Recommend me a phone...

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sidefx

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Topic # 220260 2-Aug-2017 12:52

Looking for a phone to replace my nexus 5x... what would you folk recommend? I've read through some of the other threads but given pricing changes fairly often and I'm quite keen on a waterproof or resistant phone which doesn't seem like a major feature in previous discussion I'm keen for some input. I've thought about what I want and have decided on following in roughly this order

* Good camera - My phone camera is pretty much the only camera I use

* Waterproof\resistant - I use phone while running, take kids to pools often, go to beach, etc and always worry about my phone getting rained on, splashed and so forth - would be nice not to have to worry about this

* Decent amount of RAM and performance - I find my 5x freezes and stutters occasionally and while I'm not sure why I suspect I may be better off with a phone with 3 or 4GB of RAM since it often happens when using that bloated software called facebook or facebook messenger ;-)

* Available from a decent retailer - I'm impatient so preferably a brick and mortar store I can walk into and buy one.

* decent life - don't really want a phone near the end of it's life in terms of new patches, android versions, etc...

* don't want to spend more than $1000 and less would be nice :)

With these criteria in mind I'm thinking maybe:

* LG G6 - though I don't see many reputable retailers in NZ selling this at a good price?

* HTC U11 - if it comes up on a decent sale

* Xperia XZ - currently on sale at JB Hifi for $750, seems like a decent price?

* Xperia XZ Premium - looks really nice but availability in NZ seems very limited?

Any other suggestions?

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Reply # 1835725 2-Aug-2017 13:39

I will get pooh-poohed for this, but, with similar requirements as you, I've just got the 2017 Samsung A3, for approximately half your budget.

I'm very happy with it - very smooth.

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NikT

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Reply # 1835973 2-Aug-2017 18:08

I've ranged all of the devices you've listed above at PB (in the best possible global SKUs with Dual SIM and the most RAM/storage/et cetera where stock was not available locally), though you've unfortunately just missed a ridiculous sale I put together last weekend that dropped the lot quite significantly in price. :)

My pick of the ones you've listed would be the XZ Premium, but then I'm a sucker for Sony's monolithic design language + the rapid security patches the Dual SIM versions receive. Have yet to go hands-on myself,

Drop us a line at websales@pbtech.co.nz and I'll get the team to sort you out with a deal if you're keen (in-store pickup is no problem). We have one unit of the Dual SIM 64GB XZ non-premium left, otherwise G6 would be the cheapest.

EDIT: Re: Samsung's A-series, I dig the designs and featureset - if only the A5 and A7 had gruntier processors I'd recommend them too. Gotta have them big cores for fast web browsing.

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sidefx

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Reply # 1837040 4-Aug-2017 10:38

@turb Thanks, I did look at the A7 but decided that given the price it seemed better to spend a bit more and get something better... The A3 is an interesting proposition, but I just feel like it makes a few too many compromises to hit that pricepoint. And having always been a low to midrange phone buyer in the past I kinda want to see what a flagship device is like, given it's a device I tend to use all the time for a number of different things.

@NikT: Thanks, I'll do that... yes I did briefly see the price on the XZ but it disappeared on the morning I saw it. ;-)

Still interested if anyone else has any more suggestions.

NikT

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Reply # 1837048 4-Aug-2017 10:47

sidefx:

Still interested if anyone else has any more suggestions.

It's a reasonably robust list of requirements you have there, so unfortunately not a lot more to add unless you're willing to flex the water resist. Huawei's Mate 9 and P10/P10 Plus have ridiculously good cameras and are very sharply priced right now.

There's always the iPhone 7 Plus and the S8 range, but mmm those aren't under $1k.

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WyleECoyoteNZ

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Reply # 1837055 4-Aug-2017 10:57

NikT:

sidefx:

Still interested if anyone else has any more suggestions.

It's a reasonably robust list of requirements you have there, so unfortunately not a lot more to add unless you're willing to flex the water resist. Huawei's Mate 9 and P10/P10 Plus have ridiculously good cameras and are very sharply priced right now.

There's always the iPhone 7 Plus and the S8 range, but mmm those aren't under $1k.

Love the camera on my P9, the camera's on the wifes P9 Lite is pretty good too

timmmay

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Reply # 1837056 4-Aug-2017 11:01

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Beware Huawei updates. Once they release the next model the next year they lose interest in providing security or Android version updates. The P9 was replaced by the P10 in around March this year, they have been no P9 updates since either late last year or early this year. Huawei might release Android 7 for the P9 in December this year.

Maybe you should get a waterproof case for your phone, though if protection is integrated maybe it'd be a bit more compact.

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sidefx

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Reply # 1839146 4-Aug-2017 13:15

timmmay:

Maybe you should get a waterproof case for your phone, though if protection is integrated maybe it'd be a bit more compact.

Not a bad thought actually, I have contemplated it in the past. I didn't have that much luck at the time finding a waterproof case that stays out of the way though. The dry-bag type look like the most waterproof, foolproof and are of course usable with different phones but also look like they make using the phone tricky and may affect the camera.

1eStar

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Reply # 1839233 4-Aug-2017 15:37

Samsung S7.

Einfotech on North shore of Auckland retail them for less than $800. I see they are selling some 'open-box' ones for $549 if you want a real punt of a deal.

You can choose colour, edge version, dual sim etc. I have S7 flat dual sim in silver. Love it

d3Xt3r

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Reply # 1839816 6-Aug-2017 12:06

I'm surprised no one's mentioned the OnePlus 5 yet? It meets all your criteria and although it's not officially IP rated, many users have reported that it's water resistant - https://youtu.be/K5Yfro6q1ZY

With 6-8 GB RAM, stock Android and a huge developer community, you can expect the phone to last a long time.

