Please help me decide what to do! Mobile phone + tablet deals

[whilewildeisonmine]

I've been debating this for a while and I'm really not sure what to do. The nice man in carphone warehouse recommended the s3 but it's too big for me so I've been looking at the mini version (which I'm told is nowhere near as good as the s3 but still seems pretty snazzy compared to my old blackberry).

Bearing in mind I'm not too tech savvy and will only really use a couple of apps (I have an ipod touch and all i tend to use is mumsnet, instagram, facebook sometimes and safari for web browsing) will I notice that much difference between the samsung galaxy ace and the mini s3?

Also, with the tablet is it worth paying an extra £10/month for the bigger screen? My laptop was stolen last week so I'm looking for something I can keep photos/music etc on. Will a tablet be up to that or would it be better to not get a tablet, get a cheaper contract and save up for a new laptop (that would probably be a macbook as that is what I'm used to).

Here are a few options -

Samsung galaxy ace + samsung galaxy tab 10 16gb - £26/month

Samsung galaxy s3 mini + samsung galaxy tab 10 16gb - £36/month

Samsung galaxy s3 mini + samsung galaxy tab 7 8gb - £26/month

Samsung galaxy ace + google nexus 7 32gb - 26/month

Or do I just get the s3 without a tablet for £26 and get used to the size?

It has to be Orange as that's the only network that works where I live.

If anyone has any advice it would be appreciated - I'm going round in circles at the moment!

[niceguy2]

The Ace is a pretty poorly specced phone. My neighbour's daughter has one and it's frankly terrible by modern standards.

I think you'd get used to the size of the S3 quickly. People tell me my Galaxy Note is too big and that's even bigger than the S3. But to me it's just the normal size now.

The mini will be fine for your needs I think though but as a rule of thumb it's always best to get the fastest, best spec phone you can because it has to last two years and in phone terms that's a lifetime!

So discounting the Ace, your options really are the S3 mini or S3 without tablet.

You said you need something to keep photos & music on. Whilst a tablet can, i'm not sure it's a good idea. The 8GB/16GB storage is for everything. You can add memory cards sure but even then you realistically can add 32GB which is a fair bit. But nothing compared to a laptop which can store 500GB+ easily. Plus a tablet is not a replacement for a laptop.

If I were in your shoes, I'd get the S3 and a laptop separately before considering a tablet. I rarely use my tablet now I have my Galaxy Note and that screen is only a little bigger than the S3. The Note screen is good enough to surf most of the time and finding my ipad is just hassle. My phone is there and ready.

[NetworkGuy]

Since you're looking at Android phones, I wonder whether a Chromebook might be a suitable choice for something with a proper keyboard... Much depends on what amount of data you expect to store, and if you are carrying something around with you, it's more prone to loss or damage anyway.

I'm using Galaxy Ace, Mini, and Europa mobiles, along with a Huawei. While niceguy2 considers the Ace 'terrible', I think it's down to what a person has used, and probably by comparison with the Note, it is rubbish, but I find it fine for e-mail and browsing, but appreciate there are several better and more modern phones (hence the Galaxy Ace 2 and others).

If you are stuck with Orange/EE, then I guess it's down to what they have available, and also whether you have been using PAYG or if this is an upgrade situation for you... and minutes / text / data you are being offered at those costs.

[nannynick]

I have an Ace and its fine depending what you use it for. The limitation I find is the phone memory - it limits the number of apps that can be installed, even with a big sd card. Unless you change the firmware, the apps seem to take up some phone memory and can't be moved to the sd card.

I find its fine for Mumsnet. Good for incar nav using Waze. Good for simple email using gmail.

[whilewildeisonmine]

hi, thanks for the replies. I ended up going with the s3 mini (was going to go for the s3 but it just felt too big for me). im vrry pleased with what I've got and have barely put it down! there's a kindle fire on its way too me too

[whilewildeisonmine]

*to me too (still getting used to the predictive text on here!

[NetworkGuy]

being nosy, sorry, what was the contract cost, and in the 'mobile' part, can you mention the package of minutes / texts / data allowance, please ?

I spotted a deal including a Kindle Fire HD, but didn't mention it as it may be a little too Amazon-locked (don't have one, just a possibility that had been mooted a while ago).