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Phone snobs: I need your help on buying a new cell

Sonikku

Sonikku

Lifer
I got a free coolpad smart phone when I signed up with Safelink this year. It's a free phone plan for being on food stamps. However, the phone supplied has something like 378mb of RAM. It is... Not enough. It's not even enough for the OS, much less anything else! Every time I try to use GPS or much of anything it locks up or crashes. It locks up and crashes so much that even something simple like making phone calls was easier on my flip top. I think I need a new phone. 🙂

I don't have a grand though to spend on one like most of you, I imagine. Scrounging together about $150 is about all I can do this year. The question is, what on BF could that get me? It would have to have Android and at least 2gb of ram minimum... and also more than 8 gigs of internal memory. The stock apps and OS use up 7.2gb on my coolpad phone and it has no expandable storage, so it's a little ridiculous trying to install or use anything on it. But other than the OS and memory I do not know much of anything about smart phones. Brands, features, carriers, support, etc. What would any of you suggest for one seeking solely performance and value instead of name brands and a status symbols?


Moved from OT

AT Moderator ElFenix
 
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Galaxy S3 is cheaper than that from Fleabay and works pretty well. Might even get an S4 for the price.
 
Also worth considering is the Samsung Galaxy J3 Eclipse...but I'm not sure what wireless companies it will work on. We got one for our youngest grandson this summer. It's on our Verizon plan...and basically got it for free. (We get charged for it monthly, then get the same in a credit)
Decent camera, 16mb internal RAM, upgradable with micro SD card. I THINK retail is about $160, bjt may be cheaper.
https://www.cnet.com/products/samsu...4g-hspa-plus-16-gb-cdma-gsm-smartphone/specs/
 
BoomerD said:
Also worth considering is the Samsung Galaxy J3 Eclipse...but I'm not sure what wireless companies it will work on. We got one for our youngest grandson this summer. It's on our Verizon plan...and basically got it for free. (We get charged for it monthly, then get the same in a credit)
Decent camera, 16mb internal RAM, upgradable with micro SD card. I THINK retail is about $160, bjt may be cheaper.
https://www.cnet.com/products/samsu...4g-hspa-plus-16-gb-cdma-gsm-smartphone/specs/
Click to expand...
Only 1.5gb ram. More than I've got currently, no question. But as I may be holding onto this phone for a few years I definitely need 2-3gb.
 
Boomer had a brain fart!

And...for another $25, you can add a 32 gb micro sd card...or 64 gb for about $35.

BUT, as someone already mentioned, considering your budget restrictions, a decent Galaxy S3 would be a good option as well. Should be less than $100.
 
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BoomerD said:
Where did you get that?



And...for another $25, you can add a 32 gb micro sd card...or 64 gb for about $35.

BUT, as someone already mentioned, considering your budget restrictions, a decent Galaxy S3 would be a good option as well. Should be less than $100.
Click to expand...
I think you're confusing RAM with storage space. The phone doesn't have 16gb of RAM! No phone does. Hell, my desktop only has 8. 😛
 
My "new" phone is a lg g3. I bought it earlier this year used for $100. It took a couple tries to get one that wasn't fuxxored, but amazon is good with returns. It does everything needed. I'm a little iffy on lg's quality, but it works acceptably well.
 
Don't listen to these guys samsung galaxies are terrible. Worst smart phone I've ever had, warned my buddy, he got one anyway. Within days he was cursing the thing saying he should of listened to me.

Motorola has never left me down. I just always get the cheapest one verizon is offering at the time I need one.
 
skull said:
Don't listen to these guys samsung galaxies are terrible. Worst smart phone I've ever had, warned my buddy, he got one anyway. Within days he was cursing the thing saying he should of listened to me.
Click to expand...

I don't suppose you could garnish your post with a bit more content could you? E.g. why are Galaxy phones terrible in your opinion, what problems you've had, etc.

My dad has a GS2, my wife has a GS6. No complaints from either.

I was planning to replace my ailing Nexus 5 with a Moto G5 but I didn't need to in the end. I did however buy one for a customer. I'd advise the OP to handle one physically before committing to the purchase as I found the rounded rear side to be a little strange (though I'd probably get used to it), though a serious niggle is the apparently physical button that one would assume is a home button but isn't (fingerprint sensor). I think if I bought a Moto G5 I'd be pressing that button for ages thinking it's the home button.
 
Moto g5 plus is 170 at amazon now. 2gb ram

Or you can get a chinese phone. Gearbest has a xiaomi redmi 4x for 133 now, snapdragon 625, 3gb ram 16 gb flash

On black friday you may find some budget phone deals.
 
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I'm using a LG g4 currently. I've had it for two years. Paid $400 at the time. Has a replaceable battery so that helps longevity. They do have a problem with the infamous bootloop. I sold my wives g4 for $120 recently on craigslist.
 
Rather then ebay I suggest looking here ... bought & sold on this site several times with good results and after a quick look there are multiple decent Android phones in your price range

www.swappa.com
 
Amazon with offers. I have a Fire tablet and Kindle "with offers" and seeing an ad on the lock screen doesn't bother me at all. The Moto E4s have Android 7.1 which isn't the latest 8.x but is 1-2 versions newer than many other low-priced phones.
 
mikeymikec said:
I don't suppose you could garnish your post with a bit more content could you? E.g. why are Galaxy phones terrible in your opinion, what problems you've had, etc.

My dad has a GS2, my wife has a GS6. No complaints from either.

I was planning to replace my ailing Nexus 5 with a Moto G5 but I didn't need to in the end. I did however buy one for a customer. I'd advise the OP to handle one physically before committing to the purchase as I found the rounded rear side to be a little strange (though I'd probably get used to it), though a serious niggle is the apparently physical button that one would assume is a home button but isn't (fingerprint sensor). I think if I bought a Moto G5 I'd be pressing that button for ages thinking it's the home button.
Click to expand...

Its been a while the battery was the worst part. I don't leave my location on and a bunch of apps running my motorolas have all lasted 2 days on a charge. The galaxy I had would die half way through one day. My other complaints were just random glitches, it would lock up a lot and need a restart. Theres more but its been like 5 years since I had it, my buddy had I think a 4 where I had the 3. He had the same issues. One of other complaints was it didn't seem very intuitive at least coming from a motorola it seemed like they made settings and such more difficult.
 
I got a Samsung Galaxy J3 (6), labeled "SAM J320 WHITE CLAM KIT" on the end. Was the closest new phone to the apparently now-discontinued Core Prime units.

Edit: Forgot, I paid around $135 to BestBuy on ebay for it.
 
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Bought a Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 at GearBest about 2 months ago. Cost me 135 or so including shipping. Unfortunately customs slapped on a bit more, but it was still quite a bit cheaper than buying a similar phone locally.
If shipping isn't too high and it gets through customs without problems you can get a decent phone cheap by importing.
 
I have an Alcatel Idol 4. According the the specs it has 3Gb of memory and 16gb of storage. Plus it has an octacore processor if you're into that.

Just be sure to get a good case for it. The Idol 3 I had had a catastrophic screen shattering from a 2 foot drop on concrete. I have the 4 in a notebook style case with a cover. I've dropped it several times (though not on concrete) with no damage . . . so far.
 
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