Need new smartphone. . .

[Cudedog]

I'm starting to look for a new smartphone. The one I have is a Motorola that I bought at Target about 5 - 6 years ago (maybe even longer than that, I don't remember). It still has good battery life, and internet surf, good at taking photos, but is starting to become "iffy" with connecting to/making telephone calls. LOL. Isn't that what a smart "phone" is all about?

When I start to dial it will show 3 or 4 bars, by the time I finish punching in the numbers it will magically go down to 1 bar or no bars. Makes it kinda hard to talk on the phone.

I have an old TrakPhone I'm using for backup, but it doesn't do internet or photos too well.

Can anyone recommend a smartphone that they like?

What I need is a mid-range, pre-paid (no subscription for phone service), phone that runs on the Verizon network. I have started "looking" but the number of phones and options that are out there are giving me a headache.

Suggestions appreciated, especially one with a good camera. I am in process of setting up an Etsy store for my jewelry-making hobby, so will be using the phone to take photos for my store.

Thanks.

Anne

[Shirlv]

Anne, I have IPhone s6 which I really like but only use to phone, text and take pictures. I have an IPad also which makes life easier for me since I have limited tech skills. I have no idea what I will do when this phone becomes obsolete because Apple prices are ridiculous. I have service through Straight Talk. I have had this set up for years and do not shop around until I’m told I need a new phone. Last time I was told they were upgrading and my old phone was not compatible. Don’t know if that was true but did not buy a new phone from straight talk.

[Bethers]

I have the less expensive phones, one from Motorola, one from LG. Both are over a year old now. Best features of both are their long battery lives. I'm happy with both. If I wanted to spend more money I'd either get a Samsung or a "better" Motorola. I'm an Android person and don't get spending on all the bells and whistles but have always been lucky with the inexpensive phones I've purchased.

[JudyJB]

The older iPhones are a lot less expensive than the newer ones. Two years ago, when the 10s or 11s came out, I bought an iPhone 8. I see a new iPhone 11 for $499, online, but that is the only older one they are selling new. I wonder if any of the corporate stores have any older merchandise.

However, I just checked on the Verizon site, and they are having a two-for-one sale, which drives those of us who are single crazy!! Plus all the older models seem to be pre-owned, which I would not want because you will probably want to keep it a long time.

In any case, good luck!

[MandysMom]

I love my iPhones. So, I'm no help, as I buy a brand new latest model, highest memory sold, every 6 years. Yes I pay over $1000, but I write the check and divide by 72 (months I'll have it), and it's what works for me.
Velda

[OregonLuvr]

I am android all the way. People like what they are used to. I have an LG phone that is 4 years old. works great, good battery life. But LG isnt making phones anymore so if something happens to this one I will replace it with a cheap phone. I cannot justify paying huge amounts for a cell phone even if it is the latest and greatest I dont need that kind of phone. I take some pics on it, surf internet occasionally, play a couple games (not often), text, emails,, FB and hotspot it when needed. My friend got a Motorola phone last month and I played with it and liked it so that might be an idea IF this one dies. He is happy with his choice and it was $120.

[Cudedog]

I am android all the way. People like what they are used to. I have an LG phone that is 4 years old. works great, good battery life. But LG isnt making phones anymore so if something happens to this one I will replace it with a cheap phone. I cannot justify paying huge amounts for a cell phone even if it is the latest and greatest I dont need that kind of phone. I take some pics on it, surf internet occasionally, play a couple games (not often), text, emails,, FB and hotspot it when needed. My friend got a Motorola phone last month and I played with it and liked it so that might be an idea IF this one dies. He is happy with his choice and it was $120.

Thanks, Karen.

Karen, like you, I have always been "Android all the way". Both my kids have IPhones, and like them, and would probably never change to Android. I have played with their phones a bit, and have found that the over-all functionality between the two systems seems to be much the same, although the way that they work is a bit different between the two. At a much higher price point.

My last two phones were Motorola (LOL, in fact my very first cell phone, from at least 25 years ago, was one of those huge "Motorola-In-A-Suitcase" things. ) Each individual cell call made was about $2.00 - $3.00! And. . . I thought it was absolutely the greatest, especially one time when my car crapped out in the middle of no-where in the desert when my kids were with me (they were little then, maybe 6 & 7), it was just me and them in the car, and was able to call for a tow.

Does anyone remember those suitcase things? How FAR we have come!!

