Cheapest, Buyable in-Store Phone That Can...

ajwatts on 02/11/2016 - 15:32
Last edited 02/11/2016 - 21:55

UPDATE: Solutions were found! Thanks for the help, folks! (I don't know how to close the thread, so mods, if you wanna, this is solved.)

Hola, OBers!

So I have just sent my beloved phone back to the manufacturer due to a series of technical issues and the manufacturer not doing what they really should have. Some time next week, I should be getting a full refund.

But in the meantime, I have no phone. (After sending a phone to be fixed under warranty back in 2014 and not getting it back for many weeks, I actually bought a $9 prepaid Telstra "basic" phone to cover me. Of course, it is locked to them, and the included SIM card "expired" in October 2016 and can't be activated.)

I'm hoping you Great Bargain Finders can point me in the direction of the cheapest phone, that I can go to a store and get on the spot (if I need to wait for an order, I may as well just wait for my refund and buy a phone then) that:

  1. I can use my existing Kogan prepaid mobile SIM with. (e.g., unlocked, or locked to Vodafone) or which includes a SIM with enough free credit that I can send a few hundred SMSes before recharging.

  2. Can use a Gmail app of some variety. (I know I can access my email in other ways, but I want this. I'm not attached to any variety of the app - Android, iOS, Windows, whatever, all good.)

  3. Is 3G or 4G and under no circumstances Optus, because they have no coverage whatsoever where I am, no matter what their coverage maps say.

I would be very happy if it could play one of Avengers Academy, Marvel Future Fight or DC Legends as well, but I won't be too upset if that can't be accommodated.

I am in the western suburbs of Melbourne, which may help with the in-store-availabibility requirement.

I'm seriously looking to spend in the $20-40 mark. There are a number of phones that fall in that price range that might do me, but they all seem to be locked. (Of course, if you can also direct me to a way to unlock a phone for free, I'll consider locked phones.)

I can budge a teensy bit on the price - but for something that will just get shoved in a drawer a week from now, $20-40 already angries up my Bargainer blood.

Help me, OzBargain Community - you're my only hope.

Mobile

closed Comments

  • inherentchoice on 02/11/2016 - 16:02
    +2

    What about buying a used phone?

    • ajwatts on 02/11/2016 - 16:15

      I did a bit of searching around and couldn't find anything viable, sadly. Either well out of the price range or I'd need to have it delivered.

      • inherentchoice on 02/11/2016 - 16:16
        +1

        You could post a wanted ad. Or post a request in a Facebook 'Buy Swap Sell' group.

        Or otherwise it might be good to have a break from your phone for a week.

        • ajwatts on 02/11/2016 - 19:54

          See, this is why I love OzBargainers! I'm running right over to FB now to do that. I wish I could upvote you twice. :)

  • mskeggs on 02/11/2016 - 16:21
    +2

    Most prepaid smartphonss from the supermarket can be unlocked for a couple of dollars on eBay.
    Probably your existing $9 one too. Or if bagman on this forum is still around he was an expert on this.

  • Savas on 02/11/2016 - 17:30
    +1

    Can't you go without a phone?

    • ajwatts on 02/11/2016 - 19:56
      +1

      I can, but I'd lose money. If I can't be reached very quickly (with a phone call), I miss out on the freelance jobs that are my bread and butter now. :(

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