New phone with mid-range budget

R

Reaaaaa :] <3

New member
First of all let me say I don't know much about phones so I would appreciate it if someone could give me a little advise that might point me in the right direction when it comes to buying my new phone. I recently had some trouble with my old phone (k750i) and am forced to buy a new phone. I am using the T-Mobile service but I hope to buy an unlocked version of a phone on ebay if I can find it cheaper than at the T-Mobile store. I liked the k750i but it seems like the newer SE phones are turning into mp3 players/digital cameras so I'm not sure that I want another one of those.

Price range: Hopefully around $200 or less (without new contract)

Things I want:

Smallish, easy to fit in a pocket.
Quick operating system with minimal hangs and menu lag.
Good call reception with a decent volume output.
Email, internet capability.
Bluetooth, able to sync with a Mac.

I don't care about mp3 capability at all, I don't need a media center on my phone. A few bells and whistles are fine, but I'd rather have something small and practical than a tiny TV. A camera, likewise, is not very important to me. I don't know much about the different bands (EDGE/3G/GSM etc) but there is a slight chance I would be travelling to Mexico/Europe with the phone so if there is a special specification that I would need to switch SIM cards/use the phone there, I would like that. I am not brand loyal to anyone as long as I can use an unlocked version on the T-Mobile network. If someone could give me a small list of phones that match my preferences I can look for reviews on my own, I just need someone to point me in the right direction as far as brands/models go. Thanks!
 
you can go to http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/finder.php
and use their phone finder feature by punching in all your criteria.

for $200 with an unlocked phone you won't get very far, i don't think.
if that's your budget, i would look at nokia, a nice basic candy bar style with EDGE and maybe wi-fi.

EDGE means that wherever there is a cell signal, you can use the internet on your phone. it requires an expensive monthly charge, though.

wi-fi is free, but limited to wi-fi only zones, such as in your home, airports, some stores, etc...

t-mobile operates on the GSM network. everyone else does too, practically, except for verizon which is CDMA. so get an unlocked GSM phone.

www.cnet.com also has great reviews. i would trust the mass user reviews more than i would trust the editor's reviews. both are found on the same page per phone.

good luck.
 
also, 3G, as i understand it, it a new data band which is supposed to be faster.
i think it's barely off the ground, if at all, and not in a lot of areas anyway.
but it might be nice to have for the near future.
 
T-Mobile has a GIANT 3G network slated to launch as early as the end of the year. However, no unlocked phone currently sold with 3G will be compatible with it.

You can never go wrong with Nokia. S40, as found on the 6126/6131/6133, 5200, 5300, 6101/6102, 6103, and many others, is one of the best mobile operating systems out there.
 
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