The Moto G5 Plus is well priced right now on Amazon. 32 GB/2 GB RAM for $200, and the 64 GB/4 GB RAM for $250. You could save a little more if you opt for the Prime offers and ads, but it's probably not worth it. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MR2ZFBI/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_6?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1
I have absolutely no clue about tracfone, but having a look at their bring-your-own-phone service, this is what they say is requires for any GSM phone:
"In order to connect to the TracFone 4G LTE network, your device must operate on Band II, IV or in certain areas, Band 12. For 3G or other 4G service, your device must operate on Band II (1900 MHz) or IV (1700/2100 MHz). GSM devices that do not support these bands may operate at 2G (EDGE) speeds."
Generally, these days, good phones are getting cheap and cheap phones are getting good. What I mean by that is that you can probably spend on your lower end and get something very decent, especially coming from the phone you have. For general carrier comparability, a solid experience, and reliability, I'd definitely suggest the moto series, specifically the Moto G5plus. You can get it with amazon ads for $185 (2GB RAM & 32GB storage) or $240 (4GB RAM & 64GB Storage) with "amazon ads" if you're on prime, or $230/$300 without.
Perks? Moto's generally get updated sooner than other brands of phone, and it comes with the newest Android OS, Nougat. It has a large 5.5" full HD screen, good for youtube/twitch. Battery on a lot of US versions of phones isn't the best (no idea why), but it has quick charging so can achieve "6 hours of battery in 15 minutes of charging".
I just went from N5 to Moto G5+ 64gb
It just dropped to $249.99 on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Moto-Plus-5th-Generation-Unlocked/dp/B01MR2ZFBI/
Pros:
64gb
4gb ram
faster CPU
SD slot
3000mAh battery
Rootable
cheap
built in fm radio
Cons:
almost non-existent LED
No NFC
12mp camera
That being said it can shoot 1080p video at 60fps which is impressive. Motorola's version of Android is as close to pure as you can get without being a Nexus/Pixel. My nexus just has a dying battery which I ordered a replacement for. I will keep it as a Freedom Pop phone
For $230 including overnight shipping, it's an unbelievable phone (4/64GB model). Runs better than my Nexus 6p did, nothing lags, screen looks great, finger print reader is fast and the built in nav for it is really cool. Camera is not terrible, pretty good in the correct lighting (kinda falls short when dark), and is waterproofed. The only complaint is the large bezels around the screen, but it's truly a monster of a phone for the price. Extremely happy with it after a couple of days of use.
EDIT: I got it open box from Newegg, no longer available. Looks like Amazon has it prime eligible for around $240, still a hell of a deal. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR2ZFBI/ref=twister_B01NCYZTP4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Not a PC part, but a very good deal apparently directly from amazon on a 64GB USA Moto G5 Plus . Has 4GB RAM too vs the usual 2GB (or rarely 3GB) for this phone.
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$295, apparently prime shipping and sold directly by amazon? It's been on that sale since Oct 10th so not exactly a temporary pricing error. The list price is $365 from dealz_depot but then if you go to the seller list it's $295 from amazon.
But then in cart it says ships within 1-3 months. I also had a bit of a time even getting to the page for it and I kept getting internal errors from amazon.
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Can anyone explain this? Will I actually get it if I order?
Do you mean this one?
(tho im looking at the 64gb/4gb version)
If you want a cheap Android phone that is still snappy and doesn't feel it's price, I recommend the Motorola G5 Plus. Check Amazon Warehouse to get it <$250. https://www.amazon.com/Moto-Plus-5th-Generation-Lockscreen/dp/B01MR2ZFBI?th=1
4gb of ram, decent processor, 1080p display.
Not necessarily the equivalent to the Essential Phone, but honestly a better value depending on your needs. With the amount of disappointment in phones lately, settling on a decent phone like this for ~$240 made me happy with the phone 2 months into owning it.
The moto g5 plus 64GB/4GB Ram Is $240 right now on Amazon for the non ads version.
You can also price match it at Best buy
Moto G Plus (5th Generation) - Lunar Gray - 64 GB - Unlocked https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR2ZFBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_IdiRzb53PM7CV
Hey, I have a rather odd request. Long-time Apple user considering converting.
