Android advice.

"Nibby" (nibby68) 11/12/2014 at 22:37 • Filed to: None

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My Galaxy S3 is due for an upgrade. I'm stuck with VZW so I have to stick by their offerings. I'm not so sure what to get... I'm not really a fan of phablets. The Nexus 6 is fucking huge... larger than the iPhone 6+ even. I don't like Samsung's TouchJizz and all the crap they put on (my S3 has been running SlimKat for at least a year now). The Droid Turbo seems decent but lack of notification light and no removable battery piss me off. Then there's the LG G3 and my issue with that is... the weirdly placed buttons on the back. y u do dis

I like the S5 but I don't want to get one and then the S6 comes out in 2-3 months later. Should I wait for that? Thanks for your time.

And no, no Windows or iPhone suggestions please. I've tried them both, I like Android a lot more.

CB > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 22:39

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Don't get a Moto G. I have one. The build quality and specs are meh.

That's really the only advice I have.

Thunderface > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 22:42

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iphhhhhhhhhhhhooooonnnnnnnnneeeeeeeee siiiiiiii............i`ll show myself out

Nibby > Thunderface 11/12/2014 at 22:44

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GET OUT

Nibby > CB 11/12/2014 at 22:44

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Lookin' to get a latest model phone, thanks though.

Dsscats > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 22:45

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G3!!!!!!!

CB > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 22:46

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Well, they did just update it. I have one from July, and it creaks a lot. Not a very solid phone. The camera is ass, too.

cazzyodo > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 22:46

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I went from s3 to moto x last month. Typing this comment from it now. It. Is. Infinitely better. Voice commands work through the FoST like magic and it FEELS like a solid phone...unlike the s3. I really started to hate that thing though so this is biased.

BJ > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 22:49

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I don't know how often you use the buttons on your phone, but on the G3 you get used to them, fast. And the power button isn't that useful because you can just double-tap the screen and it wakes up. It's a non issue after about one day, seriously. Phone performance is great, battery life is very good, the screen is excellent.

I really like the G3. If you get it, you must buy this screen protector: http://www.spigen.com/brands/lg/g3/l… . It's glass, not plastic, and although it might crack if you bicycle with your phone in your pocket (still works fine, though), it's super clear and oleophobic so it stays super clean. The same company also makes a nice cases, I have the "slim armour" model in white; it's pretty.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 22:49

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moto x (2014) perhaps? or maybe wait until the S6 developer edition (or whatever the version is called that runs stock android) comes out.

Nibby > cazzyodo 11/12/2014 at 22:50

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I have no issues with my S3 and I never use voice commands. But thanks for your input! How is the batteyr life>

Sally O'Broder > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 22:53

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You want a Galaxy Note of some kind.

Also Republic Wireless is better than VZW, if you can afford the phone purchase.

Nibby > BJ 11/12/2014 at 22:55

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Thanks! The more I read about it, the more I lean towards the G3

cazzyodo > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 22:57

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I never used voice commands either but while driving it is pretty useful to play music. Battery life is much better than the s3. I use 4g all day while im at work, check email and play a few games and messaging, get home with maybe 30% or so. Some days are better than others but it has been great so far. I had to have my s3 plugged in all day...too cheap to buy a new battery.

ToyDeathbot > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 22:59

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what about the moto x and the oneplus one?

Anon > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 22:59

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I love my s5 active! however you are right. If we take the S5 and s4's release dates into account we'll probobly hear an announcement next febuary and a new phone next april. What about the HTC one M8?

cazzyodo > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:00

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Today was an average day. 45 minute charge earlier so i can mess around during american horro story right now haha. Otherwise it was about 14 hours using 80% battery...heavy usage after work.

Nibby > Sally O'Broder 11/12/2014 at 23:00

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Not swtiching from VZW

Nibby > cazzyodo 11/12/2014 at 23:01

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I'm at 73% on my S3 right now, since 9AM :P

Though I think it's runnin' a custom ROM that really helps with the battery life.

Nibby > ToyDeathbot 11/12/2014 at 23:03

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Droid Turbo is a fancier X with better camera. Oneplus is hard to find for VZW

Nibby > Anon 11/12/2014 at 23:03

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I had an HTC Thunderbolt before the S3. Not going back to HTC ever again

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:07

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LG G3. I'm an iPhone user, but the G3 is one of my favourite phones today.

