Punting phone: basic or cheap smartphone?

[stonesfan310]

Thoughts on this? Tesco sell the PAYG basic phones for around £5-10 if bought with £10 credit

Would you go for this or a cheap smartphone with a PAYG sim? For the extra features and at least having the option of using the internet if required. Although I think I would probably still take my main phone with me and leave it switched off in the car.

[kaj314]

Basic. However WhatsApp can be useful, so perhaps a cheap smartphone would be best if you're browsing on it too.

[mr.bluesky]

Just go for a basic phone if all your going to use it for is making calls for punting

[Foxtail17]

I switched to a £10 Nokia basic dumb phone after finding a link to an escorts civvy life on an old smart phone I was using. I didn’t have any of my personal details etc on mine but it made me think about what could happen.

[ZeroCount]

Smart phone all the way. Access to AW messages while on the move. Ability to look up a plan B while out and about if you get let down. Use of Maps to navigate to unfamiliar locations, without the worry of Google tracking your movements on your main phone.

Never use any of your civvy accounts on it and you're sorted. I don't really understand how anyone manages without, it must be a right pain in the ass.

[The Outsider]

Texting is a real pain on an old style phone.  I use an older IPhone that's had a factory reset and has no civvy details/usage. 

[bender999]

Agree with Zero. Secondhand smart phone. Some Wg's only use Whatsapp and KIK. And if there is a question  about what services  were offered on AW you have direct access to the answer.

[Xtro]

I've just recently purchased a basic phone from ASDA.
The fucking thing doesn't even have predictive text!!!!   

[Charliehutton]

Texting is a real pain on an old style phone.

It's not just me, then. I can never be arsed and just ring them up and leave a voicemail, if necessary.

[Fabtime]

Another vote for smartphone, as per Zerocount's reasons.
Although do prefer tablet (when out and about) for surfing, as its a bigger screen.

[stonesfan310]

Smartphone it is, any suggestions? Second hand under £30 would be fine, and what would you suggest for PAYG SIM if I do need to use the credit towards a bit of data?

[bender999]

Smartphone it is, any suggestions? Second hand under £30 would be fine, and what would you suggest for PAYG SIM if I do need to use the credit towards a bit of data?

I bought a secondhand iPhone 5S off Ebay for £40 in excellent condition. If you dont mind one with some scratches/dents  or small crack on screen then you might get one for £30. I regard mine as a standby in case I ever lose or break my main phone. Got ASDA sim for 50p and a bundle for £5. 500mb of data, 200 mins talk, unlimited txts.

[Landscape]

I use an old smartphone which is only for punting. It's fine for texts/phonecalls and for checking out alternatives on AW when required.

Got a 3 sim in it on their  3p/2p/1p PAYG deal which has so far lasted me a few months with over a fiver left on a £10 top up.

[robsmith149]

I've been using a dumbphone for everything but am thinking of buying a 2nd hand smartphone, seen an iphone4 for £27, what are the downsides to buying these old ones, do they still do everything a newer phone does?

[bender999]

Obviously they don't do EVERYTHING the latest phones do but do enough to satisfy your punting requirements. The iPhone4 has the old style charging slot I think. You might want to check the battery on older iPhones as they are not cost effective to replace but then again they dont need to hold as much charge as your primary phone.

[cloud]

I've been using a dumbphone for everything but am thinking of buying a 2nd hand smartphone, seen an iphone4 for £27, what are the downsides to buying these old ones, do they still do everything a newer phone does?

I don't think the iphone 4 has 4g, so if you are planning to use date, it will be really slow.

[robsmith149]

Obviously they don't do EVERYTHING the latest phones do but do enough to satisfy your punting requirements. The iPhone4 has the old style charging slot I think. You might want to check the battery on older iPhones as they are not cost effective to replace but then again they dont need to hold as much charge as your primary phone.

I don't need a punting phone so will use this for everything, seems like a 4 is no use, do you think a 5 would be ok as can see them for around £50.

[bender999]

I like my 5S. Obviously smaller screen but then more compact to fit in trousers, shirt top pocket etc. Supports 4G if that is a requirement. Has fingerprint security. How much are you going to lose if you sell it again within a year? £10? Compare that with the depreciation of a much later model.

There may be other things it cant do that I'm not aware of that you may like but then I tend to use a mobile phone as a mobile phone and not as a small iPad.
 

[Gordon Bennett]

Smartphone all the way. WhatsApp is fantastic - once set-up/installed it'll work over wi-fi and/or without a SIM in the phone. Bluetooth is useful when driving, mapping, internet, social media if that's your thing. Got my Nokia 1 on Black Friday for £25, an absolute steal.
Do you even need to buy one? Most folks have drawers full of old phones don't they?????

[dynatron]

basic old fashioned dumphone kept in my car as punting phone and for car breakdowns-fantastic battery life and payg does me

[jayj301599]

I have a spare smartphone which I use for punting with a different pay and go SIM which I keep out of the phone elsewhere. After ever punt I clear messages, call logs, history etc

Plus I have afew games to play on the bus/train home from my punt

[woulddoanything]

Have kept my old smartphone when upgrading to a new one and put a cheap SIM in it. If partner finds it, then the excuse will be that I kept it in case I break the new one.