Android Budget Phone

Magill

Hey guys, Im looking for some recommendations for a budget Andriod phone (Budget of about £160ish.. 200euros i guess). Not really that knowledgeable with smartphones (I have an old LG flip phone !) but i've got a pretty big module on my degree this year on mobile applications, which is based on programming for andriod phones... so i thought it would be a good time to invest in a new phone.

It doesn't have to be fancy or have an amazing camera or anything, just need something with an android OS that can handle most apps reasonably well.

Trevor451

Magill wrote: »

Hey guys, Im looking for some recommendations for a budget Andriod phone (Budget of about £160ish.. 200euros i guess). Not really that knowledgeable with smartphones (I have an old LG flip phone !) but i've got a pretty big module on my degree this year on mobile applications, which is based on programming for andriod phones... so i thought it would be a good time to invest in a new phone.

It doesn't have to be fancy or have an amazing camera or anything, just need something with an android OS that can handle most apps reasonably well.

Most budget android handsets are complete *****. They just leave you with a bad taste of the android OS

Does your smartphone have to be running android? You can get the LG optimus 7 running windows phone 7 for approximately €200 delivered. Many boards.ie users have it and all agree that it is a fantastic smartphone for the price.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWCSsGju_Hc

Some features/specs the E900 has (off the top of my head):
1GHZ snapdragon processor
3.8" Scratch resistant screen (gorrila glass)
5 megapixel camera (Can record 720p movies)
16GB memory
Mango update-able



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LG-E900-OPTIMUS-7-WINDOWS-PHONE-7-BLACK-5M-KAMERA-HANDY-/190575150976?_trksid=p4340.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DDLSL%252BSIC%26its%3DI%252BP%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D8%26pmod%3D200625220083%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D3083706572968383513

Magill

Trevor451 wrote: »

Most budget android handsets are complete *****. They just leave you with a bad taste of the android OS

Does your smartphone have to be running android? You can get the LG optimus 7 running windows phone 7 for approximately €200 delivered. Many boards.ie users have it and all agree that it is a fantastic smartphone for the price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LG-E900-OPTIMUS-7-WINDOWS-PHONE-7-BLACK-5M-KAMERA-HANDY-/190575150976?_trksid=p4340.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DDLSL%252BSIC%26its%3DI%252BP%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D8%26pmod%3D200625220083%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D3083706572968383513

Yeah, it has to be android because we'll be developing android based app's. I've had a wee search about and it seems like its going to be between a HTC wildfire S and Samsung Galaxy Ace. Both seem to be getting reasonable reviews... im not really expecting them to be running like a £400 phone, just want something that will beable to run most simple app's.

Alanstrainor

Trevor451 wrote: »

Most budget android handsets are complete *****. They just leave you with a bad taste of the android OS

Does your smartphone have to be running android? You can get the LG optimus 7 running windows phone 7 for approximately €200 delivered. Many boards.ie users have it and all agree that it is a fantastic smartphone for the price.

Some features/specs the E900 has (off the top of my head):
1GHZ snapdragon processor
3.8" Scratch resistant screen (gorrila glass)
5 megapixel camera (Can record 720p movies)
16GB memory
Mango update-able


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LG-E900-OPTIMUS-7-WINDOWS-PHONE-7-BLACK-5M-KAMERA-HANDY-/190575150976?_trksid=p4340.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DDLSL%252BSIC%26its%3DI%252BP%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D8%26pmod%3D200625220083%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D3083706572968383513

Couldn't agree more. I know i seem to be saying the same thing on all these types of threads, but even now the Optimus can't be beat for value. And it's lightning fast running the latest release of Windows Phone.

It also has 512MB of RAM too. Plenty of horsepower.

angel01

How about buying a second hand android phone via boards.ie? You should be able to get a second hand Galaxy S cheaper (now that Galaxy S II is released)?

KrisW

Second the recommendation for a second-hand Galaxy S or HTC Desire rather than a new "cheap" phone. The cheaper Android phones are just not able to run the OS properly.

Depending on the apps you're thinking of writing, you'll need a couple of different devices for testing - there are two major screen sizes on Android, with a few other "niche" resolutions too. I don't do any work on Android, so I don't know the tools, but surely there's a simulator you can use for most dev, then just borrow a handset for final testing. That's the way it works on iOS or Nokia, anyway.

OwaynOTT

Go for the ace out of that and wildfire s. Or as the others said get second hand on adverts.

Magill

Yeah i had thought about getting a second hand phone... but im from the north and living in belfast, so im not sure how that'd work (Im not in the know about phone providers either :P).

Jaafa

If your up north, Xperia play can be had for 200euros http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5261150.htm

Otherwise 235 euro here http://www.expansys.ie/sony-ericsson-xperia-play-208958/ This code should get ya 10 euro off:10EXP

I think it would be a great phone for testing apps/games with the slide out controller.

Tony H

The orange monte carlo (4.3 screen ) is on offer for today in the orange stores for today only for 120 sterling if theres a shop near you.
http://shop.orange.co.uk/mobile-phones/orange-monte-carlo