Cheap 3G phone recommendation/list of, please

GTG

I only need a mobile to receive and make calls and to receive and retrieve voice mail. I also need an alarm clock and to be able to send and receive text messages. My usage for calls will be probably be under 30 mins a month and the same with text messages i.e. under 30 per month.

From my research I think I need to get a 3 (the network) SIM card on it's 3 2 1 tariff and obviously I need a SIM free (unlocked) 3G compatible phone. I know I can get a 2g mobile cheaper with shebangs rolling monthly plan for £2.25 but as I will be keeping my new phone for as long as possible it will probably work out better going with a more expensive 3G phone and the cheaper 3 2 1 tariff.

Anyone know where I can get a list of the phones I need to be looking at, most websites list SIM free mobiles but then you have to sift through each entry to find out if they are 3g compatible. If I can find a list I can try then go through it entering them in megashopbot for the best deal. Any recommendations would also be appreciated.

Thank you

kingrulzuk

GTG wrote: »

I only need a mobile to receive and make calls and to receive and retrieve voice mail. I also need an alarm clock and to be able to send and receive text messages. My usage for calls will be probably be under 30 mins a month and the same with text messages i.e. under 30 per month.

From my research I think I need to get a 3 (the network) SIM card on it's 3 2 1 tariff and obviously I need a SIM free (unlocked) 3G compatible phone. I know I can get a 2g mobile cheaper with shebangs rolling monthly plan for £2.25 but as I will be keeping my new phone for as long as possible it will probably work out better going with a more expensive 3G phone and the cheaper 3 2 1 tariff.

Anyone know where I can get a list of the phones I need to be looking at, most websites list SIM free mobiles but then you have to sift through each entry to find out if they are 3g compatible. If I can find a list I can try then go through it entering them in megashopbot for the best deal. Any recommendations would also be appreciated.

Thank you

Here cheap 3G phone: http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/phone/samsung/samsung-galaxy-y/ppayupg?&colourCode=MULTI&intcmp=PAYGUP_bb9720_221113

grumbler

Some recent threads:
Choice of handset
Phone as cheap and implistic as a Nokia 3310 but with internet access

System

In all honesty I think the best long term solution for least spent would be a Moto E. It should perform well for a few years and Motorola make excellent hardware and their recent software updates have been spot on.

[Deleted User]

GTG - Network Three offer the lowest PAYG costs as you say and I think they have a handset for around £30 but check their coverage near you before buying.

For calls, texts and voicemail you don't really need 3G as 2G will supply all that you require and generally O2 and Vodafone offer more solid coverage due to the lower frequency band that they use for transmission (900Mhz) rather than Three's 2100Mhz.

The 900Mhz band also generally gives better indoor reception as well and both Tesco Lite (O2) and Sainsbury (Vodafone) use this band and offer calls at 8p a minute and texts at 4p each.

GTG

Thanks for all the helpful replies, much appreciated!

The cheapest 3g phone I've found is actually available from 3, that's the LG Optimus L1 II. It's obviously more than adequate for my needs. As much as I would have preferred to buy quality as per Walcott's suggestion it is about £35 cheaper than the motorola E. If I had required it for lot more use then I think the Motorola would have been the better option.

With regard to warhead's helpful comments on coverage and the frequency bands. I have n't checked coverage but I live in a very built up area in the home counties so don't think that will be a problem for any of the networks.

I have narrowed down my choices to the following:

1) The 2g option - the simple and by all accounts robust SIM free Samsung E1200 at £12.29 with an Asda SIM, 8p calls and 4p text messages

2) The 3g option - LG Optimus L1 II at £49.99 with 3's 3 2 1 tariff, 3p calls and 2p text messages.

If I were to go with 1) then it would take me 16 months to break even on the extra cost of the 3g phone. After that I would be saving money as opposed to option 2). If I were to have gone with the more expensive Motorola E then the break even period would extend to 30 months.

The phone is so cheap in 1) I am tending towards that option. Any one see any flaws in that strategy?

Thanks again.

GTG

Slight change of thinking, my first option has changed in view of warhead's comments above.

1) The 2g option - the simple and by all accounts robust SIM free Samsung E1200 at £12.29 with either a Tesco Lite or Sainsburys' free SIM i.e. 8p calls and 4p text messages.

Tesco came a close second to Giff Gaff (76% to 75%) in Which magazines last annual pay monthly mobile phone providers customer survey. I believe Clubcard points are also collectable.

Sainsburys was n't surveyed but as a proxy Vodafone were in seventh place out of a list of ten. Having said that, it could mean that Vodafone's own CS are letting the side down. The network has been around a long time so it should be good. They are also offering a £5 off groceries voucher until 7th August 2014 when one tops up with £10.

Decisions, decisions.

EDIT: I've got Sky broadband, that's O2 (Tesco) I wonder if I'll get a discount