What Cheap New Phones Are Not Locked So Can Work with Woolworths Mobile Plan

RockyRaccoon on 05/09/2022 - 16:41
Last edited 05/09/2022 - 16:42

I have been asked to help an older person buy a phone and a plan.

The Plan is settled. They like the idea of the woolworths plan as they shop there and can take advantage of the 10% off a shop each month, saving an estimated $8 a month and they want a small internet access and Telstra network.

However the phone decision isnt. Hence the topic heading.

If you need the details:-

The one they have now isnt internet capable. So they want an internet capable phone.

As a pensioner they dont want to spend much and will only use the internet side of the phone to do BPay via their banks App. (so no power user here 😀)

So anyone have experience with a cheap handset thats available than is unlocked at least, to work with a woolworths sim.

Like any of the cheap Telstra phones?

Its going to be Android (as an IOS user - already been down that track and agree with them)

Thank you

As an example I had found this at BigW for $129

https://www.bigw.com.au/product/aspera-nitro-32gb-bundle-blu…

Mobile Mobile Phone

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 05/09/2022 - 16:57
    +4

    Have you checked the WSIB polls for some budget suggestions?

    Generally speaking with Android — you're going to want to avoid the extremely low-spec phones without a brand name. The aspera nitro has 32GB of storage and 1 GB of RAM paired with a SOC from… 2014?

    It'll just be laggy and unusable, and it'll also be unsecure. You won't want to use it for digital wallets like Google Pay etc.

    Try to find something with at least 3 years of security updates. The budget oriented Samsung Galaxy A23 for example, is covered for 4 years and it'll set you back around $200ish (note: this model lacks NFC)

    • RockyRaccoon on 05/09/2022 - 19:25

      Yes I did look at that, but the recommendations are more than what he wants to pay.

      I know it’s hard for most of us brought up on tech, but in this case he is in his 80’s and will use it only as a phone, and only using his banks app to do banking. No digital wallets, no YouTube, no games, not even using the camera.

      He resisted even using the banking app, preferring going to the PO and paying bills over the counter. And only now have we set up an email address for him, with gmail.

      The PO isn’t going to help him in the future as he is moving and lost his effective access to it. Would have to Taxi it (no Uber as that requires an app) to pay his bills.

      So would not even a cheapy be of use, even with a lag? Just checking. Thanks

      • scrimshaw on 05/09/2022 - 19:56
        +1

        Have you asked your friends and family on Facebook and see if anyone has an unused phone lying around they are willing to donate? Most people may have a phone that they've retired and might just be gathering dust.

        That phone with 1GB of RAM will easily be outperformed by any mid-range phone made past 2019.

        • RockyRaccoon on 07/09/2022 - 14:09

          Problem is that if this had an issue, then the phone warranty covers it. Secondhand while should be great, will doesn’t have this comfort factor. They think new will be less likely to fail, vs good old which as we know probably would be better value. I don’t think I could convince him of this value. Just like a refurbed iPhone would probably suit best.

  • jv on 05/09/2022 - 18:38

    help an older person

    get a refurb iphone 8 or above.

    • RockyRaccoon on 05/09/2022 - 19:28

      Yes a possibility, but thats not going to be cheap unless you can point me to near $120 supplier. Trust me as a long time iOS user, thats not something I can convince him of.

      • jv on 05/09/2022 - 19:41

        Around $150 to $200 on marketplace or wait for price drop when next iphone is announced next month.

  • JimmyF on 05/09/2022 - 19:57
    +1

    What Cheap New Phones Are Not Locked

    Anything that isn't prepaid then will work.

    As an example I had found this at BigW for $129

    Treible specs, only 1GB RAM + 32GB ROM storage means endless pain for whoever has to use that.

    Can you extend the budget to a Samsung? This one has 4GB and 128GB of storage, plus samsung has a 'easy' mode launcher and you can lock the icons in place etc, great for older people.

    https://www.bigw.com.au/product/samsung-galaxy-a23-peach/p/2…

  • Boioioioi on 05/09/2022 - 20:59
    +1

    Still not amazing but for an extra $20 the Huwawei on sale at big W right now seems better https://www.bigw.com.au/product/huawei-y6s-blue/p/122385

    • derrida derider on 05/09/2022 - 21:23
      +1

      My son had one of those a couple of years ago - they're quite decent for the money. Will definitely do what grandpa wants.

  • scrimshaw on 06/09/2022 - 11:37
    +1

    BigW has a sale on today
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/723119

    You can grab a TCL 20B for $169 with the coupon code applied. It has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage based on an entry level Mediatek MT6762. Phone was released in 2021.

    You can also earn bonus WW Rewards pts if you activate the offer in the app.

  • smurftastic on 06/09/2022 - 13:21
    +1

    Just check, but I don't think Woolworth's sim will work on a Telstra prepaid locked phone since Woolworths is on the wholesale Telstra network.
    I had either a Boost or a Telstra locked prepaid phone (can't remember which one) that I was using a Boost sim in, and I had to get ti unlocked before I could use it with a Woolworths sim.

  • RockyRaccoon on 07/09/2022 - 14:04

    Thanks everyone for taking the trouble to reply. I’ll use those comments to discuss with the old fella tomorrow.

    I do agree the more spent the better value, and the two cheaper bigw options listed might just be the way to go. ( I think Samsung would be a stretch for the pensioner)

    Cheers team….

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