Need advice on phone

[NastyWoman]

I need a new phone as my current one is starting to cr*p out on me. I need something that is (i) not an apple product, (ii) unlocked so I can get a SIM card in Europe and accepted by my current provider, and (iii) is not so expensive that I need to take out a mortgage to pay for the bloody thing.

In general my needs are pretty simple as I mostly just call and text with it and I take the occasional picture. But I will need to have apps on there for the Covid apps - not going to use it for banking or things like that.

However, I know next to nothing about what to look for and where to get it so I thought I would pick your brains for recommendations. Please HEEEEEELLLLP! 

[chiver78]

what's your current carrier? other than Verizon, all other US carriers use the GSM network which is compatible with European signals. I'm a Samsung brat, have been for a long time, and would totally recommend. I know that you can find older models outside of the carriers, sometimes direct from the manufacturer.

if you can't find one to your liking, I've got a couple older Samsung Android (AT&T) phones that I haven't had a chance to donate yet. I can easily ship you one. sadly, the more recent has a splintered screen currently covered in clear tape.

[haapai]

You might get better advice if you asked these questions on an anonymous board with more Europeans on it.  Most of us Yanks have absolutely no idea what a Covid app is, or why you might need one,  You might be better off re-framing the question and asking "what's the most basic/cheapest phone and plan that I can opt for and still leave the house" to an audience that actually has to deal with vaccine passports or notification systems. 

Very few of us on this board have to deal with that technology even though we might be better off if we did.  So just get some courage and start asking questions where they might be answered.  Feel free to emphasize that you have been among us and therefore way behind on things that they take for granted. 

I wish to give you courage. 

[NastyWoman]

I have Tmobile currently and when I say I don't want to mortgage my home I mean I would like to stay under $800 (that number gives me heartburn though I definitely can afford it). My current phone is a Samsung from the stone age.

Anything you can recommend in that price range chiver78 ?

[TheOtherMe]

Canada had a Covid app.  It was like any other app.  It keeps track of an international visitor's movements and Covid status.  Some places take Covid seriously.  

Can you imagine if the US had a Covid app? 

[chiver78]

Nov 20, 2021 16:39:36 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Canada had a Covid app.  It was like any other app.  It keeps track of an international visitor's movements and Covid status.  Some places take Covid seriously.  

Can you imagine if the US had a Covid app? 

mt cabinmate on the cruises had it, she actually had a screenshot as her lock screen. she's from Vancouver. we totally could have had this, if not for the last Emperor with no clothes.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Most countries now have a covid app.  It is also called a PLF.  Other than Canada, I have had to file one for Maldives and Greece.  Spain has one too, as do most other European countries.

For the Maldives, once you filled out the app you get sent a QR code.  This code get scanned everywhere, so you need access to it.  We had to get it scanned to both enter and leave the Maldives.  For Greece, we only needed it to get into the country.  

A friend of mine has an app that tracks her movement and each location a code gets scanned. She sent me a screen shot of her excursions one morning, she was at a gas station from x to x time, a grocery store from x to x and drug store from x to x.  The point is that they can do contact tracing.  

I can’t help you about phones as we have iPhones.  With these, we have easily been able to switch out SIM cards, getting a temporary cell phone plan where ever we are much cheaper than paying US rates.  

[TheOtherMe]

Nov 20, 2021 17:19:21 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Nov 20, 2021 16:39:36 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Canada had a Covid app.  It was like any other app.  It keeps track of an international visitor's movements and Covid status.  Some places take Covid seriously.  

Can you imagine if the US had a Covid app? 

mt cabinmate on the cruises had it, she actually had a screenshot as her lock screen. she's from Vancouver. we totally could have had this, if not for the last Emperor with no clothes.

We would be in a totally different place than we are now.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

The answer is always iPhone.

[chiver78]

Nov 20, 2021 18:54:22 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

The answer is always iPhone.

um, no. legit, no. the world and its automation doesn't play well with Apple. there's a valid reason I was still playing with WinXP as late as 2015. some perfectly functioning systems don't have support for newer OS.

/entrant- climbing down from the soapbox that hasnt been my problem for a few years now. but for real, outside of pharma and any other industry requiring part 11 compliance, legacy systems don't need the bells and whistles of the current version or whatever OS

[skeeter]

Am also looking at cellphones. Narrowed search down to a Samsung A32 for $300.00 or Samsung S20 and S21 for $600.00. chiver78, any opinion on these models?  Good or bad feedback would be appreciated.  TYIA !!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Nov 20, 2021 19:56:39 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Nov 20, 2021 18:54:22 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

The answer is always iPhone.

um, no. legit, no. the world and its automation doesn't play well with Apple. there's a valid reason I was still playing with WinXP as late as 2015. some perfectly functioning systems don't have support for newer OS.

