- pYb
- 10 Mar 2023
I backed this early on in 2020. I've lost any hope that I'll ever see the device. It's a real pity as there aren't many other options out there. I'd be much happier if Planet Computers were actually honest about what's going on. But sadly, they're not. I don't think that telling us that only a few 100 devices have been built and that the company has no money is going to give anyone confidence. It's an expensive lesson never to back a hardware crowdfunder. Definitely never back a Planet Computers one either. However, I think most people know that as their current IndieGoGo campaign is languishing at a few backers after nearly a fortnight.
- ?
- Anonymous
- nZX
- 09 Mar 2023
There is info available which is not mentioned in the article. PC mentioned that in a video Q&A via YouTube: The factory that held the contract for production went bankrupt over the covid restrictions. First there were stark quality control problems with faulty units delivered. When another Chinese investor took over business and contracts from mentioned factory, it still took sth. like 6 months to restart production by my estimation.
I did not receive an unit yet, but personally I was very pleased with the keyboard on the cosmo communicator, the model before the astro slide. On Indigogo and on the discord server other backers wrote that after some days of typing, the new keyboard seemed superior to the one I knew. If that is the case, the complaints mentioned in this article could be based on an early faulty unit or perhaps partly on overall disappointment about the delays as well.
- b
- boredland
- 3%%
- 21 Feb 2023
Max, 06 Feb 2023I ~~HAVE~~ to have a physical full QWERTY Android. Just tel... moreyou can gladly have my astro should it ever arrive.
- EskeRahn
- n4L
- 20 Feb 2023
Rocky, 19 Feb 2023First and foremost, I can't thank gsmarena enough for ... moreOne aspect you forgot, is that when we perk for a device on a crowdfunding platform, it is NOT the same as pre-ordering on the company's website.
It is more like making an investment. We HOPE that we end by getting a device that would be more expensive bought at the project end. BUT we also bare all the risk if things goes wrong - and they certainly did go very badly for both the Pro1X and the Astroglide.
If we make a pre-order, the company has all the risk, as we can cancel at ANY point, and for many countries even return it in a window (e.g. a fortnight) after we get it.
But that apart I agree with large parts - though I think you are way too hard on the people in the tiny companies.
(I'm personally waiting for a Pro1X though)
- R
- Rocky
- IBM
- 19 Feb 2023
First and foremost, I can't thank gsmarena enough for posting this article. This has been the most important and informative update about this phone, and has provided a much more honest perspective over this entire situation.
Second, I've gone through every single comment posted here, and I want to thank every single person who backed or purchased this phone, and shared their (mostly) awful stories with what they've had to go through in this whole morbid process. For those still waiting on your phone, my heart goes out to you. Before I read these, I thought me waiting 11 months for this phone was bad, and some of you have waited 2-3 years and still don't have it? That's terrible, and unacceptable. You all should be getting the phone AND your money back. For whatever it's worth, your comments DO make a difference since I hope it'll prevent unsuspecting optimists from going down the miserable path of ordering this device. I'll be asking for a refund asap which will probably have saved me a year or 2 of waiting for nothing based on what some of you have gone through.
The other people who are acting high and mighty "you should've expected this, covid that" or any arrogant way of trying to spin this to make it look like the buyers have ANY of the blame, this isn't about you. Go seek your attention somewhere else.
I've never had a worse experience in paying for and waiting for a phone, and unfortunately it's obvious here that people have had even worse experiences for the same phone as they've waited longer than I have. All of those comments I believe to be 100% true as I've experienced much of the same. The phones will be ready this month (hearing that every other month for about 9 months), then, the phones should arrive this week. Been told that every few weeks and it's been a few months of that. My blackberry has been on its last legs for a very long time. It restarts often, lags, is super slow, but it has a physical keyboard. I held off on switching to touch screen, thinking I can still get a new smartphone with a physical keyboard, anxiously waiting for the BlackBerry 5G phone and frequently looked for updates while dealing with my old phone in the meantime. Low and behold, they threw in the towel. Then I was interested in the unihertz, but that wasn't compatible with all mobile carriers and dated as 5G was the way to go. Then I made the mistake of watching YouTube videos about this astro slide 5G and got hooked. As this article and many comments before me has stated, it's been forever since purchasing this phone with no updates. At one point, Paul E. Pinnock from Planet computers said he'd personally take care of it and make sure I get the phone, and has disappeared and stopped responding to my emails (a common occurrence as well if you look at their Google reviews). This company, or pathetic excuse for a company, deserves to rot. All the people in this company that have continued to spread lies to its buyers to continue stringing them along, should be legally prosecuted.
Again, thank you GSMarena for posting this article, because I know now to get out now while I still can.