The Mobile Phone Advice Thread 2015

Last edited by LewisD on Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

Phone nerds! I require help!

I'm looking to upgrade my old iPhone 4S - the ol' girl is getting a bit long in the tooth.
I can't afford to stay with Apple, and I fancy a change anyway.

I'm very tempted by the Sony Z3 Compact, but we're reading horror stories about the glass front and back cracking oh-so easily, or even worse, cracking for no reason at all.

I'm also tempted by an HTC M8/9 instead, but I've not used an HTC Phone

Really, I need a good camera, and it's got to be easy to use. I would also like the battery to not suck (These reasons have made me think about the Z3 Compact)
I'm past my days of playing games on a phone so that's not really important anymore.

Any help would be magic, because I'm pulling my hair out reading phone specs over and over and over!

Also - Apologies to those I have on facebook who'll also see this post written on there too.

PostRe: Getting a new mobile phone... by KK » Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:43 pm

If you're thinking of a Sony I'd personally wait until late May/June to see what they've got coming up. They've just announced the Z4 (pretty much the Z3 with a few tweaks) for Japan but there's talk of a Z3+ range for us...whatever that is.

I do remember the Z1 appearing on a Watchdog over cracking screens.

The Z3 Compact and HTC M8 (don't bother with the M9, not much extra for the premium price) are both excellent phones and fit your requirements. Another good Android handset would be the LG G3, which can be had for a decent price.

Of course, my pick would be the Lumia 930. A better camera than any of the above phones, and can be had for less money. Windows Phone is easier to use than Android too, although naturally you lose a bit in the availability of apps. Getting better all the time, mind.

I have the z3 compact, it's a great phone.

If you want a fairly high spec phone at a lowish price, check out the One Plus One - now available without invite.

As a very happy HTC One M8 owner I'd be remiss if I didn't extoll it's virtues here.

It's probably the best phone I've owned. Unlike previous android handsets which always seemed to begin to flake out after 9-12 months the One M8 is still as smooth and glitch free as it was the day I got it (Just over a year now). Well worth a look.

PostRe: Getting a new mobile phone... by **KingK** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 9:18 am

LG G3 here. 4G on EE. Best phone I've had to date. Responsive and 4k photos/videos!

PostRe: Getting a new mobile phone... by **Errkal** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 9:27 am

Check out the high end Lumias or a 1020, the cameras are epic, battery is very good the OS is stable so in two years you can upgrade if you want not because you have to.

Errkal wrote:Check out the high end Lumias or a 1020, the cameras are epic, battery is very good the OS is stable so in two years you can upgrade if you want not because you have to.

My son has the 920 and loves it. He doesn't feel there is any need to upgrade and will only probably do so if Windows 10 gets shelved for the 920.

Misses has just picked up the z3 compact and is finding the battery and camera very good , the screen is nice and when picked it up found it very lite.

PostRe: Getting a new mobile phone... by **Errkal** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 9:54 am

Death's Head wrote:
Errkal wrote:Check out the high end Lumias or a 1020, the cameras are epic, battery is very good the OS is stable so in two years you can upgrade if you want not because you have to.

My son has the 920 and loves it. He doesn't feel there is any need to upgrade and will only probably do so if Windows 10 gets shelved for the 920.

Yeah the wife a 920 (was my one that I got on launch day) and it still runs like it was new. If you can get over the there noting a billion apps thing it is a great OS to have as it just works, and for the most part the apps you actually use are there, it just doesn't have a bigger total number of apps.

Errkal wrote:
Yeah the wife a 920 (was my one that I got on launch day) and it still runs like it was new. If you can get over the there noting a billion apps thing it is a great OS to have as it just works, and for the most part the apps you actually use are there, it just doesn't have a bigger total number of apps.

It isn't just apps, it is the customisable side of the phone. Android is more for tinkerers. I got my daughter's Xperia Z fixed and replaced my work 625 with it because I simply prefer Android.

PostRe: Getting a new mobile phone... by **Errkal** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 10:08 am

Death's Head wrote:It isn't just apps, it is the customisable side of the phone. Android is more for tinkerers. I got my daughter's Xperia Z fixed and replaced my work 625 with it because I simply prefer Android.

Makes sense, I prefer WP on my phone because I want to know it will just and with Roms and tinkering it may not, I then have a Nex 7 as a tablet than I use for tinkering and playing with Andro as if that is a bit squiffy for a few days as I sort something it doesn't matter.

Its all preference really, I just thought I would make a WP suggestion as it is the forgot OS and so many people are down on it for no real reason.

PostRe: Getting a new mobile phone... by **LewisD** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 10:31 pm

Well, here's my first post from my new HTC One M8!

Liking it so far - but it's so different to ios that it feels so jarring.

PostRe: Getting a new mobile phone... by **False** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 10:34 pm

Ive dropped my Z1 loads of times, stood on it a few times, thrown in across the room a few times.. Screen is scratched and the speaker thing on the bottom fell off, but no cracks.

PostRe: Getting a new mobile phone... by **False** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 10:35 pm

LewisD wrote:Well, here's my first post from my new HTC One M8!

Liking it so far - but it's so different to ios that it feels so jarring.

Didnt they just release the M9?

PostRe: Getting a new mobile phone... by **LewisD** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 11:23 pm

Yeah, but the increase in price didn't really justify the increase in spec over the M8 for me.
I'm sure for some folks, the M9 is much better. But the M8 will do what I want for a few years.

PostRe: Getting a new mobile phone... by **Rightey** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 5:15 am

Errkal wrote:Check out the high end Lumias or a 1020, the cameras are epic, battery is very good the OS is stable so in two years you can upgrade if you want not because you have to.

I really liked the 1020, but the battery life is pretty bad. It's about half of what I get on my Nokia 808, and that's like two years old!

But yeah the camera is amazing, and the UI was really smooth and well made.

PostRe: Getting a new mobile phone... by **Errkal** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 5:24 am

Rightey wrote:
Errkal wrote:Check out the high end Lumias or a 1020, the cameras are epic, battery is very good the OS is stable so in two years you can upgrade if you want not because you have to.

I really liked the 1020, but the battery life is pretty bad. It's about half of what I get on my Nokia 808, and that's like two years old!

But yeah the camera is amazing, and the UI was really smooth and well made.

I don't find the battery that bad at all, I easily get a full day out of it when out and about and when at home I have a wireless charge plate I leave it on so it is quickly available but also charging.

I have a Z3 compact, I am thinking pretty heavy handed and careless with my tech and this is holding out nicely after a few drops, I have a case on it which is also got a couple of card slots too. The phone itself can gimp itself at times and run a bit slow, but the battery and screen are fantastic on it, the camera is pretty naff.

The Mobile Phone Advice Thread 2015

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