first time smartphone buyer - need advice, thinking about Lumia 635

[Murloc]

I currently use a sony ericsson T700. I have no problem adapting to any OS.
My budget is about 150-200 CHF or so (roughly corresponds to 160-220$) (this range is not set in stone so just take it as a guideline).
I'll be buying from here: http://www.swisscom.ch/en/residenti...roperties=&AllProperties=on&FilterSort=Rating
preferably without a contract (I think it's selected already if you open this link).

I don't want something too pricey in case it gets stolen or broken.
I do notice the difference between a supercheap smartphone and a decent one though, display-wise.

I was thinking about the lumia 635.
An android alternative seems to be the Sony Xperia series, but IIRC they have a bad reputation regarding OS upgrades or whatever.

I'd like a phone that will work fine for years, with upgrades.

I will mostly use it for browsing on wifi, using maps, using whatsapp and facebook and skype chats, I don't think I'll be interested in gaming, so I don't worry about the appstore size. Also since I don't plan on getting a subscription, it's great that apparently you can download maps locally with nokia here. I could really use that.

My doubts regard the 512 MB RAM on the 630/635: is it really enough for non-3D apps?
Also: is it worth paying a higher price for the 635 just to have LTE?
Right now I don't need it, but 2 years from now I may be getting a data subscription, so at that point I'd use it. But I don't know if it's going to be better to just buy another phone with the subscription at that point and spare the money now....
Also what do you think of the screen? I've used the nokia 1020 and I think the screen is great. I've also used supercheap samsung duos android phones which were very hard to read on for me. I will be trying it in the shop before I buy if possible though.

Thanks for help.

tl;dr which is the best android or windows phone around 180$?

 

[Crono]

Yes, 512 MB is enough. If it were an Android phone, you would certainly want at least 1 GB, but you can get by with 512 MB on Windows Phone. The Lumia 635 is pretty much the best current Windows Phone at that price point. I haven't used it myself, but having used a Lumia 520 (same res, slightly higher PPI because of the smaller screen on 520 - see this comparison video), the screen should be fine for someone who isn't picky about display quality. Readability is good on Windows Phone versus Android phones of similar size.

LTE probably isn't worth it unless you find that 3G is too slow for you right now. By the time you do want LTE, you should upgrade to a newer phone with a faster SoC (and whatever phone that is in the future, it will likely have LTE). Snapdragon 400 is fine for most apps - you're limited in multitasking by RAM, so it's not going to feel like too slow a device.

If you can get a phone like the Moto G, I would consider going Android if you want a little more flexability. Android is a good experience if you can get a device with at least a 4.3" screen at 800 x 600 or higher, 1 GB RAM, and Snapdragon 400. KitKat runs much better on those lower end phones than earlier versions of Android, so you'll want to check if you can get a phone that ships with it or will likely get the update.

 

[s44]

Swiss Expansys has the new Moto G for ~200...

 

[ImDonly1]

If buying new android... then Moto G is best one for that price.
If used, then there are more options.

Windows phone...
I don't think I would pay $100 extra for LTE on the Lumia. LTE is great, but an extra $100 is a rip off. Don't know much about the Lumia 630. It seems nice for the $100 price.

 

[Murloc]

If buying new android... then Moto G is best one for that price.
If used, then there are more options.

Windows phone...
I don't think I would pay $100 extra for LTE on the Lumia. LTE is great, but an extra $100 is a rip off. Don't know much about the Lumia 630. It seems nice for the $100 price.

fact is, the 630 is that much cheaper in that shop only because it's sim-locked for 24 months. The "easy" phones are all like that, even if they come without a subscription, they're prepaid and locked.

Now, I have no intention of switching my swiss carrier within the next 24 months, but I also need to frequently use it abroad so I can't buy it locked.

The true price difference is like 25$.

That shop is a rip-off compared to prices in other shops (I'm using toppreise to compare), but I have a voucher. Sadly, there is no Moto G in that shop, because that would have been one of my top choices.

I guess I'll go around and try to get my hands on both phones...

I'll likely end up getting the 635 since it's the only one in my ballpark that comes unlocked.

 

[Bo625]

I currently use a sony ericsson T700. I have no problem adapting to any OS.
My budget is about 150-200 CHF or so (roughly corresponds to 160-220$) (this range is not set in stone so just take it as a guideline).
I'll be buying from here: http://www.swisscom.ch/en/residenti...roperties=&AllProperties=on&FilterSort=Rating
preferably without a contract (I think it's selected already if you open this link).

I don't want something too pricey in case it gets stolen or broken.
I do notice the difference between a supercheap smartphone and a decent one though, display-wise.

I was thinking about the lumia 635.
An android alternative seems to be the Sony Xperia series, but IIRC they have a bad reputation regarding OS upgrades or whatever.

I'd like a phone that will work fine for years, with upgrades.

I will mostly use it for browsing on wifi, using maps, using whatsapp and facebook and skype chats, I don't think I'll be interested in gaming, so I don't worry about the appstore size. Also since I don't plan on getting a subscription, it's great that apparently you can download maps locally with nokia here. I could really use that.

My doubts regard the 512 MB RAM on the 630/635: is it really enough for non-3D apps?
Also: is it worth paying a higher price for the 635 just to have LTE?
Right now I don't need it, but 2 years from now I may be getting a data subscription, so at that point I'd use it. But I don't know if it's going to be better to just buy another phone with the subscription at that point and spare the money now....
Also what do you think of the screen? I've used the nokia 1020 and I think the screen is great. I've also used supercheap samsung duos android phones which were very hard to read on for me. I will be trying it in the shop before I buy if possible though.

Thanks for help.

tl;dr which is the best android or windows phone around 180$?

I own a Lumia 822 that I bought just to try out the OS, and grew to really like it. That said, you need to be aware that the rumors and nay-saying about the app situation is true. It's bad. First party apps are a generation or two behind the Android and iOS, and most third party apps are awful. Some are really good (Metrotube, pretty much anything Rudy Huyn writes.) To tell the truth, I'd buy a 520 to try it out, if I were you. Some folks can handle the app situation, some can't.

That said, you can get a Moto G, which is a damn good phone, for $200.

 

[Murloc]

one last update for your information: I ended up buying the Nokia Lumia 635 because of various restrictions which excluded the Moto G and the 630.

So far, I really like it and windows phone is very intuitive to use.
The only gripe I have is the contactbook app: instead of showing contacts and nothing else, it has some weird stuff in it.