Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Best Cheap Android Phone?

nviz22

nviz22

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
I am looking for a new Android phone to replace my iPhone 5C. I am looking to spend about $250. I prefer a new device w/ good software support. So far, the Moto G 3rd gen is the front runner. I went through a bunch of GS5s, but I see one refurb around my price range. Looking at the Alcatel One Touch Idol 3, ASUS Zenfone 2, etc. Any suggestions?
 
nviz22

nviz22

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
I assume that the Moto G will receive direct updates w/o carrier interference?
 
nviz22

nviz22

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
MRU said:
Yep, just buy it direct from Moto or BestBuy rather than through a carrier (if your carrier is selling them).
Click to expand...

I tried Best Buy yesterday, but they didn't have them in stock. Moto has them estimated delivery of next week.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MRU
nviz22

nviz22

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
MRU said:
If you go through Moto maker you can get some funky colour customisation. I was messing with colours myself and some look really nice.
Click to expand...

Yep, are you buying the Style to replace your 2014 Moto X?
 
  • Like
Reactions: MRU
MRU

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
nviz22 said:
Yep, are you buying the Style to replace your 2014 Moto X?
Click to expand...

No to actually replace my Nexus 6. I'm hoping the thinner width of the Style will quell my biggest issue with Nexus which isn't height but width of it. It feels massive. The Style is about same width as the 6 Plus - which should make it more comfortable for me in hand. Plus of course it has all the awesome Moto features the Nexus 6 didn't have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nviz22
Savor

Savor

Suspended
Jun 18, 2010
3,742
918
Get a smartphone with micro-sd slot. Better in the longer run and if you are into using torrent apps like Flud and uTorrent. Don't be crippled by 16 GB internal storage only devices anymore. I made a mistake with it. Love my Xiaomi but hate its memory limitations especially if some media files are bigger than 5 GB.

If you want better specs, look into ASUS, Xiaomi, Meizu, and ZTE. For under $250 and you want a more familiar brand, get a midranger from LG or Nokia. Shame Nokia sticks to WP as the hardware specs for the price is fantastic. Whatever you pick, find one with micro-sd slot. 64 GB cards are cheap now. Under $25-$30. You will thank me later.
 
nviz22

nviz22

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
Savor said:
Get a smartphone with micro-sd slot. Better in the longer run and if you are into using torrent apps like Flud and uTorrent. Don't be crippled by 16 GB internal storage only devices anymore. I made a mistake with it. Love my Xiaomi but hate its memory limitations especially if some media files are bigger than 5 GB.

If you want better specs, look into ASUS, Xiaomi, Meizu, and ZTE. For under $250 and you want a more familiar brand, get a midranger from LG or Nokia. Shame Nokia sticks to WP as the hardware specs for the price is fantastic. Whatever you pick, find one with micro-sd slot. 64 GB cards are cheap now. Under $25-$30. You will thank me later.
Click to expand...

Any specific models you like?
 
O

ozaz

macrumors 68000
Feb 27, 2011
1,615
577
My suggestion is also Moto G

Savor said:
Get a smartphone with micro-sd slot. Better in the longer run and if you are into using torrent apps like Flud and uTorrent. Don't be crippled by 16 GB internal storage only devices anymore.
Click to expand...

Moto G has SD card slot (just mentioning in case that aspect of it has been overlooked).
 
nviz22

nviz22

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
How about getting a new Galaxy Alpha for $240? What about a refurb S5 for $250? Thoughts?
 
nviz22

nviz22

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
MRU said:
I personally had both. Whilst the screen is better on the S5 for me the alpha overall was a far better and more enjoyable phone to use.
Click to expand...

Is the battery life is as bad as they say? The one I am looking at is the Snapdragon one.
 
MRU

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
nviz22 said:
Is the battery life is as bad as they say? The one I am looking at is the Snapdragon one.
Click to expand...

I had the exynos variant and would get around 4 hours SOT. Which is more for me than I get with the S6 Edge.
The exynos variant is also blazing fast ....

I will say this though. The biggest impact on performance was the lollipop update. Prior to it on KitKat the Alpha would use around 750-800mb ram standing still, leaving around 800 -900mb free to the user. It had no issues multitasking. However after lollipop update standby ram usage went up to 1.3gb leaving far less ram free.

The S5 on KitKat was always ram hungry standing at 1.2-1.4gb used of the 1.76gb available leaving little free memory.

I have read the snapdragon variant of the Alpha is not as good as the exynos both performance and battery life wise so my experience can't really speak for that particular variant.
 
nviz22

nviz22

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
MRU said:
I had the exynos variant and would get around 4 hours SOT. Which is more for me than I get with the S6 Edge.
The exynos variant is also blazing fast ....

I will say this though. The biggest impact on performance was the lollipop update. Prior to it on KitKat the Alpha would use around 750-800mb ram standing still, leaving around 800 -900mb free to the user. It had no issues multitasking. However after lollipop update standby ram usage went up to 1.3gb leaving far less ram free.

The S5 on KitKat was always ram hungry standing at 1.2-1.4gb used of the 1.76gb available leaving little free memory.

I have read the snapdragon variant of the Alpha is not as good as the exynos both performance and battery life wise so my experience can't really speak for that particular variant.
Click to expand...

That's not good either. I guess Moto G is what I'll buy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MRU
A

AppleRobert

macrumors 603
Nov 12, 2012
5,729
1,133
For $120, AT&T released a GoPhone Asus Zenfone 2E. Since its bigger brother was one on your list I'll let you know about this one.

Only 8GB storage but it is expandable and does not have the Asus bloatware of the bigger brother. 5" IPS display with good color reproduction, the device is pretty snappy and handles apps pretty well me playing with it at one of their stores the last few days.

I would not know about camera quality or battery life. You can go play with it as much as you want at an AT&T store. :)
 
nviz22

nviz22

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
AppleRobert said:
For $120, AT&T released a GoPhone Asus Zenfone 2E. Since its bigger brother was one on your list I'll let you know about this one.

Only 8GB storage but it is expandable and does not have the Asus bloatware of the bigger brother. 5" IPS display with good color reproduction, the device is pretty snappy and handles apps pretty well me playing with it at one of their stores the last few days.

I would not know about camera quality or battery life. You can go play with it as much as you want at an AT&T store. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, but AT&T phones are locked and I want to avoid their store like the plague.
 
A

AppleRobert

macrumors 603
Nov 12, 2012
5,729
1,133
nviz22 said:
Thanks for the suggestion, but AT&T phones are locked and I want to avoid their store like the plague.
Click to expand...

I do not buy anything without trying. The store is a resource to see if you like a Zenfone which was on your list. If so, you can get the unlocked bigger brother from Amazon or wherever.

Doubt you will find the G to try, I know you can return it but at least you had a go with a smaller version Zenfone to fiddle with.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nviz22
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom