Best values/phones at various prices for ATT?

[EliteRetard]

Asked to look into phones, they have older Windows Mobile phone (6 or 7?) with no keypad. Mild data usage, but I think they've got "unlimited" plan. Currently use stylus, but not necessarily required. Camera is used, but also not a major point. I'd say average business type user (phone is primarily for work) not technically inclined, but does use texts, emails, pictures, and such. No mention of required apps.

I don't know where the value points are. Lumia is a Win phone (good choice to replace older Win phone?). Then three high end options I've heard from Samsung & HTC (android), and Apple. Those are all 600$+ though.

Are there good options at lower prices? I figure the techies here will know what those best values/options are...like we know AMD FX-6xxx CPU is great budget option and Intel i5 K CPUs is default mid priced CPU even though many much higher priced options available. Rarely do you really need the 1$k extreme editions.

I think they asked me because they already know about the extreme options, but aren't stupid enough to just buy them like many do...they wanted help sifting through the tons of options to see if they could get a good fit and save some money at the same time.

I figured I would cheat and just ask you what are the 2-4 phone options I should be looking at? At least one great budget option and one great mid range option.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Crono]

The Lumia 520 is coming to AT&T soon, supposedly, and should be priced at $150 off-contract (the T-Mobile Lumia 521 version is going for $130 now according to another thread). It's hard to go wrong with Windows Phone, it really runs consistently smooth even on lower end hardware. But if you need more customization options and more apps, an Android phone like the HTC First (going for about $200 off-contract on ebay) is a good deal, though like others have pointed out in other threads, it may not be updated. Honestly, I don't care about Android updates since Jellybean, everything seems stable and smooth enough for me (it's part of what enabled me to switch to Android and get an HTC One). The First is a steal at that price for a midrange phone with near stock Android, so even if you care about updates it would be worth it at that price.

The Nexus 4 is still a good option too at $300 or less off contract for a Nexus device with midrange hardware, though I think you can only get HSPA+ still and not LTE unless you are on T-Mobile.

The Lumia 820 is what I would get on-contract for $0.01 on the AT&T store. It also goes for $200 new off-contract on ebay. The Lumia 620 is in the mix, too, at about $250.

 

[shortylickens]

Since the very beginning, low-end Nokias have always been an excellent value. Much better reception and battery life than any other brands low-end phone model.

That is still true today.
Only now you would have to use WP8. Are you willing to do that?

 

[ImDonly1]

If you are buying off contract.
Nexus 4... $300-350 off contract new from google.

High end phone at a mid range price.

 

[Germanic]

I really like the Pantech Discover which sports 4G LTE and a 13MP camera. It's free online.

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/pantech/discover-gray-refurb.html#fbid=kMxgbiNAgFL