New Mobile: $400-$500, priority being ease of use, weight and "fancy features" unimportant

Forums › Mobile handsets › New Mobile: $400-$500, priority being ease of use, weight and "fancy features" unimportant

Nichlemn

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#127490 12-Aug-2013 18:42

Vodafone is giving me $400 towards a new phone. I'd prefer to spend exactly $400, but if not, no more than an additional $100. Ease of the use is the #1 priority - my current phone is exasperating. Texting, calling, answering calls, a good speakerphone - getting the basics right is paramount.

The next priority is a large screen. Lower down is its weight - I don't need to carry it all that far. The lowest priority is how good it is with "fancy" features that laptops or cameras are suited to doing. It doesn't really matter if it's no good at watching videos.

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#876036 12-Aug-2013 18:50

Well, most of these things are subjective. What is your current phone that you dislike so much, and why do you dislike it so much? I'm yet to encounter any vaguely recent phone that is, imo, exasperatingly difficult to call or text with, so on that basis I could only suggest SimplePhone or TeddyFone. But, I suspect this is not what you're intending.

scuwp

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#876039 12-Aug-2013 18:53

No fuss, ease of use, and something that just works out of the box.... I have seen the iPhone4 around that price point.

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mattwnz

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#876040 12-Aug-2013 18:56

Galaxy S3 maybe around that price if you shop around, and is a phone that almost has it all. Or perhaps wait for the iphone 5C to see if it is priced around that figure.

NonprayingMantis

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#876041 12-Aug-2013 19:06

Depends what you mean by large screen, but I would also suggest iphone4 as an option. Very user friendly, around that price. Screen is a good size, but not as large as the Samsung galaxy range.

jeffnz

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#876048 12-Aug-2013 19:13

all phones work out of the box thats just apple marketing speak. For that amount you can get a lot of phone but you would need to narrow your search a bit otherwise you'll gety all sorts of phone types being thrown at you, Windows phone will be next, actually not a bad phone but all depends on your personal wants and needs its all subjective.

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#876064 12-Aug-2013 19:39

ease of use = iphone range. but you won't get one for $400 from Vodafone ... are they giving you cash?
big screen = galaxy/galaxy note range. but you may have to learn a few tricks to compensate for slightly complicated operation.

for $400 from Vodafone i'm sure there are only one or two options so it shouldn't be that hard for you - have you even looked at their website???

NonprayingMantis

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#876082 12-Aug-2013 20:14

joker97: ease of use = iphone range. but you won't get one for $400 from Vodafone ... are they giving you cash?
big screen = galaxy/galaxy note range. but you may have to learn a few tricks to compensate for slightly complicated operation.

for $400 from Vodafone i'm sure there are only one or two options so it shouldn't be that hard for you - have you even looked at their website???

It's 499 from vf, and he said he would be willing to put 100 towards it if necessary so.....

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Inphinity

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#876083 12-Aug-2013 20:16

NonprayingMantis:
It's 499 from vf, and he said he would be willing to put 100 towards it if necessary so.....

$500 for an old phone that was mediocre when it launched doesn't seem like such a great deal imo :P

Consider something like HTC Windows Phone 8S?

If you really just want the basic functions, you can get something for well under $400. But what do you want the large screen for - just to see numbers etc easily, or for web browsing etc?

toyonut

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#876086 12-Aug-2013 20:31

Yep, iPhone 4 for $499 otherwise an HTC 8s fits nicely into that price range too. I find it easy to use, but try one out before you buy. You may not like it. Best advise I can give is to ask the person in the store to set you up with the HTC 8s, the iPhone 4 and the Galaxy S3 mini and try them all out. That gives you a range to try out and you can make up your own mind which way you want to go.

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dickytim

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#876218 13-Aug-2013 07:21

Inphinity:
NonprayingMantis:
It's 499 from vf, and he said he would be willing to put 100 towards it if necessary so.....

$500 for an old phone that was mediocre when it launched doesn't seem like such a great deal imo :P

Consider something like HTC Windows Phone 8S?

If you really just want the basic functions, you can get something for well under $400. But what do you want the large screen for - just to see numbers etc easily, or for web browsing etc?

When the iPhone4 was released it was actually cutting edge, less so now.

Ease of use = iPhone4 we have all our reps on them and the be honest I regret upgrading to the iPhone5 but I wanted 64GB storage.

Also for $499 it is a great price.

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#876222 13-Aug-2013 07:48

$499 for a 3 year old phone is very expensive in this day and age.

You need to decide what OS you are happy with first then start listing what features you want, software isn't the only selling point theres:
LTE
External Storage.
Removable Battery
Camera specs
Software compatibility with other devices.
Processor power
Support
upgrades

the list goes on so you really do need to narrow your search otherwise it will just end up being tit for tat with the peeps on here and their pet device.

Personally if you like IOS then obviously Iphone 4, if Windows then HTC 8S, Android for $500 you are limited really as its mid range on newer phones so apart from HTC Desire or an S3 mini and the mini has a smaller screen.

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Inphinity

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#876224 13-Aug-2013 07:51

dickytim:When the iPhone4 was released it was actually cutting edge, less so now.

Ease of use = iPhone4 we have all our reps on them and the be honest I regret upgrading to the iPhone5 but I wanted 64GB storage.

Also for $499 it is a great price.

Phones, particularly usability of them, is quite opinion based, thus the advice above to try and get a store to let you try them is great. Personally, I found the iPhone4 I have so slow, illogical and cumbersome to use, that I just had it on permanent divert. But yes, some people like them. It's all down to personal preference. The OP really needs to try a few different types of phone, and see which OS and style he or she prefers.

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#876252 13-Aug-2013 09:20

Galaxy S3 mini would be a good alternative to an iPhone 4...similar size, but S3 mini newer tech.

All depends on what floats your boat.

Personally, I am an unabashed Apple fan, so I'd always recommend an Apple, but if I was buyng a $500.00 phone, I'm not sure I'd go as far back in the range as an iPhone 4...especially with a new generation on its way - the iPhone 4 is soon to be obsolete.

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jeffnz

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#876477 13-Aug-2013 14:02

Handsomedan: Galaxy S3 mini would be a good alternative to an iPhone 4...similar size, but S3 mini newer tech.

All depends on what floats your boat.

Personally, I am an unabashed Apple fan, so I'd always recommend an Apple, but if I was buyng a $500.00 phone, I'm not sure I'd go as far back in the range as an iPhone 4...especially with a new generation on its way - the iPhone 4 is soon to be obsolete.

The S3 mini is very expensive for what you get and agree with the Iphone. Cheaper or more expensive is the way to go.

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#876487 13-Aug-2013 14:20

Nichlemn: The next priority is a large screen. Lower down is its weight - I don't need to carry it all that far. The lowest priority is how good it is with "fancy" features that laptops or cameras are suited to doing. It doesn't really matter if it's no good at watching videos.

I think you can't go wrong with the Nexus 4. Nice big screen, stock Android - so it has none of the fancy skins & rubbish the Samsung Galaxy's have & its just so fast!. For it's price, I really can not recomend it more. My opinion - it's better than the Galaxy 3 & all model iPhones.

Plus, its less than $500: http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=1484309

I have an iPhone 4 and it's old, dated, and the screen feels so small. You do not want to spend $500 on a three year old phone, especially as the new iphone is coming out in 6 weeks or so - it will make the iPhone 4 instantly older and crustier.

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