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Question

Fix or upgrade?

Oct 10, 2015 10:34AM PDT

I have the LG Optimus L90 with T-mobile that I'm fairly happy with, but the home button in the center is cracked so it doesn't blink for notifications and the GPS doesn't work, so I can't use navigation with the phone.

I know this phone wasn't exactly cutting edge when it came out, so now I'm wondering if it would be better to buy a new phone rather than spend the money fixing it.

The main improvements I'd like to see would be obviously to get the things working that aren't in mine as well as a better camera and call quality. A better screen would also be nice.

I mainly use the phone for actual phone calls, texting, emails, and occasionally navigation, apps like yelp, looking up into on the internet and pictures.

I know this might be a dumb question, but I see a heavily discounted Samsung Galaxy S4 for Verizon. Does that mean it originally worked with Verizon, or that it will only work with that carrier and I can't move my SIM card to that phone?

Any tips on what I should get?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Call quality.
Oct 10, 2015 10:44AM PDT

Well that's been beat to death so my short answer is that it's rarely the phone but the network and the carriers gear at play. Remember I'm keeping it short as there are millions of posts on that.

Be careful about Sprint and Verizon models. I've rarely got them to release and move onto other carriers. My advice is unlocked or a model for your carrier.

Then again I have a few BLU models that I got from Amazon for 150 and less that I can pop in ATT, Ting, Tmobile, Rogers and other SIMs and the phone+SMS just works. For data you usually have a few more settings to tinker with.

Here's a shot from my BLU 6.
http://i.imgur.com/XMNgFBl.jpg

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Answer
be careful moving phone between carriers
Oct 10, 2015 1:48PM PDT
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Spot on. If I could hand out Gold Star Cookies.
Oct 10, 2015 2:07PM PDT

That discussion is so typical.

The more I chat about APN the more I see that the industry is a mess.

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I thought phones were like computers
Oct 11, 2015 6:56AM PDT

I didn't realize how complicated it was to switch the SIM card between carriers. I thought it would be like putting new RAM or memory card reader in a computer and that it would be easy to switch.

What about other phones I should be looking at if I want to upgrade rather than fix my old phone?

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Look mostly at T-Mobile compatible handsets
Oct 12, 2015 9:56AM PDT

That prevents you from having to deal with thinking about what other carriers' handsets have and do not have under the hood.

Going with an unlocked BLU smartphone from Amazon (as Bob kindly suggested) would be cheaper and easier though.