The new Oppo...

[j_garcia]

They hinted at it a while back and now it looks like they went and did it

N1 White - OPPO Style

Now Available: Oppo N1 in the U.S.

 

[Ponzio]

The wish list just grows and grows.

 

[Alex2507]

But it doesn't do 4G aka LTE? Does that really matter? I'm on the pre paid or pay as you go flip phone deal and would love to get in on this smart stuff with an Oppo but what's the point if it doesn't keep up with iCan'twaittwoweeksforthistobeobsolete and Android?

Is it just the camera that makes this special? Would it hook up to Verizon or T-Mobile?

 

[Ponzio]

Would it hook up to Verizon or T-Mobile?

Verizon is out, from what I've read on the intergoogle.

 

[Alex2507]

Verizon is out, from what I've read on the intergoogle.

I see that it is Android ... once again proving that the phones are smarter than me.

 

[ReUpRo]

Size wise, the Oppo competes with the Galaxy Note. In that context, given its specs, it's a bit overpriced. The promise of CyanogenMod out of the box! Now that is interesting.

Alex, look into the Bring Your Own Phone program from Straight Talk. They have the best price for unlimited talk text and data, $45/month. With a carrier unlocked GSM phone, ST works anywhere there is AT&T or T-Mobile signal, but I prefer to use the AT&T option for better coverage.

 

[Alex2507]

Alex, look into the Bring Your Own Phone program from Straight Talk.

What about when I want to call Rick?

 

[Adam]

I'm on the pre paid or pay as you go flip phone deal and would love to get in on this smart stuff with an Oppo but what's the point if it doesn't keep up with iCan'twaittwoweeksforthistobeobsolete and Android?

For some odd reason, I don't see you plunking down $600 for a phone.

I didn't go with the Nexus 5 because it won't support Verizon. I wouldn't get this Oppo anyway, but with no Verizon, I don't even have to peruse the specs on it. I considered getting the Moto X off contract during Cyber Monday, but I'm happy with my Galaxy S3.

If you're looking to get into the smart phone market, I suggest looking a gen or two back. I bet that there are great deals. You probably even have friends that would give you an old phone. Going bleeding edge is pricey and honestly probably won't buy you much that you care about. You can cut the costs, depending on the carrier, if you sign up for a (usually two-year) contract.

 

[ReUpRo]

You can cut the costs, depending on the carrier, if you sign up for a (usually two-year) contract.

This is a big misconception in American cell phone shoppers. A phone subsidy in exchange for a contact is faulty financial logic that is being pushed by wireless carriers. In terms of annual cost of ownership, it is better to go with a full price device and no contract plan. Annually, per device, it can be anywhere from $500-1000 cheaper to be on a prepaid plan and it makes up for the upfront device cost. Especially, if someone does not go for the newest iPhone or latest top tier device, the savings can be startlingly significant.

For example, http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/bits/2012/08/02/prepaid-phone-plans/

The iPhone with a two-year contract on AT&T, for example, costs $200 for the handset and then upward of $90 a month for the plan; over two years, including the cost of the phone, customers pay at least $2,360. With a prepaid plan on Virgin Mobile, which is owned by Sprint, the iPhone costs $650 for the handset, and then $30 a month, including unlimited data (the type of data plan that people are happier with, according to J.D. Power). Over two years, that would cost about $1,370.

This article explains the details like ecosystem, device, plans and what not for a new cell phone shopper.

http://mobile.theverge.com/2011/11/16/2565102/smartphone-buyers-guide

 

[Adam]

This is a big misconception in American cell phone shoppers. A phone subsidy in exchange for a contact is faulty financial logic...

I respectfully disagree in regards to those that will be using the same plan regardless of the contract. If I'm going to use Verizon, I'm paying them the same each month whether I'm on contract or not. To me, the subsidy is simply a recognized financial risk if I decide to drop the plan prior to the end of the contract.

 

[j_garcia]

It isn't 4G because they began development long before 4G was the norm IMO. It also listed slower snapdragon processors. If you look at the posts on the last link on Giz, people posted plenty of old flip phones that had rotating cameras so their marketing department may have missed that when they said "Worlds first" unless they are only talking about smart phones.

Also sort of a bad time to get into this segment when there was an article the other day stating basically that the top 3 phones at ALL CARRIERS were the S4, Iphone 5S and 5C. No other phone even came close.

 

[ReUpRo]

I respectfully disagree in regards to those that will be using the same plan regardless of the contract. If I'm going to use Verizon, I'm paying them the same each month whether I'm on contract or not. To me, the subsidy is simply a recognized financial risk if I decide to drop the plan prior to the end of the contract.

That is correct if one opts to keep the same postpaid plan, albeit without a contact. To me this scenario doesn't make sense, since one gets no benefit except not having to worry about EFT. The aforementioned savings scenarios are an argument for switching to a prepaid plan/carrier like Straight Talk or Tracfone.

 

[Alex2507]

Straight Talk isn't 4G either. My girl has it for her iPhone 5 so it's a top phone with a lesser plan that can get you a savings. I've seen guys at work with the larger S4 phones and they don't carry them on their person. iPhones are better for that. The Oppo's pretty big too, isn't it? They all lay around on chargers too.

Adam's right ... somebody is going to have to give me one of those phones and then somebody else will have to pay for the plan. What I need is a man.

 

[Adam]

What I need is a man.

Signed,
Rick