HELP: best plan if want new phone?

Jan 31st, 2020 4:19 pm

#1

tranquility922 [OP]: Deal Guru; Sep 21, 2010; 14144 posts; 3939 upvotes; Montréal

Jan 31st, 2020 4:19 pm

Spouse is looking for new phone. W Virgin paying 28.25$ TOTAL, which seems decent as unlimited Canada calling, voicemail, texting, on a month-to-month. Would it make better sense just to buy any phone (new) and switch the SIM card or have to seek another plan/provider?

Reasons to upgrade from her ancient Moto G:
.mainly better camera to shoot decent videos (present phone sucks as limited in length and in quality…inadequate memory)
.Faster interface (Moto G dreadfully slow startup)

TX.

Last edited by tranquility922 on Feb 1st, 2020 10:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Jan 31st, 2020 6:24 pm

#2

LeifS39303: Member; Apr 25, 2019; 292 posts; 424 upvotes

Jan 31st, 2020 6:24 pm

What's your budget on a cell phone?

Your plan is not that great by today's standards, you can get 1 GB at 3G speed then unlimited throttled data with U/L Canada talk and international text for $25 on auto pay with Lucky Mobile.

Lucky Mobile 3.5 GB $25

+1

Jan 31st, 2020 6:33 pm

#3

tranquility922 [OP]: Deal Guru; Sep 21, 2010; 14144 posts; 3939 upvotes; Montréal

Jan 31st, 2020 6:33 pm

LeifS39303 wrote: ↑ What's your budget on a cell phone?

Your plan is not that great by today's standards, you can get 1 GB at 3G speed then unlimited throttled data with U/L Canada talk and international text for $25 on auto pay with Lucky Mobile.

I'm not entirely sure, maybe 100$ max but wouldn't mind being stuck in a plan for a 'free' phone.

Appreciate data but not really a need for us esp since they have a limit and we dread going over, if they come up w/ unlimited data plans, then I'll consider....or is throttled unlimited acceptable/usable? We are perfectly fine w/ free wifi.

The richest 1% of this country owns half our country’s wealth, 5 trillion dollars, one-third of that comes from hard work, two-thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons, and what I do.. <find the rest>

Jan 31st, 2020 6:48 pm

#4

LeifS39303: Member; Apr 25, 2019; 292 posts; 424 upvotes

Jan 31st, 2020 6:48 pm

Would recommend the LG K30 on Lucky Mobile, it's $140 and has a 8 MP camera. Link:
https://www.lg.com/ca_en/cell-phones/lg-LMX320WM
The $25 plan has unlimited data (1 GB then slows down to 128 Kbps.)

Lucky Mobile 3.5 GB $25

+1

Jan 31st, 2020 10:31 pm

#5

RFDQ1016: Deal Fanatic; Jan 18, 2010; 7588 posts; 5072 upvotes; Canada

Jan 31st, 2020 10:31 pm

tranquility922 wrote: ↑ I'm not entirely sure, maybe 100$ max but wouldn't mind being stuck in a plan for a 'free' phone.

Appreciate data but not really a need for us esp since they have a limit and we dread going over, if they come up w/ unlimited data plans, then I'll consider....or is throttled unlimited acceptable/usable? We are perfectly fine w/ free wifi.

It's 1GB data at 3mbps speeds, and then reduced to 128kbps for "unlimited use".
It's probably not enough to cover 100% of all mobile data/wifi usage, but it does help when you are outside and there's no wifi or the wifi is slow/insecure/public. At home, use your home wifi. It's cheaper than your current plan, so why not?

+1

Jan 31st, 2020 11:24 pm

#6

tranquility922 [OP]: Deal Guru; Sep 21, 2010; 14144 posts; 3939 upvotes; Montréal

Jan 31st, 2020 11:24 pm

LeifS39303 wrote: ↑ Would recommend the LG K30 on Lucky Mobile, it's $140 and has a 8 MP camera. Link:
https://www.lg.com/ca_en/cell-phones/lg-LMX320WM
The $25 plan has unlimited data (1 GB then slows down to 128 Kbps.)

