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Emergency replacement phone required!

  • 29-04-2025 08:51PM
    #1
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,394 ✭✭✭


    This phone below has served me well for 4 years, good value. But the battery connection is reported faulty and it won't retain a charge!

    image.png

    ^^ Amazon.de above! Note had to edit the post did not cover ending digits of card!

    So on the lookout for a cheap emergency phone. Would the local post office be a good option.

    Saw this:- https://www.anpost.com/Shop/Mobile/Samsung-Galaxy-A05s-64GB-4G-Black

    The irony is I need an active working phone to confirm payment with AIB app to order online. I might be able to activate the app on my chromebook for it. But would prefer a temporary low cost phone to tie me over, until i find out what I want to order online.

    Hoping the local post office has over the counter phones in the morning!

    ⓘ "At some point something inside me just clicked and I realized that I didn't have to deal with anyone's bullshit ever again."
    » “mundus sine caesaribus” «



«1

Comments

  • #2
    bbbbb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 732 ✭✭✭bbbbb


    get a used one from adverts? depending your location could be the quickest, and can pay cash.



  • #3
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,187 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    GDY151


    Tesco have the A05 for €150 with a Clubcard, most branches stock phones…

    https://www.tescomobile.ie/phone-details/591/Samsung-Galaxy-A05s?prepay=1

    They also have Redmi A3 for €70 or Redmi 14C for €100, I'd be inclined to go with one of them rather than the Samsung if it's just a temporary phone you are after.



  • #4
    greasepalm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,973 ✭✭✭greasepalm


    Check that Redmi model will run security updates as i think mine was a 10 and would not be covered and had to get a BOI device to use instead of my phone to log in with codes.



  • #5
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,394 ✭✭✭corkie


    Call me stupid but forgot I had a Redmi Note 3 in by room, used as an alarm and chromecast remote.

    I can send & receive text messages with it, but not make or accept calls.

    This advice from reddit didn't help and nearly lost me the text messages.

    Is the phone not compatible with the network three sim anymore?

    Edit: - Change the network type from LTE to LTE/TDSCDMA/GSM or some other settings I was trying actually got it to work!

    Running an AospExtended rom from 2019.

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123402658#Comment_123402658

    Thanks for the advice, but a friend is also in need of new phone, so picking something I can pass on when I purchase a more permanent phone.

    ⓘ "At some point something inside me just clicked and I realized that I didn't have to deal with anyone's bullshit ever again."
    » “mundus sine caesaribus” «



  • #6
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,394 ✭✭✭corkie


    @Atlantic Dawn Don't have a clubcard and they don't seem to have 'Sim Free' options on the site?

    Without the clubcard price would be €179.99.

    Edit: -

    Just signed up for clubcard, wondering if you buy the phone would it be sim locked to tesco?

    Post edited by corkie on

    ⓘ "At some point something inside me just clicked and I realized that I didn't have to deal with anyone's bullshit ever again."
    » “mundus sine caesaribus” «



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  • #7
    thesandeman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,130 ✭✭✭✭thesandeman


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123402866#Comment_123402866

    My Redmi from Tesco was unlocked.

    BUT!!!!

    It will come with the Tesco SIM already in it. MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE IT and insert your Three (or whoever) SIM before you power the phone on as it's likely it will lock itself to the first provider's SIM it reads.



  • #8
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,394 ✭✭✭corkie


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123402996#Comment_123402996

    Looks like it is dual SIM phone, so it will probably be unlocked. I will try the local post office first, not saving much by going further away to Tesco's !

    https://www.samsung.com/ie/smartphones/galaxy-a/galaxy-a05s-black-64gb-sm-a057gzkueub/

    ⓘ "At some point something inside me just clicked and I realized that I didn't have to deal with anyone's bullshit ever again."
    » “mundus sine caesaribus” «



  • #9
    AnRothar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 662 ✭✭✭AnRothar


    currys, did or Harvey Norman usually have unlocked phones



  • #10
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,394 ✭✭✭corkie


    Thanks for the suggestion @AnRothar checked the currys and HN website last night didn't see anything suitable or affordable.

    Tried the local Post office this morning, doesn't keep phones in stock, check GPO or order online.

    I will head to wilton this evening and try tesco or other phone shops in there.

    ⓘ "At some point something inside me just clicked and I realized that I didn't have to deal with anyone's bullshit ever again."
    » “mundus sine caesaribus” «



  • #11
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,394 ✭✭✭corkie


    Edit scratch the above found the phone I was looking at on AnPost and Tesco in Harvey Norman, cheaper and verified in stock:-

    https://www.harveynorman.ie/mobile-phones/sim-free-phones/samsung-galaxy-a05s-64gb-4g-black.html

    Order it online and it already ready for collection in store!

    image.png
    Post edited by corkie on

    ⓘ "At some point something inside me just clicked and I realized that I didn't have to deal with anyone's bullshit ever again."
    » “mundus sine caesaribus” «



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  • #12
    greasepalm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,973 ✭✭✭greasepalm


    I was going to add the CEX shop do phones.



  • #13
    siddhanth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11 ✭siddhanth


    In my exp CEX has been good wrt 2nd hand phones



  • #14
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,394 ✭✭✭corkie


    I made the mistake of not ordering a case with the phone order!

    Picked up a compatible while in store, and thought I was been fleeced with the price of it. They need to make money back from the discounted phone?

