What is the best value smartphone under £200 currently?

db2431 · 31 Oct 2011 at 19:09

Very tempted by the Xperia play for 179 or the monte carlo for around 150, anything else I should be looking at?

Caseh · 31 Oct 2011 at 19:12

I think the xperia play is fantastic for the price. Infact, I've just ordered one for my sister.

Ezyryder · 31 Oct 2011 at 19:13

HP Pre 3.

monkeysmith · 31 Oct 2011 at 19:15

Worth keeping an eye on auction sites, managed to pick up a new sensation for £250, above your budget but I saw a second hand one go for £216.

sarge78 · 31 Oct 2011 at 19:32

I'd get this.

http://www.buymobilephones.net/mobile-phones/Motorola/Motorola-Atrix-Refurbished/SIM-Free/SIM-Free/11639953

DIABLO · 31 Oct 2011 at 19:35

You won't get anythiung better then a Xperia play in that price range, was a £500 phone when released.

Caseh · 31 Oct 2011 at 20:20

sarge78 said:
I'd get this.

http://www.buymobilephones.net/mobile-phones/Motorola/Motorola-Atrix-Refurbished/SIM-Free/SIM-Free/11639953

You recommended that to me when I was looking at the RAZR

sarge78 · 31 Oct 2011 at 20:53

You get a 4" qHD screen, dual core SoC, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal memory and a 1930 mAh battery for £200, awesome! The front and rear camera's are good enough too.

This was a proper high end phone in back in April/May and it's miles better than the SE play.

Ask Jabbs

Caseh · 31 Oct 2011 at 21:04

But it's ugly

StonedPenguin · 31 Oct 2011 at 21:04

kona786 · 31 Oct 2011 at 21:05

StonedPenguin said:
3GS

DIABLO · 31 Oct 2011 at 21:21

StonedPenguin said:
3GS

You got to be kidding me.

Amp34 · 31 Oct 2011 at 21:24

Is the Optimus 7 under £200?

Certainly worth a punt...

loltim · 31 Oct 2011 at 23:53

Optimus 7 can be had for £130 ish, but they aren't worth £30 IME.

Atrix is a good bet for £200. oh and lol at 3gs.

Christo · 1 Nov 2011 at 00:57

Ezyryder said:
HP Pre 3.

Definitely.
But you need to get used to the OS, once you do its amazing.

paradigm · 1 Nov 2011 at 07:21

loltim said:
Atrix is a good bet for £200. oh and lol at 3gs.

It's a terrible phone.

So much so that it's currently sat in a drawer and I'm using my Nexus One again.

loltim · 1 Nov 2011 at 11:56

paradigm said:
It's a terrible phone.

So much so that it's currently sat in a drawer and I'm using my Nexus One again.

Did you try root/cm7? The hardware is good so can only assume it was a motoblur thing :/

paradigm · 1 Nov 2011 at 12:01

It's most likely a motoblur thing for the most part, however the entire thing is cheap, nasty and poorly built.

Mine is rooted, but not running a custom ROM, as I wanted to keep the functionality of the WebTop dock. I was however running LauncherPRO (I had also tried ADW and GoLauncher).

I wouldn't recommend one to anyone.

I'm due an upgrade in two days, no idea what to get though, or what to wait for (if applicable). The Nexus Prime is a proper letdown (plus I really REALLY despise Samsung phones, they simply don't work and feel nasty), the Sensation XE isn't exactly all that, and the myriad of SE devices are foul.

At a loss

kona786 · 1 Nov 2011 at 12:16

paradigm - if you can, try a SGS2 on a 7 day cooling off period - you maybe pleasantly surprised with it.

I've used A few Android handsets - sensation/desire/G1/X10/SGS1 - the SGS2 is just excellent at what it does.

loltim · 1 Nov 2011 at 12:18

I think he has tried one, maybe on an early firmware though as nothing doesn't "work" on mine.