Recommendations on cheap new phone for wife for Xmas

Forums › Mobile handsets › Recommendations on cheap new phone for wife for Xmas

leemillerau

19 posts

Geek

Topic # 159996 19-Dec-2014 14:53

Hi all

My wife is finally willing to consider a smartphone replacement for her 10 year old very unsmartphone.

A very sophisticated set of requirements -

- the cheaper the better and $200 tops
- good camera to use while travelling and for selfies
- "email access would be nice"

and that's about it.

A bit more info - we're an android household with a couple of ageing tablets and an android TV box.

I've done a quick browse and the Moto E looks nice but not too sure about camera quality - is there anything better at these sort of prices? Are any of the homebrand cheapies from the phone co's going to be suitable?

Thanks for your help

Lee

trig42

Banana?
4457 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1061

Subscriber

Reply # 1200603 19-Dec-2014 15:04

Galaxy Ace 3 from Spark might be worth considering. $169. Not sure of Camera Quality.
Skinny have the Alcatel C7 - 5" with 5MP camera for $149 too (probably SIM locked).

Wade

2173 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 359

Reply # 1200628 19-Dec-2014 15:44

2 people support this post

Budget an extra $50 and pick up a moto g 2014

The camera has had a bit of bad press but in reality its not that bad

stevenz

2782 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 120

Reply # 1200660 19-Dec-2014 16:48

A good back-facing camera and a front-facing on a <$200 phone is going to severely limit options.

The Alcatel's are SIM-locked, you can pay $30 (I believe) to get them unlocked however.

@KnightNZ

Ragnor

8027 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 387

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 1202056 22-Dec-2014 14:07

leemillerau

..the cheaper the better and $200 tops

Cheaper is not better, pretty much all the really cheap phone are frustrating to use in practice.

I'd advise you to save up till you have ~$400 to spend, even if you buy a few months from now instead.

If you must stick with that budget and want to buy now the Lumia 630 or 635 are all really good bang for buck.

timmmay

14150 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2546

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 1202084 22-Dec-2014 14:37

Most of the cheap phones have poor cameras. Suggest if you want decent photos buy a cheap P&S and a Moto G/E.

AWS Certified Solution Architect Professional, Sysop Administrator Associate, and Developer Associate
TOGAF certified enterprise architect
Professional photographer

sdavisnz

559 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 151

Trusted

Reply # 1202087 22-Dec-2014 14:45

Wade: Budget an extra $50 and pick up a moto g 2014

The camera has had a bit of bad press but in reality its not that bad

agree.

Voice gives context

Dairyxox

1406 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 371

Reply # 1202100 22-Dec-2014 15:03

Huawei Ascend G630
$149 from dick smith

5 inch IPS display.
8megapixel camera with flash, takes quite good photos.
Decent sized battery >2000mah

Must be the best phone under $200 by miles.
Only drawbacks, it doesnt have 4G,
and its only got 4GB of storage, with much of it already taken up, so not good for lots of big games. Photos & Movies no worries, because you can put a microSD in there.

billgates

3830 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 234

Trusted

Reply # 1202103 22-Dec-2014 15:06

Microsoft Lumia 535. Has a 5MP Selfie camera at front. Good specs overall. Dual SIM. Will only work on Vodafone NZ or 2Degrees.

http://www.einfo.co.nz/nokia-microsoft-lumia-535-dual-sim-green.html

http://www.clove.co.uk/microsoft-lumia-535

Do whatever you want to do man.