Where to find phone battery Samsung Mini

twopenny

Seems the battery has gone because it was left in a drawer unused for a year. It just won't charge and a phone shop squeezed it and knocked it on the table and said it was a gonner.

I'm stuck with searches and can't access the exact model without it switches on   and not sure which bit's of numbers and letters to use to ensure the correct one.

Also there are so many sellers and prices online.

What I know is it's a Samsung Galaxy Mini - this is a researched guess but it could be the S3Mini gt18190. I'll take it to another dealer to test the battery properly and hope he can identify it.

He's already warned me that it will be costing extra for aquiring the battery and 'labour' so around £20 or more. But if I can buy one it's easy to put in.

So the question - where would be a good site to use please? Don't use Ebay (yet) but do Amazon. Beyond that it's a mystery.

elsien

Is it still supported? Your new battery is not going to be a lot of use if half the apps don’t work anymore.

twopenny

Good point Elsien. I've had a quick look and there are ways but not all will work.

I just wanted it for the star identification and bird identification apps so maybe I'll have to look into that even if I buy another phone.

But it would make sense to use this small light one that I have and it's 4g LTE so I was hoping it would work fine. As you can see I lack 100% understanding but it seems the Android whatever will only allow some apps to be downloaded.

That's a whole other question I think

Emmia

twopenny said:

Good point Elsien. I've had a quick look and there are ways but not all will work.

I just wanted it for the star identification and bird identification apps so maybe I'll have to look into that even if I buy another phone.

But it would make sense to use this small light one that I have and it's 4g LTE so I was hoping it would work fine. As you can see I lack 100% understanding but it seems the Android whatever will only allow some apps to be downloaded.

That's a whole other question I think

The issue with the apps has nothing to do with 4G, it will depend on what version of the Android operating system it's on. After a while the phones can't have the latest version of the operating system (they lack space and a fast enough chip) and that's why apps increasingly stop working. 

I would look at getting a replacement phone, rather than trying to replace the battery in this one.

Edit: the S3 mini was originally released in November 2012 - so hasn't had security updates for the best part of a decade, and will be well out of date in terms of the chip/memory.

elsien

Yes, if you look on play store or whatever you get your apps from it should tell you what version of the android operating system is needed.

That’s why I had to replace my Samsung galaxy tablet, even though the battery etc was going strong. I just couldn’t get the apps I wanted to work any more because it wouldn’t allow me to upgrade to the latest operating system.
Built in obsolescence. 

twopenny

Getting a new phone for 2 apps to play with is not a goer. I need it for nothing else and need a new car, new laptop and new tablet! Somethings got to give.

I'll make some enquiries as you can bypass and download another operating system though that is beyond me I'll see if I have access to someone tech savey before I give it to the local recycling. They take old phone and redo them to pass to those in need.

But thanks for letting me know that it's not just a case of a battery. Shame. It will also make me aware of something I didn't know when looking for another second hand phone.

I found a shop with the Samsung J series for £100 brand new and boxed. But it seems that it uses Android 4.4. 4 "KitKat and that is not going to be supported

Emmia

twopenny said:

Getting a new phone for 2 apps to play with is not a goer. I need it for nothing else and need a new car, new laptop and new tablet! Somethings got to give.

I'll make some enquiries as you can bypass and download another operating system though that is beyond me I'll see if I have access to someone tech savey before I give it to the local recycling. They take old phone and redo them to pass to those in need.

But thanks for letting me know that it's not just a case of a battery. Shame. It will also make me aware of something I didn't know when looking for another second hand phone.

I found a shop with the Samsung J series for £100 brand new and boxed. But it seems that it uses Android 4.4. 4 "KitKat and that is not going to be supported

Why do you need both a laptop and a tablet? Could you buy a new/refurbished phone instead of a tablet?

I  have a phone, a laptop and a kindle. I don't really know what I'd use a tablet for, that the phone/laptop/kindle wouldn't do.

Edit: to clarify I have an e-reader kindle, not a tablet version.

HillStreetBlues

Some apps never have to be updated, so can be used on an old phone. My shopping app is from 2015 I never liked the updated onwards

Olinda99

looks on eBay and  your mini is selling for about 18 pounds.

The batteries are cheap


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175305167728?_skw=samsung+s3+mini+battery&itmmeta=01J8F178YDGQDYP864RFBHZMB8&hash=item28d1009370:g:abgAAOSwOVhgLW4f&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx+KZ9MfhVJKk3HAIwivPlDkLCy58qNHpu0lzBh937ojxqHDgbTVjDq7y59ERIwEXOgJgnlUcAo+0mo0GdVpOWgFtjdt1V947+Y31s5neyQzFT+uXNdjFTZwJKD8qIwul+3OxAPdfYG5YSLn7dmL+uofgWaRNS5/mD9crSAqnBBsrGM2poJ1XHUYNyFnWgtKFg+pK2phxvHZPM8fnLwOSKKAiThLkPvDudjBsVSu2cCTV0kIUBL9hmGP/4LP1c+Jt9ak7i/1oQIDICIeYfIxyryu32i7Y2Cyck6pSnWEpDeSiE6O476fmo0g==|tkp:BFBMoo-d4cNk

elsien

Emmia said:

twopenny said:

Getting a new phone for 2 apps to play with is not a goer. I need it for nothing else and need a new car, new laptop and new tablet! Somethings got to give.

I'll make some enquiries as you can bypass and download another operating system though that is beyond me I'll see if I have access to someone tech savey before I give it to the local recycling. They take old phone and redo them to pass to those in need.

But thanks for letting me know that it's not just a case of a battery. Shame. It will also make me aware of something I didn't know when looking for another second hand phone.

I found a shop with the Samsung J series for £100 brand new and boxed. But it seems that it uses Android 4.4. 4 "KitKat and that is not going to be supported

Why do you need both a laptop and a tablet? Could you buy a new/refurbished phone instead of a tablet?

I  have a phone, a laptop and a kindle. I don't really know what I'd use a tablet for, that the phone/laptop/kindle wouldn't do.

A kindle is a tablet? Unless you just have an ereader one. 

twopenny

I rarely need a phone. It's more for emergencies so small and light one I have is just fine - as I also carry a real camera (not negotiable) so watching the weight.

But a little phone would work with that with just some identification apps. It's pocketable.

My kindle is old and does what's needed for all things but won't load MSE forums since the last upgrade.

Laptop is state of the art which I use for photos and research but it's 15yrs old and I worry about loosing stuff if it just gives up.

My problem is that although I am tech savey in some ways I no longer know the ins and outs of what is needed to look for with new technology and the amount of time I'm struggling with trying to work it out. Think I've solved something then I haven't.

Will pop to the phone shop and see what they say.

I guess I could live without the apps and MSE at hand. I just wanted some new toys to play with