Smartphone Shopping Help

"ncasolowork2" (ncasolowork2) 10/22/2013 at 12:04 • Filed to: None

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My wife and I are in the market for a smartphone. For a variety of reasons we need one that won't cost us each one of our kidneys and will work with Verizon. I'd post on Gizmodo, but I'm not approved there.

What's important? The ability to browse the internet, use twitter, watch something on netflix from time to time, talk to someone, text someone, and not die every 4 hours. Apps are a perk, but not a big deal same with games.

I would say anything $200 and under is fair game. I'm hoping to get a black friday deal or two.

Edit: My wife isn't eligible for upgrade and under contract so the contract pricing isn't available.

ddavidn > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:10

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The iPhone 5s meets all your requirements, as should the Galaxy S4 on sale. My preference lies with Android, but you should take a look at both of them as they are solid phones.

ncasolowork2 > ddavidn 10/22/2013 at 12:10

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5c costs around $500 and the S4 I believe around $700.

ddavidn > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:11

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So you're not getting one on contract?

PatBateman > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:11

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/thread

ncasolowork2 > ddavidn 10/22/2013 at 12:12

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I can she can't. Ideally I'd like to get neither under contract.

derf_vader > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:12

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I've been extremely satisfied with my droid ultra.

ddavidn > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:13

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Gotcha. I will give it some more thought, then.

cazzyodo > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:16

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You're going to have a much more difficult time then. If you can find deals or anything, my brother has the GS4 and I have the GS3. Both are solid smartphones. The iPhone has no surprises to my knowledge and I recommend it as a safe choice...but I personally never shop iPhones.

I recently helped my aunt debate a smartphone as well (her first one) and she went GS4 (I didn't steer her, just asked her what she was looking for and helped get the thought process going). She loves it and is posting images from a cross country drive now.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:17

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I feel the the OS and the dev community are the most important. iOS and Android are really the only two options worth considering. On the cost of the device, consider the total cost of your two contracts over two years , and the cost of the phone seems tiny. I'd never recommend someone get an "old" phone - get the latest, best version (not a 5 C , for example, which is just an iPhone 5 in a new housing). If you get an older version, it may not work well with the OS in a year or two.

If you're going to use it socially (sounds like it), it's not a bad idea to pick the same OS that your family and close friends use. For our family, that means Apple - FaceTime with Grandma and Grandpa is just too easy...

At this point, I wouldn't get anything without LTE.

cazzyodo > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:17

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Also, FUCK VERIZON.

I have it, I'm always the only one on trips with reception, but I hate Verizon. Nothing but headaches in their stores.

ddavidn > cazzyodo 10/22/2013 at 12:19

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FWIW, I have good service in-store. Customer service by phone is hit-and-miss, but the stores are good to me in washington state.

Nibbles > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:20

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The HTC 8X should be a good price come black friday. You may even be able to get a Lumia 928 (since another one is due out pretty soon)

I'm a fan of Windows Phone. It does just exactly what you expect it to do. Voice recognition is awesome, navigation is great (esp. on the Lumia, Here Drive FTW), and it comes out of the box with pretty much anything you'll need . The app store isn't as robust as Android or iOS, but if you're not worried about getting the latest games on release date that's not such a big deal.

totally not fanboying. I've owned at least 4 devices from each OS and have found that WP is just the best fit for me

ncasolowork2 > cazzyodo 10/22/2013 at 12:21

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I'd get an S4 or 5c in a heartbeat if it was an option. Unfortunately for my wife the out of pocket cost is astronomical and just doesn't make sense. Her contract is up in February and we can change then, but i don't know what deals will be available at that time as far as plans go.

ncasolowork2 > cazzyodo 10/22/2013 at 12:22

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Would love to get setup with T-Mobile, but there's no coverage around here. AT&T and Sprint aren't an option as they're both more expensive. MetroPCS uses the T-Mobile network so that's out. Boost does as well I think.

ncasolowork2 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/22/2013 at 12:24

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If I can get the phones off contract the total cost is going to be $1200 on a 1 year contract. + cost of phones. $100 a month for unlimited talk text and 4GB of data.

Pessimippopotamus > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:33

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won't cost us each one of our kidneys and will work with Verizon.

Does not compute.

In all seriousness, It's going to be damn hard to get a new Verizon phone that's not on contract. Maybe you can find unused flagship models from two years ago for around $230 off contract, if you want decent performance, although Verizon does offer new low-end dual core (prepaid) phones for ~$100. I don't know how well these cheap phones work, but you may be able to try one out at a Verizon store. They are without LTE antennas, however, and I don't know how good Verizon's non-4G network is.

