Best phone (not necessarily sold by Boost only) under $200?

[BlueNightSky]

I'm looking for a smartphone that will work with Boost Mobile that is under $200 (or at $200). Things about a phone that are important to me:

* nice native browser (not a really dumbed down browser)
* flash enabled camera (I can live without this if I have to)
* QWERTY keyboard (Not that important. I will get used to a touch-screen one if I have to)
* if no QWERTY keyboard, then a really good, responsive touch screen
* no major bugs in software or hardware
* small in width and length (don't need it to be super skinny though)
* has a pretty strong battery charge with normal use (I mostly text but will use internet and call occasionally)

So with that list, does anyone have any suggestions?

[LargePrime]

Epic
Has Slide out 5 row
can use the upgraded 1800MAH Epic Touch battery, or cheap extended
But the MOST IMPORTANT thing is the HUGE Dev support. It has CM9 in beta 3 RC1. Buy far the best dev support for a phone.

And I just got a used one on ebay for ~60$

I'm looking for a smartphone that will work with Boost Mobile that is under $200 (or at $200). Things about a phone that are important to me:

* nice native browser (not a really dumbed down browser)
* flash enabled camera (I can live without this if I have to)
* QWERTY keyboard (Not that important. I will get used to a touch-screen one if I have to)
* if no QWERTY keyboard, then a really good, responsive touch screen
* no major bugs in software or hardware
* small in width and length (don't need it to be super skinny though)
* has a pretty strong battery charge with normal use (I mostly text but will use internet and call occasionally)

So with that list, does anyone have any suggestions?

[shook187]

I'll say the under rated Evo 3d. I've found a few of them being sold on craigslist for under $150

[Dr.Ama]

i bought a brand new ZTE Warp on Ebay for $149.99.

[BlueNightSky]

Hi guys. Thanks for the suggestions. The Samsung looks like the safest bet and it's kind of like the phone I have right now but the Evo 3D looks like it gives you a lot for a little bit of money. I haven't looked into the ZTE yet, but right now I'm leaning toward the Evo 3D. Thanks for the suggestions.

[gotanmp3]

IMHO, Samsung's build quality leaves a bit to be desired and I personally know someone who had some of the keys on their Epic develop intermittent problems. The original Epic is also an older phone and will likely never see an official ICS build. The OLED screen is great for photos and video, but is pretty awful for black text on a white background and is almost impossible to see in bright daylight. On the upside, you can get one really cheap (cowboom currently has 'em for $80).

The Evo 3D, on the other hand, should be getting an official ICS release soon. Plus, since it's got a dual core CPU and a lot more RAM, it's a better value if you take into account bang-for-your-buck. The Evo 3D's high res LCD screen renders nice smooth text and the 3D feature can be turned off if you have no desire to use it.

[Jive Turkee]

If you can get the EVO 3D for under $150, get it. Great phone for the price.

[LargePrime]

IMHO, Samsung's build quality leaves a bit to be desired

Millions of Samsung owners would disagree. Samsung's build quality has been viewed rather favorably by those who actually own and use the phones.

The original Epic is also an older phone and will likely never see an official ICS build.

None of the older phones will get an official ICS build. So what? What makes the EPIC unique is that it HAS an ICS build right now, today! CyanogenMod 9 is in Release Candidate 2. The Development support is awesome for the Epic. Second to none.
Also Since it shares a heritage with several Google devices, So any Official ICS releases, or other cool software, is near immediately hacked onto the Epic by our awesome developers.

is pretty awful for black text on a white background

Again, actual daily users of the phone would disagree.

almost impossible to see in bright daylight.

Again, actual daily users of the phone would disagree.

On the upside, you can get one really cheap (cowboom currently has 'em for $80).

