[freyajessica]

I'm going to be 16 this summer and I'm getting a smartphone. I currently have an old Blackberry Pearl which kind of sucks...

I've been wondering for ages what kind of smartphone to get. I love iPhones, but they're incredibly expensive. Android looks good too, but I'm not too sure if they would be suitable for a teenager. As for a Blackberry, BBM is getting really annoying as it just gives everyone an excuse to annoy you whenever they're bored. Plus contracts nowadays practically give away texts so I don't really need it.

As for my usage, I'll probably just use it for texting, the occasional phonecall, a few basic games, taking photos (Instagram is another reason I'd prefer an iPhone or Android) and social networking.

Any ideas on the type of smartphone and contract I should get would be appreciated

[Sgt.Incontro]

(Original post by freyajessica)
I'm going to be 16 this summer and I'm getting a smartphone. I currently have an old Blackberry Pearl which kind of sucks...

I've been wondering for ages what kind of smartphone to get. I love iPhones, but they're incredibly expensive. Android looks good too, but I'm not too sure if they would be suitable for a teenager. As for a Blackberry, BBM is getting really annoying as it just gives everyone an excuse to annoy you whenever they're bored. Plus contracts nowadays practically give away texts so I don't really need it.

As for my usage, I'll probably just use it for texting, the occasional phonecall, a few basic games, taking photos (Instagram is another reason I'd prefer an iPhone or Android) and social networking.

Any ideas on the type of smartphone and contract I should get would be appreciated

If you are going to use your smartphone for only the tasks you described above (which are social networking), then I would strongly recommend a Windows Phone.

Android is suitable for teenagers, but is a lot more technical; hence why I do not recommend it for you.

Shop around for a Windows phone, and compare prices and look at reviews. Make sure you try before you buy as usual.

[mikeyd85]

(Original post by freyajessica)
As for my usage, I'll probably just use it for texting, the occasional phonecall, a few basic games, taking photos (Instagram is another reason I'd prefer an iPhone or Android) and social networking.

Any ideas on the type of smartphone and contract I should get would be appreciated

Instagram is on Android, which I can't see why it wouldn't be suitable for teenagers...

Budget is very relevant on this kind of thread - what are you thinking per month and how much will you pay upfront for a phone?

[lukas1051]

(Original post by Sgt.Incontro)
Android is suitable for teenagers, but is a lot more technical; hence why I do not recommend it for you.

I disagree, Android can be incredibly technical when you want it to be, but it's easily accessible to anyone, and certainly no harder to use than an iPhone, which is why it is in my honest opinion the best mobile OS. The Windows mobile OS is poor compared to Android.

OP I would definitely go for an Android phone - there is a very good range of phones available based on your budget and which features you would like. I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 and it is an incredibly powerful phone, better than the iPhone 4S in many many respects (the only reason iPhones are so expensive is because of the brand name). However even lower end models are extremely good, and will definitely suit your needs.

[Sgt.Incontro]

(Original post by lukas1051)
I disagree, Android can be incredibly technical when you want it to be, but it's easily accessible to anyone, and certainly no harder to use than an iPhone, which is why it is in my honest opinion the best mobile OS. The Windows mobile OS is poor compared to Android.

It is certainly accessible, but the OP wants to use his/her phone for pretty much ONLY social networking. Hence why a Windows phone. No other OS is as integrated with social networks as Windows Phone is. Nothing.

I am not being biased or anything, but I believe this is the truth.

(I am not bagging out Android OS, I myself have a Sensation running Android, but I am a developer.)

[Oh my Ms. Coffey]

iPhone, because you know if you got any other phone you would regret it sooner or later.

[kittylemon]

you should get the Alcatel One Touch. mine was only £100 from O2 it has an android operating system which is great for apps and ease of use.

[mikeyd85]

(Original post by Sgt.Incontro)
No other OS is as integrated with social networks as Windows Phone is. Nothing.

Can you enlighten me on this? I don't know the WP7 OS well enough to say, but I can't imagine it being much more integrated than Android...

[zippyRN]

'droid

iphones you are ties to syncing through Itunes where 'droid has a variety of options for sync and the samsungs at least have kies which needs no client software on the computer other than a browser.

[Mega Nerd]

You haven't specified whether you're after a contract of PAYG phone. I have the HTC Wildfire S and I love it. It's a nice phone and I don't have any problems with it, sure there are 'better' phones out there, but for the price of this and how much I would actually benefit from buying a much more expensive phone...I'm sticking with my HTC.

