My son wants an Android - I have some questions

thedoc46 · 4 May 2017 at 16:54

My son, has an iPhone 5S, we're predominately an iOS house. Like all of us (Mum, dad, 10yr old and himself a 12yr old) all have iOS devices. Both my boys have iPhone 5S's 16gb and iPad airs.

But he for whatever reason my 12yr old who's a bit a techy by nature wants an Android ??

He says the iPhone 5S, just doesn't cut it for him.. Fair doo's. 16gb is a bit naff. I was thinking of getting something used like an old Android LG G3, which apparently takes a micro SD card... I don't want to spoil him by getting him a new Edge S8 or whatever is all the rage in the Android world today.. He's TWELVE !!

But really not sure what i'm getting myself into... Been an avid Apple iOS owner for the last 10. Never looked at an Android.

What exactly would he be missing out on, if i got him like an 'affordable' older handset like a G3 ?

Orcvader · 4 May 2017 at 17:02

Not much apart from LG not really supporting the G3 any more. The G3 was a good phone but considering it's age I would look for a new battery as a second hand one would have degraded a fair bit.

How much have you found the G3 for? The Moto G5 is around £150 odd (the 2gb RAM version) and would be my pick for a cheapish phone.

Actually specs wise it's not that bad compared to the G3: http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=8454&idPhone2=6294

The Moto G4 is also very good for the price but it's bigger as well, not sure if your son could handle a phone that size.

Dazstoke · 4 May 2017 at 17:14

Facetime is about the only thing you don't have on android.
You're better off getting something new(ish) or Moto based as android updates can be hit and miss depending on the device

Peew971 · 4 May 2017 at 17:31

Isn't the Moto G5 the best budget phone there is today? I would suggest that for a first handset. Also get your whole family to download WhatsApp, he won't have imessage and FaceTime but this will be a great substitute.

ivrytwr3 · 4 May 2017 at 19:35

My daughter is the other way - she wants to move from Android to Apple "EVERYONE else has iphones" - yeah, right.

We have Sony Z1 Compact, LGG4/5 and huawei p9 lite

The Huawei is the best of that bunch and a flagship phone at a low end price - really good spec and got it from here:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/huawei-p9-lite-payg-129-10-top-up-139-instore-ee-2578526

Not sure of the price now.

deuse · 4 May 2017 at 19:43

Get him a oneplus 3T. That should keep him happy.

ivrytwr3 · 4 May 2017 at 19:55

https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/phones/mo...our=black&memory=16gb&contractType=payasyougo

http://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_452989.html?wid=4&utm_source=tt_de

Hyburnate · 4 May 2017 at 20:08

G3 has a shocking battery, don't buy

kitch9 · 4 May 2017 at 20:37

thedoc46 said:
My son, has an iPhone 5S, we're predominately an iOS house. Like all of us (Mum, dad, 10yr old and himself a 12yr old) all have iOS devices. Both my boys have iPhone 5S's 16gb and iPad airs.

But he for whatever reason my 12yr old who's a bit a techy by nature wants an Android ??

He says the iPhone 5S, just doesn't cut it for him.. Fair doo's. 16gb is a bit naff. I was thinking of getting something used like an old Android LG G3, which apparently takes a micro SD card... I don't want to spoil him by getting him a new Edge S8 or whatever is all the rage in the Android world today.. He's TWELVE !!

But really not sure what i'm getting myself into... Been an avid Apple iOS owner for the last 10. Never looked at an Android.

What exactly would he be missing out on, if i got him like an 'affordable' older handset like a G3 ?

Lenovo P2. Just for the battery alone.

Peew971 · 4 May 2017 at 20:44

deuse said:
Get him a oneplus 3T. That should keep him happy.

The kid is 12, he doesn't want to spoil him. Pretty sure the S7 would have been suggested otherwise at that same price point.

HamZilla · 5 May 2017 at 02:10

I got my son at 12, a Moto G4 last August and its recently updated to Nougat which my wife's Note 4 can't even have. The screen is 5.5" which is great for gaming and media, and it has a micro-sd slot.

Kainz · 5 May 2017 at 06:09

Maybe look at the Moto G4? Just bought one for my dad for £140 on Amazon as the old phone I gave him, a Note4 bit the dust.

The camera isn't all that (compared to high end phones), battery life is excellent and the OS itself is very nippy and smooth. It doesn't have an AMOLED screen though but an IPS one like IPhones do.

It takes an sd card too and uses micro USB for charging purposes. I've been more than surprised at what £140 got me tbh. Try and find out why he wants an Android phone though, it is a bit odd given your household is primarily iOS focused!

PS. Grab a tempered glass protector for whatever you buy. It's always good to have a second layer to protect the main screen from scratches. Especially if the owner is a 12yr old!

Psycho Sonny · 5 May 2017 at 11:15

Lenovo P2 - £200

AMOLED screen - unheard of at this price point
5.5" screen - again unheard of at this price point
3 day battery - unheard of at any price point
4GB of RAM - unheard of at this price point

i don't know why people are suggesting other phones tbh the lenovo P2 is where it's at for cheap budget smartphone with high end spec.

ebilcake · 5 May 2017 at 11:22

What's your budget? contract or sim only?

james.miller · 5 May 2017 at 11:39

Psycho Sonny said:
Lenovo P2 - £200

AMOLED screen - unheard of at this price point
5.5" screen - again unheard of at this price point
3 day battery - unheard of at any price point
4GB of RAM - unheard of at this price point

i don't know why people are suggesting other phones tbh the lenovo P2 is where it's at for cheap budget smartphone with high end spec.

it's a very good and well rounded phone for the money

You're pushing it a bit with all those unheard ofs though lol

Begbie · 5 May 2017 at 11:54

Psycho Sonny said:
Lenovo P2 - £200

AMOLED screen - unheard of at this price point
5.5" screen - again unheard of at this price point
3 day battery - unheard of at any price point
4GB of RAM - unheard of at this price point

i don't know why people are suggesting other phones tbh the lenovo P2 is where it's at for cheap budget smartphone with high end spec.

Unheard of is a bit of a stretch.

Psycho Sonny · 5 May 2017 at 12:14

Begbie said:
Unheard of is a bit of a stretch.

not really - show me a brand new phone that even comes close for less than £300

bare in mind this is brand new and only £200

oh and it has to be from a legit UK retailer too. none of this chinese website malarkey as the lenovo p2 is direct from any 3 store or their website

james.miller · 5 May 2017 at 12:36

my vernee apollo is an all metal phone, 5.5" 2k display, 4gb ram, 64gb storage, 21mp back camera with a decacore meditek chipset which is a chunk faster than the p2. its £240 for EU gearbest.

Not saying it's the phone to buy of course, but most (except possibly the battery life) of the P2s specs are available in some form in other phones in that price range. P2 is still a great phone of course and i dont disagree its probably the best buy for the money.

prosk · 5 May 2017 at 12:53

For a first time android user I would go for something conventional with good support over specs, like a moto G5. For best specs per £ I'd get a lenovo zuk z2 for £150 at banggood. Tbh high spec phones are overrated most of the time.

Matteysan · 5 May 2017 at 13:12

If your son claims to be a techy wouldn't it be best to set a budget for him & let him choose?