/entrant- climbing down from the soapbox that hasnt been my problem for a few years now. but for real, outside of pharma and any other industry requiring part 11 compliance, legacy systems don't need the bells and whistles of the current version or whatever OS

Yeah, but I work for the government. Everything at work is PC/Windows. 
Everything at home is Apple. We went to Apple about ten years ago. I've hit that point in my life that I don't want to change. 

[andi9899]

I love Samsung and have the Galaxy S20 and love it.

[Lizard Queen]

Nov 20, 2021 20:21:38 GMT -5 skeeter said:

Am also looking at cellphones. Narrowed search down to a Samsung A32 for $300.00 or Samsung S20 and S21 for $600.00. chiver78 , any opinion on these models?  Good or bad feedback would be appreciated.  TYIA !!

I'm also looking at the A32.

[saveinla]

My son recently bought a Samsung A52 for 350$ at Walmart. He also uses it mainly for texting and some talking. He says its sometimes slow, but does not mind that for the price.


www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/galaxy-a52-5g-review-samsungs-best-phone-under-500/

[chiver78]

Nov 20, 2021 20:21:38 GMT -5 skeeter said:

Am also looking at cellphones. Narrowed search down to a Samsung A32 for $300.00 or Samsung S20 and S21 for $600.00. chiver78, any opinion on these models?  Good or bad feedback would be appreciated.  TYIA !!

the A models are more basic than the S. I haven't researched this particular A to know what the limits are. usually it is less storage and a less powerful camera, but I can't speak to specifics. what do you have now, and what do you think you need out of your next phone?

[chiver78]

Nov 20, 2021 20:49:55 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Nov 20, 2021 19:56:39 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

um, no. legit, no. the world and its automation doesn't play well with Apple. there's a valid reason I was still playing with WinXP as late as 2015. some perfectly functioning systems don't have support for newer OS.

/entrant- climbing down from the soapbox that hasnt been my problem for a few years now. but for real, outside of pharma and any other industry requiring part 11 compliance, legacy systems don't need the bells and whistles of the current version or whatever OS

Yeah, but I work for the government. Everything at work is PC/Windows. 
Everything at home is Apple. We went to Apple about ten years ago. I've hit that point in my life that I don't want to change. 

fair. I haven't touched an Apple product other than my iPod since my HS writing lab. C+ programming was a mandatory course my freshman year in college, and then various software like Matlab, Aspen, and others came soon after. I'm quite well entrenched on the other side at this point.

[empress of self-improvement]

I have a Samsung S20. It's a phone. It was also free from my BIL as he got a new phone through work. Came with a SmartWatch too. Which is good because i gave up after breaking my 5th or 6th Fitbit.

[Cookies Galore]

I bought the Google Pixel 4a last year and I still love it. I'm Pixel for life now! I bought an unlocked phone.

[Cookies Galore]

Nov 20, 2021 16:26:38 GMT -5 haapai said:

You might get better advice if you asked these questions on an anonymous board with more Europeans on it.  Most of us Yanks have absolutely no idea what a Covid app is, or why you might need one,  You might be better off re-framing the question and asking "what's the most basic/cheapest phone and plan that I can opt for and still leave the house" to an audience that actually has to deal with vaccine passports or notification systems. 

Very few of us on this board have to deal with that technology even though we might be better off if we did.  So just get some courage and start asking questions where they might be answered.  Feel free to emphasize that you have been among us and therefore way behind on things that they take for granted. 

I wish to give you courage. 

This is a very weird response.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Nov 20, 2021 16:26:38 GMT -5 haapai said:

You might get better advice if you asked these questions on an anonymous board with more Europeans on it.  Most of us Yanks have absolutely no idea what a Covid app is, or why you might need one,  You might be better off re-framing the question and asking "what's the most basic/cheapest phone and plan that I can opt for and still leave the house" to an audience that actually has to deal with vaccine passports or notification systems. 

Very few of us on this board have to deal with that technology even though we might be better off if we did.  So just get some courage and start asking questions where they might be answered.  Feel free to emphasize that you have been among us and therefore way behind on things that they take for granted. 

I wish to give you courage. 

Maybe not where you live in the US, but on the West Coast, we have the apps with the vaccine documentation. We use them all the time. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Iowa doesn't have one but five seconds on Google play gave me dozens of COVID apps for the states that have them. Not sure why that is something difficult to figure out.

I just got a Samsung Galaxy A12 and I love it. Since I'm with Cricket I'm not sure how international plans would work.

I also hate Apple products. I am pretty happy with Samsung.

[Lizard Queen]

Nov 21, 2021 10:30:34 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

I bought the Google Pixel 4a last year and I still love it. I'm Pixel for life now! I bought an unlocked phone.

Those do have really good reviews.

[daisylu]

Nov 20, 2021 21:04:36 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

I love Samsung and have the Galaxy S20 and love it.

