Flagship deals - May 2019

Calcifer on 23/05/2019 - 19:30

Had my Samsung for more than a year and I'm itching to get a new phone. But haven't been able to find any good deals to tip me over the line

Not keen on paying a large chunk of cash on the phone up front. I'd prefer inclusion in a plan or mobile repayment option (MRO)

Most of the carriers seem to be doing middle to high pricing for poor data allowances (see the Optus 4GB plan) or high pricing for excessive data allowances. I mean, I definitely need more than the lower limit, but wouldn't even hit a third of the 60GB allowances on the level up

I'm most keen on Samsung S10+ and Pixel 3 XL. I'd go a One Plus or Xiaomi if they were available on a payment plan or in Aussie plans.
I've always liked iPhone in theory… but found their brand, price tag and UI are big put offs

Is there anything good going at the moment for Flagships?

I had heard of people using the JBHifi credit towards a phone then doing an MRO for the remainder
Eg Pixel 3 XL at $1349. Enter into a 24 month contract for $500 off, making it $899. Then repay the phone off over the 24 months on top of the plan $38pm or thereabouts. But for the most part that's still $107pm with an excessive data allowance I don't need

Mobile Mobile Phone

Comments

  • Calcifer on 23/05/2019 - 19:32

    I should add that I'm currently paying $30pm on an older Optus plan for 20GB. I have no need for more data. But they won't let me add a phone without joining one of their current offerings

    • Kangal on 24/05/2019 - 00:26

      Which phone do you currently have?
      Also, how many GB's of 4G+ do you use monthly?

      (PS: OnePlus phone's are not recommended outside of North America)

      • Calcifer on 24/05/2019 - 00:44

        Galaxy S8. On average I'm hitting about 10-12GB per month. 15GB+ would probably be a safe level to allow for any fluctuation

        I had the original OnePlus One some years back and loved. Probably wouldn't get Telstra's custom bands (if that's still a thing). But I'm mostly metro-bound so that's no biggie

        • Kangal on 24/05/2019 - 10:14
          +1

          Sounds like you would be best off with Optus network/MVNO (currently cheaper and faster 4G+, but less 3G and rural).

          The Samsung S8 is still a fresh, fast, great device. Even the Samsung S7-Exynos is. You won't notice much big gains besides "Oh, look shiny".

          I suggest since you are someone who likes to change phones quick/often, there's no use paying extra to get a phone with long-term support (iPhone, Pixel, OnePlus).

          You're sweet spot might be to stay with Samsung/LG handsets. And it doesn't sound like dabble in Custom ROMs. While a local S10+ is high on that list, I would suggest trying to get a local LG G8 instead (priced a bit cheaper, it's a little faster, runs for a little longer, and designed a little better). See if you can grab one on sale for $800-$900, and combine it with a cheap monthly service, eg $22 Jeenee (15GB of 4G). So that totals to $540 + $800 = ~$1,400. Or to simply get a S10+ contract (stay away from lease), and pay monthly $100 = ~$2,400 eg/ Optus $65 My Plan Plus (20GB).

          Or you could pay an extra $5 a month, a total of ~$2,600, and get 200GB to use instead. And if that's enough Data, then maybe you do not need to get a Home Internet/NBN, and save money that way?

          • Calcifer on 24/05/2019 - 12:20

            @Kangal: Thanks, I'll look further into that

            I've dabbled with custom roms before, mostly on Nexus devices. Caused a few problems at the time, but nothing that wasn't fixable. Any recommendations on a robust rom?

            Home internet is shared between five people plus devices, so unlikely I can take that avenue to cut expenses

            • Kangal on 24/05/2019 - 14:01
              +1

              @Calcifer: I feel like before you buy a phone, you have to decide if you do want Custom Roms or not. This saves you a lot of time and headache later on, so you can figure out which device and more importantly which variant to get.

              There's three that stand out for me:
              A) ResurrectionRemix is probably the best one. Has so many features, is relatively lean, very active development.
              B) LineageOS is the most dependable one. Has okay monthly OTA, very lean, not much features.
              C) FlymeOS is probably the best looking one. It's rather rare, but quite powerful and useable one, but it isn't very lean.

              D) TWRP, Magisk, Xposed, Substratum

              This comes from the previous predecessors/categories of ROMs:
              A) PAC-ROM, ParanoidAndroid, DirtyUnicorns, AOKP, etc etc
              B) OmniROM, CyanogenMOD, PixelExperience, SlimROMs, etc etc
              C) MIUI, etc etc

              D) CWM, SuperSU, Custom Mods, KLwp/gt/ck!

