Help deciding on first smart phones

I would actually start off with which carrier's network you prefer to use. For me, I first tried Sprint's network (picked a Boost Mobile phone) because of the unlimited data on an Android phone at a very reasonable cost. With Boost's Shrinkage Plan, it gets cheaper every 6 months. -- But lately I've been forced to travel out in the countryside. Sprint towers are not to be found out there, so I needed to get on Verizon's network. So I went and bought a Straight Talk Samsung Galaxy Proclaim. I now get the coverage I need.

If the areas you travel about in allow you to use AT&T/T-Mobile coverage, then you have some additional flexibility. You can use a phone one of the discount providers sell, or choose a "bring your own phone" plan than many discount MVNO's offer... you just buy their SIM... pop it in your unlocked phone... and voila!

Please note, that you need to look CAREFULLY at coverage maps. You need to look at the PREPAID maps for AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon/Sprint. And then, you typically will NOT get coverage in any area they mark as PREPAID ROAM. Those areas work on the big-4's own prepaid phones, but at a per-minute surcharge. The fixed price discount companies don't support that feature.

Now, once you pick your carrier, you can pick your phone.

 

I'm not sold on CarrierCoverage's data. If more people in your area have T-Mobile phones, then by default it will appear to have better coverage (more sampling points). Same with Virgin Mobile (Sprint).

I think you are on the right path with picking phones from sellers offering good return policies.

I would also carefully read over the T-Mobile agreement. They are one of the Big-4 carriers. You may find the same service cheaper without contracts by getting the phone yourself (used or new - up to you) and the SIM from a different place reselling T-Mobile connectivity (such as StraightTalk).

 

Pretty sure the T-Mobile Galaxy S 4G (SGH-T959V) variant doesn't support CM9. T-Mobile released 2 versions of the Galaxy S. It's the Samsung Vibrant (SGH-T959) that has CM9 support.

 

OpenSignalMaps is another site that has been doing the same thing for a long time.

They too have the same problem. So few people have AT&T based smart phones that have run their software in my area, that AT&T is shown to have little to no coverage in my area. Yet my mother-in-law's phone is an AT&T phone and she gets great reception around here.

I guess what I'm saying is that no one will be able to objectively tell you which cell tower network is best for you. Same with the phones. Yes, please use those sites to help suggest what to try... but don't lock yourself into a carrier contract or a non-refundable phone in case you find it isn't as great as you thought it'd be.

 

Won't you try looking up the Samsung Galaxy Xcover? It has a pretty decent screen that your wife's hands would be able to handle as well as a decent processing speed to play all the game and use all the applications available on most Android phones