That's especially true of the price of a mobile phone.
Think high quality cameras, music players, GPS navigation tools and more.
There's no dearth of basic just-use-me-to-call models either. If you aren't into the new-fangled doodads, picking up one of these modest gizmos will save you a couple of hundred bucks.
These phones all cost under $200, without a contract. Here are DL's stretch-your-dollar choices.
Samsung C170: $98
Motorola W388: $118
Sony Ericsson R306: $186
Nokia 1209: $69.90
From its looks alone, you could never tell that this model doesn't cost a bomb. The candybar phone is virtually as thin its more expensive Samsung Ultra Edition counterparts. It's not only light (only 67g) but also super lightweight in price.
Frills: If you consider the radio and speakerphone functions frills.
Sacrifice: No built-in camera and dual-band.
Buy at: Mobile phone shops
You really get a two-in-one with this phone. It has a radio, plays MP3 tunes and has dedicated music buttons. For all the additional music you might want to load, there's an external MicroSD slot that can take a card that's up to 2GB.
Frills: CrystalTalk technology that's supposed to reduce background noise and make calls clearer.
Sacrifice: No camera and dual-band.
Buy at: Cheers outlets from Oct 7.
Simple doesn't mean spartan: This clamshell has a built-in radio, speakers and dedicated radio buttons which you can use to scan and change channels. You can even record songs from the radio to use as your ringtone - so there's no need to pay for downloads.
Frills: One of the few tri-band phones under $200 that also has Bluetooth and a 1.3-megapixel camera.
Sacrifice: No card slot means no chance for a memory boost.
Buy at: 6Range Group counter at Carrefour Suntec City Mall.
If you really only use your phone for chatting and texting, this baby will satisfy all your needs. There's even a built-in flash light for the times when you drop your keys in a dark carpark or at a movie theatre. It does not have a camera, which makes it perfect for military camps where camera phones are banned.
Frills: Built-in flash light.
Sacrifice: Only dual-band, no camera.
Buy at: 3 Mobile and Handphone Shop outlets
This article was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life on Sep 10, 2008.
