Cheap smartphone, will I be disappointed?

[jimbouk]

I've been eyeing up another smartphone for a while now, but can't really justify spending £300+ on a piece of kit I don't actually need.

I previously have had a Orange C500/HTC Typhoon (which I still actually have), then a T-Mobile Vario/HTC Wizard (which I sadly dropped and broke after a couple of months):


I don't want to get into any long expensive contracts, so it's a sim-free phone for me. I've lined up a couple of potentials and would like some thoughts if anyone has owned/used them, or advice in the sub £200 price bracket. The other option is that I just stick with a normal phone (my current Sony W850i is fine and dandy really).

First up is the Toshiba Portege G710. £100, gps, bluetooth, qwerty keyboard, but no wifi.


Second is the ASUS P320. More pricey at £180 (it's been on sale before so might get it cheapers), purely touchscreen but GPS, wifi and bluetooth.


The ASUS looks a lot nicer so I'm very tempted, plus I might try skype with the wifi at home to make calls. I know nothing in this price range is going to blow me away on performance, and smartphone's need charging every night, but I don't want to feel I've taken a step back from the Vario or even my Sony.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

[MadduckUK]

http://shop.o2.co.uk/mobile_phone/O2...y_And_Go/page3

vga screen, gps, bluetooth, wifi, very fast

[jimbouk]

http://shop.o2.co.uk/mobile_phone/O2...y_And_Go/page3

vga screen, gps, bluetooth, wifi, very fast

Wow I missed that one! I can't quite match it up to on the ASUS site to a model number which is a shame. I wonder if it's been unlocked yet...

[jimbouk]

Well one site said it was already unlocked, and I also ran across this rather amusing and customisable Phone unlocking scam site

[MadduckUK]

its a p565 in a different case with the processor at 600 rather than 800

[TooNice]

To me, it makes sense to first ask what you do want a smartphone for and prioritise accordingly. A lack of Wi-Fi is an automatic fail for me, but it may be fine for you. What do you miss from your W850i?

[cigbunt]

depends what you want to do with it...
if its email.. get this

http://www.play.com/Mobiles/Mobile/4...e/Product.html

blackeberry 8120 great phone!!

[nichomach]

MWg?
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=161051

http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=161299

http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=161302

The O2 device above looks great, assuming it's unlocked, though.

[MadduckUK]

The O2 device above looks great, assuming it's unlocked, though.

mine is

[jimbouk]

What do you miss from your W850i?

A bigger screen and an OS that I can play with more are probably biggest drivers, although WiFI/GPS would be nice so as I've been thinking about a tomtom for a while and don't want to be tied to my computer so much in an evening.

MWg?

I've never been overly inspired by their devices, they often get mediocre reviews as well

The O2 device above looks great, assuming it's unlocked, though.

mine is

Looks like it's a winner. I'll wait until I've got a day at home next month as O2 won't deliver to work addresses So now people have 3 weeks or so to talk me out of it!

And if it is locked it's not the end of the world, my contract is up and I was hoping to renew at half price rather than getting a phone, so can always just jump ship to O2.

Thanks for all the advice

[jimbouk]

Hmm looks like the battery life is it's worst point, lasting a day with minimal use and less with anything else :s Maybe I need to stick with a normal phone and look at getting a pda as well...