Cheap Build Android off Trademe....Pros and Cons please

Forums › Android › Cheap Build Android off Trademe....Pros and Cons please

janszoon

53 posts

Master Geek

#105005 25-Jun-2012 10:44

Hi there,

just want a cheap Android phone to keep me busy for a few months till the Windows 8 Phones release.

I see plenty of 'feature rich' Android units on Trademe: eg
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=486104411

I assume for the price the build quality is not great....Looks like the screen is 'stretching' to get the 4.3inc

However, I dont care - its just for a little while.

Anyone tried these - are they 'ok' for what they are?

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#645761 25-Jun-2012 10:50

Sure:

Cons:
- Extremely slow CPU, slower than most Androids from 3-4 years ago. Won't run flash, so TVNZ is out of the question.
- No GPU, so most games are out of the question
- Won't run on Telecom XT, will run in limited 3G mode on 2Degrees/Voda
- Analogue TV won't work here
- Will struggle to playback video
- With ICS 4.0, it'll be very slow
- 5.0MP camera will be cheap and nasty
- 256MB of ram, is tiny. No where near enough for ICS
- 512MB of rom, will quickly fill up. Since Rom is counted as app storage in ICS.

Be easier going to Mitre10, buying a $10 doorstop, because in a few months, that's all that you'll find this useful for

Pros:

- You could pretend you have an expensive smartphone

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

janszoon

53 posts

Master Geek

#645762 25-Jun-2012 10:54

thanks for the tips :-)

Get what you pay for eh...

So in the $400 range (second hand considered) what would be your recommendation?

cheers mate.

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#645769 25-Jun-2012 11:04

janszoon: thanks for the tips :-)

Get what you pay for eh...

So in the $400 range (second hand considered) what would be your recommendation?

cheers mate.

Yeah definitely do these days :), I'd only go ICS mobiles:

Second hand under $400 = Galaxy S2, Incredible S

In the new Range, under $400 with upgrades to ICS
- Sony, Xperia Mini/Mini Pro,
- HTC Neo V, One V, Desire C,

maybe the Xperia Ray also, although it has a lack of flash, only really a light that stays on.

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

Jaxson

8041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#645774 25-Jun-2012 11:12

Yeah the market is swamped with no name alternatives:

http://www.grabone.co.nz/manawatu-wanganui/android-smart-phone-5

'Kiwi Apple' ....

Ragnor

8218 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#645775 25-Jun-2012 11:18

janszoon:
So in the $400 range (second hand considered) what would be your recommendation?

What network are you on: Telecom, Vodafone, 2degrees?

Remember you need to pick the right model phone for the 3G frequencies used by the network you are on. Telecom uses 850/2100 UTMS and Vodafone and 2degrees use 900/2100 UTMS.

New phones around $400 on sale should be:

HTC Sensation
HTC One V
HTC Desire S
Nokia Lumia 710
Sony Xperia Mini

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#645778 25-Jun-2012 11:29

Jaxson: Yeah the market is swamped with no name alternatives:

http://www.grabone.co.nz/manawatu-wanganui/android-smart-phone-5

'Kiwi Apple' ....

yeah, I reported this, for advertising that it'll work on Telecom, having a slow processor etc.

But Grabone removed my comment :(

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

janszoon

53 posts

Master Geek

#645779 25-Jun-2012 11:33

Yip Vodafone Ideally - normal SIM.

I'll check out the HTC and Sony offers in that space, looks like I might need to stretch to $500 looking at trademe....unless someone has some tips / retail links??

Cheers all

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

lokhor

2858 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#645790 25-Jun-2012 11:42

janszoon: Yip Vodafone Ideally - normal SIM.

I'll check out the HTC and Sony offers in that space, looks like I might need to stretch to $500 looking at trademe....unless someone has some tips / retail links??

Cheers all

The HTC Sensation is around $500 new so I'm sure you could get a second hand one for a fair bit cheaper. Excellent handset at that price. If you are ok with ~$500 second hand then the Galaxy S2 is the ideal choice.

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

D1023319

524 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#645807 25-Jun-2012 12:11

Huawei Ascend G300 is now down to $249 at Bond and Bond
Used to be almost $400 a few months ago.
I bought one on recommendation from here and is very good ( minus front camera).

janszoon

53 posts

Master Geek

#645809 25-Jun-2012 12:15

D1023319: Huawei Ascend G300 is now down to $249 at Bond and Bond
Used to be almost $400 a few months ago.
I bought one on recommendation from here and is very good ( minus front camera).

Sweet thanks that could be the go.

Neets

1376 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#645816 25-Jun-2012 12:22

D1023319: Huawei Ascend G300 is now down to $249 at Bond and Bond
Used to be almost $400 a few months ago.
I bought one on recommendation from here and is very good ( minus front camera).

I've just finished writing a review on this device and it'll be up on AndroidNZ in due course. I think it's good buying. But it's on Gingerbread and no System Update was found. However if you're looking short term then the lack of official upgrades is probably not an issue. And besides, many people running ICS still talk fondly of the Gingerbread days.

Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900I

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#645875 25-Jun-2012 13:42

I've had a play with some of the LG Optimus range and found them to be quite nice value-for-money phones.

@KnightNZ

nix

147 posts

Master Geek

#645895 25-Jun-2012 14:16

My son picked up a parallel imported HTC One V for $420 (I think). He did extensive research and is really happy with it. He wanted ICS and wanted the audio and video features of the HTC one series but inside his budget. He has been using my ancient Froyo running Galaxy Spica for a while so it has been a nice upgrade for him.

lokhor

2858 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#645906 25-Jun-2012 14:40

The AndroidNZ review of the G300 by Neets is up on the site now. You can read it here: http://www.androidnz.net/2012/06/huawei-ascend-g300-u8815-real-user.html

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.