Same. 

Nothing Apple allowed in my house.

[ArchietheDragon]

Google Pixel 4ais my answer, too.    I have one and it does everything well. 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Nov 21, 2021 11:10:27 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Iowa doesn't have one but five seconds on Google play gave me dozens of COVID apps for the states that have them. Not sure why that is something difficult to figure out.

I just got a Samsung Galaxy A12 and I love it. Since I'm with Cricket I'm not sure how international plans would work.

I also hate Apple products. I am pretty happy with Samsung.

If you have an unlocked phone, it is really easy.  Stop in a phone store (and most times they are on the way out of the airport) and buy a plan that fits your needs.  The last time we did this was in Turkey, 30 days unlimited calling and texting, and 5GB data for $30.  We were only there for a little over 2 weeks, but it fit our needs.  They switch out your SIM card, give you a new number, test it out and send you on your way.  
I think Verizon charges $10/day/phone for international phone and data.  When my sister went to Europe with her daughter, I suggested she do this.  Instead, she got hit with a humongous bill when she got home.  Even if your phone is locked, it’s cheaper to buy a burner phone for travel.  

I was reading about phones for international travel and Google Pixel got good reviews for this.  

[Cookies Galore]

Nov 22, 2021 12:50:03 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Nov 21, 2021 11:10:27 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Iowa doesn't have one but five seconds on Google play gave me dozens of COVID apps for the states that have them. Not sure why that is something difficult to figure out.

I just got a Samsung Galaxy A12 and I love it. Since I'm with Cricket I'm not sure how international plans would work.

I also hate Apple products. I am pretty happy with Samsung.

If you have an unlocked phone, it is really easy.  Stop in a phone store (and most times they are on the way out of the airport) and buy a plan that fits your needs.  The last time we did this was in Turkey, 30 days unlimited calling and texting, and 5GB data for $30.  We were only there for a little over 2 weeks, but it fit our needs.  They switch out your SIM card, give you a new number, test it out and send you on your way.  
I think Verizon charges $10/day/phone for international phone and data.  When my sister went to Europe with her daughter, I suggested she do this.  Instead, she got hit with a humongous bill when she got home.  Even if your phone is locked, it’s cheaper to buy a burner phone for travel.  

I was reading about phones for international travel and Google Pixel got good reviews for this.  

I have AT&T so at least I have the international day pass available for use ($10/day). For our trip to Aruba it only ended up costing me $30 since I only need to call or text people back home three days during my trip (my birthday and Ida hit my town while we were away). I used hotel wifi for internet and communication apps (Signal, WhatsApp, FB Messenger) whenever I needed to call locally to make reservations and such, no charge for all that. Husband, on the other hand, decided he didn't need to listen to me when I said that simply sending a text message triggers the day pass, so just use messenger apps over wifi... First day there he sends a $10 text message, lol.
Used all the Aruba Covid apps, airline apps, etc. Lots more things to input now when traveling, but totally worth it. And yes, the Pixel is a really great phone. Zero issues no matter where I am.

[NastyWoman]

So I have more or less decided on a phone (the Pixel 4a). But I was not kidding when I said I know nothing about phones. So how do I get this new phone to get the data that is on my current one? Do I need to take that to my carrier's shop or what?

I resisted cell phones as long as I could but by now I no longer have a land line so I better do this correctly

Thank you for all your advice

[minnesotapaintlady]

Nov 24, 2021 15:36:14 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

So I have more or less decided on a phone (the Pixel 4a). But I was not kidding when I said I know nothing about phones. So how do I get this new phone to get the data that is on my current one? Do I need to take that to my carrier's shop or what?

I resisted cell phones as long as I could but by now I no longer have a land line so I better do this correctly

Thank you for all your advice

Do you have a Google account on your current phone?  If so it backs up all your contacts, calendar, apps and such so that when you log in on your new phone it will all sync up. 

[tallguy]

Nov 20, 2021 21:49:58 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Nov 20, 2021 20:21:38 GMT -5 skeeter said:

Am also looking at cellphones. Narrowed search down to a Samsung A32 for $300.00 or Samsung S20 and S21 for $600.00. chiver78 , any opinion on these models?  Good or bad feedback would be appreciated.  TYIA !!

I'm also looking at the A32.

Two or three months ago my GF added me to her plan with T-Mobile.  For whatever reason she was able to get a free phone for doing so.  She did not need one but wanted me to get one.  Okay, fine.  She at first thought it would be an A12, but when we got to the store it turned out we could choose an A32.  It is 5G and does a lot more than I need it to.  I think the price was just under $300, but if we keep the line for two years then statement credits will pay for it.  I paid for tax and to buy a case and that was it.  I don't demand much of a phone but it works great for me.  No issues, so unless you need the latest and greatest it should be just fine.