Advice on mid-range replacement Android phone

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leemillerau

37 posts

Geek

#3270854 12-Aug-2024 14:44

Thanks everyone for the advice. After checking out all the recommendations and looking at some online reviews it looks as though the A35 is the best current option for me, although I'm still hopeful that I can revive my Nokia as (surprisingly) nothing seems to offer a heap more than what I already have.

Qazzy03

478 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3270872 12-Aug-2024 16:29

jonathan18:
Can anyone advise what the student pricing via the Samsung programme is for an A55? My son’s looking at buying one so interested to know whether it’s worth registering/purchasing via that. TIA.

I don't have the Student store but my EPP store has thr A55 at $640 ish. If you sign up your son with a school account there should be a 10% discount auto applied to the first order. Should take the price down to $576 ish.

If you also ask nicely via the online web portal team they can sometimes give a 5% off code which I think stacks too. Only 1 per month per samsung account

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3272962 17-Aug-2024 18:28

Xiaomi 13T, $750, you get so much for the money, the 13T pro is also very good things like ufs4, just better all round. You get high quality components, good size camera sensor, large high quality 450ppi OLED screen, Zeiss lenses with their colour calibration which is very nice, but you can choose a softer less vibrant calibration etc.

The other option I would go is the OnePlus 12R for the same price. You get a better screen (both are nice but you get dolby vision etc), SD 8 Gen 2 SoC, quality Camera with Hassleblad lens color calibration.

Just keep in mind Xiaomi has the rights to be the first company to release the SD8 Gen 4 SoC, which is soon, at the same time they will release the 14T and the pro version. Both shaping up nice.

Second in line is OnePlus with the 13 and 13R, the 13R will be upgraded in all ways but a big thing is it gets this years main top of the range SoC in the SD 8 Gen 3. They do VERY good technical phones and a good OS.

Both options I would pick above anything else as they are flagship killas.

Comparison Compare Xiaomi 13T vs. Xiaomi 13T Pro vs. OnePlus 12R - GSMArena.com

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3273016 17-Aug-2024 19:23

leemillerau:

Thanks everyone for the advice. After checking out all the recommendations and looking at some online reviews it looks as though the A35 is the best current option for me, although I'm still hopeful that I can revive my Nokia as (surprisingly) nothing seems to offer a heap more than what I already have.

Kinda more low tier. The a55 is better, but still a very weak SoC. I do like OneUI though.

If I was going this route Id look out for a used a54 on Trademe for circa $400 and hopefully still with a few months warranty.

OR, the Pixel 7 is not $679. It has another year of major updates and two more years of security support after that. Good camera and you can put Graphene on it if you are super security focussed.

although that price is getting close to the 13T, which has an awesome low light function. But both have a camera sensor around 1:1.3". Personally I prefer the Xiaomi images, could be the Leica colour grading. also the pixel has a low 90hz screen. The xiaomi screen is 144hz, you also get Dolby Vision as well as HDR10+ content, so great for watching movies or HDR videos. It has a higher PPI count, close to 450ppi, also with viewing outside you get a 2600nits max brightness, the Pixel only 1400nits max.

Just on the samsung phones, if it were me Id be trying to get into the S range, even if s23, you could a much more powerful device +DEX (a solid Desktop environment, plug n play on a monitor, usb to hdmi etc). Ive seen s24's sell for $700 used with some warranty left. an s24 gives you another 6 years of support. You can go the refurbed route and get a new 12month warranty but prob more like $800. Try to get a SnapDragon 8 v3 model rather than exynos.

Handle9

11388 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3273029 17-Aug-2024 20:50

TeaLeaf:
Xiaomi 13T, $750, you get so much for the money, the 13T pro is also very good things like ufs4, just better all round. You get high quality components, good size camera sensor, large high quality 450ppi OLED screen, Zeiss lenses with their colour calibration which is very nice, but you can choose a softer less vibrant calibration etc.

The other option I would go is the OnePlus 12R for the same price. You get a better screen (both are nice but you get dolby vision etc), SD 8 Gen 2 SoC, quality Camera with Hassleblad lens color calibration.

Just keep in mind Xiaomi has the rights to be the first company to release the SD8 Gen 4 SoC, which is soon, at the same time they will release the 14T and the pro version. Both shaping up nice.

Second in line is OnePlus with the 13 and 13R, the 13R will be upgraded in all ways but a big thing is it gets this years main top of the range SoC in the SD 8 Gen 3. They do VERY good technical phones and a good OS.

Both options I would pick above anything else as they are flagship killas.

Comparison Compare Xiaomi 13T vs. Xiaomi 13T Pro vs. OnePlus 12R - GSMArena.com

Where are you buying those phones for $750?

Regardless it’s 25% over budget. The request was for midrange phones not flagship phones.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3273039 17-Aug-2024 23:09

Handle9:

Where are you buying those phones for $750?

Regardless it’s 25% over budget. The request was for midrange phones not flagship phones.

The 13T is at Parallel Imp

They said plus minus. Im just trying to show they not far from quality MID range.

We use the cheap samsungs for work phones, they do the job but they are pretty weak, so Im just talking from experience, they are closer to low tier than mid. They get the job done, if saving money is the exercise.

I had the original a30 last 5 years, it wasnt great but oneUI imo is one of the best OS skins. The screen just stopped working eventually, for no apparent reason.

The OP Nord 3 at $670 could be considered too. Flagship level screen, decent Sony IMX890 camera.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3273174 18-Aug-2024 09:58

Just on the Samsung A series. GSMarena suggests as an alternative to the a55 or a35, the prior year a54 or a34. But for me that doesnt make much sense, the a54 if it was priced better would because it got good reviews and carries a similar camera setup to the a55. the a34 is sharper priced at low to mid $400s so it makes more sense.

The a55 carries a Sony IMX906 1/1.56" F1.8 main sensor, which is pretty decent.

The a54 carries an older Sony IMX766 but its also a 1/1.56" F1.8 main sensor, but its only $50 cheaper.

The a34 and a35 both use 1/2" sensors. a generic Samsung sensor in the a35 and the old IMX386 Sony in the a34, although camera software can do a lot and Pixel used the IMX363 for 5 generations, but nothing really beats more light in photography.

So given the a55, a35 and a34 all use the same 6.6" 120hz 1000nits 1080p+ S-amoled display, unless you really need the HDR10+ on the a55, the a34 8GB at $459 is prob the best buy of the lot.

The low end Exynos SoCs on all of them are close enough in antutu scores not to be a huge factor. The a55 does give a better Camera, HDR10+ on the display and the higher end Exynos SoC of the 3. For some those might be worth the extra $140 (more so the Camera), currently a55 is $596 at Einfo.

But again it then gets very close to some better options of the real mid tier.

Im currently using an a34 for work purposes its fine. Its not blazing quick or smooth like with a higher end SoC but it neither bothers me or lets me down. In good lighting the camera is like most low-mid level 1/2" sensors, much better than my a30 though.

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Jase2985

13459 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3273180 18-Aug-2024 10:36

@TeaLeaf, you are way overlooking the OP's requirements and deep diving into cameras and screens.

"calls, SMS, Whatsapp, Wallet, camera occasionally but mostly just to scan documents, assorted apps. Must have NFC"

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