New Phone Advice

tsume

tsume

The Pervy Sage
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My Nexus 5X camera has shown some dark spots when taking photo's, and no matter how much I've tried to clean the lens those spots still appear. So I think it's a sign for me to get a new phone.

First, I am extremely surprised at how much the cost of phones have sky rocketed. I remember buying my Nexus 5X for around 5K-6K (back when Orange was around).

Anywoo, what I'm looking for out my new phone
- Stock android (or close to stock as possible)
- Fantastic camera
- Great battery life

Think I can at least get a good mid-range phone.

Given the prices of phones today, would something below 8K be possible to get a very formidable phone?
Also, which online shopping store is best to get phones from? I only know of Zeek, but often get told they are overpriced from time to time.
 
tsume said:
My Nexus 5X camera has shown some dark spots when taking photo's, and no matter how much I've tried to clean the lens those spots still appear. So I think it's a sign for me to get a new phone.

First, I am extremely surprised at how much the cost of phones have sky rocketed. I remember buying my Nexus 5X for around 5K-6K (back when Orange was around).

Anywoo, what I'm looking for out my new phone
- Stock android (or close to stock as possible)
- Fantastic camera
- Great battery life

Think I can at least get a good mid-range phone.

Given the prices of phones today, would something below 8K be possible to get a very formidable phone?
Also, which online shopping store is best to get phones from? I only know of Zeek, but often get told they are overpriced from time to time.
Click to expand...

The new Nokias are as close to stock Android you can get easily. e.g. Nokia 6 ... good camera and battery life.
 
There's only 2 phones I can think off locally , Xiaomi Mi A1 and Nokia 8
 
tsume said:
- Fantastic camera
Click to expand...

Not to sound nasty or anything like that, but rather get a camera for photos and a phone for everything else. Spend R5K on a good camera and R5K on a good phone, than spend R10K on an ok phone with an almost ok camera. You would be much better off in the long run.
 
tsume said:
The Xiomi Mi A1 seems to be exactly what I'm looking for, except the colour. Seems the black is out of stock. Hopefully they get more stock in January. Another question, does the 4G work in South Africa, specifically on Telkoms network?
Click to expand...
It uses a Snapdragon 625 and Telkom has a Moto G5s Plus which also has the same chip
 
tsume said:
The Xiomi Mi A1 seems to be exactly what I'm looking for, except the colour. Seems the black is out of stock. Hopefully they get more stock in January. Another question, does the 4G work in South Africa, specifically on Telkoms network?
Click to expand...

Had a xiaomi 4a, note 3 LTE worked on these phones and the snapdragon chips usually all come with LTE.
 
So all reviews around the Xiomi Mi A1 seem to discredit the camera on this phone, which is making me second guess the phone.
Had a look at the OnePlus 5T, and it seems fantastic though the only retailer Zeek has it priced extremely high. Is there another more affordable retalier for the OnePlus?
 
tsume said:
So all reviews around the Xiomi Mi A1 seem to discredit the camera on this phone, which is making me second guess the phone.
Had a look at the OnePlus 5T, and it seems fantastic though the only retailer Zeek has it priced extremely high. Is there another more affordable retalier for the OnePlus?
Click to expand...
Buy it from overseas...
 
Dairyfarmer said:
Not to sound nasty or anything like that, but rather get a camera for photos and a phone for everything else. Spend R5K on a good camera and R5K on a good phone, than spend R10K on an ok phone with an almost ok camera. You would be much better off in the long run.
Click to expand...

Spot on!
 
6GB OnePlus 5T has been seen at geekbuying and gearbest.com for $500...
 
Dairyfarmer said:
Not to sound nasty or anything like that, but rather get a camera for photos and a phone for everything else. Spend R5K on a good camera and R5K on a good phone, than spend R10K on an ok phone with an almost ok camera. You would be much better off in the long run.
Click to expand...
Nah. Simple point and shoots are becoming obsolete. So if you get a bridge with a 1" sensor or DSLR/mirrorless for proper photos you'll want a phone that can take decent pics as a "take anywhere".
 
Hamster said:
Nah. Simple point and shoots are becoming obsolete. So if you get a bridge with a 1" sensor or DSLR/mirrorless for proper photos you'll want a phone that can take decent pics as a "take anywhere".
Click to expand...
The best camera is the one you have with you I always say.
 
The Nexus 5X had an extraordinary camera for its price point. Mine consistently outshoots phones double its price, Android and iPhone included. If the camera is paramount, you might want to look at the Samsung S7, which I've occasionally seen not too far off your price point. But then you'd be missing out on the stock Android, of course, which may or may not be a dealbreaker. I don't think (and this is confirmed in the forum discussions I've seen on other sites) that you'll find any mid ranger these days with a comparable camera, even the OnePlus, especially when it comes to low light.
 
Last years flagships?

I totally agree about phones replacing point-and-shoot cameras. I'd much rather have a R10k phone with an amazing camera than cheap phone with crap camera and a R5k POS. Been there, done that.
 
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