View Full Version : Mobiles
EssexDave
02-01-15, 09:03 AM
Hi folks,
That time of year when I'm getting close to due an upgrade on my contract, but for the first time I'm having serious reservations about all of the major phones on the market:
I should start off by saying that I'm not a huge app user. I like to be able to get my news through Twitter, check my Facebook and get my emails. Obviously the usual texts/calls and that's about it. I'm not fussed about the camera or many of the other gimmicky bits. I would rather a hand-held phone. I'm currently using my Blackberry Bold 9780 and I'm very content with it except the Twitter/Facebook/Browser support is awful.
iPhone 6 - They made it bigger. Why did they make it bigger? I had an iPhone 5, it was alright but it now won't charge.
Samsung S4 - I had an S3. It was awful. After 4 months the device would drop out of apps all the time, would glitch switching screens, the call quality was useless and the battery pretty poor.
Anything else - I don't have much interest in the other phones because I've never looked and have always thought they would suffer from the same issues as the Samsung.
What I really want, is a phone that just works (for the things I need). I'm quite interested by the Blackberry Classic, but I can't help but feel whilst their hardware might be reasonable (even if a little out of date), the software will have all these glitches in.
This is one of the things that upset me about the iPhone. I've had the iPhone 3gs, 4 and 5. They were great until the latest iteration of iOS which has so many glitches. It is nothing major, but when I'm not a demanding user I do not expect apps to drop out and problems to arise. One of the big ones has been iTunes. Apple built their reputation on the iPod, and so to have the issue of iTunes crashing on the phone when editing playlists is so frustrating.
So, OMO, what are your opinions on the matter?
atassiedevil
02-01-15, 09:22 AM
I wouldn't normally plug a windows phone, but that might be exactly what you need.
They're not massively expensive, you get nokia's usually incredible build quality, and i would think they have all the apps you need. Buy it outright, then you're not nobbled by being tied to a particular carrier, so you can change as you please. Might be worth a thought.
I'm not a great phone user at all, but have been looking to get something a bit more up to date than my steam powered Nokia (it's a phone, nothing else, no camera etc). I want low cost, probably use Virgin's sim-only deal since I'm on their cable service already, £5/month will do me fine.
The Motorola MotoG seems to get great reviews, either the first gen 4G version (takes a memory card) or the 2nd gen version (bigger, 3G only but better camera, dual sim etc). Tesco look like decent prices for outright sim-free buy. Just a thought.
Anyone have first hand experience of the MotoG?
Bluepete
02-01-15, 02:26 PM
My lad has a MotoG. It seems very good, he plays loads of games on it and the battery lasts.
Pete; )
I've got the moto e, seems to do the job well enough for what I want. The moto g is supposed to be a lot better though, better processor and cameras etc, but for basic phoning, text and web browsing the moto e is adequate.
As Pete says, good battery life as they are bigger than most batteries.
Sarah has a year old MotoG 16G.
Its still going! this is a first for her.
Its a cracking smartphone for the money
ethariel
02-01-15, 05:47 PM
Buy a nokia/microsoft Lumia 635 outright (100 to 140 quid depending on the telco) and go on a simm only deal, save yourself 20 or 30 quid a month on the cost of a 'Flagship phone.
12 month or monthly rolling contracts are relativley cheap and the 635 is 4G
My contract is up next month I have a S4. There is nothing else out there I like and I am bored of paying £35 a month! Sim only is the way forward. £23 on a rolling 30 days with Three.
Er what do you get for your £23 pm
All you can eat data 600 mins free text and free 0800 numbers.
Looking at the range I dont need all that not on a 1 month rolling !
4GB data 600 mins free text and free 0800 numbers. £18
EssexDave
03-01-15, 10:23 AM
Ch00 I don't know how many minutes you use but Three have one for £15 a month which gives you unlimited data, texts and 100 minutes. If you can get away with Skype, then you're able to call people still with that.
That's certainly the contract I'm looking at because like you, I'm sick of paying over £30 per month for a phone that really I don't need and doesn't even do what I want. I miss the days of week long battery life!
TimTucker
03-01-15, 06:06 PM
Sarah has a year old MotoG 16G.
