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Audiosond

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 13, 2015
14
0
I am looking to get an unlocked phone to use in foreign country.

I have the iPhone 4 but after I upgraded to 5.1 I believe it has gotten pretty slow. Or maybe it was that slow originally, I don’t know. And also it is too small.
 

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
I am looking to get an unlocked phone to use in foreign country.

I have the iPhone 4 but after I upgraded to 5.1 I believe it has gotten pretty slow. Or maybe it was that slow originally, I don’t know. And also it is too small.

Moto G (4G/LTE) model. For sub-$200 off contract, really good specs and screen, not to mention an expandable SD card slot, it is tough to beat. According to reviews I have read, this phone works with ATT/T-Mobile and GSM networks in Europe.
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
There are so many phones that fit that basic criteria. You need to break down your requirements.

What do you want the phone to do?

What size is your Max physically?

What kind of budget do you wish to spend?

Any other requirements?
 

spriter

macrumors 65816
May 13, 2004
1,460
586
My backup is a Moto E. Cost £39 new + £1.50 unlock code from eBay (~$60 US).

Mainly left on standby (lasts weeks!) and used when I don't want to take my S6 (e.g. when cycling) or for playing Audible books.

Considering the price and that it's only running a Snapdragon 200 with 1GB RAM, I'm constantly amazed by how good it is. Decent build, too. The camera is basic as expected at this price.

The near-stock skin helps a lot and this is why cheap Samsung phones are sluggish - because of the heavier skin.

Maybe the Moto G is better for with a larger screen but I do like budget Moto phones for their performance.
 

bubulol

macrumors 6502a
Mar 7, 2013
967
273
Sure its a great advice to switch from iPhone 4 to giant phone such as OnePlus :rolleyes:
Best buy: Z3 Compact around 300/400$, not sure about price in US, but its one of best alternative to iPhone which has similar form factor and design as iPhone 4
 

nebo1ss

macrumors 68030
Jun 2, 2010
2,909
1,709
Motorola has a nice range of cheap smart phones some have 4G and some only 3G.

You should check them out.
 

akuma13

macrumors 6502a
Jan 10, 2006
934
430
You can usually find the LG G2 on sale for 199 or less. It was a fantastic phone when I used it. Edge to Edge bright LCD, good processor and camera.
 

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,738
6,109
Moto G is really the best choice. Also the first gen moto x is still a good device. Lastly, if you are willing to stretch your budget a little bit, the OnePlus is a solid choice.

What network are you looking at? I recently switch to verizon prepaid, $45 a month and unlimited talk, text, and 1.5GB of data if you enroll in auto pay.
 

sevoneone

macrumors 6502a
May 16, 2010
958
1,304
The Moto G or the Moto E are really your best bets. Unlike many other low-cost androids phones, these are not generations old left overs. No, the specs are not as good as a flagship phone, but you do get the benefits that matter: Quad core CPU, decent displays, and good battery life. Both the G and the E are running the latest major release of Android too, Lollipop. Motorola also uses a near-stock version of Android on their phones which, IMO, equates to better user experience and battery life.

I personally think the Moto E is a great option for a backup/low-risk phone. It is small, packs a 2300mah battery and is solidly built for US$120 off contract direct from Moto and no Carrier bloatware apps installed.

If you are looking more for a daily driver, the Moto G has a much better and larger screen, a decent enough camera and runs US$180.

If you want more flagship-like features, the current generation (2014) Moto X is really not all that bad at $399 off contract, which is very cheap compared to other flagships. I had the previous (2013) Moto X and upgraded to the 2014 model. They are both amazing phones. The cameras leave a little to be desired, but in every other area they are excellent.
 

Savor

Suspended
Jun 18, 2010
3,742
918
It is both a flagship and only smartphone offered from OnePlus and flagship-killer. Why wouldn't it be considered a flagship when it is often compared to many of them in 2014?
 
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