Looking for advice for DD's first phone

**bcuser** · 08-10-2012, 10:14 PM

HI, we are getting our 13 year old daughter a phone, hopefully tomorrow. Virgin looks like a good provider as it has a $20 plan and we want to spend as little as possible monthly.

I was looking for input on their entry level smartphones (basically those that are less than $200 on a tab):

HTC Desire C
HTC Wildfire
HTC Legend
LG Optimus L5
Motorola Razr V
Motorola Motoluxe
Samsung Galaxy 551
Samsung Galaxy Gio

Any thoughts on if there is a clear better choice? She will use it mainly to keep in touch via texting, and will use wifi at school and home. Not getting a data plan yet at least. Hubby and I both have iPhones (but I'm sure as heck not spending that much on my kid at age 13!) so Android is new to us.

Also, I am not stuck on this cell phone provider so thoughts on other good choices appreciated.

Thanks!

ps - Virgin employees...your website is brutally slow and difficult to navigate back and forth between pages when looking at details of phone. Can't sort phones by price?! Very surprising for a company marketing themselves as young and hip!

**Mr Mystery** · 08-10-2012, 10:29 PM

I'd head over to Koodo and grab DD a Samsung Galaxy S-II-X for $150 on a Tab. Plans include VM/CID and Canada wide minutes.

**1-anh** · 08-10-2012, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Mystery

I'd head over to Koodo and grab DD a Samsung Galaxy S-II-X for $150 on a Tab. Plans include VM/CID and Canada wide minutes.

I would definitely consider koodo since for the same price you would be getting the exact same thing with koodo except virgin mobile allows a choice of unlimited text/picture messaging or vm/caller id compared to koodo where they include vm/caller id and its $5 more for unlimited text/picture messaging.

In terms of phones, the best phone on koodo right now is the Samsung Galaxy S2X T989D where its $150 + $150 TAB - $100 Prepaid Visa/Futureshop GC/Best Buy GC/ Walmart GC. The gift cards will vary depending on where you purchase it from but that essentially brings ur price down to $150+tax - $100 GC so its a really good value right now.

If you went with virgin mobile, they have a much larger choice of phones but one of the better ones for the price would be the Samsung Galaxy S2 I9100, it is still a very capable phone and it would be $100 + $150 TAB (purchased at futureshop).

Both phones are going to be fairly large at 4.5" for the S2X and 4.3" for the S2, I hope your daughter has large enough hands to handle those phones! Anyways good luck in making your purchase and send me a PM if you have any questions.

**bcuser** · 08-11-2012, 11:29 AM

Oh, great advice, thanks so much! We will check it out today.

I knew it would be a good idea to post here!

**bcuser** · 08-11-2012, 03:32 PM

Just got back from the Koodo store...I got the Samsung Galaxy SII X as recommended - the phone is beautiful and my daughter is thrilled with her bday present! Thank you guys!!!

btw...the phone is not easy to find. Best Buy seems to be the only one carrying it for Koodo (checked with London Drugs and Walmart), and they are sold out everywhere. But Kudo was great...they had it in-stock, and I got a $25 credit which I used for a case, and then got $75 Visa gift cards right away. Oh, and I got a $25 credit from the refer a friend program. Great customer service too!

**1-anh** · 08-12-2012, 10:04 AM

Glad to be of help, the reason why it's so hard to find is because it was just released on koodo 2 days ago. I am glad you were able to find one though! One thing, make sure you turn off wireless data to the phone to ensure that your daughter doesn't use data while off wifi unless you purchased a data plan for her as well. Don't want you getting ripped off on an overpriced bill! Cheers!

**Mr Mystery** · 08-12-2012, 10:26 AM

Glad it worked out for ya!

**johnhere** · 08-12-2012, 10:29 AM

That's a good choice of phone and service.

**Mr Mystery** · 08-12-2012, 11:16 AM

One thing to note, have koodo block data on the account since you are not getting her a data plan.

**bcuser** · 08-13-2012, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by 1-anh

Glad to be of help, the reason why it's so hard to find is because it was just released on koodo 2 days ago. I am glad you were able to find one though! One thing, make sure you turn off wireless data to the phone to ensure that your daughter doesn't use data while off wifi unless you purchased a data plan for her as well. Don't want you getting ripped off on an overpriced bill! Cheers!

Yes, we have turned it off on her phone. If she wants to text pics (which are not considered data) she has to turn it on and back off again after she's done, but I've encouraged her not to do that. If she does, it's her bill, not mine!

Thanks again!