I have this fancy-ass Iphone 6 but all I've ever used it for is Reddit, texting, and occasional camera use. I figure I can go for a mid-low tier android phone and save a ton of money, plus maybe get an Oculus with the savings... Maybe. That's a whole different prospect.
Project Fi is super enticing, especially as a close friend of mine already has a plan so I can get on for $15 a month. Unfortunately, it looks like Nexus support is on the way out. I've heard tell of a mid-range Project Fi phone, but that'll probably be more like 499 or 599 I imagine, am I wrong in that assumption?
My real question comes down to this: Could I get a cheap unlocked Amazon phone such as this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MR2ZFBI/ref=s9_acsd_top_hd_bw_b7idkCh_c_x_w/136-6717101-9542247?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-5&pf_rd_r=HJQVMWR6XHB8Z85BR5TZ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=57667ce6-acc7-5ba8-9741-874ed... and grab a custom OS or whatnot to trick Project Fi into thinking it's a Nexus/Pixel? I'm technically proficient (have the fancy CS degree and everything), but have never worked on something like this.
If something like that is possible, would I be able to get rid of the Amazon ads? Is there any other software that may come baked I should worry about?
Thanks, -Dozar
Selge, aga kui osta ikkagi see https://www.amazon.com/Moto-Plus-5th-Generation-Unlocked/dp/B01MR2ZFBI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8, sest sellel on compass sisseehitaud mis on vajalik GPS'i jaoks, sest Global versioonil ei ole seda vaid on NFC. See USA unlocked versioon töötaks ju lihtsalt 4G netti ei saa maa kohtades? Ja kus saaks adapterit osta sellele?
Saaksid sa saata selle Motorola veebilehe või kas see sobiks https://www.amazon.com/Moto-Plus-5th-Generation-Lockscreen/dp/B01MR2ZFBI/ref=sr_1_2?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1502644242&sr=1-2&keywords=Moto%2BG5%2Bplus&th=1. See on unlocked mis lubab meie teenuse pakkumist aga ma pole kindel kas sellel on compass sisseehitatud, sest Euroopa versioonil pole compassi sees ja sellepärast on GPS halb.
I have a Nexus 6 but in all honestly you're probably better off getting the Moto G5 https://smile.amazon.com/Moto-Plus-5th-Generation-Lockscreen/dp/B01MR2ZFBI/ref=sr_1_3?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1497114211&sr=1-3&keywords=moto%2Bg5&th=1
To Ontario it has it listed as $43 for me. Is it an Amazon Prime thing? Presumably the seller is amazon, this is the link I'm seeing on amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Moto-Plus-5th-Generation-Lockscreen/dp/B01MR2ZFBI/
Amazon Global Shipping: ~ $6
Estimated Import Fees Deposit: ~ $37
The Zenfone 3 Max is the low-end model. It has a relatively low-powered chipset, but its selling point is not speed; it's battery life. It has a very large battery, and that combined with the power-sipping processor means that it's the third longest-lasting phone that GSMArena has ever tested. Despite this, it's stuck on Android 6.0 Marshmallow for the moment and there is no word for when (or if) it will be upgraded to Nougat.
The Zenfone 3 Laser steps things up quite a bit, with a more powerful processor, better screen, and better camera. It's still firmly in "budget" territory, but it's relatively snappy and a good phone overall. Despite it's average-sized 3,000mAh battery, it lasts a good long while (though not as long as the Max). Its biggest flaw is the amount of RAM it comes with. 2GB of RAM is good enough on other phones in this price range, but ASUS' software clogs that up enough that multitasking is basically impossible, with apps closing almost as soon as you exit them. The phone is otherwise great for average use, but power users need not apply. The 2GB RAM model is the only one available in most markets, but I'm pretty sure some markets have up to 4GB of RAM in the Laser. The camera in the Laser is not fantastic but still within spitting distance of other phones in its price range as long as you aren't expecting much.
The Zenfone 3 (no qualifier after the name) is the mid-range, and most popular phone in the Zenfone 3 lineup. It's the only phone in the range with a glass back, and it comes in two models: a 5.2" screen model with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (with the model number ZE520KL), and a 5.5" screen model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage (with the model number ZE552KL). It's a good phone overall, and the best "bang-for-buck" if you want something that will work well for pretty much any but the most hardcore use (the Snapdragon 625 processor in it is one of the most efficient and powerful mid-range SoCs out there). The camera is decidedly average for the price point, but still not bad. Battery life is also pretty good, but having neither the battery capacity of the Max or the low-end chipset of the Laser, it's still not as good as either. The body also doesn't feel as seamless as the unibody metal models, but glass does have appeal that some like, so YMMV.
