Not a Nokia - First Phone

Hi, I'm looking to buy a new phone as mine has glitches (they said it's cheaper to buy another than try to fix it) and work would prefer it if I was "in the loop" and up-to-date.

My current phone is the Nokia 2220 Slide, dropped many times and not a scratch. I only use it for calls, texts and alarms, but nothing else. No music, camera, games, internet etc. I like charging my phone weekly. I use Amaysim pre-paid, not into contracts. Whenever possible I text from the computer. Other than work contacting me there is only one person I often call.

Looking for a smart phone, doesn't need to have its own internet, as almost everywhere I go has free wifi. Needs to be capable of having whatsapp (for group meeting) + instagram (works likes to be social). I know nothing about phones… An uncrackable screen would be great as I'm accident prone. Doesn't need a camera, but a back-up one would be an advantage (I bring my DSLR when I need to take pictures). Not sure what my budget is as phones is not my area.

Any recommendations? Thanks in advance! :)

Comments

  • +3

    Motorola Moto G for ~$200-$250

    http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_g-5831.php

    Smartphones consume more power and are more fragile because of their big screens

    To conserve battery life, always turn off Wifi and reduce brightness when you don't need it. Turn off the phone completely when you don't use it for extended periods of time.

    Even with the above methods though, you're unlikely to get more than 3 to 5 days of use without a recharge.

    • +1

      Re: battery conundrum.

      There are three ways to solve this problem:

      1. Buy a spare battery. Swap out batteries when you need more power.

      2. Buy an extended battery. Extended batteries are physically larger and thicker than the stock battery, and will therefore come with a special back cover replacement. The main downside is that it will make your phone somewhat thicker and a lot uglier, but at least you can boast about your phone lasting 4 days without charging.

      3. The last method is to simply buy one of the many portable USB chargers you've seen on Ozb, $20 dollars or so gets you a Xiaomi power bank but you're still going to have to carry it around.

      Note: Some phones do not have removable back covers and swappable batteries. Example: Moto G.

  • +4

    How long is a piece of string?

    Anastasia, you haven't mentioned a budget, the screen-size that you want or think you need, and the not unrelated basic size of the phone that you would be happy to carry around in your hand or bag on a daily basis.

    You haven't specifically mentioned Apple or Windows-phone, so I'm just just going to assume that you're looking to buy a relatively inexpensive Android to feel your way in relation to the whole smartphone thing?

    The way an Instagram feed looks on different screen sizes is probably the easiest way to get some idea of the minimum screen-size (and phone cost) that you might be content with. Ask your friends at work who have different sized phones to show you.

    I personally find a 4.5 inch (diagonal) screen to be the minimum I'm happy with for anything, pretty much.

    You might be happy with a 3.5 inch screen - maybe. I have a Huawei Y201 that I use just as a wi-fi hotpot (search OzBargain threads for past deals and general info) bought when they were selling (Telstra Prepaid-locked) for $39. Network unlocked by OzBargain user (search 'bagman') for the princely sum of $5.49.

    Even without the 900MHz band accessible (that lends itself more keenly to Optus use), I can vouch that unless you live on the outskirts of a city or in full-on regional, you will likely find that data streams fine on the 2100MHz band alone, for your planned infrequent Amaysim 3G use.
    Phone also has a plastic screen, so as close to your optimistically desired 'uncrackable' screen as you're going to get, if you don't plan on buying a case.

    I also have a Huawei Y300, bought at the time they were selling for $79 (again, search and read OzB threads for info). Much better and sharper 4.5 inch (glass) screen, faster processor, and I can a report a rock-solid wi-fi connection that should please you.

    Various, and updated-model, cheap Huaweis (with or without 900MHz band - search others on OzB) make for good first smartphones.

    In the scheme of things, these are modest-spec phones, although if you jump a little to the G526 model (again, search…), you do get alot more.

    Above that, and beyond Huawei (and the recent Motorola Moto G deals) (again, sear…) , the sky really is the limit, general performance-wise and, increasingly, camera-wise.

    You have some more reading to do, but I hope there are a few useful pointers in the above for you.

    Edit: As Mitchell posted above in his comment, while I was still typing, you WILL indeed be charging your smartphone rather more than just once a week!

    • -1

      My last phone cost $30-$50, so tbh I know nothing about phones, what they cost and if one is of good value or not.

      Iphone size screen would be fine, haven't looked in stores yet though not being a phone person I find most screens tiny. Size to carry around, I'd say not big enough to slip from my hands. As whenever I can use the computer or something I will, I still use a paper diary.

      Thanks for you help. My next step will be to research the Huaweis, and go in stores to check out screen sizes. :)

      • +1

        The advantage of having come so late to buying a smartphone is that you can now buy something that is ridiculously cheap, but still very functional. Just a year or two ago, this wasn't the case. Even the cheap Huaweis now have enough internal space for a basic set of apps, and that's just one example of how things have changed.

        Being 'accident prone', as you describe yourself, buying cheap first-up can have other advantages. Even with a phone-case on, you/the floor/the toilet will know within a few months if you are likely to be a smartphone-serial-killer…

        Beyond comparing screen sizes, don't let someone in a phone shop lead you up any garden paths. From the supermarkets to eBay and many other places, plenty of cheap prepaid-deal phones to buy that you can then have easily (in the case of Huawei models, very easily, from Vodafone or Telstra) unlocked for your purposes.

        Having a Gmail account up and running - if you don't already - will speed the process when you go to activate your new phone. You need that to gain access to the 'Playstore' to download your apps.

        If you have any difficulties with any of the menu settings on your new phone, post back in this thread and at least one of the few of us here will likely get a notification and can help you out.

  • -1

    My phone often slips out of its sock case, so it might actually be the 'case'. Don't think for that model there are any actually cases created. The floor is usually where it ends up. With the new one I won't buy a 'Mock' for it.

    Selling me things is very difficult (I'm in marketing) and I'm a bargain hunter, so I'm just going to check out them in-stores but wait a while till it's on sale. ;) Work (the one that wants the phone) doesn't pick-up till about July.

  • What does everything think of the Huawei G526 4G? It's $90 on sale at Kmart later this week. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/145802

    • A happy coincidence, if you can grab one - will sell very quickly at that price. People will be buying them in quantity to resell on ebay.

      The Huawei, as mentioned above, will be easy and cheap to unlock to use with your Amaysim, SIM.

  • Good phone if you can find one

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