Once upon a time…nope, hold up. We’re not going there. This a modern tale, thank you very much! Okay, here’s the skinny.
I’m attached to my cell phone. I’m not one of those people that ignores others in favor of its shiny and sparkly wiles, but it goes everywhere with me. This is partly because I don’t have a landline and I need it with me in case of a school call. It’s also because I often handle work correspondence on my phone. But I am a gadget freak, so that means after a while, I’m ready for a change. I just never knew it would take me so long to find the right device this time.
This is where my search begins…
This one is too big…Nexus 6
I bought my Nexus 6 in 2015. It was an Ebay purchase. Even though it was pre-owned, I loved it from the start. It was a true behemoth, but it had an amazing camera and wonderful screen resolution. After a couple of years, however, I was ready to change things up.
In true Nerd Garden style, I drew up a wish list of specs my new phone would need to have.
- Android OS
- Minimum 12mp camera with rear flash
- Display less than 6.0″
- Released in the previous 6 months
- Unlocked
- $250 or less.
- Rootable—I have to support Team Octos
This one is too small…Huawei P8 Lite
After additional research, I chose the Huawei P8 Lite. It ticked off every one of my boxes. The P8 Lite is one of many offerings of new, affordable smartphones from Huawei.
The phone impressed me from the moment the shipment arrived. The product is well-made and well-packed. The camera quality was definitely high-end. It had just been released, had the screen resolution I wanted, PLUS it was affordable.
But, it didn’t last. The screen size ended up being so small that it sent my tendinitis into flare-up mode. A big no-no for writers. In addition, the ambitious power-saving features meant my notifications kept disabling themselves. The truth is, is wasn’t…just right. Why keep something for two or three years that you’ll end up hating?
Return.
With my experiences in mind, I went back to my wish list and revised.
- Android OS
- Minimum 12mp camera with rear flash
- Minimum display 5.2 inches wide
- At least 2GB Ram
- Released in the previous 6 months
- Fast Charging
- Unlocked
- $250 or less
- Rootable
This one is just right…Moto G4
From the get-go, the G4 fit the bill. The camera takes amazing pics and displays them on a screen that is just right, size-wise, at 5.2 inches. The 2GB RAM means this device is super-fast. So is its charging speed. Plus, it’s a great price, unlocked, and rootable!
Bye-bye tendonitis, hello long battery life and awesome pics.
Steph’s Phone Buying Tips
The moral of our story is this: know what you want before you buy. To that end, here are some tips that I personally employ when purchasing a new phone.
- Make a wish-list of all of your must-haves. No phone’s perfect, but decide what you can and can’t live without and go from there.
- Research each device and read the reviews. Sites like GSM Arena, CNET, and Tom’s Hardware are great resources for pinning down your next device.
- Buy an Unlocked Phone. All of the carriers are doing this now. They have a plan where you pay a monthly amount for your phone. FOREVER. Instead of paying a monthly fee to Verizon or AT&T, buy one outright and skip that whole process. Buying unlocked means you only pay for your service and no monthly phone charges.
- Buy On-line. I recommend purchasing your next phone on-line for one reason: to avoid salespeople. Let’s face it. Salespeople have stock they are trying to unload an quotas they’re trying to fill. If you go into a store to buy a phone, you’re more likely to end up with the model they want you to buy and not what you want. Check out sites like Amazon and Walmart for great unlocked phone deals. You can also get one off of Ebay, like I did, but research the seller carefully ad determine if they have a return policy.
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