New phone under $600

Hikaru IchijoSL

Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 27, 2004
Messages
205
I would like 6gb ram
128gb of memory (64gb is it has a microsd slot)
minimal bloatware
6" screen
at least 1080p

I am very tempted by the oneplus 6t.

Must have bands 12/66/71 (not necessary but I would like to have it.) I am on tmobile.
 
don't hesitate on the one+, they have been great since getting my 6 with updates. 2nd only to google devices. Plus excellent battery life. I regularly get 5-6 hours sot and the 6t is better!
 
Can't seem to go wrong with the 6T. I'd buy one if I had to replace my Pixel 2 XL right now, even if price wasn't a factor.
 
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S9+? I'm sellling one that's in flawless condition, and it'll be a decent amount under your $600 target. It's the AT&T model, but flashed with T-Mobile firmware. It's 100% functional on T-Mo, and gets OTA updates from T-Mo as well.
 
The only phone that meets what your looking for regardless of price is the 6t.. the only other phone with the ram and band 71 is full of bloat and well over budget.
 
I still don't understand how people can justify spending so much on a phone... Crazy how much we spend on phones.
 
I still don't understand how people can justify spending so much on a phone... Crazy how much we spend on phones.

They are not really all that expensive when you consider the are basically ultra-portable computers that can also make phone calls.
 
I still don't understand how people can justify spending so much on a phone... Crazy how much we spend on phones.
the trend is crazy but if you break that cost out over a monthly basis over 2 years 500 to 600 is not much. I use my phone for alot of things. But these 1000$ are ridiculously. One plus occupies a good sweet spot. I just hope they don't go much higher as they are at the limit of what I feel is acceptable pricing.
 
I still don't understand how people can justify spending so much on a phone... Crazy how much we spend on phones.
They are not really all that expensive when you consider the are basically ultra-portable computers that can also make phone calls.
While I agree that they are basically ultra-portable computers that can also make phone calls, one would have to embed more in their argument to justify spending that much on a phone, when there is an abundance of lesser priced phones that can perform those functions.
 
Lumia 640 owner here that hates high priced items of any sort that don't seem worth it. I am in the market for a new phone now but am waiting until I can catch the optimal deal (for me) before I pull the trigger. I got several of my phones on the cheap (under 65 as low as 35) and found them to be great devices. I missed a deal for bogo moto x4 that lasted a day although I'm not sure I regret missing even that.

What I really dislike is how phones are basically viewed as throw away devices after a year or two with no support or OS upgrade options after maybe 1 new OS version. Is tech really advancing that fast that we can't get the newest OS on our older phones? Then there is the bloatware and proprietary software. I hate it so much it turns me off when I think of upgrading.

When I look for a phone I want I have a difficult time trying to find a decent phone for a decent price. All I want is a great daily usage life for calls and texts and taking photos so I don't run out of juice, a GOOD camera that doesn't have much delay, and good/fast charging via usb type c or wireless. A few other minor things would be nice but not essential.

I like the fact that I can (or could) buy a computer that will (or would) last for 5+years and still be useful and enjoyable, and upgradeable/repairable. I'm not even sure if that's possible now for me with such high prices nowadays. It's no wonder they say the desktop PC is dying!

Phones though? I'll never understand why anyone would pay so much for a device that is expected to last for such a short time, with what amounts to planned obsolescence.
 
I have an LG V30 that I bought in mint condition used for $220. It does every thing I could ask for and even has a built in DAC. I would never pay $1000 for a phone ever.
 
Lumia 640 owner here that hates high priced items of any sort that don't seem worth it. I am in the market for a new phone now but am waiting until I can catch the optimal deal (for me) before I pull the trigger. I got several of my phones on the cheap (under 65 as low as 35) and found them to be great devices. I missed a deal for bogo moto x4 that lasted a day although I'm not sure I regret missing even that.

What I really dislike is how phones are basically viewed as throw away devices after a year or two with no support or OS upgrade options after maybe 1 new OS version. Is tech really advancing that fast that we can't get the newest OS on our older phones? Then there is the bloatware and proprietary software. I hate it so much it turns me off when I think of upgrading.

When I look for a phone I want I have a difficult time trying to find a decent phone for a decent price. All I want is a great daily usage life for calls and texts and taking photos so I don't run out of juice, a GOOD camera that doesn't have much delay, and good/fast charging via usb type c or wireless. A few other minor things would be nice but not essential.

I like the fact that I can (or could) buy a computer that will (or would) last for 5+years and still be useful and enjoyable, and upgradeable/repairable. I'm not even sure if that's possible now for me with such high prices nowadays. It's no wonder they say the desktop PC is dying!

Phones though? I'll never understand why anyone would pay so much for a device that is expected to last for such a short time, with what amounts to planned obsolescence.

The OS issue is a distinctly Android problem. iPhone users get four to five years of OS updates, and they don't have to wait several months to get releases after they're available on other devices.

