Smart Phones!

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I have an LG Eclypse although I'm too poor to be connected to the 4G network. Wifi hotspots are my friends!

 

[mParadox]

I have a HTC Desire. Which is the most awesome phone ever! >.>

Also, it's now discontinued and that makes me sad. 3:

Anyway, HTC makes excellent smart phones. If not HTC, then Sony. Both are good and their budget phones are pretty damn good. As opposed to Apple.

 

[AdamxD]

Thinking around a £20 month contract possibly, with like 3000 texts and a very low amount of minutes. Internet wise, I'd reckon 500Mb/month would do. I'm keen to go onto contract, as Pay as You go would get a bit too expensive for me right now.

 

[Zeren]

If you want any customization at all, don't buy an Apple product.

 

[Sonicron]

I'm no expert in this but about a half a year ago I did my research when I was buying my first smart phone. If you can't afford anything too expansive I think that HTC One series is pretty good and it has wide range of prices. HTC One V is a low-end and the one I got. Its pretty good but slow at times but not too slow, just don't expect much out of 3D games. One S is the mid-tier and the one which I would recommend and One X is the full package for high price.

Very much seconded. I'm currently on my very first smartphone, and it's a HTC One S with Android. Couldn't be happier with it - small and light, decent battery life, games run just fine (except for really really fancy 3D ones) etc. Never got any of the oft-cited problems like the phone just turning off and on when it feels like it either. The only real drawback is that the phone has no slot for any sort of SD cards, so your 10GB storage limit is fixed.

 

[BarbaricGoose]

Sprint Galaxy Nexus

Spirit Galaxy Nexus? Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... that name conjures up some pretty incredible images. You know what I think of when I hear "Spirit Galaxy Nexus"? This.

This must be the most amazing thing in the world... I have to go think about my life, and how hearing about this Spirit Galaxy Nexus has changed it. Oh wait--it's a phone. Ughh..... now all I can think of is blackness. I feel as though there's a void in my mind now. That was so amazing, I can no longer think of anything other than... nothing. My mind has been blown.

THERE'S NO REASON TO LIVE! WHERE'S MY KAYAK?!?!

Spoiler

Sorry. I have NOTHING useful to add to this thread. I hope you can forgive me.

Also:

 

[SnowyGamester]

I'm gonna go with everyone and say Samsung Galaxy Ace. Good build quality (dat gorilla glass), reasonable specs, does basically everything you could want from a smartphone (there are a few cool things in phones running more recent Android versions but not a lot), and most importantly they're super cheap. Samsung is basically the king of quality smart phones at the moment, I've got the S3 right now and it is freaking fantastic (the only reason I went for something so powerful is because I love me some mobile gaming and with an iControlPad it's the best thing out there).

Or you could go cheaper and get a Huawei IDEOS x1. Screen is a bit nasty looking but it's fast and responsive enough and still does all the things.

 

[Supertegwyn]

Well, I have a Samsung Galaxy S3, and it kicks all sorts of ass.

As you said though, probably out of your price range (Which you should probably state).

Hard to assess when you haven't given us a ballpark to work with.

 

[N3squ1ck]

While I have a Galaxy S 2 and it is really great, it is also still kinda pricey.

A friend of mine has the Huawei Honor and she is really happy with that, and it is relatively cheap, so maybe that is worth a look?

 

[cikame]

Aren't iphones the only option right now?

I have an LG Viewty because it takes pictures and is a phone.

 

[Spade Lead]

I had a Droid by HTC that had a 1.5G dual-core processor, huge touch screen, 8MP camera (I love REAL Photography, and this phone worked well for it when it wasn't handy to keep my camera with me) and super user-friendly, and it was FREE with my provider. I paid one cent for it for tax.

http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_inspire_4g-3706.php


Here is a sample of a picture I took with it of some clouds just outside my door a few months ago:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ag_KMlcdOfs/UQUS6BzbSqI/AAAAAAAAAIc/6KwBFrCgmxU/463603.jpg

 

[Kaymish]

i have one of the first gen Samsung galaxy minis its a good phone if getting a bit long in the tooth now but it senses my finger nails which is good because i have stubby fingers. I have heard HTC makes good phones at a cheap price and a friend had one of those samsungs that are a cross between a phone and a tablet it looks real big when he is talking but the screen is good

 

[Vhite]

The only real drawback is that the phone has no slot for any sort of SD cards, so your 10GB storage limit is fixed.

