Hi I'm James, and welcome to my first post! I'll be writing about how to maximise your tech lifestyle whilst living on a budget.
It’s not that long ago that owning a smartphone was a luxury only a lucky few could afford. Well it’s 2015 and there now really is no distinction between a “phone” and a “smartphone” to the average person. Smartphones have become more and more affordable each year and we’re now at the point where you no longer have to pay a premium price for a premium experience.
Here is my list of the 4 smartphones you should consider on a budget.
iPhone 5C ($360 – Ebay)
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| The iPhone 5c comes in a variety of colours.1 |
The only phone Apple has ever produced for those on a budget. Released along with the iPhone 5S, the 5C offers the essentials of a smartphone, without the premium specs or materials found on other iPhones.
Pros: Cheapest iPhone. All the benefits that being an iPhone brings.
Cons: Now 2 years old. Discontinued product. Difficult to find in stores.
Verdict: Good phone at a good price, however destined to be painfully slow to use in the next year or so with new releases of iOS.
OnePlus 2 ($550 – Everbuying Store)
The second iteration of One Plus’ budget flagship phone that started the trend of premium specs sold at a budget price. Branded the “flagship killer”, OnePlus hopes it can prove to the world they are paying too much for their phones.
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| The OnePlus 2 "flagship killer" has an interchangeable back cover.2 |
Pros: Top of the line specs. Brand new on the market. The design of the back of the phone is interchangeable (pictured).
Cons: Unfortunately, to buy the phone you need to register to receive an invitation from OnePlus. This has caused a supply-and-demand premium that means the phone is currently being resold for more than it’s worth. In a few months it is expected to be sold at the advertised price. Average camera.
Verdict: Everything you could want in an Android phone, for a competitive price.
ZTE Blade S6 ($350 – Gadget Gear AU Store)
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The Blade S6 can take 2 SIM cards, and can
run on two mobile networks at once.3 |
ZTE is a Chinese company that have traditionally specialised in designing network infrastructure. They have more recently tried to break into the consumer smartphone market. Their Blade S6 has been the first model with the potential to compete in a premium space.
Pros: Well-built phone with a good camera and an option for a second sim-card. Expandable memory.
Cons: Lacks the battery capacity and the screen quality that the Plus 2 boasts.
Verdict: For $200 less than the Plus 2, the Blade is perfect for people who can live without a full HD screen.
Huawei P7 ($488 – Harvey Norman)
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Selfies come out massive with the P7's 8 Megapixel
front-facing camera.4 |
Huawei is the Chinese company emerging as one of the big players in consumer electronics. Their P7 offers a premium build for a discount price and it has made a real statement to the likes of Samsung and Apple to either innovate or become competitive with their prices.
Pros: Well-built phone with a glass backing. Huge 8MP selfie camera. Big 5 inch FHD screen, strong Gorilla Glass 3, quad-core CPU.
Cons: Will not run on the fastest WIFI standard wireless AC.
