Best Low Cost Android Handset

Forums › Android › Best Low Cost Android Handset

mastapenguin

71 posts

Master Geek

#71242 6-Nov-2010 23:09

I'm looking to get the Mrs a new phone for Christmas. I'm stoked with my Galaxy S and looking to get her an Android phone. She's currently got a Nokia 6120 classic which she inherited from me.

I think I've sussed out the options as follows:

- Vodafone 845 - $199
- Ideos U8150 - $349
- LG Optimus GT540 - $399
- Galaxy 580 $599

I haven't tried out any of the above phones but will start stopping into some of the larger stores and having a feel for the handsets. She's not a power used by any means, so just usual functions a bit of web browsing and a few casual games. She quite likes playing Angry Birds on my Galaxy so if the phones can play that game (without lagging) it would be a bonus.

Feel free to recommend a phone not in the above list. I'm looking for value for money, but at the same time not cheap and laggy. All advice considered!

Thanks for reading.

1 | 2

meow
13260 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#401280 7-Nov-2010 02:01

I would def go with the Ideos U8150 - since it contains the same CPU as the others but with 256mb of ram. The Vodafone 845 is really good for the price, I am pretty sure you are hard-pressed to find a phone with GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth and a 3.2MP camera for $199

Don't go near the LG since it only runs Android 1.6.

Note, all the options except the Galaxy 580 only have a QVGA screen, so the resolution is sub-par, still works fine though. If you wanted a really high resolution screen save up your pennies and go for the Galaxy 580. I have played with my flatmates Ideos and really liked the responsiveness of it, but the only downside is the low-res screen.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#401297 7-Nov-2010 08:50

michaelmurfy: I would def go with the Ideos U8150 - since it contains the same CPU as the others but with 256mb of ram. The Vodafone 845 is really good for the price, I am pretty sure you are hard-pressed to find a phone with GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth and a 3.2MP camera for $199

Don't go near the LG since it only runs Android 1.6.

Note, all the options except the Galaxy 580 only have a QVGA screen, so the resolution is sub-par, still works fine though. If you wanted a really high resolution screen save up your pennies and go for the Galaxy 580. I have played with my flatmates Ideos and really liked the responsiveness of it, but the only downside is the low-res screen.

Not true. You can get the Australian 2.1 update for the GT540. It takes 10 minutes to install. A NZ 2.1 is supposedly in the works.
And it runs HVGA not QVGA
It plays divx out of the box and you would probably be amazed with the battery. It will run a day and a half with wifi on and playing angry birds (with no lag at all) for about 4 hours and traffic jam for about 2 hours.... even longer if you turn wifi off.

mastapenguin

71 posts

Master Geek

#401306 7-Nov-2010 09:18

Thanks for the replies. Couple more questions:

- How responsive is the LG 540? GSM arena lists it as having 156MB of RAM which I thought was quite low for android. Are there custom ROM's to put 2.2 on it.

- Are there any other midrange handsets on the horizon to land before Christmas? I've been looking at clove.co.uk after a few posts here on GZ. Looks like there's a few more options:

- HTC Wildfire - $395 + shipping
- Motorola Defy - $517 + shipping
- Motorola Flipout - $393 + shipping

The flipout looks like an interesting concept, relatively small form factor and physical keyboard. I might check it out at Telecom (but buy the 900 mhz version).

With the strong NZ$ importing is a viable option. I assume you don't have to pay VAT when importing from clove?

Thanks again.

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#401311 7-Nov-2010 09:30

mastapenguin:

- How responsive is the LG 540? GSM arena lists it as having 156MB of RAM which I thought was quite low for android. Are there custom ROM's to put 2.2 on it.

Brilliantly responsive! I was so amazed (considering it has a resistive screen) when I had a play with one I went and bought one!

I'm running Apps2SD and have 60+ apps installed and still have 50Mb of space left and no noticeable lag .

The russians have a 2.2 rom that someone created. As it's only been out a shortish time, not all the developers are onto it yet. It does have its own section at xda-developers and modaco.

