Which Mobile for a Smartphone newbie!!?

Grafenwalder · 26-04-2016, 17:24

Ok i know this is a "how longs a piece of string" type of question but just looking for some pointers.

Am considering my first smartphone. I have an old Nokia mobile unlocked on Virgin 'top up' (payg?) so would use the same sim as i have 50 quids worth on it and want to keep my number.

It must be easy to use and not too fussy. Clear and simple to read screen. GPS. Decent battery life. Camera should take acceptable clear pics (not expecting pro quality!).

What brands and price bracket should i be looking at and which brands should i avoid?

Stereo Steve · 26-04-2016, 17:56

iPhone is not a bad place to start. SE is at a decent price with all you need and a very good camera. Are you looking at new or second hand? Plenty of really good deals on secondhand phones of all makes. Android phones will generally be cheaper and there are some really good ones.

How about the Moto G? That's pretty much basic Android so no nonsense or bloatware on top, good prices and will probably do all you need. Have a look at that one. The latest 4G looks OK, if a little chunky. But around half the price of an iPhone SE.

In general iOS (Apple) is a closed eco-system so nobody can produce apps which Apple don't authorise. Where Android is open so you can install apps from many places and potentially end up in a mess. Both have their attractions. For a new user to smartphones, iOS maybe your best bet. Haven't looked at second hand 5C prices but that is a decent little phone.

Richard46 · 26-04-2016, 18:11

I got my first cheepo smartphone (well I had an LG years ago but hated it) a Motorolo E 2nd gen (Android) a couple of months ago and I find it does all I want plus some. No built in compass to orientate the GPS and the camera is abit basic but it has a hard wired FM radio.

Cost about £80-£90.

LostFool · 26-04-2016, 18:18

Just avoid the very, very cheap "smart" phones as they are useless. I got a bottom of the range Samsung for my mum who wanted something better than her ageing non-smart Nokia but it was a waste of money as it was too slow and didn't have the storage to do anything. We ended up sending it back and now she's happy with an old "dumb" phone.

Grafenwalder · 26-04-2016, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stereo Steve

iPhone is not a bad place to start. SE is at a decent price with all you need and a very good camera. Are you looking at new or second hand? Plenty of really good deals on secondhand phones of all makes. Android phones will generally be cheaper and there are some really good ones.

How about the Moto G? That's pretty much basic Android so no nonsense or bloatware on top, good prices and will probably do all you need. Have a look at that one. The latest 4G looks OK, if a little chunky. But around half the price of an iPhone SE.

In general iOS (Apple) is a closed eco-system so nobody can produce apps which Apple don't authorise. Where Android is open so you can install apps from many places and potentially end up in a mess. Both have their attractions. For a new user to smartphones, iOS maybe your best bet. Haven't looked at second hand 5C prices but that is a decent little phone.

Possibly go for new as i noticed prices vary lots via ebay dealers. Been looking at this one on ebay;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1620480988...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Grafenwalder · 26-04-2016, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostFool

Just avoid the very, very cheap "smart" phones as they are useless. I got a bottom of the range Samsung for my mum who wanted something better than her ageing non-smart Nokia but it was a waste of money as it was too slow and didn't have the storage to do anything. We ended up sending it back and now she's happy with an old "dumb" phone.

Yes "dumb phone" describes mine to a tee! My son keeps telling me i'm living in a cave!

But what i do know about smartphones (compared to "dumb") is the battery power is rubbish meaning you have to keep connecting them. My "dumb phone" goes a whole week from a full charge left switched on 24/7.

njp · 26-04-2016, 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grafenwalder

Possibly go for new as i noticed prices vary lots via ebay dealers. Been looking at this one on ebay;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1620480988...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I'm slightly puzzled that he doesn't know exactly what he is selling. Makes me wonder where he got it.

swb1964 · 26-04-2016, 19:11

A J5 would be a better bet, an easier to read, ;larger screen without going into silly phablet territory.....

Joe_Howell · 28-04-2016, 15:09

My mum bought a Wileyfox Swift recently, having found her ageing iPhone 3GS to be very slow and unreliable. She's very happy with it, and it seems to get good reviews on Amazon. Not bad for just under £130.

cas1977 · 09-05-2016, 13:59

A Galaxy Grand is a good bet. Simple enough, with a nice big screen, attractive, and very easy to use.

Out of the two galaxy grands I've seen, I prefer the neo plus rather than the prime, as the neo plus has a much wider screen.

fmradiotuner1 · 09-05-2016, 14:21

we have the galaxy J3 its an OK phone the camera is basic though no where near as good as my G3 & G4 phones.

