Best Budget Android Phones

M@ Morelli · 25-10-2010, 13:45

Hi,

Just had my iPhone nicked. I'm not wanting to spend very much (if at all) on a new mobile. Just wondering whether anyone can recommend a good budget Android phone? Not really wanting to spend more than £15 a month but I could probably stretch to £20.

Found several offers but nothing screams out to me just yet.

Incidentally, I'm not expecting to replace the iPhone like for like. I just want a cheap Android phone that works well. I'll be getting an iPod touch as well.

Many thanks indeed.

fletchem · 25-10-2010, 13:58

My GF got a Widlfire on Three for £10-15 per month. The phone wasn't free, but she got a chunk off trading in here old (broken) Nokia.

clonmult · 25-10-2010, 14:00

ZTE Blade/Orange SanFrancisco.

It has a couple of niggling faults, but overall its better than virtually every other phone under £200. Only available on payg via Orange though. £99 payg, £5 to unlock. Sorted.

And unless you have some very specific app requirements, the main popular games are on both iOS and Android.

scorpionatthepc · 25-10-2010, 14:39

I would say the wildfire is a great budget phone. You can get it for around £15-£20 a month.

Richard_T · 26-10-2010, 19:12

Im (still) looking at the HTC wildfire, but every review i read on it slates it due to an "appaling screen resolution" is it really that bad?

campioni06 · 26-10-2010, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard_T

Im (still) looking at the HTC wildfire, but every review i read on it slates it due to an "appaling screen resolution" is it really that bad?

I've had mine for a couple of weeks now and there's absolutely nothing wrong with the screen. I've downloaded and play games, I use the internet, I send texts, take photos - the screens fine.

clonmult · 26-10-2010, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by campioni06

I've had mine for a couple of weeks now and there's absolutely nothing wrong with the screen. I've downloaded and play games, I use the internet, I send texts, take photos - the screens fine.

Nothing wrong with it, but its low res - 240x320. Compare it to the screen on the ZTE Blade, with its 800x480 OLED and the Wildfire looks relatively poor.

AxeVictim · 27-10-2010, 01:29

Maybe so but the SF is an ugly brick compared to the Wildfire.

Galvatron · 27-10-2010, 07:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard_T

Im (still) looking at the HTC wildfire, but every review i read on it slates it due to an "appaling screen resolution" is it really that bad?

No, it really isn't. It's just lower than the Desire and Desire HD, and that's what people are comparing it to.

I've had an HTC Wildfire for about a month now and I'm really happy with it.

The only drawback is that not all apps are available, some due to it not getting the 2.2 update yet and some due to hardware limitations.

clonmult · 27-10-2010, 08:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by AxeVictim

Maybe so but the SF is an ugly brick compared to the Wildfire.

Its no uglier than an iPhone 3GS. The wildfire if anything is an ugly little spud of awkward dimensions with a relatively horrible low resolution screen.

John259 · 27-10-2010, 08:40

According to postings on another thread, there are some doubts about the wi-fi reliability on the San Francisco. Otherwise, it seems excellent value for money.

clonmult · 27-10-2010, 09:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by John259

According to postings on another thread, there are some doubts about the wi-fi reliability on the San Francisco. Otherwise, it seems excellent value for money.

The wifi on the SF goes into power saving mode way too quick, and the only way to wake it up is to switch the wifi off then on again. Not a show stopper, but darned irritating.

AxeVictim · 27-10-2010, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by clonmult

Its no uglier than an iPhone 3GS. The wildfire if anything is an ugly little spud of awkward dimensions with a relatively horrible low resolution screen.

Thats rubbish you have very poor taste the SF should suit you well

clonmult · 27-10-2010, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by AxeVictim

Thats rubbish you have very poor taste the SF should suit you well

The SF is a good phone, probably better than the wildfire. But when you say the SF doesn't look good, its purely subjective. The only thing its lacking is a decent camera.

finbaar · 28-10-2010, 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by AxeVictim

Thats rubbish you have very poor taste the SF should suit you well

Sorry if you got a Wildfire - we feels for ya

alanwarwic · 28-10-2010, 14:01

Nothing wrong with the Wildfire or the iPhone 3GS.
However a lot of their 'quality' is quite historic in nature.
Good little phones if screen deficiencies are not a problem.

The SF really only highlights this one major shortfall but to many I am sure 'screen is king'.

AxeVictim · 28-10-2010, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by finbaar

Sorry if you got a Wildfire - we feels for ya

I've got the SF actually it's only a back up phone to my 3GS but my wife has the Wildfire.

simonb65 · 28-10-2010, 22:17

I have the Wildfire and as other posters say, it's screen isnt the best, but I don't find it bad to use.

The San Francisco seems well worth looking at too.

finbaar · 28-10-2010, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by AxeVictim

I've got the SF actually it's only a back up phone to my 3GS but my wife has the Wildfire.

I nearly went for the Wildfire but the screen realy put me off when I had a play with one. So pleased I waited and saved a few quid for what IMO is a better phone. Got to say the stock ROM is rubbish - I have rooted mine and it is running well on vanila 2.1 and I may try loading the Alpha FroYo that the guys at MoDaCo have cooked up soon as well.

AxeVictim · 28-10-2010, 23:18

I've rooted the SF with the Modaco R3 rom but will wait for a stable 2.2 Froyo to arrive.

25-10-2010, 13:45	#1
M@ Morelli Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Posts: 462	Best Budget Android Phones Hi, Just had my iPhone nicked. I'm not wanting to spend very much (if at all) on a new mobile. Just wondering whether anyone can recommend a good budget Android phone? Not really wanting to spend more than £15 a month but I could probably stretch to £20. Found several offers but nothing screams out to me just yet. Incidentally, I'm not expecting to replace the iPhone like for like. I just want a cheap Android phone that works well. I'll be getting an iPod touch as well. Many thanks indeed.

