Help buying a smartphone

flaneurs_lobster

Typing "compare x phone with y phone" into your favorite AI-enabled search engine gives this

Choose the Moto G56 if you want a rugged phone that can handle drops and water submersion, requires a headphone jack, or if you prefer a smoother 120Hz display with more immediate RAM and storage out of the box.

Choose the Samsung Galaxy A17 if you intend to keep your phone for up to 6 years, prefer the punchy colors of an AMOLED screen, or care about taking stable photos in dim lighting.

I'd also agree with commentators above, 4GB of RAM (on the Samsung) is only just cutting it on a modern phone. All very well that the A17 has the better camera, PITA if it takes an age to process/save those images.

Cisco001

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82023294#Comment_82023294

a17 5G is only £110 at Giffgaff

G56 has short software support

A26 is £160 with uk seller at Temu

CaptainWales

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82023383#Comment_82023383

The A17 5G at Giffgaff looks like I have to take out a contract? I am only looking to buy a sim free handset.

Do you think the G56 having short software support will be a problem? Others on here have said that my phone will still function after the support has ended

oldernonethewiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82023569#Comment_82023569

You can buy the A17 outright from Giffgaff but you will need to buy a one off £10 top up.

A phone will function after support ends but may be vulnerable as it wont get security updates and in some cases certain apps will no longer work.

CaptainWales

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82023596#Comment_82023596

Do you mean £10 Monthly rolling Unlimited calls and texts? I cant see a top up option

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82023617#Comment_82023617

Yes that, you just don't top-up after month 1.

oldernonethewiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82023617#Comment_82023617

Pay the one off £10 and don't pay any more. Easily done.

safe_hands2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82023569#Comment_82023569

The phone will still function well after the security updates end but it will be vulnerable. My last 3 phones have been Moto g and I really like them, but I've now got wise to the security issue. I've just got a new phone and it's not a Motorola for that reason.

The EU now requires a minimum of 5 years security updates which Motorola complies with, but not in the UK because they don't have to. The cyber security team in my organisation advise to not use a phone for shopping and banking if it no longer has updates. If you're only doing basic browsing then you might not need to worry as much.

CaptainWales

I ended up purchasing the samsung A17 5g from GiffGaff.

I then tried purchasing an esim from Airalo But Airalo say that my devicd is not esim compatible. Everything on the internet suggests it is though. Anybody know what i might be doing wrong?

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82042800#Comment_82042800

Your A17 5g should be eSIM capable (most are), does

 Settings > Connections > SIM Manager give you an Add eSIM option?

Does Airalo say that your device doesn't have eSIM or that their eSIM isn't compatible with your phone?