$200- $400 Phone for 13 Year Old

Maltopia on 12/07/2016 - 19:44

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a decent phone for my tech savy 13 year old? She is currently using my old iPhone 4 which has an unreliable battery and she can't get the latest apps because the phone can only run an old IOS.

She has asked for a Xiomi Redmi but I really have no idea which one to get and was a little put off by posts around flashing the ROM/bootloader but maybe I have no need to do this at all? Plus I can't tell the difference between Prime, Pro, Note etc!

She plays music, Skypes, plays games on her phone etc.

Could someone suggest which one I should get for her?

Many thanks!

Mobile

Comments

  • Bentheguy on 14/07/2016 - 22:00
    +2

    Xiaomi Mi4c is a cheap powerful phone.
    I posted a deal a while back that's still valid. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/256259
    $155 delivered.
    It has a 3000mah battery and a snapdragon 808 which is crazy for the price.
    Although I recommend spending extra for the 32gb model

    • windwai on 14/07/2016 - 23:04
      +1

      Actually that would be a better choice than RedMi Note 3 pro if size matter.

    • Maltopia on 15/07/2016 - 13:33

      The website says:

      Language

      Support Multi-Language,include Spanish,Russian,German,French,Polish,Portuguese,Italian,etc

      Xiaomi Official not release MultiLanguage ROM,the firmware we install just made by ourselves.The custom rom may not perfect,translation may does not cover all the menus,pls understand.

      MIUI

      MIUI 7, Custom ROM (Change from official rom,Add Multilang,delete chinese APPs,bulti-in Google Play Store),NOT support OTA update

      Does this there isn't an official global ROM to load onto it?

      • scrimshaw on 15/07/2016 - 14:00

        There is an EU Custom ROM, 6.7.7. It works fine.

        It's called SMIUI. Download the ROM there.

  • xyron on 15/07/2016 - 10:34

    have a look at the InFocus M560 as well - has 700mhz 4G which in my view is really essential for quality use on australia's 4G networks (vodafone notwithstanding).

    also has a high quality unibody design and can be had as cheaply as $103USD (from geekbuying/banggood etc).

  • knk on 15/07/2016 - 13:11

    I'm currently using a nexus 4 I bought as a spare.

    $200 off eBay and I'm happy with it.

  • SupeNintendoChalmers on 15/07/2016 - 13:22

    Oppo F1

    Sells for $199 at Big W (Optus locked)

  • gwenty on 15/07/2016 - 15:31

    13? $200-400?

    Oh god why…

  • yaziyo on 15/07/2016 - 15:37

    I'm currently using a Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro I picked up at an OzBargain sale. Cost $273 at the time, it's going for a bit less now. I bought it from eGlobal and it came with the Global rom already installed. From all accounts I've read, it's quite easy to install the global rom regardless.

    Highly recommend, it's fantastic for the money. The only thing that lets it down is the camera. If you prefer to buy from Aus, the Moto G 3 is a good option but next to the Xiaomi it feels like a much more budget phone.

  • markb28 on 15/07/2016 - 16:00
    -1

    The moto G range are great teenager phones. The latest G4 plus is available in officeworks: http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/motorola-mo…

    Its pretty big though and top of your budget.

    As others have said, the 3rd gen is great value if you can get it for under $250 from an Australian shop.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/07/2016 - 19:37

    I recently bought a Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro Snapdragon 650 3GB/32GB from aliexpress seller Hongkong Goldway.

    I flashed to the Global ROM myself. It was easy, see this step by step guide: http://en.miui.com/thread-235865-1-1.html

    It went so well that I then bought the 2GB/16GB for my dad and set that up for him. It's been going great for him too.

    $195-$210 with express delivery for the 2GB/16GB version
    $235-$260 with express delivery for the 3GB/32GB version

    Express delivery took about a week.

    If you go for the Redmi Note 3/3 Pro/3 Prime/3 Pro Prime just make sure it's a Snapdragon 650 variant. They're the best. The 2GB vs 3GB RAM makes no real difference right now. If you don't need the extra internal storage I wouldn't bother with the 3GB variant. And you can add an SD card later anyway.

    • Maltopia on 15/07/2016 - 19:51

      Thanks for this info.

      In the instructions, do you start at this bit near the top: "For Normal Flashing" or about 1/5th of the way down the page at "Flashing Part"?

      • [Deactivated] on 15/07/2016 - 19:55

        Start at For Normal Flashing.

        • Maltopia on 15/07/2016 - 20:00

          Thanks tantryl. Are you the same tantryl from Atomic MPC forums from many a year ago?

        • [Deactivated] on 15/07/2016 - 20:16

          @Maltopia: The name's not good or interesting enough for anyone to steal it or even come up with it themselves :P

  • YungDaggerDick on 15/07/2016 - 19:38

    I'm 14 and have an OPPO F1 i rate it 9/11. They are $200 full price and have a good 8mp front camera a 12mp back camera. 4.5 inch screen.

    • [Deactivated] on 15/07/2016 - 19:56
      -4

      Your parents probably had sex because of 9/11 and it made you. You're a Baby Boomer. Sort of.

  • MasterNoob on 15/07/2016 - 22:48

    Buy an iPhone 5

    Girls just love dem iPhones

  • lukelegend on 16/07/2016 - 06:01

    Go with the Optus $399 iPhone 5s , she will love you more :) , seriously thought, they are a good phone and she can face time etc with the other kids who have iPhones, I got one for my 12 year old daughter, just make sure you get a good case.

  • SitarBoy on 16/07/2016 - 12:01

    I recommend the Nexus 5X. Nothing better than stock android and updates every year! Also gets supported for quite a few years and reckon could last 3 years minimum.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/07/2016 - 18:59

    Samsung J5. Yep, I said it. It has a longer lasting battery. Bright and sharp 5' inch display display. It does have a crappy mediatek cpu, but A snapdragon. Touchwiz is fast and reliable. Support the most 4G frequncies unlike many. You dont need to hassle with the phone wondering how to get my phoe rooted.

    Samsung J5 Is the most practical phone for $200. The phoene is great for someone who is not tech savvy and does not want to all nasty malwares come with a Chinese phone.

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