new cell phone needed

[randy]

ok, for numerous reasons about 8 years ago I went to an iPhone.  I now have a iPhone 6s.  It is 4.5 years old, and I am looking to move to a new phone.  This phone is my only apple product, and I am not tied to apple at all.  I am on Verizon

 

My phone is used as follows

1.  Calendar synced to my office MS Outlook calendar.  this is number one item for me

1.a  Outlook inbox synced to my office MS Outlook inbox.  I keep two weeks of messages on my phone.  After the calendar this is 1.a

4.  Yes I skipped 2 - 4 to prove a point after the first two items I really do not use my phone a lot

5.  I listen to various Pod Casts (probably around 3 hours every day)

6. I listen to Audible audio books, (probably around 2 a month)

7. Wave app for directions

8. messenger app primarily only for my youngest son

9. Text, as little as possible  :-)

10. actual phone call

 

So for this type of usage I am thinking the 600.00 iPhone's 8 are really over kill.  Any suggestions on cheaper phones that would meet my simple needs?

 

[Sonor]

I have read great reviews of the Google Pixel 2 phone plus it is around $600, not the grand for others. 

[steve.foote]

Randy, I currently have a Google Pixel (first version) that I got on a cyber Monday sale a year ago.  It's by far the best smartphone I've ever owned.  It's fast, smooth, and lacks the bloatware most other mfgs glob on.  Plus, all pixels run the latest version of Android unlike most of the other which are usually one version behind.  Did I mention that I really like it?  :-)

 

Oh, and the camera, it's absolutely spectacular!

[randy]

ok, as noted for me the iPhone 8 is 600.00 so 600.00 for the Google Pixel 2  at 600.00 does not really move the needle.  But that is two recommendations for that phone, so I will check around.  thanks

 

ok just checked Verizon, WOW  900.00 for the Pixel 2 from Verizon.

[randy]

I guess sticker shock is the effect of keeping a phone for almost 5 years.  Just out of curiosity, how long do most people keep their phone.  Like I said I have been on iPhone for about 7.5 years.  I kept my first phone for 3 years, and now this 6s is 4.5 years old.  Is keeping a 700.00 item for 5 years "old fashioned"  :-)

[Twisties]

Sharon and I have been using Motos.  Mine is about 18 mos. old, a Moto G5 Plus w/64gb RAM.  I paid about $200 for an unlocked version on Amazon, and use it on VZ.  Android OS.  Sharon's is a year older, a G4.  Both are reliable and do everything we want for 1/3rd to 1/4 the cost of a top of the line Samsung or Apple product.  The only issue we have encountered is that VZ does not offer it's attractive Canada and Mexico rate plans on unlocked phones, so you have to buy a prepaid SIM when traveling, or pay through the nose.  

 

Presumably, Moto has some updated offerings out by now, and I would surely consider them first if we had  to replace a phone.  

 

Apparently, based on a quick Google search, there are free apps that enable MS Outlook to sync with Android.   

[Twisties]

How long depends.  I have a history of very buggy Samsungs.  Each seems to get worse with time.  The longest any lasted was two-years, but there were 4 warranty replacements in that time, and it was super stretched to make it through the contract period.. almost useless at the end.  We changed phones once when we moved and our locked phones were stuck on a carrier which did not service our new area.  However, we kept our 1st motos, 2012 RZRs, about 4-5 years before updating.  

[steve.foote]

Randy, Amazon has a lot of refurbished and unlocked Pixel 2's on sale right now for around $330.  FYI.

[randy]

Thanks looking at Amazon now, and at Moto.  A quality refurbished unit might work the best for me.

[realshelby]

One bit of advice I would offer....is to buy an "unlocked" phone. You can still stay with your favorite service, but you are not bound to stay with them! That way, for instance, if you want to go to Canada or Mexico, just buy a cheap sim card with a plan down there and stick in the phone!

 

Or you are at least free to shop around for a plan that suits you.....

[Twisties]

I guess a more generalized answer to how long to keep a phone comes to this:

 

1.  The technology seems reasonably mature now...  the race for the newest sensation seems to be more about status than function.

2.  At some point it seems most manufacturers stop providing OS updates.  At that point I start to worry about security, but in reality we've had no problems even when we've run a couple of years w/o an update.  If we were more savvy, I suppose we could locate and install Android updates ourselves.

3.  At some point the hardware seems to start breaking down...  little things.  Maybe in a quality unit this is some time after 4 years?

