Please Find Me A Smartphone Priced around $200

Hi,

I am looking to buy a smartphone for my mother. This will be the first time she is gonna be using a smartphone. She completely left the decision to me and I decided to go with a simple one. It shouldn't have a huge screen and it maybe better relatively small and light. when it comes to price, I'm thinking about around $200, even less if possible.

Would that be enough for a starter level phone? I can go up to $250 I reckon.

So can you recommend me some phones to buy?

Thank you.

Comments

  • +1

    If you would consider a chinadroid id recommend a xiaomi redmi 4(snapdragon 625 variant). I purchased one almost 3 months ago and it's awesome. The camera is surprisingly good, the battery is awesome, and so far there is no task it couldn't handle.

    • +4

      Yeah Xiaomi is pretty good for the hardware. My mum owns 2 phones (both my choice) Motorola G4 Plus 32GB (5.5 inch) (bought for $300) and a Xiaomi Mi Max (6.4 inches) for home use (bought it for $220). both are good phones in their own right.

      The default Xiaomi MIUI software is a little… meh, but nothing Nova Launcher can't fix.

      Be sure to load up Nova Launcher and setting up the essentials for mum before giving it to her.
      Other essentials I'd be looking at:
      Installing SwiftKey keyboard
      Setting up a Gmail Account and setting photos to sync only on Wifi networks in Google Photos
      Installing a free GPS map app, HERE and downloading offline maps
      Teaching her how to use Stocard to manage loyalty cards
      and of course, be sure to add her as a contact in WhatsApp or Wechat!

      Be sure to also teach her how to use the phone… how to manage apps, how to uninstall unneeded software, how to manage download limits using the built in 4G data monitoring tool, how to use the default Google applications and most importantly how to use the security features (Fingerprint for screen locks and PIN numbers)

      Most first timers don't understand how to fully use apps from the get-go.

  • +2

    I'm thinking Windows phone

  • +1

    I have a Zuk 2 and it's great.

  • +3

    If it's for Mother's day then you'll probably need to find something from a brick and mortar store.

    If she's already on a Vodafone network, then the Vodafone Sony Xperia XA is good value and sub-$200.

    The Moto G4 Play is fairly safe, for $249 at HN.

    • +1

      How do those two compare? Galaxy J3 seems like it could be ok as well

    • +1

      yea the XA would be perfect, i wouldnt reccomend a xiaomi as harder to use for first time user and no band 28

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