best mid range phones and deals at moment?

BigDebtBoy

So my contract (24 month) is up next month and my upgrade day was today, I got a call from carphone warehouse earlier trying to offer me a deal, little bit pushy ''this is a great phone we can offer best deal you will get blah blah'' said I wanted to research the phones myself first before committing to anything just yet
(he offered something like a samsung galaxy fame or ace 2/3 with an xbox for £21)

anyway I want to keep close to my current contract amount of £16 p/m (500 mins/texts and unlimited internet) phone was a samsung galaxy ace 1 (which was crap) probably go up to about £20/22 max

Would be interested in a deal with a xbox/tv/ps3 etc even though I am guessing they build the price in to the contract somehow, but I could do with a new tv/xbox/tablet/laptop anyway and buying outright isn't an option at moment.

so what phones around this range are best ?
Am i best upgrading or going with a new contract ?
what deals are decent at the moment etc ?

any advice appreciated

grumbler

As buying outright isn't an option and you don't really need "xbox/tv/ps3", then just keep leaving without them. Nothing is 'free' and all 'free' gifts normally add much more to the total amount you pay than they really cost.

IMO, a new contract via an independet company like CPW, p4u etc. or upgrading via them is usually better than upgrading via your network, especially after taking quidco/TCB into account.

For the best deals check omio .com and moneysupermarket.

MillicentBystander

If you see the light and scrap that restrictive, interminable contract a good example of a mid range phone at a budget price is the Motorola G at £120-ish. Buy it outright and pair it with one of the huge number of superb value 30 day SIM deals (starting at nowt, incidentally) and I don't think you will look back, personally.

Dreamnine

Motorola Moto G next to Sony Xperia SP. Note the poor screen of the Sony (which was more than twice the price).

Apart from the Sony's being 4G the Motorola is better in every metric that I care about, battery life, screen quality, stock android etc.

MillicentBystander

The Moto G is currently the best value smartphone out there imo. For instance, the screen on the Moto G is not only bigger than on the iphone 5C but also has more PPI. I should point out at this stage that the 16GB Moto is over £300 cheaper than the equivalent iPhone 5C. Crazy.

BigDebtBoy

cheers for the advice so far guys

couple of things is the moto a normal sized phone? ive seen a few with these great big things and 1 they look stupid and 2 where the hell would you out the thing? its hardly ''mobile''

think I will stick to contract as I need to build up my credit rating from bankruptcy with my business 5/6 years ago

what are the ace 3, s3/4 mini like and all the others that are in CW and the likes ?

grumbler

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=3724&idPhone2=5831

BigDebtBoy

grumbler wrote: »

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=3724&idPhone2=5831

cheers mate, is that not the original galaxy ace though? thats what I had 2 years ago and it was rubbish, the new one is supposed to be much better I think

MillicentBystander

BigDebtBoy wrote: »

cheers mate, is that not the original galaxy ace though? thats what I had 2 years ago and it was rubbish, the new one is supposed to be much better I think

This is the new one in comparison to the Moto G (the Sammy is approx £100 more expensive than the Moto G, incredibly)

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=5479&idPhone2=5831

Cisco001

But the problem is moto G don't has micro SD slot. £130 8GB version may not be enough...

Dreamnine

Cisco001 wrote: »

But the problem is moto G don't has micro SD slot. £130 8GB version may not be enough...

That would be a dealbreaker for some...wait 'til the 16GB version is released.

For me it's not an issue as I see microSD expansion as pointless on a phone - I don't even have a card in my Xperia SP, I don't play games or watch movies on a 4.5" device, and all my music is streamed via Google Play Music All Access.

With all my apps installed, the Moto G reports 4Gb free.