As for pricing... well, there are certainly prices that are unreasonable for some people, but I look at it this way: your smartphone is probably the single most important device you own, more than your computer, TV or anything else. It's always with you; it can serve as a communications device, a compact camera, a navigator, a news device, a media player, a vital work tool and a game machine in your off-hours. If you want it to do well at many of those, why wouldn't you spend the money when you might appreciate the improvements every day?

I wouldn't spend $1K on an iPhone XS or Galaxy Note 9 unless you were an enthusiast (guilty!), but I can see the value in an iPhone XR or other more reasonably priced flagships.
 
The OS issue is a distinctly Android problem. iPhone users get four to five years of OS updates, and they don't have to wait several months to get releases after they're available on other devices.

As for pricing... well, there are certainly prices that are unreasonable for some people, but I look at it this way: your smartphone is probably the single most important device you own, more than your computer, TV or anything else. It's always with you; it can serve as a communications device, a compact camera, a navigator, a news device, a media player, a vital work tool and a game machine in your off-hours. If you want it to do well at many of those, why wouldn't you spend the money when you might appreciate the improvements every day?

I wouldn't spend $1K on an iPhone XS or Galaxy Note 9 unless you were an enthusiast (guilty!), but I can see the value in an iPhone XR or other more reasonably priced flagships.
LOL, well TV definitely not important in any way for me. I had an iphone at one time but I don't like itunes on my PC just for personal reasons. Maybe it has changed but when I had it with my 3gs I wasn't too impressed (limited use for me and wasted HD space back then). I like being able to plug in my device and open up file explorer to transfer whatever I need and work within folders that way without having another piece of software installed.

Gaming on phones holds no interest for me whatsoever. I've tried some but can't get into it, even a pc port like empire deluxe which I loved I just can't get into for whatever reason. Then again I'm feeling some taint with many PC games... Maybe I'm just losing interest all together in it.

I'm gonna have to agree it's the most important device for the reasons you say, and when you think of it in that way maybe it is worth it. I do get a phone allowance (albeit not a large amount) and I do need to take photo's for my job, so I've actually been raising my bar on price as I look for a new phone (obviously I need one with this old 640 that's been through hell). Still though I see phones for more than double what I paid at top price of 65 that really don't seem much better than what I have. every feature you mention has worked fine on my phone, and I certainly don't need a flagship. I'm positive I'll find one for around 200 that I'll like, especially when I catch a sale. Has to be a lean android though! Motorola or Google phones seem to be what I am finding.
 
LOL, well TV definitely not important in any way for me. I had an iphone at one time but I don't like itunes on my PC just for personal reasons. Maybe it has changed but when I had it with my 3gs I wasn't too impressed (limited use for me and wasted HD space back then). I like being able to plug in my device and open up file explorer to transfer whatever I need and work within folders that way without having another piece of software installed.

Gaming on phones holds no interest for me whatsoever. I've tried some but can't get into it, even a pc port like empire deluxe which I loved I just can't get into for whatever reason. Then again I'm feeling some taint with many PC games... Maybe I'm just losing interest all together in it.

I'm gonna have to agree it's the most important device for the reasons you say, and when you think of it in that way maybe it is worth it. I do get a phone allowance (albeit not a large amount) and I do need to take photo's for my job, so I've actually been raising my bar on price as I look for a new phone (obviously I need one with this old 640 that's been through hell). Still though I see phones for more than double what I paid at top price of 65 that really don't seem much better than what I have. every feature you mention has worked fine on my phone, and I certainly don't need a flagship. I'm positive I'll find one for around 200 that I'll like, especially when I catch a sale. Has to be a lean android though! Motorola or Google phones seem to be what I am finding.

Things have definitely changed. You haven't needed iTunes to set up or back up an iPhone for years. You can't use the PC file system to manually copy things over, but there's also a dramatically reduced incentive to do that in the first place (cloud services, streaming media, AirDrop if you have a Mac). I only plug my iPhone into my computer to charge and create local backups.

For a budget price, I'd go with a Moto G6 (there's rumors of a G7 soon, but no idea when that shows up -- maybe February at the earliest). Solid performance and camera quality for the money, and it's a relatively plain take on Android.
 
All 6t owners I did something odd I put the sim in the 2nd slot instead of the 1st I am ok. I mean that I am not handicapping the phone. It is safe to move it and not have everything reset.
 
All 6t owners I did something odd I put the sim in the 2nd slot instead of the 1st I am ok. I mean that I am not handicapping the phone. It is safe to move it and not have everything reset.

You can change it without resetting anything, you don't even have to turn the phone off or reboot it. At least that's how every other phone I've used works, so I would hope/assume the 6T would be fine hot-swapping the SIM card.
 
You can change it without resetting anything, you don't even have to turn the phone off or reboot it. At least that's how every other phone I've used works, so I would hope/assume the 6T would be fine hot-swapping the SIM card.

I think I will change it and hope all goes well.
 
Things have definitely changed. You haven't needed iTunes to set up or back up an iPhone for years. You can't use the PC file system to manually copy things over, but there's also a dramatically reduced incentive to do that in the first place (cloud services, streaming media, AirDrop if you have a Mac). I only plug my iPhone into my computer to charge and create local backups.

