Mobile phone, advice please

[diy_fun_uk]

I always buy my mobile phones on a contract (Virgin Mobile) so I don't have to think much about security updates etc, they're pushed out by (in my case) Samsung and I accept them. I also receive the SIM from Virgin based on the SIM deal I've opted for.

We're planning to buy the following phone for a relative:

https://www.oneplus.com/uk/oneplus-12 (it has this OS: OxygenOS 14.0 based on Android™ 14)

The plan is to buy the phone outright and direct from the manufacturer. It'll be unlocked, thus leaving our relative to buy any SIM deal from any provider.

Does anyone on here buy unlocked phones? If yes can you advise what happens with things like security and software updates? Are they received and applied as seamlessly as when on a contract phone? Have you noticed any downsides to having an unlocked phone?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Does anyone on here buy unlocked phones? If yes can you advise what happens with things like security updates? Are they received and applied as seamlessly as when on a contract phone? Have you noticed any downsides to having an unlocked phone?

I don't often replace phones, never found the need to have the latest gizmo, but I always buy unlocked, or have them unlocked. Never a problem with updates, while ever the phone supports the update.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

All phones are unlocked now, they receive updates from the manufacturer irrespective of whether you bought them on contract from a network provider or outright from the manufacturer or anywhere else, they'll receive updates as and when and until they decide not to, then that's that.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

All phones are unlocked now, they receive updates from the manufacturer irrespective of whether you bought them on contract from a network provider or outright from the manufacturer or anywhere else, they'll receive updates as and when and until they decide not to, then that's that.

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Mottie]

Does anyone on here buy unlocked phones? If yes can you advise what happens with things like security and software updates? Are they received and applied as seamlessly as when on a contract phone? Have you noticed any downsides to having an unlocked phone?

I've bought mine and Mrs Motties phones unlocked for at least the last 20 years. It’s the manufacturer that sends out the updates. No downsides whatsoever. You can buy either a PAYG sim if you use it very little or a 30 day rolling contract with a bit of data, unlimited calling minutes and texts plus EU roaming for less than £3 a month.

 

[SFK]

I often buy unlocked phones and SIM cards for family (typically elderly who want simplicity but also good above entry level phones that are not too expensive).


Are uodates received and applied as seamlessly as when on a contract phone?
Yes- exactly the same.
Have you noticed any downsides to having an unlocked phone?
None. Only positives. Except there is no insurance, that might be covered by contract provider. But my provider never provided any insurance without extra cost.

All software updates come though the phone data plan. Update are automatically installed (because I have ticked that box in the phone menu.

Currently (if family have a vodafone mast nearby) I am getting the £5per month Lebara SIM card with 5GB of data.

And currently getting sub £140 unlocked Motorola phone from Argos.

Upside: Family then have a reasonable priced phone that has a basic Android system (Motorola tend to not modify android). Lebara provide a fixed monthly cost (so no top-up) for lots of minutes, easy to cancel with one month notice, and good amount of data. And can use website to monitor how much data family are using and if needed move them up to £10pm. Also covers all of Europe. If family member looses phone there are no massive phone calls costs (as capped at £5pm).

Downside : Lebara needs top-up payments for outside Europe (inc Turkey). Lebara is on Vodafone that is slightly better outside buildings and slightly worse inside buildings than EE (which is the opposite due to the frequency they each use at their masts). Sub £140 Moto phones are good, but not great).

SFK

 

[JohnD]

I buy unlocked Sim Free phones from Argos sometimes, for some reason they have good prices on Which best buys and are trustworthy for returns and guarantees. I get Nectar points which bring the price down.

I once got a Samsung at a discount from Samsung when my (very old) Samsung phone went wrong and I phoned to ask the price of a repair. They took the serial number of the old phone to verify it was registered to me and I think flagged it to prevent anyone getting a discount on it again. Oddly it started working later.

I look at Martin's Money-saving for the best price on Sim packages. I do it on both PAYG and Contract packages.

