Need help choosing a smartphone

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Hi,

So here's the plan, I want to get a new phone on a contract. I currently have a pay as you go cheap phone, and an iPod Touch 4th gen. I was thinking of getting a smartphone to replace both the cheap phone and the iPod. iPod is used for web browsing, skype and music mostly.

I've never really owned a good phone so I need some advice :p

Here are the critera for the new phone:

- Upto £15 per month contract (might go a bit higher)
- Around 15gb storage or more (for music), or maybe an option to add extra storage like SD cards?
- Internet
- WiFi
- Reliable texting and phone calls
- Good web browsing capability
- Ability to use Skype app for instant messaging
- Decent camera
- Good quality audio output
- Good general performance
- (internet) data allowance

That's pretty much all I need, anything else is a bonus. Am I asking too much for the price or?

Since I'll be using the internet a fair bit on the phone I will need some data allowance, although not really sure how much I need? Usage will be occasional web browsing, rare app downloads and using skype and MSN instant messager quite often.

Had a brief look at maybe the Samsung Galaxy Ace would be one to think about?

Appreciate any help, thanks.
 
hi, I have been looking for more or less that same thing. I have had an ordinary mobile for the last 24 months with O2 and am moving suppliers as the signal is poor where I am.

T Mobile seem to have the best deals at this price point and are offering the Galaxy Ace you mention, the Sony Ericsson Experia pro V and the Motorola Atrix at just over £15 a month for 100 mins / 100 texts and lots of internet. The Motorola is a dual core (like the Samsung Galaxy II) so looks more future proof to me which is why I shall probably get one on Friday. However some people don't like the Andriod on Motorola so it is suggested one is prepared to root the phone with a new ROM. I don't know if I will do this yet.

I'll post back on Friday with first reactions - maybe using the phone if I can work it out. It will me my first smart phone so there will be quite a learning curve I think.
 
hi, I have been looking for more or less that same thing. I have had an ordinary mobile for the last 24 months with O2 and am moving suppliers as the signal is poor where I am.

T Mobile seem to have the best deals at this price point and are offering the Galaxy Ace you mention, the Sony Ericsson Experia pro V and the Motorola Atrix at just over £15 a month for 100 mins / 100 texts and lots of internet. The Motorola is a dual core (like the Samsung Galaxy II) so looks more future proof to me which is why I shall probably get one on Friday. However some people don't like the Andriod on Motorola so it is suggested one is prepared to root the phone with a new ROM. I don't know if I will do this yet.

I'll post back on Friday with first reactions - maybe using the phone if I can work it out. It will me my first smart phone so there will be quite a learning curve I think.

Thanks I'd be interested in your thoughts on it.
 
atrix looks very good.. ill probably take it on contract next week :] did not see any better deals... obviously the contract is very low on texts/minutes/net but then again you get a free booster pack..
 
hi, I have been looking for more or less that same thing. I have had an ordinary mobile for the last 24 months with O2 and am moving suppliers as the signal is poor where I am.

T Mobile seem to have the best deals at this price point and are offering the Galaxy Ace you mention, the Sony Ericsson Experia pro V and the Motorola Atrix at just over £15 a month for 100 mins / 100 texts and lots of internet. The Motorola is a dual core (like the Samsung Galaxy II) so looks more future proof to me which is why I shall probably get one on Friday. However some people don't like the Andriod on Motorola so it is suggested one is prepared to root the phone with a new ROM. I don't know if I will do this yet.

I'll post back on Friday with first reactions - maybe using the phone if I can work it out. It will me my first smart phone so there will be quite a learning curve I think.

Did you get the Atrix?

This deal looks rather attractive to me: http://www.talkmobile.co.uk/pay-monthly/tariffs/samsung/galaxy_ace_black.html?tsc=all,all,all,all

The one for £20 per month 12 month contract. I'd much rather have 12 months than 24. Need to try the Galaxy ace though. I've heard a few bad things about it.

Might just wait until the Galaxy S2 is affordable for me :p
 
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No, when I went to the T Mobile shop there were no Atrix left so i settled for the Sony Ericsson Experia Neo V. This is a 3.7" screen, 1 GHz snapdragon processor and so far is rather good. My son has the Samsung Galaxy II soi shows off a bit but I am very pleased. I got a 24 month contract 100mins / texts and 500MB internet a month.
 
No, when I went to the T Mobile shop there were no Atrix left so i settled for the Sony Ericsson Experia Neo V. This is a 3.7" screen, 1 GHz snapdragon processor and so far is rather good. My son has the Samsung Galaxy II soi shows off a bit but I am very pleased. I got a 24 month contract 100mins / texts and 500MB internet a month.

Sounds pretty good :p So hard to decide really.

Anyone know a better deal than the Galaxy Ace £20 for 12 months?
 
Giffgaff goodie bag @ £10 / month (no contract, 250mins, unlim texts, unlim data) depending on data usage PAYG might work out even cheaper (up to 20p/day for up to 20MB)
+
Unlocked or O2 Second hand phone like the HTC Desire or Motrola Defy will kick the crap out of a Galaxy Ace (240p screen and a 1320MAH battery? No Thanks). Cost around £150


Sell the phone on and pick up a dual core in a few months when they reach sub £200. Buying new is for suckers.


The process probably works out somewhere around £14 a month once you've got the cycle of trading in phones going.
 
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Giffgaff goodie bag @ £10 / month (no contract, 250mins, unlim texts, unlim data) depending on data usage PAYG might work out even cheaper (up to 20p/day for up to 20MB)
+
Unlocked or O2 Second hand phone like the HTC Desire or Motrola Defy will kick the crap out of a Galaxy Ace (240p screen and a 1320MAH battery? No Thanks). Cost around £150


Sell the phone on and pick up a dual core in a few months when they reach sub £200. Buying new is for suckers.


The process probably works out somewhere around £14 a month once you've got the cycle of trading in phones going.

That sounds like a pretty good idea actually, what do you think about this plan?

- Pick up 2nd hand phone of around HTC Desire quality for £150
- Use the one month plan £10 per month GiffGaff deal you mentioned
- When prices of higher spec phones drop to about £150 second hand, get one and sell the current one for around £100, keep same GiffGaff deal.

Sound realistic?

Also how is GiffGaff? not heard much about them.

Do you have any idea how much Galaxy S2's are second hand? and how long it will be before they're around £150?
 
Go to T Mobile. Their SIM only rate is less - £7.71 for a monthly contract and the discount on it lasts 12 months.

Hmm,

T-Mobile (Internet booster):
Mins: 100
Texts: 100
Data: 500mb, unlimited browsing + email
Contract: 30 days
Price: £7.71

GiffGaff:
Mins: 250
Texts: unlimited
Data: unlimited
Contract: 30 days
Price: £10

Yeah T-Mobile could be better, probably would try both :p Thanks for the suggestion.

Need to decide on which phone to get.

P.S. What does this mean exactly for T Mobile? "Save £2.50 a month for 12 months" Does that mean you save 2.50 on the 7.71 for 12 months, meaning it would cost 5.21 for 12 months. Or does it mean that after 12 months it will cost 2.50 more, so 10.21?
 
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