As usual - best and...
 

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As usual - best android phone for £200

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Got am s21 fe at the minute but a new screen is £180!

What's out there for £200 with a similar spec?

Is there a geometry geeks comparison for phones type site?


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 5:25 pm
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Xiaomi Redmi. I've just got my lads old one as he's gone Apple. Works well


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 5:31 pm
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Define best?

Small?

Waterproof?

Samsung xcover 5. From £120 on eBay. Dual SIM from £140.


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 6:07 pm
 cp
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 cp
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Geometry geeks

www.gsmarena.com

www.phonearena.com

But as ever, phones are ways more than specs, software is way more important and ime pixel phones generally nail it.


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 6:11 pm
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Pixel 6a is £252 at Three.co.uk, if you wanted to go handle one before committing. Still a chunk over budget but a very good phone.


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 6:30 pm
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Smash your budget by 38 quid (use the discount code)

which code?


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 7:44 pm
 cp
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It's on the listing...

SUN15


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 8:02 pm
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Google pixel 7a £399

Trade in your Samsung s21 fe for £130. (Screen damaged but turns on)

Total £269 if you can stretch the extra.

Direct with Google store

Or pixel 6a for £299 and trade in your phone for £110

Total £189


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 8:30 pm
slackboy reacted
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Forgot to add 5% cashback on Google store via topcashback


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 8:53 pm
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Previously had a Pixel which died and bought a redmi Note for around £150 . It does everything I need with a decent spec.


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 9:01 pm
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Another vote for the Pixel 6a using the Google cashback promotion. Great phone with excellent camera and very good reviews.


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 9:16 pm
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Pixel 6a works for mo


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 11:03 pm
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I'm still rocking a pixel 4a.

When the battery eventually dies I'll replace it with the same, a 7a or probably an 8a judging the way this thing keeps on 'truckin.


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 11:06 pm
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Any love for Nokia? Been looking for a phone for a similar budget and liked the look of them.


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 11:10 pm
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Maybe there will be some deals on the Google Pixel 6a on Amazon Prime day?


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 11:23 pm
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Stretch the budget and get a Pixel 6a they are worth the extra over pretty much any £200 phone at the moment.


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 11:25 pm
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Not relevant really but my phone , a xiami redmi, is still going strong 3 years later. Which is crazy for a smartphone IME, still absolutely fine and software appears to be working well


 
Posted : 08/07/2023 11:32 pm
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Sorry to be a total idiot at these things, but how does the Google cashback work!


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 11:56 am
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still going strong 3 years later. Which is crazy for a smartphone IME

What's crazy is replacing several hundred quid's worth of tech every couple of years being normal and expected. No other market sector does this, you wouldn't buy a new washing machine thinking "well, the old one owes me nothing, I've had it two years now." PCs even don't do this any more unless you buy truly bottom-feeder products.

Still going strong three years later should be a minimum expectation for a modern phone, not an exceptional one.


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 12:36 pm
stevie750, jamesoz, Burger and 7 people reacted
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Absolutely this, I was only considering upgrading due to space (and performance) issues but did some cleaning and can hold off for a while yet.

Tbh I'd be happier not having a phone filled up with bloat and I include Google apps in that. Bare bones Android that I pick and choose apps as I need them is far more appealing which is why I was looking at Nokia.


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 12:56 pm
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Is your screen broken?  If so save £20 and repair the phone.


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 1:09 pm
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I've got a 6a and it's a brilliant phone. But I've broken the screen, and Google's authorised repair center (sic) quoted £730 for a replacement one. Even the dodgy phone repair shop quoted £220. So I got them to stick a glass screen protector on and I'm putting up with the cracks for now - it still works ok.

Also, see what's available on Back Market - my daughter got a good deal on a refurbished Pixel 6 on there.


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 1:38 pm
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Moto G whichever fits your budget, they're normally water/splash proof, at least mine is....


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 2:07 pm
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Any love for Nokia? Been looking for a phone for a similar budget and liked the look of them.

I've got a Nokia G60, which upgraded to Android 13 immediately. Very happy with it, but then phones are one thing where I really can't see the point of being at the sharp spendy end.  I also had a 7.1 a couple of years ago which I also liked, until it wouldn't charge properly after a couple of years


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 2:34 pm
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Gonna pay for the camera glass to be replaced on this one and then put a screen protector on so that the cracks don't get any worse.

Got a g8 power also with a shattered screen, shame as the phone is ace


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 2:51 pm
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Bare bones Android that I pick and choose apps as I need them is far more appealing which is why I was looking at Nokia.

