Best mid range phones?!

Toxteth · November 12, 2013, 02:09:19 PM

Hi all,

My contract is up this month and I'm looking to stay on a similar plan with Orange (currently on Â£10.50 plan which is now Â£11.99 P/M) and looking to get a new phone.

After going into store last weekend I was told these would be the three best choices:

Sony Xperia SP - http://tech.uk.msn.com/mobiles/sony-xperia-sp-review

Samsung Galaxy S III mini - http://tech.uk.msn.com/mobiles/samsung-galaxy-s3-mini-review

Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 - http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-Ace-3-Review_id3344

I mainly use my phone for phoning, texting, browsing/e-mails and taking photo's when I don't have a camera on me. TBH having a half decent camera on it would be nice, which is why I'm leaning towards the Xperia, but it is quite big and I don't want to purchase a man-bag just for my phone...

Any other suggestions, recommendations or opinions?

Cheers!

Tox

Tutonic · November 12, 2013, 02:28:44 PM

I bet there are more than a few Nexus 4's going cheap on eBay, if you don't mind second-hand - it's a cracking phone.

I know somebody who bought an S3 mini and was very disappointed with it, so you might want to check a few reviews first. The Nokia phones are supposed to have the best cameras, if you're OK with Windows Mobile

BrotherTobious · November 12, 2013, 02:29:26 PM

TL has a nexus 4 for sale get that and 30 day rolling contract you will be saving yourself a but load. Or by the nexus 5 out right and do the same you will save yourself some cash either way. I think that they are better than the phones you have listed but that is my own opinion.

Hope that helps

Toby

Toxteth · November 12, 2013, 04:05:18 PM

Quote from: Tutonic;378036I bet there are more than a few Nexus 4's going cheap on eBay, if you don't mind second-hand - it's a cracking phone.

I know somebody who bought an S3 mini and was very disappointed with it, so you might want to check a few reviews first. The Nokia phones are supposed to have the best cameras, if you're OK with Windows Mobile

Not a bad shout. I'll have a look at some Nokia reviews. The Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 is sounding like a decent choice, and the missus just got one so might wait and have a look at that this weekend.

The Nexus 4 idea sounds good but wouldn't be worth it as a contract without phone is Â£9 p/m (for what I'm looking for) and with a phone is Â£12 p/m. But Nexus 4 would be a much better phone than the freebie...

T-Bag · November 12, 2013, 04:05:42 PM

I believe Moto X when it hits Europe next week (?) will be called the Moto G, and is rumoured to be reasonably price. Worth considering too.

smilodon · November 12, 2013, 09:06:45 PM

One thing that catches some people out is a phone with limited storage for apps. I know quite a few people who bought phones only to find that by the time they had added a few apps and games they were out of memory. If you don't run much stuff then it shouldn't be a problem.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Toxteth · November 13, 2013, 08:03:49 PM

So it's settled! I couldn't come to a conclusion about the mid range phones so TL kindly sold me his Nexus 4.

In total I'm now paying Â£14.25 p/m (over a 24 month period) with a great phone and a much better contract. Still time for negotiating a couple of pounds off the SIM only contract but overall I'm very pleased.

Cheers guys.

smilodon · November 13, 2013, 08:16:49 PM

Great news. Even though the Nexus 5 is the current must have phone, the Nexus 4 is a seriously powerful piece of hardware, runs like silk, will play any game currently available on the market, streams HD content effortlessly, is free from manufacturer and carrier bloat and has masses of storage space. Plus it's about to be upgraded to Android 4.4

BrotherTobious · November 13, 2013, 08:26:46 PM

I think you have made the right choice mate. Good work

Sent from my Nexus 4

Toxteth · November 13, 2013, 09:36:03 PM

It's also very reassuring that you're all replying from your Nexus 4's!

Penfold · November 13, 2013, 10:05:06 PM

lol

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Toxteth · November 20, 2013, 09:49:01 PM

This phone is amazing.

My only issue is I'm very paranoid at the moment about how fragile it is. Can anyone recommend a good screen protector (front and back) and case? I have the official bumper but I don't feel like it's quite enough.

Are these protectors really worth Â£15 or should I just pick up the Â£3 ones from amazon?

Any Case recommendations?

smilodon · November 20, 2013, 10:24:54 PM

Buy a cheap as chips rubber skin for the back and sides. I bought the clear version as well. There is a slight raised edge so that if the phone is laid face down on any surface the glass of the screen will not touch anything. Then just get a screen protector, although I don't bother. Don't bother spending much more than a fiver.

BrotherTobious · November 20, 2013, 10:39:05 PM

I don't have any protection for it it hardy enough

Sent from my Nexus 4

suicidal_monkey · November 20, 2013, 11:44:20 PM

It's a slim shiny phone, and mine has survived a year being mostly naked :-)

I have a "sports" cover for when I'm cycling and it's in my backpack, but ever since taking the cover off my old htc desire and noticing the dramatic difference it made to how nice the thing was I've been relatively anti-covers...