Every Once in a while, older flagship or new mid/budget droid?

Thought I'd put this out there, I've had an s5 for about 2 years, paid 80$ for it used has worked fine, before that I had an S4 for about 3 years can't remember. Only reason I got an s5 is that I heard at the time that since the S4 doesn't have 4g hd voice verizon wouldn't allow that on it's network, s5 has that. Since then I've learned I jumped the gun, it was only for NEW VERIZON pre-paid signups, afaik didn't effect my MVNO existing accounts. I buy used unlocked verizon so my MVNO network will use the verizon towers, it uses towers from all major networks but you can lock it in depending on what network vendor your phone came from. Well I dropped my s5 about a month ago and the glass screen protector cracked, not sure if the screen itself is cracked. Works fine but it seems a bit buggy now, and some of the apps I occasionally use no longer support or run well on Android 6 which is what this has on it.

Functionally I have no needs beyond the S5, have several batteries, extended batteries, cases everything I need. But browsing at the store makes me wonder if a used older flagship like an s8/s9 OR a budget A0x or even switching to the clean G7/G8 would be good. Saw an A01 for 59$ new, from the box it has the "red" network logo which is verizon towers and has the basics I would need. On the other hand I can get a used verizon s5 for less than $30, with the same old OS problem. Older flagships have the non-replaceable battery problem though, wouldn't pay much for one for that. Any thoughts on an A0x, older flagship or etc? Sticking with Samsung or Moto.

Edit: FlaGship, doh!

 

My friend has a Moto G power. If you do not need wireless charging or NFC it's a great device.

 

Yeah I think my MVNO sells those new for about $100 may do some research on it. Really like the relatively clean non bloated OS of moto.

 

I may just be getting old and grumpy, but have tired of the constant new flashy thingies they put in phones that I don't need, won't use, and don't want. And the fact that while many electronics keep getting cheaper, top end phones are crazy expensive. I just don't see the point of it all, and they seem to last less time and have more weird issues.

I recently went from an S10 I was having issues with and got an A12 I think it is, was about the cheapest new phone they had on hand. Only thing I kinda miss is the wireless charging but that broke long ago on my S10 anyway so I was used to not having it.

I can afford the latest phones, it's just more of the principle of the amount I use it vs. the cost of it and monthly carrier costs. To me these companies have gotten way too greedy and I will limit my support for them as much as possible. It's been incredibly freeing not having or even wanting the latest, and saves a lot of money too. It's a win/win for me anyway.

 

Same, in fact I've always done the buy it outright used from eb, unlocked of course. Just don't see a need for a lot of things, I don't game on phones, try not to have too many apps or basic apps, regular plug in charging etc. The camera is really the largest use apart from phone/tx/internet/maps I do. Only way I'd get a new flagship is if work gave me one but then you're obligated to answer etc by them more than normal. A waste of money for the sake of a new shiny toy. I really miss the popin/out batteries too, when mine runs out out in the wild I just pop in my other fully charged one. If one bloats just junk it and get another one etc Seems like newer phones are pretty large too, I'm fine with 5.7-6 but I guess the longer form factor helps with that.

 

Agreed. I was going back between a Note 20, s21 ultra, note 10 plus or a note 10 lite. I decided that the Moto G pro would be the ideal device for me at 1/3 the cost as the rest. My wife is going to a G10 in pearl white. A nice classy looking phone with everything we need.

 

Still using my LG v20, every now and then I get the upgrade itch but all the compromises of anything on the field right now keeps me from them.

 

Nabbed a refurbished Samsung A01 from vipoutlet for 32$ shipped with an internet 10% coupon code. I'll give this one a try, it's a bit smaller for newer phones only 5.7" but I like that. It's also only 16gb etc but stick in some microsd laying around and give it a try as a wifi device for a while. I also have had a mint condition Note 4 for years as a wifi device and a reading phablet. Still have an original 2006 moto razr in storage lol

 

I loved the note 4 friggin sucks that it has a memory controller issue lol basically desaudered itself over time

 

Huh something to keep in mind it's just a backup that I've had for a couple years if my s5 was to just completely die on me, worked fine so far as a wifi device and ereader but it doesn't get heavy regular use. You can get a deal if some minor burn in isn't an issue for you, never had much problems with used with that tbh.

 

I have been on ebay this morning. Still dying to buy some windows mobile devices. Ha ha. Just so good.

 

idk

i own the best android device in the world but i also own an lg g7 and if i get a choice i pick the lg g7 for everything but camera..its camera is amazing and its not too shabby but the s21 ultras is just that good..i paid 70 for my mint g7 and could post comparison pics...i think the g7 has a snapdragon 845 and the s21 888...its thinner lighter ect....long story short sometimes newer isnt better and you would have to be rich to shell out 2 grand every year on a flippin phone

 

Yeah I don't get it how people go that route, most of the people I've seen with the latest and greatest 1000$ phones are older who aren't much more than talk/txt/browsing/camera users which old, used and new midrange etc phones can handle easily. Although getting used phones can be overwhelming if you're not versed in it. Outside of business needs use it seems crazy.

 

Agreed. If Microsoft just keep the windows 10 mobile platform in a security updated service with the new edge so we could use web apps I would have been tickled pink. Everything would work on webapp and be great. Best OS, and all the software I need. At the moment, which is not much. But the Spotify app not working anymore is probably the nail in the coffin for me. So, that means going to android. I want the Moto G pro, but with android 12. Hopefully they create a new version with NFC and A12.

 

Oh lol I actually thought you were kidding about windows phones in the earlier post, never had one. Yeah from above that's the main reason looking to get a newer phone really, Android 6 support was cutoff from one app I use, but only that one so far, and from what I've read the verizon phones have a locked bootloader so no relatively easy unofficially updating OS or I'd have no need to even think about, probably won't anyways. VIPoutlet has a 90 day no questions return policy or it's a cheap wifi and backup. I can access that app via a browser on my phone when I need it.

It's kind of sad with all this environmentalism marketing by these large companies(and govs etc) except they don't do it in any real way, provide OS updates for phones all the way back to the S4 and no forced need for new phones/less waste going out, no regular profits/shareholder stocks increasing etc either though lol I don't need a whole new OS just a very minimally updated one that is compatible with all apps it can handle with it's older tech. I've seen pics where they burn old pcb's in China/Africa for the metals in them, huge release of all sorts of hazardous smoke etc even for turned in recycled old phones.

 

NO SIR. My nokia 1020 when it was running windows 10 mobile was AWESOME. IT still is to this day my favorite OS on my favorite hardware. I wish MS just left w10m in maintenance mode.

 

I more or less felt the same way. Once I was able to play 1080p content on my HTC One m7 I didnt think there was much justification for more horsepower, more codecs for sure but raw performance? meh.

 

its just not worth it

 

Flagships?

 

I was researching updating the OS on this s5 and came across some interesting info. I guess it's possible to do Lineage OS 16 just have to do a lot of work. So I'm also looking to get another used s5 off ebay for less than 30$ which isn't hard and attempt it on that first.

 

Flashing ROMs on Samsung has always been super annoying. At least for the Note 4 you had to flash both the rom and and modem

 

Yeah it always was a big turnoff over the years with various phones when I researched it, not to mention who knows what can stop working and problems with the network. Still it's a relatively cheap learning project on just an extra phone if I can get to a working state then just throw in a no contract sim for a month on my network and try it.

 

I enjoyed rooting and flashing alternate roms on my m7, luckily it was largely simple even when I accidentally wipe the entire file structure and had to install it back via sideload. THough it also helped that there was a larger community at the time for the m7

 

Got the a01 and I do like the new form factor, easier to hold, just wish they would have just cut it off a bit like the old iphones/pods for easier in pocket. One thing that is terrible is that in 2020 they can't even give you a minimum of 32gb of internal storage even on cheap phones and they are allowed to fraudulently advertise the usable amount of memory, this says 16gb but in reality out of the box it's 7.5gb. This also only has a 13mp 1080p camera, my 2014 s5 has a 16mp that will do up to 5300x3000, video all the way up to 4k/30. Love the dark mode on android 10 and it's overall a nice basic phone for what I paid for it. My old backed up apps work for the most part other than waterfox which sadly I think no longer has an app. Weirdly this didn't come with a basic calculator or notepad so went and got the samsung versions.

