pl1 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Thought it was time I joined the SP revolution, was wondering what was out there. I wouldn't use it a lot, mainly for texts, bit of browsing (train times) not enough to justify an S4 or maybe even not an S3. What's the best budget model as of 2013? Blackberry? Samsung? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porca misèria Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Thought it was time I joined the SP revolution, was wondering what was out there. I wouldn't use it a lot, mainly for texts, bit of browsing (train times) not enough to justify an S4 or maybe even not an S3. What's the best budget model as of 2013? Blackberry? Samsung? Go into a shop, see what you're comfortable with. What's comfortable to carry and to use? Be sure to try something with a miniature qwerty keyboard from Nokia or Blackberry (the keyboards from HTC or Samsung are sick jokes by comparison). Unfortunately even Nokia and Blackberry are not what they used to be: you'll probably find only Nokia Asha (a cheapo not-smart phone, but might still be a good choice if you don't want GPS/satnav or a big app store) and a limited selection of Blackberries. Best phone I ever had was a Nokia E71, but unfortunately its successors are a big let-down. Nicest to use in the Blackberry range are the Bold, but they're too fat to be comfy to carry, as well as expensive. A cheap Blackberry Curve is a relatively good choice in today's market. Also bear in mind battery life. A phone that has to be recharged every bloomin' day is a waste of space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 My wife liked my S2, but didn't want a £ contract so she bought a s/h Galaxy Ace2 from CEX and fitted used a Sim only contract. £100 with a year warranty for the phone. Agreed, I've got the older version and it's fine for what the OP needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 My S2 coming up on 2 years old and is perfect, despite me dropping it many times - I've been offered an S3 but I'm going Sim only and keeping the S2 (I have a spare, they accidentally sent two out) Ditto. Nothing out there to make me upgrade from the S2 and I like being on giffgaff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecrashingisles Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Nokia Lumia 620. £150 or less on PAYG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Nokia Lumia 620. £150 or less on PAYG. A friend of mine got the Lumia 800 - which is Windows Phone 7.5 as opposed to Windows 8 - for £100 a few months back - found it via hotukdeals. He uses giffgaff £10 a month on it which is about 300 minutes, unlimited texts and a gig of internet. Good choice. Here you go - £100 at Tesco. A very solid phone and comes with Nokia sat nav. Cannot be upgraded to Windows 8 though but who gives a feck. http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/nokia-lumia-800-black-tesco-instore-100-1500511 Bunch of other Nokia Windows phones here: http://www.hotukdeals.com/search?action=search&keywords=lumia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 A friend of mine got the Lumia 800 - which is Windows Phone 7.5 as opposed to Windows 8 - for £100 a few months back - found it via hotukdeals. He uses giffgaff £10 a month on it which is about 300 minutes, unlimited texts and a gig of internet. Good choice. Here you go - £100 at Tesco. A very solid phone and comes with Nokia sat nav. Cannot be upgraded to Windows 8 though but who gives a feck. http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/nokia-lumia-800-black-tesco-instore-100-1500511 Bunch of other Nokia Windows phones here: http://www.hotukdeals.com/search?action=search&keywords=lumia Nokia Lumia 800 is a very good phone, and at £100 is an absolute bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zugzwang Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Nokia Lumia 800 is a very good phone, and at £100 is an absolute bargain. I bought a Samsung Omnia last year and looove it. Win 7.5 is plenty tasty and the tiles UI works superbly with just your thumb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pl1 Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 What is giffgaff again in one line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 What is giffgaff again in one line? Giffgaff is a PAYG service. You can start and stop it whenever you wish. Personally, it is the best and easiest phone service I have used. It runs on the O2 network in the UK I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Orange Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Nokia 620 is very good for the money; shame about the battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turned Out Nice Again Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Thought it was time I joined the SP revolution, was wondering what was out there. I wouldn't use it a lot, mainly for texts, bit of browsing (train times) not enough to justify an S4 or maybe even not an S3. What's the best budget model as of 2013? Blackberry? Samsung? Google nexus 4. Nothing beats that spec for the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Google nexus 4. Nothing beats that spec for the price. Almost 300 quid. P1l - £100 to £150 for either an android or a windows phone. Tenner a month on giffgaff and you are sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StainlessSteelCat Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 If you end up going Android - I can highly recommend Huawei G300. Keep an eye on Hotukdeals and it will turn up for between £60-80. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnionTerror Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Got a second hand 32gig iphone 3gs about 6 months ago for £130 off ebaygum...Don't really like apple, but at the time was a pretty good deal...Very nearly moved to giffgaff, but 3 made me a good deal of £13 a month with unlimited data - plus I couldnt really be arsed to move networks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ked Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 +1 for the Huwawei G300. Picked one up for £70 for my other half, best value Android around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robo1968 Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 I have a Samsung note 2. It is great. Originally I just went in to the shop with an open mind but went for it and it doesn't feel large anymore. Because of its size everything is clear. I use it for everything, would never need an ipad or whatever they are called. It even lets you open autocad files on it. Brilliant display and great for things like iplayer, also you can sync with itunes if you had an iphone before, get music for free, drop and drag films onto it as it has a sd card inside. I have 64gb one in mine. Everything else is small and like a toy now but then I use it for work and pay extra for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pl1 Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 Almost 300 quid. P1l - £100 to £150 for either an android or a windows phone. Tenner a month on giffgaff and you are sorted. Thanks some good ideas here. It seems you have to be fairly quick to get the hotukdeal type offers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashedOutAndBurned Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Couple of months till my contract is up and then I'm going SIM only and keeping my iPhone 4 for as long as it lasts. I may get an iPad as a treat as I have some amazing iOS Apps that would really be better on a tablet. Be careful of the extremely budget smartphones. If the processor is too weedy they can be laggy and less fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justthisbloke Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 I have an S2 and my sprogs have Galaxy Aces. TBH, apart from the screen size there's bugger all difference between them that I can tell. Except about £300. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19 year mortgage 8itch Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 I have an S2 and my sprogs have Galaxy Aces. TBH, apart from the screen size there's bugger all difference between them that I can tell. Except about £300. Yep, Both got a crappy interface. HTC ftw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justthisbloke Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Dunno. My wife has an HTC and hates it. I have to admit, I find it a bugger to use as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Quite a handy subject for me. I currently own this archaic Samsung Mobile on PAYG: I might hang onto this old phone until I return from Barcelona as it is less likely to get pinched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 I seem to kill threads quite regularly on hpc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pl1 Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 I seem to kill threads quite regularly on hpc. Any particular reason you didn't upgrade the archaic Samsung? What made you want to get one now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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