So we have decided to finally get our son a phone, not so he can blend in with his friends but there have been a few occasions where we have needed to contact him when dropping him off somewhere and what not. He isn't after an iphone, and I had a One Plus One in mind as it's been a pretty popular phone and affordable. The budget would be around the $400 mark and should be Android platform. Any recommendations with link to deals would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
I would go a Xiao Mi phone. Brilliant phones.
Get a decent Korean phone, a LG G3 has a great wide sized screen. Great first smart phone.
http://www.cnet.com/au/products/lg-g3/
http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g3-6294.php
https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/lg-g3-d855-4g-lte-32gb-black/?u…
He's 14.
You COULD pay a bit more and get a korean phone (LG, Samsung), or Japanese (Sony), but… He'll probably break it.
Go with a cheapo Chinese one?
Or a durable one at keast. Galaxy S4 Active comes to mind.
What's your phone? Maybe upgrade yours and give him your hand-me-down.
That's what I had in mind, I've got a Note 3 but need dual sim for business, but the mrs said let him experience the joy of having his first phone. He's a good loyal kid, not a brat.
We get our teens cheap supermarket phones, and tell them they can save up if they want a better one. My daughter has broken or lost three phones in 3 years, so we feel pretty good about this approach.
The cheap phones are quad core and 1gb of RAM these days which is fine for web, social apps etc. and acceptable for most games.
My daughter is pretty good about the OzBargain life, but feels phone envy. Her conclusion is if you can't get a top line phone to keep up with the Joneses, you might as well get the cheapies, as there is no credibility with the Xiaomi/One plus brand unless you are in a pretty geeky social circle.
Sounds like a responsible daughter! ;)
She is sometimes but has been careless with phones, and wants an iPhone pretty bad. A potentially expensive combination. I think she is watching her savings from her new job accumulate and hopefully recognising just how much effort is required to afford a $1000 phone.
wants an iPhone pretty bad.
Peer pressure. [sigh]
Can't do much about the "lost" but there are plenty of cover options for the "broken" bit for iPhones. She might look after the phone a bit better if she is particularly attached to it.
The problem is whatever you get her will be "out of stype" within 12 months anyway. Just get her the cheapest option that actually delivers what she uses it for. Once something has a cover on it you can't see the brand name anyway.
Personally I have an iPhone 6+ but I use a lot of Apple apps. I paid for it myself - believe me I am careful with it.
ZTE F286. Smartphones are a waste of money and do nothing but harvest your data.
If it is just to contact him, a cheapie will do do. Yes, even a Pixie will do.
If it is for gaming (if that's what it can be called when people play little games on phones) maybe something more expensive.
But I would not spend anywhere near $400 for a phone when the main purpose is to contact him once in a while.
You will be so angry when the $400 is damaged, or lost or stolen. Remember, we are talking about a 14 year old here who due to the activities teens pursue and the behaviour they display (rough play with mates e.g.) are more likely to get into a situation where the phone breaks by falling out of pocket, being squashed etc.
I have a $19 phone and it has been going strong and fine. Of course I do not game etc. but merely use it to talk and text (no photos either as I have a camera for that).
He's 14 give him a budget ($400) tell him to research what he wants and then you'll approve (or not) and buy it for him.
It's not gonna get broken in a game of rough and tumble (mainly because kids don't do that anymore). He'll want to use it for texting his friends, playing the odd game and taking photos.
I'd say a OnePlusOne is a good idea.
Maybe a galaxy S5 ?
Come and be on my train in Brisbane on any weekday. Not a day with rough play from the boys' school students. Not a day where a smartphone does not get "hurt".
Buy him a $29 phone, and for the rest buy him a PS4 or Xbox 1 for the gaming. Much better use of the money.
You can have my galaxy s3. It's gathering dust… Still has excellent battery life, has the latest android (cyanogenmod) etc.
$400 will get you a Samsung Galaxy S5 if you look aroundwhich is an awesome phone - probably one of the most robust phones on the market - I have had mine for 2 years and treat it bad. Apart from a couple of scratches it is still going strong.
I just bought my brother his first phone, he's also 14 and I got him a S4 Active, Its waterproof, shockproof and sturdy in general from the reviews I've seen, Only problem is to make sure you don't lose the charging port's rubber which can snap off if snagged. A friend of mine had one and it happened to him.
Ended up ordering this last night https://www.android-enjoyed.com/oneplus-one-lte-64gb-black-4…
Will need to install Google apps when I get it.
yes you will but you're better off IMO to flash another ROM, colour OS is a bit meh!. It's a ripper little phone and has a healthy community behind with ROM's out the brass razoo to try. It was also made for flashing.
Yes, forgot to add I will probably load CyanogenMod on there and install Nova too.
Received the OPO today, surprised to see Google Apps were pre installed.
for $400 you could get quite a good-spec'd phone nowadays. for starters I wouldn't waste money on a cheap Alcatel Pixi or Vodafone Smartphone thing. I would recommend you try the Kogan agora Pro phone. for $299, you can't really go wrong on that.
https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-agora-4g-pro/?utm_source=…
otherwise if you wanna stretch the budget a bit, try the LG G3 or G4 series. I'd say that should suffice.