Good Android in the $200 to low $300's range?

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Nety

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#90296 19-Sep-2011 10:59

I am looking at Android phones for my daughter and by all appearances the Samsung GT-S5660 Galaxy Gio looks like a contender but there do not seem to be any reviews of it well not real reviews anyway, just one page jobs.
Any other suggestions in the $200 - low $300's range? The Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini technically looks good but I am concerned that it is a bit too small and also only available from 4 places according to pricespy none of whom we can go to and have a look at it.

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#522928 19-Sep-2011 11:01

I've found tech rader to be very good for reviews:
http://www.techradar.com/
Dunno if you looked there though.
Also tried youtube?

nakedmolerat

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#522930 19-Sep-2011 11:02

2degrees/vodafone or telecom?

oxnsox

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#522937 19-Sep-2011 11:20

I have a Galaxy 580 I'm about to put on TM. Used it for a few weeks only, if thats an option.

nitrotech

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#522938 19-Sep-2011 11:24

I haven't used the Gio but it uses the same chipset as the Ace which I have had a bit of a play with.

I like samsung phones and I would suggest that it would perform OK - it's an older chipset by todays standards however snappy enough for normal tasks - I was inpressed with how smooth the Ace is so the Gio should be just as good. There's no in browser flash with this chipset sorry.

Another option could be a Huawei X3 - it's only got a 600mhz but you can pick these up at warehouse stationery for $269 when on special.

http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_u8510_ideos_x3-3840.php

Nety

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#522948 19-Sep-2011 11:39

nakedmolerat: 2degrees/vodafone or telecom?

Telecom XT - thanks for reminding me. At one point thought I must check compatibility and then forgot...

Nety

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#522950 19-Sep-2011 11:43

oxnsox: I have a Galaxy 580 I'm about to put on TM. Used it for a few weeks only, if thats an option.

Wanting to go a bit higher spec then that really, mind saying why you are getting rid of it? Might help with things I need to be aware of too.

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#522953 19-Sep-2011 11:52

Nety:
nakedmolerat: 2degrees/vodafone or telecom?

Telecom XT - thanks for reminding me. At one point thought I must check compatibility and then forgot...

Then you need a phone that does 850MHz and 2100MHz WCDMA as these are the only two frequencies Telecom XT operate on.

Check mobicity.co.nz, read reviews and have a look at Telecom's range of phones. You NEED that 850MHz on the WCDMA side.

Note this is NOT the GSM 850MHz. The difference is important. XT don't do GSM at all.

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Nety

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#522965 19-Sep-2011 12:08

Wow that really limits the options.. she is not locked to Telecom XT so if it really meant we could not get what we want because of the 3G 850 requirement we could just switch telco's for her.

oxnsox

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#522983 19-Sep-2011 12:49

Nety:
oxnsox: I have a Galaxy 580 I'm about to put on TM. Used it for a few weeks only, if thats an option.

Wanting to go a bit higher spec then that really, mind saying why you are getting rid of it? Might help with things I need to be aware of too.

Had a screen failure on my Magic during a busy day (earlier in the year) so simply got the first acceptable something that I could work with till I had the time to replace it . And it fitted that role perfectly.
Few weeks later, when up in Auckland, got the Defy I'd been planning to get all along as its a better fit for me. Thought I keep it as 'a spare', but really there's not much point.
But as you're looking for an XT device, none of that really matters.
Good luck

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#523001 19-Sep-2011 13:17

Another option could be a Huawei X3 - it's only got a 600mhz but you can pick these up at warehouse stationery for $269 when on special.

This is the one that is currently leading the pack for me. Like the OP, I'm looking for one for my 13 y/o daughter, and this seems to have the right blend of price/performance/screen size. I was originally looking at the U8150, until I found the X3.

One quick question: Is it easy to disable 3G access on Android? My intent is that she'd only really be able to use it as a Smartphone when on Wifi at home, otherwise she'd chew up her credit in no time with FB updates and streaming content from YouTube :-)

scuwp

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#523005 19-Sep-2011 13:22

Wife had a Samsung i5503T (Galaxy) which has now been passed to my son. Shame it was on XT as I would have grabbed it for work otherwise (use VF) as it beats the crappy work issued phone. Nice little unit IMO, and very easy to use.

Definitely fan of Samsung.

And yes dclegg - simple to turn on/off any data, wifi etc.

Edit: Sorry just re-read your question. Turning on and off is one thing...but "disabling" I guess is another step. I can understand why but personally I want my son to be able to turn it on if he needs to for the maps or position locate function.

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bazzer

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#523066 19-Sep-2011 15:19

dclegg:

Another option could be a Huawei X3 - it's only got a 600mhz but you can pick these up at warehouse stationery for $269 when on special.

This is the one that is currently leading the pack for me. Like the OP, I'm looking for one for my 13 y/o daughter, and this seems to have the right blend of price/performance/screen size. I was originally looking at the U8150, until I found the X3.

One quick question: Is it easy to disable 3G access on Android? My intent is that she'd only really be able to use it as a Smartphone when on Wifi at home, otherwise she'd chew up her credit in no time with FB updates and streaming content from YouTube :-)

It sure is. I have a widget that I use to turn it on/off but for your purposes you can just disable it entirely since you won't want your daughter turning it on.

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#523068 19-Sep-2011 15:22

scuwp: Wife had a Samsung i5503T (Galaxy) which has now been passed to my son. Shame it was on XT as I would have grabbed it for work otherwise (use VF) as it beats the crappy work issued phone. Nice little unit IMO, and very easy to use.

Definitely fan of Samsung.

And yes dclegg - simple to turn on/off any data, wifi etc.

Edit: ?Sorry just re-read your question. ?Turning on and off is one thing...but "disabling" I guess is another step. ?I can understand why but personally I want my son to be able to turn it on if he needs to for the maps or position locate function. ?

You can still use it on VF. How much out of the main centers do you travel?? If you loose the VF 2100 band you will most likely loose GSM as well from my experience with a 850/2100 fone on Voda..

Regards,

Old3eyes

dclegg

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#523069 19-Sep-2011 15:23

bazzer:
It sure is. I have a widget that I use to turn it on/off but for your purposes you can just disable it entirely since you won't want your daughter turning it on.

I'm sure she'd be clever enough to figure out how to turn it back on, but she also should be honest enough not to if I explain to her why we've disabled it. The intent on disabling it is so she doesn't inadvertently use 3G data, which is something she's accidentally done in the past with my iPhone.

dclegg

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#523175 19-Sep-2011 18:34

Hmm... Apparently Vodafone have the LG Optimus One P500 for $249. How does that phone compare to the X3? It comes out of the box with v2.2. Can it officially be upgraded to v2.3? It also looks like it may have double the RAM, according to the slightly out of whack GSM Arena specs for both phones & has a 1500mAh battery, vs the X3s 1200mAh one.

However, I recall seeing problems with the screen being susceptible to gathering dust underneath. Does anyone have experience with the P500, and can offer feedback either way?

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