$400 Android?

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TheUngeek

924 posts

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#84656 4-Jun-2011 14:52

Ok so a mate of mine is in love with my Desire (does it sound dirtier if I mention she is a hot blonde?)
Anyway she wants an Android device, but has set a firm budget of $400 max

What are everyones recommendations? I have not paid too much attention to that end of the market.
I'm wondering if a Magic on 2.2 would be enough for her, though they are old now.

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#477750 4-Jun-2011 14:54

Well you can probably get a Desire for $400 off Trade Me if not then Google Nexus One. Basically the same specs just the Desire has HTC Sense. I have a Google Nexus One and its a pretty solid phone.

TheUngeek

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#477753 4-Jun-2011 14:55

They are not that cheap yet unfortunately otherwise I'd be snapping one up for her

edit: typically 30secs after posting this I find a $450 Desire and a Nexus buy now at $415! lol

Finch

2851 posts

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#477755 4-Jun-2011 14:58

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Mobile-phones/Vodafone/HTC/auction-381226431.htm

TheUngeek

924 posts

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#477756 4-Jun-2011 15:00

Yeah. Ok end of thread, I will be trying to get her into a Desire!

kobiak

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#477760 4-Jun-2011 15:05

oranga san francisco/zte blade

same specs and screen as desire but for 125 GBP + delivery = ~300 NZD :)

and there is ZTE Skate as well... dunno if u can buy it online yet :(

helping others at evgenyk.nz

lokhor

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#477770 4-Jun-2011 15:42

Motorola Defy: http://eking.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=280

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

TheUngeek

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#477786 4-Jun-2011 16:57

Oh I had no idea the Defy was that cheap! She wants new/warranty so hard to beat that!

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OtterNZ

26 posts

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#478409 7-Jun-2011 01:16

If second hand isn't an option then I keep hearing good things about the Orange San Francisco. If she wants to buy from an NZ store, then I can recommend the LG Optimus One P500, Great mid range android phone.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/lg-optimus-one-906650/review - When they say "...standard, no frills..." they don't mean entry level. As stated either in this review, or another one, LG had told them it was meant to be a "transitional smartphone" between the entry level ones, and the big boys at 1ghz etc.

There are also some quite good discounts on this phone from Telecom and Vodafone if you go on a contract. (-$250 from telecom on the $60 smartphone plan, and -$400 from Vodafone on their equivalent plan)

[b][EDIT][/b]
Oh wow, that defy is cheap. In that case, change what I have above about second hand vs buying locally to "if she wants to buy from a brick and mortar store/telecom&vodafones own stores etc.

itxtme

2102 posts

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#478416 7-Jun-2011 06:35

If she waits for a special she could get the X5 for around the $400 mark. I got my partner her one for $400 from warehouse stationary when they were doing the $150 credit deal.

TheUngeek

924 posts

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#478433 7-Jun-2011 08:41

Cheers guys. She's pretty much decided on a Defy. Heading into Telecom today to play with one to confirm she likes it.
She reckons she drops her phone all the time so needs a tough one! Also being her first smart phone the specs won't matter so much as she only has cheap trademe dumb phones to compare it too.

Linuxluver

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#478436 7-Jun-2011 08:48

TheUngeek: They are not that cheap yet unfortunately otherwise I'd be snapping one up for her

edit: typically 30secs after posting this I find a $450 Desire and a Nexus buy now at $415! lol

My XT-Flavour Nexus One just sold on Trademe last week for $450....so there are bargains to be had.

Thats' an awesome price for a phone that may be a year old (mine was June '10) but is still higher spec than many new phones being sold for more.

UPDATE: Checked....and the Defy has an ARM Cortex-8 processor....so should be OK for Flash...in which case, it would be a great new phone. (I thought it was ARM6, but then decided to check.....)

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TheUngeek

924 posts

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#478437 7-Jun-2011 08:51

I agree, and I tired to get her into a Desire (she loves mine) But she is adamant she wants new with a warranty.
Personally for that money I'd snap up a Desire. They certainly are better than many new ones for twice the price.

lokhor

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#478468 7-Jun-2011 11:06

TheUngeek: I agree, and I tired to get her into a Desire (she loves mine) But she is adamant she wants new with a warranty.
Personally for that money I'd snap up a Desire. They certainly are better than many new ones for twice the price.

I'm sure she will be quite happy with the Defy. I had a play with one in the Telecom store and it was pretty nice and nearly on par with my SGS, especially in the web performance aspect.

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

Linuxluver

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#478575 7-Jun-2011 15:32

lokhor:
TheUngeek: I agree, and I tired to get her into a Desire (she loves mine) But she is adamant she wants new with a warranty.
Personally for that money I'd snap up a Desire. They certainly are better than many new ones for twice the price.

I'm sure she will be quite happy with the Defy. I had a play with one in the Telecom store and it was pretty nice and nearly on par with my SGS, especially in the web performance aspect.

Without an ARM7 processor she can't do Flash and a fair number of apps won't run. Provided she understands she can't have Flash, it should be OK.

Update: The Defy has an Cortex-8 processor....so looks like it should be OK. I thought it was lower spec than that. My mistake.

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

CdTDroiD

869 posts

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#478954 8-Jun-2011 13:57

Look at www.einfo.co.nz they have heaps of cheap phones to

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