 

You guys are funny! $100 or less phones compared to S21 / V20's ? That's like taking a Yugo for a test drive against a Lambo.

If you want something that won't be killed off in the near future make sure it's 4G / LTE in the least.

If you want something that won't be killed off in the distant future opting for 5G is your best bet.

There are plenty of options for either under $500 w/ LTE being under $200 for something reasonable.

If you think you need an SD card then look for a higher end handset w/ 256GB internal memory as SD options for the most part are dead.

I used to work for a couple of different carriers and was hands on with a lot of these devices and ventured into rooting / roms and the like over the years. If you find a well designed phone in the first place it negates the need to do these things. Going from the lower tier phones like the GS5 or LG xyz models dealing with the OS nuances of their flavor of Android is annoying at best. Apple is just a ripoff being locked into their ecosystem is annoying as well. If I spend $xxx on a device I shouldn't be locked into one specific revenue stream or locked out of adding custom packages to it w/o breaking the warranty.

The last couple of handsets I've had are OnePlus models and they're sufficient in what they do. Currently on a OP8 Pro for a couple of reasons. 1 is the WIFI chip is AX compatible / makes for easier network testing up to 1300mbps vs 866 on AC. 2 the network bands for LTE / 5G are broad enough to cover even the pickiest of carriers like VZW w/o being constrained to only VZW but able to connect to both ATT / T-Mobile. I was using it on G-Fi before switching to VZW's Visible for unlimited @ $40/mo. I went and tested some of their compatible models in a local BB because I figured maybe they would have faster network access than the OP8 but, found the same crappy bandwidth issue with different models on their "preferred" list of devices.

Having worked on their network and with their engineers their non-MVNO network is fantastic other than the monthly price. Even when they were primarily working w/ LTE the on-brand phones were hitting close to 100mbps but, their MVNO is capped around 5bps but, uploads show the capacity being closer to 20mbps and at some times the download speed will match that as well.

The more transparent the MVNO relationship is the better the experience will be. ATT is notorious for being stingy with BW. T-Mobile doesn't really put constraints on the network for MVNO. It all comes down to pricing once the handset cost is ruled out. Some MVNO options are better at package pricing vs some tat offer a top of 5GB/mo in data.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_mobile_virtual_network_operators
https://www.phonearena.com/news/best-budget-5G-smartphones_id125833
https://www.gsmarena.com/ -- good for detailed phone specs / comparisons

 

Lg g7 is under 150 and a great phone

 

https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?&idPhone2=9115&idPhone1=9919#*,g710ulm,*

Depends on priorities.

 

The Yugo takes me to work, the Lambo is for the weekends

 

yeah i have a s21 ultra and a lg g7....tech junky are you ok? its the best bang for the buck used and i said its a good phone not the best.....how is it i cant have an opinion?

bizzaro behavior dude

 

No one said you couldn't. It's kind of like eyeballs though everyone has them but, some of them aren't the best.

The point was trying to get the performance out of a flagship in a "cheap" option that isn't equipped to handle the same technology.

When dealing with handsets it's the same as dealing with PC components. If you're trying to get RTX3080 performance out of a GTX1650 you'll be underwhelmed and frustrated.

The other issue is carriers don't behave the same way as 2of them decided to go the mmwave route for 5G and the 3rd opted for 700mhz low band that works more consistently. MVNO's typically don't get weighed down with restrictions on the primary carrier features in most cases but, some are highly hobbled.

Some models mentioned here though are like using a Jitterbug, some are decent LTE, others can handle some form of 5G.


I'm all for a bargain when it comes to paying for devices but, having a background in networking and working on carrier networks performance is a higher weighting for proving a particular network concept actually working or not. I've been hands on with quite a few handsets over the years as the technology changes and have dealt with the nuances of different OS flavors and how they impact the performance / experience. In looking at and comparing phones / actual use some key things come into play besides the obvious processor / storage.

