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Thread: Best Cheap Android Phones

  1. #1
    jim
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    Best Cheap Android Phones

    I know there have been a few threads on this lately, but I'm still not sure what to do.

    Basically, I'm sick to death of my Touch 3G, and I can't take it any more. I've put more ROMs on it than I care to remember, and they're all awful, so no more WM for me. At the end of my tether.

    I'm thinking about Android, but I don't know how much you need to spend to get a decent phone. I'd love a Desire.... I can get about £60 for my phone by the looks of it, and then I'm happy to put in an extra £100 - so total budget £160, although if I need to stretch I can do.

    So what should I do? Go for something older - seems like a Hero or something would be achievable? Or spend more money? Or should I buy a cheap Sony-Ericsson and wait 3 months? If I can get something that's technologically an improvement on the Touch 3G then that would be nice.

    Also, what's the state of the applications market at the moment? Windows Mobile seems to be pitiful - most of the apps don't work because they're designed for legacy systems, and there's very little modern development going on. I know the iPhone is the king at the moment, but how does Android compare? Are many firms investing in development for Android apps in the same way that they're investing in iPhone apps?

    Any advice would be hugely appreciated

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    Ol' Timer Bunjiweb's Avatar
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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    <Sorry, but we have a strict no phones policy when it comes to phone sales due to the legal minefield.>

    Otherwise, £160 for a sim-free phone is a tall ask to get much better than a Hero, Are you going down the contract / sim only or PAYG route?

    Ben
    Last edited by Agent; 05-07-2010 at 09:16 PM.
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  4. #3
    jim
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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    I've got a contract for the next 12 months, at least, so it's got to be a straight purchase.

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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    You won't get a new SIM-free Android phone for less than about £200.

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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    If you can spring a bit more for unlocking

    T-Mobile sell the Pulse under £160
    3 Sell a refurb HTC Hero (many say it's like new) for £160
    H3XU5 Social FAQ
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  9. #6
    jim
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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    Hmm, can't really be arsed with unlocking - too much hassle

    What's the situation if I shift to £200 then?

  10. #7
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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    A Wildfire? I'm sure other places will have it cheaper than Play.

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  12. #8
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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    Actually, what about the Wildfire?

    £230 on Amazon at the moment, pre-order.

    EDIT: Awesome timing

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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    +1 on HTC Wildfire.

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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    Beat you by 1 minute there!

    I looked into it myself, decided against as not sure of Android 2.2 timing & wanted a bigger screen. Techradar reviewed it, not in the same review league as somewhere like GSMarena but worth a look at

  15. #11
    jim
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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    I know it's not a huge screen, but compared to my touch 3G the screen is actually 0.4" bigger, and I've not found that part particularly frustrating so I think it'll be okay.

    Hopefully as well since it's a newer phone it'll be easier to get updates, but I know it's always a bit of an unknown entity.

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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    http://www.buymobilephones.net/mobil...3?adnetwork=af

    Wildfire
    300 cross-network mins + 300 texts + Unlimited data • 24 months - £15/month
    9 Months FREE by redemption
    Effective Cost £9.38 a month

    blah blah blah, also £25 quidco, if it tracks, unlike my Vodafone one which isn't

  17. #13
    SiM
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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    Don't get the wildfire, the screen is only 240 x 320, which sucks. Get anyone with a 320 x 480 screen

  18. #14
    Ol' Timer Bunjiweb's Avatar
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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    240x320 screen means very restricted app catalogue as many require a screen of 320x480.... my mate with a HTC Tattoo wishes he'd gone down the route of Hero for this exact reason.

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  19. #15
    SiM
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    Re: Best Cheap Android Phones

    Maybe look at the pulse if the hero is out of budget.

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