Please help me work out what kind of phone I need to buy? I have absolutely no idea.

[bluetrampolines]

So I can finally afford a new phone. I currently have a samsung galaxy donated to me by my brother. The phone is now old, slow and the screen is cracked.

I want to replace it with something really decent. I want to pay for it outrigh and keep my vodaphone phone number.

I am a single mum about to return to full time work. I want it for all the admin aspects of my life. For Netflix, podcasts, photo storage, audio books etc and id like it to be fast with massive storage that I never ever have to worry about using up. I would also like it to one day hook up with something like Alexa and speakers in the house but don't expect I can afford that at the moment.

My brother was going to take me phone shopping. He seems to think i need to spend £1000!!!! Wtf!!!!

I was thinking about £150. Or a bit more.

I haven't had any money for a long time and buying a new anything is a big deal. I dont particularly enjoy gadgets but do enjoying pottering about on a phone.

Please can you help me before I get either a crap phone or end up with a ridiculously expensive one I cant really afford.

My Samsung died a couple of weeks ago.
I got this as an emergency replacement and do everything you mention on it fine.
I'm not sure about the storage though.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=doogee+x55&oq=doogee+x55&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i60l3j69i59j35i39.7411j0j7&client=ms-android-doogee&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

Thank you. That's a good start. I'll go and have a look at it now.

Is there anyone tech savvy who could tell me what to look out for and ask in the phone shop? I find it very confusing.

Go somewhere like CEX and buy a secondhand phone. They give a 12 months warranty and a buyback guarantee. I have a Huawei P10 Lite, you can add an SD card which will store all your photos and music. An A graded secondhand phone cost me £165, its immaculate. There's no way you need to spend £1000!

I would highly recommend Huawei phones, I went to this one from a Samsung S5 and the android operating system is similar but the phone is light years better.

Have a look at giffgaff marketplace (you don't have to have a contract with them to buy a phone there, though I highly recommend them! You can keep your old phone number if you decide to go with them.)

I want it for all the admin aspects of my life. For Netflix, podcasts, photo storage, audio books etc and id like it to be fast with massive storage that I never ever have to worry about using up

I think you are being unrealistic to expect that for £150. That kind of storage costs money.

Oh really? I have had no money for years so £150 feels like a lot to me. What would be a realistic price?

If you like the Samsung, you could probably get a 2nd hand S6 with 32GB for around £200 or an S5 for a bit less. With most android phones you can add an SD card to give you extra storage but i’d still try and get 32GB if internal memory. When you get your new phone you can either just put your old SIM in it (if it’s the right size) or order a new one from Vodaphone and they’ll help you switch your number over. Ideally you’ll want an unlocked phone or one that’s already locked to Vodaphone. I 2nd CEX as a good place to look.

Alternatively my husband bought a new Wiley Fox Swift 2X like this recently and really likes it wileyfox.com/collections/swift/products/swift-2-x-velvet-case-bundle

It all sounds so impossible. I just hate this kind of shopping.

Oh, and for storage use Google Photos. It’ll back up all your photos and videos that you take with your phone so that they’re on the cloud and you can then delete them from your phone. If you have music downloaded put that on the SD card. That should leave you enough space for apps, etc. I’ll shut up now! 🤐

Go to a shop, do not buy from Facebook or anything disreputable.

I’d be wary of buying a second hand phone personally. I have my iPhone 6 which I bought on 24 month contract, paid it off, have never upgraded and don’t plan to any time soon and pay 20 a month now for unlimited everything.

Bluefish, dont shut up. I really appreciate the help.

Okay. Nothing from Facebook.

Is 32g a decent memory?

you’re definitely not going to get all what you are looking for for £150 unless you get second hand i’m afraid

As many have pointed out OP, it's very unlikely you'll find the phone you want for £150. Unfortunately they are very expensive these days and only getting more so.

If you're wanting to buy one outright then perhaps look towards a second hand phone, even have a look at what people are selling on your local Facebook selling pages. This way you will probably be able to get one closer to your budget.

32GB is the minimum I would do, obviously 64GB or more would be better. HTC are pretty good, this one was voted 3rd best mobile in 2017 in the independent (after iPhone 7 and Samsung S8 which would both be out of your price range even 2nd hand) uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=shtcuultra64bunlb&categoryName=phones-android&superCatName=phones&title=htc-u-ultra-64gb-briliant-black-unlocked-b

Go somewhere like Currys/Pc world/Car phone warehouse- you may find a deal on a handset there that's PAYG or if it works out contract at a good price so you get unlimited Data for Netflix etc.

I have the Samsung s8+ and love it but I'm contract at £25 a month, unlimited text/calls and 10gb data - free WiFi and calls to other EE.

I drove a hard bargain as above should have been £50+ last year.

I can afford more than £150. It seemed a lot. Will pay more if necessary.

What questions do I need to ask in the shop?

This is very helpful.

That’s very good mavy how did you manage that? What does it drop to when you’ve paid the phone off?

bluetrampolines

For what you’re asking for, a brand new phone would cost £1000 as your brother says. It’s just most people take it out over a 24 month payment system. Lots of people upgrade as soon as the 24 months are up but I don’t see the point and your bill is halved then

Got a new Samsung Galaxy A3 for £200 and a second hand Galaxy s4 for 100 euros. both good phones. I wouldn't look to watch Netflix on a phone, uses far too much data. watch it on a pc or tv. Looking at the prices I would have paid £200 more on a contract over 24 months so avoid contracts if you can pay outright. Look at online reviews and prices online first. If you go to a shop you will have less choice

Mission

Really? Okay. I guess in fairness he is mostly right about this stuff.

Hes a rich bachelor and I'm a skint single mum with 3 kids. I thought he was just being indulgent.

I moved to Huawei from samsung and absolutely love it, I'd recommend taking a look at them

I have OnePlus 3t. Incredibly happy with it. Runs better than the Samsung I had before, yet it's half the price

bluetrampolines

If you’re getting Pay as you Go then this isn’t really important (but from what you have described you want the phone for, this is definitely not the option for you) so you need a contract. When you buy a new phone you either pay for the phone and line rental on a monthly basis or you pay for the phone outright (around a grand for a newish phone) and a cheaper line rental and there’s also variations like paying X amount upfront for the phone and paying cheaper line rental etc. This is over 24 months normally. After 24 months you have paid for the phone. It is now yours. You can upgrade and get a newer phone and start the whole process again or keep your phone and because it’s paid off you won’t be paying for it from then on.