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25-10-2010, 13:58	#2
fletchem Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,187	My GF got a Widlfire on Three for £10-15 per month. The phone wasn't free, but she got a chunk off trading in here old (broken) Nokia.

25-10-2010, 14:00	#3
clonmult Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,291	ZTE Blade/Orange SanFrancisco. It has a couple of niggling faults, but overall its better than virtually every other phone under £200. Only available on payg via Orange though. £99 payg, £5 to unlock. Sorted. And unless you have some very specific app requirements, the main popular games are on both iOS and Android.

25-10-2010, 14:39	#4
scorpionatthepc Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: North West England Posts: 3,625	I would say the wildfire is a great budget phone. You can get it for around £15-£20 a month.

26-10-2010, 19:12	#5
Richard_T Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: East Midlands Posts: 3,842	Im (still) looking at the HTC wildfire, but every review i read on it slates it due to an "appaling screen resolution" is it really that bad?

26-10-2010, 19:29	#6
campioni06 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 304	Quote: Originally Posted by Richard_T Im (still) looking at the HTC wildfire, but every review i read on it slates it due to an "appaling screen resolution" is it really that bad? I've had mine for a couple of weeks now and there's absolutely nothing wrong with the screen. I've downloaded and play games, I use the internet, I send texts, take photos - the screens fine.

26-10-2010, 22:09	#7
clonmult Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,291	Quote: Originally Posted by campioni06 I've had mine for a couple of weeks now and there's absolutely nothing wrong with the screen. I've downloaded and play games, I use the internet, I send texts, take photos - the screens fine. Nothing wrong with it, but its low res - 240x320. Compare it to the screen on the ZTE Blade, with its 800x480 OLED and the Wildfire looks relatively poor.

27-10-2010, 01:29	#8
AxeVictim Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 2,644	Maybe so but the SF is an ugly brick compared to the Wildfire.

27-10-2010, 07:31	#9
Galvatron Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cybertron Posts: 3,039	Quote: Originally Posted by Richard_T Im (still) looking at the HTC wildfire, but every review i read on it slates it due to an "appaling screen resolution" is it really that bad? No, it really isn't. It's just lower than the Desire and Desire HD, and that's what people are comparing it to. I've had an HTC Wildfire for about a month now and I'm really happy with it. The only drawback is that not all apps are available, some due to it not getting the 2.2 update yet and some due to hardware limitations.

27-10-2010, 08:25	#10
clonmult Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,291	Quote: Originally Posted by AxeVictim Maybe so but the SF is an ugly brick compared to the Wildfire. Its no uglier than an iPhone 3GS. The wildfire if anything is an ugly little spud of awkward dimensions with a relatively horrible low resolution screen.

27-10-2010, 08:40	#11
John259 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 14,291	According to postings on another thread, there are some doubts about the wi-fi reliability on the San Francisco. Otherwise, it seems excellent value for money.

27-10-2010, 09:03	#12
clonmult Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,291	Quote: Originally Posted by John259 According to postings on another thread, there are some doubts about the wi-fi reliability on the San Francisco. Otherwise, it seems excellent value for money. The wifi on the SF goes into power saving mode way too quick, and the only way to wake it up is to switch the wifi off then on again. Not a show stopper, but darned irritating.

27-10-2010, 09:31	#13
AxeVictim Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 2,644	Quote: Originally Posted by clonmult Its no uglier than an iPhone 3GS. The wildfire if anything is an ugly little spud of awkward dimensions with a relatively horrible low resolution screen. Thats rubbish you have very poor taste the SF should suit you well

27-10-2010, 10:12	#14
clonmult Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,291	Quote: Originally Posted by AxeVictim Thats rubbish you have very poor taste the SF should suit you well The SF is a good phone, probably better than the wildfire. But when you say the SF doesn't look good, its purely subjective. The only thing its lacking is a decent camera.

28-10-2010, 13:50	#15
finbaar Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3,921	Quote: Originally Posted by AxeVictim Thats rubbish you have very poor taste the SF should suit you well Sorry if you got a Wildfire - we feels for ya

28-10-2010, 14:01	#16
alanwarwic Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: the wild world web Posts: 28,132	Nothing wrong with the Wildfire or the iPhone 3GS. However a lot of their 'quality' is quite historic in nature. Good little phones if screen deficiencies are not a problem. The SF really only highlights this one major shortfall but to many I am sure 'screen is king'.

28-10-2010, 21:38	#17
AxeVictim Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 2,644	Quote: Originally Posted by finbaar Sorry if you got a Wildfire - we feels for ya I've got the SF actually it's only a back up phone to my 3GS but my wife has the Wildfire.

28-10-2010, 22:17	#18
simonb65 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sandhurst Posts: 404	I have the Wildfire and as other posters say, it's screen isnt the best, but I don't find it bad to use. The San Francisco seems well worth looking at too.

28-10-2010, 22:32	#19
finbaar Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3,921	Quote: Originally Posted by AxeVictim I've got the SF actually it's only a back up phone to my 3GS but my wife has the Wildfire. I nearly went for the Wildfire but the screen realy put me off when I had a play with one. So pleased I waited and saved a few quid for what IMO is a better phone. Got to say the stock ROM is rubbish - I have rooted mine and it is running well on vanila 2.1 and I may try loading the Alpha FroYo that the guys at MoDaCo have cooked up soon as well.

28-10-2010, 23:18	#20
AxeVictim Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 2,644	I've rooted the SF with the Modaco R3 rom but will wait for a stable 2.2 Froyo to arrive.

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Best Budget Android Phones