Mobile Phone Under $150 running Jelly Bean or KitKat

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StarBlazer

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#136866 11-Dec-2013 14:16

Background: I'm buying my daughter a smartphone for Christmas - looking in the stores, almost all are running 2.x version of Android. If I ask the staff which can be upgraded I get blank looks, a pause while they go in the back to speak to someone followed by "it's got version blah, blah". I'm sure if I ring the mobile operators sales teams I'll get the same responses!

Reason: Same daughter bought a iPod 4th gen early in the year and after finding recently it is not getting the iOS7 upgrade we have found that some of the Apps (including one we paid for) will no longer work and have physically removed themselves from the iPod. I don't want this to happen to the phone in 6-12 months time.

So my question is; are there any phones under $150 that will run (smoothly) at least Jelly Bean - this will at least indicate whether there is some future scope in the phone.

I do not want a contract - this will be a pre-pay phone.

Thanks

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#949394 11-Dec-2013 14:19

mate ya dream'n

Best bet is to find a popular model on XDA developers that has a rom available.

You're far better off with a Lumia 520 since its at your price point and runs the latest os etc. I helped my 16 year old sister in law purchase it, she was stoked (her first smartphone), as it is fast and has cool colours.

jeffnz

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#949399 11-Dec-2013 14:24

I'd agree with macuser, any Android phone under $300 would need to be rooted to get updates to make it run better. If you don't want to root it think the 520 is a good avenue to take for the price

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StarBlazer

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#949413 11-Dec-2013 14:48

Thanks for the quick replies.

Problem is the 520 is outside the price point - especially for a first phone. The wife was looking at spending $100!

If my goal is that unrealistic is gingerbread still a fully viable OS version - will a lot of the apps still work or have they stopped producing apps for that version?

I'd also heard that KitKat was meant to be a lighter OS to allow it to run on older and less powerful devices - have I misheard that?

Second option is are there any great phones on Gingerbread for under $150 or am I stuck with the cheap rubbish?

Did look at the Galaxy Y/Smart Mini/Pocket Neo or Telecom T4010/Y300 but not that impressed. Perhaps I'm overthinking this and my 10 year old will be chuffed to bits whatever I get her!!

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macuser

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#949418 11-Dec-2013 14:59

Maybe you're better off with something like this then. Running 4.1, costs $150 and comes with $150 in credit.

https://www.skinny.co.nz/2886_EN.htm?katid=15&supid=101-2

StarBlazer

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#949424 11-Dec-2013 15:03

macuser: Maybe you're better off with something like this then. Running 4.1, costs $150 and comes with $150 in credit.

https://www.skinny.co.nz/2886_EN.htm?katid=15&supid=101-2

That's a good deal! Might pop down to the store and have a look at the size and feel. Cheers. As a side point - I like Skinny :)

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johnr

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#949432 11-Dec-2013 15:11

handsets are generally sold with the latest updates on them so asking a sales person if ABC handset can be updated to Jellybean or Kitkat from 2.x I am not surprised you are getting blank looks

StarBlazer

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#949434 11-Dec-2013 15:14

johnr: handsets are generally sold with the latest updates on them so asking a sales person if ABC handset can be updated to Jellybean or Kitkat from 2.x I am not surprised you are getting blank looks

By latest do you mean the highest version the phone will handle? If that's the case it should be quite a simple answer for them.

If by latest, you mean latest then the stores are either advertising the information incorrectly and/or do not have the latest OS installed on the handset for demonstration - in which case they need to be updated.

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johnr

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#949435 11-Dec-2013 15:20

latest version released and if not you are not going to jump from 2.x to JB or Kitkat

timmmay

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#949439 11-Dec-2013 15:22

I looked at this six months ago, my conclusion is you tend to get what you pay for. Moto G at around $300 is probably the cheapest decent phone around at the moment, you need to import it from Clove/Amazon.co.uk though.

thelimoman

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#949448 11-Dec-2013 15:39

StarBlazer:
macuser: Maybe you're better off with something like this then. Running 4.1, costs $150 and comes with $150 in credit.

https://www.skinny.co.nz/2886_EN.htm?katid=15&supid=101-2

That's a good deal! Might pop down to the store and have a look at the size and feel. Cheers. As a side point - I like Skinny :)

The 520 can be had for $180 brand new, only $30 more than the LG. You get a much better camera and screen with a dual core processor, all on a OS with much better low end optimisation and support. All my friends with cheap-o Android phones have been left with a very bitter taste.

Although because your daughter is only 10 a smartphone of any sort will keep her pretty happy!

farcus

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#949479 11-Dec-2013 16:12

Zopo ZP300+

I've been using one of these for about a year. It's probably about $50 above your price but it is a pretty powerful phone.
Super nice screen.
Downside is that it runs ICS and I don't think we'll ever see the promised JB update.
Might be pushing to get it before Xmas also.

jeffnz

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#949493 11-Dec-2013 16:24

fo what you want to spend you won't get much so for the extra $$$ the 520 is very good value the Android offerings at that price are likely to have old versions of software and/or low specs and no updates.

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macuser

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#950481 11-Dec-2013 16:40

$150 in credit on skinny is approx 9 months of credit which would be pretty great though

vexxxboy

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#950485 11-Dec-2013 16:48

just remember at 10 , peer pressure is enormous and your daughter will want the Apps that her friends phones have. Im not sure if the window apps have caught up to android yet.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

uglyb0b

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#950494 11-Dec-2013 16:55

The galaxy pocket neo is running 4.1.2 if I remember correctly and is being advertised at various places for $79. Small screen but it's an alright phone - nothing special though.

Avoid the Vodafone smart mini and other telco branded phones as they are generally just not good.

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