[Closed] What is wrong with this smart phone? Luddite content.

Awesome phone nothing wrong with it. Not tough in the sense its not waterproof or shock proof but not many are. Thats will do loads for you.

I have one of those in my hand - my colleague has asked me to 'sort it out' for her. She's allergic to technology.

Runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), so think of it as a phone "quite a long way behind todays technology"

Currently locked to Virgin Mobile...

The contracts 500mb data limit is a bit bobbins, surprising how quickly you can burn through that.

It can be unofficially upgraded to Jelly Bean (Android 4.1), but voids your warranty (but you can roll it back to Android 2.3 easily enough, to re-instate your warranty...)

There must be better deals out there that that.

I've had the phone for the last 18mths (and it had been out a quite while when I got it). I wouldn't be signing up to a long term contract on it.

My contract works out at £7/mth after cashback from www.buymobilephones.net (check cashback sites too for extra money in your pocket...I got £30 through TopCashBack)

As a phone it's not bad...but it is quite slow at times when switching between applications or going into messaging.

For pay as you go budget buyers, the Galaxy Ace 2 is a great all-rounder, with a dual-core chip and an excellent camera.

Review here looks ok

Wrong phone though...that's the newer Ace 2...OP linked to the orginal Ace. Review here:

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-ace-review-50002651/

voids your warranty

[i]Potentially[/i] voids your warranty. It's a grey area. Anecdotally, I've returned a phone to O2 without issue which had a custom ROM on it.

I can see why phone companies would be twitchy. Historically, flashing a phone ran a very real risk of bricking it. Also there's a logic to the idea that running custom software might, for instance, overclock it causing it to fail.

But, realistically, there's no real reason why it should have an impact on the warranty. You've to try pretty hard to kill an Android phone irreparably either with a flashing procedure or with the subsequent ROM.

I know it [i]potentially[/i] could void it - but would rather inform the OP about it. Unless he has a mate (who knows what they're doing) it's unlikely to get a new ROM (considering the OP's question...)

The contracts 500mb data limit is a bit bobbins, surprising how quickly you can burn through that.

I won't be using it to watch TV or listen to music.

I could do with getting an idea of what my usage would be.

If you are looking at a good value contract based phone then it may well be worth having a squint at 3. Both my kids are on contracts with them that are not breaking the bank (£18 and £20 per month) for which they get 300 minutes of talk time, 5000 texts and all the data you can eat. Daughter has a Samsung Galaxy Ace and son has an HTC 8S (Windows phone rather than Android).

It can be tricky to work out what the data usage would be but once you have a smart phone you then start to find all sorts of ways to use from managing email, browsing, sat nav, apps etc. My son was previously on a T-Mobile contract and although he mostly used it for facebook, texting and youtube he was chewing through an average of around 1GB a month.

Does no one actually configure their phones to use wifi where possible?

At that end of the phone market I wouldn't get tied into a 2 year contract, buy phone on PAYG and get a SIM only contract - much better value. Nothing wrong with the phone a bit low spec but should be fine for what you want.

I won't be using it to watch TV or listen to music.

I could do with getting an idea of what my usage would be.

If you're not streaming media or downloading podcasts etc on the move then 500MB should be fine

Nowt wrong with it. Just a basic smartphone. I'd stay away from 2 year contracts with it as what you'll pay over 24 months will be more than the value of the phone + service.

Buy it outright and get a sim only deal.

I rarely use 3G on my phones - WiFi in the office, home, mate's houses, in-laws house, pubs, hotels (anywhere with WiFi available to me).

I had one and lost it last week

only real negatives

GPS slow to lock on without 3G so that tends to it on. That means navigation apps start using data

limited app space. Some apps won't run from the sd card so there is a limit to the total apps you can install

but overall excellent value

worth getting back country navigator for free os maps

I have an Android 2.3 phone. Really not noticed any issues - I install apps left right and centre and haven't had a complaint from any of them yet.

A bit slow and poor screen resolution compared to the S2, which you should be able to get for a similar price if you shop around.

I use mostly Wi-Fi and have only 125mb 3G a month and don't get anywhere near it.

I've got the Ace 2.

I really like it.

Not tough like an old Nokia, you have to be a bit careful, but all in all I really rate it.

Faster and more responsive than the Orange San Francisco it replaced.
You can borrow that one if you like - see if you think you'll get the use out of a smartphone.

Found my phone 🙂
48 to 72 hours to unlock handset and sim 😡

If you can afford to buy up front use a Giff gaff sim in a used phone. Giff gaff are very cheap and ebay is full off good phones replaced by contract upgrades

I'd consider the Defy Mini http://www.tesco.com/direct/sim-free-motorola-defy-mini-black/248-6814.prd
It is not quite as good spec as the ace (camera poorer res - but for 90% of stuff won;t notice).

BUT, for outdoors use the phone itself is much more robust.