While I don't have any compelling recommendation for you, I'll go ahead and share your post with Whitenoise forum on Gizmodo.

fink stinger > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:34

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If the phone you just described was available, everyone would have it. Well, everyone except for the iPhone fanbois. You are either going to be shopping for a used phone or adjusting your price points.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend a particular phone since the one I stand by (Nexus 4) doesn't work on Verizon's network without getting your hands dirty. Google and Verizon are having a bit of a standoff over Verizon's horrible firmware policies.

But, the way I do phones might be interesting. I treat phone ownership exactly like I treat car ownership...with the exception that the lifecycle is dramatically different. I buy the phones I like slightly used and unlocked. When I decide I want a replacement (while the current one still has residual value), I buy it and sell the one I have. This keeps me in the $75-100 per year range for upgrade costs and I always have a fairly recent phone.

Offsetting this by using MVNO service (month to month, or no contract) instead of being under contract with one of the big 2. I am currently using StraightTalk on AT&T's network.

If nothing else, just bang around on eBay for something used and then just peddle it off when your wife's contract allows her a new phone.

Cat VonAwesome > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:34

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I, personally, am an android user and have never paid more than $100 for a new phone when re-upping my contract. The Moto X has excellent reviews (and I would have gotten one already if my contract was up) and the price is rumored to be droppin to $100 for the holidays. I currently have a motorola bionic. This is my 3rd motorola android and they make awesome phones. I have dropped this thing face down on concrete with no cover and not gotten a scratch. (Avoid the Maxx and the Mini though.)

My bff swears by his Windows phone. He absolutely loves it. I believe he has a Lumia. But, there's an issue with Chrome browser not being available on windows phones that he dislikes greatly.

The thing to keep in mind is that all the phones do what you want them to do. You don't necessarily need an OS specific app to talk to people (like Facetime or whatever). Skype is cross platform. Google hangout is cross platform. Etc. So it really comes down to OS use preference. I love Android but I'm a heavy google user so it makes sense for me.

I would go to the Verizon store and really flip around a few phones to see what body feel and user experience you prefer.

ncasolowork2 > fink stinger 10/22/2013 at 12:38

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T-Mobile offers what looks like a decent windows phone off contract for $80 (the Lumia 520). It might not be the latest and greatest, but I don't quite understand why Verizon doesn't have a similarly priced functional model. That's something I did not expect when I posted this.

CobraJoe > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 12:43

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If you don't mind big phones, I'd highly recommend a Galaxy Note II. I got one when they first came out, been using it for the entire year, and I still get two days of battery life with moderate use. The only problem I'm having with it is the plastic back is scratched up and the chrome is starting to peel on the bezel a bit, but it's performance is well worth the cosmetic issues for me.

It is a year old by now, the Note III has already been announced, so you might be able to find one cheap, but I haven't checked prices yet.

cazzyodo > ddavidn 10/22/2013 at 13:03

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Stores have treated me like garbage over the years. Granted, I was the kid in a few cases but I've walked in with a bill that they couldn't explain, have been treated like an idiot even when I did the math for them in my head while they fumbled for a calculator and been expected to pay $500 more per year because my family plan I bought no longer is available. I can't wait for the conversation I will have next July...

Over the phone has been spectacular. I ended up with one kid my age where we talked about cars while waiting on his supervisor to answer a question he didn't know how to respond to. Pretty chill kid haha.

ddavidn > cazzyodo 10/22/2013 at 13:06

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Weird!

ottermann > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 13:12

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Back in March I needed a new phone, was eligible for the upgrade, but short on cash. So I said the hell with it and got the free phone, LG Lucid 2.

It's really not a bad phone. The battery life, with moderate email and app usage is about 45-50% in a day. While it doesn't have the best specs on an Android phone at Verizon, it is better than my old Droid 3.

If you want to go cheap, there are worse phones out there.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 13:20

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Boost uses Spirit's network

dan7gtar > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 13:22

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Lumia 822 and Lumia 928 are both good budget smartphones. Verzion is due to get some new Lumias, so look for them to offload old stock of those two phones.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 13:23

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For what you're looking to do, the GS3 is still more than capable for the task. Even off contract, it won't be too bad.

Curves > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 14:08

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FYI- You (or pretty much anyone) could post at Whitenoise and one of the admins would un-grey you almost immediately. We are pretty liberal with who gets to post there, so long as they have a comment history and are not blatant trolls.

I hope you get the answer to your question. :)

Zao_89 > ncasolowork2 10/22/2013 at 17:12

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Wait for the Nexus 5. It'll be $350, and that's off contract.

Pessimippopotamus > Zao_89 10/22/2013 at 17:27

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Nexus 5 probably won't be on Verizon. Galaxy Nexus on Verizon doesn't even have Android 4.3 yet.

Alexmrb > ncasolowork2 10/25/2013 at 16:37

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I would go with an unlocked smartphone from Amazon or even buying one from MetroPCS and unlocking it yourself.