Advice needed - Looking for new Android phone

[xiaofan]

Huawei the only one with dual sim so far?

If I can get a phone with dual sim will be a bonus.

Like you, I also have a TPG SIM card. This is an additional one.
If can use concurrently with my starhub sim cd will be good.

S10/S10e in Singapore have dual sim (hybrid).

https://www.samsung.com/sg/smartphones/galaxy-s10/specs/

Either one should be a good choice. Battery life is similar, both may not be considered as good though.

 

[marose]

I am an existing owner of an iphone X.

My contract with StarHub will be finishing soon.

I will be legible to recontract and purchase a new phone. So must as well!

I am looking to buy a spare phone for own use, preferably fork out less than $200 (with contract!)

For a change I’ll like an Android smartphone that’s small and compact, basic functions like surfing net and fairly good camera, with min 128gb. Preferably as small and light as my iPhone 4 but don’t think possible as most smartphones are quite big now.

Can anyone suggest what good phone to buy? I’m looking at Huawei Nova 5T but it’s quite big too. Some friends say if I buy Nova, must as well buy Mate 30 or P30/Pro. Afterall they are about same size but better specs. What about other phones like Oppo, Samsung, Xiaomi etc?

Can anyone give some good advice pls???

Thanks!!!

All Huawei Phones have two years warranty in Singapore

 

[marose]

I am an existing owner of an iphone X.

My contract with StarHub will be finishing soon.

I will be legible to recontract and purchase a new phone. So must as well!

I am looking to buy a spare phone for own use, preferably fork out less than $200 (with contract!)

For a change I’ll like an Android smartphone that’s small and compact, basic functions like surfing net and fairly good camera, with min 128gb. Preferably as small and light as my iPhone 4 but don’t think possible as most smartphones are quite big now.

Can anyone suggest what good phone to buy? I’m looking at Huawei Nova 5T but it’s quite big too. Some friends say if I buy Nova, must as well buy Mate 30 or P30/Pro. Afterall they are about same size but better specs. What about other phones like Oppo, Samsung, Xiaomi etc?

Can anyone give some good advice pls???

Thanks!!!

Huawei sub brand Honor have one year warranty like others and just like Xiaomi is more value for money

 

[xiaofan]

Huawei sub brand Honor have one year warranty like others and just like Xiaomi is more value for money

He has StarHub plan with phone subsidy and normally the big three do not offer Xiaomi or Honor phones.

So it comes down to a few options like Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, Google for the price range (about S$200 for the StarHub S$50 plan).

Personally I will choose P30 and then S10e since P30 is cheaper than S10e by S$100.

I am using P20 now and it is pretty okay except battery life. But I am used to use smaller phones with so-so battery life, Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE 2013 —> S4 LTE+ 2014 —> iPhone 6S 2015 —> P20 2018.

SS S10e ($149)
Pixel 3 ($0)
HW Nova 5T ($0)
HW P30 ($49)
HW P30 Pro ($49 but $75 plan)
HW Mate 30 ($169)
HW Mate 30 Pro ($199 but $75 plan)

Say if I buy SS 10e, $149+100=249 still acceptable

 

[Chinatownboy]

Huawei sub brand Honor have one year warranty like others and just like Xiaomi is more value for money

All Huawei Phones have two years warranty in Singapore

Guess that’s one of the selling points of HW.
But guess handphones in general do not get spoilt easily these days
Usually can last unscathed for first 2 years
So guess 1 year warranty for most phones still ok ba.

 

[marose]

Guess that’s one of the selling points of HW.
But guess handphones in general do not get spoilt easily these days
Usually can last unscathed for first 2 years
So guess 1 year warranty for most phones still ok ba.

My galaxy note 8 flickering screen just after one year mark. Hard to say man.

 

[Chinatownboy]

My galaxy note 8 flickering screen just after one year mark. Hard to say man.

Oops. See heng suay one lor.

My iPhone 4 was able to function properly (save the slowness and the need to replace batteries) until the last 1, 2 years when there are problems. I think gonna up the lorry soon lol.

 

[Mecisteus]

There is a good reason why old iPhones have high trade in values.

Even my Nexus and Pixel phones cannot command such value after 2-3 years.

 

[Chinatownboy]

He has StarHub plan with phone subsidy and normally the big three do not offer Xiaomi or Honor phones.

So it comes down to a few options like Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, Google for the price range (about S$200 for the StarHub S$50 plan).

Personally I will choose P30 and then S10e since P30 is cheaper than S10e by S$100.

I am using P20 now and it is pretty okay except battery life. But I am used to use smaller phones with so-so battery life, Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE 2013 —> S4 LTE+ 2014 —> iPhone 6S 2015 —> P20 2018.

Thanks bro.
Have not ruled out HW yet.
At the moment S10e does fill my criteria.
Now that SS has slashed its price I hope Starhub will do the same.

 

[Jurong640]

Thanks bro.
Have not ruled out HW yet.
At the moment S10e does fill my criteria.
Now that SS has slashed its price I hope Starhub will do the same.

You can try getting new S10e from Kasia or Red White Mobile. They sell phones about cheaper than retail, original and local set. I bought some of my devices there.

