Looking for a phone for my mum and I haven't really kept up with the technology as I've been using an old Nokia phone for years. Can anyone suggest a good second-hand model (for light use) that has a decent camera, medium to large screen and okay battery life for $100 - $200 (under $150 preferably)?
Decent Second Hand/Refurbished Android Phone for $100 - $200?
eris on 22/01/2019 - 00:19
Comments
Battery life advice on a second hand phone will be very hard to advise on.
True. Thats why at the price point, I would only get a phone with easily replaceable battery , like samsung s5. Just flip battery cover off, and put new battery in easily in 5 seconds.
Anything without removable battery, phone shops will charge probably minimum of $50 (probably closer to $100) to take phone apart and replace battery. Cost of battery replacement defeats the purpose of buying a cheap $150 phone.Replacement batteries can cost a fair bit too - even (or especially) for older models.
Xiaomi Note 5 would be a good budget phone. However, the camera is pretty mediocre and won't produce amazing shots, but will be good enough for social media.
But they market it as
Dual camera, astounding images
astoundingly bad
I second this phone. Although it's better to unlock the bootloader and install a custom ROM to get the best of it. Also the GCam mod is heaps better than the stock camera app from MIUI which will produce better images.
https://www.kimovil.com/en/best-smartphones-moviles/top-batt…
Go new. Good site for searching and telling you where to buy.
motorola e5 from Big W - $179 (so $170 using wish cards)
my 14yo daughter just bought one, 5.7" screen, 4000mAh battery, not sure on photos as yet (reviews said OK, not great).
.
I got a refurbed LG G6 from these guys last week for about $250, phone looks like new to me and works fine.
I got a brand new one for $240 with recent Ebay Plus 15% off trial deal!
You're not thinking of the MotoG G6?
I haven't seen the LG G6 under about $450 new. :)
nope LG! The dual sim versions are around $500, don't know why such a difference.
@meiztom: This seller is currently away until 19 Feb, 2019. If you make a purchase, there may be a delay in processing your order.
Can I ask if you ordered while the seller was away and how long shipping took? :)
@Ciony: I ordered before they were 'away'but I am pushing them to send mine faster and they are answering messages quickly so they're still there. Unfortunately it looks like I will have to wait every bit of the 14 day shipping they advertise :(
Samsung S5 with its user replaceable battery.
What about an Oppo A73? I have one and it is fine for a cheaper phone and has many good features.
When you buy from a local store it is easier to return if you have problems (warranty).
Say 5% off this price if you pay with discounted Wish Gift Card or egift card (at Cashrewards)This is locked to Optus:
https://www.bigw.com.au/product/optus-oppo-a73-gold/p/676218…
Pay not *Say
Where has the edit option gone???
Samsung galaxy s5 . By far IMO the best second hand phone in that price range. Check ebay, should be about $150 or less.
Has a great camera, interchangeable battery so you can have a spare battery fully charged, ready, and 1 in the phone. Spare batteries are between about $6 and $10 . Get genuine samsung battery on ebay for about $10 delivered.
I just switched from s5 to s7, and s7 has issues. Data (and sometimes calls) reception is often dropping out with s7 whereas never really dropped out using s5 (same location, same house, s5 outperforms).
S5 is also waterproof, but I wouldn't be dunking an old s5 in water to test it. Just means if it starts raining when you are out, don't have to worry about it getting splashed a bit.Cons-the waterproof charging port cover is flimsy, most will be broken off, it is easily replaceable (just 1 screw to remove, and about $5 on ebay will get you 5 fresh charging port covers if it happens again).
Something to check for (ask ebay seller, or whoever purchasing from) check for screen burn sometimes on white screen, there are icons etc 'burnt in' . So ask (or check yourself) when mostly white screen, is theee anything showing a bit faded in background aka the 'screen burn' . This can happen from having the same screen on for too long, especially in the first 500 hours of use. Say if you had Facebook on screen 8 hours a day, for the first week, would then likely get facebook icons burnt into screen permanently . It is actually that those sections of the screen are more worn/burnt then others. It is nothinv to be worried about for new owner on used phone, as the damage is mostly in first 500 hours that screen burn is done.
For bigger screen, if s5 is too small, I would go for samsung note 3, or samsung note 4. I have lots of experience using note 3, very strongly built phone, I even left my note 3 on roof of car 1 day after getting petrol, drove off and fell onto road, looked to have been run over, put battery back in, and was fine, no cracked screen, just small dint in corner metal. Thats after falling off roof of car when I accelerated away at next trafic lights, probably run over (because it was not found on roadway, but off the road, in nearby grass).
Nexus 6p way better value.
Just have to replace battery ~$40+phone cost~$100replace battery ~$40+phone cost
plus doing repair yourself, time involved, tools need purchasing, chance will stuff it up, have to buy new phone, or new parts to fix your damage done 1st repair attempt
I'm not saying that it cannot be done, and I am not saying not to attempt phone repairs yourself. I am just saying, do so at own risk, and there is time,frustration,tools added to the cost .
It certainly is not as simple as just buying battery or part from ebay, and thats it. You have lots of added risk and time spent etc, then ebay battery might be a dud, and have to do entire repair again with another new battery.I can't comment on the nexus 6p as a phone, as haven't used one really.
Battery$10
Labour$30Battery$10
Labour$30Wow, which repair shop does it that cheap ?
I would like to know, as I would go there. Could post it as a 'deal' I guess. That is incredibly cheap for a repair business to only charge that.
Samsung J2 pro. $188 officeworks brand new. Great phone, only drawback no fast charge but an impressive phone. Got it for my dad, he loves it after showed him how to use google assistant (voice) and navigation.
Considered second hand but new is better in terms of reliability. My older phones tend to have weird glitches even when the battery was replaced and phone formatted.
Battery life advice on a second hand phone will be very hard to advise on.
Maybe try a Sony xa ultra. Big screen. Enough grunt for mums. Great camera. Battery life (who knows with 2nd hand)