difficult without a Smartphone in today’s world

[colin.hepburn]

Hi All
Well guys. I never have had the need for a Smartphone to date but it seem life is getting more difficult without a Smartphone in today’s world so looks like I will have to bit the bullet and get one trouble is I know nothing about what I need and what to buy.

Other than it must be the contract-free and best bang for the buck and cost something between £150/250 max
Why have I not got a Smartphone well I am old school and don’t phone anyone except on my home phone and I don’t use text? Pointless as I am dyslexic. And if I go out somewhere for the day can do that for a while but I don’t want people phoning me or being tracked on what I am doing etc

All good reasons not to the have a phone in my view. But things are getting harder to do like logging on to varies thing on line this is becoming a pain as everyone takes it for granted you have a Smartphone these days and some will not help you if you tell them Your don’t have a fringing Smartphone. My rant on having to buy something I don’t want.
Any guidance on what to buy is Welcome guys
Thanks
Colin

[A Stuart]

Is this for logging in to the bank etc, when they send a code number to check it is really you? I just use an ordinary mobile to receive the text, not a Smartphone.
Cost me £9.95 . I am supposing that you can still get ordinary mobiles these days.

The only times I feel any lack of one is for booking things while in the Great Metropolis of Edinburgh, or for e-tickets, or possibly a streetmap.

[pre65]

Become an old git and get yourself a Doro.

[colin.hepburn]

Originally Posted by A Stuart

Is this for logging in to the bank etc, when they send a code number to check it is really you? I just use an ordinary mobile to receive the text, not a Smartphone.
Cost me £9.95 . I am supposing that you can still get ordinary mobiles these days.

The only times I feel any lack of one is for booking things while in the Great Metropolis of Edinburgh, or for e-tickets, or possibly a streetmap.

Hi stuart/All
Well yes but
Sending a code number to check it is really you? Is one thing that now happens but I am not buying a phone just for that.if i am buying a phone I would want some other uses from it for things I do use like apps for Audio functions for the bench like speed checker for the turntables TV remote dare I say it even streaming audio. Taking some photos ho and maybe the odd phone call it needs to be of some use to me other than ID-ing Security codes if I buy something not much in my price range thou

[colin.hepburn]

Originally Posted by pre65

Become an old git and get yourself a Doro.

Thanks, phil
I kinda missed your post there.
i had to google Doro.
Should be some helpful info there to go thought thanks but I’m not resigning to being an old git just yet.
So I guess I am trying to get some idea of what specs I can get in my price range £150/250
Things like what OS storage size types of processors power memory-size model brands to go for and stuff etc.
thanks
Colin

[Richard]

Morning Col,

Wife, daughter, and I have had Motorola models for over 10 years since the flip phone era and been happy with them.
We've always bought in the mid-price range you mention and you do get a decent model for that.
Like a computer, check the Ram and Storage, Processor if you are really techie, and operating system, we stick to Android. To a large extent we go with the price, the herd, and the big stores for value as these are a huge mass market item which only survives if it works.

Present models we have from the last year or two are,
daughter and I Moto G6 Plus and wife the slightly newer and smaller Moto G7 Play.
We buy them outright and unlocked then get a monthly SIM only deal from Virgin in our case. We Pay £9 month and get more data than I ever use and essentially unlimited texts and call minutes.
Physical size is a balance between seeing/using it and getting the thing in your pocket but you do get used to the larger ones and they're great for stuff like You tube and Whatsapp video calls etc.

[Greg.]

Yep, cheapest is to buy the phone outright at the beginning. Not an inclusive contract from a service provider, but buy from an independent supplier. John Lewis is usually good for this. I use iPhone and buy direct from Apple. This way, your phone will be unlocked from the outset and you can use it with any service provider of your choice. Then search the service providers for the most affordable SIM only contract that suits you. I’m with ‘three’. I pay £11 a month for unlimited data, unlimited phone calls and unlimited text messages

[Pingushome]

Hi Collin,
Lol lol I was like you a while back then daughter gave me a cast off iPhone 4 when my old mobile finally crashed. I’ve had various updates from her over the years up to XS now.
Must admit no apps (only use main sites on the net not apps) no music just calls text and browsing the net and the odd movie when I’m out. The sat nav on the phone is excellent tho either in the car or walking around a new town.
You can get a XS max for around £200/250 now apple are very good with help too, even if the phones old and bought used from a third party. Nice big screen too. PayPal also give you a money back guarantee if you buy on line
However apples are not everyone’s choice but mine were free
Smarty do a sim only card with unlimited calls/ texts and 100G data for £10 a month and they’ll allow you to link(tether) a lap top to your phone to use the internet too.Smarty use the 3 network
I don’t use land line anymore (the lock caller on mobile much better) and thus don’t get any cold calls or scams.
So not really smart phone savy but it works
Oh and those little dotty squares for tracking the plague I just look stupid say the phone won’t do it/ don’t know how it works and the kind people just take my tel no name and address
All the best and good luck
Martin

[VantheMan]

I was in the same predicament at the beginning of the year and opted for a Redmi 8T not because I understood what I was doing but because it was cheap and had a Macro lens which is for taking really close up photos which comes in handy for a jeweller. Maybe your decision could be clinched by something not directly connected to a phone as such - for most people they are much of a muchness, I reckon - but by some other parameter like size, weight, colour or if say the camera is of any use in particular other than taking selfies. Maybe you´d like to test your turntable speed (I know Apple have an app, Android, no idea- or something equally as senseless/sensible .

[colin.hepburn]

OK thanks guys
For some of the pointers
OK so for me it’s a tool I won’t use the text and phone calls are very low on the list with it not needed but I need a good Apps range that isn’t just blot and crapware and that can be uninstalled from the phone

So what do I want from the phone?

Well needs to be Full HD unlocked and have good smooth operation that has no lag so large memory and storage capacity and have a descent grade camera. And gets updates regularly for the life of the phone can you get all that for a budget of between £150/250 I doubt it

if anyone can list a brand or model number they feel is a good buy for the money at this price range poiont me to it so I can compare the specs of two or three models likely not wise to include a huawei in that list thou I suspect the support for that brand will not be very good in the long term
Thanks
Colin