Last Updated on November 15, 2026 by pg@petergamma.org
Since more than 10 years I have troubles with synchronizing data between my Android phone and a desktop PCs. Previously I used a SD card, but then Google Inc. blocked this option. But to synchronize my data to Google Drive was no option for me personally.
After 10 years of a desperate search I found a combination between NextCloudPi and OpenMediavault to be the best solution. For a stable operation, I need by experience at least 3 devices each. I have three Linux thin clients for my setup. I have quit the Windows operating system after I woul have been forced to buy new PCs for Windows 11. The old devices where still good enough for my purpose.
So I started to install NextCloupPi on the Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 which where laying around and I did not need. I currently tested 7 Raspberry Pis from the model 3 to the model 5 which where laying around at my home. From these 7 Raspberry Pi s only 2 still worked. Are these SBCs so fragile? I did hardly use those, and I treaded those with care.
Which would mean I should buy now 5 more Raspberry Pis. And the recommendation for
NextCloudPi ist at Raspberry Pi 4 with 2 GB Ram which is around 80 USD from Digitec Switzerland.
And for Openmediavault the Recommendation is a Raspberry Pi 4 with 4 GB Ram which is around 100 USD Dollar at Digitec Switzerland.
If I would decide to jus buy the Raspberry Pi 4 with 4 GB Ram this would be 600 USD for a stable setup to synchronize data from an Android phone to a PC without a cloud and a big brother who is watching you.
This is too much for this purpose. So I decided to downgrade this setup.
The minmal requirements for NextCloudPi and OpenMediaVault are a Raspberry Pi 3 + which is 40 USD at Digitec Switzerland.
The Raspberry Pi 3+ has only USB 2 and about 300 m Byte transfer rate over the Gigabit adapter which is quiet an outdated concept.
But spending 600 USD for a setup with Raspberry Pi s is much do much. And I decided to live with an outdated concept until a better solution is availabe.
The Raspberry Pi hobby is dying?
No, the Raspberry Pi alternative for hobbists will be a Raspberry Pi alternative from Aliexress for 40 USD:
Which will be killed soon due to stock market and scalping. Until the next device is born for 40 USD as a Raspberr Pi alternative on Aliexpress.