Android smartphones: good brands that are under $200 ?

[steve2470]

Last edited Thu Feb 11, 2016, 10:55 PM - Edit history (1)

Background: My son seems to need a new smartphone every year, and he's really tight on money like most young people. So, last year I bought him a Samsung Galaxy S III I747. I had faith in the Samsung brand, so I admit I didn't do any research. The price was under $200, which I consider reasonable. Long story short, the power button within a month went bad on my son, and apparently this is a common problem with this particular model of Samsung phone. I looked up the particular model on the net, and voila, yes, it's a common problem.

Right now I'm a bit gunshy on buying Samsung again, but I'm willing to concede that EVERY brand has at least one model that's bad or has a particular defect. Samsung sells a TON of Android phones and they clearly seem to dominate that market.

Recommendations for Android smartphones under $200 ? I'm willing to consider Samsung again. No offense to anyone, but I don't want to buy an iPhone. I don't want to buy a Windows phone for him because I know he likes all the apps that come with Android. He might need another phone later this year or next year, hence my asking for advice.

Thank you very much for your time in advance! Totally off-topic, but thank you nice people who gave me hearts!

[whistler162]

1. Blu makes a nice line of android phones

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=blu

[steve2470]

2. yes, I've had one that I was very happy with, now I have a Blu windows phone

Thank you for your time!

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

3. The Moto G has received good reviews and it sells for $180.

http://www.motorola.com/us/products/moto-g

And you can even customize it.

[steve2470]

5. cool, thank you for your time! nt

[LiberalElite]

10. I have a Moto G First Generation (I think they're up to Third Gen. now)

It was a great phone for the money and has probably only gotten better.

[Blue_Tires]

14. +1

[Initech]

4. If you're on AT&T or T-Mobile check out the Huawei Honor 5X

I would totally buy one of these if I was on either carrier - the specs are very solid:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16875606071&cm_sp=Homepage_HD-_-P1_75-606-071-_-02102016

[steve2470]

6. I've had a Huawei and liked it, thanks for your time! nt

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. I have a ZTE Warp Sync

Very happy with it. I also have Boost Mobile. $30 a month includes 2 GB high speed data.

[steve2470]

8. very cool, not familiar at all with ZTE, thanks for your time! nt

[Recursion]

9. High end Samsungs are great; low end Samsungs are paperweights

Here in India Karbonn is a really great brand with affordable, high quality Android phones (most with dual SIM slots, which is great). The downsides are: you'd have to buy it online, you'd never be able to get it serviced, and you won't be able to use CDMA carriers (IIRC Verizon and Sprint; I may be misremembering that).

One thing I have learned living overseas is that as much as it hurts to have to pay full price for your phone, the rest of the world really is right that that's the way to do it.

My best cheap Android in the US was a Motorola Droid 4. I loved that guy. Slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Great phone. You can probably still buy them on Amazon or eBay.

[steve2470]

13. I would have to agree with you about paperweights

I was quite shocked when my son told me his power button failed. I can see the very FIRST production run of a phone having problems because of some unforeseen glitch, but the phone I gave him is now 3.5 years old, which is certainly old enough to have ironed out all "hardware bugs".

[Kali]

11. I have had pretty good luck with used phones

various sites and amazon too - pick a model and google for used...

[steve2470]

21. thanks for your time! nt

[Paulie]

12. Best ones are the Nexus versions

They get updates direct from Google and no bloat ware from the carriers.

[pinebox]

15. Ya but he said UNDER $200

[steve2470]

18. good suggestion, but yea, a bit over my price limit, thanks for your time! nt

[pinebox]

16. Honestly at that price point

I would urge you to look at the new Galaxy J series which was just released.
Get an SD card right away for it.

Samsung Galaxy J5 SM-J500M 8GB Smartphone J500M-GOLD B&H Photo http://bhpho.to/1MJNSON

[steve2470]

17. ok will do, thanks for your time! nt

[Motown_Johnny]

19. I love my LG G4. Using it to post this.

I had a Samsung Galaxy Avant last and disliked it so much I gave up on it after just 6 months. It now sits in a drawer.

I strongly suggest you compare the G4 with whatever other phones you are considering.

[steve2470]

20. ok, thank you so much for your time! nt

[pintobean]

22. Asus ZenFone 2 Laser

The 16 gig is 199, the 32 gig is 229. I bought the 32 gig for 199 before Christmas. I really like it. It's fast, and has a good camera.

https://www.asus.com/Phone/ZenFone-2-Laser-ZE500KL/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16875220030

[steve2470]

23. thanks for your time, will look at it! nt