TX, how's the K20? Seems virtually same but 30$ cheaper?

The richest 1% of this country owns half our country’s wealth, 5 trillion dollars, one-third of that comes from hard work, two-thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons, and what I do.. <find the rest>

Feb 1st, 2020 12:20 am

#7

Pingu99: Jr. Member; Nov 16, 2014; 184 posts; 76 upvotes; Ladysmith, BC

Feb 1st, 2020 12:20 am

I'm no expert but I don't think you'll get a good camera with a cheap phone. I've had Moto G, Moto G3, and now Moto G5 and the cameras are terrible compared to the cheapest iPhone or a better Android phone. I think you'll have to actually try a phone to see if the camera is what you want.

Feb 1st, 2020 12:26 am

#8

tranquility922 [OP]: Deal Guru; Sep 21, 2010; 14144 posts; 3939 upvotes; Montréal

Feb 1st, 2020 12:26 am

Pingu99 wrote: ↑ I'm no expert but I don't think you'll get a good camera with a cheap phone. I've had Moto G, Moto G3, and now Moto G5 and the cameras are terrible compared to the cheapest iPhone or a better Android phone. I think you'll have to actually try a phone to see if the camera is what you want.

For sure the Moto G camera is horrible that's why she wants to switch. I think any decent phone like the LG someone here suggested is good enough.

The richest 1% of this country owns half our country’s wealth, 5 trillion dollars, one-third of that comes from hard work, two-thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons, and what I do.. <find the rest>

Feb 1st, 2020 1:19 am

#9

will888: Deal Expert; Dec 12, 2009; 19687 posts; 7794 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 1st, 2020 1:19 am

$100 for a phone. Lucky to get one with a camera for that price.

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Feb 1st, 2020 4:01 am

#10

tranquility922 [OP]: Deal Guru; Sep 21, 2010; 14144 posts; 3939 upvotes; Montréal

Feb 1st, 2020 4:01 am

will888 wrote: ↑ $100 for a phone. Lucky to get one with a camera for that price.

Well, just on that website the K20 is 110$, not sure what you're talking about. *shrug* Btw, do they even sell new phones that *don't* come w a camera??

The richest 1% of this country owns half our country’s wealth, 5 trillion dollars, one-third of that comes from hard work, two-thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons, and what I do.. <find the rest>

Feb 1st, 2020 12:51 pm

#11

jensen1: Sr. Member; Jun 21, 2008; 533 posts; 139 upvotes; mississauga

Feb 1st, 2020 12:51 pm

i have a umidigi A5 pro since september, pretty happy so far, $135 canadian

Feb 1st, 2020 1:20 pm

#12

goofball: Deal Guru; Dec 10, 2004; 12304 posts; 1848 upvotes; Kanata

Feb 1st, 2020 1:20 pm

tranquility922 wrote: ↑ Well, just on that website the K20 is 110$, not sure what you're talking about. *shrug* Btw, do they even sell new phones that *don't* come w a camera??

Probably not but expecting a good camera on a $100 phone isn't realistic. I guess it depends on your definition of "good".

Feb 1st, 2020 2:07 pm

#13

yesstyle: Deal Fanatic; May 18, 2009; 6208 posts; 1455 upvotes; Richmond Hill

Feb 1st, 2020 2:07 pm

Zoomer

Feb 1st, 2020 2:38 pm

#14

tranquility922 [OP]: Deal Guru; Sep 21, 2010; 14144 posts; 3939 upvotes; Montréal

Feb 1st, 2020 2:38 pm

goofball wrote: ↑ Probably not but expecting a good camera on a $100 phone isn't realistic. I guess it depends on your definition of "good".

I guess but what is better, some studio quality cam? 8MP seems decent, not sure how much better it can get and I'm not shelling out 1,000$ for a simple phone, that's insane imo.

