Android phone about $600

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beenz

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#208638 20-Feb-2017 23:03

Looking for a new phone to replace my Samsung S5, budget is $600

The natural upgrade is the S6 which you can still find for around $600 and I love the camera on the S5 but the phone is starting to slow down and show its age a bit.

Do not like the Galaxy J7 even if sales people at Harvey Norman keep trying to upsell it !

Any thoughts or recommendations please ?

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#1723386 20-Feb-2017 23:09

http://www.einfo.co.nz/sony-xperia-x-performance-f8132-64gb-black.html

turb

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#1723413 21-Feb-2017 05:36

1eStar: http://www.einfo.co.nz/sony-xperia-x-performance-f8132-64gb-black.html

I've been looking at this phone too, to replace my S5 mini.

What are Sony's versions of android like? How close are they to the original, and how much bloatware?

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

Lostja

239 posts

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#1723435 21-Feb-2017 08:00

See if you can find a Nexus 6p, I absolutely love mine

NzBeagle

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#1723437 21-Feb-2017 08:11

turb:
1eStar: http://www.einfo.co.nz/sony-xperia-x-performance-f8132-64gb-black.html

I've been looking at this phone too, to replace my S5 mini.

What are Sony's versions of android like? How close are they to the original, and how much bloatware?

Quite light on customisation, but 'bloatware' in the form of Sony apps can fill the drawer a bit not too bad though. Camera can be a little more hit or miss than the samsungs IMO. In saying that I switched from the Note 5 to the Sony X Compact, happily.

The new Samsung A series (2017) could be worth looking at when they come through, since you'll be accustomed to Samsung and their image processing.

jonathan18

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#1723467 21-Feb-2017 09:05

What about the Huawei Mate 8?

I picked mine up for $450 at NLs late last year, and while it's back to $699 at the moment no doubt it won't be long before it's reduced at least a bit.

I ummed and arred about forking out over $1k for the Mate 9, but advice here on GZ (from NikT) was the Mate 8 was still a great phone, and he was right - sure it's not the very latest and doesn't have Huawei's flash new Leica camera, but for the price it's a bargain. And battery life is great: I've gone from a phone I often needed to charge up before the end of one day to a phone that I still have 20% left after two days.

Guv

94 posts

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#1723489 21-Feb-2017 09:19

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016 model) are decent for the money.

old3eyes

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#1723490 21-Feb-2017 09:21

You could try Moto G4 plus. I bought one at Xmas. Nice phone running Nougat 7.0

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Old3eyes

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NikT

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#1723554 21-Feb-2017 10:18

$600 is a tough bracket, the telcos don't like it 'cause it doesn't fit into their subsidy structures, and $699 is a sweeter spot for big box retailer promotions.

The 2017 Samsung Galaxy A series are due out at the end of the month and will tick this box, but you can pick up a former flagship for those prices on clearance. S6 is probably your best bet. Awesome camera and screen, so-so battery life. Doesn't have the water resistance or SD slot of the S5, it's still a very nice phone though. Should be able to find the Xperia X for around that figure, it's worth a look too.

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Dingbatt

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#1723618 21-Feb-2017 11:57

If you can hold out with your S5 for a bit longer, the release of the S8 should see a price reduction of its predecessors. I say should because there is a distinct possibility that if the next gen iPhone is going to be $1600 then so will the S8. Hence no reduction in the S7, S6, et al.
I have damaged the camera in my S6, so am going through the process of replace vs repair vs upgrade and am looking around at what is available also.

Edit: S6s are getting harder to find new

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

TeaLeaf

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#1725109 23-Feb-2017 12:36

NzBeagle:

Camera can be a little more hit or miss than the samsungs IMO. The new Samsung A series (2017) could be worth looking at when they come through, since you'll be accustomed to Samsung and their image processing.

In most situations they are relatively better (being sony sensors and all) but I get your point, there are some situations the sony x or xz loses to the samsung.

OP refer to https://www.dxomark.com/Mobiles from a Camera perspective.

But id give the Samsung the nod from a holistic perspective.

Look out for the Xiaomi Mi 6 soon to be released, at about $400, the Zenfone 3 is well under your budget, nudges close to the samsung, but not quite but is much cheaper, IBIS and OIS, sony sensor f1.8 from memory, 4k etc. But its not as good as the Xiamoi's from a CPU and GPU perspective.

How important is your phone photography, do you print larger than a3? If not I would not waste my money on a mainstream flagship (ie above $800)

beenz

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#1725111 23-Feb-2017 12:39

The camera is key for me
I want to be able to take good quality photos.
The rest I can take or leave.

TeaLeaf

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#1725125 23-Feb-2017 12:53

Id go the Sony in that situation, maybe the HTC 10, or the Zenfone. Best idea is to youtube some of these cameras for photo comparisons. Also use dpreview for a guide along with DXO.

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews?category=mobilephones

You want a good sensor, a good lens and minimum OIS, preferably 4 axis. From a video perspective you want quality 4k and 120FPS 720p for slow mo video etc.

Hope that helps and throws a few more at you to chew on :-)

TeaLeaf

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#1725131 23-Feb-2017 12:59

Possibly the One Plus 3T at $675.

http://www.mobilestation.co.nz/index.php/oneplus-3t-64gb-black.html

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/oneplus-3t-camera-review

The specs meet what I said above, but the price is a bit more. I have not pixel peeped its photos so Im not familiar with IQ, but dpreview seem fairly impressed, and it has a good GPU. Only a 1080p screen but meh, thats plenty IMO.

vexxxboy

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#1725133 23-Feb-2017 13:04

beenz: The camera is key for me
I want to be able to take good quality photos.
The rest I can take or leave.

i would go for the Huawei P9 if you want a good camera.

one review but most say the same thing about the camera

http://www.trustedreviews.com/huawei-p9-review-camera-page-3

Common sense is not as common as you think.

NzBeagle

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#1725135 23-Feb-2017 13:06

I think the Sony image processing is nice, but many prefer the approach that Samsung takes.

As TeaLeaf mentioned, how you use the photos is of interest, most decent phones will look great on the screen. Also, is it something you want to just pull out and snap with great results most of time, vs some of the time.

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