Lookin' for a new phone! (Preferably Android)

  • Thread starter EliteDoom
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EliteDoom

EliteDoom

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EliteDoom
Hi,

I have been looking for a new phone that costs no more than £280 PAYG.

I would absolutely love an Android one, as it completely the best thing for me.

I have looked at the HTC Desire and Samsung Galaxy Ace and I am torn between them, but there may be other, better options.

Could you tell me of them and the price?

Thanks.
 
Samsung galaxy if you want to spend all of your budget.

HTC wildfire if you want a good phone for less. I have this one and love it.
 
lbsf1
Samsung galaxy if you want to spend all of your budget.

HTC wildfire if you want a good phone for less. I have this one and love it.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that the Galaxy Ace is only around £200, so I won't be spending all of my budget.

I've heard some pretty damning things about the Wildfire's screen, do you know why?
 
My girlfriend has the HTC Desire and I've got the Galaxy S. Apparently the Ace suffers from some slowdown as it's processor is only 800mhz compared to the Galaxy S's 1ghz, but the HTC has a lower battery life and a duller, less detailed screen due to the Samsung devices using an AMOLED display. At least I think the Ace uses one....I know the Galaxy does.

For your budget I'd say go with the Desire. It's a quick phone and has some very useful features built in that the Ace won't have.
 
I'm somewhat unfamiliar with what the phone selection looks like in the UK, but here in the US, we're getting flooded with a wide variety of Android handsets, particularly those that are coming from HTC and Samsung.

I'm currently running the Samsung Epic 4G, which is based on the Galaxy S line of phones from last year. The main difference here is that I have a sliding keyboard, an AMOLED screen, and a 4G band radio (WiMax) to keep the internet speeds similar to what I have at home. My biggest complaint for the phone is generally the same as what most people have for the Samsung-branded Android handsets... Their UI is hit and miss (a little too similar to the iPhone), and often runs the phone down. That, and Samsung takes their sweet ass time when they roll out updates for their phones. Android 2.2 took nearly nine months to be added to the Galaxy S, and the 2.3 updates are just beginning to trickle out... But not to everyone.

Based on what we have here in the states, your best overall option is probably going to be the Samsung Nexus S, as it is the most up-to-date and "pure" Android experience that you're going to have. It being the second generation Google-branded phone, it will get the updates before any other handsets, and has the hardware to be a class-leading phone for a year or so. The only problem is that the Galaxy 2 is on the horizon, and that thing is a damn monster. Despite Samsung's limitations, they know how to jump ahead of the competition when it comes to hardware.
 
From what I read last, Samsung aren't planning on bringing the Epic 4G to the UK at all. I don't believe there's much demand for a full QWERTY keypad over here, I can't remember the last time I even saw a phone with one!

The Galaxy S2 will be a monster for sure, but it'll also cost a hell of a lot!
 
Thanks everybody, I think I'll ramp up the budget to £330, as I'm sure that going up in price will leave me with a better phone for the future. The reason for the price going upward is that the Desire S has caught my eye. Any info/suggestion for alternatives for this budget. And don't say a used iPhone, because Creepy Uncle Steve will bring out a new one as soon as I buy one, thus making a redundant phone even more redundant.

And also, Moglet, I just had a phone with a full QWERTY keypad, the Samsung Genio Slide, and it was crap. Slow, stupid interface with a resistive touchscreen and probably a 1Hz processor. It broke twice within 6 months, so I decided to forget about it and move on to something more powerful, and less likely to have the screen broken when someone breathes on it, or walks past it. That is probably why noone wants a full QWERTY keypad. End of rant. End of post.
 
The Samsung screen is remarkably bright and all although some people will not like the overtly white glare it can show when it is on full brightness. There has been some rumblings that the Galaxy screen does fade over time if left on full brightness all the time, but that would be the same with anything I guess.

Cost wise, if you want to save some cash, (standard) HTC Desire should be fine as its just about as good as the Samsung and the HTC Desire HD but it wouldn't be as quick as them. The only thing you would need to make sure is to be understanding of the phone's limitations and ways around with it.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S and I do find it rather good and does what I need it to do. Pictures and videos do come up clear and pretty damn detailed, but that does depend on the quality of the video and photo itself. The actual OS usage itself is ok and it does ape the iPhone look a bit too much, but there is some ways to customise it.

However, if you really want to customise your phone totally, you can always try and get custom ROMs and firmwares instead. They do save a lot of battery power and can be updated much faster than waiting for the damn manufacturers. I have not customised my Galaxy yet....do not yet see the need to do so, yet.
 
I never use my phone on full brightness, it's just painful :lol: The default 'power save' setting is spot on IMO.

Also, I only just discovered Handcent for my phone. Where have you been all my life you beautiful wonderful app?!
 
Go to mobiles.co.uk

I got a Blackberry Curve 3G, Free, Orange Panther 25, Unlimited Texts 500mb of Internet and 500 minutes for £25 a month - 24 month contract.

The best bit is, every 6 months you claim money back, so by the end of the contract you've only paid £12.50 a month!!!

Other offers instead of claiming money back included a TV, laptop, PS3 etc.

I know you said PAYG, but pop onto that site and there's some brilliant deals.
 
Moglet
Handcent
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Explain?

I have Whatsapp....My god! A way to send messages, video AND PICTURES through wi-fi without incurring charges?! SIGN ME UP! (free year, before you pay a yearly fee. But the yearly fee is not much at all for what you get!)

Already send well over 900 messages to people who live abroad (I have people in strange countries) that would have easily cost me hundred and hundred of quids.
 
Submerged
Explain?
Click to expand...

It's just a messaging app that is designed to replace the standard Android one. It's more customizable, and messaging is quicker and easier than using the built in app.
 
Alright, I've had the Desire S for about a month and it is GREAT! I love how customisable it is compared to the iPhone. It has Android 2.3, which is good and... I just love it all so much. I'm not advertising it, but I do recommend it highly. Anyone else want to share the thoughts on their phone?
 

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