Nibby > cazzyodo 11/12/2014 at 23:08

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NICE! I love how Android gives you so much info about battery life.

Sally O'Broder > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:10

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Galaxy Noooooooteeeeeee

anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:11

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I recommend a Nexus 5. It's not the latest model (Nexus 6), but it's a beautiful and smooth phone that gives you the best Android experience possible. As in completely stock Android with no bloatware at all, and good enough specs to run pretty much anything. Compatible with Lollipop.

(comes in black and white too!)

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:11

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The Droid Turbo is 3900mAh.... and with the Snapdragon chip and its GPU, you'll be hard pressed to actually find a real need to find the need to replace the battery (short of servicing, obviously)

I think you should reconsider the Droid TUrbo anyway...

Nibby > anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq 11/12/2014 at 23:12

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Yeah, the issue is no Nexus 5 on VZW. ;_;

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:13

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Alternatively, the SONY Experia Z3?

SonorousSpeedJoe > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:15

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The DROID Turbo's battery is 3,900 mAh, though - are you sure you couldn't make it through a day with it, even with power-saving mode off? I keep my Note 2 in power-saving mode all the time and it lasts me through the day.

anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:18

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Well, that sucks. Would you get it if they had it?

(lol, I sound like I'm trying to sell it to you, but I just love it)

Nibby > anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq 11/12/2014 at 23:19

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I would if I could.

Nibby > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 11/12/2014 at 23:19

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Maybe! I'll consider it. Thanks

Nibby > SonorousSpeedJoe 11/12/2014 at 23:20

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I just like being able to remove it.

bob and john > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:21

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I'm in a similar boat...consider Sony's Xperia line?

Thunderface > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:22

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already am lol

anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:22

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Hm. HTC One M8 Google Play Edition? Same stock Android, similar specs, just a different look.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:28

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The reviews are also pretty mega for it

tromoly > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:31

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I second what BJ said, I've had the LG G2 for five months and the buttons on the back have grown very natural, it's honestly not a deal breaker in the slightest.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:36

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I personally don't like today's huge phones, but luckily Samsung offers Mini versions of it's main-line phones.

(bottom picture is S5 vs S5 Mini)

SonorousSpeedJoe > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:42

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Same here - being able to swap the battery comes in handy at an auto show.

Samsung and HTC have ultra/extreme power-saving modes on their new phones that turn them into dumbphones to make the charge last longer, though that obviously restricts functionality.

Since new high-end phones seem to be packing a whole bunch of awesome features on release (cameras with OIS, 2K displays, those power-saving modes I mentioned, etc.) and Android 5.0 supports 64-bit processors, I'd recommend waiting for more/better options if you can. I figure more 5.0-5.5" phones will be available with all that stuff next year, which is why I'd personally prefer to upgrade from my Note 2 around next June or so (I've been able to upgrade for a while now, though). My Note 2 is perfectly fine for now, as it was a pretty future-proofed phone when it came out - it had the best hardware specs when it came out IIRC, and 4.4 KitKat made it even better.

Manuél Ferrari > Nibby 11/12/2014 at 23:53

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"TouchJizz"

hahahaha that made me lol

scoob > Nibby 11/13/2014 at 00:10

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I have a Huawei Ascend Mate 2. Not really a suggestion, but more of a place for me to hate Huawei.

Pros: Only $300, expandable storage, 3,900 mAh battery (I usually get 2-3 days and 5-8 hours of SOT)

Cons: Mid range specs, 6.1 inch 720p screen (con for some, not me), terrible rubbish crap stupid skinned version of Jelly Bean, Huawei USA just announced they're not updating it (F************* YOU), non-removable battery (although you have no need to remove it), camera is shit in anything but direct sunlight, no custom ROMs even though we have root and TWRP.

Huawei USA said they'll be updating us on their whole no update fiasco by next week, so I wonder what will happen. They gave out 15 of these phones to ROM and recovery developers/teams at some event recently.

