'Droid On A Budget! Alcatel OT-983 1GHz Android PAYG Phone, £39.99 At O2 Shop

LouLou

I don't use Cashback sillygoose, so I'm not aware of any offers; I appreciate you pointing those out for other MSErs. Still a bargain even with an extra tenner on top. I'm a GiffGaffer myself

I'd also say, after using the Alcatel for a few weeks when my phone got pinched: that if you are an app-fiend that it's absolutely necessary to root and move apps to the SD card, as internal memory is hardly generous.

Couldn't find a Vodafone option for the Alcatel OT-983 but I might be wrong.

sillygoose

LouLou wrote: »

I don't use Cashback sillygoose, so I'm not aware of any offers; I appreciate you pointing those out for other MSErs. Still a bargain even with an extra tenner on top. I'm a GiffGaffer myself

I'd also say, after using the Alcatel for a few weeks when my phone got pinched: that if you are an app-fiend that it's absolutely necessary to root and move apps to the SD card, as internal memory is hardly generous.

Couldn't find a Vodafone option for the Alcatel OT-983 but I might be wrong.

Its worth doing cashback LouLou, Topcashback is free to sign up and if its something your going to buy anyway a few quid for nothing more than clicking through.

I know what you mean about app space, same problem with our San Francisco, APP2SD from the market can be a big help but it works best with rooted phones although its still useful if not.

Sorry for confusion, what I meant mentioning Vodaphone is Topcashback does not specifically list any cashback for buying a PAYG phone, but someone recently reported on here they still got money back buying a PAYG on the Voda site, so its always worth going via the cashback site for any of the other online shops that do sell the Alcatel, just in case they pay out, otherwise no harm done.

tyllwyd

We bought one of these phones a few weeks back and I've been pleasantly surprised by it. It is neat looking, the touchscreen works OK, it isn't lightning fast but works nicely. Downloads from the Google Play store take a minute or two to arrive, but after that, no problem. The screen is quite small, but we knew that when we bought it.

The downsides - the camera is pretty rubbish. Also, I didn't realise that you need a more powerful phone to play some popular games, so we weren't able to get Temple Run, which was disappointing. Simple games like Jetpack Joyride seem fine though.

Overall, it would be fine as a cheap phone for a younger teen, who wanted to be able to text and play some games.

LouLou

Just an extra: You can add Adobe Flash to Mozilla Firefox (mobile version, of course) as an add-on. http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/google-android/3​417930/how-get-flash-in-android-jelly-bean/

I didn't realise this as I hated the Android version of Mozilla Firefox (on mobiles, anyway) and have stuck with Maxthon Browser on my Androids.

Also, there's some more budget-y droids out there now: the Huawei Y300 (released today at CPW (around £59.95 PAYG Upgrade), which I did a thread about) and the Huawei U8850 Vision (£39.95 PAYG Upgrade, Phones4U, which is slightly cheaper. Both well-regarded phones, so far, anyway).

All discussed at length on HUKD: http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/huawei-ascend-y300-released-tomorrow-6th-june-carphone-warehouse-59-95-payg-upgrade-1572075

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/39-95-payg-12-months-free-wifi-huawei-vision-u8850-3-7-screen-1-ghz-scorpion-cpu-1568962

finrod

http://www.gsmarc.com/alcatel/one-touch-t-pop/compare/ot-983/

Most striking difference ie the limited memory (already a bit tight on the 983), but maybe a better deal than the ot-903. It also comes unlocked.

ZhugeEX

finrod wrote: »

http://www.gsmarc.com/alcatel/one-touch-t-pop/compare/ot-983/

Most striking difference ie the limited memory (already a bit tight on the 983), but maybe a better deal than the ot-903. It also comes unlocked.

Not a better deal unfortunately. The limited RAM and ROM are big killers on an already low end smartphone.

finrod

Thanks for the reply. Please note I was comparing the price deal with the OT-903, not the OT-983. But I can see that giving the website comparison with the OT-983 was confusing.

http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_ot_903-4845.php

On reflection, I think the description as a near-clone (of the OT-903) wasn't great. Maybe an amnesiac look-alike? ;-)