Need a New Android Phone

Riczter on 04/11/2013 - 12:13
Last edited 04/11/2013 - 19:52

Friend just killed her S3. What's the best value android mid-high end smartphone available at the moment??
Is it worth waiting for the Nexus 5? budget is probably going to be $300-400 so may be out of her price range.. Any exceedingly good windows phone deals that might make it worth the change in ecosystem? I saw a couple of cheap Lumia's recently…
Thanks

EDIT: Changing requirements to a low end smartphone, $100-200. The plan is to just use a cheapy until the plan expires and she can get a new one on contract.

Mobile

Comments

  • lord henry on 04/11/2013 - 13:09

    I recently got an S4 Mini from Kogan for under $400.
    It is pretty good, and reasonably sized (I don't know how people fit the bigger ones in their pockets?????)

    • Lucky13 on 07/11/2013 - 01:41
      -2

      Probably not a good idea to put it in your pocket anyway, cos of the radiation etc

  • scrimshaw on 04/11/2013 - 13:19
    +1

    You can't go wrong with a Lumia. Very good hardware, decent OS.

    • danceman on 05/11/2013 - 13:54
      -2

      Scrimshaw, I have a lumia 720, its a great phone, but I am disappointed to find out I cannot access the google play store,because it does not recognize a nokia device

      • Riczter on 05/11/2013 - 14:08
        +14

        Doesn't recognise a windows device**. Google Play store is for Android. Windows Store is for Windows. You should have understood this before getting the phone.

      • scrimshaw on 05/11/2013 - 14:43
        +8

        That's something you should have researched before buying the phone. You don't buy a Windows Phone and expect Google apps to be on it — they're rival companies.

        • ozhunter on 05/11/2013 - 17:39
          -1

          You don't buy a Windows Phone and expect Google apps to be on it — they're rival companies

          Though they are on the iphone.

        • Antecedence on 06/11/2013 - 10:12
          +3

          I think he meant google play store apps in general, not google specific apps like youtube, googlenow, gmail etc.

  • Daabido on 04/11/2013 - 13:25
    +9

    Don't advise her to change ecosystems or you will be the one providing tech support.

    It's like people who post to Whirpool about buying their parents a new computer and whether to opt for an i7 or i5 and how many SSDs to install and whether they should dual boot Linux. Their parents won't care diddly squat about your hand ringing about specs.

    Just buy / advise them to buy what they know unless you enjoy doing tech support forever.

    • bobsi18 on 06/11/2013 - 21:58
      +1

      I love my android, but whenever family/parents discuss swapping to android (from Apple), I strongly recommend them to stick with their iPhones, to the point where I tell them how bad android is… I don't want to doing tech support!

  • MasterScythe on 04/11/2013 - 13:38
    +2

    if shes not a big app person, windows phone is the go. they're cheap right now and amazingly fast and stable. They have all the key apps, but almost no gimmic ones.

    Otherwise, wait for the nexus.

  • forkus on 04/11/2013 - 17:41

    There is going to be a few Nexus 4 handsets going cheap with those upgrading to Nexus 5. If she doesnt mind second hand, this might be a good option.
    I for example, will be selling my 2 month old Nexus 4 soon because of a Nexus 5 upgrade.

    • lisss on 04/11/2013 - 18:42

      I'd be interested in purchasing if anyone is selling their newish nexus 4. Can't trust myself with an expensive phone due to my previous history…

  • p1 ama on 04/11/2013 - 21:12
    +6

    Nexus 5 is perfect for that price range. For the past year I've been pretty much re-iterating that the ONLY Android phone I would recommend is the Nexus 4. I have one myself.

    It might not be the BEST phone on the market, but in terms of value for money, it is king. It is better and cheaper than the Galaxy S3, less than half the price of the Galaxy S4 and pretty much it is an unbeatable phone.

    I would assume that the Nexus 5, for the price it is going at, will be just as good, if not better.

  • Tnetennba on 05/11/2013 - 01:33

    Nexus 5 if she can wait a few weeks at most for delivery (they are shipping them very quickly, even for the ones they say will be dispatched in 3-4 weeks they are already on the way for many people!)

  • zerocritical on 05/11/2013 - 08:47
    +1

    If the budget is 100-200 as per your edit, i'd recommend she goes for either THL or Jiayu phones (Chinese but good quality). I have personally used THL W8 and its pretty good value for the money paid.

    • cloudy on 05/11/2013 - 14:55
      +1

      Where do you purchase them from?

