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Best smartphone for $200

Posted on 8/25/15 at 12:33 pm
Posted by Iosh
Bureau of Interstellar Immigration
Member since Dec 2012
18941 posts
Posted on 8/25/15 at 12:33 pm
I need to get a new smartphone (standalone) for $200 or less, to replace my 1st gen Moto X that has a cracked screen and busted wi-fi antenna.

Should I go with the 3rd gen Moto G? I generally liked the Moto X and prefer regular-sized smartphones instead of giant phablets that seem to be all the rage these days.
Posted by junkfunky
Member since Jan 2011
33950 posts
Posted on 8/25/15 at 12:59 pm to
That's about what I'm looking to spend when my phone craps out and right now my frontrunner is the Asus Zenfone 2.
Posted by TigerStripes06
SWLA
Member since Sep 2006
30032 posts
Posted on 8/25/15 at 1:14 pm to
You could try an HTC m8. That's what I have and I love it. It's a decent size, but it isn't huge. Also maybe the LG G3. Both htc and LG have a newer model out so you could probably find either one pretty cheap. Both are very good phones.
Posted by busbeepbeep
When will then be now?
Member since Jan 2004
18363 posts
Posted on 8/25/15 at 1:21 pm to
Consider the Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3. I got one a month ago and it's been solid. Source code just got published so looking forward to some roms.
Posted by starkag
Member since Oct 2011
446 posts
Posted on 8/25/15 at 1:56 pm to
I got the Moto G 2015, coming from the X 2013 like you said. The size jump was bigger than anticipated, but still manageable. It's about the size of a 2014 Moto X (just with bigger bezels/smaller screen), so it's really on the limit of what I can use one handed, but it isn't uncomfortable.

It isn't a flagship device but that's easily overlooked almost everywhere. On the screen, the colors are a little washed out, but that's all I've noticed. Performance may suffer if you're doing hardcore gaming, but for basic use, I haven't noticed any slowness at all, animations and multitasking are super smooth. Camera is much better than I expected, and the battery life is seriously killer. I routinely get a total of 4 hours of screen on time over the course of two days, with power to spare. I haven't tried to kill it in a single day, but I've seen reports of people getting 6 hours SOT.

I can't speak for the other devices you're considering, but I'm confident you won't be disappointed with the G 2015. It really is an upgrade from the X 2013 in every way, except for the display, which is still totally good enough for every day use. I'm very pleased with mine, just be prepared for 2 weeks of shipping, Motorola is having major trouble meeting delivery dates with this phone.
Posted by Iosh
Bureau of Interstellar Immigration
Member since Dec 2012
18941 posts
Posted on 8/25/15 at 3:22 pm to
Well I'm sure as hell not getting a flagship device for $200 so I think I can overlook some things.

I have an actual PC for gaming so the phone doesn't see anything fancier than puzzle games. How did the battery life compare to your old Moto X? That's my biggest complaint currently but some of that is probably just from having a two year old battery, so I'm curious if your Moto X was as bad as mine was (I get maaaaybe 2-3 hours of screen time)
This post was edited on 8/25/15 at 3:23 pm
Posted by starkag
Member since Oct 2011
446 posts
Posted on 8/25/15 at 4:00 pm to
I wasn't using my X all that heavily, I would usually have about 2 hours SOT and end the day around 20-30%. But once I got it on 5.1, it was weird, I would just always end the day with that much battery. I would plug it in at around 25% whether I had 2.5 hours or 1 hour, didn't matter. Definitely weird, but I wasn't using it enough to kill it, so I wasn't concerned.

This battery on the G is awesome though, better than most $600+ flagships. I can't overstate that. If that's your biggest concern, you won't be disappointed with this phone.

EDIT: just remembered one little hiccup I had. The G uses a MicroSim, X used a nano. You'll need an adapter, but you can get them on amazon for less than $5. And if you go that route, DON'T put the empty adapter in the phone, because the hole where the sim card goes will snag the pins and potentially break them. If you put the adapter in, make sure the card is in it. I didn't do this, but I heard stories
This post was edited on 8/25/15 at 4:08 pm
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