New Mobile Phone up to $500.00

Bart29 on 18/03/2020 - 23:48
Last edited 19/03/2020 - 10:52

Hello Fellow Ozbargainers,
I need a new mobile phone, I have only ever had Nokia phones. My current phone is a Nokia 640 LTE, has 8gb storage & 1gb ram. Over the last few months it has become really frustrating loading websites, entering shift availabilities, & banking, playing games it will either freeze & I have to restart it, doesn't respond to data entry or game moves.
I'm willing to spend up to $500. I"m considering Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite, Officeworks blue is on clearance $450.
I'm open to suggestions
Needs are GPS, expandable storage, decent camera, great in low light/dark, no bloatware, gaming, at least 4gb ram maybe even up to 8gb ram. Prefer to buy something that won't be outdated in 12months. I would consider Nokia phones as well. I like android one from what I've read & seen.
I know there's supposed to be latest phones announced very soon.

Sorry for the edit, but i don't want Apple or Samsung.

Stay safe in current Covid 19 situation.

Thanks in advance

Cheers

Mobile Mobile Phone

Comments

  • oscargamer on 19/03/2020 - 07:46

    Get the SE version over the lite version.

  • MrPandaOZ on 19/03/2020 - 10:04

    Just bought the Nokia 6.2 for $319 from a HN special a fortnight ago, really happy with it. 7.2 is retailing at 500 approx. The google camera port works nearly flawlessly me on the 6.2 for me as well, will only crash on startup occasionally.

  • knightslay2 on 19/03/2020 - 10:45

    Have you looked at Samsung Galaxy A20, A30 or even the LG V30+

    • Bart29 on 19/03/2020 - 10:54

      Prefer something newer than LG V30+ & I don't like Samsung or Apple.

      Xiaomi, Redmi or Oppo, Realme or similiar. Also Nokia, I like Android 9 & regular updates.

      Thanks in advance to everyone for suggestions.

      Cheers

      • Arthur Dunger on 19/03/2020 - 11:42

        I don't like Samsung

        Why?

        • Bart29 on 19/03/2020 - 11:51

          I've read lots of thing about Samsung that have put me off their phones. Can't remember specifics but probably something to do with ui, ads, updates. I know they are very good phones. But too expensive for me as well. Can get more for less with budget brands.

          Thanks Arthur Dunger, have a great 1 ☺

          • naplutetium on 19/03/2020 - 14:59

            @Bart29: Interesting observation. I was curious about the "why no Samsung" reason as well. I am in a similar quest as you (new phone under $500), and have discarded all Xiaomi, Redmi, Oppo, Realme phones for similar reasons as you gave for "no Samsung". Perhaps they are all the same.

            However, my main reason for dismissing them is that they are Chinese phones. Yes, I am paranoid :)

            In the end I actually settled on the Samsung phones. The A20 only costs $279. Yes, updates might be a little slower to be released, but for that price I can always upgrade again in a few years. Still deciding… I really want the Note 10+, but I just can't justify the price.

  • itsmehuey on 19/03/2020 - 11:19
    +2

    The Xiaomi Mi 9T (and 9T Pro) are a favourite in this price range. Purchased the 9T Pro for my father in law and he loves it. I installed Gcam for him to use in low light situations and with some pretty amazing results.

    • buynnjy on 22/03/2020 - 14:47

      how much did it cost

      • Arthur Dunger on 23/03/2020 - 12:04

        Xiaomi Mi 9T was $399 but it doesn't look like they stock it anymore.

  • Bart29 on 19/03/2020 - 11:45

    Thanks itsmehuey, I'll have a look, see what I can find price wise.
    Cheers

  • Bart29 on 19/03/2020 - 15:44

    Anyone have experience or views on redmi note 8 or note 8 pro?

    Thank-You everyone.
    Your suggestions are really appreciated.

    Cheers

  • buynnjy on 22/03/2020 - 14:47

    Finally what did u buy?(just out of curiosity)

    • Bart29 on 23/03/2020 - 13:42

      Still deciding, waiting for latest release phones to be available?

  • buynnjy on 22/03/2020 - 14:48

    Are there any good deals around?? any clues???

  • HaveANiceDay on 23/03/2020 - 19:47

    I'd say Mi 9T or Redmi Note 8 Pro

  • GTR12 on 24/03/2020 - 13:41
    +1

    Avoid Nokia, its great for 6 months, then its all downhill, eg; late security updates, no camera software improvements, little/no bug fixes. I have a Nokia 8.1, it was great, but it doesn't have a "nightsight" camera update, the newer lower speced 7.2 does.

    Android 10 is a mess on it, so many bugs, still on the February security update, no bootloader unlock etc.

    • Bart29 on 24/03/2020 - 15:33

      I wonder if the new 8.3 5G will be any better. Has 765 Snapdragon.

      • GTR12 on 24/03/2020 - 21:06

        Go ahead and believe HMD (its just Nokia branding) all you want, I thought they might fix their mistakes, but they don't.

        The SD 710 is capable of 120fps 1080p video recording, but do they enable it? No, that's just 1 example. They expect you to buy a whole new phone for new features, they don't update older phones even if they are capable.

        Also their RAM management is shit.

  • Bart29 on 24/03/2020 - 15:39

    Anyone had any experience with REDMAGIC phones global.redmagic.gg/pages/red-magic-3-specs which are advertised on Ozbargain.
    I've had a look on their website & seem pretty decent for around $500.
    Has 855 Snapdragon. Adreno 640 GPU & no bloatware.

  • Italkdigital on 21/05/2020 - 23:18

    Don't know why you wouldn't go with Samsung, bloatware were on there older models before S8, Note 8, well depends what you mean by bloatware, you can't blame Samsung when Google forces there apps onto Android anyway with my Note 9 I love there One UI2.1 with Goodluck you can now customise the hell out of there mobiles now, I run over 550 apps on my phone with fair few apps running in the background and she's still running fast,.. ok maybe your after something with the simplest UI

    Note 10 Lite is under $670 hopefully by Christmas shell be under $500, suggest you search brand new 1 year old samsung models usualy find them a lot cheaper new, check out the Note 9 last model with a headphone jack, Samsung phones well mine came with 2 years warranty i guess depends were you by from

    Also no advertising on my Samsung don't know which site you got that info from?

    Note 10 Lite under $670
    https://www.tobydealsau.com/en_AU/product/samsung-galaxy-not…

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