Need suggestion in phone decision...


oTaRu

Senior Member
Dec 25, 2004
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Currently using iPhone 4, I am looking for a secondary phone for work and requires non-camera. I am looking at smart phone series and not normal featured phone. So I will have to get the camera unit removed. I am filter a few options and hope to have some suggestions and opinions that I can consider.

- iPhone 3GS (2nd second from phone shop), comes with 6 months shop warranty
- HTC one V
- Nokia Lumia 800

Not looking for blackberry phone.

Reason being why I still choose a outdated 3GS because I can share my contacts and apps between iPhone 4 and 3GS. However, I have no idea how good can the 3GS be with the latest iOS 5.1

Android and window phone are new mobile OS to me. Read a lot of review on both HTC one V and Lumia 800. Pros and cons of both phones are pretty clear.

One thing I considered about Lumia 800 is due to micro-sim so it will be less trouble when swapping with iPhone 4.

Thank you.
 

IPhone 3GS sounds like the better deal but if you are buying second hand, better check the buttons especially the home button because the long outdated phone may cause the button to be not responsive
 

IPhone 3GS sounds like the better deal but if you are buying second hand, better check the buttons especially the home button because the long outdated phone may cause the button to be not responsive

thanks for reminding me! i forgot about it...

so the rest of the phones not recommend?
 

3gs is very old. I suggest the HTC one V or the upcoming Galaxy S III
 

I use to own the 3GS and now almost unable to function because of the buttons. I personally have not owned the HTC And the nokia so cant really tell.. Good luck!
 

3gs is very old. I suggest the HTC one V or the upcoming Galaxy S III

isnt galaxy SIII going to be a waste as I am looking for a second phone plus removing the camera?
 

I use to own the 3GS and now almost unable to function because of the buttons. I personally have not owned the HTC And the nokia so cant really tell.. Good luck!

hmmm... thanks! but did you update to iOS 5.1 for the 3GS? I am very curious about the user experience with the iOS 5.1, scare it will slow down etc
 

I updated it to 5.0.1 and changed to iPhone 4. Not much of a difference between those to ios unless you are using the 4s. The speed is okay la as compared to previous ios. Not as fast as the iPhone 4 of course. A tad slower. Maybe you should consider the HTC, Android is getting better at what they are doing. You will have to get used to the operating system cause it will be totally different. Some factors why i recommend the 3GS is due to the fact that you wont lose out contact, apps and other information once you sync it with your iPhone 4. Other than that, the battery life in the 3GS isnt great at all.
 

I updated it to 5.0.1 and changed to iPhone 4. Not much of a difference between those to ios unless you are using the 4s. The speed is okay la as compared to previous ios. Not as fast as the iPhone 4 of course. A tad slower. Maybe you should consider the HTC, Android is getting better at what they are doing. You will have to get used to the operating system cause it will be totally different. Some factors why i recommend the 3GS is due to the fact that you wont lose out contact, apps and other information once you sync it with your iPhone 4. Other than that, the battery life in the 3GS isnt great at all.

Ya... I was worried about the contacts and it seem to be troublesome to share contacts between two different OSes, apps also another issue... that's why i thought of 3GS in the first place...
 

The problems and limitations of 2nd hand phones are like battery life, dk if it was stolen, dk how the previous owner treat the phone, dk if theres any virus/bugs in the phone and others. Better make good friends with the phone dealer so can exchange back if the phone turns out unsatisfactory. Although an exchange may most likely not happen... Maybe try samsung, Lg or Sony. Try around first la :D
 

The problems and limitations of 2nd hand phones are like battery life, dk if it was stolen, dk how the previous owner treat the phone, dk if theres any virus/bugs in the phone and others. Better make good friends with the phone dealer so can exchange back if the phone turns out unsatisfactory. Although an exchange may most likely not happen... Maybe try samsung, Lg or Sony. Try around first la :D

u mean buy a new phone from other brands is more practical?
 

Kinda. Either way, they have their own fallbacks.. But new phone is out of the topic since you are looking for a back up only.. Im sure many shops sells the 3GS. Well by now with the launch of the 4s and the 5 rumoured to be launched soon, the price of 2nd hand iPhone 4 should depreciate. My neighbourhood phone shop sells 2nd hand iPhone 4 for about $400++ the last time i asked. Removing the camera would cost another $100 i think. Serangoon area has shops that sells at good prices, well thats from words-of-mouths and im not sure myself. Maybe should spare 1 day and go phone hunting! :D
 

I have ask around the far east plaza there... iphone 4 is around $400 plus to $500 for a second hand unit...
 

Opps. Didn't see that you don't need camera. If that's the case 3Gs is fine running on IOS 5.1. I'm using it now.
 

Opps. Didn't see that you don't need camera. If that's the case 3Gs is fine running on IOS 5.1. I'm using it now.

thanks! is it laggy when there are more apps opened and opening the apps?
 

I am wondering if your non camera phone is for ICT purpose. If so, does removing the camera from the phone helps?
 

ManWearPants said:
I am wondering if your non camera phone is for ICT purpose. If so, does removing the camera from the phone helps?

Oh... It's not... It's for work purpose... I have verify with the staff over there that I can just remove my camera unit plus receipt to prove it.
 

3GS is pretty laggy running on OS5. Recently "forced" by Apple to "upgrade" to OS5 because they were closing down the MobileMe service... Apps take a couple of seconds to start. If you have a few apps running it will be worse. Run only essential stuff on it and it should be fine.
 

thanks! is it laggy when there are more apps opened and opening the apps?

It can get quite laggy when you open too many apps. But here's a pro tip. After finishing using an app (example FB), go to multitask bar and close it. That way when you load other apps it will be faster.
 

It can get quite laggy when you open too many apps. But here's a pro tip. After finishing using an app (example FB), go to multitask bar and close it. That way when you load other apps it will be faster.

oh... then it should be fine with me... I have the habit of doing so... thanks!