Is there a smart phone junkie out there who knows phones? I am not techie. I don’t care about bells and whistles. I am not brand-loyal. Probably more storage would be good. My current Samsung galaxy 5 still works, but the charging portal is just about gone, hence need new one.
Priorities:
Easy to use
Large keyboard for texting easily (I text a LOT due to my job. I’m slow at it.)
Small enough to still go in a pocket.
Good pics.
Not too expensive ($500?)
I’d like something bigger than my Galaxy 5. They advised me at the ATT store to get Samsung Galaxy 7 or 8, but 9 seems good also. I saw those folding phones too. Any good? Or is some other brand better? Should I just get an iPhone? Help PLEASE!
My advice is to never buy new. It is just so easy and so much cheaper to buy a professionally refurbed phone over Amazon, Ebay, etc.
An iphone 11 with 64 GB goes for $1,000 new.
Can you tell me exactly what will that do as compared to a $300 refurbed 8 with 64GB (with 12 month warranty) or even a 6s (what I’m currently using) at $110 with 64 GB and 12 month warranty? You’ll find the same thing in the Samsung/Android silo.
My other/related advice is never buy from the phone store and drop your big carrier. Once you have your new/refurb phone, BYOD it to an MVNO. I pay $125 a month for 5 unlimited voice/data lines with Cricket no contract. Used to use ATT for more than double that with a contract. FYI, Cricket is owned by ATT and uses ATT’s network!
Just make sure your new phone is compatible with the MVNO you want to use. You either go Team GSM (ATT, T Mobile network) or Team CDMA (Sprint Verizon network).
If you’re using your phone A LOT for work then you are going to want a phone that makes that experience the best/most time efficient it can be. A bigger phone might help with fingers that aren’t the best at texting.
Depending if you have to use your phone for work out in the field (out of the office, traveling, etc.) you’re going to want a pretty reliable carrier.
If you don’t want to replace your phone often I would still buy the newest phone that you can afford. Why start off 3 or 4 steps behind the latest technology? In 2 years you’ll be multiple steps behind in phone features, speed, etc.
I have an iPhone 8+ (bigger size) - its the first phone I’ve had that I don’t feel at all the need to replace when it’s paid off this January (2 years old). Very happy with it.
@northwesty , thanks for the tips, but when I say I’m not a techie, I mean it, lol. What is BYOD and MVNO? When you say 8 and 6, you mean Samsung Galaxy? I have ATT and that won’t change because it’s a family thing that all four of us are on. Planning to buy on Amazon.
An iPhone 11 with 64 GB is $699. An iPhone 11 pro with 64 GB is $999.
When I bought my iPhone 16 GB, it was $599. I think an 11 with 64 GB is a bargain. I’m not a fan of refurbished phones. You never know what you’re going to get, or how long they are going to last. YMMV
I completely disagree with @northwesty Get a new phone and go to your phone store and ask for advice and try out the different models and explain your needs. Stick with your major carrier. If you want to order on Amazon, then do so, but I would recommend ordering it from Apple or the major carrier. Trust me that some of the Amazon electronics will fail a lot sooner.
Android phones do have a greater choice of lower cost new phones. For example, a Google Pixel 3a is $399, and a Google Pixel 3 is $499 these days (there are new Android phones as low as $99, but you may be giving up timely security software updates). The argument for buying used may be a bit stronger with Apple phones, but even an iPhone 8 is $449 new from the Apple web site.
An advantage of newer phones is that the remaining support window for security software updates is longer. However, that is mostly relevant if you choose a phone with timely security updates (e.g. Apple, Google Pixel, or Android One phones); some phones do not get very timely security software updates even when relatively new.
^^ Agree with all that but with the understanding that you can only afford what you can afford - BUT get it someplace where they can back you up if your phone has issues.
You don’t have to be techy to want a trustworthy product. To me, being non-techy is even MORE reason to go with a major carrier who has a brick and mortar store you can walk into for help.
Those are competing attributes that go against each other.
My last experience with a Samsung phone (Galaxy S5) is that it was pre-loaded with a bunch of useless and sometimes annoying things, and did not get security software updates very quickly (every 3-4 months instead of monthly).
@ucbalumnus , I don’t want a notebook because I still want to use it as a phone. I know some phones have larger keyboards, so that’s one of the main things I need.
@MomofWildChild , I went to the ATT store today and she literally told me to get a Samsung 7 or 8 on Amazon! I actually appreciated that, because who sends people away from the store?. I’m just wondering if anyone has a “you should lol at the _______ phone.”
I am happy with my Pixel 3 which is just slightly bigger than my last phone, but still fits in most of my pockets. I wouldn’t say its keyboard is that big, but I like it much better than dh’s huge iphone. And it’s quite large if you put it in landscape mode. What I hate most about it, is that without a manual you keep having to search for how to do things that are different from the last phone you had.
I think my iPhone 10 is just about perfect and while I’m generally a pretty early adopter, I’m going to wait another year before upgrading. I’m holding out for even better battery life. The advice to buy on Amazon is bad, in my opinion. As has been noted by other posters, this is your main phone and you aren’t very technical. Buy where you can get some support and can be assured of a reliable product.
Lindagaf, in a few days, when the post count has jumped a lot, you’re going to see how people are either Apple or Android and “Ne’er the twain shall meet.”
You described some wants. Think aboutit a little more- does it matter that you get high quality photos? I got my Galaxy based on reviews that said it topped Apple and the Pixel-- and I’d say not. (It was extensive reading, ucbalumnus.) Plus my phone camera actually loads (readies for a shot) slower than my kids’ Iphones.) Drives me nuts. Plus, do you have other devices you need to synch?
Lol, northwesty, guess whose network ATT uses. There no longer are networks that exclusively run on their own built lines. ATT, Verizon and SPrint all work together. Subs like Cricket generally have back-up relationships.
I bought my first apple in May 2018, the new IPhone 10. I love this phone. The battery life is incredible, it takes great photos and I love that it’s compatible with my IPAD. I love being able to be sitting with my iPad and receive text messages, etc., on that vs. having to read them on my phone, or get up to find my phone.
Other than those things, it doesn’t make much difference to me as I don’t use it much for the bells and whistles.
All I’ll say is, if you get an Android phone, make sure it has enough internal storage for all the apps and all associated storage you will want. IMO 32 gig is the very minimum. You can (ans should) get an sd card to store camera images and music and all that (SO cheap for huge cards!), but apps are always happiest on internal storage.
I’m confused as to why the person at ATT would advise you to buy on Amazon. Is the model she suggests no longer sold by ATT?
Most of my family has IPhones. Years ago my D was anti Apple so got a Samsung. She ended up returning it and getting an IPhone since she hated not having anyone to ask how to work the phone. All her family and close friends had Apple products. My son in law didn’t want to spend the money on a new IPhone last year and he bought a Google phone. He has been happy with it.
We have ATT (and yes, we are happy with that). However, we haven’t bought a phone from them in many years. I have an IPhone. I buy at the Apple store and pay for it there. My husband has a Samsung. I think he got his on Amazon, and he loves it. DD and DS have IPhones, and we paid for those at the Apple store too.
I’ve had too many friends who had issues dealing with ATT or Verizon when they had warranty phone issues. Apple store is easy (except that it’s always crowded)