You could walk into a PBTech and Noel Leeming and buy the phone right now. :)

cadman

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Reply # 1839842 6-Aug-2017 13:37

turb: I will get pooh-poohed for this, but, with similar requirements as you, I've just got the 2017 Samsung A3, for approximately half your budget.

I'm very happy with it - very smooth.

The A3 is on my (very) short list for the impending replacement of my J1 Ace, which has a poor camera and 8GB internal just isn't enough space - despite moving everything that can be moved to the SD card I'm constantly having to clear cache just to update apps (500MB free but a 5.3MB update to a 20MB app won't download - WTF - is there 500MB free or isn't there?). I simply don't want anything physically much bigger than the J1 Ace and there seems to be a gap in the market for robust small phones with good features unless you want an iPhone SE (which I don't - I will never go back to the relative captivity of Apple). My phone is a tool to make my life easier, not something to try and impress people with.

turb

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Reply # 1839875 6-Aug-2017 14:35

cadman:
turb: I will get pooh-poohed for this, but, with similar requirements as you, I've just got the 2017 Samsung A3, for approximately half your budget.

I'm very happy with it - very smooth.

The A3 is on my (very) short list for the impending replacement of my J1 Ace, which has a poor camera and 8GB internal just isn't enough space - despite moving everything that can be moved to the SD card I'm constantly having to clear cache just to update apps (500MB free but a 5.3MB update to a 20MB app won't download - WTF - is there 500MB free or isn't there?). I simply don't want anything physically much bigger than the J1 Ace and there seems to be a gap in the market for robust small phones with good features unless you want an iPhone SE (which I don't - I will never go back to the relative captivity of Apple). My phone is a tool to make my life easier, not something to try and impress people with.

Absolutely!

The A3 was the only realistic successor to my S5 mini.

My phones need to be: Smallish, robust, waterproof, modern enough to last, not too expensive.

....and preferably NOT Samsung, but they seem to be the only ones that can make the phone I want!

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sidefx

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Reply # 1839992 6-Aug-2017 16:33

cadman:

The A3 is on my (very) short list for the impending replacement of my J1 Ace, which has a poor camera and 8GB internal just isn't enough space - despite moving everything that can be moved to the SD card I'm constantly having to clear cache just to update apps (500MB free but a 5.3MB update to a 20MB app won't download - WTF - is there 500MB free or isn't there?). I simply don't want anything physically much bigger than the J1 Ace and there seems to be a gap in the market for robust small phones with good features unless you want an iPhone SE (which I don't - I will never go back to the relative captivity of Apple). My phone is a tool to make my life easier, not something to try and impress people with.

Not really trying to impress anyone; just trying to get a phone with good camera, plenty of space and RAM, good performance, decent software support, etc, etc... In the past I've always bought low to mid level phones but now I want to pay a bit more for something better. Given it's something I use multiple times every single day for multiple different tasks spending a bit of money on it doesn't seem unreasonable.

cadman

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Reply # 1840013 6-Aug-2017 17:08

sidefx:

Not really trying to impress anyone; just trying to get a phone with good camera, plenty of space and RAM, good performance, decent software support, etc, etc...

I wasn't saying you were - it was more a general observation of what seems to be driving purchasers now if the offerings are anything to go by. People seem to be obsessed with phablets but I can't think of anything worse than having to lug one of those around. I drop my phone in my trouser pocket and forget about it until there's a notification. For me the 4S or even 5S was the optimal size and they were durable enough due to their thickness.

If manufacturers don't come up with something sturdy in a useful size with decent specifications soon (function over form) I'm going to be reaching the point where there's nothing I'm interested in buying because it doesn't meet my needs - as I said before my replacement list for my J1 Ace is very short. I'm sure I can't be the only one.

turb

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Reply # 1840039 6-Aug-2017 17:36

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cadman:
sidefx:

Not really trying to impress anyone; just trying to get a phone with good camera, plenty of space and RAM, good performance, decent software support, etc, etc...

I wasn't saying you were - it was more a general observation of what seems to be driving purchasers now if the offerings are anything to go by. People seem to be obsessed with phablets but I can't think of anything worse than having to lug one of those around. I drop my phone in my trouser pocket and forget about it until there's a notification. For me the 4S or even 5S was the optimal size and they were durable enough due to their thickness.

If manufacturers don't come up with something sturdy in a useful size with decent specifications soon (function over form) I'm going to be reaching the point where there's nothing I'm interested in buying because it doesn't meet my needs - as I said before my replacement list for my J1 Ace is very short. I'm sure I can't be the only one.

It's almost like they don't want us to have durable phones!

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NzBeagle

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Reply # 1840043 6-Aug-2017 17:40

cadman:
sidefx:

Not really trying to impress anyone; just trying to get a phone with good camera, plenty of space and RAM, good performance, decent software support, etc, etc...

I wasn't saying you were - it was more a general observation of what seems to be driving purchasers now if the offerings are anything to go by. People seem to be obsessed with phablets but I can't think of anything worse than having to lug one of those around. I drop my phone in my trouser pocket and forget about it until there's a notification. For me the 4S or even 5S was the optimal size and they were durable enough due to their thickness.

If manufacturers don't come up with something sturdy in a useful size with decent specifications soon (function over form) I'm going to be reaching the point where there's nothing I'm interested in buying because it doesn't meet my needs - as I said before my replacement list for my J1 Ace is very short. I'm sure I can't be the only one.

I've had good experience with the Sony Compact range, when also looking for the smaller but capable options over the years.

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