Can you recommend me a phone please?

[fuzzpig]

My iPhone is about to give up the ghost :(

I need a new phone ASAP, but I can't afford another iPhone (this one was given to me by a friend when he upgraded - it's lasted about 5 years). I use a giffgaff sim and only spend £5 a month so I really don't want to switch to an expensive contract, I'd rather just buy a handset.

Any recommendations for a cheap touchscreen phone please? I'm not fussed about all the frills BUT I would like a phone that uses a proper onscreen keyboard rather than going back to the 9 keys 2=abc 3=def IYSWIM? I don't think I'd manage one of them now

[NetworkGuy]

What network are you on, and what sort of budget do you have to spend on the phone?

If this is an iPhone 2 or 3, then I'm guessing it'll have a standard size SIM (mini-SIM), but once we know what network you're on, it can help in identifying what options you have from your network, Phones4U, Carphone Warehouse, etc.

[NetworkGuy]

Have you copied all the address book down onto paper (there may be some utility to get a copy from your computer if you sync the phone with the computer now and then to copy any photos and numbers from the phone to the computer... but I have no iPhone so no experience, sorry).

[fuzzpig]

I have a normal sized giffgaff sim, which I think uses the O2 network.

Budget, £100 max I'd say.

It was a 3GS by the way. Am toying with the idea of getting an iPod touch I am addicted to a few apps as that plus a cheap phone would still be much less than a new iPhone. If I do get an iPod (as a present) I would really not be bothered what phone I had IYSWIM.

[fuzzpig]

Oh good idea - I have the cloud thingy as a backup (we also have an iPad which was a handmedown from the same friend!) but I should make a hard copy. Basically my phone still works as long as it is on the charger, but it wouldn't last even a short day at work anymore, poor bunny :)

[piratecat]

i have the Samsung Galaxy ace 2, really pleased with it. I got it for £129 with an orange sim tho.

I have a friend who has the Samsung mini and is happy with that.

that's about all i know about phones!!

[NetworkGuy]

O2 is selling the Xperia Tipo at about £80 (+ top-up) as a PAYG and that should be OK with a GiffGaff mini-SIM in it. I paid £50 online for a refurbished one from them (but already have a few Android phones, and could not justify the new price, and then found T-Mobile had dropped the price for a brand new one to £49.99 +top-up... however, I've decided my next 'addition' will be the Xperia T, significantly more up-market but not like the very latest Samsung, HTC or Apple phones... Xperia T is from £23/month on Three {with unlimited data and generous minutes and text allowances}.

It's running Android v4 {Ice Cream Sandwich} (not the latest version, Jelly Bean, but not 2.2 or 2.3, Frodo or Gingerbread) and has touch screen {but obviously the Apps will be different}.

If you check a few threads I've posted about this phone - I've had one less than a week, and while it has modest (3.x Mpixel) camera, and modest screen resolution, it has much more storage than some of the older Samsung models (Europa, Mini, or Ace) I have, and is (in my opinion), good value for money, when I compare with some of the other Android phones I have (the 3 Samsung, a Vodafone and a Huawei Blaze).

[NetworkGuy]

If you go to TopCashBack and sign up you may be able to get an extra fiver as cashback. Do register with TCB and then visit www.topcashback.co.uk/o2/ and click their link to go to the O2 website (that way your visit from TCB site should be recorded and in a month or three you should get the cash back).


I know it's all not much, but the networks obviously want to get more people on contracts and give out more as an incentive. I got £101 into my bank account from signing up on T-Mobile for their £16/month "Full Monty" SIM (it was reduced from £31 that week).

[NetworkGuy]

Sorry - it's the Sony Xperia Tipo.

[NetworkGuy]

If you're not bothered about having a smartphone, but still want just a touch screen phone then there's also an O2 phone at Asda from Huawei, model G7105 at (I think) £40.

I have a hardly used G7105 downstairs... Asda were also selling a Huawei running Android but my sister got me the wrong one - seems they were short of stock of the Android one (unlocked Huawei Blaze 8510) as it was ripped off the shelves when it was being sold rather cheaply (about 100 quid less than I paid 10 months earlier, and with an Asda £5 top-up included free).