Are you sure about that? Because One V has Micro SD and I don't see why they would remove it from better model.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

Thinking around a £20 month contract possibly, with like 3000 texts and a very low amount of minutes. Internet wise, I'd reckon 500Mb/month would do. I'm keen to go onto contract, as Pay as You go would get a bit too expensive for me right now.

Unlimited texts, 1GB internet and 250 minutes on GiffGaff. £10 a month. No contract required. It's pretty much the best deal you're going to get. Get hold of a budget phone that's unlocked / unlockable and get a sim from their site. Locking yourself into a 2 year contract isn't a good plan when getting your first smartphone IMO. Especially if you're on a budget.

http://giffgaff.com/index/offer

 

[Kolby Jack]

iPhones are good but you can probably find just as good (if not better) and a lot cheaper.
I have the Sony Xperia X and it's pretty good. Up until a few weeks ago it was freezing a lot but that's been fixed now.
(Just DON'T go with Orange. Set of overcharging bastards.)
Samsung Galaxy S3's look good too. Big phones though, they don't properly fit in my hands (I have tiny hands)
I'm a bit of a noob with new technology so I'm probably not the best person to ask xD but they should be able to help you when you go into the phone shop.

I have a Galaxy S3. It did take some getting used to since my old phone was a bit smaller than it, but now it's no issue. Software-wise, it works great. Everything runs smooth, barely use my internet data allocation because it has wifi, but it is a bit pricey, or at least it was when i bought it. Still, a good phone and I certainly don't regret the purchase.

 

[Griffolion]

Escapists! I'm currently thinking of getting myself a smartphone. I find myself unable to access Google whenever I want to, and this is something which mildly angers me. So! What phone can you recommend to me?
Iphones are probably out of my price range

If you want Apple, get an iPhone (obviously). They are expensive and you're treat like a child with what you can and can't do. I disagree fundamentally with Apple devices and software based on their practices, so maybe I'm not the best person for a recommendation on Apple.

If you want Android (and you did say you wanted access to Google, what better way than to get the OS that Google makes), get a LG Nexus 4 (or a Galaxy Nexus if you fancy going cheaper). Do not, under any circumstances, buy any other Android phone. The Nexus 4 is the official Google Phone that gives software updates as they come out, not 9 months down the line when the OEM bothers to put it on. It's also very powerful, and ultra gorgeous. Available off-contract for £280 (unsure about American price, but it's half the price of an off-contract iPhone while actually being a more powerful phone with better software, they sell it for no profit). The only problem with the Nexus 4 is that so many people want it, they can't get them on the shelves quick enough.

If you want Windows Phone, get a HTC 8X or a Nokia Lumia phone. Only problem with the Windows phones is their app eco system is very limited still. But they are nice phones, and WP works really nicely. Be aware that Windows phone is incompatible with GMail, as Google ceased support for the defunct Exchange ActiveSync protocol that WP operates on to retrieve Emails (MS once again clinging white-knuckled to their own tech instead of embracing standards).

 

[You Can't Take the Sky From Me]

Samsung's Galaxy Note II is pretty sweet, for me at least, its a damn big phone but I have a 10.5 inch hand-span so... If you have small hands I'd recommend something else. Good phone though.

 

[Sonicron]

The only real drawback is that the phone has no slot for any sort of SD cards, so your 10GB storage limit is fixed.

Are you sure about that? Because One V has Micro SD and I don't see why they would remove it from better model.

Of course I'm sure, I've had this phone for nearly 6 months now, and the guy in the store specifically told me about this drawback as well.

 

[soren7550]

The only smart phone I've ever had to chance to use was the iPhone. Nicely sized, easy to navigate, and if you're like me, you'll feel all fancy and shit when you're holding it.

You might be able to get one for cheaper if you get an older model with a contract.

 

[AdamxD]

Thanks to everyone who posted. Have gone for the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2, and Virgin, who I have been a long time customer of, have given me an awesome, cheap offer for the contract.