Smartphones

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PanQuarius

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Im due for an update on Vodacom Topup 315 and want to go as big as smartphones will allow me. I plan to get the best smartphone out there and just pay in the difference. Now I'm also looking for a cheaper smartphone to buy cash (prepay) for my wife... This phone should basically have a good camera, email and social networking. A smartphone with an up-to-date Android OS would be nice as well as a touchscreen. Is there anyone out there that can shed light on:

1) a good enough smartphone under R2000 to buy cash?
2) the best smartphone on the market for my upgrade?

Thanks!
 
For 2) Either iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy S or Google Nexus S, I would say. I'd go with Android.
 
For option 1; Second hand market, great condition phones - you could get.

  • iPhone 3G/s have been going for 2k/2.5k (though I don't consider it a smartphone) or
  • Nokia N97 (or similar) or
  • Blackberry Bold 9000 (which is the standout amongst the three IMO)

No touch screen on the BlackBerry Bold, but great resolution on that small screen and you may also consider a first or perhaps second gen BB Storm if you want touchscreen.

As for new phones - I can't think of any besides a BB Curve 8520 that you can get for R2k.
 
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1) Don't punish the wife with a Nokia N97 or something. Slow and crappy interface. As much as I hate Blackberries they are probably the better choice here. I don't think there's a decent Android smartphone at this price point.

2) I have a Samsung Galaxy S. Damn good phone, I'd recommend it. Unlike the Desire HD the battery will easily make it through the day with heavy use and no need to disable features to keep it going until you go to sleep. Also has an amazing screen and great sound quality which make it an excellent media phone.
Desire HD is still a good choice, better software and HTC Sense. Just know that you need to take care of the battery life so it doesn't die on you when you need it.
Desire Z is a great choice too, doesn't seem to suffer from crappy battery life and it has a physical keyboard which you might want.
 
Maddmatt said:
1) Don't punish the wife with a Nokia N97 or something. Slow and crappy interface. As much as I hate Blackberries they are probably the better choice here. I don't think there's a decent Android smartphone at this price point.
Click to expand...

LG Optimus may be an option, just been discussing that in another thread in the Android section.

Maddmatt said:
2) I have a Samsung Galaxy S. Damn good phone, I'd recommend it. Unlike the Desire HD the battery will easily make it through the day with heavy use and no need to disable features to keep it going until you go to sleep. Also has an amazing screen and great sound quality which make it an excellent media phone.
Desire HD is still a good choice, better software and HTC Sense. Just know that you need to take care of the battery life so it doesn't die on you when you need it.
Desire Z is a great choice too, doesn't seem to suffer from crappy battery life and it has a physical keyboard which you might want.
Click to expand...

I'm going off topic here, but I'm finding it hard to keep my new SGS going for a full day and I've even taken off auto sync and the screen's brightness.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bitching - I'm likely still way too much in my honeymoon phase with the handset, really grilling it - music playing all day at the office, browsing, watching youtube, downloading, etc.
But I'm still running stock 2.2.1 Froyo, perhaps a ROM would help my battery life or I've just gotta give it some breathing room :p
 
Shake&Bake said:
I'm going off topic here, but I'm finding it hard to keep my new SGS going for a full day and I've even taken off auto sync and the screen's brightness.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bitching - I'm likely still way too much in my honeymoon phase with the handset, really grilling it - music playing all day at the office, browsing, watching youtube, downloading, etc.
But I'm still running stock 2.2.1 Froyo, perhaps a ROM would help my battery life or I've just gotta give it some breathing room :p
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're giving the battery one hell of a beating :P
That 2.2.1 JPY ROM does seem to have a battery drain problem when Wi-Fi is on though. Installing the Speedmod kernel will fix that and even improve performance.
I run JPY + Speedmod, battery life is good. Manages two days if I use it less than usual.
 
Have to say,in the past 3 months had a Samsung wave(nice),Samsung Galaxy S(very nice) and then now a iphone 4(awesome).
After everything has been said and done the iphone 4 is the best by MILES!!
The easy way it works,the quality,the apps(which is much better than android apps) and then the resale value all leads to iphone 4 sorry.
 
Maddmatt said:
Sounds like you're giving the battery one hell of a beating :P
That 2.2.1 JPY ROM does seem to have a battery drain problem when Wi-Fi is on though. Installing the Speedmod kernel will fix that and even improve performance.
I run JPY + Speedmod, battery life is good. Manages two days if I use it less than usual.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm really pushing it lol.
Though I don't make use of wifi.
I've got the Cell C sim with 5gb per month in it. So really just finding ways to burn through the data.

I think I've slowed down on the abuse, so will monitor battery life for the next few days.

Where is the OP in this discussion?


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got a desire hd yesterday.

The battery is fine.

Obviously been playing with it the whole day with it being new and the battery is now on 40% from being charged fully this morning.
 
i was considering the iphone 4 but due to the common problem of the glass breakage, i went for the safer aluminium desire hd instead :)
 
My fiance has my optimus one and it is in your price range. Plus it runs android 2.2. I got the galaxy s for christmas and can honestly say the optimus does ninety five percent of what my sgs does.

Based on what you have said I would go optimus one for the wife and either galaxy s, nexus s or desire hd if cameras are your thing.

Plus with this setup you are both running android so if she needs help you know what to do.

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Thanx guys. This helps. Now what about the Sony Ericsson Xperia X8? Or the Samsung Galaxy 5 Europa? Any good? I'm gonna look into the LG Optimus One and see if I can get it under 200 Euros here in Ireland...
 
I personally won't touch anything that doesn't run ios or android. Least of all anything running symbian.

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