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Help me pick a new phone..

27 replies

EdwiniasRevenge · 01/01/2013 11:17

...I'm due an upgrade and fancy a new phone....

I have had a HTC desire Hz for the last 2 years and have loved it.

What do I go for next? I think the HTC one is too big.

Samsung get rave reviews but have heard that the S3 is plagued with speaker and microphone issues and also a touch on the big side...what are my other options....

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niceguy2 · 01/01/2013 11:43

What's your budget and what do you use the most? Calls, texts or surfing?

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EdwiniasRevenge · 01/01/2013 12:04

I'm paying £25/month at mo, which is fine but less is good.

Currently averaging about 150mb of data usage.

No idea how much I text....lots because I'm currently on an unlimited plan...

Dcs are on a 30 day rolling contract with Tesco mobile which would suit my needs but think I want to stay with o2 because coverage v good (which I know I would keep with Tesco) and I have discounted o2 home phone and broadband. Also have friends on o2 which ring me lots for free :o

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EdwiniasRevenge · 01/01/2013 12:06

I restrict my calls cos currently only have 100mins. I make people ring me...which they are happy to do cos o2 and free for them.

Like android. Could possibly be persuaded by iPhone but suspect out of budget...

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notMarlene · 01/01/2013 12:08

Would be worth looking at iphone 4s contracts...

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chaosisawayoflife · 01/01/2013 18:01

Bumping as I'm in exactly the same position. I love my htc desire and am keen to stick with android. Have had some issues with storage space on the desire so something with improved app storage would be good.

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notMarlene · 01/01/2013 20:30

this would be lovely for either (both?) of the girls. TBH the poems aren't up to much but the illustrations are stunning, I adored mine and DD is the same with hers. Nice to get some proper fairies in bfore the disney shite starts.

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notMarlene · 01/01/2013 20:30

Pardon?

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niceguy2 · 01/01/2013 22:14

The S3 is an amazing phone and I certainly wouldn't be put off by the reports of failures. You'll get them on every phone.

I also don't think it's too big. Especially if you already have a Desire HD. If that is the case though, how about the older but still amazing, Galaxy S2?

You can still get these on contracts and easily would fit within your budget. Or there are plenty around now second hand or refurbished if you don't mind an older one. I just got one for my son for xmas. £160 and it was as-new. Beats tying yourself to a contract.

Anyway, if the S2 is still too large then how about the HTC One S?

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EdwiniasRevenge · 01/01/2013 22:42

Cool, thanks for the guidance...planning to head to o2 shop tomorrow to fondle some handsets...

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baahhumbug · 01/01/2013 22:43

I've just been in the same position, didn't wanta huge phone but wanted to be able to surf etc. I tried an iphone but didn't like it as much as android (screen on 4s too small/heavy, iphone 5 too expensive, iphone in general too restrictive compared to android) and have now swapped for a Samsung Galaxy S3 mini. The spec isn't as high as the S3 but it is still pretty good and quite cheap, lovely little phone.

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TheHoneyDragonsDrunkInTheIvy · 01/01/2013 22:45

I massively fell out with the S3. Thankfully O2 are very good about returns within 7 days if you buy/renew online.

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baahhumbug · 01/01/2013 23:29

That's true, I got my iphone in store and took it back within seven days in as new condition and they exchanged it for the s3 mini without any questions.

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TheHoneyDragonsDrunkInTheIvy · 01/01/2013 23:46

Grin I swapped the galaxy for an iPhone.

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EdwiniasRevenge · 02/01/2013 00:11

What didn't you like about the s3

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TheHoneyDragonsDrunkInTheIvy · 02/01/2013 11:18

One immediate thing hat put me off was that after charging it was very warm - although O2 suspected a fault.

Because of my life style I like a good case on my phone. Which made it very very bulky. I have the iPhone 5 and in a case it is still a nice size.

