Sim Free Phones for Teenagers – Lumia 630 has been requested

For my soon to be 14 year old daughter. To be fair, she’s eeked a lot of life from her old Sony Xperia. I actually had one of those Lumia’s for work last year, and thought it was okay, screen’s a bit rubbish but otherwise seems to do most stuff quite well.

For her, it’s photos, Skype, a bit of internet, text, facecloth, that kind of thing. I’m sure that any samsung or nokia is going to do the job, and kids nowadays have no trouble switching between OS’s (whereas I can’t get my head around non-IOS stuff). Option is to get a second hand 4S for not much more cash. Still probably a bit old hat off a hip teenager 😉

Anything useful from the hive mind?

I can’t get my head around non-IOS stuff

proof positive that iOS = Fisher Price 😉

BTW http://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/product_detail/15307/Apple-iPhone-4S-16GB-Black-Unlocked/

That is pretty cheap Stonor. I shall ask child in question if older apple products have sufficient coolness 😉

No no no!!! Don’t get it – no front camera = no selfies, which for a 14 year old girl is deal-breaker. It’s a nice phone otherwise, and Windows Phone seems quite nice to use.

Speaking here from personal experience: we got my 10yr old a Lumia 635 for Christmas, she was overjoyed with her first phone for about an hour. Until she asked how she could take a selfie. Ah. She’s now inherited an old iPhone 4S from her uncle.

Moto G.

Very hard to recommend a Windows Phone, even as a paid-up Microsoft geek.

I have a Windows Phone, I like them. Does everything you want and are intuitive to use. Most recent software is good (swipe keyboard, Cortana assistant etc).

6 series ones don’t have a front camera.
The 735 does, in fact it’s marketed for selfies as it has a high res front camera.
They’re £150 from EE just now, and you get a free Fitbit Flex – which can be punted on eBay for about £50.

I’m off to buy one after work.

Very hard to recommend a Windows Phone, even as a paid-up Microsoft geek.

Why not? My impressions were pretty positive following the short play I had with one, the only downside would be software/apps availability.

I can’t believe she asked for a non-selfie phone. Might be the 735. Shall check later. The Moto G looks good too. Probably best for her to try a few in a real shop. Need it to be sim free as we’re all on gift-gaff

I can’t believe she asked for a non-selfie phone.

As a father of two daughters, a 14yr old and a 10yr old, it did seem unlikely 😉

In an almost exclusively apple household, I bought Junior a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini for Christmas – and I’m pleasantly surprised. For whatever reason, it seems much nicer than the Moto G (4G version) I had for month at the back end of the summer. Best Android experience for me so far – I’m almost tempted myself.

I paid £120 from Three (unlocked) – they seem to have creeped back up to £200 though 😕

Edit – they can be had for £125 from Vodafone with unlocking (if required) for 10-15 off eBay

Another thing to bear in mind – there are a lot less accessories available for Lumias, a Samsung or iPhone will have a lot more.

I don’t want to sound too negative about Lumias, the 635 I’ve got sitting in a box at home is actually quite a nice phone, and I’d certainly consider one (albeit probably a better model) for myself, but for a teenage girl I’m not sure it’s ideal.

I love my windows phone but for a 14 year old girl I’d suggest sticking with iPhone or Android so she has access to the same apps as her friends.

I think the reason was one of her friends had one for Christmas. I don’t attempt to apply rationale and logic to 14 year old young adults tho 😉 I think we’ll go into the phone shop and try a few.

While some official apps are missing from Windows Phone, there are lots of apps that work – 6Snap for example is a very good Snapchat app.

Accessories wise, lots of Nokia stuff available and all good quality

the only downside would be software/apps availability.

Because running apps is the whole point of having a hand-computer.

There’s some nice ideas in WP but modern smartphone OS concepts like proper backgrounding and integration between apps (eg. using lastpass passwords in your browser, or sharing a photo directly to an app) are clunky or lacking.

If you like it and you don’t care about long (potentially infinite) waits for apps to make it, great. But as I say, very hard to recommend. Lots of budget Android handsets now that work fine and have the apps.

I love my windows phone but for a 14 year old girl I’d suggest sticking with iPhone or Android so she has access to the same apps as her friends.

All the apps that teenage girls* use are available: Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. It’s not a huge issue. I’d be more worried about it if it were for me.

* I’m obviously basing this on my daughters and their friends, other girls may/will be different!