I have always had the lesser-priced Motorola versions, and have been quite happy with them. The one I have now I bought at Target (has a few bells and whistles) several years back for about $150.00. After several days of research, I am leaning again towards a Motorola (at the same time thanking everyone for their input!) because of the better camera. The phone I have now takes very satisfactory photos, but I am looking for one with more "oomph" (more definition, better focus), as I will be using it to take photos of my jewelry for my Etsy store.

The one I am considering at the moment has 256GB storage, 8GB ram (this is more than your average laptop!) and a good camera. It has three cameras, actually, for photographing different kinds of things. Thought about it overnight, think I am going to do the deed this morning.

UPDATE.

Well, crapitsky. Somehow the phone that I want (make that want-ed) went up in price by 1/3 overnight, and it wasn't a cheap phone to begin with. I guess I missed the fact that it was on "Holiday Sale". I am a fairly cheap. . . make that thrifty. . . person. It's back to the drawing board for me.

I'll wait a bit, maybe, hoping the phone that I have doesn't totally give up the ghost. Maybe there will be a "Lincoln's Birthday" sale or something.

I hate it when this happens.

Anne

[Bethers]

Anne, I'm confident it'll be back on sale. Just be patient. But I mainly am replying because, yes, I had one of those Motorola phone is a suitcases lol. People didn't understand why I had it if I wouldn't call anytime. Yep, calling was expensive. I only made calls a few times. One I specifically remember because I had my annual gynecologist appt and he did a procedure using I don't remember what then as I was ready to leave they asked who was driving me. Huh?!?! They would let me drive. I used that phone to get my ride home.

[JudyJB]

Back in the 90s, my boss was a lady who is still my friend. She was a VP, and we used to make marketing trips together, and I would drive while she would sit in the back seat because her "car phone" was in a suitcase, and it would not fit in the front seat if she sat there. We had some fun and funny trips, with her making calls in the back seat and me passing along information as she made calls. I remember one marketing trip we made to a bunch of GM plants down in Mississippi and Alabama, we flew in on Saturday morning because it was a $250 flight versus an $850 flight on Sunday. Both of us had been very busy, so we took time to go to the local mall and catch up on our personal clothing shopping, then had a good dinner.

It was a fun company and we worked hard, but I remember I was glad I did not have to carry one of those 20+ pound suitcases. People who had them had to carry them, along with brief cases, onto planes all the time!! One trip where we had flown out early to save money, we picked up a couple of the other VPs on Sunday morning, and went to visit Vicksburg National Battlefield. We drove all over the battlefield on a lovely spring day, and then went out to a blackened catfish dinner. Flying out early to save money might sound strange, but the company was very good about letting us schedule our own work time, and if we flew into some place early or ended up coming home very late at night, they would assume we would take extra personal time off to make up for it.

And if I remember correctly, those huge phones and cases cost a couple of thousand dollars, right??

[Acadianmom]

We didn't have a suitcase phone but had one of the old bag phones that was about the size of a shoe box. Harold was friends with our insurance agent and he got it for us. We were on his plan for a while so I don't know what it cost. I can remember my boss getting one of the first small Texas Instrument adding machines about 1970. I don't remember how much it cost but it was a lot. Now you can get one for $5 that can do more than the first computers.

Judy, you remind me of the trips my boss and I took. My boss was a woman and we were always trying to save money. You can bet the men didn't try to save any money. If it was going on an expense account they went first class.

I refuse to buy a phone from AT&T. When I had to get a 5G phone I went on line looking at phones. I have bought used phones before and never had a problem with them. This time I bought one from Samsung for about $250 and it was new. It isn't the latest model but not that old.

Martha

[Colliemom]

I too have an IPhone 6s. It does fine for what I want. Because of my hearing handicap, I also have a landline phone through my cable company that is Closed Captioned and that is my primary phone. I like the IPhone because of the variety of apps one can get if one so desires and because I also have an IPad, the two are synced. What ever comes up on one, Is on both. If I take a picture with the phone, it will be in the photo library on both devices. If I text somebody who has an IPhone, that text and their reply comes up on both or if somebody with an iPhone texts me, it will show up on both. I love it in that, I can carry on a text conversation on my IPad which is easier to type on than using the phones keys. And my phone can be turned off and the messages will still appear.

[JudyJB]

Martha, most of our consulting company did work for the government, so we used government rates for some expenses. We submitted real hotel and airfare costs, but for meals, we used a published local rate for government employees and did not have to submit individual meal costs. We women ate reasonably, but the men complained that $80-$100 per day for meals was not adequate!! But they had drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and dessert, while we just had main courses. It was ridiculous.

I also had a bag phone and remember paying about $400.