[jaxtellerSoA]

I was really looking forward to an new SE phone, that was my upgrade plan (currently on 6). Now my upgrade plan is to transition to Andriod, or I am seriously considering going back to a "dumb phone". The cost of phones is out of control (including data plan prices), honestly not sure it is really worth it for me anymore.

The only features I want in a "smart" phone, are podcasts, camera, music, GPS/directions. I don't really even need a web browser, and I don't need any social media at all. And I certainly don't need any gaming capabilities (I still don't "get" mobile gaming, if I want to play a game I will do it on my desktop, with a mouse and keyboard, and large screen).

I might go back to carrying 2 devices, a MP3 (podcast/music player) and a dumb phone. Should cut my phone bill down significantly.

[icebraining]

> The cost of phones is out of control

I wouldn't say that, there's just a wide range. You can spend four digits on a brand-new flagship model, or you can get a decent phone for under $150. And if you have WiFi where you spend the day, a data plan is mostly redundant.

[jaxtellerSoA]

>you can get a decent phone for under $150.

A smart phone? If so please provide a link. The "cheap" smart phones I have found are $300 ish, which ins't terrible, but this general trend towards a $1,000 smart phone is insane. I am not spending more for a phone than the cost of a decent laptop.

[icebraining]

I'm very happy with my Moto G5, and it's $150 on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Generation-XT1680-Single-Factory-Unlo...

(I got the 3GB version for €119 thanks to a sale, but the 2GB should be more than enough for what you're planning)

[prossercj]

I'm largely in the same boat. Have you considered a pay-as-you-go plan with an MVNO? I use H20 wireless [0], with an iPhone SE, and it can be pretty cheap.

[0] https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/mainControl.php?page=planMin

[jaxtellerSoA]

I live in a remote area, and so far have found the only carrier that has any signal at all at my house is Verizon. So I am pretty much stuck with them, unless I get at network extender/signal booster for another carrier and install it in my house, which I am not too keen on doing.

[mhermher]

Looks like you don't need a data plan. With offline maps and home downloads of podcasts, you should be all set.

[jaxtellerSoA]

That is what I am thinking, save myself about $50 a month.

[photojosh]

My kids are almost ready for phones. We've already got one 2nd hand SE, and once they start actually using data we'll put them on our mobile providers "tablet" data-only yearly plan, 24GB for $100. At ~$8/mo that's pretty reasonable, and plenty for basic text/image usage. If they start streaming and burning through the data, they can pay for that themselves.