Trying to find a smartphone.

[Brethern]

So I'm currently looking at the Samsung Galaxy core LTE it was recommended to me as an affordable phone that does the things that you normally want from a smart phone. I'm curious to know if anyone has any experience with it or what they would recommend.

Right now my only criteria is that the phone has to use android. and is not an Iphone or apple product or uses the windows OS. I also don't want a blackberry as well.

Any advice or help is appreciated as of right now I'm slightly lost.

[Specialist290]

Dropping this in the Space Lounge, as this seems more like a request for recommendations than a discussion of a matter pertaining to ongoing research, development, or "philosophy of technology." Admittedly, that tagline for the Science Labs is just a tad too vague...

[GoSlash27]

Well...

Your criteria are a bit vague. All Android smartphones will do what you normally want from a smartphone, so you'll have to be a bit more specific.

What, exactly, do you want it to do well? What features do you not care about so much? What is your price point?

Best,

-Slashy

[Brethern]

Well...

Your criteria are a bit vague. All Android smartphones will do what you normally want from a smartphone, so you'll have to be a bit more specific.

What, exactly, do you want it to do well? What features do you not care about so much? What is your price point?

Best,

-Slashy

Well the only real thing I know for sure I'll be using is battlescribe, other than that I don't know, I am honestly clueless when it comes to smart phones.

[Dispatcher]

The first thing you ought to do is determine what carrier (Verizon, AT&T, etc.) and service plan you want; based largely on you getting service at places that you frequent (home, work, school, etc.). Secondly, how often do you intend to use the phone? This ties in with battery life, etc. Sometimes these basic choices will help guide your purchase decision.

[Brethern]

The first thing you ought to do is determine what carrier (Verizon, AT&T, etc.) and service plan you want; based largely on you getting service at places that you frequent (home, work, school, etc.). Secondly, how often do you intend to use the phone? This ties in with battery life, etc. Sometimes these basic choices will help guide your purchase decision.

I probably should have clarified that I already have a phone, and my carrier plan is usable with a smart phone.

As for usage, well I don't really text anyone and my phone calls are normally reserved for emergencies or confirming something. As for everything else I honestly don't know, I'm probably going to find uses for it once I get it.

[Engineer of Stuff]

I would recommend the HTC One. It is a really advanced smartphone and worth the high price tag.

Also, it's really cool that you are asking the KSP forum about this. There are so many techies here that know quite a lot about this topic.

Edited October 22, 2014 by Engineer Of Stuff

[GoSlash27]

I probably should have clarified that I already have a phone, and my carrier plan is usable with a smart phone.

As for usage, well I don't really text anyone and my phone calls are normally reserved for emergencies or confirming something. As for everything else I honestly don't know, I'm probably going to find uses for it once I get it.

Ah. In that case, I'm sorry but I'm afraid I can't offer many helpful suggestions for you.

Your best bet is probably picking up a used phone 2 generations old such as the Galaxy S3. That way you won't be locked into it and will have some time to sort out what features are important for you.

After you know what you will be using it for, you will be in a better position to pick out which option will work best for you. If you like, I can tell you what I use mine for. I'm sure others around here will do the same.

Best,

-Slashy

[Elthy]

I would recomment the Motorola Moto G. It has everything a decent smartphone needs for an awesome price:

-Good 720p Display

-Quick enough quadcore CPU

-1 Gb of RAM

-Will get an update to Android 5.0

-Costs less than 200€

I would choose the 2013 version with a SD Card slot. The 2014 version is worse since its more expensive and has a shorter batterylife due to the larger screen but it has a better camera. The rest is identical to the 2013 version...

[11of10]

I'll just go with saying that you try to avoid any phone that has less than 1GB RAM, as newer versions of Android OS tend to choke on less when you add software. And, no matter that you say that you will only be using one program, with smartphones, it tends to go further.

Oh, just one more...

Soon, you find yourself with a bunch of software active in your RAM.

I think Elthy has it nailed tho, with Moto G and Lollypop.

[Kryten]

Moto E is even cheaper and still very good, but only has 2Gb onboard storage; even with transferring stuff to SD, it can prevent installation of large (>1Gb) apps.

[Capt.Joseph Kerbertson]

So I'm currently looking at the Samsung Galaxy core LTE it was recommended to me as an affordable phone that does the things that you normally want from a smart phone. I'm curious to know if anyone has any experience with it or what they would recommend.

Right now my only criteria is that the phone has to use android. and is not an Iphone or apple product or uses the windows OS. I also don't want a blackberry as well.

Any advice or help is appreciated as of right now I'm slightly lost.

We got our kids galaxy s4 mini's. They seem to love them. Size is about that of a iphone 5s, battery life is pretty good. Cases can be a pain in the A** to find.

[Brethern]

I would recomment the Motorola Moto G. It has everything a decent smartphone needs for an awesome price:

-Good 720p Display

-Quick enough quadcore CPU

-1 Gb of RAM

-Will get an update to Android 5.0

-Costs less than 200€

I would choose the 2013 version with a SD Card slot. The 2014 version is worse since its more expensive and has a shorter batterylife due to the larger screen but it has a better camera. The rest is identical to the 2013 version...

That's actually the phone I wanted but my carrier doesn't have them right now.

[megatiger78]

get a small pc. like a tiny laptop. much more powerful.

[Kryten]

That's actually the phone I wanted but my carrier doesn't have them right now.

They're pretty commonly available sim-free, at east over here.

[Brethern]

They're pretty commonly available sim-free, at east over here.

I know I can find them, but the question is where? plus there's a chance that next years model is going to be coming soon so there's always that to consider as well.

[Elthy]

The new version of the Moto G was released some weeks ago, i dont think it will be replaced, soon. Also this new version only has a bigger display and is otherwise identical to the 2013 version...

[Brethern]

The new version of the Moto G was released some weeks ago, i dont think it will be replaced, soon. Also this new version only has a bigger display and is otherwise identical to the 2013 version...

Hmm, perhaps I should wait a bit before making a decision, the whole different country thing might mean that they're going to be releasing it here sooner.

[Elthy]

Huh? There wont be a new Moto G soon if the lastest version is just some weeks old. The country doesnt matter.

[Brethern]

Huh? There wont be a new Moto G soon if the lastest version is just some weeks old. The country doesnt matter.

I really have to organize my thoughts better.

What I meant was that I don't see the New moto G yet, so they could have released it where you are earlier than here.

[Elthy]

In my opinion you dont have to worry about the new Moto G. I has a bigger screen (but with the same resolution means its as a worse PPI) and a better camera but due to the bigger screen its battery doesnt last that long and its more expensive. Since the CPU etc is identical i see no reason to buy it.

[dharak1]

I would recommend an Oppo find 7 or 7a. A nice big removable battery with 16 or 32 gigs of storage with 2 or 3 gigs of ram. Also the Find 7 has a 1440p 541 PPI display. It also looks really nice. I would recommend the 7a if you don't care about the screen or onboard storage. Expandable storage of course. You can charge them both in an houre from completely dead to 100%. I've had my find 7 for more than a week now and it's awesome.

[cliff2]

I'm using a Galaxy S4, I find it very great and fast enough for me

[Elthy]

Dont you think that those smartphones (Oppo Find & Galaxy S4) are a little overpowered and expensive when he states he just want have a decent smartphone?

Edited October 25, 2014 by Elthy

[Red Iron Crown]

I'd recommend an older Nexus device. They're quite good at OS updates and the hardware is decent.