Which Smart Phone?

[PK99]

I have finally decided to take the plunge - I can no longer take the ribbing from my kids!

Two questions:

1. Which Phone? - I like the look and spec of the Samsung Galaxy S3 mini

2. Which network? - I'm in London but need it to operate well in the whole of Surrey and in Cornwall, am i likely to find coverage issues with particular networks?

 

[defy-one]

all networks claim to have the best coverage. i would ask users you know in the areas you listed above as to what sort of signal strength they have.
as for smartphones... the kings are samsung galaxy S3 and the iphone 5.
try as many as tou can before parting with any cash.
i have had windows phones, iphone 3gs,4s, and galaxy S2 and currently on a S3..... the iphones and galaxy's are on par with each other, it comes down to personal taste.

 

[marinyork]

2. Which network? - I'm in London but need it to operate well in the whole of Surrey and in Cornwall, am i likely to find coverage issues with particular networks?

You could look on www.opensignalmaps.com or www.rootmetrics.com. Unfortunately rootmetrics in particular is very limited for data.

The short answer is it is very hard to gauge. If you're talking 3G in cornwall, it won't work 'well' in the 'whole of Cornwall'. Devon and Cornwall are notorious for people complaining about deadspots.

If you look at vodafone and o2's coverage maps you will see cornwall does not have very good coverage. Usually in the 'public' maps what the networks say can be misleading - what o2 calls 'good outdoor coverage' means you'll likely struggle to get a signal at all. Vodafone is a bit more honest in its descriptors. For example what vodafone describe as 'outdoors' two people who live around here describe it as 'no signal'. Everything everywhere https://explore.ee.co.uk/coverage-checker. If data is really an issue EE might be best. Not that I'm saying believe the coverage maps, they don't tell you half as much as the mobile phone companies know themselves.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Just on personal experience, vodaphone had a better signal coverage in the area we used to live in (surrey/hampshire border) and out and about around hampshire as well (as well as in one of our favourite locations in scotland which was most annoying because we prefer to be off grid when we are there!). We left Surrey in Feb 2011,for what it is worth, though I suspect little will have changed.

If you have an iPod for music, then the obvious option would be stick with iPhone because you can take your music over much more easily. otherwise it is what you feel best with.

EDIT: I will say where we lived in Surrey we had little to no signal at home and even less at my work and nothing on my 7.5 miles commute inbetween, so it is hit and miss once you get to 'rural surrey'.

 

[Piemaster]

I've had a Sony xperia go for a few months and very happy with it. Went for a more rugged phone as it will be used on bike and out running. Plus I didn't want one of the larger format phones - needed to be trouser pocket sized. Battery can last a couple of days with careful use - turning wifi etc. off when not needed. Had to buy the phone as couldn't find any deals for it and have been pretty happy with T-mobile anyway. Recently went to a £10/month contract as it's about same as a pay as you go usage would have been and allowed me to use it in Europe and Brazil.
Network EE. (was T-mobile) not really had any coverage problems
Had a company iphone 4 on O2. Could make phone calls in kitchen but not in living room. I have quite a small house. Shiny but I prefer android to apple.

 

[Herr-B]

Which phone and on which network will get you every permutation in a public forum but if you want everyone's two-penneth then here's mine -galaxy SIII. Whichever network is really down to you, I doubt in London and the surrounds it'd be terrible coverage, and in Cornwall it would not be great.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I personally would hang on a month & see whether you can get the Nexus 4 it's better spec'd than both the Galaxy & the Sheephone, getting your hands on one might be the hard thing. As to network, that depends what you want to use it for, personally both wife & I have Tesco mobile, which is a MVNO off O2, 250 minutes, 5000 texts & 1Gb data for £10 a month each which is more than enough for us, but for some that wouldn't last a week.

Alan...

 

[amaferanga]

HTC One S and One X are worth a look as well. I have the One S which is slightly smaller than the One X (and the Samsung Galaxy S3) and less powerful, but it's still a superb phone. No lag at all and a great display. Not sure if you can still get it at all, but I got mine on a 12 month contract for £35 /month with the handset for 'free'. Don't see many good phones for free on 12 month contracts these days.

 

[Rob3rt]

I personally would hang on a month & see whether you can get the Nexus 4 it's better spec'd than both the Galaxy & the Sheephone, getting your hands on one might be the hard thing. As to network, that depends what you want to use it for, personally both wife & I have Tesco mobile, which is a MVNO off O2, 250 minutes, 5000 texts & 1Gb data for £10 a month each which is more than enough for us, but for some that wouldn't last a week.

Alan...

You can buy the Nexus 4 from Carphone Warehouse, but they are asking more than Google direct, approx £100 more, but it is still cheaper than the Samsung. I am considering buying one when Google re-stock, my HTC Desire is becoming unstable.

 

[Norm]

You can buy the Nexus 4 from Carphone Warehouse, but they are asking more than Google direct, approx £100 more, but it is still cheaper than the Samsung. I am considering buying one when Google re-stock, my HTC Desire is becoming unstable.

They restocked on Tuesday.

 

[Rob3rt]

Thank's Norm! I will get an order in I think!

 

[MrJamie]

You don't necessarily have to go for one of the flagship phones (HTC One X, Samsung Galaxy S3, iPhone 5 etc etc), there are plenty of other smartphones that are decent. It seems the norm for people to always want the latest top phone and the improvements with each new round of handsets seem to be getting more and more minor, it seems needs and value for money often comes second to having the latest thing. It's also worth noting that the battery life on some smartphones is terrible and IMHO isnt suitable if youre working/away for long hours without a charger, gone is the once a week charge replaced by the daily charge. Read some reviews on whatever you buy before you buy it

 

[Piemaster]

I still occasionally use a Sony Ericsson W810i when I need something with a decent call/standby time. Tough as old boots atto.

 

[robgul]

The Huaweii Ascend G300 (Android) has had good write-ups in the last couple of weeks as value for money - and lots of functionality without all the fashionista hype of iPhone, Samsung etc .... is/was available to buy unlocked from Vodafone on PAYG for about £100

Rob

 

[rusky]

As others have said, Android or iOS are usually personal choices but Android is more open allowing a lot more customisation.

How much do you want to spend a month & how much do you want to spend on a phone?

A few things to remember when checking coverage is: -

Cells "breathe". That is to say, the edge of a cell isn't constant & depends on the amount of people/data using it.
I often have people saying they have really good signal on their phone but no 3G. Voice & data are completely different. 3G might not be transmitting on the mast nearest you.
Coverage maps are best case scenario.
Don't expect much 3G in London during the rush hour or lunch time. Voice takes priority over data & you'll get loads of congestion on the network at these times.

For a laugh, take a look here & check for internet & email coverage https://www.vodafone.co.uk/our-network-and-coverage/uk-coverage-map/index.htm & check Scarborough - If anyone's in Scarborough, I suggest you live on a boat if you want 3G coverage!