My wife and I will be looking for new phones soon. We haven't started looking just yet. But one factor after reading some threads would be whether it's blocked, or unblocked. To this technically challenged member, can someone explain to me what blocked, vs unblocked, actually means and any significance attached to this requirement?
Helping a friend find cheap smartphone
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Originally Posted by Sierra048
My wife and I will be looking for new phones soon. We haven't started looking just yet. But one factor after reading some threads would be whether it's blocked, or unblocked. To this technically challenged member, can someone explain to me what blocked, vs unblocked, actually means and any significance attached to this requirement?
Locked or unlocked to a particular carrier network.
What may work for us in a big city (or around) may not work for you in the mountains
My wife and I will be looking for new phones soon. We haven't started looking just yet. But one factor after reading some threads would be whether it's blocked, or unblocked. To this technically challenged member, can someone explain to me what blocked, vs unblocked, actually means and any significance attached to this requirement?
Locked or unlocked to a particular carrier network.
What may work for us in a big city (or around) may not work for you in the mountains
I just got a 2nd phone for personal use. I bought a Motorola Z2 Play (unlocked) directly from Motorola and signed up for Verizon Prepaid. With autopay, it's $40 a month for 15GB (current special of bonus 7 GB). The phone was $199.00 Motorola has other specials now: https://www.motorola.com/us/specials.
Also look at the Amazon Prime Exclusive phones. Make sure you get one that will work with ALL US phone carriers. Some of the cheaper versions are dual SIM and wil not work with all US carriers.
Also look at the Amazon Prime Exclusive phones. Make sure you get one that will work with ALL US phone carriers. Some of the cheaper versions are dual SIM and wil not work with all US carriers.
Originally Posted by Sierra048
My wife and I will be looking for new phones soon. We haven't started looking just yet. But one factor after reading some threads would be whether it's blocked, or unblocked. To this technically challenged member, can someone explain to me what blocked, vs unblocked, actually means and any significance attached to this requirement?
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/unlocked-phones-vs-locked-ones-everything-you-need-to-know/
Having just purchased a phone and prepaid plan, I would highly recommend this option. I bought a Motorola Z2 Play, unlocked, directly from Motorola and signed up for Verizon Prepaid. It's been the same experience as my regular Verizon plan. All the major carriers have pre-paid programs that are pretty close in price to companies like Cricket, Boost, etc. .
My wife and I will be looking for new phones soon. We haven't started looking just yet. But one factor after reading some threads would be whether it's blocked, or unblocked. To this technically challenged member, can someone explain to me what blocked, vs unblocked, actually means and any significance attached to this requirement?
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/unlocked-phones-vs-locked-ones-everything-you-need-to-know/
Having just purchased a phone and prepaid plan, I would highly recommend this option. I bought a Motorola Z2 Play, unlocked, directly from Motorola and signed up for Verizon Prepaid. It's been the same experience as my regular Verizon plan. All the major carriers have pre-paid programs that are pretty close in price to companies like Cricket, Boost, etc. .
Originally Posted by Dave9
The budget choice depends a lot about cellular date requirements. I have very low cellular data, most occurring from home or wif hot spots.
I used to be quite a gadget geeky then started listing my requirements and realized they were 90% met with a Tracfone where the phone is bundled with a $100 a year (depending on which phone you pick) plan. If you need more data or texts you can add those on as needed. Subsequent years are under $100/yr if you shop for a deal.
I have several phone geek friends who pay multiple times as much and do very little with their phone that I don't, but I don't stream TV shows/etc to my phone to watch on the go, that just seems silly to me to watch on a ~5" display since I have smart TV, computer, tablet, and no long passive commutes like a train where I desperately need that, and yet if I did, I could just pop content onto the mSD card on the phone. Do have a nice big mSD card, enough for all your music collection and as many videos as you care to watch in a few days. Given the cheap flash prices these days, that's about $15 for 128GB.
IMO, paying much for a phone made sense when phones were in their early years and you got much more for the money. Today, people who paid $400+ whether outright or subsidized through a costly plan, often envy my sleek thin, much cheaper plan and phone.
