Recommend me an Android phone please

LowOdour

Im on the market for a new phone! Moving from an Nokia N95 to the world of touchscreen smartphones, so some help is required.

Important features - FM Radio a must, a 5MP camera would be nice too. Has to be an Android
Form factor - touch screen
Internet - ideally it would be 3G & Wi-Fi enabled.
I’d prefer a SIM free phone, but I’m on the Vodafone network if sim free not available
At the moment, I’d prefer to stay on pre-pay.

My max price range is 300eur. I’m sure I could pick something used up from adverts, but would prefer something new out of the box for once! Last 2 phones have been bought on adverts.
I’m open to recommendations, and your reasons behind them

RobMozza

Hi LowOdour, I hate to admit that I purchased a 'Jedward' mobile after watching the review on this years toy show. It does everything that you want and only cost €69 + credit.

The main reason I got one was "it does nearly everything the iphone does but at a fraction of the cost" that's what the reviewer said on the toy show and to be honest it's a great introductory android phone.

The actual model number is GT-I5500, check out a review or two?

partyatmygaff

The original HTC Desire is rather good. You could pick one up new for a good bit less than €300 as well i'd say. Check out Ebay for a new sim-free Desire.

LowOdour

partyatmygaff wrote: »

The original HTC Desire is rather good. You could pick one up new for a good bit less than 300 as well i'd say. Check out Ebay for a new sim-free Desire.

will have to look into that. Ive seen the Desire S for around 350 on some sites too

Kev.

RobMozza wrote: »

Hi LowOdour, I hate to admit that I purchased a 'Jedward' mobile after watching the review on this years toy show.

Sup..Rob

MarkR

You may get a Samsung Galaxy S II from adverts for 300. Easier to get one for 350. Look for a brand new in box one of course.

LowOdour

MarkR wrote: »

You may get a Samsung Galaxy S II from adverts for 300. Easier to get one for 350. Look for a brand new in box one of course.

funny you say that, I had a deal done with someone for an S2 for 300 yesterday on adverts,but wasn't comfortable with the payment approach they took. hopefully one will pop up in galway

DanC90

if i was you i wouldnt get a cheap android phone, there great for the price dont get me wrong but you'll end up wanting a better 1 when you find out how great android is.. get either a galaxy s2 or nexus one there both sold for about 300 and there well worth the money since they are both getting an upgrade to ICS.. I wouldnt bother with a HTC phone either i have the wildfire s and its a good phone mainly due to HTC sense but the ram on it is only 512mb so put too many apps on it and it gives you low storage warnings and the processor is 600mhz which isnt good compared to most new phones and its stuck on gingerbread too:(

partyatmygaff

That's not a reason to not get HTC phones. The Wildfire is their entry level phone and does not reflect the experience you'll get with their flagship phones.

DanC90

partyatmygaff wrote: »

That's not a reason to not get HTC phones. The Wildfire is their entry level phone and does not reflect the experience you'll get with their flagship phones.

i know but in the OP he says he wants to spend at max €300 on a new phone and even tho its an entry level phone the wildfire s costs €200 new and the Desire s costs 380 new which also has the same ram problems so imho he's better off getting a galaxy s2 or nexus one 2nd hand once there in good condition there the better choice.

GreenWolfe

If you were able to get to the North or have a Northern delivery address Asda are selling the HTC Evo 3D for £250 at the moment.

Sashmo

Hi

HTC Wildfire S, span new out of the box is 179euro.

I'm also on the look out for a new phone and am a bit undecided so I'll be interested in following here too to see what's recommended.

Gordy6040

Hey LowOdour
I have a desire s, its my first non nokia phone ever and i have to say i'm pretty impressed. i'm a commuter so i use it for movies , internet, email etc. its not great at hd movies, im not sure if thats the hardware or software though. Thats could be nit picking because its a fairly cheep phone. The OS is great and it does a good job of manageing yoru contacts and social media sites organised.
Hope that helps. Should be in your budget.

Paparazzo

Stay away from the desire op! You'll pick one up cheap second hand, but I had one, it has a limited space for apps which means after a while if you want to download something, you have to decide what old app you have to remove to make room.
Also, the fm radio is rubbish, and the camera is terrible quality.
I just changed from a desire to a galaxy s 2, and the difference in standard features like a camera and radio is unreal.
I'd try and stretch for a galaxy s 2. Is billpay an option for you?

hurling_lad

My recommendation would be the Samsung/Google Nexus S - see link below:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=76289472

MissRibena

I'm in the same position as the OP. Love, love, LOVE my N95 but had it for 3 years and it's time to move on. Have an instinct to go for Android as I've so far avoided the Apple world.

What I loved about it;
Good radio (and good antennae)
Decent Screensize
Wifi & 3G
MP3 player
Video player (do my excercise DVDs from my N95 - so decent harddrive)
Good battery life.
GPS/Maps

Don't care about touchscreen - never had one but prob time to get over it.
Not into twitter, FB or the like so not bothered about all the keep-in-touch stuff.

I think I would prefer a Nokia because I'm very old at 34 to be learning new ways to text and been using Nokias since forever

Work will be paying (via contact renewal with O2) so cost is not a huge issue, although no point in throwing money away in these recessionary times.

So am hoping someone in the know can advise whether to go for a Nokia Lumia (which sounds very twitter etc oriented) or be brave and try something else??

Thanks a million

John mac

galaxy s2. for you .
I got one at christmas. first touchscreen/android phone . (had a nokia for 16 years)
took a while to get used to it . I dont use facebook . everything you want is there.

MissRibena

Thanks John.

Was heading in that direction myself after a bit of a internet trawling.
Great to see there's life after Nokia for the likes of me.

Wonder if there's any of them are any good as E-readers. Have been thinking of getting a kindle but maybe there's scope for an all-in-one job?

Nothingbetter2d

partyatmygaff wrote: »

That's not a reason to not get HTC phones. The Wildfire is their entry level phone and does not reflect the experience you'll get with their flagship phones.

i have a HTC Desire HD and its a great phone.... and once the ICS mod that is being developed for it comes out (its in beta already) my DHD will be even better

Nothingbetter2d

MissRibena wrote: »

I'm in the same position as the OP. Love, love, LOVE my N95 but had it for 3 years and it's time to move on. Have an instinct to go for Android as I've so far avoided the Apple world.

What I loved about it;
Good radio (and good antennae)
Decent Screensize
Wifi & 3G
MP3 player
Video player (do my excercise DVDs from my N95 - so decent harddrive)
Good battery life.
GPS/Maps

Don't care about touchscreen - never had one but prob time to get over it.
Not into twitter, FB or the like so not bothered about all the keep-in-touch stuff.

I think I would prefer a Nokia because I'm very old at 34 to be learning new ways to text and been using Nokias since forever

Work will be paying (via contact renewal with O2) so cost is not a huge issue, although no point in throwing money away in these recessionary times.

So am hoping someone in the know can advise whether to go for a Nokia Lumia (which sounds very twitter etc oriented) or be brave and try something else??

Thanks a million

if your work is paying for it you should be able to get a HTC ONE X

its the flagship phone at the mo and is capable of running ubuntu linux if you buy the docking station for it thus turning your phone into a laptop too

John mac

MissRibena wrote: »

Wonder if there's any of them are any good as E-readers. Have been thinking of getting a kindle but maybe there's scope for an all-in-one job?

you can use it as an e-reader but the screen is a bit small. if you are a fast reader you will be turning the pages a lot. .