Best Smart Phone Under £120

[securespark]

Hi folks.

Master Secure wants to buy a smartphone for himself with his own hard-earned.

Must be under £120.

My list is like this:

Samsung:

Europa - 50
Galaxy Y - 65
Galaxy Ace - 90


LG:

Optimus L3 - 50
Optimus L5 - 120


Sony:

Experia Tipo - 85
Experia U - 100


Motorola Motosmart - 90


Nokia Lumia 610 - 100


Of these, which would you go for?

Thanks for your input.

 

[masona]

I have the Samsung Galaxy S 6500 and I like the set-up, easy non- complicated set up and my wife have the Nokia 610 and I don't like it at all specially when texting or logging calender set up, I felt most of it was time wasting, maybe just me. My 2 sons have now gone to Samsung phone because they prefer the set-up but can't tell you about all the other phones

 

[securespark]

Thanks mason.

On paper, I leaned towards the L5. After speaking to CPW, they offered a PAYG upgrade to an Experia U for £100.

They said the screen of the Sony is smaller, but the processor is faster, as it is DC.

So, looks like it's a toss-up between the L5 and the Experia U at the moment. But he likes Samsung handsets too..... the choice is far from decided!

 

[masona]

the choice is far from decided!

It's nice having these choices but can be a headache!

 

[crank39]

I'm suprised theres no HTC's on your list, they do some cracking phones, i've just upgraded from a HTC desire HD to the Samsung Galaxy S3 just for a change......wished i hadn't of bothered, should of listened to brain and not heart and stuck with HTC and got the One XL.........think the S3 will be on ebay soon

 

[securespark]

Not sure there's HTC in his price bracket...will look. Thanks.

 

[JohnD]

I had a Europa, was rubbish, sent it back and got an HTC Wildfire. Found out later most people compolain about them.

My tescos often has fantastic deals on smartphones in contracts, and I hear their service is good.

 

[enyam]

To follow up what JohnD says you seem to get an awful lot for not a lot on tesco contract.

http://shop.tescomobile.com/mobile-phones/pay-monthly/htc/wildfire+s?deal=7017

 

[securespark]

He just does not use the monthly allowances to make it worth that.

The handset is £85 PAYG, the contracted one is 24m @ 7.50 = £180.

I go to CPW as (most of) their handsets are unlocked, so if he decides to swap sims, it's no big deal.

Also, I have discovered that he does not like some handset designs.

His current fave is the Galaxy Ace, at £80.

 

[JohnD]

The handset is £85 PAYG, the contracted one is 24m @ 7.50 = £180..

so over two years, he would have to spend £95 on usage to make it worthwhile, less than a pound a week?

Having the generous allowances he may well find a use for them, as they cost no extra.

 

[enyam]

The handset is £85 PAYG, the contracted one is 24m @ 7.50 = £180.

I go to CPW as (most of) their handsets are unlocked, so if he decides to swap sims, it's no big deal.

Do they front load a payg sim?

 

[securespark]

Never heard it called that before!!

Front End Load to me is a charge applied at the time of purchase, usually on some financial service.

Front loading to me is either drinking at home before hitting the bars or a type of washing machine!

But I assume you mean do they insist on the sale of a new sim with the handset, loaded with a minimum top-up?

Normally, you buy a handset, with your choice of sim, then pay a minimum top-up (usually £10), which is applied to that sim.

Sometimes, you can upgrade and you can get a new handset without the need for topping up.

 

[enyam]

Never heard it called that before!!



But I assume you mean do they insist on the sale of a new sim with the handset, loaded with a minimum top-up?

Thats what I meant,just wondered how they made their money if they can't tie you into a contract.

 

[masona]

He just does not use the monthly allowances to make it worth that.

The handset is £85 PAYG, the contracted one is 24m @ 7.50 = £180.

I'm on PAYG because I'm low user, you might find your son will be better off if he's going to spend more that £7.50 on texts or calls per month because of the monthly unlimited usage deals or see how it goes then switch to contract if needed

 

[securespark]

enyam

Not sure how they make their money. This was the same firm that last year sold me an (admittedly very cheap) Alcatel handset, with a £10 top-up (which I used anyway) for 10.01p....

Now, the cheapest handsets they do are a fiver, plus a £10 top-up.


Mason- You're dead right. We'll see how he goes. At the moment he is a very occasional user.

The beauty of buying a handset only from CPW is that it'll be unlocked, so if we decide he should move to a different service provider or deal, he can.

If you buy a contract handset, it'll be locked to that network.