VodafoneSamsung Galaxy S3 Mini VE Pay as you go Handset - Blue

I bought mine direct from Vodafone (£99) to replace an ageing Samsung phone (yup, just a phone). Two reasons, mainly I could use my existing full sized SIM and with pay-as-you go it seems to be difficult to replace that with a mini one, especially as I live outside the UK. I also wanted something I could actually use to text and my old phone had tiny buttons recessed into the bit under a sliding top. I'm very happy indeed with this S3 Mini.... it is, after all, very inexpensive compared to more up to date smart phones but it does absolutely everything I will ever want to do. It does however leave me with a problem.... my wife now want's one too.If I have a criticism it's that the sound isn't very good, as in playing an mp3 as a ringtone or just mp3 music. I am not at all surprised but I have heard friends' smartphones playing music and they're usually better than my S3 mini... but they paid hundreds of pounds or have expensive monthly plans. I did think I'd be able to have background music out in the garden but this isn't really an option with the phone alone. However, I bought a JBL Flip 2 Bluetooth speaker for £49 (on offer from Amazon) and a 32 gig Samsung Evo micro SD card and voila! Works a treat. And forget background, it's party quality and knocks spots off anything I've heard that's as portable so if your requirements are anything like mine, for £150 plus an optional SD card you can have great sounds wherever you go. Enjoy.p.s. the reason for buying the Samsung Evo card is that I've seen reviews where people have had difficulties getting their cards to work, having to reformat them, whatever. I reckoned that with a Samsung card I'd have a better chance of avoiding such issues and I was right. Works perfectly out of the box, as does the 64 gig one in my wife's Galaxy Tab S.... and she STILL wants an S3 Mini too!.IMPORTANT UPDATE. I have left my original comments below so you can see the context. Now the VE (8200) version has arrived I can confirm it takes a standard sized SIM. I suspect other reports that it takes a "micro" are confusing the SIM with the SD card! The newer version certainty seems faster than my "original". A great buy!Ignore the following now...WARNING. The phone I bought as per above is an S3 Mini. The review states S3 Mini VE version - it stands for Value Edition apparently. This is what I have just bought for my wife without realising it is DIFFERENT. Actually, I think it's a little better but there is one HUGE difference - as far as I can see the VE needs a smaller SIM, something I specifically did not want. It hasn't arrived yet so we'll see, but I wanted to alert prospective buyers.There is conflicting information as to what sized SIM the VE model takes. My original order was returned damaged to Amazon and the replacement hasn't arrived yet so I'll clarify once I get it.

Great phone. Good size, not too big and not too small. only downside the ring tones are very quiet and the message alert only beeps once so you have to keep checking the phone to see if you have a message.

Good value for money. Attractive in a appearance. Not my absolute favourite android purchase However, for the price I paid offers good value for money

My first experience of a Smart Phone. I chose this one for two reasons; the same network that I have used for more than 20 years,and compatibility with a recently acquired Samsung Smart Camera by use of the Smartcam App downloaded to the S3.I was particularly pleased to find that the SIM card for the S3 was easily interchangeable with that from my 20+ year old Nokia,so that I was able to retain my old number with the least fuss. I found no difficulty in fitting a 16GB microSD card into the S3and am now building libraries of photos for viewing on the S3, and of music files to play via a variety of Bluetooth earphones,loudspeaker systems or even my domestic hi-Fi.The S3, of course, although superceded by priceier S4 and S5 versions, nevertheless does all that I would expect of an up-to-date mobile phone.I am very happy with it!

First phone i brought in a long time had to spend in hospital.Spent a long time trying to sort out the sm card with the phone. A friend came to visit and he took it toCar phone ware house were they said the sm card was the wrong card for the phone. It was to small for the card holder and should not have be put with the phone in the first place So my friend paid for a gernaric sm card so I have a phone witch has none of the benefits witch is called pay as you go FREEDOM unlimited texts 150minutes and 500MB data. So I'll see it anybody would buy this and I will save the money for a up market phone .Oh and it died 2 days later Don't buy.

Buyers beware. This is a pay monthly mobile phone not a top up at your leisure mobile. If you don't use your credit within the month you loose all remaining credit. This phones battery needs replacing already after one days use. suggesting either an old battery or a duff one. The sim card in this phone had run out so had to buy a new one. This buyer, not happy at all so beware!

Good Quality phone with standard size sim card which allowed me to put my old sim in and keep my old number which is very handy.

I love this phone. It is so easy to use, even for a grandmother like me. The only problem I had was downloading onto my PC, so I used my Kindle cable instead of the one supplied and that solved the problem.