Best Android Phone under $200

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semigeek

1606 posts

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#93635 25-Nov-2011 13:08

Been looking for one for a present. Doesn't have to be the latest and greatest Android phone, but it has to be reasonable. So far have looked up Samsung Galaxy Mini, Samsung Galaxy 551, LG P500.

Any others I have missed? Comments would be appreciated. The phone has to work on 2degrees/Vodafone. XT is not an option.

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Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#549950 25-Nov-2011 13:14

The P500 seems decent enough, had a short play with them at work.

Im currently using a Huawei Ideos 8150 which is a great little phone but a tad sluggish but for free I cant complain.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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dclegg

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#549960 25-Nov-2011 13:30

I bought a Huawei X3 for my daughter for her birthday. Unfortunately thats not until December 30th, so I can't tell you how well the phone stacks up, but this may be of use.

bradstewart

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#549965 25-Nov-2011 13:34

The Huawei X1 from Telecom is a great phone, CyanogenMod is available for it as well which makes it even better. I've had 2D and VF sim cards in mine and it works fine on both networks.

wanghou168

453 posts

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#549968 25-Nov-2011 13:38

hands up for lg optimus one p500
decent screen size
great price at 169

MOBILE: Huawei P30
OTHER: Thinkpad E14 + Asus Vivobook + Intel NUC5i3 + A family of Raspberry Pi x 9 + Amazon Echo

garvani

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#549973 25-Nov-2011 13:44

I have the p500.. it was worth $500 when i got it ~5 months ago. Decent phone at that price, exceptional phone at $169!

LookingUp

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#549975 25-Nov-2011 13:46

+1 for the P500. Just switched to one, and finding it a great improvement over my old HTC OKTA Win Moble 6.5 :-)

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

nitrotech

1285 posts

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#549980 25-Nov-2011 13:48

+1 for the P500h - excellent value at the moment around 170 with sim.

The 3.2" screen is a HUGE improvement over the 2.8" screens on most of the budget devices.

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pgs2050

281 posts

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#549982 25-Nov-2011 13:50

Is it correct that $169 LG P500 is for the Telecom device only? I've seen a post or two which listed this model as the LG P500 H, some retailers are describitng it as the LG P500 XT.

Cheapest Vodafone compatible appears to be $250 from Vodafone directly. Pricespy lists several other retailers with prices above $300 for a Vodafone unit.

Can anyone confirm the above?

edit: typo

wanghou168

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#549987 25-Nov-2011 13:55

i tested the telecom version of lg optimus one
it works well with my 2d sim, I will assume it should work with voda as well
full bar reception, actually better reception than my voda version of the p500

MOBILE: Huawei P30
OTHER: Thinkpad E14 + Asus Vivobook + Intel NUC5i3 + A family of Raspberry Pi x 9 + Amazon Echo

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#549992 25-Nov-2011 14:00

wanghou168: i tested the telecom version of lg optimus one
it works well with my 2d sim, I will assume it should work with voda as well

Except it won't get any 3G service where Vodafone uses 900 MHz. And won't get any service where Vodafone deployed 3G 900 MHz and no 2G.

The handset is 850/2100 MHz.

Jaxson

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#549995 25-Nov-2011 14:03

What about the Samsung Galaxy mini? or their 551 slide one with the real keyboard.
Both 3.2" screens.

You've mentioned you've checked them out, but how do people feel they are?

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Vodafone-Samsung-Galaxy-Mini-Grey-Mobile-Phone-Bundle?SKU=1574124

pgs2050

281 posts

Ultimate Geek

#550000 25-Nov-2011 14:12

LG P500 vs Samsung Galaxy Mini

From what I have read around the web, a significant difference is the quality of the screen - 180ppi (pixel density) for the LG vs 127ppi for the Mini. The display of the Mini is very poor when compared to the LG P500, and may prevent installation of applications/games that require better screen resolution.

talisker

65 posts

Master Geek

#550008 25-Nov-2011 14:22

xpd: The P500 seems decent enough, had a short play with them at work.

Im currently using a Huawei Ideos 8150 which is a great little phone but a tad sluggish but for free I cant complain.

Mod it - then it's great. I used fusionideos.

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#550009 25-Nov-2011 14:27

Yeah Im looking at doing that :)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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toyonut

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#550535 27-Nov-2011 11:00

Where can you get the P500 for $169? I can only see it for $350 from 2 degrees. Looks like a good phone for the money. Very similar specs to the X3 and a long way ahead of the u8150 or the X1.
Would recommend it for the 2.3 upgrade over the u8150 which is currently having issues getting a stable cyanogen mod 7.1.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

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