Hi,
The battery in my sisters iPhone 5 seems to have died so she has decided it is time for an upgrade. She wants to change over to an android phone.
The main things she is after in a phone is a good camera (both front and rear), good battery life, will fit in her pocket and possibly one handed use (so roughly a 5 inch screen I'd say) and decent amount of space for apps, music and photos (micro sd card support would be a plus).
She was looking in jb hi fi and found the Oppo F1, but after reading some reviews saying not the best battery life or camera and has 16gb memory with micro sd but can't move apps to sd, people were recommending the Moto G 3rd gen over the Oppo. I also recommended the LG G4 if she wanted to spend a bit more. She is looking to buy outright, probably from a store and would like something with good specs that will last her a while but doesn't want to spend $1,000 if she can avoid it.
Any recommendations of phones would be great, thanks in advance!
Please help recommending a phone for my sister
Comments
The LG G4 has a bootloop issue. Would avoid that.
If you go on eBay, there are sellers peddling the LG G2 for an absolute steal — less than $200.
It's still my current device, it takes great photos and the battery is absolutely incredible for such a small device. It runs slightly older Snapdragon 800 CPU but it's very snappy. It'd murder any $200 dollar phone that you can buy from local market.
Here's a 32GB model , D802 international model
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-2-LG-G2-D802-Quad-core-4G-LTE-3…The downside is the lack of SD card slot, so you're stuck with 16 or 32GB.
If you want to go Brick/Mortar for local warranty I'd suppose the Moto G is a good pick, and the Huawei GR5/GR3 is also decent as well. The price of these Huawei's however, is far too high…I'd much rather get an LG g2.
There's also Xiaomi as well, the Note 2 and Note 3 Pro is amazing bang for buck, but Xiaomi software I find is finicky and some vendors sell a polluted version of the phone loaded with malware (mileage will vary).
LG4 is a great phone. Nice screen, good design and best of all, awesome camera.
BUT!!! suffers from shoddy hardware. Notorious for having bootloops (randomly killing itself) due to faulty hardware.
Even the newest builds are still having bootloops. Do you really want to risk it?
Mine was made in Dec 2015, bought from the $370 Kogan sale, doesn't have that problem. Actually, from what I read, those made after Sept/Oct 2015 do not have that boot loop issue. Edit: after reading the comment below, maybe there really is an issue.
It doesn't happen to everyone but it does in fact exists. I'm guessing anywhere from 10-30% of G4 owners might get it but no one really knows because LG is keeping it on a low.
On Lgg4 subreddit, at least 1-8 people are reporting dead phones (bought from release til even 2 months ago) almost every day.
And that's just only redditors.
As someone who just lost an LG G4 to the bootloop gods, I would certainly advise against it.
It's a great phone, but just too much of a risk.
Are even the new LG G4 phones facing this problem (late 2015 and early 2016 models)?
I'm not sure about the early 2016 models, but I've read about a couple of late 2015 models still having it.
I've heard early 2016 models experiencing bootloops as well.
Jan Feb Mar
Majority of bootloops don't happen straight away.
Only after a few months to a year
Well damn this is something I don't want to read on my LG G4 that I've had zero issues with (apart from the leather back falling to bits)
@Cooties: Yeah just ensure you keep everything backed up. I had absolutely no signs before it happened.
The freezer trick worked for me (but only for about a minute) to get the last couple bits and pieces off it
Thanks for the advice, I think I'll tell her to stay away from the G4. It's a pity as it sounds like a good phone but not worth the risk.
I've tried to convince her to buy an older flagship model second hand to save some money but she seems to want to go a new phone.A massive number of G4 were sold in the popular Kogan deal few months back. Not many complaints were reported since then. I doubt if it's a common issue across all phones.
Lol best I can do is a 3350, still got one sitting around. I don't think it will satisfy her need for Facebook and snapchat though.
The battery in my sisters iPhone 5 seems to have died so she has decided it is time for an upgrade. She wants to change over to an android phone.
I'm no Apple fan, but you'll save yourself a lot of heartache by steering her back to an iPhone…whether that's repairing her old one or getting a new one…not looking to re-ignite the old vs. debate here, just forewarning you, and I'll say no more on the subject! ;)
Sister = should be fine
Mother in law = you're fine
Someone you're not particularly close with = Nokia 3310 is fineWife == you'd better get what she wants and it'd better be a $800 dollar iPhone6
Whole world uses android. Get off it, mate.
It really is getting old to trash a superior and more popular OS.
Its you who needs to get off it. Stewballs isn't an iPhone fan. (At least, based on previous discussions at Ozbargain) (Neither is Scrimshaw)
Just read a little closer
He makes the point like I do when someone wants to switch OS's that its not easy.
I use the iPhone. Bought an android and hated even the simple things like swiping up to unlock vs swiping sideways (yes I guess there are mods you can do)
When my friend asks about my iPhone, I first let them try mine, and I never try to influence them.
