Q: I have not owned a smartphone and am now considering what to get. The new phones are very expensive, so I am considering an older refurbished model of the Samsung Galaxy II Titanium through T-Mobile. Can you point me in the right direction for an objective analysis of this phone or other phones which may be good starter phones in the $150 price range?
— Jim Haugen
A: If you plan on paying $150 for a phone with a two-year service contract, then many of the top devices are well within your budget, including the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S4. But if you’re looking for an off-contract phone at around that price point, you should consider Motorola’s well-reviewed, entry-level smartphones, the and . The Moto E costs $129 and the Moto G is $179. The Android-powered phones are available online at . You can purchase no-contract service at a local T-Mobile or AT&T store.
— Andy Vuong, The Denver Post