The screen on the S3 is amazing, I'm not fussed about widgets tbh so that didn't sell it to me. The camera is also very good but I wasn't keen. On a tech side the s3 was good but I didn't want to spend time arranging everything.

It as also to big for me to use comfortably with one hand. And with two (soon to be three iPhones) in the house and 4 iPods and hunk I have to accept that Apple have their claws into me Hmm.

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EdwiniasRevenge · 02/01/2013 17:47

Hmm

Went looking...and for the tariffs that make sense for me the only sensible upgrade on o2 is a Sony experia t.

S3, oneX are all going to cost me quite a lot for the handset on a sensible tariff, mainly because my desire Hd was an upgrade via insurance claim.

I don't want to downgrade my phone but the desire Hd is coming to the end of its supported life over the next few months (apparently).

Might start a new thread about Sony smart phones...

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Snorbs · 02/01/2013 18:31

The S3 Mini looks, at least on the O2 site, to be available for £50 down and £15.50 a month and you'll get 200min, unlimited texts and 500MB of data for a 24 month contract.

If they can't offer similar as an upgrade for an existing customer I'd be very tempted to take my business elsewhere.

On the other hand the Xperia T is supposed to be very good with a particularly good camera. If the choice is between the S3 Mini and the Xperia T for the same price then the Xperia would give you more bang for the buck.

I don't know what Sony is like for providing support (they suck dead dog's cocks in hell in many other aspects of their business) but, frankly, Samsung isn't brilliant either for support so it's much of a muchness.

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EdwiniasRevenge · 02/01/2013 19:14

The S3 mini is a downgrade in spec tho from the phone I've got...

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Snorbs · 02/01/2013 19:26

Assuming you've currently got a Desire HD then no, not really.

The S3 Mini has a slightly smaller (but brighter) screen and a bit lower resolution camera but it's also got twice the processing power, more memory, much more storage, an additional front-facing camera (for Skype etc) plus better networking capabilities.

If screen size and camera resolution are your benchmarks then the Xperia T will massively out-perform the Desire HD. But the size would be approaching that of the HTC One X that you said is too big.

What is it you actually want from a phone?

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EdwiniasRevenge · 02/01/2013 19:39

Main uses for the phone:

Apps (gaming mostly)
Texting
Surfing
Camera
Voice calls.

I guess I just don't want to downgrade in spec cos there is no point in that. I might as well keep my phone and change to a more economical tariff. I would like a shiney new phone though :).

The experia is a bit bigger than my Hd but not much more tho, and not as big as the one x etc.

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EdwiniasRevenge · 02/01/2013 19:40

I dunno now tho...I did very much feel that Sony was the promotion of the day...but it was a nice phone...

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Hellooooo2013 · 02/01/2013 19:46

I've gone (a week ago) from a Samsung Galaxy that had reached the end of its contract to a Samsung S3 mini and am not noticing a drop on spec. It is speedy, the screen is good enough, I use it mainly for surfing, facebook, emails and camera.

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EdwiniasRevenge · 03/01/2013 00:06

Hmm...dunno what to do now...

Having looked around I can get a desire one x, galaxy s2 or experia t for similar money I'm on but better package.

I could get the s2 or one s for about £15 month on adequate tariff...

I don't like choices...I need to find a good website to compare the specs with the desire Hd so I can see how things stack up with what I know and love...

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NetworkGuy · 03/01/2013 09:59

www.compare-cellphones.org/Sony-Xperia-tipo-vs-HTC-Desire-S
(was a link in a previous thread in last few weeks, for comparison site)

Someone else posted about the compare-cellphones.org site... personally I had mostly used *> GSMarena.com

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NetworkGuy · 03/01/2013 10:05

Maybe I glanced too quickly or they have changed it, but I see there are more general comments showing things like the radio etc which are in common to the phones being compared.

Anyway, here's
a quick comparison of the Sensation HD against the Xperia T

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