    • altomic on 06/11/2013 - 23:09

      i second the chandroid idea. I have a S3 clone. $143 delivered. great phone for the stuff I need it for -making calls, txting, taking photos, internetting, playing candy crush.

      admittedly, playing candy crush for 4 hours straight will flatten the battery, but I shouldn't be playing candy crush for 4 hours straight anyway.

      recently aliexpress had a deal on the Jiayu G3S for US$167

      that is a pretty decent phone (judging from teh specs. didn't get one. the reviews read well for it)

  • p1 ama on 05/11/2013 - 09:46
    +6

    Can I just add something, it's always a bad, bad idea to get a phone on contract, you just get slugged.

    E.g. HTC One at $65/month on Vodafone for Unlimited + 1.5GB of data.

    Over the two years of the contract $1560.

    HTC One at Kogan - $579
    Aldi Unlimited - $35 x 24 = $840

    Total of $1419. You get almost double the data per month (2.5 GB) and you get no contract, which is essentially priceless. This isn't the greatest example, but back when LC and Vaya were doing the equivalent of $29 caps for like $8, it was extremely attractive, given you can choose any phone…etc.

    • zerocritical on 05/11/2013 - 09:51
      +1

      Totally agree with you. I found a couple of reason why people went in for contracts / post paid:
      1. They dont want to pay ~$600 outright
      2. They want bills for claiming Tax returns (for businesses)

  • francis.tks on 05/11/2013 - 10:49

    Low end android smartphone IMO can be quite slow. Maybe look into windows phone(like many suggested), at least their os isn't that heavy.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/11/2013 - 12:45

    should have a go at the Kogan Agora phone. just $199 with 5 inch screen. take a look

    http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/agora-50-quad-core-smartphone/

    • Riczter on 05/11/2013 - 12:55

      I wanted to ask people about this one.. Is it any good? Or should it be avoided like the plague?

      • edgar28 on 05/11/2013 - 14:07

        try to read the review
        Many stated the phone seems to jam easily (at least their older model)

        • Riczter on 05/11/2013 - 14:09

          Yeah I know their older model was dodgy, are there any accurate and unbiased reviews on their latest model?

  • [Deactivated] on 05/11/2013 - 14:33

    Compared to the old model, the new Kogan phone appears to be a whole different kettle of fish. Appears to be a re-badged Indian Micromax brand phone, with indications that there gear may be well-sourced and otherwise impressive, quality-wise. Time will tell. May be a good interim punt for your friend.

    edit: Wolverine's on board. They must be good… www.micromaxinfo.com/

  • rilebags on 05/11/2013 - 16:31

    Can't beat value for money out of the nexus range.

    • evangelion on 05/11/2013 - 18:15

      actually you can
      compare Nexus 5 vs LG G2

      • Elitethem on 06/11/2013 - 12:04

        5.2 vs 5.0 screen - both the same IPS screen. IMO, 5.2" is heading towards having to use two hands to operate the phone without annoyance.

        13 vs 8 mp camera. Despite what people say about mp, the G2's camera destorys the nexus 5.

        And the only other difference is the bigger battery. 3000 vs 2300 - the bigger screen does hurt the G2, but it also has the 25% bigger battery. In any which case, the G2's battery will last longer, easily.

        I personally think that Google and most likely LG will make the Nexus 6 based on the LG G2, with little extras. (New OS, etc)

        That makes sense to me. Easy and simple way to fix the camera and battery problem found in current Google phones.. :)

        • ozhunter on 06/11/2013 - 15:49

          13 vs 8 mp camera. Despite what people say about mp, the G2's camera destorys the nexus 5.

          it's better, but it doesn't "destroy"

      • rilebags on 06/11/2013 - 23:25

        except it's pretty similar and $150 more expensive for grey stock…

        nexus 4 is even more unbeatable value

  • gimli on 05/11/2013 - 19:08

    nexus 4.?

  • extract on 06/11/2013 - 08:32

    Get a second hand Galaxy S2.

  • branners on 06/11/2013 - 15:48
    +1

    This may fit but you'd better hurry!
    http://www.dicksmith.com.au/unlocked-smart-phones/motorola-r…

  • benbarren on 06/11/2013 - 16:34

    Easy for android its new htc 300 (desire)
    http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-desire-300/ $177 outright and has htc blinkfeed and other htc one like features. Alternatively the nokia lumia 520 $176 for similar price windows 8 phone great for price from harvey norman have friende who bought vhappy and great reviews from pros and consumers. Id go htc very new on telstra sweet. http://m.harveynorman.com.au/nokia-lumia-520-windows-8-smart…

  • branners on 06/11/2013 - 17:20
    +4

    Actually, this just came up…
    http://www.dicksmith.com.au/prepaid-mobile-phones/vodafone-h…
    Locked to Voda but easy and cheap to get unlocked by someone like Bagman. Specs look good, so do the reviews. 4G for under $100!

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