Recommend a phone for me

In My Humble Opinion
1

Some of you may know that I have recently determined that my current phone (some sort of Moto G) just doesn’t have enough storage space, and there’s no way to fix that. As some of you suspected, it also doesn’t support 4G, which means that it’s going to be completely obsolete by the end of the year. So, clearly it’s time for me to get a new phone.

I went in to the Verizon store today, and the clerk was nice, friendly, cheerful, and all of those other things that sales clerks are supposed to be. And I’m pretty sure that she was trying to upsell me pretty heavily.

So I want to find out more about specific models, so I can go in and say “this is exactly what I want”. Relevant information:

I am currently on a prepaid plan, because that gave me a lower bill. The clerk said that it would not be possible for me to get a new phone and stay on a prepaid plan, without changing my phone number, which sounds highly dubious to me.

The phone I have now was bottom-of-the-line even when I got it, and even now, the only problems I have with it are the impending obsolescence, and the low storage. So I expect that I really would actually be happy with something bottom-of-the-line still, as long as it has a few gigs left after the OS and the non-optional apps.

I would kind of like 5G, for future-proofing if nothing else, but it sounds like that’s only available on a few phones right now, all of them high-end, and there’s no 5G coverage anywhere near me right now anyway, so never mind that.

Mostly what I use the phone for is phone calls, e-mail, a calculator app, and a few low-requirement games. Occasionally I’ll do a Google search, or get driving directions.

I do not want to change my phone number-- That’s just too much of a hassle, and besides, I’ve found that there are benefits to having an out-of-state number.

So what’s a good cheap phone nowadays?

2

I can recommend the Blu View 1. It costs about $29.99 new. It comes preloaded with Android 9, no bloatware. It has 2 Gb of RAM and 16 Gb of internal storage, and of course is expandable. It runs on 4G LTE. You can use it with any T-Mobile VMNO, including TracFone. You can keep your number. You could just a new sim card and put it in your phone.

3

Can that be used with Verizon, though? Overall, I’m pretty happy with Verizon (yes, they’re trying to upsell me, but that’s something that I have a hard time holding against a business).

Of course, even if it can’t be used with Verizon, its existence should give me a lot of leverage for negotiation purposes.

4

I’m very partial to the Google phones, because I hate the bloated software overlays other makes put on their phones. The Pixel 4a is supposed to be good, ($379 in the Verizon store online). I would guess the price might come down a bit in October when the Pixel 4a 5g and the Pixel 5 come out.

My spouse has had a couple of Samsung Galaxy S -somethings in a row, and they’ve been good phones.

Are you open to a used phone? You can get some great deals on swappa. You can check there for a phone that’s like, one or two models down from the current one.

5

No. Unfortunately, it’s GSM, so AT&T and T-Mobile only.

6

I can recommend that you stay away from samsung. Their new software is fricking garbage. If you are leaning towards samsung, cut out the heartache and cursing and go whole hog to iphone (says the man who detests apple with a loathing that would be legendary if he could adequately describe it). That’s who samsung is trying to be in the android environs

LG is probably the best smartfone I’ve ever had, so so many(it feels like) years ago. I’d say try something from them if you can

Oh, also, for a short time I did have a motorola phone. Fine fones even if not great. If you can find another Motorola that suits your needs, I wouldn’t recommend against them either

7

Googling, the whole GSM/CDMA split seems not to matter any longer as they’ve all been on 4G LTE for a while.

8

Consider Best Buy’s unlocked Verizon compatible phones. Their site lists many starting at 29.99 and several of those are brand names and models that posters here have mentioned positively. I recently bought one there for a friend and she took it up to Verizon and they swapped in her SIM card and away we went. Verizon was fine with it when you walk in with a new phone and there’s no chance they can sell you one.

I get a Veteran’s discount with Verizon if you would be eligible for that-it helps, especially since you won’t need a lot of data.

Even though I never owned anything but an iPhone, you sure don’t need one and they are vastly more expensive. I inherit one of my sons’ when the new sparkly, shiny iPhones come out.

I have also seen very reasonable pre-owned phones in cell phone repair shops. Your tech needs are modest so you’d have good choices there too.

9

Don’t know how much your prepaid plan is, but I use Tracfone and it is $25 a month for unlimited talk and text and 3 GB of data. (You can get it for $15 with 1 GB of data.)

Good cheap phones (with Tracfone or without) are the Samsung Galaxy J7 Crown and Motorola Moto G6.

(And they do transfer phone numbers.)

10

I love my Pixel 3a.

Honestly, you could switch to Straight Talk (uses verizon towers with a Verizon phone), keep your phone number, and you have unlimited data for only $45/month, if you just buy a Pixel outright. That’s what I’ve been doing for years now.

11

Assuming Verizon would activate it on prepaid for you, and there is no technical reason they shouldn’t, I would recommend a Moto G Stylus. 128GB of internal storage plus SDcard slot if you need more. Works on Verizon towers. It isn’t 5G though.

12

I’ve had google phones for a long time. Currently have the Pixel 4A. In my area, AT&T and Verizon coverage is weak so I decided to give Google Fi a try. It’s awesome and cost effective.

13

Thanks for the suggestions, all! I had a feeling that I was being upsold, but didn’t realize that it was by a factor of 10. I don’t have anything philosophical against Apple products (in fact, my primary computer is a Mac), but they really don’t have a low-end phone, so I’d be wasting money if I bought an iPhone (they don’t have low-end computers, either, but I demand more from a computer than I do from a phone, and was willing to pay for a high-end one).

From what I’m seeing so far, it looks like the Blu V5 would be the best option, though I’ll look around a little more before ordering. And as an aside, holy heck, the Best Buy website is terrible.

14

Sorry the Best Buy site is vexatious. They do have the Blu 5, unlocked, at $29.99.

(https://www.bestbuy.com/site/pcmcat311200050005.c?id=pcmcat311200050005&qp=brand_facet=Brand~BLU)

BLU - V5 with 32GB Memory Cell Phone (Unlocked) - Black

Model :V0410UU BLACK

SKU :6351886

I tried to copy the link, but I’m quite tech daft, so please take it in the spirit it is offered.

I’m strictly an iPhone girl because one of my sons does Mac IT for a living and knew it would be the easiest for me to use being more intuitive, but you sure are right, they are expensive and way more than most need.

15

Just be aware if you get the Blu V5, it’s GSM, so you’ll have to move away from Verizon. Here’s a list of carriers it’s compatible with: AT&T, Cricket, H2O Wireless, Net10, Simple Mobile, T-Mobile, TRACFONE

16

Also that 30 bucks is if you activate it at the time of purchase with a new service. It is 80 bucks without.

17

Hm, OK, I’d rather not switch away from Verizon. I’m not sure why it showed up on Best Buy’s page-- I think that maybe, they start by showing all phones, and then hide the ones that don’t meet the filters? And I clicked the link before it was finished hiding?

If nothing else, though, it’ll still provide me leverage when next I go to the Verizon store: Find me a decent deal or I’ll switch.

18

Actually, that has worked for me in the past at Verizon and you have nothing to lose by trying.

19

Doesn’t Verizon have a “Trade whatever you’ve got for the new Note 20 for free!” deal going on?

20

So, today, I went to the second closest Verizon store to me, and told the clerk there that I wanted a low-end phone. His response was “Well, this one is $60, this one is $70, and this one is $75”. I didn’t even need to show him the Best Buy ad I’d printed out. So I’m now the owner of a new ZTE Blade Vantage 2.