My husband has a Galaxy s5 atm, and I need to get a newer phone for him, as this one is just getting too long in the tooth, still works, but old and not really great with some of the new apps and is slow. I don't want to spend too much as he isn't a a techy, it doesn't matter if the camera isn't the best in market, as long as the phone has good battery life, isn't slow and is reliable. He doesn't use it for gaming etc. It is a necessary evil for him but he is getting cranky with the one he has lol. I'd like something that doesn't scratch or break easily. Just an allrounder that is covered by Australian warranty (something I can get from bricks and mortar store, instore or online, for easy returns/warranty claims)
Thanks
New, Reasonably Priced Phone for My Husband
souths123 on 04/09/2021 - 13:14
Last edited 04/09/2021 - 13:15
Last edited 04/09/2021 - 13:15
Comments
Pay $150 more and go for A52
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is still a great phone…seriously!
Its the last flagship phone Samsung made with a removable cover…
This has huge benefits such as quick and inexpensive battery replacement (it has great battery life too) and quick and easy customization of the phone by changing the back cover.
And it runs Android 6 which means it runs most of the important apps such as the all important "Service NSW" if you are in NSW.This all makes the Samsung S5 hugely popular in the 2nd hand phone market and they command some seriously good prices.
Now to address your problem with speed….
This is caused by having "Automatic Updates" turned on in Play store settings
So Firstly go and turn that off. (do this with all smartphones)Secondly go into "Application manager" and uninstall any apps which your husband is not using.
Some will only have the option of "Disabling" so do that.
The list of apps to uninstall and/or Disable includes Chrome, Drive, Dropbox, Google News stand, Google Play Movies, Google Play Music, Google Play Books, Google Play Games, Google+, Hangouts, S Health.This will free up the phones memory and allow the phone to run like brand new again
Alternatively and probably much better….
Ensure the phone is logged into a Google account as all his contacts and setting will be backed up in the Google cloud. You can check this by logging into his google account only and checking "Contacts" there.
Then do a Full Factory Data reset.. Look under "Backup and reset"When the phone has wiped everything it will start up again as if a new phone
Just log into his google account to get back your contacts and settings.
And immediately go into play store and turn off "automatic Updates"
Only ever update the apps you use. Nothing else
And disable all apps listed aboveThis general rule for restoring phone performance works for all android smartphones.
BTW - What is your location?
What is reasonably priced for you? $400, $600, $800?
depends on the phone I guess and what fits the criteria? I don't want to spend any more than $700 max (something on special, so I will wait for things like the 10% off sales at TGG etc, etc), although something more like between $300 and $400 would be good, as it's not something that is used all that often except for messaging, occasional calls, checking in at work (covid check ins) and a few other necessary apps. Put it this way, he is on the Amaysim $10 a month plan lol and uses barely any of his data each month. I was thinking of the Galaxy s20 FE as the highest end spec, when the % off deals are on JB, TGG or ebay, plus I have vouchers and gift cards to get it under the $700 mark in that case, although I thought that one might be overkill for what he needs.
I just want something that has very few negative reviews about usage issues etc.
yes, I did see these, but just asking others opinions about the type of phone I am after. Reliability would be THE most important criteria of all.
New, Reasonably Priced Phone for My Husband
Sounds like a good trade.
good one lol
Poco X3 Pro
can't buy it from bricks and mortar store in Australia, so unfortunately that is a no.
true, true, my bad
he might not like the big size phone these days
can't find small phone like s5 anymore
not sure if size is an issue, although I don't want it too big. I have the s9, he only has the s5 as he always got the hand me downs from me in the past when I upgraded through Optus, and I am not upgrading atm as their phone and plan pricing now is too much and I only have a sim only plan with Amaysim. If I was able to find something I really liked I would give him my s9. My phone has to be something with better specs.
Unfortunately he is getting frustrated with how slow his phone is now etc. (after all it is a 2014 phone)
Give him your S9 and get yourself an upcoming Google Pixel 6? Will be definitely miles ahead of your current phone and it's also an official Google product, meaning you'll get tonnes of security fixes and new features that take advantage of Google's AI enabled hardware.
I've heard that Google phones don't get great customer service if something goes wrong in Australia. This is not the case?
@souths123: i heard you get a refurbished phone from google, as replacement for warranty
other than that , their customer service is prompt and fast and easy.
You literally just missed the S21 deal
yes, I did look at that, although from what I have heard the s21 isn't all that flash. I did think about the s20 FE, but didn't want the hassle through Telstra as we don't have a Telstra account. I can prob get that below that mark through regular 10% off sales at TGG, concierge vouchers and discounted gift cards, but think that one might be overkill for what he needs. If it wasn't so big I would get it for myself and give him my s9
although from what I have heard the s21 isn't all that flash
Are you kidding? One of the most advanced pieces of hardware ever created.
It's also a flagship phone with the S21+ ultra so how on earth can it not be all that flash from the biggest smartphone maker.I heard it was a regression from some of their previous phones.