Its still going! this is a first for her.
Its a cracking smartphone for the money
I've had a MotoG 16G for a year as well. It is my first smartphone and I'm pleased with it. You get the "pure" Android experience without the bloatware, it runs reasonably quickly, the battery can last several days if you're as an infrequent user as I am, and it's not too big. I bought it SIM-free from Phones4U and then got myself a GiffGaff SIM.
My phone did die completely a few weeks ago, but I had no problem getting a replacement from Motorola under warranty.
Just upgraded to a Sony Z3 compact. Decent sized, not overly huge like current top spec phones, battery will last for a few days, especially if you use the stamina setting and it just works.
The real bonus for me, is the fact it is waterproof to 1.5m, so should be able to withstand the occasional soaking in my pocket, when out on the bike.
It just works so well, compared to the Samsung & Iphones we also have in the house. The 3G reception is really good(don't get 4G up here), and yesterday in Burger King - the 3G was quicker than their wifi !!!
Had HTC & Samsung in the past - but I believe that the Sony is the best handset on the market, currently.
i won't touch Iphone or apple - cos of their controlling fascist ways and do not get a windows phone - pal of mine got one for xmas last year and hates it sooo much - even told his wife on boxing day it was a pile of crap - but she signed him up for 2 year contract as a present !!!! LoL
tigersaw
04-01-15, 03:08 PM
I wouldn't normally plug a windows phone, but that might be exactly what you need.
They're not massively expensive, you get nokia's usually incredible build quality, and i would think they have all the apps you need. Buy it outright, then you're not nobbled by being tied to a particular carrier, so you can change as you please. Might be worth a thought.
I've had a Lumia for almost a year and still love it.
Hardly any apps but the usual suspects, but that's fine by me. Battery life is good, (and by that I mean a week if batt saver is on and light use with no push mail or whatsapp), camera is good, integration with onedrive is very good indeed, and for some reason all my music downloads have been free so far using the nokia music app.
If your a Virgin customer they seem to have good deals on sim only. The top sim everything included is £20 and includes calls to 0800, 0845, 0870 and 0808 numbers.
Corny Gizmo
05-01-15, 01:19 PM
Would you look into getting the iphone 5 back up and running? probably only needs a new battery
Solid phones in my opinion, I have now got the Galaxy S5 but miss my iphone...
maviczap
05-01-15, 02:45 PM
Moto G on a deal at Tesco
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/motorola-moto-g-new-2nd-gen-5-inch-8mp-camera-sd-card-slot-unlocked-networks-129-2108686
From all I've read, its a good solid phone. This ones better from the earlier ones, as it has an SD card slot.
I'm on my 2nd HTC phone, after upgrading and I really like mine, which is only the basic 500 desire.
I'd go for the MotoG or one of those waterproof Sony phones next time
shiftin_gear98
05-01-15, 03:31 PM
My mother in law got the Moto G a while back, her first smart phone.
She roped me into setting it up for her, she loves it now.
I was impressed with the quality for a budget phone.
Still I prefer my Sony.
My HTC one is a great phone, always works really fast even after multiple updates.
I even like the HTC software, the news feed app is really good.
Only problem is the battery life, even with light use you'd never get a full day. Most of the time I have to put it on charge by lunchtime.
Next phone will be chosen on battery life alone, Nokia 3110 probably :)
Try turning off 4G.
Do you have a stamina mode on HTC?
It does have a low power mode but it doesn't make much difference.
Davadvice
05-01-15, 06:55 PM
try turning off location services, i have a HTC one and had an issue after the last update this sorted it for me. im' getting 2.5 days approx.
Teejayexc
05-01-15, 07:03 PM
Also, download an App cleaner and run it regularly, you'll be surprised how many apps kick in when roaming. Google play is one of the worst offenders!
Problem is when turining all that stuff off is it's a pain if you want to quickly get your phone out and do something you have to turn it all back on.
I'll give it a go, see how much difference it makes but if I get 2.5 days I will be amazed.
Also, download an App cleaner and run it regularly, you'll be surprised how many apps kick in when roaming. Google play is one of the worst offenders!
What's this wonderful "App" Cleaner?
Could I get a week out of the Z1 with it???
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