New Mobile Phone - Help please

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OnceBitten

535 posts

Ultimate Geek

#255620 21-Aug-2019 11:45

Not sure where the best place to post this is, so I'll try here - seeing as I am a Vodafone customer

I want to replace my mobile phone and want some advise on what phone(s) are good / easy to use...etc...

I currently have a I-phone 4s.... it was my wifes but she upgraded to a 6s 2-3 years ago and now it's getting slow and apple will no longer do updates for their older phones (so I've been told)

I'm on a $9 prepay deal that gives me 1000? texts, 30 mins calling and a bit of data - and I don't plan to change that - that plan is more than I need

I only use the phone for texting, the odd phone call, taking photos, a few apps and listening to music.... so I don't need a flash phone with all the whistles and bells and I'm looking to spend less than $200

I went to a Vodafone shop a few weeks ago and asked about their 'Vodafone' phones (from about $40+) - the man said they are 'ok' but don't have a lot of updates or something and then showed me a Huawei phone for about $140 and said it's a much better phone and can do updates and everything, but I'm worried about all this bad publicity with Huawei recently and if that will affect updates on their phones in the future

does anyone have any advice regarding buying a mobile phone for less that $200?

thanks in advance

Bung

6500 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2302917 21-Aug-2019 12:00

Get your wife interested in buying another iPhone and take over her 6s 😁
She'll do it sooner or later.

OnceBitten

535 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2302921 21-Aug-2019 12:07

Bung: Get your wife interested in buying another iPhone and take over her 6s 😁
She'll do it sooner or later.

actually the battery on my 4s lasts longer that her 6s battery as she is always charging it - but then again she uses it a lot more than me... I rarely use mine when I come home from work

TinyTim

1042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2303006 21-Aug-2019 13:28

Avoid the big brands like Samsung - their cheaper phones are often lower specced. There are some really good value-for-money mid- and low- range phones that fly under the radar. I don't have a $200 phone so can't suggest anything specific but for example check out Moto.

ShinyChrome

1575 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2303025 21-Aug-2019 13:58

TinyTim:

Avoid the big brands like Samsung - their cheaper phones are often lower specced. There are some really good value-for-money mid- and low- range phones that fly under the radar. I don't have a $200 phone so can't suggest anything specific but for example check out Moto.

Yep, that's generally how it works haha.

I wouldn't worry too much about the whole Huawei thing, it's a bit overblown. To be honest, most OEMs support at this price-point are gonna be pretty lackluster. You will also struggle to find reviews, since most of the action happens north of $500.

If you are not adverse to changing to Spark (they most likely have a similar plan to the one you are on), you could try the likes of the recently released Nokia 2.2, which is virtually the same phone as the Huawei Y5. Not too sure about the MediaTek chip, but at least you get Android One with the Nokia, so 2 years worth of updates etc. Its even on special at Warehouse Stationary at the moment.

Another option, the Samsung A10 is comparable and uses all Samsung components, which I would hope means they will be better with keeping it updated, but YMMV.

prat33k

182 posts

Master Geek

#2303090 21-Aug-2019 15:28

I think getting a Huawei Y5 would be your best bet anyways under that price as there's not many options in these range and vodafone does a locked phone for cheap discounted prices. They will run 'alright' imo.

Also for the brand name, that's a war between USA and China but don't think it's gonna go that further to leave your phone unusable. I am personally using Huawei P30 pro and not worried at all as I am sure NZ Consumer Guarantee Act has got you covered if they can't provide what they promised when purchasing.