Smartphone or other device (clueless!)

ripplyuk

DCFC79 wrote: »

As there is no 4G in the area then is there much point in buying a phone that's capable of being on 4G.

That's really what I'm confused about. I've no idea. I guess I was thinking that it would still work for making phone calls, taking photos and storing some music, and then I could use wifi at home to upload photos to snapfish.

DCFC79

ripplyuk wrote: »

That's really what I'm confused about. I've no idea. I guess I was thinking that it would still work for making phone calls, taking photos and storing some music, and then I could use wifi at home to upload photos to snapfish.

For example, my previous contract was with Tesco mobile (couldn't fault them) and when I wasn't in a 4G area my phone would revert to using 3G when I turned mobile data on.

kwikbreaks

All phones that work on 4G will gracefully downgrade to 3G down through Edge and then to GSM (2G) depending on what is available. The trouble is unless you have the patience of Job anything slower than 3G is going to be tedious in the extreme. If there isn't at least some 3G in an area or some free WiFi hotspots there isn't a great deal of point in having a smartphone - especially with a tablet back home where there is WiFi.

Anne_Marie_2

kwikbreaks wrote: »

All phones that work on 4G will gracefully downgrade to 3G down through Edge and then to GSM (2G) depending on what is available. The trouble is unless you have the patience of Job anything slower than 3G is going to be tedious in the extreme. If there isn't at least some 3G in an area or some free WiFi hotspots there isn't a great deal of point in having a smartphone - especially with a tablet back home where there is WiFi.

A smartphone is handy though for taking photographs, and having music on to listen to when out and about, and easier to carry around than a tablet. I just use wifi on my phone, and have data switched off.

ripplyuk

It feels like it's either or smartphone, or else I'll have to buy a phone with a camera, an iPod or something, and keep using my Tomtom (which I always seem to forget when I'm going out). I know a smartphone could do all those things and I'll only have to remember to charge up one device.

I've discovered that the 3 network's coverage checker says it has 3G where I live. Though, O2 also say that and it doesn't even work for a basic phone call, so I can't be sure.

It's a pity there's not a way to 'try before you buy' because I've heard smartphones get a worse general phone reception than basic phones, which is by far the most important thing to me.

I_have_spoken

I feel a smartphone isn't for you.

DCFC79

ripplyuk wrote: »

It's a pity there's not a way to 'try before you buy' because I've heard smartphones get a worse general phone reception than basic phones, which is by far the most important thing to me.

There is a way, you would need a sim free phone to do this though you get a payg sim from Three and top it up with say £5 and you use the top up for a call, mobile data to see what the coverage is like. If your phone isn't sim free then either do as below or just carry on as you are.

Or do you know anyone who is local to you who is on another network other than Vodafone.

artyclarty

DCFC79 wrote: »

There is a way, you would need a sim free phone to do this though you get a payg sim from Three and top it up with say £5 and you use the top up for a call, mobile data to see what the coverage is like.

The only problem would be is that an 8 year old nokia is likely to be 2g only and therefore would not work with a three sim. You would have to buy a new (3g capable) phone to test the new sim card!