Are there any good all-round smartphones under £250?
Discussion
I've had a Moto G5 for the last 11 months, bought as a cheap replacement for my old Xperia Z3 which started to fail after 2 years' use. But I'm fed up of the lousy camera on the G5, plus it's a bit of a bulky thing. Question is, what to replace it with?
It used to be pretty easy to find a good mid-range phone around the £200 mark, but the "mid-range" phone these days has become a £300-£500 item. Where my old Z3 cost just over £200, its 2018 equivalent (Xperia XA2) is another hundred quid.
For under £250 SIM-free, is it possible to get...
Good camera
1080p or better screen
Around 5" display size (no giant "phablets"!)
Minimum 32GB of storage, preferably 64GB
Android 8
Fast charging and/or wireless charging
... or am I asking for the moon on a stick for a tenner?
It used to be pretty easy to find a good mid-range phone around the £200 mark, but the "mid-range" phone these days has become a £300-£500 item. Where my old Z3 cost just over £200, its 2018 equivalent (Xperia XA2) is another hundred quid.
For under £250 SIM-free, is it possible to get...
Good camera
1080p or better screen
Around 5" display size (no giant "phablets"!)
Minimum 32GB of storage, preferably 64GB
Android 8
Fast charging and/or wireless charging
... or am I asking for the moon on a stick for a tenner?
If the 1080p screen requrement isn’t critical, I personally rate the Experia XA1. (1280x720)
£200
23mp camera
dual simm(most important to me).
Had it over a year now, battery lasts me around a week, and it updated to android 8 this week automatically.
Does have some annoying bloatware though (e.g. AR app, swift keyboard can’t be uninstalled).
£200
23mp camera
dual simm(most important to me).
Had it over a year now, battery lasts me around a week, and it updated to android 8 this week automatically.
Does have some annoying bloatware though (e.g. AR app, swift keyboard can’t be uninstalled).
If you can stick with Motorola the new g6 starts shipping in the first week of May
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/moto-g6
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/moto-g6
Prinny said:
If the 1080p screen requrement isn’t critical, I personally rate the Experia XA1. (1280x720)
£200
23mp camera
dual simm(most important to me).
Had it over a year now, battery lasts me around a week, and it updated to android 8 this week automatically.
Does have some annoying bloatware though (e.g. AR app, swift keyboard can’t be uninstalled).
+1 for that Sony. Got mine for £175 on Black Friday, also bought one for my wife.£200
23mp camera
dual simm(most important to me).
Had it over a year now, battery lasts me around a week, and it updated to android 8 this week automatically.
Does have some annoying bloatware though (e.g. AR app, swift keyboard can’t be uninstalled).
£185 at the moment:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06Y5W3VXY/ref...
Single SIM is only £170 if dual SIM not wanted
keirik said:
Samsung J5.
£150
Replaced my s6 edge amd does everything so need.
Also takes a micro sd card so storage isn't a problem
I don't know what the J5 camera is like but the camera seems to be where most of the cost goes, so I think it's going to be difficult to get a good camera in a phone that's sub £250 when new.£150
Replaced my s6 edge amd does everything so need.
Also takes a micro sd card so storage isn't a problem
You'll get a much better device all round going for a previous generation flagship.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I wasn't aware of the imminent Moto G6; if it's got a notably better camera than the G5 then it could be a good option. Especially that Amazon special with extra RAM and storage. I'll have a trawl around for some reviews and sample photos from the G6. It's not like Lenovo can't do a decent camera; my fiance has the G4 Plus and that takes a far better photo than my G5. In retrospect I should probably have bought the G5 Plus.
I wouldn't really want to go back to a 720p screen, which rules out the Sony XA1. If the XA2 was cheaper it'd probably be ideal.
As for the LG phones, although it's got an impressive spec the G5 is pretty old now and doesn't look like it's getting an update to Android 8, certainly won't be getting any further updates. I'm probably being overly picky, but would rather buy a current model phone that's going to get at least one further OS update before the manufacturer abandons it.
I wasn't aware of the imminent Moto G6; if it's got a notably better camera than the G5 then it could be a good option. Especially that Amazon special with extra RAM and storage. I'll have a trawl around for some reviews and sample photos from the G6. It's not like Lenovo can't do a decent camera; my fiance has the G4 Plus and that takes a far better photo than my G5. In retrospect I should probably have bought the G5 Plus.
I wouldn't really want to go back to a 720p screen, which rules out the Sony XA1. If the XA2 was cheaper it'd probably be ideal.
As for the LG phones, although it's got an impressive spec the G5 is pretty old now and doesn't look like it's getting an update to Android 8, certainly won't be getting any further updates. I'm probably being overly picky, but would rather buy a current model phone that's going to get at least one further OS update before the manufacturer abandons it.
I recently picked up a Motorola X4 for £190 (£199 at Carphone Warehouse sim free, plus £10 cashback from topcashback.co.uk).
Higher spec than the Moto G6, same spec as the Moto G6+ but usefully smaller and cheaper. HD 5.2 inch screen so seems to fit what your're after. Runs Oreo and it's IP68 waterproof too.
Specs comparison here:
https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=900...
Higher spec than the Moto G6, same spec as the Moto G6+ but usefully smaller and cheaper. HD 5.2 inch screen so seems to fit what your're after. Runs Oreo and it's IP68 waterproof too.
Specs comparison here:
https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=900...
I hadn’t realised the Moto X4 had dropped in price so much. Seems like a good deal compared to the new Moto G6.
The only real positive I can see for the G6 over the X4 is that is is a newer phone and so should have software updates a bit longer.
I am thinking of going for a G6 plus as I would like the larger screen.
The only real positive I can see for the G6 over the X4 is that is is a newer phone and so should have software updates a bit longer.
I am thinking of going for a G6 plus as I would like the larger screen.
bristolracer said:
Dave. said:
Has anyone tried the Android Nokia's?
They look good on paper, the reviews I've read say they have no fast charge and the battery life is lacking, so not really any good for the op. I think they are due an uplift soon so that may bring them up to the expected standard
I'm still using the Nexus 5 I got about 4 years ago, it doesn't need replacing yet, but I keep looking every now and then for when it does die.
Jonny_ said:
As for the LG phones, although it's got an impressive spec the G5 is pretty old now and doesn't look like it's getting an update to Android 8, certainly won't be getting any further updates. I'm probably being overly picky, but would rather buy a current model phone that's going to get at least one further OS update before the manufacturer abandons it.
Ah yes, good point. I thought it was running 8 but have just checked and it's on 7 and unlikely to get updates now. Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff