Broken mobile phone - what to replace it with?

[Bobupndown]

In all the years I've had a mobile phone the worst thing that ever happened was a broken screen or two, easily replaced and away you go. Until this week that is, my Samsung A53 just died without warning, Wont switch on. Took it to a phone repair shop, they cant fix it. Still paying for the bloody thing on a contract, not due to upgrade until June 2025 because conveniently all contracts seem to be 3 years now.
No idea if my phone was backed up or if all my contacts are saved to my Sim. All my music, passwords and little notes that I'd saved gone
So I guess I'll just have to buy a cheapish handset to use until I'm out of contract again.
Any pearls of wisdom from the collective on what to buy?
The used phones from companies like CEX dont seem to be much of a saving.
Looking at a Samsung A14 5g, bit of a downgrade on what I had previously.
Open to suggestions....

 

[Gritineye]

I just bought one of these due to a phone failure, works fine for me, battery life is good.

Comes without a charger and you may or may not need an adaptor to fit one of your old chargers. Lickily my old phone was backed up so I got everything onto the new one easily.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7NN5GW4?ref_=pe_27063361_487547111_E_304_dt_1

 

[tom2207]

Im still on a Samsung S5 neo ,,, replaceable battery and a memory card ... battery lasts all day and it seems tough enough for recovery work , and about 60 quid.
If I could get it to run android 7 like some can it would be perfect.

 

[Bornfree]

A working one

 

[angellonewolf]

if androind phone if you log in it should put contacts and apps on there that you had before if you was signed in on goolge as it backs up your phone

 

[ajlelectronics]

Until this week that is, my Samsung A53 just died without warning, Wont switch on.

Not your problem. See Consumer Rights Act 2015 and ask them to comply with it.

 

[Agrismith]

For best Value for money momey the Motorola g range are great not the best phones on the market sure. But what you get for your money is great and above and beyond what the average person really needs.

 

[OJCar]

"Broken mobile phone - what to replace it with?"

A Heliograph.

The battery life is excellent!





More seriously, try getting it into Recovery mode.
Make sure it is charged then press and hold Power and Volume Down together until the Android symbol appears.
You should then be able to select Factory Reset.

There is also a way to force start them involving a computer but I can't remember how at this state of the beer.

 

[Wildefalcon]

If your are paying for it it's up to them to fix it.

 

[Onoff]

but I can't remember how at this state of the beer.

Amen. It's like that "hands across the sea" episode of Rab C Nesbitt when he meets his Spanish doppelganger!

 

[angellonewolf]

If your are paying for it it's up to them to fix it.

ive had this before your only route realy is things are supposed to last for a resnable time if the phone shows any damage or water ingress theres no point

 

[Bobupndown]

"Broken mobile phone - what to replace it with?"

A Heliograph.

The battery life is excellent!





More seriously, try getting it into Recovery mode.
Make sure it is charged then press and hold Power and Volume Down together until the Android symbol appears.
You should then be able to select Factory Reset.

There is also a way to force start them involving a computer but I can't remember how at this state of the beer.

Tried all that, it is FUBAR'd unfortunately.

If your are paying for it it's up to them to fix it.

Unfortunately not its 16 months old so out of 12 month manufacturers warranty, not insured.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Unfortunately not its 16 months old so out of 12 month manufacturers warranty, not insured.

You are under a misapprehension. Your contract is with your supplier, the manufacturer is of no relevance to you. Your rights under CRA 2015 give you 6 years to bring a claim for an inherent defect. If the 'phone has not been abused in any way, then it is likely to have an inherent defect. Go to your supplier and request that they sort it.

 

[Parm]

Another one that you like ?

 

[Kayos]

You are under a misapprehension. Your contract is with your supplier, the manufacturer is of no relevance to you. Your rights under CRA 2015 give you 6 years to bring a claim for an inherent defect. If the 'phone has not been abused in any way, then it is likely to have an inherent defect. Go to your supplier and request that they sort it.

My daughters phone broke, sent it for repair via the supplier. Came back as water damage, not our fault

However the phone came back not completely reassembled, this made me unhappy.

Took about 2 hours on the phone, speaking to allegedly more and more senior people. A new phone arrived the next day

You have to stick with it and keep complaining

 

[Anguz]

Covered by house insurance?

 

[Wildefalcon]

Yep, quote the act. They'll see sense. Cc the local trading standards people, and the daily mail/guardian, according to your preference.

They can't contact out of consumer law.

 

[voipio]

Try pressing the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds. If that doesn't work, plug the charger into the phone, try to power up normally, then repeat the Volume Down + Power button combination again for 10 seconds.

 

[Bobupndown]

You are under a misapprehension. Your contract is with your supplier, the manufacturer is of no relevance to you. Your rights under CRA 2015 give you 6 years to bring a claim for an inherent defect. If the 'phone has not been abused in any way, then it is likely to have an inherent defect. Go to your supplier and request that they sort it.

My daughters phone broke, sent it for repair via the supplier. Came back as water damage, not our fault

However the phone came back not completely reassembled, this made me unhappy.

Took about 2 hours on the phone, speaking to allegedly more and more senior people. A new phone arrived the next day

You have to stick with it and keep complaining

Yep, quote the act. They'll see sense. Cc the local trading standards people, and the daily mail/guardian, according to your preference.

They can't contact out of consumer law.

The above all seems sensible advice. Its on O2, bought online. I went on this morning to try to have a conversation with someone about sending it to them. Only managed to get speaking to a 'bot' who wasnt any use. I wonder would I be better going into an O2 store and asking there?

My concern is that I took it to a generic mobile phone repair place to have a look. They have opened it up, deemed it unrepairable and put it back together. If I now send it to o2 will they be able to see that its been taken apart and say, "Not our problem"?

Try pressing the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds. If that doesn't work, plug the charger into the phone, try to power up normally, then repeat the Volume Down + Power button combination again for 10 seconds.

Tried all this, its not powering on at all.

 

[voipio]

Did the mobile contract come with a phone, or did you have to supply your own? In the past, mobile phone providers would send a new phone, just to keep the custom. You're more likely to be successful if the contract is not one of the cheapie ones. See what the small print says on the matter.