FIRST SMARTPHONE

RumRat

jonnygee2 said:

 However, they did ask for recommendations and a mid range phone is a good recommendation.

I respectfully disagree, a £300 smartphone is overkill in my opinion. I do agree about Huawei though, but there's also the Oppo A5 at just £130, or the redmi just posted.

I don't know why you think the expensive phones offer better longetivity either? The Huawei, the expensive Samsung, and now the Oppo all have similar processors and RAM, storage and battery life, I think they will all last about the same amount of time.

Fine, we can agree to disagree, no problem. IMO £300 is not a lot for a phone, but, I do realise that the budgets of others will determine their opinions.
As for the Longevity issue, newer, mid range phones are catching up as the manufacturers realise that this is the main market they need to address, however, cheap phones, mainly built for 3rd world usage are not going to be as relevant for as long as more expensive phones and not perform as well. That said, if all you are doing is making calls and texts and a little social media, then they are fine for a lot.
Buying a phone is also dependent on usage, for instance, I use the S-pen on my Samsung Note9 a lot, I can't get that functionality on any other phone. When I replace the phone, I will have to decide whether to buy another Note (Saved up for it.. ), or move to something else. If I decide to ditch the S-pen, then I'll probably go mid range.

jonnygee2

Buying a phone is also dependent on usage, for instance, I use the S-pen on my Samsung Note9 a lot, I can't get that functionality on any other phone

Well yes, true and I'm being somewhat hypocritical given I have an iPhone. Still I think my usage is different again.

At least the OP can see the options now - from an acceptable Oppo at £130 through to a really quite pricey but very fast and swish iPhone SE. 

however, cheap phones, mainly built for 3rd world usage are not going to be as relevant for as long as more expensive phones and not perform as well.

This I don't agree with. Actually, that oppo, with the same processor as the £300 Samsung, and a lower screen resolution to run, should really run quite a bit faster than the samsung. But it will not be as nice to look at and doesn't take very good photos apparently.

If the OP were feeling particularly rich, I would actually second the iPhone SE recommendation. iPhone apps do generally have a nicer user experience, and the SE has a chip faster than any android flagship. Apple also continues its support for longer, and so it should keep for 5+ years easily. Still, though, at £420 that's really on the premium end for someone with what are likely to be basic needs.

As you say, budget is key.

ballyblack

The Huawei Smart can still be bought new from Amazon around £135. Because its last years model It has full google services.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07L5H9RTF/?coliid=I38EP7EEGXEXGM&colid=1TZ0IUVM9UVOQ&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

KxMx

I've always been happy with the lower priced Samsung phones. 
I had two android upgrades on my J3 and it came with a two year warranty. 
I'm getting a A20e soon   A relative of mine got an A10 and was very pleased with it. 

RumRat

jonnygee2 said:

Buying a phone is also dependent on usage, for instance, I use the S-pen on my Samsung Note9 a lot, I can't get that functionality on any other phone

Well yes, true and I'm being somewhat hypocritical given I have an iPhone. Still I think my usage is different again.

At least the OP can see the options now - from an acceptable Oppo at £130 through to a really quite pricey but very fast and swish iPhone SE. 

however, cheap phones, mainly built for 3rd world usage are not going to be as relevant for as long as more expensive phones and not perform as well.

This I don't agree with. Actually, that oppo, with the same processor as the £300 Samsung, and a lower screen resolution to run, should really run quite a bit faster than the samsung. But it will not be as nice to look at and doesn't take very good photos apparently.

If the OP were feeling particularly rich, I would actually second the iPhone SE recommendation. iPhone apps do generally have a nicer user experience, and the SE has a chip faster than any android flagship. Apple also continues its support for longer, and so it should keep for 5+ years easily. Still, though, at £420 that's really on the premium end for someone with what are likely to be basic needs.

As you say, budget is key.

As you observe, processor isn't everything. If the UI and camera software are not up to par then the whole phones suffers. 

getmore4less

Why does the OP need all this power, they are upgrading because place want people to use apps to pay.

They did not say what their day to day usage was if not too high £5 pm may be enough. 

Plenty of £100-£150 phones and <£10pm contracts that are more than adequate for a competent phone, high mins, text&data. 

jonnygee2

Why does the OP need all this power, they are upgrading because place want people to use apps to pay.

All what power? What posts are you referring to? Plenty of phones in the £100 - £150 have already been suggested and discussed.

RumRat

getmore4less said:

Why does the OP need all this power, they are upgrading because place want people to use apps to pay.

They did not say what their day to day usage was if not too high £5 pm may be enough. 

Plenty of £100-£150 phones and <£10pm contracts that are more than adequate for a competent phone, high mins, text&data. 

The clue is in there somewhere....If only we could find it....

eamon

Argos have cracking deals on new sim only handsets. Bear in mind the OP hasn't mentioned gaming, streaming music etc and just wants an easy to use smartphone that is cheap to run. I'm also with Virgin, out of contract and my monthly plan  is £1.05 and that gets me 300mb/month data, 300mins of talk and more than enough sms. Of course at home its wifi..

Yes its their lowest everything but I've never come close to any of the limits. Phone is Samsung Galaxy J3 2017 variant. 

mgfvvc

amstel2 said:

I am wondering though how do you get the data from the old sim on to the new smaller sim.

1. On the old phone copy contacts from SIM to phone

2. The new SIM should be a 3 in 1, with multiple cuts where you can break out the different SIM sizes. Break out the full size SIM cut first, insert into old phone, copy contacts from phone to SIM.

3. Break out the Nano SIM, insert into new phone.

3 in 1 SIM explanation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhKWKOyfQlI