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That's great. I do use chrome.
Getting "serious" now about buying my first smart phone - advice appreciated.
- Thread starter Pugglt Auld Jock
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Getting "serious" now about buying my first smart phone - advice appreciated.
Currys are also excellent in terms of getting your old data onto the new phone and generally getting you going. I'm dyed in the wool Android, my wife is an iBotherer. I'm right
OP
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I tend to be nervous about using Currys after an unfortunate refusal of help many years ago. I do take a wander around and look at the TVs if I'm shopping with Mrs J though so might just inquire what they'd do for me.Currys are also excellent in terms of getting your old data onto the new phone and generally getting you going. I'm dyed in the wool Android, my wife is an iBotherer. I'm right
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
I hate Samsung as a company, but they do seem to make robust and reliable mobiles. I have an A20e. I look at a new phone around £100. This is now probably now mold hat, but something similar in price should give everything you will want. Get a decent in built memory size I have 32GB and wish it was higher as it keeps saying its getting full. I think a 64GB would be ample. A memory card allows some independent storage under your control These are cheap things to add. All the rest of my family have flash phones costing thousands in some cases. I have seen no evidence of these being better in any way I would value. Make sure you buy a phone case as these really help protect the screen of you drop the phone and only coast about £5. Get a bright colour then you can find it! I hate my new black one ad will change it very soon. If you get one of these tings you will be pleasantly suprised at what they help with. New phome will need a Panda with a phone kit. I dont use it often but find its occasionally helpful. Now I have it under control, sometimes I get it to do what I want. Only sometimes mark you. Bets things are, sat nave optiosn, and the ability to tell it by voice that you want Sand the plumbers in Bury ST Edmunds and it will take you there or goive you the phone number. Second best thing is you can P off Bugsymike by walking into lamp posts while playing zombie games as you stroll along LOL You will never need to actually speak face to face to anyone ever again! LOL I like being able to speak face to face video call even out in the wilds with my son in New York, For that its great.
Top tip from me. Ask if the chosen phone and provider facilitate automatic defautl to wi fi calls when at home. This is not available on all phones / providers and with our weak signal at home its a nuisance not ebing able to get stable phone calls. Its not an issue when out and about.
Top tip from me. Ask if the chosen phone and provider facilitate automatic defautl to wi fi calls when at home. This is not available on all phones / providers and with our weak signal at home its a nuisance not ebing able to get stable phone calls. Its not an issue when out and about.
Don't forget a seller will always try to sell you what he gets the most (or at least a large) comission on.
No idea what are your needs.
I'd say from the known / reputables brands Motorola (with 'bare' android, which shall also receive many updates) makes quite good phones, they are also known for good build quality and a good price level.
I see you know nothing about digital pictures and marketing.
A usual 22 - 24" monitor, a usual 14 - 15" laptop screen have today a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. That's more or less 2 megapixels.
If you're making a print of a photo usually you take the 6x8" or 8x10". Which will be 4.3 / 7.2 megapixels. The modern smartphones of this level have a screen resolution of 2 - 5 megapixels (Pixel 8: 4,32 / iPhone 15: 3 / Galaxy S24: 2,5).
The sensors used in the smartphones nowadays have 50 to 200 megapixels. Since like 20 years the manufacturers are trying to convince us that more pixels is better. But that's pure marketing and a way of getting money out of our pockets.
But it only means that for standard display (laptop/monitor/smartphone) or print the processor will have to get rid of most of what was registered with a smartphone sensor. It has to display 50 milions pixels on (let's take the average) 3 of them. 6% only. The rest is simply lost. That's why the software in the smartphone has to rework the photo to make it look nice. The question is how it gets to it. For example Samsungs are know to add this 'sweet/pink/sugary' (or how do you call it in English) look.
The same size principle applies to DSLRs.
The one factor that matters is the PHYSICAL size of the sensor (as it allows every single pixel to be bigger, so be able to register higher quality details). And yes, that's why DSLRs and mirrorless cameras make better pictures. But there are smartphones that have the same physical size of the sensor as those ones.
But that's not the point. There are not many people that await a DSLR picture quality from a smartphone. I only ment to say that what marketing teams say / offer is not true in most of the cases. In most of the cases it's the exact oposite.
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As I assume you will use your smartphone for the same as most users do: emails, messaging, banking, phonecalls and content consumption etc, so basically everything, the most important thing is how much of these you want to share with big tech.
Companies like google and facebook make their business on profiling users data and selling it to other companies that will try to sell us different things. Their owners and managers make fantastic living out of it.
Just as an example, even when you don't allow google to track your location it will get this from installed apps anyway.
I know living without the internet is not possible nowadays. That's why spreading your user data accross different suppliers is the clue.
And from this only point of view a Pixel phone is the worse you can do. Unless you work for government etc. even a Chinese phone is a better solution.
No idea what are your needs.
I'd say from the known / reputables brands Motorola (with 'bare' android, which shall also receive many updates) makes quite good phones, they are also known for good build quality and a good price level.
I see you know nothing about digital pictures and marketing.
A usual 22 - 24" monitor, a usual 14 - 15" laptop screen have today a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. That's more or less 2 megapixels.
If you're making a print of a photo usually you take the 6x8" or 8x10". Which will be 4.3 / 7.2 megapixels. The modern smartphones of this level have a screen resolution of 2 - 5 megapixels (Pixel 8: 4,32 / iPhone 15: 3 / Galaxy S24: 2,5).
The sensors used in the smartphones nowadays have 50 to 200 megapixels. Since like 20 years the manufacturers are trying to convince us that more pixels is better. But that's pure marketing and a way of getting money out of our pockets.
But it only means that for standard display (laptop/monitor/smartphone) or print the processor will have to get rid of most of what was registered with a smartphone sensor. It has to display 50 milions pixels on (let's take the average) 3 of them. 6% only. The rest is simply lost. That's why the software in the smartphone has to rework the photo to make it look nice. The question is how it gets to it. For example Samsungs are know to add this 'sweet/pink/sugary' (or how do you call it in English) look.
The same size principle applies to DSLRs.
The one factor that matters is the PHYSICAL size of the sensor (as it allows every single pixel to be bigger, so be able to register higher quality details). And yes, that's why DSLRs and mirrorless cameras make better pictures. But there are smartphones that have the same physical size of the sensor as those ones.
But that's not the point. There are not many people that await a DSLR picture quality from a smartphone. I only ment to say that what marketing teams say / offer is not true in most of the cases. In most of the cases it's the exact oposite.
---------------------------------------------------------
As I assume you will use your smartphone for the same as most users do: emails, messaging, banking, phonecalls and content consumption etc, so basically everything, the most important thing is how much of these you want to share with big tech.
Companies like google and facebook make their business on profiling users data and selling it to other companies that will try to sell us different things. Their owners and managers make fantastic living out of it.
Just as an example, even when you don't allow google to track your location it will get this from installed apps anyway.
I know living without the internet is not possible nowadays. That's why spreading your user data accross different suppliers is the clue.
And from this only point of view a Pixel phone is the worse you can do. Unless you work for government etc. even a Chinese phone is a better solution.
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in terms of capacity. I have something like 15,000 pictures and videos on my phone going back over a decade and I use about 250Gb of cloud storage space.
The phone I have is 128gb so there is loads of storage on the phone, plus the option to store that data in the cloud, that is to say that the phone uploads and backs up pictures and files to an online back up, and should you need to view those old pictures you click on it, and the phone will just down load the full image from the cloud.
I know nothing about Android, but I have had android work phones for a few years, the last one was a TCL which was a pile of poop. The current one is a Samsung and while it is probably a perfectly competent phone, I don't really like it all that much, and I wouldn't change from an iPhone for my personal phone.
