Need a new phone...

[Seismica]

So, my old phone, a Motorola L7, is on it's last legs. I've had it for 4-5 years, it's had a good run, but it's practically falling apart now. I now can't use it as the keypad is faulty, so I'm going to buy a new one.

So, what I want;

Firstly, I want a camera on my phone. The camera MUST have a flash, otherwise it's useless. All that increased exposure crap does not work at all, flash is the only way.

Secondly, I want 3G and WiFi. I've seen some low end smartphones, which sell themselves on the touch screen but come with limited features. Like the LG Cookie and the Samsung Tocco Lite. But they don't come with 3G or WiFi, so the touch screen is next to useless (As I would've thought the big screen is for web browsing). Then the camera doesn't have a flash, so that's next to useless aswell. So I may aswell spend a tenner on the most basic phone available instead, as all it'll be able to do is text and make calls anyway

Thirdly, it should have half decent multimedia features. Especially for music, as I do not have an MP3 player (Well I do, I have an ipod touch, but I never use it. Having it built in with my phone would be a lot more convenient) . Videos and games etc. are not high on my priority list.

Also, it needs to have good internal storage/memory (Around 50-100MB is fine, any more is a bonus).

Has anyone got any suggestions? My price range is £50-£150 on pay as you go, contract is not a realistic option for me, plus I want to stay with Tesco Mobile with my current sim - I'm not averse to unlocking a phone from another network, as long as the handset price is good.

BTW, It must NOT be a vertical sliding phone like this, I absolutely detest them This is acceptable however.

If I can't get anything to match my criteria (And price), I'll just get a cheap replacement phone until I can afford to buy a high end phone like a HTC desire or iPhone 4.

 

[Owen.C93]

Unless you get free internet on your PAYG phone, then having wifi can be expensive. In which case you can get a decent contract phone for around £15 a month. (Probably 18 month contract)

 

[ExigeEvan]

Nokia 5800.

Does everything you list.

 

[Seismica]

Nokia 5800.

Does everything you list.

I know it does. Just a little out of my price range unfortunately

I posted this on another forum and got some decent suggestions there. But I think realistically, my price range is too low. It's a dilemma now, I can either buy a cheap phone now and buy a new one later in the year when I have the money (For an iPhone 4 or HTC Desire ideally).

However, 'later in the year' coincides with the GT5 release, and I don't have a PS3. Life is cruel sometimes, you know?

Maybe I could get by without the camera flash. For that I could get one of these. I have a £20 discount voucher, plus my Brother's 10% staff discount, that makes it around £72. It's fairly decent, but obviously, not as good as the higher end models that do the same thing due to the lower spec hardware.

Unless you get free internet on your PAYG phone, then having wifi can be expensive. In which case you can get a decent contract phone for around £15 a month. (Probably 18 month contract)

On my current tariff I can get 100MB fair use 3G internet for £2 a week, if I opt in (And it's not a contractual basis, I can cancel that at any time). As for calls and texts, I get the equivalent of 600 texts or around 430 minutes a month for £10 (My credit gets tripled; 5p per text and 7p per minute calls - although less to the same network I think, and I get £30 credit in total off a £10 topup. <3 tesco Mobile. Too bad their handset upgrade choice is limited). As for contracts, I think to get a decent deal you would have to either buy the handset, or commit to a long term 18 or 24 month contract, which I simply will not do. At least with pay as you go, I can reduce my phone bill whenever I like by simply reducing the frequency of my topups. The only big payout will be the handset itself.

What happens with a contract phone when your contract runs out, do you keep the handset? I'm planning on keeping/using my handset for a number of years, hence why I want 3G and WiFi incase I need them in the future, which I probably will.

 

[ExigeEvan]

If you're waiting to save up, then how long will it take to save an extra £30? I can't recommend this phone enough, I know atleast 5 other people with them, and don't know of any problems. And it covers all the hardware and standard uses of an iPhone, in my opinion.

 

[Seismica]

If you're waiting to save up, then how long will it take to save an extra £30? I can't recommend this phone enough, I know atleast 5 other people with them, and don't know of any problems. And it covers all the hardware and standard uses of an iPhone, in my opinion.

Aye but £150 is right at the very top of my budget. And i'm currently unemployed.Plus, i've been saving what I have since April.

My alternative is to go out and sell my 2nd gen iPod touch (Which has never been used ) and a few of my PS3 games (Which I can't play anyway, without my Brother's permission to use his PS3 ). That should raise me around £60-80 depending on what I can get for the touch. I think i'll do that.