Looking for Android smartphone advice

ianpwilliams

Interesting. So now I'm looking at:

Huawei G330 (pending reviews) (£180)
HTC Sensation (Amazon Warehouse) (£158)
Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 (£170)

They all seem pretty similar in specs, certainly in terms of size, screen size (4" ish), resolution, all Dual Core around 1 GHz, and all at or upgradeable to around Android 4.0, and all with plenty of internal storage.

I'm not sure why, but I am drawn by the HTC phones, despite never having handled one. Although based on what im-lost said it sounds like they are fairly rugged and heavy, which is what I like.

It sounds like they would all run Football Manager comfortably, and mp3-playing is a given, so the only question remaining would be how well the three perform when browsing the internet using 3G.

ianpwilliams

When it comes to the January sales, would I be best looking online, or in-store, or both?

The problem I can see with in-store is that all the stores tend to be network stores (e.g. T-Mobile), so obviously buying one of these phones in those stores would mean they were locked to that network. Although I doubt the HTC would be available in-store anyway, with it being last year's phone. And online deals tend to be cheaper anyway.

Then there's online. But I'm not sure what UK websites I would be looking to go to for sale-related phones.

grumbler

ianpwilliams wrote: »

Then there's online. But I'm not sure what UK websites I would be looking to go to for sale-related phones.

HUKD.
Personally, I wouldn't expect anything special in Jan, compared to other months.

infopremiere

I noted that the Samsung Galaxy Mini is now Free on Contract with the 3 network which is quite an amazing Deal. The iphone 5 is also now available free on contract which is a 500 quid plus phone .
There are great Deals to be had - Some online mobile phone specialists can help you make your own decision-i find that the shops try and sell you a particular brand as they get most commission.
The latest options on the market are available at http://www.mobilephones4u.biz/mobilecontracts.html

grumbler

infopremiere wrote: »

I noted that the Samsung Galaxy Mini is now Free on Contract with the 3 network which is quite an amazing Deal. The iphone 5 is also now available free on contract which is a 500 quid plus phone .

Don't know about Mini, but I can say that iPhone 5 is definitely not even close to being 'free'. More likely it's to be an expensive 'loan' to buy it.

The latest options on the market are available at http://www.mobilephones4u.biz/mobilecontracts.html

Auful and amateurish site IMHO.

ianpwilliams

I want to avoid phone contracts. My job is contract-based, so I want to buy a handset outright, then have a rolling contract, with the option of going PAYG later. And there would be no point going from iPod to iPhone! But HUKD seems like it could be useful for an Android.

MillicentBystander

ianpwilliams wrote: »

Interesting. So now I'm looking at:

Huawei G330 (pending reviews) (£180)
HTC Sensation (Amazon Warehouse) (£158)
Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 (£170)

They all seem pretty similar in specs, certainly in terms of size, screen size (4" ish), resolution, all Dual Core around 1 GHz, and all at or upgradeable to around Android 4.0, and all with plenty of internal storage.

I'm not sure why, but I am drawn by the HTC phones, despite never having handled one. Although based on what im-lost said it sounds like they are fairly rugged and heavy, which is what I like.

It sounds like they would all run Football Manager comfortably, and mp3-playing is a given, so the only question remaining would be how well the three perform when browsing the internet using 3G.

When it is released to other retailers, the official price of the G330 will be an incredible £99.99 SIM free but that £180 figure is what 3rd party sellers/importers are selling it for now, before it's official release.

Rusty!

im-lost wrote: »

I'd recommend something like the HTC SENSATION, slightly older phone now, but
still holds its own against newer phones.

I agree with this, they can be had dead cheap off eBay if you're patient.

My brother got his other half one for £85 and my missus picked one up for the same amount last week.

ianpwilliams

MillicentBystander wrote: »

When it is released to other retailers, the official price of the G330 will be an incredible £99.99 SIM free but that £180 figure is what 3rd party sellers/importers are selling it for now, before it's official release.

Any idea when it will be released to the other retailers? My only concern with the the G330 is it looks like it might be a bit flimsy or plasticky. But then it is cheap.

And the HTC seems to be fairly expensive everywhere at the moment. The Amazon Warehouse one is a good price, but it's not entirely clear about the mark on the front.

Tiexen

im-lost wrote: »

I'd recommend something like the HTC SENSATION, slightly older phone now, but
still holds its own against newer phones.

£158 on amazon warehouse, is a steel for a fairly high spec phone.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HTC-Sensation-Free-Mobile-Phone/dp/B004Z4SJ78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2OAJ7377F756P&qid=1356257834&s=merchant&sr=1-1

It'll do everything you want, and do it well.

The HTC interface, known as sense is also a good starting point for those new to android,
HTC also IMO have the best build quality with their phones, aluminium and rubberised
cases make them feel sturdy, when compared to say the Samsung range, which feel too plasticky to me.

I'm a fan of the HTC devices having gone from HTC desire > HTC sensation. > HTC one s. And they have all felt I credibly well built.

Lot of people don't like the battery life of that one

from a review site:

"The battery will last you a maximum of 7 hours from 100% charge - 4% Charge which tends to be when the phone becomes non functionable.

If you are using this phone with the apps the battery can often last a stupidly short time of 2 hours, this makes this product unfit for purpose and turns it in to a very non useful and not very helpful phone"

and:

"Battery Sucks, but so do all smartphones.
Occasionally decides to reboot itself. Unhelpful when in the middle of a call."