I'm going to do a short video review of it in the next week or so.

Be warned though, Apparently some people in NZ have had issues with missed calls/mms running the newer overseas roms. They've solved this by switching to 2g only. This has not been an issue for me and I'm in a pretty crappy 3g area. The most I've had is a 30sec delay sending 1 sms to the mrs once.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79297 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#401315 7-Nov-2010 09:44

And then it becomes another tale of low WAF...

"The russians have a 2.2 rom that someone created"

"A NZ 2.1 is supposedly in the works"

If your wife is not a tech person, unless you want her complaining with "I just want a phone that works" then you should go with something with stock ROMs, working now. Go for the IDEOS.

Linuxluver

5828 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#401316 7-Nov-2010 09:49

mastapenguin: I'm looking to get the Mrs a new phone for Christmas. I'm stoked with my Galaxy S and looking to get her an Android phone. She's currently got a Nokia 6120 classic which she inherited from me.

I think I've sussed out the options as follows:

- Vodafone 845 - $199
- Ideos U8150 - $349
- LG Optimus GT540 - $399
- Galaxy 580 $599

I haven't tried out any of the above phones but will start stopping into some of the larger stores and having a feel for the handsets. She's not a power used by any means, so just usual functions a bit of web browsing and a few casual games. She quite likes playing Angry Birds on my Galaxy so if the phones can play that game (without lagging) it would be a bonus.

Feel free to recommend a phone not in the above list. I'm looking for value for money, but at the same time not cheap and laggy. All advice considered!

Thanks for reading.

None of these phones will support Flash as they all have ARMv6 processors.

I'd go with the IDEOS as it runs Android v2.2. This will allow apps to sd for a lot of apps and JIT should see the phone perform very well.

Second choice would be the Samsung 580. It's Android v2.1 and has enough resources to run well. The screen is a plus. But you would likely run out of internal app storage.

Third choice would be the Vodafone 845 because it's got so much and costs so little. I own one. The screen is its only real downside.....but you quickly develop modes and methods to make it work for you.

Fourth choice would be the LG Optimus. Not sure LG really understand how important it is to stand behond your phones and give people confidence you will support and extend them into the future. I'll pay extra for a phone I know has a future.

WILD CARD: If you can stretch to a Samsung 580, then you may want to seriously consider an Acer Liquid A1 or E. These phones have Snapdragon (ARMv7) processers (so you can have Flash), support multi-touch, will be getting Android v2.2 if they don't have it already.....800x480 res capacitive screen and cost about the same as the Samsung 580....maybe a bit more, but the added functions are out of all proportion to the small price increment.

I'd get the Acer Liquid A1 (768MHz) or E (1GHz, I think) over the Samsung 580. They are sold at PB Tech. Or een cheaper 2nd hand via TradeMe. That's where I got mine (since sold)

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#401318 7-Nov-2010 09:50

freitasm: And then it becomes another tale of low WAF...

"The russians have a 2.2 rom that someone created"

"A NZ 2.1 is supposedly in the works"

If your wife is not a tech person, unless you want her complaining with "I just want a phone that works" then you should go with something with stock ROMs, working now. Go for the IDEOS.

Good point! I probably should have said "An Official NZ 2.1 is supposedly in the works" as the Oz ones have been released already... and the 2.2 bit was in response to the question "Are there custom ROM's to put 2.2 on it". We all know how many stock 2.2 phones are released in NZ today

The Ideos is a great phone for the price but the tipping point for me is QVGA vs HVGA.. My HTC vogue is QVGA and running 2.2 but the difference in screens with the GT540 is like night and day! (ignoring the rest of the old hardware and just going on resolution)

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Linuxluver

5828 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#401323 7-Nov-2010 10:03

freitasm: And then it becomes another tale of low WAF...

"The russians have a 2.2 rom that someone created"

"A NZ 2.1 is supposedly in the works"

If your wife is not a tech person, unless you want her complaining with "I just want a phone that works" then you should go with something with stock ROMs, working now. Go for the IDEOS.