 

I don't see hard and fast answers.  It depends on your budget, tech skills, hardware and desires.  

[Indy Dave]

2 hours ago, realshelby said:

One bit of advice I would offer....is to buy an "unlocked" phone. You can still stay with your favorite service, but you are not bound to stay with them! That way, for instance, if you want to go to Canada or Mexico, just buy a cheap sim card with a plan down there and stick in the phone!

 

Or you are at least free to shop around for a plan that suits you.....

 

HOWEVER . . . Keep in mind that everything is a trade-off. I have a unlocked Galaxy8 on Verizon. While I didn't get the bloatware, I do not get Verizon's 'visual voice mail' - where I can see what voice mails I have and can select any from the list and read it or listen to it in any order I wish. Not a huge thing perhaps, but not as convenient either. Additionally, I don't  get the option for 'hi def calls' - which means I do not have the option of video calling. Both of those features are carrier provided, oddly enough. One last feature I don't get is the ability to be on the phone and browse the interwebs at the same time. So be sure to consider those things when considering and unlocked phone.

[Twisties]

1 hour ago, Indy Dave said:

 

One last feature I don't get is the ability to be on the phone and browse the interwebs at the same time. 

 

Do this all the time, and just tested to be sure.  No problems here with multi-tasking in this manner.

[Bernie]

1 hour ago, Indy Dave said:

 

HOWEVER . . . Keep in mind that everything is a trade-off. I have a unlocked Galaxy8 on Verizon. While I didn't get the bloatware, I do not get Verizon's 'visual voice mail' - where I can see what voice mails I have and can select any from the list and read it or listen to it in any order I wish. Not a huge thing perhaps, but not as convenient either. Additionally, I don't  get the option for 'hi def calls' - which means I do not have the option of video calling. Both of those features are carrier provided, oddly enough. One last feature I don't get is the ability to be on the phone and browse the interwebs at the same time. So be sure to consider those things when considering and unlocked phone.

Dave, I have a unlocked iPhone 7 on VZ and I can do both of those things with no problems. Maybe you need to call the customer service rep.?

[chrisolson]

5 hours ago, randy said:

Thanks looking at Amazon now, and at Moto.  A quality refurbished unit might work the best for me.

 

I've had very good luck with EBay for refurb units ... lots of options .

[Indy Dave]

1 hour ago, Twisties said:

 

Do this all the time, and just tested to be sure.  No problems here with multi-tasking in this manner.

 

What about when not connected to WiFi?

 

Bernie  While I've not been at Verizon or called them about it for a year or so - I did go down this path without luck.

[Twisties]

2 hours ago, Indy Dave said:

 

What about when not connected to WiFi?

 

Bernie  While I've not been at Verizon or called them about it for a year or so - I did go down this path without luck.

Here I am typing away while I'm on the phone. Wi-Fi turned off and LTE on. Unlocked phone on Verizon.

[Indy Dave]

My samsung Galaxy 8 sold by samsung - not verizon - doesn't do that. My S5 would, but it wasn't unlocked. Been to Verizon a few times, but not in the last year, to see WTF. This phone was actually purchased on the 2017 CLH trip out East at BestBuy.

[MikeB60]

2 hours ago, Indy Dave said:

My samsung Galaxy 8 sold by samsung - not verizon - doesn't do that. My S5 would, but it wasn't unlocked. Been to Verizon a few times, but not in the last year, to see WTF. This phone was actually purchased on the 2017 CLH trip out East at BestBuy.

Dave, I have a G8 that I bought directly from Samsung (Verizon is my carrier)and it will do all of the things that yours dosen't. I did use my sim card from my old phone but don't think it should make a difference.

[Rider1200RT]

I have an I-Phone 6s as well and plan on keeping it until it fails or updates aren't available anymore..

To me it makes no sense in 'replacing' a fully functional item that is way over priced to begin with. Mine is an unlocked one since I switched from ATT to T-Mobile. YMMV

 

[Indy Dave]

11 hours ago, MikeB60 said:

Dave, I have a G8 that I bought directly from Samsung (Verizon is my carrier)and it will do all of the things that yours dosen't. I did use my sim card from my old phone but don't think it should make a difference.

 

Thanks, Mike! Hmm. . .  Verizon did give me a new sim card when I got that phone. Perhaps therein lies the issue? I'll dig into this again. At one point, I did browse the android forums and found others who had the same issues as I had - but I never found a 'solution'.  Now armed with this info, Mike, I have hope that there is a solution - I just haven't found anyone at Verizon (YET!!) who has invested anything more than head scratching or trying to up-sell me on a new phone.

