Good 2011-2012 Phone Buyers Guide?

[krill]

Hi there,

It seems the last smartphone Buyers Guide Anandtech did was back in the 2010 holiday season.

I want to pick up a slightly older phone (but newer than 2010 models), so I'm looking for a 2011 or 2012 Buyers Guide. I need Verizon phones.

Anyone have a suggestion on a link that has something like the above?

Thanks!

 

[bearxor]

Depends on what your budget is. I think everyone would generally agree that the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 are the best VZW Android phones, but that would still cost you about $300-400 used. If you wanted something cheaper than that, you should be able to get a Galaxy Nexus, HTC Rezound or Droid RAZR for somewhere in the $200 range used.

If you're purchasing a new device so you can keep your unlimited plan, I'd encourage you to look at two things. How much data, on average per month, do you use? If its not a significant figure (over 5GB), I'd encourage you to look at the new data plans and see if there's one that would cover your data usage and keep you within the same price point.

If you decide you must keep your unlimited data plan, you should look in to Verizon's new phone purchase program, which would allow you to pick any current device you want and spread the paymen for it out over 12 months with a $2 interest charge per month. So a Galaxy S4 would increase your bill $60/mo, but let you have a brand new device.

 

[s44]

^^^ what he said

I actually think you shouldn't get anything older than the S3 at this point, unless perhaps you can get a really good price on the original RAZR MAXX. If you can wait a month, prices on secondhand S3s will drop as soon as the S4 ships (end of May).

Other decent cheap option: RAZR M.