Recommend me a phone <€500

BazzyB

Hello,

I fancy an upgrade of my phone been a few years since I've taken any serious look at buying one and caring about the specs. Currently have a Xiaomi Mi Max 2 and love the battery life (Solid heavy use 2 days) but it's a bit too big of a footprint even with my big hands and the camera is very mediocre and I don't really take many pictures anymore because of it. Had a Redmi note 3 before that and found the camera fantastic so go figure..luck of the draw I guess.

My criteria and requirements are:

- Android <€500
- 1.5 days battery life in heavy enough use
- Wireless charging
- Good camera (girlfriend has a Galaxy S8 and I'd consider the camera very good)
- Smaller footprint than the Mi Max 2 (especially width)
- USB C

Currently considering a Mi mix 2s (Can get it in any thread store supposedly? Are these unlocked on purchase?) , Mi mix 3, Galaxy S9

Anything else in that range spring to mind for people?

Thanks

caff

Nokia 8.1?

micks_address

Pixel 3a if you can live without wireless charging

BazzyB

Unfortunately wireless charging is an essential for me, speced it in my new car and want to be able to use it.

GBX

Mi 9 ?

GBX

GBX wrote: »

Mi 9 ?

has all that the OP is looking for including wireless charging.

camera is rated up with s10 and p30 - better than s8. https://www.dxomark.com/

battery life 1.5 days with medium/heavy use is doable even despite smaller

3300mah battery but the snapdragon 855 is efficient due to smaller 7nm manufacturing size

got 10 to 11 hours screen on time which is very very good here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=507&v=MPu_w0-G54Q

it's 449 + 10 delivery on amazon spain (cheapest place)

https://www.amazon.es/Xiaomi-Mi-Smartphone-Qualcomm-espa%C3%B1ola/dp/B07NRK942P

BazzyB

Mi9 looks interesting alright can't believe I forgot about it. Amazon best place to buy people reckon?

BazzyB

BazzyB wrote: »

Mi9 looks interesting alright can't believe I forgot about it. Amazon best place to buy people reckon?

yes. cheaper than even the chinese sites for this particular phone for some reason.

even though it's amazon spain you will get amazon support.

it's 499 sterling on the UK site.

micks_address

BazzyB wrote: »

Unfortunately wireless charging is an essential for me, speced it in my new car and want to be able to use it.

Maybe look at a pixel 3 then. You might be able to get one cheaper that the 3a is out. Wireless charging is grand but if you use Android auto kinda pointless as I still have to connect my phone by usb to the headunit in the car.

BazzyB

Great recommendations all around here. Any opinions on the galaxy s9 or is it a bit dated these days?

rizzee

BazzyB wrote: »

Great recommendations all around here. Any opinions on the galaxy s9 or is it a bit dated these days?

Still a decent phone but you'd be doing well to get a day battery life.

bodonnell

Mi Mix 3

OldMrBrennan83

I'd stay away from miui unless you've had it before and somehow liked it. Go for the S9, with the charger in the car you'll be grand for battery, it's never about capacity when you've enough places to wirelessly charge.

biebiebie

Liking MIUI, or not, is completely subjective imho.
Personally I like all the options and the level of personalisation it offers.
I find a more stock system quite , let's say, barren, even boring .
Although Samsung phones are themselves far from stock anyhow.
But like I say horses for courses.

BazzyB

Big MIUI fan here always liked it's layout, like a hybrid of Android and iOS. Guess I'll just need to decide now and pull the trigger. Torn on mi 9 or the mix 3, love the slider design. Going to rule out the s9 seeing as I'm used to very good battery life

micks_address

BazzyB wrote: »

Big MIUI fan here always liked it's layout, like a hybrid of Android and iOS. Guess I'll just need to decide now and pull the trigger. Torn on mi 9 or the mix 3, love the slider design. Going to rule out the s9 seeing as I'm used to very good battery life

Like most Android phone stick the launcher of your choice on it and it could look pretty much stock. I did find some issues with running launchers on Huawei p20 pro last year.. some crashed

OldMrBrennan83

micks_address wrote: »

Like most Android phone stick the launcher of your choice on it and it could look pretty much stock. I did find some issues with running launchers on Huawei p20 pro last year.. some crashed

Huawei were very fussy about launchers at one stage, not sure if they ever pulled back a bit on it.

TitianGerm

What about the new One Plus 7? They are announcing two versions this time so the non pro will be less than €500. Launch event on the 14th

rizzee

TitianGerm wrote: »

What about the new One Plus 7? They are announcing two versions this time so the non pro will be less than €500. Launch event on the 14th

Absolutely not a hope it will be less than 500. The pro will be 850. Won't have wireless charging anyway

traco

Ok - In a similar situation, made complete mush out of my iPhone 7+ Thursday evening and its been pronounced DOA today as the mother board is cracked in two.

So I'm making the change to android and the Mi9 is interesting but I am wondering if it's worth the extra over the Pocofone F1. The Mrs has the Mi A1 and its great. Camera could be better but she seems fine with it. It will be used for business so I'm thinking I need 128GB as I can end up with a lot of pics and work vids but would I get away with google photos and 64GB?

I'm in two minds about NFC, never really liked using Apple pay but I think I might be able to top up the kids leap cards with the NFC on android - is that correct as that would be handy???

I should be able to get it for sub 470/480 on honor buy for the 6/128, is that the best bang for my buck out there today?

Mezcita

traco wrote: »

Ok - In a similar situation, made complete mush out of my iPhone 7+ Thursday evening and its been pronounced DOA today as the mother board is cracked in two.

So I'm making the change to android and the Mi9 is interesting but I am wondering if it's worth the extra over the Pocofone F1. The Mrs has the Mi A1 and its great. Camera could be better but she seems fine with it. It will be used for business so I'm thinking I need 128GB as I can end up with a lot of pics and work vids but would I get away with google photos and 64GB?

I'm in two minds about NFC, never really liked using Apple pay but I think I might be able to top up the kids leap cards with the NFC on android - is that correct as that would be handy???

I should be able to get it for sub 470/480 on honor buy for the 6/128, is that the best bang for my buck out there today?

Worth keeping an eye on prices here. Factor in potential customs charges if you go the Chinese route though.

https://www.kimovil.com/en/where-to-buy-xiaomi-mi-9-global

biebiebie

Yes you can top-up Leapcard using the NFC. Very handy and I miss not having it tbh. Next phone I'll be looking to get NFC back.

biebiebie

Yes you can top-up Leapcard using the NFC. Very handy and I miss not having it tbh. Next phone I'll be looking to get NFC back.

mx5ire

I have a Galaxy S9 Plus as my work phone, can pick them up on Eglobal for either side of 500 euro, depending on memory spec, 64, 128 etc. Landed here with no issues on tax etc. Great value for what you are getting, considering all top end phones are now getting consistently more expensive, e.g the latest One Plus prices are getting silly.

Thoroughly recommend it, quite superb screen and resolution, and the 6.2 inch size is great. Its very quick, great camera (all my Samsungs have been great on the camera side), battery life is good, i don't charge it every day, easily get a couple of days out of it, but it does spend a good portion of the time on standby, it has a headphone jack, and wireless charging, and its a dual sim model.

Yes, there is the usual Samsung bloatware, but to be honest it doesn't get in the way, its no worse than other manufacturers content, the phone is really really fast, and the interface just works, end of. I need something that is consistent and reliable for work, Samsung S models have always been just that. I am constantly changing the personal phone, Nokia, Xiaomi etc, and they are all genuinely good, but i just always use the sammys for work.