PAYG vs Contract for Smartphone

alexlyne

Hi All

I'm looking at upgrading my old cheap payg phone. I am thinking of possible upgrading to a flashy device that I can also use as a replacement to my mp3 player, so I don't have to carry both around with me.
I have never had a contract phone, never paid more than £40 for a payg phone. I currently use an ASDA sim as I don't call/text that much (would text more, but the buttons on my current phone are way too small, so I cba). I don't want to spend more than £200 on a payg (preferably sim-free/unlocked).
Features on phones I like:
Media player, with 3.5mm headphone socket
GPS, for satnav car/foot
wifi - for internet whilst at home or in free hotspot areas
Touchscreen is not a must-have, but if it is then it should be responsive.
Decent memory or a socket for additional memory.

Over the last couple of days, the Nokia 5800 caught my attention, £190 sim-free. It has wi-fi, gps, and a 8gb micro sd slot with it.
Now I thought, that's not too bad.. I'd make good use of it, and hopefully it'll last 2 years.
I then looked at the Nokia X6... which has integrated memory (16gb) and better touchscreen. Unfortunately it is £300 sim-free.

Out of curiosity, I plugged the X6 into the O2 website, and it gave me the option of having 50mins/unlim.texts on 24 month contract for £50 + £10pm. This is a 2year outlay of £290... cheaper than a sim-free phone.

Now, this sounds ideal for me, I can spread the cost of a better phone out over 2 years. If I factor in what I would have spent on a payg phone, then this is an extra £90, or £4 per month which covers the calls and texts.

Now my questions are:
1. O2 shop directly linked the X6 to the 'standard 18/24 month tariffs'. I would have thought they would link to the 'Smartphone tariffs'. Have I missed something?

2. Assuming I can get the above deal, I am a bit worried about data charges (assuming I occasionally use it for A-GPS or email checking away from home). The website states that there is a £1 per day maximum charge for using GPRS (is this like 3G, is 3G included?), and any lesser amount of data is charged pro-rata. I cannot see anywhere what the actual data price per MB is... so I don't know If I check my email if it's going to cost 5p per pop, or 50p, or even £1. This worries me, as paying £1 is a bit steep to check emails (compared to ASDAs 20p/MB).

3. While I'm here, I'm sure it is on their website, but do MMS get included in the standard texts?

Any answers that help are greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Alex

Chimpofdoom

Well from reading what you've said... here's where I can add my 1 pence worth...

Firstly, I find the thought of a 2 year contract really unattractive and bad value for money, I would look for an 18 month one if anything, using the X6 as my search template (as from what i've read the 5800 isn't so good).

Phones4U (using moneysupermarket.com for comparison) have the X6 with Vodafone:

• £150 cashback by multiple redemptions
• 300 minutes and unlimited texts per month
• Average line rental after cash back equivalent to: £21.67
• Total contract cost over 18 months: £390.00
• Free Handset

(it's £30pcm before cashback, after it's 21.67, you'll need to check up on the details of that though) and it's an 18month contract instead of 24!

To be fair, with a smartphone you always want to get "unlimited" data added onto that plan, o2 do it as a bolt on, as I'm sure most providers do!

In regards to MMS, o2 no longer include MMS as part of the inclusive Text's, I think it's 20p per MMS (don't quote me on price, but I know it changed).

Hope that helps!

Chimp.

Edit: Also if O2 are a must (due to coverage) then...

X6

• 100 minutes and unlimited texts per month
• Average line rental after cash back equivalent to: £20.00
• Total contract cost over 18 months: £360.00
• Free Handset

alexlyne

Thanks Chimp. O2 isn't a must, my initial searches found that they were generally the best (and they do a package for £15 per month too, which lowers overall ownership further). Data boltons are available, but that's taking me into the £25 per month+ range, which I am not prepared to pay. If other providers can do better then that's great (I checked orange, they were pricey).

alexlyne

Further research... lots of 3rd party phone shops offering better contracts. But, they are all typically getting bad reviews, and I feel I'd get better (relatively, i hasten to add) service from the network direct? My primary concern is if/when the phone becomes faulty within warranty period.

Stompa

Had you considered the Nokia 5230?

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mobiles/mobile-phones/NOKIA-5230/PPAY

alexlyne

I did look at the 5230... but it has no wifi - I thought this would be good as I can watch iplayer in bed if I want. Then the 5530 has the wifi, but no gps. So then it's the 5800, which has been superceeded by the X6 (also on initial searching I found that while the 5800 is £100 cheaper than the x6 on payg, the contract costs were the same - on o2 at least - so I got to thinking the x6 is a better deal).

I have seen on T-Mob website that I can get the X6 for £128 plus £10pm (24m), and this can include 'unlimited' internet access. This is tempting, still around £360 total contract cost.

neil40

Nokia e63 has both wifi and 3g and is around 130 pounds on payg on virgin and three.The only drawbacks are that the screen is quite small at 2.2'' and it does not have Hspda.But ive got one and love it.Im with three and usually pay a fiver a month for 1gb of internet accesss.....Neil

Stompa

alexlyne wrote: »

I did look at the 5230... but it has no wifi

Fair enough, that wasn't on your list of requirements!

alexlyne

Stompa wrote: »

Fair enough, that wasn't on your list of requirements!

Duly noted sir, and updated. I still appreciated your input.