Actually $59. and deal was sold out in a few hours.
Which is another point. After 2 years of smart phone use I have found my Epics to have become like an additional organ. I just expect it to work, and I need to go to the Emergency Room if it stops working.
I actually have 2 spare Epics on hand because they are cheap(~50$). If I lose/break a phone I can have a near seamless replacement in 15 min of getting home. I have this set up because I USE THIS DEVICE EVERY DAY FOR EVERYTHING. So do half a dozen people I Know. You will too!
I see no point in having a device that is 5-10 times more costly that does not do significantly more and has much less development support.

The Evo 3D, on the other hand, should be getting an official ICS release soon. Plus, since it's got a dual core CPU and a lot more RAM, it's a better value if you take into account bang-for-your-buck.

I have found nothing I use this phone for that dual CPU's and more RAM would help with. In my opinion, that is more battery suckage for nothing. At say ~60$ for an Epic vs ~150 for an EVO3D, the EVO would need to give 2-3 times more Bang. It does not.

The Epic clearly has the best bang for the buck

[gotanmp3]

Samsung's build quality has been viewed rather favorably by those who actually own and use the phones.

The keyboard problems are known from back when this was one of Sprint's flagship phones. Link.

I personally had to exchange an Epic Touch twice before I got one with a working camera. The first one had wavy distortion over everything and the second couldn't focus properly. This is supposed to be their current flagship phone.

Samsung's M.O. seems to be "let the end users do the quality control". That's fine if you're buying brand new and don't mind possibly having to return your phone, but when you're buying used you may end up with someone else's lemon. I'd definitely recommend buying from a dealer with a return/exchange policy.

None of the older phones will get an official ICS build.

That's my point. Running a custom or community built ROM requires trusting random developers you've never met with all the information stored on/passed through your phone. Some people prefer to run stock, so it does matter that the Evo 3D will be getting an official ICS update and the original Galaxy S series phones, won't.

Actually $59. and deal was sold out in a few hours.

Since they're currently sold out, that doesn't really bode well for getting one for CB's previous price of $80. They probably got all bought up by scalpers looking to make a profit on eBay.

I have found nothing I use this phone for that dual CPU's and more RAM would help with.

Web pages render faster, everything runs smoother. Heck, try an Epic Touch sometime - it absolutely blows away the old Epic. Dual cores make a big difference.

As for the OLED display, compare it side-by-side with an Evo 3D. Text on the Evo 3D is smooth, clear and completely eye-strain free to read. Text on the Epic is all ragged with colored fringes caused by the PenTile matrix. In fact, even Samsung saw this as something to improve on and the newer screens on their Galaxy S II devices have a much higher subpixel count (and produce much smoother looking text).

If this was Epic Touch vs Evo 3D, I'd say no contest - get the Epic Touch. But that's out of the OP's price range.

[shook187]

I mentioned EVO 3d in my earlier post, and now with all the new ICS development going on in the XDA forums it becomes a no brainer. Sure the epic touch is nice but good luck finding one for under $300. Much more bang for your buck with the EVO 3d

[shook187]

By the way I'm not sure why the 2 year old OG Epic is even mention in this argument with the 3d. The OG Epic had little to no development beside CM9 which is still in beta and will remain beta, has horrible battery life, and is a single core phone.

[kg198202]

I like the boost mobile Samsung transform ultra

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[luther349]

no phone is without there issues.but i think the transform ultra or the zte warp. warp has no keybord but it has the biggest screen of all the phones making typing easy.

[LargePrime]

The OG Epic had little to no development beside CM9 which is still in beta

http://goo.gl/2uEvc
Epic has THE BEST Dev support of any phone. you are just wrong.

and will remain beta, has horrible battery life, and is a single core phone.

Single core means better battery life. mine lasts almost 2 days, how about yours?
Epic CM9 will get out of beta when CM9 does. The OG Epic was one of the first phones to have CM9 and is still one of the only of it's generation.
And that is due to its awesome dev support.

Yes it is an old $50 phone. but there is NO WAY the EVO3D is 3 times the phone at 3 times the price...

[shook187]

I'm not going to argue as to which phone is a better value. I own both. One ROM doesn't make up a development community. On the 3d, ROM's are dropping by the hour. By the way please send me some links of those $50 Epics.

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