Please recommend smartphone, $120 to $200 range

[binsonk]

I'm looking for a replacement smartphone that is priced in the range of $120 to $200, give or take $20. I require front-firing speaker(s) and LTE speed on T-Mobile network. My current phone has a 4.7" screen. Now I'm looking for 5.0" - 5.5". I'm not particularly thrilled with Lollipop because of its restrictions on SD data, so I can accept KitKat 4.4.2+ as the version of Android, or Android with an option to upgrade to Android Mushroom or M.
I've already selected two possible solutions:

1. Motorola Moto G 3rd-gen 2015 (16gb SSD / 2gb ram)
pro: upgradeable Android 5.1, 5-inch screen, LTE speed, front speaker
con: battery not replaceable, pricey ($229), screen gets warm to the touch, no NFC, no Band 12

2. HTC Desire 626 (16gb SSD / 1gb ram) factory unlocked (possible 16/2 variant)
pro: front speakers, 5-inch display, LTE speed, KitKat 4.4.4 (upgradeable)
con: small battery (2000mAh) not replaceable, not enough RAM, over $200, does not do T-Mobile 3G

3. HTC Desire 620
pro
con

HTC phones are known for having front-firing speakers. I've looked over HTC phones, notably the HTC One M9 (hit-or-miss battery life/performance) and HTC Desire 826 (heating issue), as well as Alcatel Idol 3 (needs screen protection, heating issue, poor battery life). Please recommend smartphones that are within the above guidelines. If you own a Moto G, 2nd or 3rd gen, please give your impressions and a critical review.

Thanks,
binsonk

[binsonk]

Re: Please recommend smartphone, $120 to $200 range

I'm wondering about the BoomSound enhancement feature on the HTC Desire 610 and 620. I know the the Desire 610 has two speakers, one above, one below the screen. I'm pretty sure the BoomSound feature applies here, as well as a normal mode with BoomSound turned off. My question is, can BoomSound be set to mono, and the same question of the normal mode with BoomSound turned off? A second line of inquiry concerns the speaker(s) on Desire 620. Does this phone have just one media speaker, the one below the screen? Does the single speaker still feature BoomSound enhancement? And while this single speaker is obviously mono, I wonder if the earphone audio can be set to mono. BTW, on similar models, two of the apparent holes of the audio grid on top of the screen are actually sensors (proximity, ambient light)

Comment: I like the two-speaker setup on the Desire 610, but the Desire 620 represents such a targeted improvement over the 610, it's on my list. Almost every spec of the 610 has been significantly improved in the 620. That's more a comment on the lackluster 610 than an endorsement of the 620, which still has only 1 gig of ram.

The specs for the Desire 610 and 620 do not specifiy the ability to do Mobile HotSpot. Is that capability more on the phone/device side or on the Android/OS side? Cuz even my low-spec LG can do Mobile HotSpot. Unless Mobile HotSpot is included as a form of Tethering, which is mentioned in Desire specs.

[Djosla]

Re: Please recommend smartphone, $120 to $200 range

Why only these models....?

Take this for example:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Origi...323641702.html

OS:Android 5.1
Language: Multi-language
CPU: MTK6753 64bit Octa Core
Screen Size: 5.5 inchResolution: 1920*1080 pixels
GPU: ARM Mail-T720
Storage: 3GB RAM 16GB ROM
Front Camera: 5.0MPRear Camera: 13.0MP
SIM Card: Dual SIM,dual standby
Battery: 4000mAh/4165mAh Battery
Storage Extend: Support
Features: WIFI, Bluetooth, GPS,Gravity sensor,etc..
Network:
2G: GSM:band 3/5/8 (850/900/1800)
3G: WCDMA:band 1/8(900/2100)
4G: FDD-LTE:band 3/7/20 (800/1800/2600)

[dellxps15]

Re: Please recommend smartphone, $120 to $200 range

take in mind also microsoft lumia, they are cheap and fast.
i own a lumia 920 and im fine with it

[binsonk]

Re: Please recommend smartphone, $120 to $200 range

Thanks for your suggestion.
Re: Elephone P8000, good specs, but the speaker is on the back, I require front speakers

Re: Microsoft Lumia, I am a Linux enthusiast, so not really looking for a Windows phone

Requirements:
Snapdragon 410 or above quad-core
Front speaker(s) (not back, not bottom)
LTE speed on T-Mobile
Android 4.4.2 or above
5 inch or more display
ability to set audio to mono (I dislike stereo in earbuds)
adequate ram, 2gb
adequate storage, prefer 16gb
SD card support (prefer microSD slot)
battery 2400 mAh min
prefer removable battery, but will compromise this spec
8MP/3MP rear/front cameras, min

The reason I mentioned the Snapdragon 410 quad-core is that the Moto G (3rd gen) sold in Best Buy stores with 8 GB storage and 1 GB ram uses Snapdragon 210, making the phone under-powered.

[goontron]

Re: Please recommend smartphone, $120 to $200 range

Go for the Moto G. NOT THROUGH CARRIER! YOU WONT GET UPDATES!

[jackfish]

Re: Please recommend smartphone, $120 to $200 range

Im using a samsung j3 6 running andriod 6.0.1 ..16 gigs..bought it outright for 160 bucks on mts pre paid ..(manitoba canada carrier) its on band 4....dont know if iys locked..havint trird another carrier...