The native OS works more efficiently than some of the OEM bloated packages that are rammed down peoples throats. Having to sidestep them through a root / ROM swap to clean things up and get a handset that works to spec is a nuisance. Typical gains though through making the changes to the OS are significant in terms of performance and better battery life. Some handsets offer a cleaner experience out of the box that don't require the need to wipe the handset and replace the underlying software to get it to work optimally.

The debate over phones will never end as long as OEMs make crappy options for people to buy.

 

The issue with your example is that both a 3080 and a 1650 both handle browsing the web and youtube just fine.

 

@ Reciever

Quit being obtuse.

 

Thats your opinion. Doesnt make me obtuse. Perhaps you need better examples?

 

@ Reciever

Perhaps you live under a bridge?

 

@Tech Junky
I really don't understand why all this? As far as I know no one was saying a top level phone is on par with a cheap or mid level phone. But if you either don't need or don't want all that top level zippiness and added capability then for just the basics basic phones are a better option and are a much safer investment, if a 100$ phone(which you own outright, no interest plans etc) goes down for whatever reason in a year or two you're out less than that because of the usage you got out of it before that. 1000 phone you're out 10x as much and let's admit they're made for breaking without the latest 50$ armor case. The largest complaint is the camera's are so gimped on cheap phones but I can deal with just 1080p photos because I have only 1080p screens anyways for GB's of photos I'll most likely never look at more than once. Fraudulent advertising about internal memory is a real thing too. I mean come on what's all this fuss for? Is it personal for you?

 

This member has a bad habit of ignoring the details in place of his/her own opinion.

 

@ hertzian56

If you're buying one of these devices it should be PIF not financed anyway. If you're financing it then there's a whole can of worms coming with it to "protect" it in fee's / cases / etc. It's a sales trap.

To an extent and I've actually run into this w/ the OP8 Pro flimsy backside "glass" but it was a more significant impact on concrete. Replacement kit for the backside on Amazon = $30

Usable space is never split out from total space due to varying OS space needed as it bloats with updates / apps being added. For a truer usable space then find one w/ a SD slot which still won't give you 100% of space on the card listed but 85-90% due tot he formatting process.

 

Wow you are taking all this as a duel or challenge then. Not interested.

 

it has a sd 845 what are you talking about..

im not trying to put you down its just I dont get your tangents...makes no sense to me....perhaps you could explain in layman terms because you compared a 1000 dollar phone to a 150 dollar one

 

he might be NBRs most intelligent member...he seems to make up facts ect...and then back them with tangents...sign of genius

 

It tends to be very well thought out points of view which is of course valued but tends to redirect or miss the point of the conversation taking place. So while I dont like putting it on blast its difficult to keep that in mind at times.

Whether or not to get an older phone and why simply comes down to a value assessment for the consumer and each consumer will have differing priorities.

 

Yeah that was the point in the thread title, I wasnt' trying to get a top level phone for budget/mid range prices. Tangents are just a way to push your viewpoint via giving bonafides/examples of expertise. Seems like arguing just for arguments sake, frenzy.

 

Pretty much that. Have to agree with previous comments about phone prices still being silly without much need or reason for it. Had a similar dilemma a few years ago where I ran out of space on my 6S+ (oh hey, internal storage isn't the end-all-be-all, weird...) and looked through a few models out there. Came to the same conclusion with regard to "I just want a phone to take calls/texts and maybe watch Youtube every so often" but with the added "I need heaps of storage and don't want to pay high prices". Ended up not even buying a phone and just grabbed a family member's S9 for free when they bought a S10, stuck a 400GB microSD card in there, and that's been the setup for these past few years without any issue.

