Cheap pre-paid mobile phone for the daughter

Almost Banned on 29/01/2014 - 19:13
Last edited 29/01/2014 - 20:15 by 1 other user

My daughter is starting high school next week and has to travel from one side of Perth to the other on public transport to get there and back.

The wife and I thought we should get her a phone just in case of emergencies.

So, given it doesn't have to be too fancy, does anyone have any recommendations on a pretty simple and very cheap phone for her to use?

Thanks.

Mobile

Comments

  • -.- on 29/01/2014 - 19:23

    Are you looking for a phone or a phone plan, because the title and the description aren't matching? Also budget?

  • Almost Banned on 29/01/2014 - 19:29

    Phone.
    Under $100

    • scrimshaw on 29/01/2014 - 20:52

      Huawei Y300, selling everywhere for $99 unlocked.
      http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Unlocked-Huawei-Ascend-Y300-B…

      Suitable for Telstra, Vodafone, Aldi mobile etc. anything on the 850 mhz network.

      If using Optus, Virgin, or a 900mhz telco, get a Nokia Lumia 520 from Yatango

    • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2014 - 20:58

      Yours is not a straightforward forward question - in any case.

      It may still turn out - in the fullness of time - that absorbed radiation from mobiles at close quarters is a cancer risk, and maybe particularly for children with still rapidly dividing cells.

      So… If you really want your daughter to only use the phone for emergencies (to the extent that she won't want her friends to even see it!) you can buy toy-like phones that have just a couple of presets, with your number and Mum's programmed in.

      Next option - plenty for a just fraction of $100 - is a basic dumbphone, so at least no ready access to mobile data - and all that comes with that.

      If your intent is to buy her a cheap smartphone - with all that comes with that - then there have been plenty of deals under $100 around on cheap (but perfect reasonable for the price) Huawei phones like the Y201 and Y300. I own both - they're fine.

      You didn't mention the network you would want the phone to be used on - initially, or down the track, so there are specific frequency / model issues to consider.

      EDIT: Scrimshaw posted while I was typing, but I'll leave the comment otherwise as is.

  • montorola on 29/01/2014 - 21:37

    I think you should be more worried on how much talk your daughter will rack up on it, stick to prepaid I say!

    You should also research plans out there that let you talk for free to others on the same network - for example, Virgin mobile customers can talk for free to other Virgin mobile customers (on most of their plans I believe). Might be something worth looking into.

  • Almost Banned on 30/01/2014 - 00:52

    Might go with the Coles Huawei…

  • tonester on 30/01/2014 - 10:48

    pretty simple and very cheap phone

    Optus Samsung E3210 or Nokia C2-01 $15, Telstra Roamer 116A $29
    http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail/products/Technology/Pho…

    Telstra Roamer 116A was $10 at Coles
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/114057

    with free unlock in Perth
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/104896

  • bsk on 30/01/2014 - 12:14

    Hi my teenager also wants a prepaid phone and keeps finding these on google, I know nothing about buying from these overseas companies but the phones do look pretty attractive. what do you think?? http://www.everbuying.com/product533930.html
    do you think this would suit - seems cheap enough
    Thanks

    • scrimshaw on 30/01/2014 - 12:29

      That's not a smart phone, even though it looks like one and has a touchscreen. It won't even browse the Web since it is not 3g either.

      Have you looked at the Coles Huawei G300 + on the front Page? Or a Huawei y300. These are currently the best sub 100 dollar smartphone you can buy, even when stacked against imported phones from China.

  • bsk on 30/01/2014 - 19:07

    yer son dose not want a huawei sorry is this a goo buy http://www.focalprice.com/MH0867B/DOOGEE_DG300_5.0_Capacitiv…
    Thanks

  • bsk on 30/01/2014 - 19:30

    and just one more is this phone alright or what do you think http://www.focalprice.com/MH0903L/Hot_Star_C5_4.0_Capacitive…
    Thanks

  • [Deactivated] on 30/01/2014 - 19:36

    I believe this one is better than all of the posted ones above

    http://www.pandawill.com/w450-smartphone-mtk6582-quad-core-1…

    the above ones are most likely to be unusable, why buy something that is likely to be thrown away in a month because it's just way to slow to use…

  • Almost Banned on 03/02/2014 - 18:25

    I went with the Coles Huawei - dang it was hard to find a Coles that had one in stock.
    But if I'd waited a week I might have gone with the Samsung Mini that is on special this week.

  • hsk on 03/02/2014 - 23:13

    What do you think of a Samsung Galaxy Y - from Coles for think it was about $60 thanks

    • scrimshaw on 03/02/2014 - 23:33

      It only has 180MB of internal memory, so after about 3 or 4 apps installed you will run out of memory. RAM also very limited, less than 200MB to utilize, so expect some lag and apps force closing.
      Screen resolution is also the absolute minimum spec for Android — 240 x 320 pixels.

      4GB memory would be the absolute minimum amount of memory I would consider in a low end Android device, with at least 512MB of RAM (to run Jelly Bean).

      There are much better alternatives IMHO, Huawei being one of them. For $40 more, you can buy a Huawei Y300 (ebay, unlocked) which is around 2 or 3 times better than the Samsung Y.

  • hsk on 04/02/2014 - 00:12

    thank you so if I want to stay under $100 is Huawei the best value?

  • hsk on 04/02/2014 - 08:47

    thanks

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