phone recommendations please

Geewhizz on 21/09/2013 - 15:57

I'm looking for recommendations for a smart phone that meets a few requirements please. The price restriction might make it a bit difficult, but I can only ask.

1.The person it is for lives in a fairly remote area so it must be telstra compatible, preferably blue tick.

2.It must be super easy to use …. if you could not give it to your grandmother who has never had a mobile phone and expect her to be able to use it, then it is not suitable for this person.

  1. Must have a front facing camera for skype, and a decent rear camera without much lag.

  2. Less than $100

The Huawei y201 would have suited fine except that it doesn't have the front camera.

Mobile

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 21/09/2013 - 19:55

    Telstra prepaid Huawei Y300, get via Dickies or Officeworks.

    It's $100 bucks and has a VGA front facing camera.

    Also android phones aren't what I'd consider 'super easy to use' and if the user has never used a smartphone before (particularly aged individual) you may need to set up everything for them so it is ready to use.

    Your checklist might be:
    1. Setting up a Google Play account.
    2. Downloading and updating all the required apps, download the OTA updates if there are any.
    3. Setting the homescreen widgets, icons and other display settings
    4. Setting up the Skype account.
    5. Optionally limiting data connectivity (using 3g watchdog or similar) so they don't get bill shock from downloading too much on mobile broadband.

    • Geewhizz on 22/09/2013 - 06:09

      Thanks shall look into it.

      you may need to set up everything for them so it is ready to use.

      Yes, that was the plan, and with the data connectivity, the intention is to set it up to use the home wifi. She is unlikely to use it for general surfing / you tube while out, so should be fine data-wise, but shall have to monitor it initially to make sure it's all running smoothly.

      EDIT:

      From reading reviews, it seems the camera is quite laggy, so may not be suitable.

      Any other suggestions please?

      • scrimshaw on 22/09/2013 - 08:37

        JB Hifi is selling a Nokia lumia 520 for $99 but it has no front facing camera.
        Sony Xperia E $99 (and cashback) @ Boost, but also same story — no front camera.

        Telstra Frontier 4G $119 via Officeworks has a front camera but I haven't bothered looking at reviews yet to determine if the rear cam is fast. All I do know is the camera quality is pretty poor.

        To be honest your options are extremely limited with a sub $100 budget. If you want both a front camera and a back camera with fast shutter speeds, I think you're going to have to compromise a bit by paying more, or either buy a second hand device.

        For around $200 ~ 249 example, Huawei Ascend P1, Lumia 620, Lumia 720, HTC 8x 4g, Nexus 4

        • Geewhizz on 23/09/2013 - 07:58

          Thanks for that.

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