For amusement's sake, I did look around recently to see if there was anything nicer out on the market for a reasonable price that still had microSD and a 3.5mm jack with a high-res display (1080p+). Really the only thing of interest was the Samsung A52 5G, which goes for about $450 on Samsung's website and higher at the carrier's store. Silly, and it seems if you want a reasonable price you're either going for some no-name phone or giving up one or more of the above features as a "penalty" for not buying a flagship. Guess we're supposed to pay 3080 prices for 1650 functionality

 

Yeah I can see wanting or needing a top level phone if you plan on playing games or for business needs but anyone else it's just an overkill toy. Like driving a ferrari to work everyday, oof. Sexy and awesome to see and ride in but that's it. I am still using my s5 and am totally happy, so many i/o's, replaceable/swappable battery, don't need some special tool to get to the microsd/sim, bezel for easy handling, only 5.7", has a camera that for average users is totally fine. Samsung went the apple route after that and the Note 4, sadly. More profit in it. It has been buggy lately but I'm hoping to get a backup of it, I mean the A01 for 32$ is probably a keeper for backup or a second line if I need one for a month or two. Still trying to finally get a winning bid on a used s5 for around 30$ shipped. Then the project of putting Lineage OS on their, then test it out with a burner line for a month or so, ready to go then if my current s5 becomes untenable.

 

The other detail that is seldom taken into account is that you may already have a 128+GB SD card that you want to install into the next phone as well. I have no idea how people tend to use their storage but having pre-loaded music or media isnt far fetched. I myself used mine for recording phone calls as especially around that time I was doing a lot of contracting work and when ever the scope of work changed I would review what was agreed on the phone as well as the paper contract before I burn bridges.

If you are in sales or high level management I could understand feeling the necessity for the latest and greatest as it can be a fashion item as well as a subtle measure of wealth and prestige. For regular blokes, its hard to justify. I myself look at the LG v60 time and again, AT&T wanted 900 USD for it iirc and its already 300-400 on ebay. If I look at the LG v50 its 180-280 or I could just repair my v20 as needed until something truly captivates me.

 

No need for supreme power for business needs. Any piece of business "software" for mobile, is essentially as power hungry as Office. It can run on anything really. Gaming is the only need this day and age for super power phones. The mid range devices are so good now. For business use, take the Moto G pro, The Galaxy Note 10 lite and the lg stylo 6. All three can perform any business related task with great pen driven software. Yes the LG will bog down gaming, but for daily use for anything else it's fine.

 

Personally have the microSD card + big GB needs because I rely heavily on local music/podcasts/etc rather than cloud streaming services. There's something to be said for "owning" media rather than having to rely on someone else's servers being up and running, but more practically I tend to hang around in areas without great (if any) 3G/4G/LTE coverage so if I don't want to be interrupted when listening, it needs to be on the device itself. Plus again the previois comment about how expensive inboard flash is on phones; that 6S+ had 32GB and the S9 has 64GB, but I dont have to care anymore because this 400GB card was a whole $40 iirc instead of whatever Apple and Samsung are charging these days for 400-512GB.

 

Yep fully understand that scenario as my previous home had a weak signal from the ISP so it would constantly just lose connection in the early evenings when traffic was heavier. To this day Im still chastised by my friends for having a modest 10TB Plex server running in my Ryzen system that had originally been built in my Ranger and before that my M4600. Streaming services are nice and for most people work pretty well but can be infuriating if you dont have a stable line.

 

Well my conception of business needs was power users with a lot of apps so need a lot of horsepower for them, latest OS for a couple years at least, large screen of highest quality for on the go inside outside use, lots of internal storage, lots of video/multiuse that most people wouldn't use normally like meetings where you hookup your phone to some external system etc etc

Another aspect would be daily public transit for gaming/streaming etc, cut out the need for something bigger with the phablet size of some of them, 5g because they're where it mostly is, and probably where it will only ever be. They call it 4g in rural areas but the speeds are not to 4g specs, I doubt 5g will be different in most non megopolis areas, except the little symbol on the phone lol

 

Yeah, can definitely understand people wanting to have a more powerful phone for stuff like games and whatnot. I just can't personally get behind it given how quickly phones fall out-of-date (be it OS updates and/or hardware limitations) and the price/performance ratio. Just a shame that the selection for people who just want an internet phone is either pretty bad or still pretty expensive anyway a la A52 5G.