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Best cheap android phone ?
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Hi people,
Right, having shopped around and got a really good contract deal for myself on a Galaxy s2. I now have to find a replacement for my son, who seems to have caused some minor damage to his mobile, poking the stylus for it into the charging socket. That is a lesson learnt.
It was a cheapo Alcatel OT-708 (£10 on O2 PAYG when we got it), and it has lasted him well over a year before the power button has failed, which means he can't turn it off. That means he can't take it to school, as all phones have to be switched off and deposited in the head's office during the day. He takes a phone to school on the days he will be catching the bus home (15 mile trip, so prob if bus doesn't come).
Now of course, he is green with jealousy about my Galaxy S2 (which is mainly a business tool, after all), and knows he can't have anything that expensive. But he has agreed to save up, and help towards the cost of an android phone of some description. He has my old Nokia 6303 to use in the meantime - definately NOT cool so an incentive for him to save up !!.
So, what would you lot recommend? I've looked at Galaxy Y and Galaxy Mini, about 80 to 100 pounds on PAYG, 90 to 110 to buy outright. Can wer get anything cheaper than that?
Looking for either o2 PAYG (cos dad and I both on O2, so can get a call deal to us), or buy outright and use a giffgaff sim so he gets good data rate.
I know he was daft with his current phone, but he has learnt summink, and will take more care anyway if he has to pay some towards a new phone.
Your suggestions welcomed pls.
Right, having shopped around and got a really good contract deal for myself on a Galaxy s2. I now have to find a replacement for my son, who seems to have caused some minor damage to his mobile, poking the stylus for it into the charging socket. That is a lesson learnt.
It was a cheapo Alcatel OT-708 (£10 on O2 PAYG when we got it), and it has lasted him well over a year before the power button has failed, which means he can't turn it off. That means he can't take it to school, as all phones have to be switched off and deposited in the head's office during the day. He takes a phone to school on the days he will be catching the bus home (15 mile trip, so prob if bus doesn't come).
Now of course, he is green with jealousy about my Galaxy S2 (which is mainly a business tool, after all), and knows he can't have anything that expensive. But he has agreed to save up, and help towards the cost of an android phone of some description. He has my old Nokia 6303 to use in the meantime - definately NOT cool so an incentive for him to save up !!.
So, what would you lot recommend? I've looked at Galaxy Y and Galaxy Mini, about 80 to 100 pounds on PAYG, 90 to 110 to buy outright. Can wer get anything cheaper than that?
Looking for either o2 PAYG (cos dad and I both on O2, so can get a call deal to us), or buy outright and use a giffgaff sim so he gets good data rate.
I know he was daft with his current phone, but he has learnt summink, and will take more care anyway if he has to pay some towards a new phone.
Your suggestions welcomed pls.
I try not to get too stressed out on the forum. I won't argue, i'll just leave a thread if you don't like what I say. 
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Comments
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There are some cheaper androids, but with very poor specifications. Orange San Francisco is £63 at Argos.I've looked at Galaxy Y and Galaxy Mini, about 80 to 100 pounds on PAYG, 90 to 110 to buy outright. Can wer get anything cheaper than that?
However, for £100 you can by t-mobile Vivacity (or OSF 2 that is the same in a different body) that in terms of specs are better than cheap Samsungs.
Unlocking Vivacity/OSF2 is not very straightforward, but doable.Looking for either o2 PAYG (cos dad and I both on O2, so can get a call deal to us), or buy outright and use a giffgaff sim so he gets good data rate.
OSF was very easy to unlock.
Sim-free Acer Liquid Metal is £130 at expansys and is better than Vivacity/OSF2 and cheap Samsungs.0 -
Have a look here for owner reviews http://www.mobile-phones-uk.org.uk/.
My advice would be to go for Android 2.3 or above as you can put the apps on the SD card. I have an Apollo and an Optimus One and you can't, so runs out of memory.0 -
How cheap is cheap?
I've just got the EVO 3D from Asda for £230 (but £23ish cashback from TCB) and it is amazing.
I've had smartphones for the last 10+ years so I'm not easily impressed, but it's as good, if not better than, an iPhone.0 -
Original Orange San Francisco is a great phone but obviously moderately spec'ed. For £63, it's a bargain. Had mine a year and no problems so far.0
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My son is 12. I don't think it's fair on him, me or his school to provide him with a (relatively delicate) piece of kit that costs more than £200.
Personally, I'd be MOST happy if he stuck with the old nokia 6303, but we have to allow him some latitude to keep up with his peers - and we don't provide him xboxes/playstation/ds's , so I'm prepared to compromise a bit on a smartphone.I try not to get too stressed out on the forum. I won't argue, i'll just leave a thread if you don't like what I say.0 -
Original Orange San Francisco is a great phone but obviously moderately spec'ed. For £63, it's a bargain. Had mine a year and no problems so far.
Locked to Orange tho ? How easy to unlock?I try not to get too stressed out on the forum. I won't argue, i'll just leave a thread if you don't like what I say.0 -
Just wait a few weeks, the Nokia 610 will be launched. It should be announced at the WMC this week, and if what is being touted by various sources close to Nokia and Microsoft is correct, this phone will change everything (sub-£100 Nokia smartphone running Windows Phone - unbelievable on both counts!).0
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Just search the board. It was very popular about a year ago.Locked to Orange tho ? How easy to unlock?
New San Francisco Android User
San Francisco, unlocking and sims
Orange San Francisco?0 -
Got my daughter an Alcatel OT 990 from O2. Very sturdy and well made. Cost about 70 quid. And as it was O2 moved her onto giffgaff.0
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