New phone time. SIM free. Up to £500.

Currently have a Samsung A70 which is 4 years old. Battery needs charging at least twice a day now.

Had Samsung since about 2012 but open to change. Except iPhone. I love Apple computers but hate their IOS on mobile devices.

Currently looking at the Samsung A55 but would like something a little smaller.

Must haves? USB C. Android. Nothing else really.  Been very impressed with my A70 but its a bit big.

Pixel 8a looks to be smaller and is pure android vs Samsung addons.

quick edit: Its a nice phone as well. I have one and the only thing i debate about is going more expensive for better water resistance but thats because i mess around in water a lot.

Have a look on Hotukdeals. Samsung have been doing some cracking trade in deals recently. Trading in a Galaxy Ace and using a code I got an A55 for under £200.

If you’re open to a non-Samsung this looks a great deal:

https://www.hotukdeals.com/share-deal-from-app/4420843

GiffGaff  sell sim free phones and you can buy them on interest free credit for upto 3 years and then you can buy a sim only deal from a provider of your choice

This is what i did for my phone, 24 months intrest free from GiffGaff @£20 a month then I.D mobile sim only rolling contract, unlimited calls and txt, 60gb of data for £10 a month as they get the best reception in my area

Best of all there is no yearly price index increase unlike when you buy a phone and 24 month contract from a single company

I just got an A55 a month or so back after years of rejecting Samsung for the weakest of reasons (they were Chelsea’s shirt sponsor and I **** hate Chelsea)

It’s bloody good. Only disappointment is on my car bluetooth the font makes it show up looking like Jon’s ASS and the kids ripped the piss when they saw it.

(edit – and as above, on Giffgaff / Klarna IFC for £12/mo over 2 years and a tenner deposit)

Pixel 8a would be my choice. 20% off until the 29th too. I’ve got a 6a and it’s been great – the 8a has some useful upgrades.

6a here. Can’t fault it. Got a phenomenal deal from Google, discount plus trade in

I just got an A55 a month or so back after years of rejecting Samsung for the weakest of reasons (they were Chelsea’s shirt sponsor and I **** hate Chelsea)

Not sure what you mean? Theres a brand of clothing called Chelsea? Never been to Chelsea so not got anything against the area. If its like the TV show “made in Chelsea”, I have no desire to go visit the town.

The Google Pixel 8a looks good.

New Pixel 7a sim free £250 Tesco Outlet

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295840094786?mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&siteid=3&campid=5339043546&customid=M39791_e25c3a37-a511-4dcf-8d9e-5ba83d34b6ab&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

I’d go for the Pixel 8 over the 8a, just for the better IPX rating and increased charging rate. They’re both really doable for under £500. irc’s 7a looks like a killer deal too.

I’d happily go full STW and recommend what I’ve got, the 6a, but I don’t think you can get a new one and are probably after the comfort factor of a brand new battery anyway.

Chelsea FC

I said it was weak, but I really do **** hate them

Chelsea FC

Ah, never watched football.

I’d go for the Pixel 8 over the 8a,

Sizewise seems problematic but good point about the 7a.

Pixel 8. Look for trade in plus there’s a Google birthday deal at the moment.

Pixel 8. £330 here

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355768781777?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=JwQZDlXmRqq&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=-9CEYPINQzG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I bought one last week from same seller and condition and it’s pristine.

Best value I could find.

Sizewise seems problematic

Eh? They’re within 2mm height and width, and the 8 is the smaller of the 2 but with a slightly bigger screen!

I got a Samsung Galaxy xCover 5 about a year back after it was recommended on here. Really happy with it.

does everything I need really well and < £250

What i wanted

Smallish (to fit in a hip bag)

Relatively light but get a full day from a charge

Waterproofish, IP68 or whatever, means I don’t have to put it in a waterproof bag for wet spins

NFC so I can use it to pay for stuff

Run the apps I want, spotify, whatsapp, email, Strava, haven’t found anything that won’t run (yet).

Bonus, you can just pop the back cover off to replace a battery (no tools required, just a finger nail).

Do NOT get a pixel 6a or 7a – the fingerprint sensor is not reliable. Loads of threads on the tinternet about it.

I heard that pixel 8a has an ultrasonic sensor and is much better but I have not tried it myself.

Is it the 7 or 7a that had overheating issues with the Tensor G2 chip?

I’m a Samsung fanboi personally, been using them for years. Currently on a S23, which look to be under £500 SIM free now. The S23 FE would be a great option too, more so than any A series.

Do NOT get a pixel 6a or 7a – the fingerprint sensor is not reliable. Loads of threads on the tinternet about it.

YMMV but for me it’s not bad, more a mild irritant than a stopper. It definitely struggles if your fingers are at all damp though.

I just get a refurb of a slightly older model of whatever the current Galaxy is.

Looking on ebay, S23’s are about £300.

I’ve got a Pixel 7a and don’t rate it. Keep having to reset the brightness, keypad is hit and miss, pictures are dissappointing.

8a here and very happy with it.

I don’t really get the fast charging thing…. Phone lasts all day and I just put it on a wireless charger next to my bed overnight.

I’m using my Pixel 7 after my Pixel 8 suffered from the well documented screen issues. Warranty repair, sorted by Google utterly painlessly. Pixel 8/8a will also have 7 years of support, so is a phone for the long haul.