Android One is why I bought a Nokia 6.1. It's great in all bar two aspects. It doesn't support adopted storage (which I believe to be an unresolved design problem rather than intentional) and the camera is mince (partially but not wholly fixed by third-party camera apps). It's of 2018 vintage and still perfectly fine.

My partner told me a couple of weeks ago that she needed a new phone because the old one is full. I transferred several thousand photos off it onto her laptop, she's now happy. I doubt this is an unusual scenario.


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 3:41 pm
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Ha, yeah I did that as well but it seems 32gb on board just doesn't cut it even after removing as many root apps as (safely) possible.

Will look into G60's and Android One, cheers!

(also sod buying a phone you can't economically repair).


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 4:52 pm
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Sorry to be a total idiot at these things, but how does the Google cashback work!

Goto website topcashback and sign up for an account. You'll need to enter your bank details so that you can transfer the money you receive into your bank account.

It's not just Google that you can get money back when you buy stuff.

Have a search on the topcashback website and see all the shops you can select to get money back.

Below is my account showing how much money I've received when buying through the topcashback website.

Cash


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 7:25 pm
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Moto G whichever fits your budget, they’re normally water/splash proof, at least mine is….

That's pretty much the usual answer in this house: whichever Moto G is currently £150. It'll be fine.

Having said that, almost 3 years ago (4 days short, according to my emails), my previous Moto G was dying of battery failure and also wouldn't update to the version of Android that would allow me to marry it to my PC easily, which was something I wanted to do at that point (if i wasn't worried about that, I'd've replaced the battery instead).

So I bought a Pixel 3a XL  for double the usual budget to ensure Android updates for a while. It has been fine as well, and although it's starting to need the battery charged most days now (instead of twice a week), I am using it more; and I think a lot of it is down to the very poor signal in my new workplace causing it to pull power trying to connect... I may try a new battery in this one, but it's not the simplest job (big danger of cracking the screen, apparently).


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 8:08 pm
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Crap (cellular, wifi etc) signal will drink battery, yes. Probably second only to the screen being on.

I was on holiday last week, my Kindle switched to 3G (I didn't even know it had that functionality) and damn that ate through the battery charge.


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 8:34 pm
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Got a Moto G13 .

It works well enough for the money.


 
Posted : 09/07/2023 8:53 pm
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Define best?
Small?
Waterproof?
Samsung xcover 5. From £120 on eBay. Dual SIM from £140.

Good recommendation, thanks. This looks like it ticks all the boxes for what I'm looking for. Had never heard of this model. The excessive size of smartphones for practical packing into hippacks \ pockets when going for a spin is a bugbear for me. Currently have a Moto G8 Power which is fine apart from size and no NFC.


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 11:55 am
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Was in a similar situation at Christmas and went for a Pixel 6a. Simply works very well and has a decent camera - probably has miles more features than I'm not aware of/don't need...


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 12:38 pm
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Watching this with a Moto G7 Power that is now almost four years old. The battery is no longer quite as legendary as it was and the usb port sometimes feels a bit 'crunchy' when I plug it in. Time for a Pixel 6a? I suspect I'll just go for another Moto, unable to fault this one - and the absence of pre-installed Twitter, Facebook, etc has always been a Moto plus.


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 4:46 pm
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the absence of pre-installed Twitter, Facebook, etc has always been a Moto plus.

None of those are system apps and can easily be deleted. It's the rest of the shite manufacturers build in that can't be deleted that's a bigger issue.


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 6:30 pm
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I wish the 6a had more or extendable storage, it's just the right size to fit in my pocket.


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 6:51 pm
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@zippy that's the one thing that puts me off the 6a as well


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 7:18 pm
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I have a 6a that's just had a new screen fitted by Google. Can put in classifieds if interested for your budget.


 
Posted : 11/07/2023 7:36 am
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It's prime day

There's a Samsung s21 fe 5g on Amazon for £349 with 3 year extended warranty. Seems a good price.


 
Posted : 11/07/2023 7:48 am
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I have a 6a that’s just had a new screen fitted by Google

Since Google's Authorised repairer quoted me £730 to replace my screen, I'm interested in how you got this done?


 
Posted : 11/07/2023 7:59 am
 cp
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Since Google’s Authorised repairer quoted me £730 to replace my screen, I’m interested in how you got this done?