If they own a quality Android, they generally agree while there are somethings they like about the iPhone, switching isnt going to be easy and unless there is a compelling reason to them, they don't. (And btw some I know have switched to Android and enjoy it)
Even the media seems to be getting less confrontational when it comes to OS wars - thats the OLD news
And I voted you up so your comment and mine can be read
The OP needs to decide, who is wanting to switch, the Sister or themselves. Does their sister have the desire to learn the phone details involved?
Bought an android and hated even the simple things like swiping up to unlock vs swiping sideways
That pretty much tells me your knowledge about phones.
@cDNA: Don't be so petty, it doesn't imply anything of the sort.
Rocky was absolutely on the money, it's all about the difficulty many users have switching OS's in either direction; nothing whatsoever to do with your own insecurity about perceived ecosystem 'superiority'.
I'm not insecure. I'm being decisive in what I prefer.
I'm no Apple fan, but you'll save yourself a lot of heartache by steering her back to an iPhone
You're the one who said that. Not everyone is computer illiterate like you.
You're the one who said that. Not everyone is computer illiterate like you.
There's that pathetic, childish insecurity as a defence mechanism lashing out again…time to grow up kid, regardless of how 1337 you might think you are, you're coming across here as a petulant toddler with comprehension difficulties.
@StewBalls:😈 Well said, but comprehension maybe a bit difficult 😄
Simply put cDNA, as you said.
That pretty much tells me your knowledge about phones.
That maybe true, but I have knowledge about life, and not everyone in the world wants to rootkit/Jailbreak their phone, they just want to use it. So if Sis is one of those, switching will just cause her grief, while it might make you happy, that you are helping win an OS war, thats not what she would be concerned about.
BTW when did Stewballs ever "trash" the Android OS? Explain your self please!!
At least this toddler knows how to use a smartphone and isn't encouraging others to continue being sheep..
You keep talking about insecurity. I have no idea how that's relevant. I have more knowledge about phones and what's inside them then you ever will. I'll continue telling people off for discouraging others.
As I said, not everyone is as incapable as you. She might enjoy it. Who are you to say it's going to cause heartache?
No one said anything about jailbreaking a phone.
Go swipe your iphone from left to right. Shoo you goat.
@cDNA: ROFL, you only see what u want to see.
How about answering my question?
Or did you miss that while swiping up and swiping at everyone else!
You want Size + battery + camera + in store, there is not really much option.
Sony z5 compact $480 after 20% off @ Kogan
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sony-Xperia-Z5-Compact-4G-LTE-E58…iPhone SE $569 after 20% off @ Kogan
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Apple-iPhone-SE-16GB-Rose-Gold-/3…Samsung s6 $537 after 20% off @ Kogan
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Samsung-Galaxy-S6-4G-LTE-32GB-Whi…Sony z3+ $377 after 20% off @ Kogan
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sony-Xperia-Z3-4G-LTE-Dual-SIM-E6…Other
Huawei P8
HTC M9
Sony Z3 compactBut however if you want a Oppo F1 equivalence with better battery. Its alot easier by just check this list http://www.gsmarena.com/battery-test.php3 for reference.
Mobile phone camera rating by DXO
http://www.dxomark.com/MobilesNote: Sony Z5 series have same camera and Overheating issue on z3+ has gone since MM update according to user comment here
http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z3+-reviews-6878.php
Plus Stamina mode is back which bring you better battery life.
Motorola g3. You can tell her whatever you want about how much you paid and just give me the rest.
The local JB-Hi-Fi were offering a nexus 6 [the motorola model] for $358 yesterday - I didn't post it as a bargain as it hadn't been catalogued and I was unsure of the quantaties. For the price it's pretty good specs, will get Android "N", the only downside for me being no sd card slot or I.R. blaster [ I've been spoilt by the G4 - for all the "bootloop" talk it is still the nicest phone I have held and used, and the camera is to die for]
check out the Oneplus range. I have the Oneplus One and it's still going very strong. one plus 3 coming out in 2 weeks. do your research there's a whole community supporting these phones. I bought a second hand 'one' model for the wife with issues but the company remoted into my pc, installed drivers and reset the phone solving the issue…. bought mine in 2014 for $500 and it still has comparable specs to the flagships… and these phones are future proof as you will always have the latest OS.
We have 2 'Moto G (2nd Gen)' being used in our house, and they've been great.
As long as Motorola haven't gone backwards with the 3rd Gen, I'd definitely recommend it for your list to consider.Yeah 3rd Gen is great also. Just costs slightly more but it's worth it.
The 4th Gen… however is not that good. Overheats/throttles easily according to many reviews.
Moto x style. Nice from cam with frontal led flash.
Xperia Z3 compact. Excellent battery life and comparable form factor to iPhone 5. Still great performance too