The richest 1% of this country owns half our country’s wealth, 5 trillion dollars, one-third of that comes from hard work, two-thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons, and what I do.. <find the rest>

Feb 1st, 2020 4:43 pm

#15

Amourek: Deal Guru; Feb 6, 2003; 10590 posts; 967 upvotes; Vancouver

Feb 1st, 2020 4:43 pm

You don't have to spend that much to get a good camera. Pixel 2 takes excellent shots and you can get a used one for $200. Then hop onto a basic plan from Lucky or Public.

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Feb 1st, 2020 11:29 pm

#16

goofball: Deal Guru; Dec 10, 2004; 12304 posts; 1848 upvotes; Kanata

Feb 1st, 2020 11:29 pm

tranquility922 wrote: ↑ I guess but what is better, some studio quality cam? 8MP seems decent, not sure how much better it can get and I'm not shelling out 1,000$ for a simple phone, that's insane imo.

MP count is not representative of quality. You don't need to spend $1000's, you just need to temper your expectations if you're buying a $100 phone. You'd be better off finding a used phone like maybe an older S6/S7, which will have a much better camera than any of these new $100 phones. I'm definitely not advocating spending a ton of money, you just need to spend wisely and depending on how important a feature is, to adjust your budget to accommodate.

Feb 1st, 2020 11:37 pm

#17

tranquility922 [OP]: Deal Guru; Sep 21, 2010; 14144 posts; 3939 upvotes; Montréal

Feb 1st, 2020 11:37 pm

goofball wrote: ↑ MP count is not representative of quality. You don't need to spend $1000's, you just need to temper your expectations if you're buying a $100 phone. You'd be better off finding a used phone like maybe an older S6/S7, which will have a much better camera than any of these new $100 phones. I'm definitely not advocating spending a ton of money, you just need to spend wisely and depending on how important a feature is, to adjust your budget to accommodate.

I dunno what high standards ppl want. I have a LG G5 and that's good enough. I'm sure the K20 is even better. Only want to buy new.

The richest 1% of this country owns half our country’s wealth, 5 trillion dollars, one-third of that comes from hard work, two-thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons, and what I do.. <find the rest>

Feb 12th, 2020 4:15 pm

#18

tranquility922 [OP]: Deal Guru; Sep 21, 2010; 14144 posts; 3939 upvotes; Montréal

Feb 12th, 2020 4:15 pm

LeifS39303 wrote: ↑ What's your budget on a cell phone?

Your plan is not that great by today's standards, you can get 1 GB at 3G speed then unlimited throttled data with U/L Canada talk and international text for $25 on auto pay with Lucky Mobile.

Revisiting this plan, what is the provider pls, and is it reliable? Better than Virgin and Zoomer?

Silly question, I never used data before, anything I need to watch out for, although for this plan, it's unlimited so I don't see anything.

On second thought, I'd probably be just switching providers if everything goes as planned.

TX.

The richest 1% of this country owns half our country’s wealth, 5 trillion dollars, one-third of that comes from hard work, two-thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons, and what I do.. <find the rest>

Feb 12th, 2020 8:55 pm

#19

LeifS39303: Member; Apr 25, 2019; 292 posts; 424 upvotes

Feb 12th, 2020 8:55 pm

tranquility922 wrote: ↑ Revisiting this plan, what is the provider pls, and is it reliable? Better than Virgin and Zoomer?

Silly question, I never used data before, anything I need to watch out for, although for this plan, it's unlimited so I don't see anything.

On second thought, I'd probably be just switching providers if everything goes as planned.

TX.

Virgin and Lucky are owned and operated by Bell, so they use the same towers as Bell and Virgin. So I wouldn't worry about network quality as it is pretty much the same as Virgin and Bell. The data is pretty fast unless you're downloading a movie.

Lucky Mobile 3.5 GB $25

+1