[Pred the Penguin]

Do any of you know of any good unlocked Android phones around the price range of US $200~$300?

[LHN91]

Quick Newegg search turns up the ones at this page:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008699+4018+600028588&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&IsNodeId=1&Subcategory=227&description=&hisInDesc=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&AdvancedSearch=1&srchInDesc=

Only issue I see with them is that all of them are touchscreen only phones. I don't mind touch screens, but I understand those that want proper tactile buttons. Personally, though I haven't had that particular HTC phone, I've enjoyed my HTC and quite like the interface.

[JGZinv]

HTC or Samsung units are generally quite good.

[Pred the Penguin]

I'm fine with touchscreens. The only things I absolutely need in a phone is that it's unlocked and has some kind of GPS feature. Edit: Oh yeah and also one that I can upgrade the OS easily.
My uncle doesn't agree with Samsung phones at all, too many technical problems I think.
Anyways, just asking to see if anyone has anything special to recommend. Thanks anyway though.

[LHN91]

Just wanted to mention: With Android based phones in general, the updates are easy enough to apply, but you usually have to wait for the company that sells the phone (i.e. HTC) to put an update together. I haven't really dabbled in custom roms myself, so I can't say much about that.

I'm not particularly a fan of Samsung either, but I haven't heard much to the effect that their hardware is faulty. I currently have an HTC Legend, quite like it, and I've already dropped it down a flight of stairs at least once (EDIT: with no signs of damage beyond cosmetic). However, it's a last gen phone, somewhat underpowered, only goes to Android 2.2, and is likely less than 200 dollars by now.

[Pred the Penguin]

Yeah, I'd like to be at least up to date on the OS so I'm ok with something over $200. I'm entirely sure about Samsung, but I guess I could check out a few. All I know is I'm going avoid those running Windows cause it's... well... horrible.

Edit: Also I'm specifically looking for GSM phones if you understand the lingo which I barely do.

[The E]

I'm using a Sony Xperia Arc, which is a pretty good phone, and which is currently fitted with Android 2.3.4, with an update to ICS coming early next year.

[KyadCK]

Love my Inspire 4g, but its already kinda outdated (only one core? really?  ) and now only comes in crap brown. As for the ability to update... it officially supports 2.3, we'll see how far Cyanogen can take it. Not sure I would recommend it (it's $325 unlocked anyway), there must be better options out there.

Quick search came up with a simple list, similar to LHN91's: Link

EDIT: Woo! Looks like I might be able to expect my Inspire to be 4.0 compatible.

[Jeff Vader]

Nexus S here (Samsung).

Pros:
- vanilla Android
- (because of vanilla Android,) future Android updates should be relatively fast (rumour has it that Android 4.0 should become available this year)
- (because of vanilla Android,) no weird software to be installed when you want to connect the damn thing to your computer. Just plug and play.
- a good price (when I bought it, it was sold at the same price as HTC Wildfire S, which has noticeably worse specs)

Cons:
- no Gorilla Glass
- shiny black plastic ;d
- single-core, yeah
- no SD card slot (I don't mind, but others might)
- once it somehow ended up thinking that there was no SIM inside or something. A reboot took care of that, but still.
- sometimes the Facebook app gets stuck up on doing something, and ends up draining the battery if you don't notice it (probably not the phone's fault, actually).

[Colonol Dekker]

My Sony Ericsson X10i is two years old but still bleeding edge due to upgrading to the latest android version.... Which is ridiculously easy with Sonys bundled software.

So have a look at the Xperia range.

[Pred the Penguin]

Thanks for the recommendations. Still considering if I want buy a phone or not. It's a lot of money to spend on something.

[KyadCK]

Thanks for the recommendations. Still considering if I want buy a phone or not. It's a lot of money to spend on something.

So get one that is locked, my inspire was only $100.

[Pred the Penguin]

Then the monthly rates will just be insane. Minimum of maybe $50 a month or maybe more I think.

[aRaven]

Had a HTC Desire and now a HTC Desire. Both were unlocked, S-Offed and Rooted. These are great devices! Custom ROMs are plenty and I get the newest OS without waiting for the manufacturer.
Rocking Sense 3.5 on HTC Desire S now.

Had a Samsung Galaxy S before, but the earpiece was broken, so I returned it. Didn't like the button design either.

If you want something great out of the box, consider getting a WP7 phone. It's really smooth and has a lot of stuff integrated like facebook, twitter. Downside is the OS is not open, tethering depends on your carrier (if they allow it), browser doesn't have flash etc.

Have HTC Mozart (corporate phone) and I like it! Not as much as my Desire S of course

[Actium]

Im actually using a Galaxy 551. The Phone itself is great and quite robust (even with plastic, yes , remember the good ole undestroyable nokia phones ?). Problem is just the OS, which is Android 2.2. It has a lot of major bugs (W-Lan anyone ?). I have learned to life with em and how to avoid em.

Sadly neither HTC, Samsung or Sony keep there Phones updated for longer than a year. So before i ever buy a Android-Phone again, i look first for the OS and its bugs and then decide.

[jr2]

http://www.modaco.com

http://forum.xda-developers.com/index.php

Two good mobile phone sites... they have some resources for modifying your phone to work better than the manufacturers bother to deal with.  (basically, how to modify your phone / custom roms for your phone etc)

[Colonol Dekker]

http://en.miui.com/


Enjoy ^_^

[Mongoose]

Guess I'm the only one still doing just fine with a 6-year-old dumb phone.

[The E]

Nope. If my old dumbphone hadn't gotten itself crushed under a truck, and if my DSL provider didn't have a rather good offer for smartphones, I would have gotten another dumb one. But then, my saving throw vs shiny is reaaaaalllyyy low....

[jr2]

Thanks, Dekker.  When they finally get Android hacked for the Samsung SCH-i920 (Omnia II), then I'll try that.  They have Android for the SCH-i8000 version of the Omnia II (mostly same thing as i920 but better parts) already.

More info on that in this thread.