Best deal for unlocked Android phone in the $400-500 range?

**wco81** · 11-15-2010, 10:03 PM

Interested in using it without a SIM in the US (unless some decent prepaid data SIMs become available) and using it with prepaid SIM overseas, particularly for Google Navigation. (are there good car mounts with chargers for Android phones?)

Some of the gray-market importers like Expansys have various models but it's hard to map overseas models with the counterparts released in the US.

It sounds like there are original Droid-equivalents being still sold through these channels.

Hopefully more recent models are available, like the Droid X or Droid Pro equivalents. Expansys has "B-Stock" locked Samsung Vibrants for $400 but that sounds like there is a catch.

**Drillbit** · 11-17-2010, 08:00 AM

What particular model do you have in mind?

**wco81** · 11-17-2010, 12:44 PM

I don't but the opinion in other forums seems to be that at the moment, you can get a G2 from T-Mobile unlocked for $500.

I would be all over a model in this price range with those 4 or 4.3 inch screens and the latest processor.

Looks like Google is on the verge of announcing a Nexus S but that may be only sold under contract.

**bimmerboii** · 11-17-2010, 06:16 PM

If you're ok with 2nd hand phones, then I strongly suggest the Samsung Galaxy S. These can be had for $400-450. Although since you said you will be using it as a GPS, then make sure the unit you get has a working GPS. The GPS issue on the Samsung Galaxy S is a hit and miss. A lot of people have issues with the GPS, luckily, I dont.

Another great android phone is the Xperia X10. It can be had dirt cheap for $250-$350 second hand! It has been recently updated to 2.1, and multitouch has been officially announced and will come Q1 of 2011. GPS on the X10 is pretty spot on and instant. If you dont have a data plan, GPS lock will take around 1 min.. this is really good condsidering its a phone. Just use a 3rd party navigation like copilot which allows you to store the maps on the memory card. And since youre travelling, it takes great pics too!

**evilbaby** · 11-17-2010, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by wco81

I don't but the opinion in other forums seems to be that at the moment, you can get a G2 from T-Mobile unlocked for $500.

I would be all over a model in this price range with those 4 or 4.3 inch screens and the latest processor.

Looks like Google is on the verge of announcing a Nexus S but that may be only sold under contract.

If you can get the G2 in your price range I would. It has the newest processor, up to date sense ui and is a good phone over all. Personally I'd buy a used one but if you're looking new obviously that wont do.

Another option, not sure what the U.S. has but in Canada Virgin Mobile has the HTC Legend for 349+tax.
http://www.virginmobile.ca/en/phones...ForPhone=29.99

**Scottish Skyedance** · 11-18-2010, 11:40 AM

Wirelessly posted (HTC Nexus One: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.1-update1; en-us; Milestone XT720 Build/STR_U2_01.1E.0) AppleWebKit/530.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/530.17)

Perhaps you should wait for NS, or MT4.

**wco81** · 11-18-2010, 11:49 AM

What is the MT4?

**jzas** · 11-21-2010, 01:26 AM

I am surprised that T-Mobile is selling unlocked G2's. I would have thought they were carrier locked and that was the non contract price.

It's out of your price range but the Nexus 1 is still available from Google. It's $529 with a $25 developer fee. It is truly unlocked and is supposed to be first in line for the Gingerbread update and who knows what after that.It's also the only Android phone that I have run across that has a car dock and a desk dock designed for it.