I suppose I want a new phone really - do your worst

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

I have a really crap Blackberry Curve 8520. I am now increasingly jealous of, erm, everyone.

I am pondering either an entry-level-ish android - Galaxy Ace? something else? Or maybe an iPhone4S. I'm an iVirgin.

I don't want to spend more than about £100 upfront. And around £20pm for contract. Might go PAYG if not going the iPhone route.

I want to use a few apps, check emails, MN, small amount of calls/texts.

What do I want? Do I just want an iPod touch to play with and keep my crap-phone for calls? Pretty please.

[sneezecakesmum]

O2 sim only £10 pm which they double up if you pay DD. plenty of minutes data and texts there for the light user. As you say, good coverage too. Phone wise ANYTHING with a good sized screen and running jelly bean as a minimum.

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

woo hoo i am posting from my new phone
went for s3 mini in the end
got candy crush and MN app so all set
just need a small child to teach me how to use it now

[nellyjelly]

Iphone is the best phone I have ever had. There are decent deals on 4 and 4s if you look.

[NetworkGuy]

CLEARLY you must check what coverage there is from Three in the areas you are most. Was serious when I mentioned Wales as lots of areas will have poor/no coverage.

My sister can only talk to me when walking on the beach at Anglesey, or from one spot by a door in their cottage. I just send her texts these days or ring their landline as there's little guarantee of reaching her on Vodafone (though you mentioned them yourself... so Asda Mobile would be no good as a PAYG intermediary!)

[NetworkGuy]

Or even keep the PAYG as an emergency/spare... really depends if it is locked to any network as to how easy it would be to sell... and if not locked, then at end of contract, use PAC to keep your number and then get a fresh SIM Only to keep the Nexus running.

The PAYG could be used for a week/two on then you get a PAC from them and go back to Three (also if you buy the SIM Only via a cashback deal... you're a new customer on Three at that point... though must admit some other networks are more generous on cashback deals).

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

I know - it's illogical. I never claimed to be entirely rational!

£40 cashback on top really tempts me though. Because it was a good deal already too.

Off to ponder some more. Thanks for the suggestions, I will update if/when I go for it

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

I know sticking with Tesco is the granny option. A brand I know (although apart from phones I hardly use Tesco, I dislike them quite a lot as an entity but they suit me for simple phone stuff)

I just feel reassured by knowing I could go to my local branch/shop and complain until I got a problem sorted, rather than dealing with one of these other firms who are probably perfectly ok. Probably the same reason why when I wanted a tumble drier or a vacuum, I would use JL rather than a slightly cheaper internet shop, IKWIM.

[NetworkGuy]

yes, can see how 'over 20 quid' may seem costly but even if you had 100x £1 coins in a pile, there'd still be 25+ left at the end of contract :)

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

That nexus does look really really good though. And you get a free basic phone with it PAYG, which DH could give a good home too, or I could flog I suppose?

He is currently modelling an 8/9 yr old nokia that was £30 new, though

[NetworkGuy]

Think you have to choose whether to go direct to Tesco Mobile or use one of the primary networks, via an online store like e2save.com, mobiles.co.uk, affordablemobiles.co.uk, etc (but get more choices over mobile phone, possibly at lower cost, and possible cashback).

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

I mostly mumsnet, look at Ravelry, check the BBC and the Guardian. Use Iplayer on the TV through the freeview/humax thing.

I LOL at the thought of the CIA watching my tinternet use, they would arrest me for causing terminal boredom

Over £20 a month seems to make me somehow though. Which is silly when I would pay some upfront and then £20 a month, I know.

[NetworkGuy]

"probably don't need 2 GB data" (gulp, I use 1-2 GB a day!)

OK, can see why Tesco would appeal - but a lot depends on where in Wales you plan to go...

Agree re Galaxy Fame - think it is just a newer mobile at the budget end so there's a range of "new" Samsungs in price ranges for pretty much anyone.

