Looking for Smartphone advice

[omegafixx]

Im look for some advice on a Smartphone

Looking for a inexpensive Smartphone that my kid can play around with. Something he can also use as a cheap MP3 player with Bluetooth capability. I would prefer a Android preferably a Galaxy and under $100

 

[AugieTN]

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Gala...+samsung+galaxy+phones&qid=1693835667&sr=8-11

 

[omegafixx]

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Gala...+samsung+galaxy+phones&qid=1693835667&sr=8-11

I have a Galaxy S8+, is the A10e better than it?

Im not a tech guy sorry

 

[AugieTN]

I have a Galaxy S8+, is the A10e better than it?

Im not a tech guy sorry

The A10E (2019) is newer, and your S8+ (2017) is older to me it's toss up

 

[omegafixx]

The A10E is newer, and your S8+ is older to me it's toss up

I LOVE the S8+

What do you mean its a toss up?

Oh and thank you for the quick replies

 

[AugieTN]

I have never had either phone. I looked at the specs for both phone and I can't say one is better than the other.

Maybe someone else in the forum has had these phones and can say which one is better.

 

[omegafixx]

I have never had either phone. I looked at the specs for both phone and I can't say one is better than the other.

Maybe someone else in the forum has had these phones and can say which one is better.

They are similar though? Like I said its for my kid to mess around with, load it up with music and use it as a mp3 player. The Bluetooth on the S8+ is great, if the A10E's Bluetooth is similar than we'll be happy.

Where on the forum would I go to ask around from other users?

Thank you again for your help

 

[AugieTN]

Your thread is in a good spot. Regulars will see it and if they have a different opinion they will post it

 

[olbriar]

My wife has been using the S8+ since its release. She hates changing phones and will likely drive the S8 until it dies. It's been a solid phone for her. I can't speak for the A10E

 

[omegafixx]

My wife has been using the S8+ since its release. She hates changing phones and will likely drive the S8 until it dies. It's been a solid phone for her. I can't speak for the A10E

If i could find a cheap Verizon S8+ for my son I would jump on it in a heartbeat. Thats how much I love the S8+

 

[jhtalisman]

I have a Galaxy S8+, is the A10e better than it?

Im not a tech guy sorry

Spec-wise the S8+ is a much better phone.

The 10e is upgradeable to Android 11, whereas the S8+ only goes to Android 9.

Compare Samsung Galaxy S8+ vs. Samsung Galaxy A10e - GSMArena.com

m.gsmarena.com

 

[olbriar]

It's a great phone and was my daily driver for a couple of years. Though I've not used Swappa, their site has been mentioned a number of times here at AF.

 

[omegafixx]

It's a great phone and was my daily driver for a couple of years. Though I've not used Swappa, their site has been mentioned a number of times here at AF.

Hows eBay for used phones

 

[ocnbrze]

Hows eBay for used phones

Don't. I have seen here where people get phones with blocked imei, phones that were factory reset but FRP was tripped and could not get a hold of the seller, among many other issues.

If you can find a local seller where you can meet them and observe the phone before purchase. The best place to meet would be at a Verizon store where you can ask if the imei is good before buying the phone.

 

[omegafixx]

Don't. I have seen here where people get phones with blocked imei, phones that were factory reset but FRP was tripped and could not get a hold of the seller, among many other issues.

If you can find a local seller where you can meet them and observe the phone before purchase. The best place to meet would be at a Verizon store where you can ask if the imei is good before buying the phone.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a IMEI and FRP

 

[ocnbrze]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a IMEI and FRP

International Mobile Equipment Identity - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

FRP (Factory Reset Protection)

wip... FRP, short for "Factory Reset Protection", is now integrated into the Android operating system since about version 5.1.1. What does it do? It basically protects the owner's data on the device from being compromised by unauthorized users. Google Link For example, if your device is...

androidforums.com

 

[ocnbrze]

Imei is basically an identifier for cell providers like Verizon. It is also used to lock the phone if the user has not paid the bills or if the phone gets stolen.

Frp is Google's security protocol. If you hard reset (using the power and volume buttons), you will trip FRP. you would then need to enter the email and password that was originally used to setup the phone.....which is why you need to contact the seller on ebay,if this happens.....and most can't get a hold of them.

 

[omegafixx]

International Mobile Equipment Identity - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

FRP (Factory Reset Protection)

wip... FRP, short for "Factory Reset Protection", is now integrated into the Android operating system since about version 5.1.1. What does it do? It basically protects the owner's data on the device from being compromised by unauthorized users. Google Link For example, if your device is...

androidforums.com

Thank you for that info. How are those $50 Prepaid A03s phones? Like Trac-Phone? Can they be used without activating the carrier service? We arent going to use this as an actual celphone.

 

[ocnbrze]

Pre-paid might be the way to go. You can control the minutes used as well as how much data is allowed. I would go into your local Verizon store and checkout your options.

 

[omegafixx]

Pre-paid might be the way to go. You can control the minutes used as well as how much data is allowed. I would go into your local Verizon store and checkout your options.

But if we arent going to use it as an actual phone do we need to activate the service?

 

[ocnbrze]

But if we arent going to use it as an actual phone do we need to activate the service?

You are activated when you pay for it. Some are monthly, some are by minutes or data used.

 

[omegafixx]

You are activated when you pay for it. Some are monthly, some are by minutes or data used.

Oh, and what happens if we cancel the service after a month or dont renew? Does the phone become un-usable?

 

[ocnbrze]

Oh, and what happens if we cancel the service after a month or dont renew? Does the phone become un-usable?

so basically you buy the phone and then set how you want to pay for the plan. since you bought the phone, you can cancel the service at any time with no consequences. though if you pay for the month, but then cancel on the 10th. you will then have 20 days of unused service. and yes you cannot do anything with the phone. looking at Verizon, it looks like they have some free phones when you sign up for a pre-paid plan:

Best Prepaid Phone Plans | 5G Nationwide & More | Verizon Prepaid

Enjoy savings on our new prepaid plans, including our lowest priced Unlimited plan with loyalty discounts. The longer you stay, the more you save.

www.verizon.com

 

[omegafixx]

so basically you buy the phone and then set how you want to pay for the plan. since you bought the phone, you can cancel the service at any time with no consequences. though if you pay for the month, but then cancel on the 10th. you will then have 20 days of unused service. and yes you cannot do anything with the phone. looking at Verizon, it looks like they have some free phones when you sign up for a pre-paid plan:

Best Prepaid Phone Plans | 5G Nationwide & More | Verizon Prepaid

Enjoy savings on our new prepaid plans, including our lowest priced Unlimited plan with loyalty discounts. The longer you stay, the more you save.

www.verizon.com

Damn, my plan was to get a $50 trac phone at target and cancel the service so we could use it as just a cheap mp3 player and play stuff offline

 

[ocnbrze]

Damn, my plan was to get a $50 trac phone at target and cancel the service so we could use it as just a cheap mp3 player and play stuff offline

you can still do that. you just can't make phone calls or get text. you might even be able to get internet via wifi. but the down side is that probably storage is probably not good.