              PS:
              Just to give you an idea of where I'm at, I would have bought a Pixel device, if it wasn't for their (price, late release, lack of headphone jack, some other tangibles). I also would have bought a OnePlus device had they released a flagship phone (OnePlus 6t is a midrange phone with a flagship price). That leaves few options on the table. Samsung is clearly the best option, however, in Australia we get the sucky Exynos version, and the Snapdragon version get Custom Roms very late, not to mention these devices also have gone up in price and gone down in durability. That leaves only LG behind, and they're about to pull out from the Australian market, not to mention they're getting less Custom Rom activity in the recent times.

              • Calcifer on 25/05/2019 - 11:46

                @Kangal: Thanks!

                I've played with Slimbeans and CyanogenMod back in the day. But I was looking at Lineage OS not that long ago. Couldn't find an official version for my phone, but there is an unofficial rom on xda
                How would an unofficial Lineage OS for the S8 go for Android updates?

                Back to phones, I like the aesthetics of both the S10 and Pixel3 XL. I prefer the stock Android experience, but I do feel like the Pixel is overpriced and and perhaps not as good as the S10 overall

                • Kangal on 25/05/2019 - 15:59

                  @Calcifer: I would say the S10-Exynos is roughly equivalent to the Pixel 3XL in terms of efficiency, speed, and cameras. So what you're trading between the two is Pixel's better speakers, Headphone Jack, microSD, Samsung's superior build quality, Samsung's superior Australian Customer Service. In terms of software, the Pixel 3XL should last a bit longer and get faster updates. Current deals/price-wise they should be similar at around AUD $950. So those are the trade-offs, and even for me it's a little hard to decide.

                  The S10-Snapdragon is better than both. And it has better security, which actually means harder to get Custom ROMs (Hardware KNOX/locked bootloader).

                  There is however, the option of the ASUS ZenFone 6. If you can get one for under AUD $600, then I think it's worth it (has best front camera, battery life, good efficiency, and there's Custom ROMs)…. you do miss out on some durability, fancy screen, and Customer Support though.

                  And there's the ASUS RoG Phone 2 coming out later this year, to compete against the Samsung Note10 and Pixel 4XL.

  • p1 ama on 23/05/2019 - 20:21
    +1

    Not keen on paying a large chunk of cash on the phone up front. I'd prefer inclusion in a plan or mobile repayment option (MRO)

    That's just generally a bad idea unless you really can't afford it upfront (but if you really can't, you'll have a hard time with the credit check). Your best bet is to get your phone and plan separately - you get more choices for both.

    Is there anything good going at the moment for Flagships?

    S10+ is one of the best Android phones you can get at the moment, I'd prefer it over the Pixel 3XL (which I'm really not a fan of). The OnePlus 7 Pro would be my next pick, but having used both OnePlus and Samsung phones for a long time (had S8+, OnePlus 6, S9+ - yes, I cycle through phones a lot), I find that Samsung phones are more refined. You get great performance with the OnePlus, sure, but the overall package isn't as good as the Samsungs.

    • Calcifer on 23/05/2019 - 21:23

      Depends on the plan I think. Plenty of times when I've compared a sim-only plan + phone outright VS the 24 month contract there's been negligible difference ($50-100 over two years) for the sake of not copping the larger amount up front. It's been some time since I've compared

      Frankly I can't afford a lump sum of that size right now. So looking at whether there's a way to get a decent deal on a contract. Or whether I hold off for longer.

      Renders of the Pixel 4 are looking pretty swanky… Or there's the prospect of Essential Phone 2…

      • p1 ama on 24/05/2019 - 02:03

        Think the reason why you're getting some negative feedback or flack here is because you're asking a question which nobody knows the answer to. You're best looking at reviews or trying the phones out yourself.

        Personally I wouldn't hold my breath for the Pixel 4 - Google really did themselves a disservice by releasing their phone in the latter half of the year. Basically it means their phone will come out with old tech and will have to compete with newer phones (e.g. from Samsung) coming out with the new tech in just a few months. I owned many of the Nexus phones in the past, but the Pixel phones have been a let down. More expensive than competitors with less features.

