Best sub-£200 mobile

50Twuncle

What is currently the best sim-free sub £200 mobile and why ?
My Samsung Galaxy S4 had an accident this morning and needs replacing........

Atasas

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/mobile-phone/20-best-chinese-phones-2016-uk-3616945/

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Best-Chinese-Android-smartphones-May-2016_id63180

and whatever you'd choose- always double check for (LTE) 4G coverage as UK networks have 800;1800;2100;2600 mhz frequencies, that differ to many IE China frequencies and coverage

50Twuncle

Atasas wrote: »

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/mobile-phone/20-best-chinese-phones-2016-uk-3616945/

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Best-Chinese-Android-smartphones-May-2016_id63180

and whatever you'd choose- always double check for (LTE) 4G coverage as UK networks have 800;1800;2100;2600 mhz frequencies, that differ to many IE China frequencies and coverage

Thanks - but why Chinese ?
I live in the UK

pappa_golf

50Twuncle wrote: »

Thanks - but why Chinese ?
I live in the UK

a lot of handsets are made for their home country , then dumped in the UK , quite often they have not got the frequencies needed for "fast" 4g in the UK on them

Atasas

50Twuncle wrote: »

Thanks - but why Chinese ?
I live in the UK

Because 99% are Chinese made, even if supplied in UK
Cutting out on middleman save alot of pennies, you gain more hardware for you £££ and these days Phones are need to be looked as disposable consumables, they'll most certainly last couple of years, by then, you'll want double the spec one. that will cost you half or third of branded ones.

If too worried about locality of branding

Then you might want to choose one of those, eBuyer normally uses 12mnth warranty under their terms.
http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Computer/cat/Smartphones,-Mobiles-&-Mobile-Broadband/subcat/Android-Phones?sort=price+ascending

50Twuncle

I am assuming that the Motorola G4 is still the best £200 handset ?

Atasas

Atasas wrote: »

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/mobile-phone/20-best-chinese-phones-2016-uk-3616945/

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Best-Chinese-Android-smartphones-May-2016_id63180

and whatever you'd choose- always double check for (LTE) 4G coverage as UK networks have 800;1800;2100;2600 mhz frequencies, that differ to many IE China frequencies and coverage

pappa_golf wrote: »

a lot of handsets are made for their home country , then dumped in the UK , quite often they have not got the frequencies needed for "fast" 4g in the UK on them

Dumped is bit harsh, as you chose, what one wants to buy.

"fast" 4G- myth!- in practical terms decent 3G (1800; 2100 mhz) provides more reliable and barely noticeable difference speed of connection to 4G, that is more relevant to which network your SIM is tied up.
Lets say using EE's 3G service I can watch film live streamed on a go, then on some shabbier network 4G- it will load, buffer, cut out and load again.
4G- is overrated for both speed and reliability as way better, than 3G

Browntoa

yes, and from John Lewis has a 2 year warranty

I am assuming that the Motorola G4 is still the best £200 handset ?

50Twuncle

Browntoa wrote: »

yes, and from John Lewis has a 2 year warranty

Thanks - it costs £159.95 with two years warranty !!
thats unbeatable

Browntoa

got one myself, biggest phone I've ever had but no regrets

Atasas

50Twuncle wrote: »

I am assuming that the Motorola G4 is still the best £200 handset ?

It is of the sort...
£130 Redmi Note 3 beats Moto-G hands down

http://www.dx.com/p/presale-xiaomi-redmi-note-3-helio-x10-mt6795-octa-core-smartphone-w-5-5-3gb-ram-32gb-rom-418893#.V_UDnpprjro

got to do research for exact model coverage etc, but 1/3 cheaper and better specked phone