Looking for an Android phone on Craigslist - which way to go?

[radhak]

Finally, my wife has agreed to dump her old dumb phone and asked me to get her a phone that works "as good as her friend's". Her friend has a T-mobile G2X (LG, right?) which, compared to her old phone, works fantastically when she tried it for 5 minutes - high clarity of call, etc.

We're on T-mobile, out of contract, and have no plans to go back on any contract. So I gotta buy an out-of-contract phone. Android seems the way to go for her (I have a Lumia 710, bought on CL).

I want to limit the price paid to $200 or less, if possible. Which means - used phone.

So, looking at the local CL advts, I have this :

a. a NIB T-Mobile GX2 for $150 (so, no unlocking needed)
b. a couple of Samsung Galaxy S2 for other carriers around $200 (will need unlocking)
c. a couple of unlocked or T-mobile S2s for $300 (dunno why the T-mobile guys are asking for more, but I'll have to get it unlocked)
d. Galaxy Note for $350 (can't see any for less...?!?)
e. Galaxy Vibrant for $200
f. HTC Sensation for $180 (surprisingly, not many HTC are on sale on CL)

Which of these would be a sensible buy?

She doesn't like huge phones, so the Galaxy S3 is out (good - it's out of my price range, even on CL).

The other option is that I man up and buy the Nexus 4 for $300.

Having never used Android phones, how different are these various phones, particularly all those Galaxys? I hear they have some special kind of LED display, right?

How about Google's Nexus - do they compete well against the traditional manufacturers' offerings?

 

[s44]

Used GSM GNex. There should be a flood as people replace them with the 4. Check the screen carefully for color evenness on a light background (the GSM seems to have a *lot* more unit to unit variation than Verizon) and scratches. Don't pay more than $200.

T-mo actually sells their SGS2 *new* for $300 through prepaid. Craigslist people are stupid about this. If you find this for $200 it's not a bad bet either, but the Nexus is safer because you won't run into IMEI issues from idiots stopping payment on the Value plan. Note that AT&T SGS2s will *not* get 3G data on T-Mo. The only cheaper phone I'd even consider is the Blaze, which is the SGS2 with a 4" WVGA screen. If you can get it for $120 or so, it's not bad... but really, get the Nexus.

edit - more advice:
(1) If Craigs isn't good for you, check Swappa. Prices not as rock-bottom, but sellers more reliable/knowledgeable.
(2) If you're considering ever unlocking the Nexus, do it right away. This wipes the phone. The GNex toolkit at XDA makes this stuff really easy.
(3) Flash Bugless Beast on it. (This actually fixes some of the irritations with the GNex, adding Wallet, native tether, and boosting call volume.)

 

[gorcorps]

If she doesn't like big phones, why did you bother to put the note on the list?

 

[smartpatrol]

IMO might as well just spend the $300 for a brand new Nexus 4. No sense in getting an old Android phone that will be stuck on an outdated OS version (especially since 4.1 was such a massive improvement).

 

[quest55720]

IMO might as well just spend the $300 for a brand new Nexus 4. No sense in getting an old Android phone that will be stuck on an outdated OS version (especially since 4.1 was such a massive improvement).

That is the pefect answer. Just sack up and spend the extra money it will be worth it.

 

[s44]

IMO might as well just spend the $300 for a brand new Nexus 4.

It's more like $350 given tax and shipping... and that's for the crippled 8gb version.

 

[smartpatrol]

It's more like $350 given tax and shipping... and that's for the crippled 8gb version.

8GB isn't great, but for that price it's still an incredible deal. Cloud storage/streaming is a viable option on T-Mobile since they give you unlimited data.

 

[s44]

I actually think that for a non-power user the 4 is literally no better than the GNex, and arguably worse (fixed battery).

I really doubt his wife is going to be playing Shadowgun or whatever on her phone.

 

[radhak]

Good info, S44! I'll take a look at Swappo too.

If she doesn't like big phones, why did you bother to put the note on the list?

lol - I did not know, till I read a review which mentioned that Samsung took screen size to a ridiculous new level with the Galaxy Note ! I guess that's out for me too.

8GB isn't great, but for that price it's still an incredible deal. Cloud storage/streaming is a viable option on T-Mobile since they give you unlimited data.

Well, apart from the $350 tag, I now see it's out of stock! Really?! Its that popular?

I actually think that for a non-power user the 4 is literally no better than the GNex, and arguably worse (fixed battery).

I really doubt his wife is going to be playing Shadowgun or whatever on her phone.

True that - and it'll be a nuisance for her, as the kids will want to steal it to play... ! But what's that about fixed battery?

 

[s44]

swappa

Anyway, the battery in the Nexus 4 isn't removable -- it's like an iPhone, but the iPhone lasts longer. With the GNex you can go from 0% to 100% really quickly with a battery swap... nice in a pinch.

The 4 just came out yesterday, which is why it's sold out. It *does* have significantly more horsepower than the GNex, and in fact the quadcore CPU (GNex is dual) is the most powerful currently available in a smartphone. I just think we hit "good enough" speed a while ago for phones on Jelly Bean -- though not for tablets.

 

[Zink]

The galaxy nexus and nexus 4 are very close to the s3, they may all be too big.

 

[Oyeve]

Buy my gently used tmobile SGS2 for 199.99.

Hell, Im even flying out to Orlando tomorrow. Drive up and kaching.

 

[jpeyton]

Around $100 is the rate for an SGS1 (Vibrant, Captivate).

Around $200 and you're looking at an SGS2.

Around $300 would let you acquire an HTC One X or a Nexus 4.

Around $400 is the going rate for a SGS3.

$600 for a Galaxy Note 2.

 

[pm]

Beyond Craigslist, there's also buying new unlocked contract-free phones from Newegg. They have some (smaller) Samsung, Motorola and Sony smartphones there for under $300 that have decent reviews. They might not be the kind of flagship device that people on the forums get excited about, but they also aren't as big and there's a bit less risk than buying something on Craiglist.
http://www.newegg.com/Unlocked-Cell-...ategory/ID-249