 

Apologies for the hijack, Randy.

[scout6]

Dave,

About a year ago, I went to using the FI network, now Google network.  I had top of the line phones for the last few, and decided to try something less this time around.  I picked up Moto X4 Android One versions.  This one was in the sub 200 dollar range each.  They work on Sprint, TMobile, and US Cellular, switching as needed.  Lots of storage, and you can add an sd card.  The camera is a bit slow, but everything else works well.  The rates are better for two person families than most other plans.  Seems like if you don't have 4 folks, you pay just about as much.  So, 25 bucks a month for unlimited talk and text, then 10 bucks per gig or data up to a max of 10 gig then free.  Second phone is 10 bucks plus data.  Since most of the time I am on a wireless network, our data usage has stayed low.  No roaming charges in most countries.  We have been paying about 50 per month, with a larger bill of 80 when we were in Mexico, with no wifi.  There are more expensive phones, like the Google Phones that work on this network.  We just got tired of Verizon bills.  Rob

[MikeRC]

Randy: 

 

If your iPhone 6s still works and satisfies your needs you will have to spend more money than a base phone for a larger/higher pixel count screen.   For example the unlocked Motorola G6 Play (less than $200USD at Costco) has a slightly larger screen but the pixel count is a bit lower than your iPhone 6s.  The unlocked Samsung A6 is a nice middle ground with a larger/higher pixel count screen and Android 8.0  (but it isn't waterproof like some other Samsung models).  

 

Unlike Jan I have had no software/hardware issues with my Samsung S5 or S8.  I also have an unlocked Motorola E 2nd Gen (4" screen, Android 6.0) that I use as my travel phone.  No problems or complaints whatsoever with use in the USA/UK/Ireland/South Africa/Namibia on local SIM cards.  I keep my important contacts and appointments on my Google account and can sync them with any of my phones anywhere I have a connection.  

 

I have found Companionlink to be dependable and minimize duplication/lost data from Outlook to my Android and (prior to that) Blackberry phones.  You can access your Outlook data from anywhere via mobile or wifi networks if you keep a DejaCloud account. 

 

Mike Cassidy

[RAMBLIN RED]

On 2/20/2019 at 11:13 AM, randy said:

I guess sticker shock is the effect of keeping a phone for almost 5 years.  Just out of curiosity, how long do most people keep their phone.  Like I said I have been on iPhone for about 7.5 years.  I kept my first phone for 3 years, and now this 6s is 4.5 years old.  Is keeping a 700.00 item for 5 years "old fashioned"  :-)

Randy... I ride a 19 year old bike, carry a flip phone, and I'm 77. old fart...old bike....old phone... now THAT'S old fashioned.

[wbw6cos]

I got my current phone in 2013, which was out for several months when I bought it for about $500.  It is a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (the Note 9 just came out last fall for about $1000.)  The Note 2 still works fine.  HA  I have it protected with an Otter Box case, which is definitely a necessity.  I thought about upgrading, but I may buy the Note 9 in a few years when the price is right.

 

As far as bikes, I got a brand new RT to go along with my 19 year old R1200C  Mix and match.  At 53, I am not quite up there with you, but tend to think like an old fart sometimes, which doesn't hurt.

 

Cheers,

[randy]

lots of information, thanks

[John in VA]

iPhone 7 is still a great modern phone and can be had for a great deal IMO

[Indy Dave]

Just an update on my unlocked phone.... A(nother) trip to Verizon....  and golly gee . . I don't know why these features are not activated on your account (visual voice mail and hi def calling)!     To get the phone to multitask (surf on the web/send email while on a call) they replaced the sim card.

 

Mind you, when I purchased this phone at BestBuy in Vermont on the 2nd Annual Clean Living Hoosiers Trip of a Lifetime, I went to the Verizon store and they could not figure out what was wrong and said it must be because it was an unlocked phone. Unlocked phones were the 'new thing' at the time and Verizon wasn't selling them like they are now. Once I got home, I made a couple of calls to Verizon tech support and they also said it must be due to buying an unlocked phone. One trip to a Verizon store here yielded no positive results. I checked android forums and others were reporting the same problems.

 

My take is that initially Verizon was 'punishing'  users for buying unlocked phones?

 

Anyway - now it's doing all of the things my much older S5 did when I replaced it in July of 2017.