Big decision (looking for opinions)

[Badmood]

Mobile phone upgrade is now finally due.

I want to go back to Samsung. Either Note or S4.

What do people think of the two models? I am slightly worried the Note (think its a Note 2?) would be too big. But when I have used one about 2years ago I thought it was great, but it was only short term (1 month)

Next question would be stick with my contract and get phone included? or move to sim only, and pay up front for the phone?

I use the phone for work so need to keep the number, also used for emails and browsing. Talk time would need to be over 300 minutes, text

Any opinions would be gratefully received :)

ive got an s4 its good does everything I want it to.

The s5 is due out soon though, next month I think.

Thank you Kimlo

Do you know the differences between S4 and 5?

not a clue

Keeping your number should be possible even if you decided to switch network (request a PAC - Porting Authorisation Code - which is in effect, also a request to terminate your current contract).

Most times the contract forces you to spend more than the combined cost of the new phone and some 'SIM Only' contract giving you the minutes, texts, and data that you currently get. Paying 200 or more extra for the phone would perhaps gall me, but at the same time, I recognise I'd be stuck with a phone costing 150 to 200 if the one I was really after was likely to be a hole in 600 quid... I just don't think many people tot up the full cost over 2 years when they think "that looks nice, and I can afford 35 {or whatever} quid a month"

For me, the only time I might consider a contract (with mobile) costing over 25 quid a month would be where the mobile itself was at least 400 quid (and so long as the mobile allowance on offer was at least 200 minutes and at least 500 MB of data).

At present I have unlimited data, 2000 minutes (+ 5000 to other users on Three) and 5000 texts, on a SIM Only deal. I was lucky and got it a few months ago but they charge 20 quid a month now. If you have a modern phone and live in a suitable area, you'd get 4G speed for data.

Question is what you are paying now, what phone do you have now, and what phones they are offering... only then is it worth comparing with SIM Only deals + cost of one of your phone choices (and whether the purchase price is affordable). Can see you are after nice shiny top end phones, so assume your contract cost is sizeable each month...

Having seen some networks charging 500, 600, and more for a phone, I think about the insurance cost on top, and whether buying it in a contract would make it a bit more easy to swallow (because while you pay more over the course of 2 years, you don't need such deep pockets as you would if purchased outright at the start...

Why back to samsung and what do you have now?

Best android handset at a good price has to be nexus 5 really unless you are actually going to be using the many extended features of the mite. Size wise it's a bit smaller but not much.

And the latest note is the 3.

Definitely recommend buying the handset outright and going sim only or giffgaff goody bags. Like network guy I'm on the 3 one plan from just before they put it up to £20 ( was using giffgaff £12 goody bag before then but needed tethering )

Apparently the new S5 has amazing battery life, far far better than the iphone 5.

I've got the Nexus 4 and I love it.

Thanks everyone :)

I had Samsung, in a 24 month contract, but lost the phone half way through (no insurance).

Replaced it with a refurbished Iphone.

Nothing wrong with the Iphone, except I prefer Samsung

The Note 3 is about £700

the S5 is £650 apparently according to the internet - both more expensive than my laptop! But the amount of time I spend fiddling with the phone, its the one extravagance I allow myself

The S5 looks lush, the battery life is amazing which is an added bonus.