Apologies about mistaking you as having an iPod Touch - it made me think an iPhone may be (sadly) an 'automatic' choice, but I would say that Android is probably more flexible.

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

Topcashback seem to be offering £40 cash back on new contracts through them too.

Hmmm.

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

Oooh.

Very tempting.

Is the Nexus massive like the S3 though? And is that site reputable, IYKWIM?

[NetworkGuy]

Just spotted (on BuyMobilePhones.net ) a Nexus 4 (16 GB) on Three at £23/month for 24 months. No "up front" cost. 300 minutes, 5000 texts, unlimited data.

*> link

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

I did go to Carphone Warehouse, it seems my 4yo will be able to teach me how to use whatever I go for.

They suggested Galaxy Fame but it looked a bit shit TBH. I don't fancy the Ace now, if I'm going to get a decent phone I think I want to go for it and get a snazzier one.

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

The £20 samsung mini deal looks good value to me. But I played with an iPhone recently, and ooof, it was lovely . And I probably don't need 2GB data, given I use WiFi at home and only really surf a bit when out, don't download stuff.

I'm not in a big rush, obviously But I would like to decide before I go on hols in July as I don't think I can stand another whole week in Wales without any internet.

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

what iPod touch? I haven't got one! I was just pondering getting one instead of a fancy phone you see. I don't do running or the gym just knitting

I have 'burned' some of my CDs onto the PC so I can listen to them on there though.

I would quite like to stick with Tesco TBH, because they use o2's network and we get good signal, I have had trouble with Vodaphone in our area.

And they do capped contracts - I know 3 do as well but I am massively put off by tales of their customer service. I have spoken with Tesco customer service several times about my phones and they have been really good and ideal for technophobes like us.

[NetworkGuy]

I know you say you're still using CDs, but there's free software to 'rip' a CD and make MP3s from the tracks, and loads of music player apps (though I suppose you would use your iPod Touch if you go to the gym or out running)...

That Samsung S3 Mini looks to be a good deal, but there may be others (and while I know what you've set as a limit on spending, it would also be worth clarifying how many minutes you need in the contract, as there may be alternatives still below 20 quid, on other networks).

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

Ok I'm still pondering

I'm am looking at

++ iPhone4S 16gb, £100 up front then £20/month for 500 mins 5000 texts 1GB data or

++ SamsungS3mini, £0 up front and £17.50/month for 250mins, 5000 texts 500MB data or £20/month for 500 mins 5000 texts and 2GB data

These can be capped contracts as they are both Tesco. I am thinking the iPhone is looking really good. What do you think? I don't really want to spend £200 up front for the Nexus, although it does look fabulous.

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

oooh that nexus looks interesting! Bit more to pay up front but I could then go sim-only for a cheap contract. I think the lower storage would be fine for me.

I will have to review my funds and see. It looks very nice though. all shiny

[firefly11]

There's a cheaper version of the Nexus 4 going at £239 actually. It's lesser storage because it's 8 GB. The Nexus 4 that's going for £279 has 16 GB memory by contrast. I suppose if you're not going to be using the phone for music or videos or heavy-duty games, you might well go for the cheaper Nexus 4 - the £239 one - if you are considering the Nexus 4 at all.

SIM-only plans like Three's start at £6.90 a month for a 12-mth minimum contract with 200 mins, 5000 txts, and 500 MB data (if you're not a heavy data user that might be enough). If you're happy to spend the money upfront and get the phone from Google Play Store, and then go on a SIM-only plan, over say, 2 years, you will find that you are paying less than £20 a month for the phone and the contract plan.

[firefly11]

Nexus 4. Best for the money. Only £279 + £9.99 shipping if ordering from the Google Play Store and it's SIM-free and unlocked so you can just go on any SIM-only contract/payg after you get the phone. It uses micro-SIM by the way. Why am I so excited? I just ordered mine! Can't wait to offload my SE Xperia Neo now after my 24-month contract ends next month.