New mobile phone advice please

[Norman]

So the story is I have a Samsung Galaxy S6 - had it since it was released back in 2015 (I think) and have surprised myself that I never lost it. Anyway, the microphone no longer works properly. People can't hear me when I call and it looks to have had its day.

The reason why I'm asking for advice is that as I've always had Samsung Galaxy's (since they came out), and I'd like to keep things simple and stay with Samsung Galaxy. I'm with 3 Mobile, so understand it would be a case of just switching the sim card over.

I mainly use my mobile for Whatsapp, texting, Internet, calls. However I've fancied doing some photography, but imagine all later models will be decent anyway.

Can any of you kind folk advise which Samsung Galaxy model will suit me and also where I'm best buying it?
Is buying it off Amazon safe, or should I go to one on the high street such as Curry's that I can physically see and hold first? I've also randomly been looking at the A12 but that's just because it's the first one I saw when I Googled.

No budget as such but the price I see online for the A12 seems to be around £150. If I can get one for that price and it lasts me another 6-7 years, it's a sound investment.

[tarkys_ears]

A12 is cheap. It's got a 50mpx camera but its not great due to the software etc

If you're gonna keep a phone for 6-7 years, £5-600 for a decent Galaxy S, Iphone or Pixel 6 should be justifiable. They DO have great cameras.

[PadihamThickNeck]

Your better off with one of the newer S range models, are you on contract or PAYG ?

You can get a top of the range phone nowadays for peanuts.

Just been looking on three mobile for you can get the S20 with 100Gb of data and unlimited calls and texts for £23 a month with an upfront payment of £29 on a 24 month contract.

[Norman]

Just been looking on three mobile for you can get the S20 with 100Gb of data and unlimited calls and texts for £23 a month with an upfront payment of £29 on a 24 month contract.

I'm on contract with 3 Mobile, but I think I'd prefer to buy one as opposed to paying more per month.

Do you have a link for that deal? On the site it's showing it's half price for 6 months and when I click on, it's actually showing £30 a month - with only 30GB of data.

[Norman]

A12 is cheap. It's got a 50mpx camera but its not great due to the software etc

If you're gonna keep a phone for 6-7 years, £5-600 for a decent Galaxy S, Iphone or Pixel 6 should be justifiable. They DO have great cameras.

What's wrong with the software?

[PadihamThickNeck]

I'm on contract with 3 Mobile, but I think I'd prefer to buy one as opposed to paying more per month.

Do you have a link for that deal? On the site it's showing it's half price for 6 months and when I click on, it's actually showing £30 a month - with only 30GB of data.

Sorry it’s the S20FE the one I was looking at which is still a really good phone that’s worth around £500.

It’s £23 for the first 6 months then £46 from after, sorry I didn’t see that but but here’s the link anyway …

http://www.three.co.uk/samsung/galaxy-s ... &paym=true

[taio]

I do exactly what you're thinking. Buy basic but very effective Samsung upfront and then do no contract sim only deal.

[Bosscat]

I had an S6+ and last year moved to an S9+ ... (bought through Amazon as it was a cracker of a deal) am with BT mobile on a sim only deal

[Norman]

Sorry it’s the S20FE the one I was looking at which is still a really good phone that’s worth around £500.

It’s £23 for the first 6 months then £46 from after, sorry I didn’t see that but but here’s the link anyway …

http://www.three.co.uk/samsung/galaxy-s ... &paym=true

Cheers. I've been reading reviews on the A12 and overall it seems positive and not a bad price for £150-160.

[Norman]

I had an S6+ and last year moved to an S9+ ... (bought through Amazon as it was a cracker of a deal) am with BT mobile on a sim only deal

Hmm. That seems to be around the same price as the A12, yet released in early 2018 vs December 2020 (A12).

What improvements would you say the S9 has over the S6?

[Bosscat]

Hmm. That seems to be around the same price as the A12, yet released in early 2018 vs December 2020 (A12).

What improvements would you say the S9 has over the S6?

It was the price I paid as my S6 was eating battery and the camera screen was cracked (a common dault with them) I have no experience of the A12 so couldn't comment.

I was saying what I did ... and not trying to play one-upmanship on mobile phone knowledge

[ClaretDiver]

The S20 FE 5G is a cracking handset, also until 10th January at some places you will get a free Samsung Chromebook 4. What amount of data do you use per month? 100GB is way above most peoples usage....worth shopping around....Sky are doing this handset for £19 per month plus dataplan...granted it's a 3 year agreement for the handset but there are perks to the dataplan such as Piggybank, data free Sky apps and the ability to mix your plan as you see fit....also the final 12 months drops in price, no CPI rise every year and the option to trade in the handset at the 2 year mark at no cost...

[Norman]

What amount of data do you use per month?

Good question - I'm currently on unlimited with Three Mobile, and most of the time use my Wireless for playing videos... mobile data is generally just for browsing and checking the football scores, so imagine the data plan I'm currently on is fine.

[ClaretDiver]

Good question - I'm currently on unlimited with Three Mobile, and most of the time use my Wireless for playing videos... mobile data is generally just for browsing and checking the football scores, so imagine the data plan I'm currently on is fine.

When chatting with customers I tend to find they use a lot less data than they need so many are paying over the odds for 'unlimited' or '100GB' that they don't need.....

[Jakubclaret]

Hmm. That seems to be around the same price as the A12, yet released in early 2018 vs December 2020 (A12).

What improvements would you say the S9 has over the S6?