 

[Sonoda Umi]

Alternatively, since you are already using iOS, you can wait for the rumoured iPhone SE2/9 to come out in March 2020. Size and dimensions same as iPhone 8, which will be small enough for you, and supposedly retailing at USD$399

 

[Chinatownboy]

You can try getting new S10e from Kasia or Red White Mobile. They sell phones about cheaper than retail, original and local set. I bought some of my devices there.

Thanks bro I’m on contract with Starhub.
I probably can get SS or HW at less than $300 for the models mentioned in this thread.

 

[Chinatownboy]

Alternatively, since you are already using iOS, you can wait for the rumoured iPhone SE2/9 to come out in March 2020. Size and dimensions same as iPhone 8, which will be small enough for you, and supposedly retailing at USD$399

That’s interesting info bro.

Heard fr fren Apple coming up with 5G iPhone next year ... is it true?
I’d likely buy it next year.
If I buy the SE2/9, and then iPhone 5G, I’ll have 4 at home!

I do not want to be laden with so many , and purpose of this thread is to seek advice to buy an alternative Android phone. Certain things Android can do which can’t.

 

[Sonoda Umi]

That’s interesting info bro.

Heard fr fren Apple coming up with 5G iPhone next year ... is it true?
I’d likely buy it next year.
If I buy the SE2/9, and then iPhone 5G, I’ll have 4 at home!

I do not want to be laden with so many , and purpose of this thread is to seek advice to buy an alternative Android phone. Certain things Android can do which can’t.

it's likely to be true...but maybe Apple purposely spread misinformation to throw the rumour mongers off course

But for starters, since you are looking for Android, do you want stock UI or heavily customized UI?

Stock UI is clean and smooth, but maybe lack certain special features that customized UI will have

Customized UI will have unique features, but heavily laden with bloatware

 

[Chinatownboy]

it's likely to be true...but maybe Apple purposely spread misinformation to throw the rumour mongers off course

But for starters, since you are looking for Android, do you want stock UI or heavily customized UI?

Stock UI is clean and smooth, but maybe lack certain special features that customized UI will have

Customized UI will have unique features, but heavily laden with bloatware

Pardon me, I’m a bit of a tech idiot.
UI = User Interface?
What does it mean in this context?
Can I say most phones, esp and SS are heavily customized?

Bloatware are those bo liao software (or apps?) that take up unnecc space in your phone?

 

[shawnng]

Samsung still ok.
Especially China phone with lots of background app running collecting data.

Pardon me, I’m a bit of a tech idiot.
UI = User Interface?
What does it mean in this context?
Can I say most phones, esp and SS are heavily customized?

Bloatware are those bo liao software (or apps?) that take up unnecc space in your phone?

 

[Sonoda Umi]

Pardon me, I’m a bit of a tech idiot.
UI = User Interface?
What does it mean in this context?
Can I say most phones, esp and SS are heavily customized?

Bloatware are those bo liao software (or apps?) that take up unnecc space in your phone?

UI = user interface

Unlike iOS, Android allows customability, hence different brands have their take on Android. For example, brands like Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi and Huawei will slap their own skin and UI on top of Android, which differ a lot in looks from stock Android. Also, these brands tend to put their bloatwares. Some can be uninstalled, some cannot.

Then, you have brands like Sony and Oneplus which retain the look of stock Android with minimum changes. And usually, they don't come with bloatwares

And finally, you have Google and Nokia which are stock Android, as in pure Android.

 

[xiaofan]

Samsung still ok.
Especially China phone with lots of background app running collecting data.

That is if you buy the China version.

International version Oppo, Realme, Vivo and Huawei/Honor local sets are pretty okay.

 

[xiaofan]

UI = user interface

Unlike iOS, Android allows customability, hence different brands have their take on Android. For example, brands like Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi and Huawei will slap their own skin and UI on top of Android, which differ a lot in looks from stock Android. Also, these brands tend to put their bloatwares. Some can be uninstalled, some cannot.

Then, you have brands like Sony and Oneplus which retain the look of stock Android with minimum changes. And usually, they don't come with bloatwares

And finally, you have Google and Nokia which are stock Android, as in pure Android.

The OP comes from iOS and actually the skins may make his life easier than stock Android.

Samsung used to put a lot of bloatware last time but now seems to be better. Oppo/Realme local sets are pretty clean to me and we have three Opportunity/Realme phones at home.

But yes you have better chance of getting updates on Google phones and Xiaomi phones and Huawei phones, not so good for Oppo/Vivo.

 

[jtdcjtdc]

I did searching myself, and the cheap and smallest (5.5 in) android phone I found is the RedMi 7A. It has the Snapdragon 439 (there ain't a higher model yet for 400 series). There is a seller in Qoo10 that sells the rare spec that has 3GB of RAM. The more current RedMi 8A (still having the same processor) has huge screen so not much of a choice for portability purposes.

Another to consider is Mi A3. At around 200, we get Android One for clean stock android and updatedness, got super amoled, Snapdragon 655 processor, triple camera setup.

At around that price range (or add a bit more depending on capacity and condition), can look for a pre-owned iPhone SE. That has the best speed, specs, and the best compact size. Although it is not an Android phone.

The popular mention on this thread of the Samsung S10e, that is EXPENSIVE in the long run.