hi everyone, i posted a question asking what smartphone to get...

I have it narrowed down 'ish'

its between :
Samsung Galaxy Ace
HTC Desire Wildfire S
Samsung Galaxy Mini
Samsung Galaxy Y
HTC Desire C
HTC explorer or
Sony Ericsson Mix Live

Are there any i need to avoid?
I also want to get a sim only contract and tether my laptop to it, can they all do that?

What would you reccomend??
Thanks

My wife has a Wildfire S and although I've not used it much I get the impression that it's quite a low-end phone that's been out for a while. Even at an attractive price I think you can find better out there.

If you have the £££ also consider the Galaxy Ace 2 .

Can't say I would overly recommend any of them to be honest what is your budget

Apparently 3 do a contract with tethering but not sure of the details

about £150 but can more if its perfect...

If you're going for a sim-only One Plan (£25) that should include tethering, but the payg top up One Plan (£15) doesn't include tethering but does have unlimited data.

You'll need to work out which one you're getting.

If it is not to late and you have not already brought a new mobile phone then I would go for the Samung Galaxy Ace.

I would also reccomend that you get the Samung Galaxy Ace on the Three network because they are the only network that I know that still give you unlimited data which Three call all you can eat.


Samsung Galaxy Ace Black version on Three
http://store.three.co.uk/view/produc...an=PAY_MONTHLY

Samsung Galaxy Ace Purpile version on Three
http://store.three.co.uk/view/produc...an=PAY_MONTHLY

And here is a Google search for the Samsung Galaxy Ace
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Sam...&client=safari

I have been looking at the Samsung Galaxy Ace on Three and I am thinking of getting one as my first smartphone.

The only downside to the Samsung Galaxy Ace as far as I can see is that it runs on Android 2.2 Froyo+ but apart from that it looks like a good smartphone.

I hope that this information helps.

And please tell us what smartphone you brought.

Also consider Sony Xperia U and Huawei Ascend G300, when you say Mix Live do you mean Live With Walkman because that's the phone I've got and it's great budget phone although it's no longer sold by 3 online and you have to call them on 0800 358 8460 to buy one.

I've got a Galaxy Ace on Three and mine runs on Gingerbread

if your budget is £150 then a second hand Desire S

Live with Walkman is the best on OP's list though and better than Galaxy Ace in almost every way, except the screen is 3.2 inches instead of 3.5 (but LWW has better pixel density), and the Ace's design is better.

Otherwise LWW has 1 GHz Scorpion, CPU and Adreno 205 GPU, Ace only 800 Ghz and Adreno 200 (which means no flash support).

LWW has 720p video, Ace only VGA.

LWW has 320MB storage, Ace 158MB.

Update to ICS is available for LWW, no update for Ace.

How have you got your Samsung Galaxy Ace to run on Gingerbread was it Pre installed or was it via a software update.

I have seen on the O2 and orange website that the Samsung Galaxy Ace runs on Gingerbread but on the Three website it says that it runs on Android 2.2 Froyo+.

If Three are selling the Samsung Galaxy Ace with the Android Gingerbread OS already Pre installed then they need to update there Samsung Galaxy Ace page on there website.

Also I guess that Gingerbread would work on both the Black and Purpile version that Three sell?

Also I read the GSM Phone Arena review for the Samsung Galaxy Ace on the Internet and it said there was an update which improved the video recording from VGA at 15fps to VGA at 24fps.

Can you record video at VGA at 24fps out of the box when you buy the phone or do you need to do a software update?

My wife has got a galaxy ace on three payg and that came with gingerbread pre-installed.

Unless you're considering Iphone, or another high-end mobile, then for under £200 there only one no-brainer mobile purchase of this year so far

Huawei G300 Ascend Smartphone - £102.95 to £72.95 with credit acct, down to possible £67.01 (incl cashback) Delivered @ isme.com

got one myself about month ago for £67 ish

sold my Desire C on Ebay for £102

Huawei G300, 4" gorilla glass, 1 ghz, 5mp camera with LED flash

I cant fault it - and much faster than the Desire C

The Huawei G300 Ascend might well be a great Smartphone but it is currently only available on Vodaphone and they do not offer unlimited data or as Three call it all you can eat.

So if I do get my first Smartphone then I would go for the Samsung Galaxy Ace. The lack of flash is not really a problem. iPhone owners don't have flash and they get on fine.

And you can now get very good contract deals on the Samsung Galaxy Ace and considering what the Samsung Galaxy Ace can do then for the price it is a bargin.

The desire C is a heap of junk that is just trying to cash in on the desire brand.

I would not recommend the Desire S. I have had mine for about a year now and although its an ok phone it can suffer from signal drop outs and its Wi-Fi is not always great in weak Wi-Fi areas.

Darren

It's easily unlocked by code from sellers on eBay for around £5.

There are also official non-Vodafone branded Ice Cream Sandwich ROMs on the Huawei site that are simple to apply (not to mention community ROMs including Jelly Bean/CyanogenMod ones).

For the price you'll not get more phone anywhere else.

Don't get a Wildfire S - I've had a few problems with mine and its really a poor phone

The whole thread is about budget phones.

EDIT: I see you've edited, poor phone rather than poor man's phone then.

Who are you the forum police ?

I've recommended Android on high-end phones before but to be honest, at this end of the market, I find something like the Nokia Lumia 710 much better, especially at the current payg prices from carphone warehouse and contract prices from TalkMobile.

The deal we got was free phone, £7.50 a month (24m contract), 250 mins, 5000 texts and 500MB data. With £40 cashback from quidco, it turns from a cracking deal into a really great one.

No but after you edited your post my post didn't make sense so I added an explanation.

They was just saying like me about a phone they have and telling them not to get it due to minor problems they have had with the phone. A friend has a Wildfire S and although they have not had much problems with it. It dont play the likes of Angry Birds to well.

Darren