I've got one, preordered it. Camera app sucks. Laggy as hell.
Honestly doesnt feel like the $1000 phone i paid for.
My third samsung (after an S7e and S9+) but probably my last.
@Orico: That says it WILL be fixed in the June update.
Spoiler: It's september. I've got the june update, and the july update.
It's not been fixed.
I'd expect 7 months with no fixes from an aliexpress xiaomi, not a samsung i bought from samsung australia and paid 4x the cost of the xiaomi
Oppo!
I wish I could pick up an Oppo a52, as it seems the newer Oppo phones aren't quite as good as that one (say a53, a54) Many of the ones I would get I can't get anymore lol.
A74?
Absolutely.
Hi OP, I would also consider things like:
- Ergonomics - he is coming from an S5 with a 5.1" screen… would he hate using a larger screen of 6" or 6.5" of like the mentioned Samsung Galaxy s20 FE?
- Software support - from your post it seems he does like to hold onto his phone for a long time, I would consider something with decent software support. Apple are best in the business for this, while Samsung have been improving this for their phones.For $700 max budget I would prob consider:
- Google Pixel 4A 5G or the smaller 4A - good size, great software support
- Samsung A52 and the mentioned S20 FE are great options for midrangers
- For simplicity and ease of use and great software support for many years - maybe consider an Apple iPhone XR or iPhone SE?
✔️ Just an allrounder that is covered by Australian warranty (something I can get from bricks and mortar store, instore or online, for easy returns/warranty claims)
✔️ phone has good battery life
✔️ He doesn't use it for gaming
✔️I don't want to spend any more than $700 maxThis ain't going to be a popular opinion amongst Android suggestions :p
iPhone SE 64GB $649 @ JB https://www.jbhifi.com.au/collections/mobile-phones/iphone-s…
thanks, but I want something that is easy to transition to from the phone he has now. I think that might be a bridge too far lololol
fair enough :)
He's not going to want to re-learn Apple.
I would suggest https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/realme-7-5g-128gb-flash-s… you can view in store too.
Bought s8+ fter s7 then noe S10+, biguht around $450 with green gadget - refurbished. If you sign up with their newsletter you will get 10% off code. Mine was 'good' condition - has minor scratches on scree. If you want almost new, select the excellent condition one.
Not sure if it's targeted, they run special 10% off with code DAD2021 for Father's Day.
Samsung A52 (4G) is good and you should be able to get it for about $550ish when on sale or from a reputable seller on eBay. How about A32? A52 is nearly 40% faster (Antutu) than A32, Water Resistant design (no water in unit = last longer), Better Camera Setup, Snapdragon vs MediaTek (just better overall in performance, heat dissipation, etc), and guaranteed 4 years of software support (from released date). A52 should last longer (both in hardware and software) than A32.
Note: S20FE is good too BUT they cost more (big minus) and no headphone jack!
Seconding the A52 as an option. I picked up a bunch of these for work, in a lot of ways I actually prefer it to my S21 Ultra tbh, great midrange phone!
I'd like to show respect for the husband for displaying the Ozbargain trait of keeping something that works instead of buying new for the sake of it.
thanks, I am the same. I have my s9 because I was the one that used the phone more often and takes photos (when I remember!) He just always got the hand-me-downs from me as I upgraded. But the 7 year old phone is showing it's age now.
S20FE is a lot larger than his s5. Suggest getting a S21.
I have an S21+ and had the S10+ before that. S21 is better, but it's only an incremental upgrade not a generational leap like new phone models used to be. It will serve him well.
I love my Mi 9 SE.
Wasn't that released over 2 years ago?
Probably. Not sure how that's relevant though, as it meets all the requirements that the OP is looking for.
A 2 year old Xiaomi phone might be hard to find from a bricks and mortar store in Aus.
I think you stick with the plan that works for you. YOU upgrade and he has yours. So this is where your questions should be aimed. I’m an iOS person so can’t help further than theory.
=S you missed out on the Nokia 8.3 deal
Otherwise, I'd say the ones from WatchNerd's comment would be fine. Just pick the top ones that you can get from a brick and mortar store.
I am retired and also needed to upgrade from a basic phone because of all the Apps you need these days. A few months ago I bought a Motorola Moto G 5G Plus (128GB/6GB, 6.7'', 48MP) and am very happy with it. Price was around $400 - $450 ($400 or so when on special). Lovely big screen and no problems so far except cant get the fingerprint login to work, which doesn't bother me really.
If you mean it doesn't recognise your finger every time then try registering it more than once.
Thank you but not really important to me…happy to enter pin instead.
yes, I have looked at those. They are one of the ones that I would think of getting. Although looking now it is getting hard to find it at a bricks and mortar now.
Yes, online is cheaper price. I had no issues buying online and delivery was very fast.
looks like they are getting thin on the ground now everywhere as they new models have arrived. Best price on TGG is $499 (full price in other words and that is classed as "clearance"?) Only a couple of other online places stock and even they are mid $400s, which is weird.
