Phone Shopping Guide - $500 budget, Android 7 (as close to stock as possible)

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nzkiwiman

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#214815 30-May-2017 08:13

Guys, looking for some advise on a new phone .. My Nexus 5X has just suffered the bootloop issue and even though it should be repaired under warranty, I am now looking for an alternative.

Anything Samsung is automatically out of running; I am using a Samsung at the moment for another task and can't stand their skinned UI

Specs wise - as close to Nexus 5X as possible

5-5.2 inch 1080p screen
2GB (or more) RAM
No front button
As close to stock Android as possible

Is there anything sold in New Zealand at the moment that ticks any of those boxes?

I don't want to parallel import if possible

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meow
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#1791510 30-May-2017 08:53

Not sure how far over your budget this is however you have got the OnePlus 3T in your general price range. It is essentially a Nexus.

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nzkiwiman

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#1791515 30-May-2017 08:59

Work Colleague suggested the same thing; however the screen is too large and it has a button on the front

Looking at the Huawei P10 Lite - $400 on special at Warehouse Stationary.

Sadly after upgrading to USB Type C, I will have to dig out Micro USB cables again

Batwing

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#1791517 30-May-2017 09:04

In the same boat re the p10 lite, don't want to go back from USB c and not sure what to replace the 5x without too major an upgrade/price range shift.

tehgerbil

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#1791522 30-May-2017 09:15

The Huawei P10 lite has come across as a universally well received device for it's price bracket.

Pros:

PDAF 12 MP.

Fast and accurate Fingerprint reader.

Full Suite wifi options - Wifi -AC even!

Fantastic hardware quality.

Android 7.0

michaelmurfy

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#1791530 30-May-2017 09:24

I bought my mother a P10 Lite and I must say it is an excellent phone (and she really likes it). A decent choice for that pricerange and has double the ram of the Nexus 5x.

old3eyes

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#1791533 30-May-2017 09:28

Motorola Moto G4 Play $249 at PB tech. Says Android 6 but I suspect there will be a Android 7 update waiting. Also the Moto G4 Plus at $379 at PB Tech but it's 5.5" and it will go to Android 7 as I have one.

Regards,

Old3eyes

rb99

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#1791548 30-May-2017 09:55

Think these XIAOMI-Redmi Note 4X are quite good. 32GB storage, 3GB memory. $285 at Expert Infotech. Got one from them to give as a birthday prezzie a few weeks ago and they had limited stock.

5.5 screen though and only has 4G at 1800 not 700. Still - possibly a possibility ?

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

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sxz

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#1791579 30-May-2017 10:46

You can't go wrong with the Moto G 5 plus - $469 from Noel Leeming.

I have recommended the G4 plus to about 5 people, who all love it. The G5 is only new out in the last month or three.

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/phones-and-gps/mobile-phones/motorola-xt1685-moto-g5-plus-grey/prod152617.html

nzkiwiman

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#1791612 30-May-2017 11:17

^ I wanted to like the Moto, but it has that damn button on the front (and screen size is also an issue)

So close, yet so far.

Pretty sure that I'll be getting the Huawei P10 Lite at lunch, assuming stock in Dunedin - even if the Nexus 5X is repaired, it may break at any time

michaelmurfy

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#1791628 30-May-2017 11:33

I moved from the Nexus 5x to the Oneplus 3T and the "button" on the front isn't really a button however it doesn't take much to get used to. I wouldn't say this is a downside of going towards a phone like this.

As a bonus means more screen real-estate.

meesham

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#1791629 30-May-2017 11:33

nzkiwiman:

^ I wanted to like the Moto, but it has that damn button on the front (and screen size is also an issue)

So close, yet so far.

Pretty sure that I'll be getting the Huawei P10 Lite at lunch, assuming stock in Dunedin - even if the Nexus 5X is repaired, it may break at any time

Have you played with EMUI? The P10 Lite runs the newest version which is a little bit more like vanilla Android but I still don't like it, Android on the G5 Plus is much more Nexus like than EMUI's skin and modifications.

The Moto G5 Plus also has the same screen site as the P10 Lite, 5.2".

MurrayM

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#1791645 30-May-2017 11:38

nzkiwiman:

Work Colleague suggested the same thing; however the screen is too large and it has a button on the front

Looking at the Huawei P10 Lite - $400 on special at Warehouse Stationary.

Sadly after upgrading to USB Type C, I will have to dig out Micro USB cables again

The P10 Lite at Warehouse Stationery says it's for Spark. Does anyone know if it will work ok on Vodafone?

nzkiwiman

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#1791659 30-May-2017 11:42

meesham:

Have you played with EMUI? The P10 runs the newest version which is a little bit more like vanilla Android but I still don't like it.

I haven't, so fingers crossed I liked it.
Screenshots seem to show no real noticeable difference between Nexus and EMUI

MurrayM:

The P10 Lite at Warehouse Stationery says it's for Spark. Does anyone know if it will work ok on Vodafone?

I just saw that ... fingers crossed

old3eyes

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#1791664 30-May-2017 11:49

nzkiwiman:

^ I wanted to like the Moto, but it has that damn button on the front (and screen size is also an issue)

So close, yet so far.

Pretty sure that I'll be getting the Huawei P10 Lite at lunch, assuming stock in Dunedin - even if the Nexus 5X is repaired, it may break at any time

Button on the front, Do you mean the finger print unlock??

Regards,

Old3eyes

ronw

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#1791666 30-May-2017 11:51

PB TEch just has a Birthday sale and were selling the Nexus 6P at $599.

Could not resist it and cannot afford the Pixel range so at least the 6P will keep me uptodate with android I had a Nexus 6 before and it was not going to be updated to Android O anymore

Nokia 7 Plus
Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"

& many Windows laptops, Desktops etc

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