Which Phone should I buy?

[Noob333]

I am trying to figure out which smart phone to get. My top two choices are the Samsung Galaxy S3 mini and the BLU Star 4.5.Here are some specs...

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini
Released October 11, 2012
4" Screen
480 x 800 pixels
Dual-core, 1000 MHz Processor
1 gb ram
5 mp camera
720p camcorder
1500 mAh replaceable Li-Ion Battery
Storage: 16 GB
Storage Expansion: microSD, microSDHC up to 32 GB
OS: Android (4.1.2, 4.1.1), TouchWiz UX UI
Price: $30
Source (for everything but the price): http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Samsung-Galaxy-S-III-mini_id7536

BLU Star 4.5
Released October 1, 2014
4.5" Screen
480 x 854 pixels
Quad-core, 1300 MHz Processor
0.5 gb ram
5 mp camera
1080p camcorder
1700 mAh replaceable battery
Storage: 4 GB
Storage Expansion: microSD, microSDHC up to 32 GB
OS: Android (4.4)
Price: $59
Source (for everything except price): http://www.phonearena.com/phones/BLU-Star-4.5_id9379

I want to use the phone mostly for internet browsing, pandora, skype, discord, and snapchat. I also, would like it to take good pictures. I would like the ability to install most apps. I might do a little bit of gaming but that isn't a priority. I was about to buy the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, but then when I noticed the operating system I got worried whether I would be able to install all the apps I wanted or not.
I have some questions...
1) Which one is the better value?
2) Should I be concerned about Andriod 4.1.2 being able to run most the modern day apps?
3) If yes, how many will I not be able to run or like what apps won't I be able to run?
4) Also if yes, can the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini operating system be updated to accept the modern day apps?
5) How much would additional storage cost for the BLU Star 4.5?
6) Are neither of these phones suitable for what I want?

I would really appreciate a detailed response that has accurate information and explains their opinions thoroughly.

 

[ChaoticWolf]

This would all depend on what you would do with the phone. The second phone has slightly stronger specs than the S3 Mini. You want to use the phone mostly for internet browsing, Pandora, Skype, discord and snapchat. And as well as take good pictures. Well, the camera on the second phone has slightly stronger specs. It can shoot up to 1080p and that would be a slightly better advantage over 720p quality.
Also, for Android 4.1.2 not being able to run the most modern day apps, you don't have to be so worried about. There is probably very little apps out there incompatible with that android firmware. But if there happens to be a few that you would want that don't support it, it seems that you can update the S3 Mini. If you do a search for it, you can see tutorials and videos on how to upgrade the device's firmware. But not too sure on that. Worth a try and I don't see why it wouldn't work if you decide to go with the S3 mini. So to answer your question if you can update the S3 Mini, well yeah probably.
Additional storage cost for the BLU Star 4.5, well I don't think you can actually add physical internal memory into the phone if that's what your saying. But if you're saying something else, well you could go with a 32GB SD card for the phone so you can use it to install apps, put pictures and videos and what not on it since the second phone lacks a lot of internal memory. You do need some storage if you're going to be shooting 1080p videos and pictures.
And for the last one, are these phones suitable for what I want?
Well, you wanted a phone that could shoot and take pictures well. The camera on the second phone might be a bit better over the first one. Because it's at 1080p. But for the internal storage, if you're going to take 1080p pictures and videos, then you might want to purchase an sd card that's 16GB or 32GB to put more things on that.
Web browsing, Pandora, Skype, discord and snapchat, shouldn't be too big of a problem too.
For the android firmware on the second phone, it shouldn't be worrying at all. I have 4.4.2 and it runs quite a lot of new apps out there.
The screen on the second phone is a little better, somewhat bigger, better pixels, and a much more powerful processor. The ram is a little lower, but that might not be too bad.
Better mp on the camera, 1080p shooting, and an okay battery. Lacking some storage space, but shouldn't be too bad with a small SD card upgrade. Running a newer android firmware, and kind of worth the price for what the device holds.

Personally, I would go for the second device if you're going to be browsing, doing snapchat, discord and all that fancy stuff, and crisp quality picture and video shooting. The first phone isn't the worst though. You still have lots of time to do some reviews and what not about these two devices.

 

[Noob333]

This would all depend on what you would do with the phone. The second phone has slightly stronger specs than the S3 Mini. You want to use the phone mostly for internet browsing, Pandora, Skype, discord and snapchat. And as well as take good pictures. Well, the camera on the second phone has slightly stronger specs. It can shoot up to 1080p and that would be a slightly better advantage over 720p quality.
Also, for Android 4.1.2 not being able to run the most modern day apps, you don't have to be so worried about. There is probably very little apps out there incompatible with that android firmware. But if there happens to be a few that you would want that don't support it, it seems that you can update the S3 Mini. If you do a search for it, you can see tutorials and videos on how to upgrade the device's firmware. But not too sure on that. Worth a try and I don't see why it wouldn't work if you decide to go with the S3 mini. So to answer your question if you can update the S3 Mini, well yeah probably.
Additional storage cost for the BLU Star 4.5, well I don't think you can actually add physical internal memory into the phone if that's what your saying. But if you're saying something else, well you could go with a 32GB SD card for the phone so you can use it to install apps, put pictures and videos and what not on it since the second phone lacks a lot of internal memory. You do need some storage if you're going to be shooting 1080p videos and pictures.
And for the last one, are these phones suitable for what I want?
Well, you wanted a phone that could shoot and take pictures well. The camera on the second phone might be a bit better over the first one. Because it's at 1080p. But for the internal storage, if you're going to take 1080p pictures and videos, then you might want to purchase an sd card that's 16GB or 32GB to put more things on that.
Web browsing, Pandora, Skype, discord and snapchat, shouldn't be too big of a problem too.
For the android firmware on the second phone, it shouldn't be worrying at all. I have 4.4.2 and it runs quite a lot of new apps out there.
The screen on the second phone is a little better, somewhat bigger, better pixels, and a much more powerful processor. The ram is a little lower, but that might not be too bad.
Better mp on the camera, 1080p shooting, and an okay battery. Lacking some storage space, but shouldn't be too bad with a small SD card upgrade. Running a newer android firmware, and kind of worth the price for what the device holds.

Personally, I would go for the second device if you're going to be browsing, doing snapchat, discord and all that fancy stuff, and crisp quality picture and video shooting. The first phone isn't the worst though. You still have lots of time to do some reviews and what not about these two devices.

Thanks for your detailed response! Unfortunately I didn't see it until now. Normally Tom's Hardware sends me an e-mail when I get a response. I didn't see one. Yes, I was referring to putting an SD card in the BLU Star 4.5. At the time I didn't really know what it was called so I couldn't really look it up. I thought they would be like $50, but I just looked on walmart and they are like $15. I ended up purchasing the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini. I might regret it later, but I am happy with it so far. The battery dies kinda fast, but whatever. I have like $45 in my pocket that I wouldn't have had otherwise which is nice (I am kinda cheap 😛). I didn't realize that the second phone had a "much more powerful processor" I thought they seemed like they were pretty much the same. I don't know what the numbers are suppose to be on phones. Again thanks for the advice. If you want to check out this thread you could probably help me with this question too http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3281346/buy-extended-battery-battery-case-phone.html