Edit: Ok, some actual suggestions lol. I'd say check out the Nexus 6. It's really not that bad, unless you're wearing skinny jeans. In which case, go get an iPhone. :P

If not, why not a Note 3? I'm actually thinking about selling my phone and getting a used Note 3, which basically cost the same now. TouchJizz is terrible, but can't you flash a ROM on it? (I know Knox exists, but I don't know what it does)

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Anon 11/13/2014 at 00:10

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My S4 Active is still great, seriously want the S5A.

BATC42 > ToyDeathbot 11/13/2014 at 03:23

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Especially since OnePlus is doing an open pre-order thingy on the 17th (for only 1-hour, no invites needed).

BKRM3 > Nibby 11/13/2014 at 06:35

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I picked up a Z3v the day it came out (couldn't endure another minute of my iPhone 4S) and I couldn't be happier with it. Battery is awesome, no weird buttons and it's waterproof.

Leon711 > Nibby 11/13/2014 at 08:57

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I'm on a Note 4 it's pretty good. came from an S3, natural progression.

KamikazePigeon > Nibby 11/13/2014 at 09:08

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I went from a Galaxy S3 to a Galaxy S5 in August. I really REALLY like the battery life, normal usage with no power savings enabled the phone can last 16 hours comfortably. I haven't had a need to turn on normal power savings but I'd imagine it'd reach over 24 hours.

Ultra Power Savings Mode pushes battery life further. Turns off WiFi/NFC/Bluetooth/Data etc and leaves only the cellular signal on to be able to send and receive texts and make/take phone calls. It also turns the screen to grey scale and you can't open any apps. If on full charge and enabled, this can last something like 12 days. It's fantastic if you're out and didn't have time to charge your phone and need it on to make a phone call or send a text. I really think that's the best feature of the S5.

My honest advice, I'd wait. Holiday sales are coming up and if you can get a solid deal on a S5 I'd do it. If you're like me, and stay with a phone for 3-4 years without upgrading. I think the S5 will last.

If you use your phone for just normal browsing/email/texts/calls/maybe some social media etc and nothing too crazy, I don't see any reason to get an S6 when it comes out over an S5. Same reason actually I'd give someone upgrading from an S3 to an S4. I just don't see the advances that the average or even above average user would see.

Water/Dust resistant without a case is a nice perk too.

My two cents.

Nibby > KamikazePigeon 11/13/2014 at 09:16

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!!

That was very helpful. Thanks. The only thing is that I hate the Samsung bloatware and TouchJizz but with the S5 that is easy to remove now. I'll keep it as a heavy contender for me. :D

Nibbles > Nibby 11/13/2014 at 09:21

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HTC One (M8)

KamikazePigeon > Nibby 11/13/2014 at 09:29

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OMG the bloatware is real!

My S5 came with some Magazine home panel that I couldn't figure out how to remove it on my own. It took a few minutes but with online help, I figured it out. Although it's really just disabled rather than uninstalled.

You're very welcome! =D

Mustafaluigi > Nibby 11/13/2014 at 10:00

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Can confirm. G2 here and buttons are completely natural to me. Only annoyance is leaning against things like when I'm working on the car and restarting the phone. Big upside for the rear buttons is the really small bezel. This allows a big screen but with an overall smaller body. Also G3 may be the first non Nexus to go to Lollipop.

Justino6969 > Nibby 11/13/2014 at 19:07

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I just recently got an LG G2 (with the buttons on the back) and it's weird at first but I got used to it after a few days and have notices it's actually quite handy. Taking the phone out of my pocket my finger is already right there, or just double tap the screen to turn it on. The G2 is amazing and I can only assume the G3 is even better.

iammattjones > Nibby 11/14/2014 at 15:52

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Give the Turbo or Moto X a shot. I thought I would hate the non-removeable battery on my first gen Moto X but I haven't missed it a bit. The Moto Turbo has a quick charge feature that will take it to 40% in just a couple of minutes. I love the Moto X. The voice control, notification screen, and gestures are handy. And there is NO BLOAT. Other than the services to enable those features there is nothing added to the OS. The LG G3 is a fantastic device as well. The buttons on the back are really a non-issue since they are recessed and won't get in the way. The display is absolutely gorgeous and hardware is respectable. They do, however, have an overlay on the Android OS, but it isn't terrible. I could tolerate it.