So you have $199 for a new smartphone....

[Blueknight7]

What do you buy? Here are some thoughts:

• You're not tied to any app ecosystem, but it's nice to have options if wanted.
• You value form and style, but don't want to have the phone that everyone on the block does
• As long as it lasts for a day, battery life is fine
• Having a long life would be nice - including ongoing software updates from the makers
• 4.5" screen would be nice, but you've succumbed to the idea that a 5" behemoth that takes two hands will be in your pocket.
• Odd or small makers are fine, but support (if needed) has to be there. No more repeating the OnePlus 8 week support disaster like last time.
• Doesn't need a fancy camera. If you wanted to mount photos, you would be like Ansel Adams and use a real camera.

I can't ever justify paying for a flagship phone. For me, it's a portable phone and glorified spotify player on my daily commute. Oh, and I check work emails.

If I was looking last year, i would have probably jumped on a Zenphone 2, but now there's a lot of other options..... so I'm curious what people would pick. I'm US based and have ATT as my provider.

Was on a HTC One (M7), but currently playing with a Lumina 635 ($30 walmart special) to try Windows.

 

[pete6032]

Should be able to get an HTC One m8 for $200. Also check out LG G2 or Motorola Droid turbo. If you really want to stand out, and don't mind switching to Sprint, you could get a Sharp Aquos Crystal.

 

[Artdeco]

Used S5 Active https://swappa.com/buy/samsung-galaxy-s-5-active-att

 

[zanemoseley]

Well my LG G2 just decided it didn't want to charge anymore after 2 years of wonderful service. I just ordered a mint condition G3 on Ebay for $190 including priority shipping.

 

[luv2liv]

i would never pay over $100 for a phone.
the asus zenphone is $200 and was given as a gift. it has been working great! battery can easily last over 1 day.

 

[RossMAN]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2453185

Are you willing to increase your budget to $250?

Moto G 3rd gen

OnePlus X
video 1
video 2

 

[poofyhairguy]

Moto X 2014

 

[Chocu1a]

Does it have to be "brand new"?
You can pick up a gently used phone in your price range.
LG G3, Samsung Note 3, Galaxy S5, iPhone 5s, HTC M8, Moto X
After leaving Verizon and going prepaid mnvo, I will never buy a full priced flagship again. Phones have reached a stable plateau with performance. Any flagship from the past 2 years will be a solid performer.

 

[pete6032]

G3 does not meet OP's size requirement.

 

[Chocu1a]

G3 does not meet OP's size requirement.

There really aren't many "newish" phones coming in under the 5" mark.
Also just pointing out you can get last years flagship for under $200.

 

[pete6032]

There really aren't many "newish" phones coming in under the 5" mark.
Also just pointing out you can get last years flagship for under $200.

Yep I agree. If the G3 had a smaller screen it would be the best option. I bet the OP is even balking at $200 though if he's looking at $60 phones and likes what he sees.

 

[isekii]

lot of mid rangers are under $200 bucks new or used and even the previous gen flagships are all under $200 now (s5/m8/G3) etc..
lots of options.

 

[pete6032]

 

[isekii]

nvm it' was more about service.

 

[RossMAN]

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua 16GB GSM/LTE Unlocked Cell Phone

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0102OM1IC is $199.99 currently.

 

[obidamnkenobi]

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua 16GB GSM/LTE Unlocked Cell Phone

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0102OM1IC is $199.99 currently.

That's an interesting looking phone, although I don't know much about Sony's skin..? Decent hardware, waterproof and SD card. Nice.

How does the snapdragon 615 compare to the 410 in the 2015 Moto G? The M4 isn't in anandtechs bench. Is there another phone with that chip I could compare?

edit: looks like the Huawei P8 Lite has a 615. Performance more or less tied with the Moto G. better in some, worse in others.

 

[shortylickens]

Sony's M series doesnt have the super high end CPU of the Z series, but are otherwise very good smartphones.

 

[Oyeve]

Aren't z3s cheap now? I have a z3v I'm about to offload. Zero support.

 

[postmortemIA]

That's an interesting looking phone, although I don't know much about Sony's skin..? Decent hardware, waterproof and SD card. Nice.

How does the snapdragon 615 compare to the 410 in the 2015 Moto G? The M4 isn't in anandtechs bench. Is there another phone with that chip I could compare?

edit: looks like the Huawei P8 Lite has a 615. Performance more or less tied with the Moto G. better in some, worse in others.

Sony's skin is almost non-existent. Pretty much all interfaces look like AOSP.
I'd worry more about compatibility with US networks.

 

[obidamnkenobi]

Aren't z3s cheap now? I have a z3v I'm about to offload. Zero support.

The various Z3s on swappa are $350 and up. Might be a good deal, but substantially more than the $200 for a brand new M4. I really don't want ot spend more than $200-250 on a phone.

What's your support issues with the Z3? No/slow updates? Kinda the case for any non-nexus phone..

 

[Oyeve]

The various Z3s on swappa are $350 and up. Might be a good deal, but substantially more than the $200 for a brand new M4. I really don't want ot spend more than $200-250 on a phone.

What's your support issues with the Z3? No/slow updates? Kinda the case for any non-nexus phone..

No updates in the works. Seems like verizon doesnt even have this phone on their roster any more. I do like the phone but 4.4.4. is a bit old.

 

[obidamnkenobi]

No updates in the works. Seems like verizon doesnt even have this phone on their roster any more. I do like the phone but 4.4.4. is a bit old.

Well I'd be using it unlocked on GSM so not worried about carriers. The M4 come with lollipop, I hope 5.1. And FWIW wikipedia says it's scheduled for marshmellow from sony. Who knows when though. It took moto a year to get 5.0 on my G.. One major update seems to be the most you can expect for most non-nexus.