Cheap 4G mobile phone suggestions?

Cheap 4G mobile phone suggestions?

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OutInTheShed

Original Poster:

9,368 posts

33 months

Sunday 23rd June
quotequote all
I need to get a second phone to park a SIM in while I check out coverage in the boondocks.

Mildly tempted to spend a bit more and get a phone with at least GPS, maybe run an app or two on it.

Any suggestions?

sgrimshaw

7,419 posts

257 months

Sunday 23rd June
quotequote all
Based on my experience with three of their tablets purchased recently, I'd look at a Doogee phone.

Something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CQCGRYGH?psc=1&r...

This is a dual SIM phone, so you could try two network's SIMs at the same time if your checking signal quality.

Alternatively, look at their tablets. They are also dual SIM so you could have a 4g tablet for the same price.

Having bought a couple of their 11" tablets and been very impressed, I just bought an 8.4" one for use as a Sat Nav in the car, same price as the phone above, £75:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CDGZX7KN?psc=1&r...

OutInTheShed

Original Poster:

9,368 posts

33 months

Sunday 23rd June
quotequote all
Yes, it occurred to me that a tablet is an option, particularly as I use one for boat navigation, and that's an old one which is perhaps on borrowed time.
So I could spend £25 on some used low-end phone, or £120 for a used ipad, or get a 'no name' tablet.

Corso Marche

1,764 posts

208 months

Tuesday 25th June
quotequote all
sgrimshaw said:
Based on my experience with three of their tablets purchased recently, I'd look at a Doogee phone.

Something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CQCGRYGH?psc=1&r...

This is a dual SIM phone, so you could try two network's SIMs at the same time if your checking signal quality.

Alternatively, look at their tablets. They are also dual SIM so you could have a 4g tablet for the same price.

Having bought a couple of their 11" tablets and been very impressed, I just bought an 8.4" one for use as a Sat Nav in the car, same price as the phone above, £75:
What are those DOOGEE tablets like for navigation?
What's real world performance like using G Maps and/or Waze?
I'm looking for an 11" tablet for use in a touring van which will be the chief navigation hub but also simultaneously the podcast/music/radio streamer.
Split screen apps when in use. 2 or 3 apps displaying simultaneously. I've noticed G Maps performance to be very dependent on the hardware, and can be slow searching/rerouting etc on the fly if you need to make sudden route changes or adjustments when navigating. Not desirable when trying to find your way around a new city for the first time when on a touring holiday.

sgrimshaw

7,419 posts

257 months

Wednesday 26th June
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Corso Marche said:
What are those DOOGEE tablets like for navigation?
Not tested it for G maps yet, but everything else flies, so have high hopes.

One thing you need to be aware of with G Maps is that there's no option to avoid minor or residential roads. This can result in it sending you down some totally unsuitable roads. It assumes you can do max legal speeds for the roads it puts you on.

120 kph through farmyards just isn't possible as we found out in Spain last year.

Co Pilot is much better from that perspective, yet to try Waze.

Corso Marche

1,764 posts

208 months

Thursday 27th June
quotequote all
Thanks. I use G Maps for 4-5 hours everyday, and am familiar with it's workings, strengths, and weaknesses.
It's far better in some countries than others. But that's down to the quality of information supplied from national authorities to the open street maps project which most mapping and navigation services use as their base. The maps and route info is much better in some countries than others.

Are you still using CoPilot? The consensus amongst users is that it's gone seriously downhill in the last couple of years, and many have abandoned it.

sgrimshaw

7,419 posts

257 months

Thursday 27th June
quotequote all
Corso Marche said:
Are you still using CoPilot? The consensus amongst users is that it's gone seriously downhill in the last couple of years, and many have abandoned it.
Yes, I use it abroad mostly - especially since G Maps was sending me down country lanes ... you should have seen some of the ones it sent me down in Spain ... literally through farmyards at times. Be great if you could tell it to ignore unclassified roads.

Got a license for all countries so might as well smile

Maps seem pretty up to date to me.