Recommend a mobile phone

[Jobos]

It's my daughters 10th birthday in a few weeks and the wife and I would like to buy her first mobile phone (sim free). We have budgeted around £100 for a new or used phone but I'm unsure what to buy. Personally I prefer iPhones but the wife uses a Samsung S7 which she likes so each to their own.

 

To keep costs down perhaps I should be looking at the newer mobile brands like Huawei and a quick look on Amazon shows brands I've never heard of so I'm in need of guidance!

 

Thanks in advance.

[powdarrmonkey]

As always, you should start by listing your requirements.

[ozydave]

It's my daughters 10th birthday in a few weeks and the wife and I would like to buy her first mobile phone (sim free). We have budgeted around £100 for a new or used phone but I'm unsure what to buy. Personally I prefer iPhones but the wife uses a Samsung S7 which she likes so each to their own.

 

To keep costs down perhaps I should be looking at the newer mobile brands like Huawei and a quick look on Amazon shows brands I've never heard of so I'm in need of guidance!

 

Thanks in advance.

I swapped from an iPhone about 18 months ago to a Moto G6 and love it. Phone area very personal thing.

It was 145 quid. I'm not the most carefull and it's suffered a couple of big drops with no damage. As my little one started secondary school I got them the same phone. They love them after having my of cast iPhones.

My wife has also made the move to a Moto. Again she now loves it.

Motos just seem robust, capable and cheaper than most.

[steveg]

I got my daughter a moto g6 for her 10th birthday, and she loves it. Has had it for 8 months now, and it's survived a fair amount of abuse. I also have one as my work phone, and got my dad one, no issues with any of them. They are a little over budget, currently £139 on Amazon - the amazon one has 64gb memory, twice what it has from elsewhere.

[admars]

I've got a Xiaomi mi a1 which is about a year old now - when i got mine it came from gearbest overseas, but now Amazon, and even John Lewis have started stocking them - their phones offer very good value for money as they're one of those "unknown" Chinese brands

[Ditto]

I got my daughter a moto g6 for her 10th birthday, and she loves it. Has had it for 8 months now, and it's survived a fair amount of abuse. I also have one as my work phone, and got my dad one, no issues with any of them. They are a little over budget, currently £139 on Amazon - the amazon one has 64gb memory, twice what it has from elsewhere.

I've only had Moto G phones andhave been content - a little over budget but Argos have a good offer on right now https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7429055?&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59158%7cacid:532-198-3455%7ccid:200290250%7cagid:12504931010%7ctid:pla-445961893389%7ccrid:66128553650%7cnw:g%7crnd:12279977892406221286%7cdvc:c%7cadp:1o3%7cmt:%7cloc:9045841&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyLDpBRCxARIsAEENsrLNk4w_3ECV2GfJhdKCG2EMVz5X1Mu1AMwWe30r8OG3pMmZ6Sf2n8caAlqwEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

I'd also strongly recommend investing in a robust case to protect against inevitable dropping!

[localzuk]

Personally, I'd go for something like the Nokia 5.

[MatthewL]

Have a look at something like the Samsung J3 to keep costs down, bit older but a good phone.

[LeMarchand]

Having recently looked for a phone (albeit with a £150-£200 budget), the Motos and Nokias were in the shortlists.

 

I'd consider Xiaomi fairly well established now, but some of the other brands might need more research. Apparently Umidigi, who do amazing specs for the price are somehow connected to a major brand (IIRC Sony) but release a new model very frequently as they apparently just use "end of line" components to cobble together their latest model and it's a bit of a cr@pshoot as to whether you get one with all the best stuff or one with the bits from the bottom of the parts bin.

 

Make a list of "must haves". Mine included NFC for payments (probably won't be on your list!) which ruled out a lot of budget handsets.

[Jobos]

Thanks everyone. Looks like tonight I’ll be comparing phones as Amazon has got offers on ending tomorrow.

[HTCPCP]

I picked up a doogee about a year ago as a 'holidays phone' and it was ok, until it just randomly turned off and then wouldnt boot. Now got a Blackview (made their name making rugged phones & phone with Walkie talkies) - but also seem to be quite promenant in the entry level part of the market. I picked up the A60 for £55 - 1st delivery - an empty (and opened) box from amazon (clearly someone wanted a new phone...), 2nd one phone arrived and it's not bad considering. Seems well built, might not be as zippy as others, but does the job reasonable well. I miss having a fingerprint reader, but for a phone that I use for work and when i'm on holiday it does the job nicely.