Can anyone offer any recommendations for budget smart phone please.....

Flat_Eric

I'd like to upgrade my mobile but as I don't want to sign up for a contract, this is limiting my choice somewhat....

I'm currently using the Iphone 3 with a tesco pay as you go sim. I'm paying £5 a month (for the text bundle). I don't make many calls and I have the 3G switched off.

I've got a budget of about £100. Assuming I change phones then I'll probably look to change my bundle, perhaps to include some internet time. I'd prefer to stay sim free rather than be stuck with a network....

Ideally, I want a decent camera 5 megapixels or above (if possible). I want to be able to have apps on the phone for facebook/twitter plus be able to download and play books from my audible membership. Playing candy crush too a bonus but not essential.

I get on ok with the Iphone 3 but it is frustrating that it is not possible to download any apps as the phone is now so ancient !

Pre the smart phone age, I always went for nokia phones and I'd happily stay with Nokia but to get a Nokia on a par with what I have had in the past would cost quite a few quid when I could spend a few quid extra and get a smartphone!

Welcome ideas.... Thanks

eljmayes

Nokia 520 would be my pick under 100 quid for your needs.

MillicentBystander

Huawei Y300 from carphone warehouse for £80-ish (don't buy the SIM free one for more as all the PAYG phones they sell are usually SIM free anyway and even if not it can be unlocked via ebay code for £4!). Depending on how many minutes you require, have a look at Ovivo Freedom Sim to use with it the Huawei. One-off £15 cost (which gets added to your account as a credit) and, FOR NOWT each month you get:

150 Minutes
250 texts
500mb data.

conal

Hi Flat Eric,

the carphone warehouse offers network unlocked handsets and have various models under £100 in my experience the samsung galaxy ace range are excellent value for money and should cover your outlined needs.

sdduk

OP Go for the Huawei Y300 from carphone warehouse
as MillicentBystander said
You won't get better than that for the money

I have one and its great little phone my young brother went out and got one two and he tethers of it all the time because he hasn't got any broadband internet where he lives.

Orrin

Another vote for Huawei Y300 or Nokia Lumia 520. Huawei also do a Windows Phone 8 model the W1 which you can get under £100 if you shop around.

Windows Phone arguably smoother and easier to use than Android but no Candy Crush

noelphobic

conal wrote: »

Hi Flat Eric,

the carphone warehouse offers network unlocked handsets and have various models under £100 in my experience the samsung galaxy ace range are excellent value for money and should cover your outlined needs.

I had a Samsung Galaxy Ace (the entry level model) and gave it away after less than a year. The phone's memory is TINY and it doesn't allow you to store many apps on the SD card. Mine was constantly crashing and not allowing me to send texts. I think most of the newer models have bigger memories though, and the camera on it was very good - my new mobile has a 5MB camera also but it is nowhere near as good as the Samsung. The newer models are a lot more expensive though.