Finally getting my first smartphone, need halp!

[[ptx]]

Start with something like a samsung galaxy S3 (Not the mini version just the older version).

It's "cheap", reliable and most of all android not apple.

If you do this, get the later GT-I9305 model. 2GB RAM, 4G, etc. Got this after dropping my S2, works perfectly for my needs (phone, reading, internet browsing and chatting).

[Leshma]

OP asked for good battery life. Most of phones mentioned have average or poor battery life. Saying how he'll put it in plug every night isn't valid argument, that is something iphone users say because their phones have laughable battery capacity.

Get smartphone with good battery life and use it like average person does, it will last you three days. Almost like that Nokia you were using.

Nexus 5 is great but battery life is poor. Nexus 6 has good battery life but it is a bit big (when it comes to big phones I'm same as with TV screens, bigger the better).

Edit: Samsung have great hardware but software is obnoxious. Only those who never used anything other than Samsung's Touchwiz think it is decent, but that's because they never used better software.

[Molly]

Save the money and get one of these

[Mr_Oujamaflip]

I'd suggest not getting a brand new one at the moment, they're unbelievably expensive at least in England. 64GB S6 Edge is £60+ per month, what the fuck.

Also if you go for older models avoid Samsung like the plague, their phones have a bad habit of failing after a year or two due to bloatware and shit RAM.

Someone recommended a Moto G. That thing was amazing value for money. Moto X was excellent too at a bit higher cost.

If it was me, I'd get a HTC One (M7). Best phone I ever had, I have an M8 at the moment and had a Note 3 and a Z2 in between and the M7 was still better since the M8 is basically the same phone.

Z2 was also pretty good but the flaps were shit and kept coming off making the waterproofing pointless plus it looks shit with holes in the sides of it.

I've been hearing good things about some of the Microsoft Lumia phones of late but I haven't actually used one myself so it's a toughie. On the plus side they're surprisingly cheap to get SIM free.

In conclusion, get a HTC One (M7).

[Angantyr]

I buy mine through a company that sells pre-owned phones that appear 'as new'. Meaning they replace the battery and the front  (if necessary) with brand new hardware, and you save at least a third of the price of a new one. Never buy any of the newest series, the discontinued ones are always in a sensible price range. Recycling older models is also ecological rationality.

If you like me won't use your phone for much else but calling and messaging and a bit of browsing (perhaps the occasional picture) Iphones are a pretty good choice quality-wise; they may not be as customizable as Android but they are sturdy and have a usually neat and minimalistic design both inside and out, and decent support.

Iphone 4 is really cheap these days and pretty good bang for the buck. It's smaller and fatter than the IP5 but it is only really noticeable when you browse and if you come from a non-smartphone it won't matter at all. Its front and back are made from glass which is pretty but means it's decently heavy compared to newer phones and pretty hard to scratch, but it can break if you drop it wrongly. Its specifications should be more than enough for any casual user.

The IP5 is made from anodised aluminium, which is very light and looks great and is incredibly sturdy (you can run it over with a car and it saved a guy's life in the US by intercepting a bullet). They also made the entire case from one single piece, which makes it even sturdier, but especially the black one can get small scratches pretty easily. But you'll want to keep either in a leather cover, anyway. I think the IP5 is the most elegant phone on the market, appearance-wise. Both phones also have great processors, and cameras and really good touch displays etc. but be aware that only the IP5 has 4G.

Many of my friends swear to plastic phones, though.

[Bronto]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 and I'm pretty happy with it. It holds a decent charge and can do just about anything you'd need a smart phone to do. More importantly, no matter what phone you get, make sure you get a decent case for it. I have an otter box. It adds a bit of bulk to your phone but I've dropped this a bunch of times and my phone has not suffered any damage what so ever. It also has a built in screen protector so I never have to worry about changing it. Good luck and just buy one you like.

[Mr_Oujamaflip]

but be aware that only the IP5 has 4G.

Not necessarily true. It's only compatible with some carrier's 4G due to different signal frequencies.

[Angantyr]

Sure, but it can still use 4G which I'm not aware is the case with IP4. I may be wrong, not a phone enthusiast whatsoever.

[Mr_Oujamaflip]

I worked for Vodafone at the time, the only carrier in England that could use 4G on the iPhone 5 was EE which used the 1800mhz band if I remember correctly.

[Angantyr]

I'm using 4G right now on my current IP5 and I've been able to use it anywhere I've been in the country. But yes, the coverage is different in other nations but probably generally improved since launch.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/its-4g-but-they-dont-like-to-talk-about-it-how-denmarks-lte-rose-from-the-ashes-of-a-price-war/

[Casul]

If you dont want to use it outdoor cuz fugly get one with a huge display cuz much better to work on/draw/skype/playgames/thingsyounormallydoonPC

I do have my Samsung Note 2 (151,1 x 80,5 x 9,4 Millimeter) since 2.5 years now and it looks like new, no problems at all besides from common aging problems such as weaker batterie power and tiny screen scratches.


Also, important! :

(click to show/hide)

If theres something broken on your new smartphone (Doesnt matter which youll choose), put it on your kitchen table over night next to a bowl full of rice. It will lure chinese children which viscerally have to repair it

[Ikarus]

whoa, thanks for this big fat amount of hints and help! 

status report:
Today I spent sorta 1 and 1/2 hours in a bigger Saturn store to check out different phones and also looked up some tests on a pc which was standing nearby. Choosing a smartphone turned out to be more difficult than I expected since these things can get pretty expensive and I realized that I actually do have standards   

The only phone which really caught my eye was the Sony z3 compact, but I don´t spend 475€ on a phone. Also took a look at the Samsung Galaxy A5, A3 and LG G4C, but they all had pretty "meh" test results and customer reviews. Even took a look at an Iphone C5, since Iphone focuses a lot on coordinated hardware, but the in-built battery and the fact that you´ll have to install Itunes so you can put songs onto the phone killed it for me. (also, I try to avoid to be an Iphone-owner, although I´ve already heard that they´re actually pretty good. Still...uugh...)

what I learned so far:
"good battery" doesn´t count as a criteria anymore, since smartphones don´t last long in general and I get enough chances to charge em anyways. I thought I could just walk in, fetch some 100-150€ phone which looks decent and be off, but now I tasted blood and that made me really picky; seems as if the market got me at the balls now  although, I can remember that I was really picky aswell when I chose my last mobile phone, and that one lasted for almost 5 years (I want my next smartphone to last for 2-3 years minimum).

Gonna check out some phones on thursday with my bro helping me so I can actually choose one and not waddle from one model to another. Yeh, very picky.

Also, holy shit some phones are big as fuck. I mean, I got some friends who own those bigguns, but it´s completely different when you suddenly hold one of those in your hands. They´re probably more comfortable to transport if you strap them onto your forearm instead of stuffing them into your pocket 

[Leshma]

They only seem big because you've used dumb phone with tiny screen. Get with times, men wear bags these days. Or change your style to baggy pants. Big screen is a blessing. And when you see there are 3D games and emulators

[Vexus]

Well, you won't find some of the phones mentioned in this thread in conventional mobile shops. They usually keep the most recent ones.

A samsung galaxy s3 has pretty good reviews despite it being oldish now.

[Angantyr]

the fact that you´ll have to install Itunes so you can put songs onto the phone killed it for me.

Itunes annoys me too, which is why I just listen to music directly from Youtube.