I am far more inclined towards Microsoft stuff than Mac, I can't say that my experience of Android is anything like any version of windows, But if you use things like google docs and the google suite of software then you might get on better with an android. I have to say I don't like how "busy" the android phone feels the menus are not as neat and concise and they don't use fonts or graphics that are as easy to see, read and navigate as an apple phone would. I dare say on paper the android work phone probably runs rings around my old iPhone but I still prefer my old iPhone and would buy another, but I also realise this is very much a matter of taste and preference.
I also prefer a smaller phone. Something that will actually fit in a pocket and in the various storage pockets around the car. It seems to me many of the current generation of phones are just too big for my liking.
You probably know, I am a massive technology nut and believe in using the right tool for the right job. I have multiple laptops for different tasks, I have technology around my house that most people wouldn't ever even consider like running my own home based web server, my own cloud server and my house is full of smart home stuff. I can command while driving my car to "put the kettle on" and have it waiting and boiled when I walk in the door. So I do know a thing or two about what I like when it comes to the user experience, but then again everyone is different.
The phone I have is 128gb so there is loads of storage on the phone, plus the option to store that data in the cloud, that is to say that the phone uploads and backs up pictures and files to an online back up, and should you need to view those old pictures you click on it, and the phone will just down load the full image from the cloud.
I know nothing about Android, but I have had android work phones for a few years, the last one was a TCL which was a pile of poop. The current one is a Samsung and while it is probably a perfectly competent phone, I don't really like it all that much, and I wouldn't change from an iPhone for my personal phone.
I am far more inclined towards Microsoft stuff than Mac, I can't say that my experience of Android is anything like any version of windows, But if you use things like google docs and the google suite of software then you might get on better with an android. I have to say I don't like how "busy" the android phone feels the menus are not as neat and concise and they don't use fonts or graphics that are as easy to see, read and navigate as an apple phone would. I dare say on paper the android work phone probably runs rings around my old iPhone but I still prefer my old iPhone and would buy another, but I also realise this is very much a matter of taste and preference.
I also prefer a smaller phone. Something that will actually fit in a pocket and in the various storage pockets around the car. It seems to me many of the current generation of phones are just too big for my liking.
You probably know, I am a massive technology nut and believe in using the right tool for the right job. I have multiple laptops for different tasks, I have technology around my house that most people wouldn't ever even consider like running my own home based web server, my own cloud server and my house is full of smart home stuff. I can command while driving my car to "put the kettle on" and have it waiting and boiled when I walk in the door. So I do know a thing or two about what I like when it comes to the user experience, but then again everyone is different.
8a is the smallest phone Google make.
It's a 6.1 inch screen, the 8 is a 6.3 and 8 pro I think is 6.7.
Having had a 6.7 for a few years...unless you need the bigger screen for reasons of eyesight or dexterity I'd say smaller the better.
The bigger phone doesn't balance very well in the hand making it easier to drop doesn't fit in phone cubbys in older cars etc.
Smallest memory available is 128gb to address Panda nuts point.
OP
OP
Great advice, thanks. Another reason why we've decided to take the plunge now is that "they" have just erected a humongous new phone mast at the bottom of our road. Before it was installed we got a great signal on our old "dumb" phones but now sometimes we get no signal and sometimes, if you wander around or stand at the bottom of the garden or on the other side of the road, we get just one bar of signal. They've obviously optimized the new installation for 4/5G?
Earlier this year our internet provider - SKY - gave us full fibre and a new router for free as part of the deal I struck with them to stay. The signal, which was never lacking before, is now wonderful. I'll be sure to ask about the automatic defaulting to wi fi - I didn't know such a thing existed, although I did know you can switch to wifi operation if you want to.
In times where you can get 60gb of data and unlimited calls and texts for 8-10 quid a month, WiFi connectivity is less important than it was, unless like us you live in the third world and can only make calls indoors using it!
On Pixels it's a setting in the phone so as long as your mobile provider allows WiFi calling and you've given your phone your router details you can decide what it prefers to use.
