I know nothing about smartphones. I was thinking about getting a Samsung Galaxy s4, but I have no idea. I want something that’s under $200. Something that’s popular, reliable, and plays games.
Anyone want to share their knowledge? What phone do you have? Would you recommend it over a Galaxy s4?
Well, the obvious other one to consider is the iPhone. I don’t know if you can get one new for under 200 bucks; perhaps if you get the iPhone 4s and sign a contract. You might try going to an ATT, Verizon or Best Buy store, as they will have a variety of different models. You can play with each and decide what you want.
I went to Best Buy for a little while… I played around with the phones, but I didn’t get a good idea as to what I wanted just by messing around with each of them. Since this would be my first smartphone, I don’t know what I would be looking for. Maybe I should just go with the Galaxy s4. I know I don’t want Apple, too expensive.
The iPhone 5C is less than $100. If you are not a big techno-geek who likes to customize every little thing, the iPhone really is the better platform and Apple’s customer service is excellent. Since you are just getting into smartphones now, I’m guessing the constraints of the iPhone platform aren’t going to ever be noticed.
I AM a techno-geek, but pretty easy-going about how I use things, as long as they work. I used to have an Android, now I’m on iPhone and I greatly prefer it. OK a few things in iOS7 annoy me, but I’ve found solutions. (the new Calendar app… grrr… but PocketLife made it all better)
I would go Android, personally. I know lots of people who switched from iPhone to Android and they all now claim that they’ll never go back. I’ve never heard that opinion from someone who did the opposite.
Then again, if you’re a total smartphone newbie, the iPhone still is excellent and the interface/OS might be easier for you.
puts 2 cents on the table
Love your screen name! Anyone have any thoughts about the Galaxy?
If you don’t want an Apple, another to consider is the Google Nexus 5. The 16Gb version is $350 but I believe that’s without a contract. So it exceeds your $200 budget but you’d own it free and clear.
The S4 would be a great phone to get. I’ve got an upgrade, but I’ve got a Galaxy Nexus that I refuse to give up until it completely dies.
Now that I’ve read the topic post a little clearer (I apologize, it’s been a long morning), I have the Galaxy S4 and it’s awesome. I had the first generation Samsung Galaxy (called the Samsung Fascinate - they each had different names depending on your carrier) and it lasted me almost 3 years. The screen on the S4 took some getting used to because it’s so damn big (but this probably won’t be as much of a problem for someone on their first smartphone), and they force a couple apps on you that you can’t uninstall, but it looks great, runs well and is surprisingly durable (buy the silicone case - you’ll thank me).
If this is your first smartphone and you don’t know what you want, may I suggest you go to a used electronics store or site, like Cowboom (it’s Best Buy’s outlet store), and buy the cheapest smartphone available (currently a Samsung Galaxy S 4G for $99), and just get a SIM card and a no-contract plan (available from AT&T or T-Mobile). Use it for a few months, figure out what you like and don’t like, then buy the phone you really want.
For the record, I have a Samsung Galaxy S 4G (which is a few years old), and it’s still a decent phone. It may not have all the latest and greatest bells and whistles, whatever they may be, but it does everything a decent smartphone should do.
You may want to look at the Galaxy S3 as well. My roommate has one and he loves it, and it was only $50. It may even be free with your carrier if you’re due for an upgrade.
I just picked up the LG G2. It’s got an awesome screen, crisper and larger than the S4s, a faster processor than the S4, and can be had for $200 or less at most places, with a contract.
Also, if you’re left handed, it is pretty nice because the buttons for this phone are on the back, right in the center. My biggest gripe about the Galaxy S3/S4 is the position of the buttons. When trying to “sleep” the phone, I am constantly hitting the volume buttons (this happens whether you are left or right handed).
If you don’t like the “buttons on the back” idea, the HTC One is also a terrific phone.
Yet they fit your budget…the newest model (the 5s) starts at $199 with a contract.
Some things to consider:
**Will you be using the phone frequently, or just on occasion? **IMO the iPhone has a nicer phone interface than the Android units I’ve used (but they’re getting better). Texting too.
**Are you handy with computers? **You can get a phone with all of it’s storage internal or you can get a phone with little internal storage but it accepts a micro SD card. Putting the card in is easy. The fun starts when you have to hunt for a picture/song/ringtone that you know is somewhere. Some people are more patient with this sort of thing than others.
**Size & protection:**Do you want something slim and unobtrusive? Is it going to go in your pocket? Holster? Backpack? Are you going to use minimal/no extra protection or are you going to use an otterbox (big plastic case)? Do you have kids that will want to play with it?
**Web browsing:**If you do a lot of browsing and video-watching, screen size is obviously important. IMO iPhone screen size is still too small.
Your hobbies: depending on what you’re into one platform might be better than the other. For instance I can use my android for a guitar tuner and rudimentary recording, but the iPhone/iPad has some really neat peripherals (guitar interfaces, microphones) and apps available.
I’m not going to tell you which phone to buy. But I will say this:
Smartphones have grown out of the “you need the newest hardware to have a good user experience” phase. Buy something used off of ebay or craigslist. It will save you money and last as long as you need.
Corollary to 1: Stop throwing your money away and get a prepaid plan. I saved $80/month and ditched the contract and the only thing I gave up was the “privilege” of getting a slightly discounted phone every couple of years. Make your plan and phone decisions separately. You won’t regret it.
Go with Android, and preferably a phone that is already unlocked and rooted, or easy to do so (like a Nexus variety). After your first update on your stock phone, you’ll probably never get another one, unless it’s a highly popular model. After a year or so, you have to turn to custom ROMs to get better performance and new features. In this sense, having root extends the life of your phone and saves you even more money.
One thing I left out of my earlier post: the camera. It is such a useful and fun part of the phone nowadays because they’re actually quite good. Different phones have different camera capabilities and processing software, so if taking pictures is important to you this is something else to consider.
I recently got a Galaxy S3 because the prices have dropped dramatically since the S4 came out. With my update credit and the $50 rebate card, it was nearly free. I looked at both phones and for the price the S3 was worth it.
I’m planning on getting a pretty cheap(£120) Nokia lumina 520 for Christmas. Has anyone bought one before and had any complaints about it.
I heard this in another thread recently:
If like not having to mess around with your phone all the time, get an iPhone.
If you LIKE messing around with your phone all the time, get an Android.
I have an iPhone and it mostly just works. I don’t have to mess around with it much, and that’s how I like it.
J.
I switched carriers so I dumped my iPhone 5 for a Samsung Note 3. While the iPhone was really easy to use the Samsung phone is a little confusing. I just got it a few days ago so I’m not sure about it yet. Go play with the phones and figure out how much you want to learn.