It's time to upgrade your phone (to a smartphone)

[env3_user]

It's that time again...  My current contract will be up sometime next month and I've been shopping around for a new feature phone to replace my Env3 (apparently now known as "basic" phones).  After reading through some customer reviews, I've found that the "LG Revere" and the "Casio Ravine 2" are the only phones to receive a respectable rating of four stars or more.  So basically, my choices are: choose an archaic clamshell style flip-phone, an over-priced phone that looks like a mix between a brick and a submarine porthole, or give in and buy a smartphone + $30.00/month data plan.  Where did the LG Octane go?  I'm sorry, but I don't want OR need a smartphone.  I'm not one of those dinosaurs, refusing to "get with the times"; only a 22 yr old college student, wishing to spend my money on things other than a gargantuan monthly phone bill.

 

[Tidbits]

You only real choice would be T-Mobile, or regional carrier They have the largest selection of basic phones I have seen in a while.

[env3_user]

Thanks for the response.  How is T-Mobile's coverage?  The general consensus seems to be that Verizon has the best coverage.  That's why I would be hesitant to switch carriers...

[Tidbits]

Depends really. What I do BEFORE switching carriers(before my current job). I would buy a prepaid phone(usually $30) and use it in the areas I most often travel before switching providers. Saves you a whole lot of headaches in the long run. T-Mobile tends to have great in city coverage, but lack between city coverage in a lot of areas.

[env3_user]

I've been with Verizon since getting my first cellphone (6 years ago) and now might have to consider other options due to their increasingly abysmal selection of basic phones.  Phones like the LG Revere are just laughable in this day and age.  That design would be revolutionary ten years ago maybe.  Is it possible to get a good looking, reliable phone with a QWERTY keyboard and a decent camera without having to buy a ridiculous data plan?  My toaster can take higher quality pictures than the majority of their basic phone line-up.

It's just a real bummer how Verizon now seems content to ignore their basic/feature phone customers in favor of cashing in on the smartphone craze.  Well... That's business I suppose.

End rant.

[bbinnard]

Here are a couple of things to consider:

1. In addition to the $30/mo data plan you will also likely need the $10/mo message plan so you can send and receive text messages

2. 2GB/mo data is plenty unless you plan on doing video streaming (watching TV or movies)

3. 4G is needed only for streaming video. Plus it works only in certain areas and sometimes doesn't work at all.

4. Check Amazonwireless.com for comparable phone prices

5. Think carefully about whether or not you need a smart phone. If all you do with your phone is talk to people then a feature phone should work OK for you. But if you want to have access to all the spiffy phone apps that are out there (and there are some really spiffy ones) then you'll need to bite the bullet for a smart phone.

6. All of the prepaid carriers have much better pricing than Verizon. But they all have their own quirks, mostly involving coverage. So check the coverage maps and compare those to places you typically go.

7. Apple vs Android comes down to whether you want to put yourself into the Apple universe, which is a tightly controlled, closed one, or the Android universe that is wide open, very loosely controlled, and rather more chaotic.

[env3_user]

1. I already pay $10/mo data plan and $5/mo message plan for my Env3.  I don't see why they force the data plan on Env3 users, as I find the slow and clunky web browser to be nearly unusable.  I was one of the unlucky ones to buy this phone after they started requiring data plans.

2. 0GB/mo data sounds better.  I can stream videos just fine on my laptop.

3. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

4. Will do.

5. I do not need a smartphone.  Period.

6. I'll definitely check out my options for prepaid carriers.

7. What Apple and Android really comes down to is... nothing.  Because, I don't want a smartphone.

[MojaveMoon_]

"Is it possible to get a good looking, reliable phone with a QWERTY keyboard and a decent camera without having to buy a ridiculous data plan?"

Yes, it's the Samsung u370. Though it might be on a discontinued status, it's still available at some b&m Walmart and Target stores. It's been a reliable stable phone. You can research what people have said about it on here. You can search phonearena.com for news about an upcoming replacement called the u380 which might also be called the Brightside when it's released. The u370 is a re-release of the Samsung u820 Reality. You can find a review of the u820 at phonearena.com including pictures that were posted that were taken by the u820.

"Casio Ravine 2" are the only phones to receive a respectable rating of four stars or more.  So basically, my choices are: choose an archaic clamshell style flip-phone, an over-priced phone that looks like a mix between a brick and a submarine porthole"

The price and the size and the outside screen are appropriate for what the phone is capable of. Your statement therefore suggests that you haven't sufficiently studied the features of the Ravine 2.

Here's an excellent review of the Ravine 2:

http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/casio-g-zone-ravine/4505-6454_7-35074865.html?tag=contentMain;co...

And though this second review is for the previous model the Ravine 1, in the review the staff conducted durability tests; so you can use this review to gauge the durability of the Ravine 2

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371862,00.asp

[env3_user]

I've already read the Cnet review and am well aware of the Ravine 2's capabilities.  It's just not what I am looking for in a phone and I still stand by my opinion that it's over-priced.

[lewisr13]

You are not required to have a data plan on your env3.