    I paid €25 for it but it is the same price on maker's site.

    https://www.otterbox.ie/en-ie/galaxy-a05s-case-black/77-94117.html ~ < https://www.otterbox.ie/
    ^^ Good brand!

    I know I could have ordered cheaper cases elsewhere, or pickup in phone accessories shop.

    New phone charging now. Yet to turn it on.

    Luckily my faulty phone resolved itself, so will be able to transfer apps, etc of it!

    Edit: - USB C to USB C cable provided. The only method I have to charge it that way would be from a port on my laptop. I'm sorted for other cables and chargers.

    ⓘ "At some point something inside me just clicked and I realized that I didn't have to deal with anyone's bullshit ever again."
    » “mundus sine caesaribus” «



  • #15
    thereiver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,408 ✭✭✭thereiver


    Beware tesco phones there's no google play store most of the apps in the android store can't be installed. You can download apps from the web but the choice is limited but a phone on adverts.ie or 100 euro phone from an eye shop

    If you need a banking app finance it s unlikely you be able to install it on a tesco phone as there a no way to use the Google play store

    Eir have xioami phone 6.8 screen 69 euro prepay make sure and get an eir sim card if you do,nt have one now



  • #16
    GBX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,016 ✭✭✭✭GBX


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404978#Comment_123404978

    That makes no sense? Unless its a vanilla ROM, which Tesco would not be supplying. What phone had you bought that had a Play Store issue?



  • #17
    28064212
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,008 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404978#Comment_123404978

    Beware tesco phones there's no google play store

    That's absolutely not true. It's certainly possible you bought a phone in Tesco that doesn't have the Play Store, like a Huawei, but that's nothing to do with Tesco, it wouldn't have the Play Store regardless of where you bought it.

    Any phone that does have the Play Store bought from anywhere else will also have it when bought from Tesco

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  • #18
    thereiver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,408 ✭✭✭thereiver


    I would not buy a tesco phone there s plenty of cheap phones in any eir shop that have the the play store installed the only reason to buy a tesco phone is if you have a club card it might be slightly cheaper just go to an eir shop or buy a phone from adverts ie that's my advice



  • #19
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,394 ✭✭✭corkie


    It could depend on the version of the rom, if your unlucky to get a Xiaomi phone with a China version!

    https://new.c.mi.com/global/post/579852

    But there is ways and means to solve that. Gave up on their phones, when I stopped using custom roms and rooting!

    ⓘ "At some point something inside me just clicked and I realized that I didn't have to deal with anyone's bullshit ever again."
    » “mundus sine caesaribus” «



  • #20
    GBX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,016 ✭✭✭✭GBX


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123405061#Comment_123405061

    I'd be highly surprised if Tesco would be selling CN versions of Xiaomi phones though.

    @thereiver You are offering unsound advice about phones from Tesco not having the play store installed.



  • #21
    thereiver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,408 ✭✭✭thereiver


    I see no point in buying an old phone since you can get a brand new eir phone.

    screen. 6.6inch for ,69 euro I had to get a charger my old charger stopped working a few weeks ago you can plug phone into a PC USB port to check is it charging



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  • #22
    thereiver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,408 ✭✭✭thereiver


    I use my tesco phone as a mp3 player it has no radio app no play store I know there's other app stores like fdroid but I don't want to buy a data plan from tesco I used an SD card to install an music player app I looked on the tesco website it gives no info about is the play store installed it just give.s tech specs of each phone



  • #23
    thereiver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,408 ✭✭✭thereiver


    I m just saying I bought a phone years ago from.tesco that has no way of installing the play store i.m not saying you cannot buy a phone that has play store installed right now in 2025 from tesco I had no idea that it was possible to buy a new Android phone that has no option to install Google play store . Thats my experience .



  • #24
    28064212
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,008 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123405240#Comment_123405240

    The eir phone you're recommending also doesn't mention the Play Store on their website. As I said above:

    It's certainly possible you bought a phone in Tesco that doesn't have the Play Store, like a Huawei, but that's nothing to do with Tesco, it wouldn't have the Play Store regardless of where you bought it.

    Any phone that does have the Play Store bought from anywhere else will also have it when bought from Tesco

    Stop spreading nonsense

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  • #25
    thereiver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,408 ✭✭✭thereiver


    Idon't know what cn version means



  • #26
    thesandeman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,130 ✭✭✭✭thesandeman


    My Redmi 13 from Tesco had everything an Android phone should have. It even came with Android 15 with at least two more updates guaranteed.



  • #27
    thereiver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,408 ✭✭✭thereiver


    I bought 4 phones from the local eir store they all had the play store installed

    why would anyone want to buy android phone with no access to Google play store apps unless you work for the cia or fbi and want to avoid using apps that may track your location or IP address



  • #28
    thereiver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,408 ✭✭✭thereiver


    I think eir phones and sims are good value eg unlimited calls texts data for 20 euro per month with no contract



  • #29
    CoffeeImpala
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 363 ✭✭CoffeeImpala


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123405397#Comment_123405397

    I suspect that if you had no access to Google Play then it wasn't an Android phone that you bought. More than likely you bought a Huawei with HarmonyOS.



  • #30
    CoffeeImpala
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 363 ✭✭CoffeeImpala


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123405460#Comment_123405460

    Eir are just a retailer of phones not a manufacturer. Do you have a particular brand/model of phone you'd like to recommend?



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  • #31
    Tork
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,617 ✭✭✭Tork


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123405240#Comment_123405240

    Can you share a photo of this phone? I'm intrigued.



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