Actually scratch that, can't even buy it from TGG
I use Moosemobile for my carrier as they use the Optus network and are reliable and very price competitive for my basic needs.
hi, thanks, the carrier isn't the issue. Need to get a new phone. We are happy with Amaysim costs and usage.
Motorola G10.
Samsung A70. 128Gb, ~$250.
can't buy it from bricks and mortar anymore as it is too old, thanks
You need to go larger, a phone with more "realestate" as they say. Better to view, better to navigate, and better all round.
I'm waiting for the Samsung S22… but my old S8+ packed it in.
So I researched on UTube. I purchased an S9+ for $240 off eBay. A beautiful phone. BUT, then decide on the S10+. So I purchased that for $340 on eBay. Only 2 years old, looking immaculate, and so so advanced.
What I am saying, is go larger for old-eyes, and fat-fingers, and buy off eBay, a flagship phone, 2 year old, for a fraction of the original price.
You buy with original packaging, and all assessors, and people usually toss in phone protection, etc.
Look on Utube for product review, unboxing, etc, regarding Samsung s10+, for example. Good luck
It's a gamble buying 2nd hand because you don't know the condition of the battery. I guess that's why the Op wants something =
that is covered by Australian warranty (something I can get from bricks and mortar store, instore or online, for easy returns/warranty claims)
In general agreement, except these days retrieving a large phone with a full cover from the trouser pocket can be a challenge.
Samsung A52, I had always had S phones but I don’t play games and just wanted capacity for dual sim/SD card for higher storage (I download Spotify music to play offline), fingerprint and facial recognition that my prior S8 didn’t have. Have had A52 for a few months now and perfectly happy. Got at Good Guys ordered through Cash Rewards.
Samsung S9 is the way to go, wireless charging and fingerprint security is a must.
I got one for a friend 6 months ago for $469 but now you can pay $359, a great price.
12 months warranty, battery life guarantee, 30 day change of mind. Express shipping.
https://ozmobiles.com.au/?&utm_term=ozmobile&utm_campaign=Br…
The hand me down option is likely still your best option. You will have it all set up for him so he won’t have the hassle of doing it himself. And you can do the basic troubleshooting for him.
I have an s9 and it is a pretty good phone. From what you describe he will be pretty happy.
No idea on what you would replace the S9 with for yourself though……Samsung s10e is almost the same size as an s5.
none at bricks and mortar stores though
Good battery life - from a store?
Motorola G30. Bought one for $270 just to tide me over while my Pixel 4 XL was getting fixed and was stunned how good a phone that cheap can be.
Even had NFC - was truly surprised. Really, really good. Even had me wondering why I buy flagship every 2 years.
Officeworks.
Only thing is it's a bit slower.
how slow is slow? My husband has a Galaxy s5 atm, so I am assuming it will be alot faster than that. I have a Galaxy s9 and that seems good to me, so hopefully this one would be similar to that at least, speed wise?
So Pixel 4 XL vs Mororola G30 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S5
Geekbench 5
CPU
437 vs 307 vs 152 single core (so the motorola 2 x faster than S5)
2007 vs 1258 vs 429 multi core (so the motorola nearly 3 x faster than S5)Compute (Vulkan)
2369 vs 499 vs no score for S5 but S6 is 108 so would be less than that. I'm guessing around 5 x quicker than S5 (I think S5 does not support Vulkan API)
In general use I really didn't notice anything. Maybe rendering web pages took a little longer and there were little pauses sometimes on big web sites when scrolling fast, which were less pronounced on the Pixel 4 XL
I did NOT try gaming to be fair I didn't use it long enough but it's sitting in the cupboard now as a spare so happy to try whatever you need.
lol, no, that should be fine. He doesn't do gaming on it etc. In fact he only uses is for check in at work, sms, phone calls, and some other simple chat apps and work apps really. The s5 still works, just takes (what seems like) so long now to load things and obviously as time goes on it just won't be compatible with newer apps.
@souths123: We have had a mix of Nexus 6P, Samsung S6, S8, Pixel 2 XL, Moto G8 Plus (had to fix the screen on that one) - in our "Not used any more" pile.
I found the G30 to be better than all of them comfortably.
I'm starting to sound like a Motorola ad and that's not my intention honestly as you can see we've used a lot of brands but I was just genuinely surprised Moto doesn't seem to get as much mention as others as they do make great mid range phones.
Even came with a BUMPER COVER in the box. Cover- in the box. Free. Nice touch. And the screen is 90Hz!
Anyway when you go shopping at least have a good look at them. I don't care what you buy I just think worth a look.
All the best!
@Ramrunner: At the moment that G30 is the main one I am looking at. I just missed the $30 off at JB and Officeworks, so I will just wait for the monthly Thu 10% off deals TGG have. Should be one soon and so it will be $269 and I have concierge $$ rewards owing through them, so I will use that and discounted TGG egift cards to purchase as well. Thanks for your help!
Samsung A32