OP
OP
Thanks. I think the "basic" model will probably be fine and I'm a clumsy sod so a robust case is definitely on the buying list. I believe it has a slightly smaller battery? but that shouldn't worry me until I get used to using it a lot - I imagine it will just sit in standby most of the time and anyway, everyone is used to ringing me/us on the landline. Can't see myself doing much video but will take pictures which I'll then download into my laptop and transfer the stuff I want to keep long term into my NAS. So I'm thinking the 128GB version will probably be enough? - or should I splash out on the 256GB version. Mrs J is going to be probably spending more than me on her iphone so I could probably justify the extra expense if needed.
Security updates are definitely important.
I believe the 7a gets updates until 2028, the 8 until 2029 or 2030.
A (properly) refurbished phone will have been factory reset and updated to latest major update version as part of the refurbishment process. They also check battery state is above a certain level, and usually unlock to any network.
I have used refurb phones for over 10 years now, and haven't had a bad one yet.
I did have iPhone for a while, but got frustrated with being "locked in" to the Apple ecosystem, and the drip...drip...drip expense. And the really extremely boring people telling me how great their new iPhone were.
I switched to Android and haven't regretted it at all.
TBH I think Apple try to make it as inconvenient as possible to leave their ecosystem, to the extent that I still have some Apple artefacts with my name on more than a decade later, despite closing all accounts and asking to be deleted.
Thats the main reason I don't recommend it to others, its not that its that bad, its just almost impossible to get rid of. A bit like piles or foot fungus.
I believe the 7a gets updates until 2028, the 8 until 2029 or 2030.
A (properly) refurbished phone will have been factory reset and updated to latest major update version as part of the refurbishment process. They also check battery state is above a certain level, and usually unlock to any network.
I have used refurb phones for over 10 years now, and haven't had a bad one yet.
I did have iPhone for a while, but got frustrated with being "locked in" to the Apple ecosystem, and the drip...drip...drip expense. And the really extremely boring people telling me how great their new iPhone were.
I switched to Android and haven't regretted it at all.
TBH I think Apple try to make it as inconvenient as possible to leave their ecosystem, to the extent that I still have some Apple artefacts with my name on more than a decade later, despite closing all accounts and asking to be deleted.
Thats the main reason I don't recommend it to others, its not that its that bad, its just almost impossible to get rid of. A bit like piles or foot fungus.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
I am not sure a new phone will cure that. Proximety to the mast seems often to be a problem. If you have available auto wi fi you wont have the problem. I have my phone set to do wi fi calling but it just doesnt do it. I think newer models probably are more likely to have this. I reckon buying last years mdel is the best. You get a better price, but don't go older, or battery life may be compromised, Phone batteries are now the governing thing to the life of the phone.
Our lad who could afford any phone he wants has a 10 year old mobile and refuses to swap it. I think that says what the newest features are really worth. Mind you, like his mother hes, shall I say, economical, to the point of it being a family joke. I like he remembers his roots.
OP
OP
Thanks. That looks simple enough, all I've got to do is remember to switch manually?
Zagg cases fit pixels very well and are very robust. Cost amortised over 4-5 years I'd be steering you towards the full-fat 8 rather than the 8a. It's a better quality and specced beast.
No, if there's no WiFi it'll use mobile, if the mobile signal is crap or none existent but you're on WiFi it'll use WiFi.
It defaults to "On" and mobile network priority.
I swear by a spigen rugged case....128 will likely be fine for you I've got a 256 had it 3 years got over half free despite many videos and lots of music and books.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Its not as simple as this if the phone / provider dont provide it. My phone supplier is SMarty and they dont. In every other way they are great. You may be able to get a pay as you go sim that does wi fi calls and have 2 sim cars in the phone. I have two sim cards and should change one so I can get my wi fi calling. Having the two sims and two different phone service providers means I have never been unable to call due to lack of signal. Talk to local people and see how their (supplier) coverage is. I think its more of an issue in your more mountainous areas. I think you can googgle this too.
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Thanks. So it will always use the mobile signal if it can but default to wifi if it can't?
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Thats the way with mostphones if set right. CHeck the proposed service supplier can match it though.
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Thanks. I'll just be sure to enquire specifically about this when I get the sim.