I don't think that Android's are technical and difficult. They're pretty simple

[freyajessica]

Thanks for all the advice (:

(Original post by zippyRN)
'droid

iphones you are ties to syncing through Itunes

I don't mind being tied to iTunes, my only problem with the iPhone is the price A good 24 month contract will cost me at least £773... I considered getting an iPhone 4 instead, but they seem to be even more expensive than the 4S

I like the HTC phones, especially the HTC One X, although that comes up to £720. The HTC One S is also nice, and much cheaper than the X at £624. Not as bad as the iPhone 4S, but still very expensive.

I don't think I could get a Windows 7 phone because I have a MacBook Pro, which I don't think would work too well with Windows...

I basically want an iPhone or Android with a good front facing camera, and good social networking integration. It would be nice if it was a pretty phone too /:

[nymphadora]

If you're not tied to a specific network you could always go for this
http://phone-shop.tesco.com/tesco-mo...esco.Blue.Core

It's the iPhone 4, £130 upfront then £20 a month so £610 overall. Tesco piggyback off O2 so the signal coverage is good as well

[Sgt.Incontro]

(Original post by mikeyd85)
Can you enlighten me on this? I don't know the WP7 OS well enough to say, but I can't imagine it being much more integrated than Android...

Go watch all the "Smoked by Windows Phone" videos on YouTube. (Civilians challenge Microsoft employees armed with Windows Phone devices, attempting to beat them at a specific task.) There was something like a 98% success rate (WP7) compared to all other phones.

Keep in mind that all these challenges are social network related. By no means is WP7 better than Android in general IMO, but it is definitely more integrated with social networks.

[StarsAreFixed]

Nope, you can run a windows phone off a mac.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/windo...15571499?mt=12

A Nokia Lumia 710 fits your bill almost perfectly, but doesn't have a FFC. It's much cheaper than the Nokia Lumia 800, which in itself is a good bit cheaper than an iphone. Well worth looking into if the FFC isn't a dealbreaker (neither have it, but the new Nokia Lumia 900 does, but will probably rival the iphone pricewise). They're extremely fast, beautiful phones which come in several colours. They're very easy to use, have colourful interfaces and have great social network integration. You can pin facebook profiles to your start screen (livetiles), as well as contacts, games, apps, music, whatever.

Windows phone does not have instagram yet. Plenty of other photo manipulation and filtering apps though.

[LickOfPaint]

iPhone is awesome. I know it's expensive, but it's just to damn quick to text and email people.
I actually use my phone instead of my keyboard for replying to messages now. It's that fast.

[LickOfPaint]

I take that back, because my microphone is well and truly buggered

[Bobifier]

(Original post by Sgt.Incontro)
Go watch all the "Smoked by Windows Phone" videos on YouTube. (Civilians challenge Microsoft employees armed with Windows Phone devices, attempting to beat them at a specific task.) There was something like a 98% success rate (WP7) compared to all other phones.

Keep in mind that all these challenges are social network related. By no means is WP7 better than Android in general IMO, but it is definitely more integrated with social networks.

These videos are a terrible thing to base any of your views on. They are self confessed adverts, they are not objective in any sense. Unless you can provide objective reasons that WP7 is better integrated into social networks than Android then you are an idiot for believing this rubbish.

[StarsAreFixed]

I believe Android and ios would admit that windows phone is more integrated with social networking than they are. It's not a secret. It is one of windows phone's strengths, just as customisation is androids and all-around consistency, usability and tons of apps is ios's. Have you actually used a windows phone? This is where livetiles come into their own. Or is windows phone not allowed have a strength? We can all talk about areas it falls down in. And I am able to judge it before you ask, as I have one.

[estel]

(Original post by Sgt.Incontro)
Go watch all the "Smoked by Windows Phone" videos on YouTube. (Civilians challenge Microsoft employees armed with Windows Phone devices, attempting to beat them at a specific task.) There was something like a 98% success rate (WP7) compared to all other phones.

Sure, but they're a ridiculous set of tests that were written to specifically target the tasks that WP7 is best at. You could easily write a set of "tests" that would show similar success rates for Android or iPhone. And that's leaving aside the reports of dishonesty on MSFT's part.

[littleone271]

iPhones all the way!