Something's not right there.  Who did yoy get the quote off?

ismash is a google approved repairer, £149 for a genuine screen

https://www.ismash.com/collections/google-pixel-6a-repairs


 
Posted : 11/07/2023 8:12 am
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I'd avoid the Moto G62 and Moto pros. We had them for work phones and they were so troublesome/short lived/ terrible Bluetooth compatibility, our company have forked out for iPhone SE's.


 
Posted : 11/07/2023 8:13 am
 nuke
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Watching this with a Moto G7 Power that is now almost four years old

Same here... bought towards end of 2019. Not sure why I'm looking though as battery is still ticking over nicely (better than any other family members phones in my house and they're on newer phones). Does pause a bit sometimes but probably Outlook. Should probably just factory reset it and start again from fresh. Still can't believe what a bargain it was.

Cant see an equivalent in the Motorola range anymore though


 
Posted : 11/07/2023 8:58 am
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I got a REDMI note 10 Pro for £180 6 months ago. Nothing could beat it for spec at that price then but not sure still the case. It's one amazing phone, and not just for the money.


 
Posted : 11/07/2023 8:58 am
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Just got a 6a!

Any recommendations for cheap WiFi in ear headphones?


 
Posted : 13/07/2023 4:16 pm
 cp
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Assuming you mean Bluetooth ones

Amazon buds are pretty good at 45.99

https://amzn.eu/d/fjAE14k

Anker ones are pretty good at 22.75 with the voucher on the listing

https://amzn.eu/d/9GOjpHc

Or pixel buds a are more expensive at 75 but work very slickly with Google pixel phones

https://store.google.com/gb/product/pixel_buds_a_series?hl=en-GB


 
Posted : 13/07/2023 4:25 pm
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After a few years of SIM only contracts and buying budget to mid range phones, I decided to have a look at a contract phone again after managing to destroy my current Moto G50.  I just got a Pixel 7a with Vodafone on a 24 month contact - the phone element is £12 p/m - so the phone is costing me £288.  I thought that was a bargain seeing as these are currently retailing around £400.  Obviously I have a separate 'airtime' element to pay (£23), but then I did anyway when I was SIM only.


 
Posted : 13/07/2023 4:42 pm
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https://store.google.com/repair?pli=1

I just logged into Google store, clicked repair and followed instructions, got a postage a label and sent phone away.

Ismash couldn't get hold of the screen if I remember right


 
Posted : 13/07/2023 5:28 pm
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Obviously I have a separate ‘airtime’ element to pay (£23), but then I did anyway when I was SIM only.

What are you paying £276 a year for? I'm on Talkmobile which is Vodafones budget network and was paying £96 a yer for 12gb a month, if they hadn't upped it to 30gb a month I'd have been offski.


 
Posted : 13/07/2023 6:52 pm
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It's 150gb and free roaming in most of Europe. I've travelled a fair bit recently and found that useful, but if I'm honest I probably won't use all the data, do yeah it's maybe a extravagant. Still,  I got a nice new phone for over £100 cheaper than anywhere else.


 
Posted : 13/07/2023 7:01 pm
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I just got a Pixel 7a with Vodafone on a 24 month contact – the phone element is £12 p/m – so the phone is costing me £288.

Good price for the 7a 👍 and the 150gb data seems a good deal well.


 
Posted : 13/07/2023 7:06 pm
 cp
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 I just got a Pixel 7a with Vodafone on a 24 month contact – the phone element is £12 p/m – so the phone is costing me £288. I thought that was a bargain seeing as these are currently retailing around £400. Obviously I have a separate ‘airtime’ element to pay (£23),

What, you're paying 35/mth for a 7a with 150gb data?

If you can make do with 30gb, this is 18/month for the phone AND airtime on Vodafone.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/google-pixel-7a-5g-128gb-smartphone-33gb-vodafone-data-unltd-mins-texts-ps18pm-zero-upfront-with-code-ps432-at-affordable-mobiles-4166522

Plenty more deals here if you need more data (like 100gb on ID mobile which includes EU roaming) for just over 20 a month phone and airtime.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheap-mobile-finder/contracts/google/pixel-7a/


 
Posted : 13/07/2023 7:28 pm
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Something’s not right there.  Who did yoy get the quote off?

ismash is a google approved repairer, £149 for a genuine screen

The quote was from EE, which is where Google directed me for a walk-in rather than mail-in repair.

But today I went to iSmash, lovely chap, great service, £149. Thanks for the tip!


 
Posted : 14/07/2023 6:13 pm

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