Excellent advice.

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

mastapenguin

71 posts

Master Geek

#401341 7-Nov-2010 10:51

Thanks for all the advice. I think I'm going to try have a play with the following phones if I can find demo models:

- Acer Liquid a1/e
- Ideos
- Flipout (I have to have a fiddle with this, wary about the hinge though)

I can't seem to find any differences between the Acer Liquid A1 and E versions, apart from the E version shipping with 2.1, but the A1 upgrades to 2.1 anyway. Will keep looking around.

Thank you for all the awesome advice. She's definitely not a tech person so fiddling around with ROM's which may or may not work is out of the question.

Now I just need to decide whether to flash 2.2 onto my Galaxy or wait for the 12th....

martyyn

1971 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#401365 7-Nov-2010 13:08

Ive just tried this and failed miserably. Ultimately my wife just needs a phone to call and send texts. I went for the voda845 but its screen let it down.

Perhaps the best thing would be for you to take her into a shop and let her decide for herself. You may find all she wants is to upgrade the existing 'phone' to a new colour rather than a smart phone !

mastapenguin

71 posts

Master Geek

#401367 7-Nov-2010 13:15

martyyn: Ive just tried this and failed miserably. Ultimate my wife just needs a phone to call and send texts. I went for the voda845 but ultimately its screen let it down.

Perhaps the best thing would be for you to take her into a shop and let her decide for herself. You may find all she wants is to upgrade the existing 'phone' to a new colour rather than a smart phone !

For the price the 845 looks good, but I'd want to step up a bit. She mainly wants a phone with a bigger screen for movies/web browsing, wifi and gps won't go astray either. I only had the Nokia 6120 for about a month before I got an E71 (which is now in multiple pieces) but the small screen and lack of wifi are the biggest let downs.

I do get your point though, if there's no phones I think she'll like (and I think are worth the $s) I'll pass and get her something else.

michaelmurfy

meow
13260 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#401370 7-Nov-2010 13:28

mastapenguin: Thanks for the replies. Couple more questions:

- How responsive is the LG 540? GSM arena lists it as having 156MB of RAM which I thought was quite low for android. Are there custom ROM's to put 2.2 on it.

- Are there any other midrange handsets on the horizon to land before Christmas? I've been looking at clove.co.uk after a few posts here on GZ. Looks like there's a few more options:

- HTC Wildfire - $395 + shipping
- Motorola Defy - $517 + shipping
- Motorola Flipout - $393 + shipping

The flipout looks like an interesting concept, relatively small form factor and physical keyboard. I might check it out at Telecom (but buy the 900 mhz version).

With the strong NZ$ importing is a viable option. I assume you don't have to pay VAT when importing from clove?

Thanks again.

The Motorola ones I wouldn't touch - since the Flipout runs a older version of Android, plus if you wanted to get into rooting etc later on they also have a pretty locked down bootloader.

HTC Wildfire is not bad, but it's another phone with the low res screen.

Go with the Ideos or the Liquid, I have had a good play around with the Liquid myself and can say it's a really responsive phone for the price, plus there's the advantage of getting flash on it.

jesterz

97 posts

Master Geek

#401380 7-Nov-2010 13:51

I recently took the plunge with the LG GT540 Optimus and have been really impressed. As a phone it's the best quality calls I've ever had (much better than my previous Nokia's and Motorola's). It is an entry level Android phone and its my first one, but I have had no problems with limited memory for installing apps or the range of apps available. The speed is good and screen pretty responsive and perfectly good for my usage.

Hope this helps!!

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#401383 7-Nov-2010 14:02

If you want movies then the LG is a good start due to it having divx out of the box.
Are you in the welly region? If so, you could have a play with my gt540

Linuxluver

5828 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#401407 7-Nov-2010 16:31

blakamin: If you want movies then the LG is a good start due to it having divx out of the box.
Are you in the welly region? If so, you could have a play with my gt540

The Rock Player app adds DivX support to any Android 2.x phone (IIRC).

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

1 | 2