Any Phone around The $200 Mark That Is a Better Deal than The Nokia 5.3?

[Deactivated] on 29/01/2021 - 00:18

Before I go into my local Officeworks to buy the Nokia 5.3, I wanna see if the ozb community knows of a better deal than the Nokia 5.3 ($229).

Ideally I'm looking for something around the $150 mark. However, I want a phone that has decent performance (i.e. no stuttering or lag when navigating around the device, browsing the web, opening/closing apps), therefore have increased my budget to cover the Nokia 5.3 with a Snapdragon 665.

The other important thing that made me choose Nokia is the software updates. I know Google has pushed the various vendors to update the OS on their devices, but that's yet to see much change. So, any alternatives will need to have a good record of updating their devices OSes.

Mobile Mobile Phone Nokia Android

Comments

  • BobD on 29/01/2021 - 07:27

    The Nokia 5.3 is part of the Android One initiative. If I recall correctly, you get monthly security updates for several years and 2 OS upgrades. This is provided by Google not Nokia.

    BTW, you can get genuine Australian stock Nokia 5.3 at Amazon AU for $227.00 incl. delivery.

    • Kangal on 29/01/2021 - 08:51
      +1

      Google doesn't do AndroidOne anymore.
      For several years now, the updates come from the OEM (ie Nokia). And for that reason there have been some security updates that were skipped, or platform updates that come slow, on certain AndroidOne devices. Still better than most Android phones, but not what was advertised.

      If you want updates direct from Google, you need a Pixel phone. Having been a Nexus user, I found the Google Features (bloatware localised for USA) worthless in Australia, and experienced plenty of small annoying bugs.

      • BobD on 29/01/2021 - 09:11

        Thanks for the update. Obviously I didn't recall correctly.

      • mskeggs on 29/01/2021 - 11:11
        -1

        The Android one updates on my Nokia 6.1 plus is now 2 years old and still getting monthly updates. It was a key selling point for me over similarly priced options.

  • Hansi on 29/01/2021 - 08:06

    It might be worth looking into the Motorola G series. Above your budget but the G9 Plus was on sale for sub $300 the other week - awesome bargain.

    Otherwise the Nokia 5.3 is good bang for buck - if you keep in mind it's a budget phone and not mid range.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2021 - 13:46

      Looks nice. How's Motorola's software update history?

  • hawkeye93 on 29/01/2021 - 11:10

    Maybe Oppo A52 if you can wait for a deal with discount code?

    • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2021 - 13:46

      Oppo A52 has the same chipset as the Nokia 5.3

  • BobD on 29/01/2021 - 11:23

    Since my last post above, I have this morning taken delivery of a Nokia 5.3 from Amazon AU. The first thing it insisted on doing was a 1.56GB update. It's nearly finished now. This phone has the ability to run 2 SIM cards + a micro SD card. Not sure why you'd want 2 SIM cards though.

    • Kangal on 29/01/2021 - 12:35

      DualSIMs are useful when you combine 1 cheap SIM for Unlimited Talk/Text but very little data, with a 2nd SIM which has no talk/txt but has a massive amount of Data Only allowance that's also affordable. This setup is pretty popular in Developing Nations, hence their popularity there (and lower specs/cheaper device).

      Other use cases are when having one SIM for Work, and the second SIM for Personal. Meaning you don't have to carry two phones on you. Kind of popular with some managers/business owners.

      Last use case I can think of is when traveling (lol). You use the 2nd SIM slot for a local card. Whilst your primary can still receive txt messages from Australia. Great for those airport kerfuffles.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2021 - 16:51

    FYI. After seeing all the complaints about the Nokia 5.3. Have decided to forgo the OS updates in favour for 5G. So went with a OnePlus Nord N10 5G for $391 from OnePlus' official AliExpress store. Not as cheap as the $364 deal previously on ozb. but it'll do.

    Thanks for all the suggestions/feedback.

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