First Mobile Phone Purchase - Help Please!!!!

fiveinourhouse_2

Hi My husband and I are a bit lost. Our eldest son turns twelve in a few weeks time. He is desperate to have a mobile phone for his birthday, as apparently he is the only one in the whole universe that doesn't yet have one.

We don't know where to start as we haven't much experience with mobile phones, at all.

He would like it to be a touch screen phone which also has bluetooth.

Please could someone explain what bluetooth is?

Ideally it would cost under £100 and I would like a pay as you go deal.

I think that O2 is a good network but not sure.

Any advice please, for a confused mum.

Thanks

kremmen

I am afraid the choices are great. Bluetooth is a way for information to be sent to and from devices without having to use the networks ( O2,T mobile ect).

If you get a P A Y G you will usually have to pay full price and can limit the amount spent by the amount you top up the phone.

Good networks differ in each area but I would try and remember that various networks piggyback the larger networks ( ASDA , Tesco GIF GAF )

I personally use Tesco which is on the O2 network.

If you shop with Tesco you sometimes see that they sometimes allow you to double up your clubcard vouchers to buy a phone.

Eg... http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.211-0226.aspx

Paul

Ps I have just seen that they have some "capped deals"

PPS..It doesnt matter what you buy it will never be as good "as the one my friend has"..:rotfl:

grumbler

Just to clarify...

kremmen wrote: »

Bluetooth is a way for information to be sent to and from devices without having to use the networks

It's a very short-range connection, just a few meters (other phones, PCs, wireless headsets,...)

Good networks differ in each area but I would try and remember that various networks piggyback the larger networks ( ASDA , Tesco GIF GAF )

Tesco Mobile, Giffgaff, ...

Giffgaff is O2 too and their £10 'goodybag' (PAYG in fact) is a good option for a teenager if he has an internet-enabled phone.

TwelveStopsThenHome

Try the Samsung monte. It is quite affordable, has bluetooth, internet and Facebook.
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/samsung-monte-gt-s5620-685357/review

ridethelightning

My recommendation would be an Orange sanFrancisco with Giffgaff. I bought one for my girlfriend and it is a great budget phone, cost £100, the deals on it keep changing but worth looking for. It does need a little work, you need to unlock it and flash a new rom to get the full benefit but doing both are free and there are many simple to follow guides online, takes maybe 30 mins to get set up and the guides are literally step by step, you cannot go wrong!

flashg67

Whatever you get, is there any way you can involve your son in the decison making - I assume he won't be expecting the latest iphone, but at that age, if you get something that's really 'uncool', he won't use it. Sad as it is, peer pressure seems more prevalent now than when I was at school!

Perhaps show him some options within your budget to get some idea of what he likes the look of? The probelm is, there is a bewildering choice (most will have Bluetooth anyway), and the network you use isn't that critical, unless you're in a remote area, then it's best to check coverage.

fiveinourhouse_2

Thanks for all your helpful replies. It really is a minefield out there.

I have tried to involve my son in choosing but he has asked us to surprise him, so it looks as if it falls on mums shoulders again.

Out of all of our children he is the most easily pleased and isn't too influenced by pear pressure, yet anyway.
I want to bless him with as good a phone as we can manage without being unwise, seeing as he is such a good boy.

I looked at the Samsung phone in the above post. It would take us to our maximum price wise and he has asked us to put some credit on it to enable him to use it on his birthday. I also wasn't too sure about the reviews that it gets they don't seem to be all that good.

I will keep looking though at least now I have some ideas to help. Thanks

grumbler

fiveinourhouse wrote: »

...

I looked at the Samsung phone in the above post. It would take us to our maximum price wise and he has asked us to put some credit on it to enable him to use it on his birthday. I also wasn't too sure about the reviews that it gets they don't seem to be all that good.

If your son is at least a little 'techie', I think Orange San Francisco suggested above is a better value for the same or even smaller money:
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=3117&idPhone2=3391

It is Android with almost unlimited flexibility. Can be easily unlocked and used on any network, including giffgaff where unlimited internet is available for £10 on safe PAYG.

Stuart_W

A cheaper phone that might be one to consider first could be the Lisbon from Orange, currently half price at £30 at Argos - but with £60 of credit included - £10 credit will be added every month for 6 months! If you are willing to be adding £10 per month for his phone, this actually makes this phone free (or, £30 less than free in fact).

Then, after 6 months, if this phone is in fact too simple, move on to a "better" one, without this one having cost anything, just the top up cost (well, £30 less than the top up cost).

Probably won't remain in stock long:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5185779/Trail/searchtext%3EORANGE+%C2%A360.htm

fiveinourhouse_2

Thanks Stuart W I really like the phone deal posted in your link. Cant seem to get one through argos though as they have all sold out in my local and not so local stores - evidently a very good deal. I will keep trying though. TA