Amazon Fire Phone - any good?

[HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs]

I've read a few reviews, mostly about the lack of Apps. The only Apps I actually use are WhatsApp and Mumsnet. I know you can't get Mumsnet.
Is it actually nice to use?
I've got an iPhone4 which is no longer supported by Apple and is desperately slow.

Given you've used an iPhone and have seen mostly negative reviews, what's keeping your interest in the Amazon Fire?

I have some 20 mobile phones, but even if the Fire was reduced to 50 quid, I probably would not be tempted, because I know it's designed to keep you in the Amazon ecosphere, just like the Tesco HUDL tablet aims to keep people buying from Tesco.

There are lots of other phones (eg Motorola 2nd generation "Moto G" with various options - 4G model or dual SIM model, or whatever), brand new in the 120 to 160 price range, and unlocked - check Amazon and a few other places. They'd give you a complete Android environment with Google Play Store and access to the wider range of Apps any modern Android mobile can use.

I am looking for a contract phone, and as the iPhone 6 is too expensive I thought I would try something new. (The iPhone 5 is too similar to the 4 - I don't want the same thing for another two years.)
I am asking about the Fire phone because the only reviews I've read talk about the lack of apps, but given that I only use WhatsApp or mumsnet that wouldn't be such a big issue. I am interested in how well (or not) the fire phone actually works. I do use amazon quite often and I'm probably going to get a Fire stick for the tv.

Thanks for your reply btw. Is there anything about the usability of the Firs that puts you off?

There were two (or three) things for me...

1. most of these phones are locked to O2 - they had an exclusive and on Amazon were sold with a 24 month contract, I think.

2. that some Google Apps may never work with this (because of the Amazon lock-in) - so with it not being an 'authorised' Google Android device, it may not allow access to my Google Drive, or Google Play (for music, etc)...

3. a very different user interface - not even like my other Android phones, so there may be pros and cons on the Fire, but the fact it's unlike my 3 Sony, 4 Samsung, and several other Android phones (ZTE, Vodafone, Huawei, Motorola) would mean a new learning curve (OK, some of those other phones have little quirks of their own, but they're all running Android and have the Google Play Store so apps and so on can be easily obtained and an App bought for one will run on some of the others, too).

The price may have dropped from £299, {it was generally regarded as a flop, and Amazon dropped the price in USA to $199 (£140?) last November, and in January it was £99 for a while in the UK}, but if it's still locked to O2, it's no good to me right now (I am using Three and The People's Operator, which uses EE, and Asda and Virgin Mobile also use EE, so can use the same T-Mobile/ Orange phones).

If you are with O2 then see if you can buy it for £99... Otherwise, I'd suggest looking at the Motorola Moto G (under £150, maybe a little more for the new 4G model), or for a 'flagship' phone, consider the Motorola Moto X, or the OnePlus One (16 GB storage, 3 GB RAM) at £250 on Amazon.

If you are going to be paying the network for the phone on a 24 month contract, then the Samsung Galaxy S6 (only just released) has been getting very good reviews, especially as the user interface includes far less from Samsung so is a 'pure' Android experience.

Of course, without knowing whether you plan to buy outright, or have a monthly budget limit beyond which you won't go, it's difficult to even know what might tempt you away from the Amazon Fire... so I'm rather in the dark and blundering about, somewhat

Some more information on your budget, whether you would be happy with / prefer O2 vs other networks, and what the Fire deal would cost you, could assist a lot with understanding your perspective and mean I would not suggest phones which may cost more than you are willing to spend.