For a budget price, I'd go with a Moto G6 (there's rumors of a G7 soon, but no idea when that shows up -- maybe February at the earliest). Solid performance and camera quality for the money, and it's a relatively plain take on Android.

Almost pulled the trigger on a G6 and saw an older Moto X (4th gen) for 150.00 apparently still new in the box, so I went with that instead.
 
I currently have the Pixel 2XL... Love the phone... I am going to buy the One+ next week just to toy with.. I figure if I like it, I will keep it and use it as a second phone in my rotation.. If not, it's going back..
 
OK so I've been using my new budget Moto X4 phone for 2 weeks. (definitely not the specs OP detailed)
I have to say I really like it. Does everything I need, but I am having a strange issue.
My contacts seem to be disappearing in groups for some reason. First time it happened only a few disappeared. Today I lost several more for some reason.
 
Are Huawei "persona non grata" in the US?
I have a P20 Pro and you can definitely find deals on them over here, but no idea on the US availability
Great phone

Or keep an eye out for the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 9
 
Are Huawei "persona non grata" in the US?
I have a P20 Pro and you can definitely find deals on them over here, but no idea on the US availability
Great phone

Or keep an eye out for the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 9

I'd never buy one. We also don't allow them at work (and another bunch of Chinese ones like BLU and ZTE). Untrustworthy. Our MDM blacklists any device like that and we block rooted devices as well.
 
Just got a 6T after owning a 3T and a 5.

First thing I've noticed right off the bat is how good the OP5 was. This 6T feels no faster or smoother in any area and IMO, is more of a testament to the OP5 then a negative of the 6T.

The in-screen fingerprint sensor is bad, like really bad. Especially compared to the traditional sensor in the OnePlus 5. Yes, I've deleted and re-added my fingers many times. Its takes at least twice as long to work over the traditional sensor in my 5, if it recognizes them at all.

Luckily the facial recognition is still just as fast as it was on the OP5.

Notification LED? Nope.

Can't tap the home button to lock the phone/shut off the screen anymore. This was super useful while it was sitting on my desk.


Part of me wishes I did a little more research instead of blindly buying the latest OnePlus just because it was the latest but I'll live with it.
 
I'd never buy one. We also don't allow them at work (and another bunch of Chinese ones like BLU and ZTE). Untrustworthy. Our MDM blacklists any device like that and we block rooted devices as well.
Not like all your data isn't being hoovered up by google etc anyway.
I don't see an issue
 
I see an issue, and so do people who use their phones as work phones. Huawei is known for stealing corporate secrets and proprietary information. They're currently being sued by T-Mobile because of this, and it's one of the reasons they're banned from being used in many places in the US.

Any company with proprietary info and a semi-competant IT department is going to want you to steer clear away from companies like this (And ZTE, and Blu, and Xiaomi, etc) to cover their own ass, not the individual's.

You might not see an issue with it, but many people DO, and with A: tons of other options available in the US, and B: having to go WAY out of your way to hunt down a Chinese/Euro market device, not many people are going to bother, or even know who Huawei is.
 
I see an issue, and so do people who use their phones as work phones. Huawei is known for stealing corporate secrets and proprietary information. They're currently being sued by T-Mobile because of this, and it's one of the reasons they're banned from being used in many places in the US.

Any company with proprietary info and a semi-competant IT department is going to want you to steer clear away from companies like this (And ZTE, and Blu, and Xiaomi, etc) to cover their own ass, not the individual's.

You might not see an issue with it, but many people DO, and with A: tons of other options available in the US, and B: having to go WAY out of your way to hunt down a Chinese/Euro market device, not many people are going to bother, or even know who Huawei is.

This ^^^

Not to mention US Intelligence banned many of those devices from use in the US Gov't. Then there's the arrest of the Huawei CFO. Yeah no issue at all. :rolleyes:
 
Eh ye are too paranoid
Everyone is stealing everything, not just the Chinese...they just get caught more

Also OP didn't mention using the phone for work either...and as I said in my initial post...I have no idea what the availability of these phones is in the US.
 
Not that I will get Huawei phone, but the case with TMobile is already settled. The US government is just bringing up that case as some sort of pawn against China in this ridiculous tariff battle. Also, many more companies are guilty of corporate espionage. Samsung stole tech from TSMC and Apple and was found guilty (neither were settlements), and yet your company probably isn't banning Samsung flagships for stealing corporate secrets. I still wouldn't get Huawei or Samsung though. Huawei only recently started getting better on updates to their Android devices, and Samsung is by far the worst big brand at updating right now. So both companies suck in my humble opinion. Another year or so if Huawei keeps updating the phones in a timely manner may change my mind about them.

One of my friend's dad in high school's was a frigging spy for Toyota against GM. He told me some the stories about it. It's crazy naive to believe it's not going on everywhere.
 
I need a backup charging cable for my 6t, what is a good cheap option it will only be used in my car. I am still loving this phone, I am so glad I bought it.
 
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