Which Mobile Phone?

[VincentD]

Are you using the standard headphones that came with your phone? Later models have much better quality. If lack of volume is the issue, you can buy a plug in headphone amplifier. Atmos is only a surround sound application that would not affect the volume.

[thecolonel]

Are you using the standard headphones that came with your phone? Later models have much better quality. If lack of volume is the issue, you can buy a plug in headphone amplifier. Atmos is only a surround sound application that would not affect the volume.

No Im using head phones I bought earlier this year. They are not top of the range but theyre not cheap rubbish from 7 11 either.

But the point is all of my tests are with the same headphones, so I'm comparing apples with apples!

Headphone amplifier - news to me! I will research this now

Atmos - hence the use of my word 'effective'

Thanks



Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk

[handdrummer]

If you use a headphone amp, you'll be carrying around the phone, headphones and the amp. I think it would be better to get amplified headphones, turn up the volume to full on the headphones* and control the volume with the phone. If you're in Bangkok, there's a headphone shop in Paragon, that will let try out headphones with your phone. *That's the water pipe principal: the bigger the pipe, I.E. the louder the headphones, the more water/volume will go through it and you control the volume via the tap/phone.

[buksida]

Looks like the Samsung M51 is now available in Thailand, monster battery, monster sized phone ...

https://www.siamphone.com/spec/samsung/galaxy_m51.htm

[handdrummer]

Is 12,000 BHT a reasonable price for a phone?

[thecolonel]

Is 12,000 BHT a reasonable price for a phone?

That's a vague question. Do you literally mean a 'phone'? As these things are so much more than phones as I'm sure you're aware.

As re 12,000 baht (£300) that is not that expensive compared to many others but personally I'm more comfortable spending £200

Although in truth I personally shouldn't have any issues with spending up to 20,000baht on a really good device as I absolutely live on these things, day in and day out.

But I'd rather spend 8000 as I'll probably choose the wrong one, or drop it on Phetkasem Road doing 50kmh or more likely the down the toilet!

Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk

[handdrummer]

Never drop anything in a toilet in Thailand, use the lidded pail provided.

I used phone as a catch-all word. I suppose "smart" phone would have been a better choice. Or, in my house, the unwanted guest at every meal.

[thecolonel]

Is 12,000 BHT a reasonable price for a phone?

Ps add in the fact that you're paying around a 40% premium for the Samsung name.

But that's marketing for you!

Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk

[buksida]

12k is beyond my budget also, considering that they only last 2-3 years.

[handdrummer]

12k is beyond my budget also, considering that they only last 2-3 years.

My son-in-law has an iphone 5 that is working fine after 7 + yrs.

[buksida]

My son-in-law has an iphone 5 that is working fine after 7 + yrs.

Useless comparison as that would have cost way more than 12k when purchased new and may have been seldom used for the time period. I should have said 'last 2-3 years before any noticeable performance decrease' - a seven year old phone is going to be painful to use today, won't update, and wont even run half the apps available.

Additionally, batteries have a set number of cycles before they begin to deteriorate, so heavy phone users will get a lower lifespan no matter what flavour the phone is, especially now that all batteries are built-in. A pal has a Samsung J7 that has worked fine for 6 years as it is sat on a shelf for most of the time.

Back to recommended phones, the Samsung M31 or Redmi Note 9 Pro are the leading contenders within budget at the moment. Wouldn't touch Apple even if it was free (but lets not drag that tired old debate up again, there is another thread on it somewhere.)

[pharvey]

Useless comparison as that would have cost way more than 12k when purchased new.

A little harsh buks. That said, I have a "company provided" iPhone 6 which I've had for 4 years but I suspect is 5 years plus old. Still working well, although the battery had to be replaced and software updates no longer supported (NHS App for example can't be supported). I believe £5-600 when new, which personally I would never have paid.

As for a personal phone, I have a Samsung A10 - despite comments, I've had zero problems with battery life, it's "Dual SIM" (which I was looking for), good screen size for watching vids when travelling, allows for additional memory (via card - which iPhone doesn't), better (free) Apps available through Android and I'm sure you (buks) can advise on some advantages regards to Android devices/software. I paid +/- £75 for this phone and quite frankly very happy.

Note: - A10 does not have a great camera, but what do you expect for the price!

[buksida]

although the battery had to be replaced and software updates no longer supported

I rest my case m'lud!

Budgets and phone specs are all down to the individual and what they want to use it for. The Colonel/Gabe H wants good speakers, I use it for maps/travel, mobile wifi sharing, and gaming so need a good battery. Some will pay obscene money for the latest iPhart because they're obsessed with the brand and have a whole bunch of other iThings.

Horses for courses.

[pharvey]

although the battery had to be replaced and software updates no longer supported

I rest my case m'lud!

Believe me, I'm not one for iPhone's or Apple - it's my company's policy and hey, it's free. The only benefit for me is that it does have a great camera (for a mobile). Costs (Apps/memory etc) - @rsing about with @pple is far from good.

I'm good with Android and Samsung. Unfortunately the latter's "Prime Phones" are not within my budget either!



[EDIT] Quote buksida "Some will pay obscene money for an iPhart because they're obsessed with the brand and have a whole bunch of other iThings."

I'll agree there as I've seen far too many people doing just so.

As for me, I'm not "obsessed" with the brand as such - Samsung in my case have been extremely good. I started with Nokia years ago, moved to Ericsson but quite frankly neither could/can compare.

Completely agree with you with regards to what is required - I have zero need for gaming, but need good photography/camera, connectivity, dual SIM - and MEMORY which I mentioned previously, iPhone is sh!te on.....

Must admit, the A10 does not do the camera bit, but all else good.... how much do you spend on a "mobile camera"?

[buksida]

Must admit, the A10 does not do the camera bit, but all else good.... how much do you spend on a "mobile camera"?

Being a photographer I always shunned mobile phone cameras but the technology has come a long way and today is impressive. You'll get 4 cameras on an average 6,000 baht phone and some of the filter apps such as Snapseed can do fancy things with the images.

Granted, 99% of the images taken on mobiles are shrunk and posted on social media where you don't need the control, high resolutions, and ISO that you get with a proper camera.