Substantial.

https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?i ... hone2=8966

[steve_f]

I have a Galaxy A12 and its brilliant, £145 from argos. Be careful where you buy it as some are selling the non uk model.

[Jakubclaret]

The S20 FE 5G is a cracking handset, also until 10th January at some places you will get a free Samsung Chromebook 4. What amount of data do you use per month? 100GB is way above most peoples usage....worth shopping around....Sky are doing this handset for £19 per month plus dataplan...granted it's a 3 year agreement for the handset but there are perks to the dataplan such as Piggybank, data free Sky apps and the ability to mix your plan as you see fit....also the final 12 months drops in price, no CPI rise every year and the option to trade in the handset at the 2 year mark at no cost...

I’d consider Sky as the favourite o2 MVNO with offering WIFI calling Volte that Tesco & giffgaff don’t boast,

[Herts Clarets]

I have a Galaxy A12 as my work phone. Seems pretty decent and the battery life is excellent. Usually last 2 days and still 20-30% left. I have an A8 as my own phone which is nearly 4 years old and I am looking to upgrade in the New Year. I don't want or need the latest model at a grand a pop so will be looking at the Galaxy A range again.

[Johma]

The A52s has a better spec than the S20

[BabylonClaret]

The A52s has a better spec than the S20

Does it though??

A quick Google suggests it doesn't. There's not much in it mind.

[Dressinggown]

I have recently started to use my mobile as a genuine alternative to carrying around a compact camera. I have had a Huawei P30 Pro.

I replaced the P30 Pro recently and had looked at the top end Iphone 13's and the Samsung Ultra's but went for the New Google Pixel 6 Pro. It takes some great images but it's the software that it uses is stunning including some great post photo editing options.

[Bosscat]

The A52s has a better spec than the S20

Ahhh also you can get from Newcastle under Lyme to Mablethorpe on the "A52" whereas "S20" is just an area of Sheffield

[Johma]

Does it though??

A quick Google suggests it doesn't. There's not much in it mind.

Same camera
Same RAM
Better battery life

Half the price

[superdimitri]

Buy a Chinese phone like a Poco F1 and don't get stuck with the costly provider contracts. It's not free, you're stuck to one provider, and you loan the money to pay for the phone and pay it back each month for a fee for your service.
Own your own phone instead.

[Johma]

Buy a Chinese phone like a Poco F1 and don't get stuck with the costly provider contracts. It's not free, you're stuck to one provider, and you loan the money to pay for the phone and pay it back each month for a fee for your service.
Own your own phone instead.

Which 1 do you have?

[Jakubclaret]

Which 1 do you have?

It’s good advice given providing research is done you can get some good bargains & you can buy a lot of crap if you don’t know what you are doing.

[Steve1956]

The Samsung S8+ is a brilliant phone,I have an Samsung S21+ now and it's not a patch on the S8 I had before,no idea how much it costs now but back in the day it was expensive...check it out you won't be disappointed

[superdimitri]

Which 1 do you have?

I'm still using one I bought in 2016.
Advantage buying Chinese is you can get high end specs, for low prices.
If I was in the UK now, I'd buy the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite but I can't use it in the US because it doesn't work well with networks here.
https://www.mi.com/uk/mi-10t-lite/

If you want to spend a bit more, they also have higher end phones, but you don't need to spend more really unless you're a power user.

[Jakubclaret]

The Samsung S8+ is a brilliant phone,I have an Samsung S21+ now and it's not a patch on the S8 I had before,no idea how much it costs now but back in the day it was expensive...check it out you won't be disappointed

Phones can evoke nostalgic memories the Nokia 6230 I loved back in the day, you are probably looking at around £150-£200 for new condition that model listed screen burn seems a common thing whether it’s aged & well used phones I’m not sure.

[pompeyclaret]

Just brought the Mi 11 5G, under £300 with cashback, and £6 SIM.
All the family now on Mi/ Redmi Chinese phones, similar specs to Samsung but half the price. No brainer

[The Enclosure]

I have the Galaxy A71 which i have found to be excellent.Its the one with 128gb memory and has a good sized screen,excellent camera and is reasonably priced if you shop around
.It comes with superfast charging as well.Highly recommend this phone for the price.
ps my previous phone was the S8 edge and in my opinion the S71 is just as good and better in some ways.

[Norman]

Substantial.

https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?i ... hone2=8966

Which do you think is best between the S9 and A12? The A12 is newer, yet appears to have less memory!

[Jakubclaret]

Which do you think is best between the S9 and A12? The A12 is newer, yet appears to have less memory!

https://m.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idP ... one2=10604

[Bosscat]

Which do you think is best between the S9 and A12? The A12 is newer, yet appears to have less memory!

Norman you can debate for hours ... I find the S9+ does everything the S6+ did but better with more memory like most things, you can only compare what you have and have had in the past ... unless someone has owned both they cannot say which is best ... unless they are a salesman/woman/person and then they will probably push you to the one that makes them the most profit regardless of the performance you require.

[Norman]

https://m.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idP ... one2=10604

Thanks - a lot of technical stuff I don't know too much about though. I'm currently going to go with the A12.

[Bosscat]

Thanks - a lot of technical stuff I don't know too much about though. I'm currently going to go with the A12.

We can't wait m8 ... the anticipation is bubbling

[Fretters]

The Moto G200 5G looks excellent. 'Stuff' have reviewed it this month.

[IanMcL]

Check for fluff in the mic!