What would you choose or alternative?

Dave85 · 16 Jul 2011 at 03:13

Pay as you go
samsung Europa £60 then giffgaf £10 pm

However I can also spend around 12 quid a month on a contract instead of buying the europa and putting 10giffgaf on it. This opens up the choices at the same price of nearly £10 so would be

All £12pm
Samsung Galaxy Ace
Samsung Galaxy pro
Samsung Galaxy mini
Sony ericson x8
HTC Wildfire S

Now I will be frank im not a big talker mainly text and allot of the time my phones used for playing silly games or browsing instead of reading the paper when occupied

I dont mind the screen on the ace and so far am swaying towards it.

Any other choices for the same price im missing I believe the defy is a great phone but appears out of reach at 20pm upwards.

[TW]Fox · 16 Jul 2011 at 09:14

Is another tenner a month for a decent phone really that big a deal?

Don't really see the point in these cut down versions. If they were a fiver a month then sure but once you are paying 20 you may as well pay 25-30 and get something decent.

Scrutinize · 16 Jul 2011 at 09:25

The problem is the £10-£15 tariffs that include a phone are usually really limited with minimal internet and calls.

£10 GiffGaff at least comes with a decent amount of internet (unlimited) and 250mins. You are also free to buy more / less each month.

Buying the phone separately also gives you the added advantage of it being warrantied very clearly under SOGA and none of this network typical free phone no implied warranty pita that often occurs.

You are also flexible to change you phone as the moment suits and are never tied into a contract.

You don’t really get decent free phones with good contracts below £20-£25 x 24 months either unless you are a really light user and don’t need internet. I know people who have gone for android phones on a cheap contract only to find they are spending the same again cause of their internet and phone usage each month.

As fox says spend more and get it all in one decent phone / decent tariff @ £25+ for 18-24 months or spend the minimum and keep flexible.

[TW]Fox · 16 Jul 2011 at 09:44

mrk1@1 said:
Buying the phone separately also gives you the added advantage of it being warrantied very clearly under SOGA and none of this network typical free phone no implied warranty pita that often occurs.

A phone bought with a contract is warrantied just as clearly under SOGA - with the retailer.

Streeteh · 16 Jul 2011 at 09:46

[TW]Fox;19594140 said:
A phone bought with a contract is warrantied just as clearly under SOGA - with the retailer.

Indeed, and it's been a long, long time since i've heard of a network provider even attempting to pull a fast one.

Anyways, the best contracts tend to be with 3rd parties these days and from experience, assuming you pick a reputable company, they're very good with warranties etc.

Dave85 · 16 Jul 2011 at 12:16

My budget is around £12pm for a contract the same as giffgaf and sure while £20 a month opens up all sorts of phones im not willing or able to spend that much the £12 contract provides 200mins 200 texts and 1GB internet seems like a bargain to me and fine for my usage 25 to 30 is far to much fox.

So assuming for a moment your choice was as limited as mine what would you pick from the list. or what alternative would you choose. I did find the defy for £15pm and would only realy go for that if it was allot better than the others listed as is pushing my budget.

I clarified my op as It does sound like saying get a 10pm contract then put giffgaf on it.

I will have more money monthly in a few months so buying a europa and suffering for a few months can be done if it sounds better option

sarge78 · 16 Jul 2011 at 12:44

Get the Defy... It's MILES better than the others! (Think of it as a plastic but tough iPhone 4)

There might be a replacement coming in the next few weeks, its identical bar a 1700mah battery and maybe a a slightly better camera. (no point waiting really

)

Dave85 · 16 Jul 2011 at 12:47

Yeh most reviews appear to be saying the same will nip down today to mobile shop try them all out.

[TW]Fox · 16 Jul 2011 at 14:11

DAvE18 said:
My budget is around £12pm for a contract the same as giffgaf and sure while £20 a month opens up all sorts of phones im not willing or able to spend that much

Seriously, its an extra what.. 2 quid a week to get from £12pm to £20pm :confused:

Dave85 · 16 Jul 2011 at 14:20

I already told you I don't want to spend that much if thats an issue for you then dont bother posting.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 16 Jul 2011 at 14:23

What network are you on ATM and are you on a contract??

Dave85 · 16 Jul 2011 at 14:29

Not on any contract at the moment not got a phone just now.

sarge78 · 16 Jul 2011 at 14:30

Fox, Dave has two options in the OG post...

£10pm Giffgaff sim + £60 for a **** phone.

or

A £12pm contract with a free **** phone.

Probably the best thing to do is get a free Motorola Defy (which isn't ****) on a ~£14pm T-Mobile contract via buymobilephones.net or similar.

That makes the phone ~£99 but your stuck on a 24 month contract.

(The only other option is ebay for a second hand Defy or similar + quidco for a 12 month sim only deal for ~£6pm)

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 16 Jul 2011 at 14:35

With redemption buymobilephones are doing the Defy for £12 a month.

Edit!!

Some of the Windows Phone 7 phones can be had for free on cheaper contracts. Supposedly the Mango update for Phone 7 is a decent improvement on the initial version.

[TW]Fox · 16 Jul 2011 at 14:43

DAvE18 said:
I already told you I don't want to spend that much if thats an issue for you then dont bother posting.

It's not an issue for me, but its an issue for you (As you are finding the handset selection poor) that could be easily rectified for marginal additional expenditure.

It's not as if anyone is suggesting you blow 60 quid a month or anything!

Dave85 · 16 Jul 2011 at 14:49

You will find I asked within the budget what would you go for if you had to. I dont personally think any of them are crap but then im not comparing them to the top of the range phones.

So far the opinion seems to be to try and get a defy and it looks like I can get one for £13.70 pm on tmobile with the phone costing nothing. Im now just trying to decide between the defy and the samsung galaxy ace.

But thanks for opinion as always.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 16 Jul 2011 at 14:53

The Defy does have more RAM,a faster CPU and a better screen. It is basically a cheaper version of the Droid 2.

How much does the Ace cost per month?? Are both contracts for 24 months??

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 16 Jul 2011 at 14:59

The Omnia 7 can also be had relatively cheaply although it uses Windows Phone 7. The LG Optimus 7 does not seem to be too expensive too.

TopCashBack are also doing an £80.80 cashback on T-Mobile shop phone contracts.

Robbo · 16 Jul 2011 at 15:03

[TW]Fox;19594024 said:
Is another tenner a month for a decent phone really that big a deal?

Don't really see the point in these cut down versions. If they were a fiver a month then sure but once you are paying 20 you may as well pay 25-30 and get something decent.

I agree with you on this but you know what people are like.

The best cheap phone is the Defy, but I wouldn't call it a 'tough iPhone 4' as Sarge said... :eek:

On your list, the Ace is the best but it's the best of a bad bunch.

Dave85 · 16 Jul 2011 at 15:03

Hey cat the only thing the ace had going for it was the lower cost at £10pm and free. But the defy is clearly the better phone so will hopefully go for that. I did look at windows 7 phones but did not really fancy them.