Need help choosing a new phone

Robin

Robin

New member
I'm interested in the iPhone 4s, but I do not have uncapped and someone told me that uncapped is recommended for updating the phone and what not. I'm also not sure whether there is much support in SA for Apple products. Availability is also a problem, since I've only seen iPhone 5/S/C lately. Does anyone know where to get an iPhone 4s? And would anyone recommend it?

Samsung Galaxy S3 or the S4 mini are also options, but I have heard friends complaining about their screens/cameras breaking after a slight fall. Has anyone had similar issues?

Finally, the Sony Xperia series. I would like to get the Z, but basically any one of the Xperia phones would be acceptable. Availability also seems to be an issue, but I haven't really looked for these properly.

Which one would you recommend? Or which other Android phone would you recommend that is less than R5000? I'm seriously sick of this CrapBerry and need to replace it
 
Well the S4s seem to be dropping in price fast so if you can aim for one of those that would be ideal. Also hearing good things about the xperias...though getting covers & screen protectors is apparently a biatch.

Not sure where you're getting this uncapped story from but essentially you want the initial configuring, toying and testing to *not* run over your phones data plan. e.g. I've got a phone with a 200mb data plan...which is very little...but I can connect it to my home wifi router (adsl)....which is uncapped. SO if I need to do something on the phone that needs hectic data then I do so at home.

e.g. There is a good chance that you need to update the phone's OS initially...that 500mb+ if you run that over OOB rates thats a solid R1 000+ down the drain right there. As opposed to R0 over my wifi.
 
You can't go wrong with the xperias. I've got the Z1 and I'm loving it! :love:

Strong solid build, I've dropped mine several times from about 1m and it only has a few scratches on the edges (probably just lucky??)

Amazing battery life - I can easily go through a weekend without charging it (but then again I'm not using it a lot over weekends). During the week I charge it about an hour per day and I rarely have to worry about it dying on my.

It's quick and responsive. Camera takes amazing pictures.

I use about 300mb per month (trying really hard to be conservative since I also don't have uncapped at home). Whenever I've got big things to download or update I go to Maxi's and log onto their uncapped wi-fi service and enjoy a nice meal and dessert"whistling:

But like Havoc said, finding covers is next to impossible. I've stopped looking and got my wife to make me one; not incredibly fashionable, but quite protective, and that's all I need, actually.

I'd suggest you scrape together another 1k and grab it off the orange store.
 
I can attest to the awesomeness of the Z1. I convinced my wife to take it, coming from an iPhone 4. I also convinced 2 colleagues to get a Z1, coming from a Nokia and a BlackBerry. Everyone has been ecstatic with their choices so far.

I'm waiting for the Z2 myself and it should be in time for my upgrade due early July.
 
HavocXphere said:
Well the S4s seem to be dropping in price fast so if you can aim for one of those that would be ideal.

Not sure where you're getting this uncapped story from but essentially you want the initial configuring, toying and testing to *not* run over your phones data plan. e.g. I've got a phone with a 200mb data plan...which is very little...but I can connect it to my home wifi router (adsl)....which is uncapped. SO if I need to do something on the phone that needs hectic data then I do so at home.

e.g. There is a good chance that you need to update the phone's OS initially...that 500mb+ if you run that over OOB rates thats a solid R1 000+ down the drain right there. As opposed to R0 over my wifi.
Click to expand...

The S4 is beyond my price range. Also, I have not heard good things about the durability of the recent Samsung Galaxies

I won't be buying the phones on contract, so I'll be using airtime to pay for data. I have wi-fi at home, but my connection is capped so I'm afraid if I buy an iPhone, my cap will be reached pretty soon with all the updates I've heard about.

I'm thinking of getting the Sony Xperia Z (since it will be cheaper than the Z1 and I don't need a top tier phone). Is the Z still easily available?
 
I use on average 1gig data on my phone per month, but Im not shy to DL anything on my phone...

My recommendation would be the S4 mini... I have it, and its fantastic. Im with MTN and a gig of Data is R149 and you get an extra 500mg free for use in the first week... In my opinion if you want to get the full usage out of a smart phone you need to have at least a gig of data, baring in mind I use a launched called Aviate which updates you with information throughout the day based on your location, time of day, etc, it tells me if there's an accident on the way to work and gives me alternate routes etc... very cool stuff...
 
I too am looking for a new phone,yet family and friends say stay away from Samsung S4 and S4 mini,I don't like iPhone so I'm not going there.
The Sony Xperia Z1 has been doing very well and look awesome.I'm thinking on getting that,plus it's not as expensive,depending on the ISP.
 
Samsung Note 3 or Galaxy S5 nuf said, The Z1 watch out for that screen it ain't shatterproof like they advertise my brother in law's fell about 15cm onto the edge and the whole screen broke and now sony doesn't want to replace it it's 2 months old, Also with the new Samsung note 3 and S5 you get i little app that gives you 2 free screen replacements in 24 months or 2 water damage replacements in 24 months or one of each and as soon as you give in your phone for repairs they give you the exact same model for a lone phone until yours is replaced or fixed
 
Ye got to admit the samsung repair and replacement policy is excellent... you do have to register the device on their web page though...
 
KofDelight said:
I too am looking for a new phone,yet family and friends say stay away from Samsung S4 and S4 mini,I don't like iPhone so I'm not going there.
The Sony Xperia Z1 has been doing very well and look awesome.I'm thinking on getting that,plus it's not as expensive,depending on the ISP.
Click to expand...

Stay away from the S4? I hope they gave you some reasons and they aren't like the one I heard recently;
"I wont go for a Samsung S4 because everyone is going for one."

riiiiiiiight, best reason not to get one.

I love my S4, have very little problems with it, lots of apps and features. Its not the perfect phone, but then none is. My wife, bother and father recently got themselves a S3 mini and they are very happy with it. It just depends how large a phone you want. I like the bigger screen, allows my big fingers to work better.

EDIT: Just wanted to add, the Sony phones are also amazing, I had to choose between the S4 and a sony one, eventually went for the S4 becuase of the deal I got from MTN. (Next year I'm going to Vodacom, had enough of MTN.) Most high end phones from their respective manufacturers are great.
 
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The Z1 is out of my price range, so going with Xperia Z if I can find one prepaid in Cape Town. Thanks for all the input MYgaming forumites:)
 
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