A bit about my P7 – it wouldn’t have been replaced, had I not dropped it, whilst drunk, in a woodland on a ‘short cut’. I couldn’t find it, despite the find my phone feature. Long story short, it went in December. I got a call off my Mum in July saying ‘someone has messaged me saying they have your phone’s. I went to collect it, gave the young lad £50 and it is working perfectly despite spending 7mth in the outdoors.

Pixel 8a looks to be smaller and is pure android

Just as a minor aside, it’s not. Nobody runs stock android as it’s utter crap as an OS and is terrible to live with.

FWIW I’d go with an 8 or 8a, just be mindful that full screen protectors don’t exist due to the curved edges. My 8 has a Spigen case that’s protected it from a few drops including down the stairs at work and looks fine.

I just got an A55 a month or so back after years of rejecting Samsung for the weakest of reasons (they were Chelsea’s shirt sponsor and I **** hate Chelsea)

My Liverpool supporting mate wouldn’t buy a Sharp TV because they sponsored Man U. I love silly stuff like this, makes me laugh.

You call it silly stuff, to us it’s principles 😉

Yea the 7a fingerprint sensor is a little poo but the trick is to double up by taking a print sample of the same finger twice. But my 4a was faultless.

Nobody runs stock android as it’s utter crap as an OS and is terrible to live with.

What a strange thing to say.

Defiantly want to buy new. Not refurbished or second hand.

Bear in mind the life cycles for the google and Samsung phones. The s24 and (I think) the pixel 8 series, you get 7 years of support.

I got an s24 earlier in the year direct from Samsung. Had to piss about a bit claiming cashback etc. but it came in at ~£500. Not sure what deals are about. I chose the Samsung due to small size, waterproofness, good camera, and also because it’s got Dex which is a well handy feature you want to use it as a full size desktop occasionally (e.g. if on holiday and not wanting to cart a laptop around, use it on the hotel TV as a monitor)

Could you just get the battery replaced on the a70 if you are otherwise happy with it though?

Probably could get the battery replaced but that means sending it off which causes 2 problems:

1. I’d have no phone

2. It has all my stuff/accounts on it. Not taking any risks by handing it over to a stranger.

The Samsung s23 would be nice but too expensive. Pixel 8 looks like the best option for me but battery life is a worry.

Do NOT get a pixel 6a or 7a – the fingerprint sensor is not reliable. Loads of threads on the tinternet about it.

This. Mine is properly and randomly crap.
And the over processed photos are not great.
And I keep getting the ‘unresponsivev screen’ thing for a minute, then it works just fine. According to the repair shop ‘they all do that sir’…
Plus the battery isn’t great.

Middle son has a Pixel 8. It’s been replaced twice under warranty for the random pink line of death down the screen. It can also rip through it’s battery. He keeps popping his SIM back in his old OnePlus…

I’m disappointed – Pixel devices get glowing reviews, but our experience means we are back to other brands next time.

The Samsung s23 would be nice but too expensive.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364748158894?_skw=galaxy+s23&itmmeta=01J8YE0NSATEJ0CR0BJ1FYMHQW&hash=item54ecaf37ae%3Ag%3Ais4AAOSwPMxmDtBF&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKl7QcAAO%2BDCiFV2wldSnjr9OVH88DJ0a39Eqo78tjOUk8N745dTjKI0uLCyFLIf%2BgxSXfQWPGFwrGKEZGMqp9p5U0QNsygoRESCJGr3Ben2jgJ71WY9RNghSyG7uxNA%2BUFogeE%2B8Qp9ID5IwQA%2BEgoq9zyjB2IGALNXDMi07kr3IWj6wutqMvFpOGzgw9aeEWz8NYBoE58Qi1r%2FcuDHl6d5Ut2Phx5i60pjVHfH8EDKaA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-Dcgs7HZA&var=634287975763

Ex-display £340.

IME the A Grade stuff looks brand new.

I’m disappointed – Pixel devices get glowing reviews, but our experience means we are back to other brands next time.

Based on “old” models…. They’ve moved on.

The fingerprint sensor on my 8a is immediate – although it’s usually beaten to it by the face unlock.

Re the Samsungs, are they a bit bloaty? When my 6a pops off I thought I’d get a newer pixel but I’d like something smaller, plus there’s a few tales like Matt’s about to put you off.

Madame had a Samsung and I found it a bit too Samsungy for my liking but it was a few years ago now. I really value the straightforwardness of the 6a

I have a pixel 8. It sometimes hangs for a second or two when you’re trying to do something. It’s ‘ok’, and the stated length of support is attractive. The Poco f series phones I have had are frankly a better user experience IME.

Bugger I wish I had seen this sooner as I just gave my brother my 8a. It was a short lived experience but the thing that bugged me was fingerprint sensor was shit and unless in good light facial recognition was very poor. Battery life was good, camera okay and found an Apple 11 screen protector worked fine with the Mous case I used. And definitely use a case with the 8a as I found it very smooth and easy to slide out of your hand.

Xiaomi 14t is £549 and you can get a redmi tablet for free at the moment.

I’ve splashed out on a 14t pro which gave me a mi pad 6 as a sweetener. Phone has decent cameras and 512gb phone storage.

I’ve never spent more than £250 on a phone in the past and my 4 year old mi10t lite was working fine but struggling with storage.

I’m hoping this purchase will last me until the end the decade?

I’m hoping this purchase will last me until the end the decade?

That sounds pretty optimistic to me but I suppose that the hardware might be up to it, battery excepted. How many years of security updates have Xiaomi committed to though?