I register the phones with the maker and get free software updates for "life"

 

[JohnD]

We're planning to buy the following phone for a relative:

https://www.oneplus.com/uk/oneplus-12 (it has this OS: OxygenOS 14.0 based on Android™ 14)

The link says "not suitable for UK"

Seems odd.

I don't know the brand

 

[SFK]

John,very good point, I missed that.

OnePlus is a China-based smartphone manufacturer that also produces the Ace and Nord lines of phones.

They do not use android

They use a 'borrowed' version of Android that looks similar and many say is exactly the same (but I do not know if Android app compatible as never used).

I have no idea how OnePlus phones update, but likely no difference between contract and SIM free.


Also, Chinese software and firmware can be a bit weird to use.@OP Are you sure you wish to inflict this on a relative?

Sfk

 

[JohnD]

I found it on "Which". It has a very good review, I can't see updates mentioned. They say Android 5G

 

[JohnD]

Ah, they say (see last line)

"How secure is it?​

Because this phone needs to connect to the internet to use all its functionalities, we ran it through tests to make sure it was cybersecure.
We didn’t find anything major that would compromise your privacy or your security at the time of testing. We checked for common issues, such as vulnerability to hackers and misuse of your data. That said, we do have concerns about the face scanner, which could be fooled by a photograph. Avoid using this feature if you own this model.
In terms of how long it’ll receive important updates from the manufacturer, OnePlus has released this phone with five years of support."

 

[Notch7]

Ive bought phones on their own and a SIM only contract for years, its so much cheaper

I hate being tied to a phone contract

 

[SFK]

From memory, so happy to be shot down.

China banned Chinese manufacturers from installing Android on Chinese phones.
So Chinese phone manufacturers make their own software (looking just now on Web it seems to be a lightly modified Android). In this case called OxygenOS.

More details here

Can you access Android in China? Test what is blocked in China

Is android.com blacked in China and is there a way to access it? Test if any site is blocked in China and see if and how it can be unblocked.

www.comparitech.com

Chinese phone manufacturers often allow you to put Android into their phones. But you have to do this yourself. Many people in IT do this because it is fun (ie challenging). But rarely done by typical buyers. Also OxygenOS is very fast and bloatware free.

What I do not know is if OxygenOS can easily access Android app store??. Most people seem to say it is basically a lightly modified Android, so it should do (as long as you are outside China). But some seem to have PlayStore app access issues.
SFK

 

[Diver Fred]

I always buy my mobile phones on a contract (Virgin Mobile) so I don't have to think much about security updates etc, they're pushed out by (in my case) Samsung and I accept them. I also receive the SIM from Virgin based on the SIM deal I've opted for.

We're planning to buy the following phone for a relative:

https://www.oneplus.com/uk/oneplus-12 (it has this OS: OxygenOS 14.0 based on Android™ 14)

The plan is to buy the phone outright and direct from the manufacturer. It'll be unlocked, thus leaving our relative to buy any SIM deal from any provider.

Does anyone on here buy unlocked phones? If yes can you advise what happens with things like security and software updates? Are they received and applied as seamlessly as when on a contract phone? Have you noticed any downsides to having an unlocked phone?

At that price why buy a make no-one has ever heard of? Especially a Chinese one with its own OS. An Apple iPhone 14 with 256Mb is the same price; As is a Samsung Galaxy 24.

If it's for an elderly person then a Doro 'phone is better value. And easier to use.

 

[securespark]

A long time ago, I know, but when I bought my first smart phone, a Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3, I looked at a contract. I found the pricing of contracts very misleading. They were priced so that people would focus on the monthly fee, but when added up, the total over the life of the contract could be ridiculous.

I worked out that I could actually buy a phone from Amazon, put the same money in a savings account to buy another in 2 years and have enough left over for £5 of allowances per month, all for the same or less money than the price of a contract then on sale at the likes of phones4u.

So that is what I did.