My mobile phone is dying :( Recommend a new one?

[northwind]

Well, fair play to it, it's 5 years old. Anyway, time to find a new one... It's got to be on PAYG and under £100, I'm not a huge phone user, it's mainly for emergencies and so that people can reach me. I don't mind which network at all, but good coverage is most important.

Apart from doing the basic phone stuff, a good MP3 playe is what I want, and a proper jack plug for a standard set of headphones. Expandable memory also good, 2gb or 4gb would be ideal I suppose. If it can take half decent photos, that's a bonus but I do own a nice compact digi camera so it's not that big a deal- just for those times when I don't have my camera with me. Oh, and it's got to be tough, as you might guess from the fact that my last phone is 5 years old.

From looking around, I can see a couple of contenders..

Nokia 6300... I can get one of these for £58 on my current network. Only 2gb memory apparently and some people mutter about headphone compatability, anyone know if it'll take a standard headphone? Looks tough and practical

Nokia 5310 is designed to be a bit more of a music phone, I think... Shorter standby battery life, but more memory capacity. Both of these have a 2mp camera. £10 more expensive, needs a network change.

The Sony Ericson W910 comes in just over budget including calling credit... TBH I'd rather not pay that much but it looks good. Any suggestions for other walkman phones to look at?

I think probably either of the first 2 will do the job, but is there anything better?

[DarrenSV650S]

The 6300 will need a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adaptor for the headphones if you want to use your own.
Sony ericson walkmans are brilliant for music. The only downside is the headphone connector

Never owned any of them models, but when purchasing a new phone I always use this site: http://www.mobile-phones-uk.org.uk/. It has really reliable reviews for most phones.

Originally Posted by northwind

Nokia 6300... I can get one of these for £58 on my current network. Only 2gb memory apparently and some people mutter about headphone compatability, anyone know if it'll take a standard headphone? Looks tough and practical

I can only comment on this phone because it is what I have (and tbh, I dont know anything about the others you mentioned..!)

I find this particular phone really good. Its reliable, slim, doesn't weigh a ton, takes half decent photos. It does have a MP3 player / radio but I personally don't use it because I have an actual MP3 player so use that.

It should take a standard headphone - Ive got a hearing loop (so that I can use the phone with my hearing aids) which only comes in a standard size.

EDIT: The size of my hearing loop is 2.5mm

Oh, Ive also dropped it down the stairs (literally thumped down each individual stair from top to bottom) and on a concerete floor quite a few times. Hasn't broken or gone funny at all. So I would stay its rather sturdy too!

HTH

Maria

[Viney]

The 6300 is a great phone and is another nokia classic. However the camera is utter tripe on it and the music player is a tad fidly to use but it will take up to 4gb card. If you want a half decent music phone then it has to be a sony walkman phone. You can buy the headphone adapter easily enough and the sound quality (With alternate headphones) is pretty good. Most will take up to an 8gb card so more than enough. The camear is slightly better but all camera phones are rubbish compared to a proper camera anyway, but better than the 2mp nokia.

Id go for a Sony

The W910i already comes with the headphone adapter that also doubles up as the handsfree mic (also comes with headphones but those are only good for voice anyway).
Generally it's a good phone, albeit a bit slow when compared to top-of-the-line Nokias. I just don't know about it's durability yet... mine is 6 months old and it's already showing signs of ageing (cheap plastics).

ah, so that explains why you no return my text messages (it was a seafood cha-han, btw).

my old sony erricson's at least as old as yours, and I know how to work it, so I'd take another of those.

The sonys are the best for music-i've bought 2 recently, and they are fab.

[Shellywoozle]

Just ordered a sony ericsson c905, think i will sell it tho ! £250 on flea bay meant to be good phones

I have a k800i is that what it is called? Anyway its black, mine is still working and I have had it since 2005, although its looking a bit worse for wear and sometimes has electrical tape wrapped around it.

Since then I have 2 upgrades one was the walkman phone, the other is some newish sony 5mb camera phone thing though I haven't used them. I don't really text that much as it takes ages to write text well for me. I vote my first phone as a good one as it works and has survied several incidents at work. However if you want a sony phone, i'll sell you one of many spare phones if you want!