First Smartphone

Cordie

Hi I'm waiting delivery of my first smartphone (android) the only action I am certain of successfully completing is opening the box.  Any advice would be appreciated.

born_again

Which phone?

It's simple really, just follow the on screen instructions. 👍

oldernonethewiser

What do you want to do with your new phone?

There are lots of online guides & videos which will walk you through setting it up.

It may need charged and the operating system updated before you go too far.

It may have apps you don't want or need and you may want some that aren't installed on it so you will need to deal with those.

Vitor

Look at some YouTube videos for the model of mobi

flaneurs_lobster

Does the phone come with a charger? Not many do these days.

Daz2009

Do you have a Google account ?
You will need to set one up if you don't otherwise you won't be able to install any apps from the play store 

Cordie

The phone is a Samsung A16 5G.  It will need updating because I queried why the same model with other retailers was Android 14 and in John Lewis it was 13. As to what I want to do with the phone very little, it has just reached a point when you need one to function in society. I have bought the charger that was on the same online page as the phone.  I must have a Google account because I download apps onto my tablet.  I will be changing my provider which will complicate issues as at the moment I use 'pay as you go' with my old phone.  I don't really want to sign onto a long contract as it is unlikely that I will use much data so I'm thinking of going with Smarty as they offer monthly contracts.

flaneurs_lobster

Having an Android tablet will make things much easier since the interface and apps will be the same. Make sure you have the details of your Wifi login and the username/password for your Google account since these will be needed to set the phone up.

The phone will also ask if you want to set up a Samsung account. No need for it and you can revisit this at your leisure later.

You might be able to use your old PAYG SIM in the new phone but I'd hold off on this until it's set up, you don't want to accidently use expensive mobile data for lots of data downloads and upgrades.  

oldernonethewiser

Cordie said:

The phone is a Samsung A16 5G.  It will need updating because I queried why the same model with other retailers was Android 14 and in John Lewis it was 13. As to what I want to do with the phone very little, it has just reached a point when you need one to function in society. I have bought the charger that was on the same online page as the phone.  I must have a Google account because I download apps onto my tablet.  I will be changing my provider which will complicate issues as at the moment I use 'pay as you go' with my old phone.  I don't really want to sign onto a long contract as it is unlikely that I will use much data so I'm thinking of going with Smarty as they offer monthly contracts.

Not quite yet, although having a smartphone can be useful.

If you have a Google account then you use that to sign in and start updating and downloading apps as required.

There are lots of SIM offers so as you rightly state no need to get tied in to a long contract.

Cordie

OK thank you all, am I understanding this correctly.  I should hold off doing anything with the phone until I've signed up to a new provider and receive a sim card from them. Now for the really stupid questions.  Do I put the new sim card in the phone and then charge it?  Will I immediately get instructions on how to update the phone, is this the most important first action I should do?

oldernonethewiser

Cordie said:

OK thank you all, am I understanding this correctly.  I should hold off doing anything with the phone until I've signed up to a new provider and receive a sim card from them. Now for the really stupid questions.  Do I put the new sim card in the phone and then charge it?  Will I immediately get instructions on how to update the phone, is this the most important first action I should do?

I would set up the phone prior to putting any SIM in it.  You can charge it as soon as you like, no need for a SIM.  The phone should let you know if there is a software update available as soon as you connect to the internet, via Wifi.