+1 Very well stated. This is my ( and I suppose many others) case as well.
The budget choice depends a lot about cellular date requirements. I have very low cellular data, most occurring from home or wif hot spots.
I used to be quite a gadget geeky then started listing my requirements and realized they were 90% met with a Tracfone where the phone is bundled with a $100 a year (depending on which phone you pick) plan. If you need more data or texts you can add those on as needed. Subsequent years are under $100/yr if you shop for a deal.
I have several phone geek friends who pay multiple times as much and do very little with their phone that I don't, but I don't stream TV shows/etc to my phone to watch on the go, that just seems silly to me to watch on a ~5" display since I have smart TV, computer, tablet, and no long passive commutes like a train where I desperately need that, and yet if I did, I could just pop content onto the mSD card on the phone. Do have a nice big mSD card, enough for all your music collection and as many videos as you care to watch in a few days. Given the cheap flash prices these days, that's about $15 for 128GB.
IMO, paying much for a phone made sense when phones were in their early years and you got much more for the money. Today, people who paid $400+ whether outright or subsidized through a costly plan, often envy my sleek thin, much cheaper plan and phone.
+1 Very well stated. This is my ( and I suppose many others) case as well.
Originally Posted by MoneyJohn
I have not read all comments so pardon me if its a repeat.
Is it necessary that he buys a new phone? If not, there are a ton of refurbished phones on ebay or he can buy used on Swappa. Some ebay sellers offer a warranty so choose from them. If you buy from Swappa, communicate with the seller, ask for more pictures.
I got Google Pixel XL (128GB), one on ebay (alltechwholesale is the seller) and one on Swappa, ~$200 mark, both mint conditions, no complaints. This phone has more juice than any new phones that may have been mentioned on this thread.
It doesnt have to be a new phone. Has looked on Swappa also. Thanks for the tips sir
I have not read all comments so pardon me if its a repeat.
Is it necessary that he buys a new phone? If not, there are a ton of refurbished phones on ebay or he can buy used on Swappa. Some ebay sellers offer a warranty so choose from them. If you buy from Swappa, communicate with the seller, ask for more pictures.
I got Google Pixel XL (128GB), one on ebay (alltechwholesale is the seller) and one on Swappa, ~$200 mark, both mint conditions, no complaints. This phone has more juice than any new phones that may have been mentioned on this thread.
It doesnt have to be a new phone. Has looked on Swappa also. Thanks for the tips sir
Depending on the carrier, if he has T-Mobile or MetroPCS, you can buy a Walmart Family Mobile phone and the SIM will work.
Cricket is AT&T, and I think an AT&T prepaid phone is locked to AT&T SIMs, I've seen some cheap options at WM. Otherwise, give the Lenovo Moto E or Moto G Play a look. Not terribly expensive but you get a lot of phone for the price.
Cricket is AT&T, and I think an AT&T prepaid phone is locked to AT&T SIMs, I've seen some cheap options at WM. Otherwise, give the Lenovo Moto E or Moto G Play a look. Not terribly expensive but you get a lot of phone for the price.
I wanted a Samsung Galaxy S10, but didn't want to drop $1000.
So, I got a Motorola Moto X4 Android One from Amazon for $200 plus tax
re-used my SIM from AT&T and MicroSD from my old Galaxy S7.
So, I got a Motorola Moto X4 Android One from Amazon for $200 plus tax
re-used my SIM from AT&T and MicroSD from my old Galaxy S7.
Originally Posted by csandste
Just noticed my phone auto corrected my phone choice. Either that or I have real fat fingers. That's Moto E's and G's. In addition to my E4+ , I bought my daughter E6 Play. Great phones for the money.
Sir: what do you think of the Moto Z Play series phones? Thank You
Just noticed my phone auto corrected my phone choice. Either that or I have real fat fingers. That's Moto E's and G's. In addition to my E4+ , I bought my daughter E6 Play. Great phones for the money.
Sir: what do you think of the Moto Z Play series phones? Thank You
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