26-04-2016, 17:24	#1
Grafenwalder Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 4,996	Which Mobile for a Smartphone newbie!!? Ok i know this is a "how longs a piece of string" type of question but just looking for some pointers. Am considering my first smartphone. I have an old Nokia mobile unlocked on Virgin 'top up' (payg?) so would use the same sim as i have 50 quids worth on it and want to keep my number. It must be easy to use and not too fussy. Clear and simple to read screen. GPS. Decent battery life. Camera should take acceptable clear pics (not expecting pro quality!). What brands and price bracket should i be looking at and which brands should i avoid?

26-04-2016, 17:56	#2
Stereo Steve Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,378	iPhone is not a bad place to start. SE is at a decent price with all you need and a very good camera. Are you looking at new or second hand? Plenty of really good deals on secondhand phones of all makes. Android phones will generally be cheaper and there are some really good ones. How about the Moto G? That's pretty much basic Android so no nonsense or bloatware on top, good prices and will probably do all you need. Have a look at that one. The latest 4G looks OK, if a little chunky. But around half the price of an iPhone SE. In general iOS (Apple) is a closed eco-system so nobody can produce apps which Apple don't authorise. Where Android is open so you can install apps from many places and potentially end up in a mess. Both have their attractions. For a new user to smartphones, iOS maybe your best bet. Haven't looked at second hand 5C prices but that is a decent little phone.

26-04-2016, 18:11	#3
Richard46 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: London Posts: 41,718	I got my first cheepo smartphone (well I had an LG years ago but hated it) a Motorolo E 2nd gen (Android) a couple of months ago and I find it does all I want plus some. No built in compass to orientate the GPS and the camera is abit basic but it has a hard wired FM radio. Cost about £80-£90.

26-04-2016, 18:18	#4
LostFool Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 59,737	Just avoid the very, very cheap "smart" phones as they are useless. I got a bottom of the range Samsung for my mum who wanted something better than her ageing non-smart Nokia but it was a waste of money as it was too slow and didn't have the storage to do anything. We ended up sending it back and now she's happy with an old "dumb" phone.

26-04-2016, 18:20	#5
Grafenwalder Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 4,996	Quote: Originally Posted by Stereo Steve iPhone is not a bad place to start. SE is at a decent price with all you need and a very good camera. Are you looking at new or second hand? Plenty of really good deals on secondhand phones of all makes. Android phones will generally be cheaper and there are some really good ones. How about the Moto G? That's pretty much basic Android so no nonsense or bloatware on top, good prices and will probably do all you need. Have a look at that one. The latest 4G looks OK, if a little chunky. But around half the price of an iPhone SE. In general iOS (Apple) is a closed eco-system so nobody can produce apps which Apple don't authorise. Where Android is open so you can install apps from many places and potentially end up in a mess. Both have their attractions. For a new user to smartphones, iOS maybe your best bet. Haven't looked at second hand 5C prices but that is a decent little phone. Possibly go for new as i noticed prices vary lots via ebay dealers. Been looking at this one on ebay; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1620480988...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

26-04-2016, 18:23	#6
Grafenwalder Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 4,996	Quote: Originally Posted by LostFool Just avoid the very, very cheap "smart" phones as they are useless. I got a bottom of the range Samsung for my mum who wanted something better than her ageing non-smart Nokia but it was a waste of money as it was too slow and didn't have the storage to do anything. We ended up sending it back and now she's happy with an old "dumb" phone. Yes "dumb phone" describes mine to a tee! My son keeps telling me i'm living in a cave! But what i do know about smartphones (compared to "dumb") is the battery power is rubbish meaning you have to keep connecting them. My "dumb phone" goes a whole week from a full charge left switched on 24/7.

26-04-2016, 18:24	#7
njp Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 21,646	Quote: Originally Posted by Grafenwalder Possibly go for new as i noticed prices vary lots via ebay dealers. Been looking at this one on ebay; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1620480988...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT I'm slightly puzzled that he doesn't know exactly what he is selling. Makes me wonder where he got it.

26-04-2016, 19:11	#8
swb1964 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 2,455	A J5 would be a better bet, an easier to read, ;larger screen without going into silly phablet territory.....

28-04-2016, 15:09	#9
Joe_Howell Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 4	My mum bought a Wileyfox Swift recently, having found her ageing iPhone 3GS to be very slow and unreliable. She's very happy with it, and it seems to get good reviews on Amazon. Not bad for just under £130.

09-05-2016, 13:59	#10
cas1977 Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Costa Blanca Spain Posts: 6,286	A Galaxy Grand is a good bet. Simple enough, with a nice big screen, attractive, and very easy to use. Out of the two galaxy grands I've seen, I prefer the neo plus rather than the prime, as the neo plus has a much wider screen.

09-05-2016, 14:21	#11
fmradiotuner1 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: TheEssexSunshineCoast Clacton Posts: 15,220	we have the galaxy J3 its an OK phone the camera is basic though no where near as good as my G3 & G4 phones.

DS Forums

Which Mobile for a Smartphone newbie!!?