The Zenfone 3 Deluxe is the high-end model in the lineup, and it comes in a number of models: a couple high-end models with all the flagship features you would expect like a Snapdragon 820/821 SoC, an AMOLED display, and 6GB of RAM. There is also a mid-range model of the Deluxe with a SD625, 4GB of RAM and an IPS display. The latter model of Deluxe is closer to the vanilla Zenfone 3 than the high-end deluxe in most ways, but the high-end Deluxe model has a few advantages. Aside from the better specs, it also comes with a better camera, up to 256GB of UFS 2.0 storage, and more software features.
The Zenfone 3 Ultra is the sort of black sheep of the series. It's only sold in certain markets, and has a 6.8" screen. The specs are midrange, with the screen being IPS and the processor only a Snapdragon 652 combined with 3 or 4GB of RAM, but it makes up for it in other ways. It's got a fancy display processor that allows it to do the sort of motion estimation that newer TVs do for smoother video, as well as a number of other contrast tricks on the display. It's capable of Displayport out and being able to output power to charge other devices up to 5V/1.5A over the USB-C connector, and is the only model of Zenfone 3 with dual bottom-firing speakers. The camera is also identical to the high-end Deluxe, and has a battery size that almost gets up to the same capacity as the Max at 4600mAh.
All other Zenfone models like the "Pegasus" and so on are not truly part of the Zenfone 3 lineup with the following exceptions: there are also 2 Zenfones, the Zenfone AR and the Zenfone 3 Zoom (not to be confused with the Zenfone Zoom which came before it) that have come out since the rest of the core Zenfone 3 lineup. All Zenfone 3 models in the core lineup come with fingerprint scanners. The Zenfone 3 and the Zenfone 3 Deluxe are the only models with unlockable bootloaders, and both currently have an unofficial build of LineageOS available (both in very early stages of development at this point). The Deluxe, vanilla Zenfone 3, Laser, and Ultra have been upgraded to Nougat officially, but the Max has not as of yet. There might also be other minor, regional models of the Zenfone 3 series that I have not covered here.
I hope I didn't miss anything here. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.
Edit: I thought I would add my recommendations: at your price budget of $350, the Moto G5 Plus is probably your best bet. It has very similar specs to the vanilla Zenfone 3, but has a nicer display, sturdier build, and snappier software. It's also about $30 cheaper than the Zenfone 3 and has a (subjectively) better camera. It's available on Amazon for $300 here.
If you're really set on getting a Zenfone 3 (I don't recommend it with the Moto G5 Plus around, but for the sake of argument), the 5.5" vanilla Zenfone 3 is probably the way to go. The smaller model has lesser specs if you don't mind that either, the cameras and build quality are identical.
> My budget right now is up to $400 CAD ... looking to buy unlocked/outright ... LTE isn't a huge deal for me, but decent camera and battery life would be nice.
Since you have an Android device, only Android handsets are suggested below.
If you consider what is currently offered directly from Freedom: > for LTE: ZTE Grand X 4
> for 3G: Either the Sony Xperia XA Ultra or LG Stylo II Plus
Though, the Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra has Industry Canada certification, so is highly likely that Freedom will carry the <em>LTE Ready</em> G3223 variant, which should slot in at the same price as the current XA Ultra.
If new and non-carrier (unlocked) is what you are going for, the Moto G5 Plus sold by Amazon US is a good option, and is also LTE Ready for Freedom's LTE network.
If NEW is not a requirement, you could purchase an unlocked previous generation flagship phone like the Samsung S6 (& its edge /edge+ variants) or the LG V10 second-hand, possibly within that budget.
Amazon has it for $240 too (non ad version, 4GB RAM/64GB): https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01MR2ZFBI/
Amazon now has preorders.
Moto G Plus (5th Generation) - Lunar Gray - 64 GB - Unlocked https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR2ZFBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Mhq1ybSM302BC
Thanks! Just ordered it!
Direct link to the model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR2ZFBI
Indeed. Moto G Plus (5th Generation) - Lunar Gray - 64 GB - Unlocked https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR2ZFBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Mhq1ybSM302BC