Boiled phone

bouicca21

I have need of a spare mobile phone, cheapest possible.  I thought I could resuscitate an old android phone that I have lying around but can't get them to work.  The only other old phone that I have is an iphone 5s that stopped working when it accidentally went into the washing machine for a 30 degree wash.  Obviously the battery is dead - but what are the chances it will work if I just get a new battery for it?  Or should I just buy the cheapest burner phone I can find?

DE_612183

if it's water damaged it's the circuits that are fried - the battery may be ok!

IvanOpinion

Ask around friends and family, someone is bound to have an old phone lying about. I must have a dozen or so.

chrisw

If you just want a bog standard phone there are plenty available less than £10. Argos has a couple at £2.99 and £3.99 if you can find them in stock.

Farway

chrisw said:

If you just want a bog standard phone there are plenty available less than £10. Argos has a couple at £2.99 and £3.99 if you can find them in stock.

These often require a compulsory £10 top up at same time, but still a cheap phone even wiht top up

flaneurs_lobster

Farway said:

chrisw said:

If you just want a bog standard phone there are plenty available less than £10. Argos has a couple at £2.99 and £3.99 if you can find them in stock.

These often require a compulsory £10 top up at same time, but still a cheap phone even wiht top up

The cheapest Argos phone (Vodafone Mobiwire Ayasha - £2.99) must be bought w/ £10 "Big Value Bundle"( gives you 3GB of data(!), 250 minutes and unlimited texts). Don't think data is much use in a 2G phone, but anyhoo. That lasts a month then it's buy another or top-up on Vodafone's PAYG rates, 35p/min, 20p/text. 

As you say, cheap phone, not so cheap PAYG rates. I wonder if you could get these phones unlocked and use a cheaper service?

getmore4less

Check out CEX  start at £2

Farway

flaneurs_lobster said:

Farway said:

chrisw said:

If you just want a bog standard phone there are plenty available less than £10. Argos has a couple at £2.99 and £3.99 if you can find them in stock.

These often require a compulsory £10 top up at same time, but still a cheap phone even wiht top up

The cheapest Argos phone (Vodafone Mobiwire Ayasha - £2.99) must be bought w/ £10 "Big Value Bundle"( gives you 3GB of data(!), 250 minutes and unlimited texts). Don't think data is much use in a 2G phone, but anyhoo. That lasts a month then it's buy another or top-up on Vodafone's PAYG rates, 35p/min, 20p/text. 

As you say, cheap phone, not so cheap PAYG rates. I wonder if you could get these phones unlocked and use a cheaper service?

I think all phones have to sold unlocked these days, but could be a mis memory. I suppose if locked a Voda look piggy back, such as Asda or Lebara sim could be used

GDB2222

Farway said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Farway said:

chrisw said:

If you just want a bog standard phone there are plenty available less than £10. Argos has a couple at £2.99 and £3.99 if you can find them in stock.

These often require a compulsory £10 top up at same time, but still a cheap phone even wiht top up

The cheapest Argos phone (Vodafone Mobiwire Ayasha - £2.99) must be bought w/ £10 "Big Value Bundle"( gives you 3GB of data(!), 250 minutes and unlimited texts). Don't think data is much use in a 2G phone, but anyhoo. That lasts a month then it's buy another or top-up on Vodafone's PAYG rates, 35p/min, 20p/text. 

As you say, cheap phone, not so cheap PAYG rates. I wonder if you could get these phones unlocked and use a cheaper service?

I think all phones have to sold unlocked these days, but could be a mis memory. I suppose if locked a Voda look piggy back, such as Asda or Lebara sim could be used

You appear to have remembered correctly. 

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/mobile-providers-to-be-banned-from-selling-locked-phones-ajJQR0j64OpI

bouicca21

Well that article does say selling locked phones has been banned but all the cheap phones I’ve seen in Argos and elsewhere say they are locked.