OV9

Daughter is coming up 13 and has had a basic Nokia smartphone for a couple of years. It kind of does the job but has some limitations - the camera is relatively poor, it doesn’t do widgets, she gets laughed at for not having a Samsung or an iPhone (which is obviously all our fault as parents).

Don’t want to get her anything anywhere near top of the range, thinking budget around £300-£350. One I’ve looked at is the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, which seems to be available around that price.

Any better Android recommendations? What would be the iPhone model you could get for around that budget?

We've had lots of Google's own brand phones and theyve all been brilliant and last a couple of years without issues.

Pixel 8a should be about budget.

Carlos wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 9:30 am We've had lots of Google's own brand phones and theyve all been brilliant and last a couple of years without issues.

Pixel 8a should be about budget.

That's what we got the eldest as his first phone. Recommended.

The whole "not having an iPhone means you're poor" in schools is mental. I've seen it about on socials.

But agreed on the "a" line of Pixel phones, I''ve had them the last few years now and they're brilliant for price/performance. 7a would be fine - and has 3 years of support left, but the 8a if you can push to it has 6 (although will it last to 3 years before being smashed/lost/stolen )

Still using my Pixel 7a here, plenty phone for most use cases imo. Battery will last a day with moderate (adult) use.

if it’s anything like kids having tablets, i got pissed off trying to work out how to work my boys Kindle Fire and just bought an ipad. now it’s dead easy to install/control/etc all his stuff as it all links in with a family account. Get whatever you understand how to use!

Thanks all, I’ll have a look at the Google Pixels. I’m an iPhone/iPad/Mac person myself as I get given them for work, but I used to have Android. Though, I wonder, maybe an iPhone might make it easier to share stuff with her actually, as can then just use AirDrop. Hmm.

RIC - the answer is whatever iPhone her bestie has (as long It’s not a iPhone 87 super mega plus pro extra or whatever tf the top model is now).

Peer pressure and conformity is real, whatever the 40-50yo male geeks here think is cool is highly likely not aligned to the world of a teenage girl

Rich B wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 6:22 pm if it’s anything like kids having tablets, i got pissed off trying to work out how to work my boys Kindle Fire and just bought an ipad. now it’s dead easy to install/control/etc all his stuff as it all links in with a family account. Get whatever you understand how to use!

Ah, I thought you had an Android as well Jon - in which case, as Rich says if you're on Apple then you can tie it all in with a family account so it'll be easier. Refurbed iPhones are still reasonably prices as well.

Is that Family Sharing, you're talking about? https://support.apple.com/en-gb/105062

I can't imagine a kid wanting anything other than an iPhone surely? Refurbed iPhone 14 off eBay seems to be about £400 from a decent reseller.

Gavster wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:35 am I can't imagine a kid wanting anything other than an iPhone surely? Refurbed iPhone 14 off eBay seems to be about £400 from a decent reseller.

Plenty on Android at our schools.

Edit: didn't pay attention. I think it depends, most kids I know haven't got iPhones, but it depends on what the parents are using as far as I can see. So back to @Rich B's point.

DeskJockey wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:15 am

Gavster wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:35 am I can't imagine a kid wanting anything other than an iPhone surely? Refurbed iPhone 14 off eBay seems to be about £400 from a decent reseller.

Plenty on Android at our schools.

Nerds!

Rich B wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:19 am

DeskJockey wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:15 am

Gavster wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:35 am I can't imagine a kid wanting anything other than an iPhone surely? Refurbed iPhone 14 off eBay seems to be about £400 from a decent reseller.

Plenty on Android at our schools.

Nerds!

We're just cooler, not jumping on the latest fad from Apple.

Must be a poor area

Gavster wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:35 am I can't imagine a kid wanting anything other than an iPhone surely? Refurbed iPhone 14 off eBay seems to be about £400 from a decent reseller.

And I wanted some Reebok Pumps when I was at school as well, but had to make do with Gola.

I got what I was given!

Matty wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:26 am

Gavster wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:35 am I can't imagine a kid wanting anything other than an iPhone surely? Refurbed iPhone 14 off eBay seems to be about £400 from a decent reseller.

And I wanted some Reebok Pumps when I was at school as well, but had to make do with Gola.

I got what I was given!

There was always the rich kids who went to america on holiday and came back with Reebok pumps. bastards!

Its not as though decent iphones cost any more than decent android phones though - even if it is, a few hundred quid difference over the x year life of a phone to save me having to struggle through learning how to use the other UI is well worth it.

Mito Man wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:00 am https://www.giffgaff.com/mobile-phones/ ... shed/apple

Ah, thanks. I was looking at Backmarket but as they offer Pay Monthly on refurbs that could be an option. Have always been on SIM PAYG plans up to now, on a phone purchased up front.
Currently veering towards an iPhone 13 (and one or the wife as well, who has a Samsung but only an A model, not an S)

Matty wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:26 am

Gavster wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:35 am I can't imagine a kid wanting anything other than an iPhone surely? Refurbed iPhone 14 off eBay seems to be about £400 from a decent reseller.

And I wanted some Reebok Pumps when I was at school as well, but had to make do with Gola.

I got what I was given!

I remember those!

Didn't get much brand stuff either growing up. Remember wanting Nike Airs which my parents refused to pay for. Ended up with a pair of Reebok ERS (whatever that was). Probably didn't help that I was in adult size shoes from I was eight, so no cheap options.