Cheap unlocked 4G/LTE video call phone/tablet?

[balamw]

I currently use an iPod touch and Facetime to keep in touch with an elderly relative that lives in another country, but their cable and internet, thus WiFi has been spotty at best over the past few months so I'm wondering if something with cellular service might be a better choice.

I could go with a mobile hotspot and just keep the iPod touch/FaceTime, but a single device might be better in case they are not home.

Something like the ~$200 Moto G would be workable though I'd have to switch to Skype or Google Hangouts instead of facetime.

Thoughts?

B

 

[rui no onna]

If you get them a cellular device, you have to consider ongoing service cost, too. Will your relative be willing to pay the ongoing monthly cost for cellular data? If not, are you willing to subsidize it for your relative?

That said, if their cable internet is already pretty spotty, I wouldn't exactly hold much hope that cellular data would be a lot better.

 

[balamw]

If you get them a cellular device, you have to consider ongoing service cost, too. Will your relative be willing to pay the ongoing monthly cost for cellular data? If not, are you willing to subsidize it for your relative?

That said, if their cable internet is already pretty spotty, I wouldn't exactly hold much hope that cellular data would be a lot better.

Yeah, the cost of monthly service is much smaller than the cost of travel and I've verified that I can add funds to a prepaid plan from the USA.

EDIT: ($25/4GB/mo prepaid = $300/year, and I could scale back to a 1GB plan for half that and still be able to make a ~10 minute video call every day).

I've also used my iPhone from there with decent 4G coverage, so that's not an issue.

I just don't want to spend $500-$900 up front for an iPhone that will also be a thief magnet when a much cheaper device will do the job.

B

 

[LSUtigers03]

The Desire 610 is a decent device just released on AT&T for $199 off contract.

 

[rui no onna]

I've also used my iPhone from there with decent 4G coverage, so that's not an issue.

I just don't want to spend $500-$900 up front for an iPhone that will also be a thief magnet when a much cheaper device will do the job.

In that case, the Moto G should work fine. Heck, even the $130 Moto E will work fine.

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The Desire 610 is a decent device just released on AT&T for $199 off contract.

That's bound to be carrier locked to AT&T.

 

[MRU]

Was actually going to suggest the moto G. It's a great little handset, and Skype / Hangouts works great on it. I bought one for an elderly gent as his first smartphone and he has really taken to it, and uses it as his normal phone & radio and uses Skype to chat and video talk to his relatives in the US.

 

[0000757]

I would honestly just either go with the Moto G or the Desire 610.