which phone?

[telectrix]

currently have a samsung galaxy II. due for upgrade this month and wondering if anyone has recommendations.. what's good and which to steer clear of.

 

[Stuuk1]

If looking for another Android phone then steer clear of anything Samsung.

For the best Android experience always stick to Googles flagship phone, currently the Nexus 5. These run pure android with no marketing rubbish from Samsung etc slowing everything down.

 

[Brightspark2]

Id recommend Sony's, I'm due an upgrade. I've had this 18 month's with no problems at all, real solid phone. Sony release the New android updates too which I was impressed with, not just the minor ones but full updates to ICS or jelly bean etc etc. I'm going to get the Z1, IP66 or 67 its is IIRC. Water resistance.

 

[dan86]

currently have a samsung galaxy II. due for upgrade this month and wondering if anyone has recommendations.. what's good and which to steer clear of.

First of all, do you like your current phone? If so, go for the S4. I have one and it is utterly brilliant. Stick it in an otterbox case like I have and you won't damage it.
If you want to stay away from Samsung for whatever reason, I would go for a HTC one. It has full HD camera front and back, big 4.7" full HD screen so even your duff eyes can see it, massive built in memory, great battery life and above all, as a phone should- it can make and receive phone calls with near perfect sound (for your old ears)
I'd personally stay away from an iPhone. I had iPhones for years from when the very first came out and they were the dogs danglies, but when I had the 4S and it was upgrade time decided on the S4 because the iPhones now IMO are crap. Look ugly, can't do as much as competitors, and break far too easily.
Hope some or all of this helps, if not, I've just wasted 5 minutes of my life I'll never get back for ---- all!

 

[pennychew]

First of all, do you like your current phone? If so, go for the S4. I have one and it is utterly brilliant. Stick it in an otterbox case like I have and you won't damage it.
If you want to stay away from Samsung for whatever reason, I would go for a HTC one. It has full HD camera front and back, big 4.7" full HD screen so even your duff eyes can see it, massive built in memory, great battery life and above all, as a phone should- it can make and receive phone calls with near perfect sound (for your old ears)
I'd personally stay away from an iPhone. I had iPhones for years from when the very first came out and they were the dogs danglies, but when I had the 4S and it was upgrade time decided on the S4 because the iPhones now IMO are crap. Look ugly, can't do as much as competitors, and break far too easily.
Hope some or all of this helps, if not, I've just wasted 5 minutes of my life I'll never get back for ---- all!

Im the same, had iPhones for years but upgraded to the HTC one mentioned above about 8 months ago and wouldn't go back now, battery lasts all day easily and the big screen is great for the internet. It's a canny size compared to a samsung galaxy as well if that would bother you? I have to take mine out my jeans pocket to sit down sometimes!

 

[fuel]

Using the S III at the minute, loving it, seems very reliable, good battery etc. S IIII seems a fortune for what it is.

 

[MDJ]

I like the Iphone myself, but I have heard good things about the samsung

 

[ga8ry]

I like the Iphone myself, but I have heard good things about the samsung

Same here always had iPhones but brother is trying to convert me to android

 

[dan86]

do it, do it!

 

[longboat]

Downgrade to a phone, to make call's, buy a new one for £10 if you lose it.

 

[longboat]

I'm getting a century before the night is out.:smug:

 

[ga8ry]

I'm getting a century before the night is out.:smug:

Only 6 to go

 

[shanky887614]

Using the S III at the minute, loving it, seems very reliable, good battery etc. S IIII seems a fortune for what it is.

Ive got an s3 with a zerolemon battery and case, it lasts at least 3 days.

Dont go for anything less than 1gb ram.

 

[GMES]

I went from iphone to Samsung galaxy s3 and wouldn't go back, much better phone in my opinion.
thinking about going for s4 on next upgrade.

 

[shanky887614]

I went from iphone to Samsung galaxy s3 and wouldn't go back, much better phone in my opinion.
thinking about going for s4 on next upgrade.

Don't bother. S5 will be out by that time

Its supposed to be released in couple months

 

[telectrix]

just ordered htc. on 4g. 1000 minutes, £30/month.

 

[shanky887614]

just ordered htc. on 4g. 1000 minutes, £30/month.

Htc one?

You do know 4g is as common as 230v

 

[telectrix]

think it's the XL. and yes i know all about 4g. what use is it. it doesn't give a better signal. which is what it's all about. no use having all this fancy android stuff if you can't use it as a phone.

 

[varilite]

iPhone 5s if it does go wrong which it won't apple shop will just give you a new one there and then

 

[shanky887614]

iPhone 5s if it does go wrong which it won't apple shop will just give you a new one there and then

A lot of people don't like apple though.

Andriod is better as its more open and can use whatever apps you want on it not just ones apple decide you can have

Without jailbreaking it

 

[Stuuk1]

think it's the XL. and yes i know all about 4g. what use is it. it doesn't give a better signal. which is what it's all about. no use having all this fancy android stuff if you can't use it as a phone.

I don't understand the hype of 4G.

Most areas don't even have coverage of 3G yet! I understand that one day the copper pair and fibre will be redundant as 4G is faster than anything and also with the 5G that Huawei have already made a working prototype of which is 100x faster than 4G... Telecoms companies can't keep up!

 

[shanky887614]

A lot of people are still on 8mb broadband yet japan,china etc get 1024mb+ speeds

 

[Stuuk1]

I live in a small-ish village called Staplehurst but the maximum speed from the exchange is 16mb from BT. Luckily I do get all 16mb although at peak times this dips to below half.

Personally I don't believe this is good enough..

 

[Octopus]

I recently got a Samsung S4 mini and after about 20 years on Nokia/Symbian I can only say I wish I'd done it earlier. The contract is with Vodafone and as the misses works for the NHS I got a decent discount on my monthly contract too. Happy days..... til I drop it!

 

[Andy78]

I have the HTC one S and its a great phone. Has lasted me 2 years so far and been awesome to use. The HTC one X was the one above mine, being more powerful and slightly larger. The HTC one XL is the 4G capable version of the X. It will be a great phone with plenty of oomph.

I hope you are aware though Tel that it's an old phone you have been sold. The One (with a letter suffix) range was replaced in Feb 2013 by the new HTC One. You may not be running the latest version of android when you get the phone, nor may be able to upgrade as the new software is released. This is usually quite beneficial if you are keeping the phone a couple or three years.

 

[dan86]

I recently got a Samsung S4 and after about 20 years on Nokia/Symbian I can only say I wish I'd done it earlier. The contract is with Vodafone and as the misses works for the NHS I got a decent discount on my monthly contract too. Happy days..... til I drop it!

I also use a s4 and have it in an otterbox defender case. Its excellent ;-)

 

[Chrisuk]

I had the Samsung galaxy before I got my iPhone 4S which i prefer once I jailbroke it, my contract is up and was looking at the S4 but then saw the LG G2 which on reviews got better reviews and the battery is bigger, I only get a day out my 4S but I reckon I'll break a 5" screen, especially now I'm ending up in lofts

G2 does look good though

 

[Chrisuk]

I don't understand the hype of 4G.

Most areas don't even have coverage of 3G yet! I understand that one day the copper pair and fibre will be redundant as 4G is faster than anything and also with the 5G that Huawei have already made a working prototype of which is 100x faster than 4G... Telecoms companies can't keep up!

But it's always been said if you want to save battery life then turn 3G off, so if 3G uses more battery, so will 4G and then 5G, I just about get a days use with 3G, I'd get half a day on 5G

 

[Earthstore]

This is interesting for me too, thinking of changing from my faithful Nokia 5140, most reliable, durable piece of tecnology ever made in my opinion so am a tad concerned about paying a little more per month for something that is so fragile, of course it can be insured at extra cost but do we all really need a computer in our pockets or just a thing that rings push the green button and talk to folk.....
Oh what to do?

 

[Stuuk1]

I have my S3 without a case and after almost 2 years still no breakages.

When on site I always put my phone on a window sill or in my pocket (not back pocket...).

May I also remind people that most phone manufacturers offer warranty for the length of the contracts. Apple, however, do not. They only give 1 year..

 

[Chrisuk]

This is interesting for me too, thinking of changing from my faithful Nokia 5140, most reliable, durable piece of tecnology ever made in my opinion so am a tad concerned about paying a little more per month for something that is so fragile, of course it can be insured at extra cost but do we all really need a computer in our pockets or just a thing that rings push the green button and talk to folk.....
Oh what to do?

With me being a student I want a decent camera so I can take pictures of what I've done, the S4 and G2 are 13 megapixel but huge screens

Guess I need a big screen for when I'm showing the man down the pub..... Who obviously already knows how to do everything and more that a sparky can do haha

 

[shanky887614]

I have my S3 without a case and after almost 2 years still no breakages.

When on site I always put my phone on a window sill or in my pocket (not back pocket...).

May I also remind people that most phone manufacturers offer warranty for the length of the contracts. Apple, however, do not. They only give 1 year..

Warrenty's don't cover it if you drop it

 

[Andy78]

Some of the more expensive shock proof cases offer replacement in case of damage, thus negating insurance.

 

[shanky887614]

Some of the more expensive shock proof cases offer replacement in case of damage, thus negating insurance.

If your a clumsy basted get the otterbox armour series. It will survive a car/small van driving over it

 

[Stuuk1]

Warrenty's don't cover it if you drop it

That's obvious..

The warranty was a side note

 

[pennychew]

Not sure if all the new smart phones do it but the bloke in PC world showed me how to turn on the 'wi-fi hotspot' mode on my HTC, when it's on I can connect to the phone with the wifi on my iPad and laptop and use the phones data as my internet connection, I have unlimited data on my phone so it's saved me having to buy a PAYG sim for the iPad as well.

 

[pennywise]

For ultimate protection I'd always be reaching for a lifeproof case. Though nothing thus far for the iPhone 5s only if you want the one with the silly plastic cover on the screen

 

[shanky887614]

For ultimate protection I'd always be reaching for a lifeproof case. Though nothing thus far for the iPhone 5s only if you want the one with the silly plastic cover on the screen

Have a look at otterbox armour series/defender (you can pull the screen protector off defender but not sure on armour)