Best mid range smartphone?

apatia77 · 12 Jul 2011 at 12:36

I'm thinking of getting my first smartphone, however my eyes bleed when I see all the deals on iphones and other top end android smartphones. Everything top end is very expensive.

Are there any decent mid range android smarthphones that will be good enough for emails, web browsing, apps, games etc?

Robbo · 12 Jul 2011 at 12:44

Need a price before I can answer that.

apatia77 · 12 Jul 2011 at 12:52

Robbo said:
Need a price before I can answer that.

Around £200-£300 contract free is my aim at the moment.

I've looked online and Samsung S5830 Galaxy Ace looks sweet for £200.

Is there anything newer, better for this price?

Robbo · 12 Jul 2011 at 12:55

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc is probably your best option for that price then.

kona786 · 12 Jul 2011 at 12:58

Samsung S5830 Galaxy Ace - not great

If you want samsung go for the Galaxy S - Great spec and best screen in that price bracket.

apatia77 · 12 Jul 2011 at 12:59

Robbo said:
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc is probably your best option for that price then.

Looks nice but doesn't it cost close or over £400?

StonedPenguin · 12 Jul 2011 at 13:00

iPhone 3GS 16GB

Robbo · 12 Jul 2011 at 13:01

apatia77 said:
Looks nice but doesn't it cost close or over £400?

It shouldn't do, they can be had for £200-300 I believe.

apatia77 · 12 Jul 2011 at 13:04

Robbo said:
It shouldn't do, they can be had for £200-300 I believe.

I must be looking at the wrong places then

Galaxy S - nice again but can't find one below £333 I think.

I can get a contract phone but it has to be a 12 months one as I think my current contract has already expired.

kona786 · 12 Jul 2011 at 13:05

Robbo said:
It shouldn't do, they can be had for £200-300 I believe.

plenty below £300 new on fleabay - see completed listings.

galaxy s is around £210 - £260 new

Myshra · 12 Jul 2011 at 13:20

Good condition second hand is likely to net you a better device than outright buying. Anything 1gig would be a good place to enter the market as this is the reference design for android apps currently.

The 333 price is likely for a SGS 2 - he's talking about the first one.

Ebay says a whole bunch of SGS's get sold for £170-250 depending on quality currently:
http://completed.shop.ebay.co.uk/i....nes&_fln=1&_mPrRngCbx=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m283

sarge78 · 12 Jul 2011 at 13:23

+1 for a s/h SE Arc on ebay.

Here's some other new bargains atm. (All "1GHz/512MB" phones)

Palm Pre 2: £130
HTC 7 Pro: £220
Motorola Defy: £240
HTC Desire Z: £250
Samsung Omnia 7: £280

apatia77 · 12 Jul 2011 at 14:09

Well, I am going to get a new 12 contract as I need some free minutes, web access, texts etc. I asked for best mid range phone to get an idea which phone/deal to look after.

krooton · 12 Jul 2011 at 14:14

I'd say:

Motorola Defy < HTC Desire (S if you can) or Samsung Galaxy S

loltim · 12 Jul 2011 at 16:01

I got an LG Optimus 7 for £136 off ebay.

1ghz snapdragon CPU, 16gb storage, windows phone 7, free turn by turn Bing navigation, 5mp cam 720p etc.

krooton · 12 Jul 2011 at 16:12

Oh, if WP7 is on the cards, then loltim is right!

Read the whole thread:
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/lg-...ows-phone-7-16gb-nand-storage-5mp-720p/955074

gambitt · 12 Jul 2011 at 21:09

Sorry to thread hijack but on a similar note, what is the best one for £80-£120? Grandma wants a smartphone (I kid you not) but she doesn't like the "small buttons" on the Orange San Francisco :rolleyes:

Qwerty keyboard is about the only feature she need I think... oh and a big-ish screen (say 3.3"?)

Basill · 12 Jul 2011 at 21:43

I would go with HTC Trophy 7 can get it new for £200

Robbo · 12 Jul 2011 at 21:46

Basill said:
I would go with HTC Trophy 7 can get it new for £200

If you're going that route you might as well get the Omnia 7 (best WP7 handset) or the LG Optimus 7 for £70 or so less.

loltim · 13 Jul 2011 at 09:33

Robbo said:
If you're going that route you might as well get the Omnia 7 (best WP7 handset) or the LG Optimus 7 for £70 or so less.

Think the HTC is worth the extra over the LG tbh. It's lighter, smaller, better battery life, better screen (lcd vs tft) and pretty much the same spec other than a little less storage.