        • Calcifer on 24/05/2019 - 12:25

          I've steered clear of pixel so far. But I do like the idea of getting updates more quickly and the general look of them at the moment. S10 is a sexier beast generally though
          It's definitely a shame that Google decided to put these phones at a more premium price point instead of keeping them mid-range like the earlier nexus devices

          I'm asking the questions about ways to get a better deal on these phones because I'm regularly seeing people on OzBargs having the inside scoop on one deal or another, or stacking deals and leveraging company processes to get a better offer. The current offering seems insane, so I've gone with the assumption that someone knows something I don't!

  • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2019 - 20:32
    -3

    get a P30 Pro

    • datafellows on 23/05/2019 - 20:44
      +4

      Prices might be coming down quite a bit in coming months…

  • crentist on 23/05/2019 - 20:36
    +2

    Had my Samsung for more than a year and I'm itching to get a new phone.

    No new phone is going to be much different to the one year old phone you currently own. They may seem slightly shinier, but that won't last long. You are looking for a new phone, not because you need one, but because you are chasing that feeling, that rush that new mobile phones have always promised, of new features that will improve our lives in ways we didn't know we needed, and upgraded features that will remove the struggles we currently face. These are the messages we have absorbed through years of flashy advertising, that makes us forget who we are and what we desire, and replace it all with the latest iPhone or Galaxy S.

    This itching for a new phone may stem from something else, something deeper. The outlay of even more of your hard earned cash for some slight spec bump you won't even notice, will not make those irretrievable hours of your short lifetime spent earning that money seem any less wasted. It will do little to mask your yearning for that ever more elusive feeling of fulfillment, if such a thing even exists.

    But a bigger tv, now that's obviously better.
    Get a new tv instead.

    • Calcifer on 23/05/2019 - 21:19

      Well for the most part you're right. It's probably closer to 18 months and two gen behind (S8). There's not that much wrong with my current device, aside from some battery probs. It's on power saver mode indefinitely, and occasionally still needs to be charged during the day

      Mostly it is the bx esire to have a new and shiny gadget. Maybe in-screen fingerprint scanner, less bezel, etc etc

  • Clear on 23/05/2019 - 20:44

    I'd go a One Plus or Xiaomi if they were available on a payment plan or in Aussie plans.

    I know Xiaomi Australia are in discussions with Optus to have their handsets, but that might not come to fruition or could be quite a while away.

    • Calcifer on 23/05/2019 - 21:17

      Guess it depends on what phones they get from the Xiaomi range. Could be cool, but probably ages away like you said

  • dogboy on 23/05/2019 - 22:08
    +1

    Had my Samsung for more than a year and I'm itching to get a new phone.

    Lol. How do devices that are in the price range of $1k become undesirable after a year? With a lack of any revolutionary enhancements in the technology or design, I cannot see any viable reason other than vanity to upgrade. It is the marketing hype of the phone manufacturers that promote this mindset. It is pretty obvious that modern phones are deliberately removing essential features like removable batteries and microSD slots to push early obsolescence in their devices.

    • Calcifer on 24/05/2019 - 00:52

      I think "vanity" is a bit harsh. I'm not looking for a new phone for any kind of social standing. Spend a lot of time on my phone and generally just keen for something new after ~ 18 months

      But also there's the general degrade of device performance over time. In another comment above I've talked to the battery longevity being less than fantastic. I'm on "battery saver" permanently, and still sometimes have to charge during the day. Still workable but meh

      If you had to point out something that might be intentional on the manufacturers part, It'd be the damn battery imho

      • dogboy on 24/05/2019 - 03:06

        Agreed, was probably a bit harsh. Sorry. Have you considered factory resetting your phone? I find doing that can really help with any performance degradation issues. Not sure if it will help with battery life though.

        • Calcifer on 24/05/2019 - 12:25

          Might try and see if it makes a difference

      • spackbace on 24/05/2019 - 10:15

        I've had my S8 for about the same time as you, but I don't need to touch battery saver mode. Though it all depends how long you use the phone for etc.

        I don't find myself needing to jump for the current gen, S8 is still a damn fine phone and I'd recommend just getting a new battery fitted and holding out for the next batch of phones, but that's just me :)

        • Calcifer on 24/05/2019 - 12:26
          +1

          It's still otherwise a good phone. I think if it weren't for power saver mode it would definitely feel more zippy also.
          Perhaps a reset (or custom rom) and a new skin will make this feel shiny again

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