4G Android phone megathread
- Thread starter Foulkey Reese
- Start date
Apparently they paid $0 for the naming rights, but will be doing some reciprocal marketing of Android on product packaging.jayhoz said:
http://mashable.com/2013/09/03/android-kitkat-partnership/
Nexus 5 shows up during KitKat release?
http://www.androidcentral.com/mysterious-nexus-phone-shows-google-kitkat-statue-video
http://www.androidcentral.com/mysterious-nexus-phone-shows-google-kitkat-statue-video
Galaxy Note 3 review & pics, in Korean but you can use Google translate and get a decent English text out of it:
http://pcpinside.com/2896?socialpick
Best parts - the new processor beats heck out of HTC One and GS4, LOVE the faux-leather back, and the battery is even better.
http://pcpinside.com/2896?socialpick
Best parts - the new processor beats heck out of HTC One and GS4, LOVE the faux-leather back, and the battery is even better.
Updated my HTC One X to a 4.2.2/Sense5 ROM (had been running 4.1/Sense4). Quite a bit smoother running and more polished, but no major changes other than the "BlinkFeed" thing which I've relegated to the far far left homescreen. Can actually run Chrome without my phone going into a battery sucking loop and getting hot to the touch which is nice, the "stock" browser wasn't cutting it. What a pain in the ass to root these locked down phones though.
I'm upgrade eligible on Verizon in January, and I've got the good old America's Choice II plan with 450 mins/unlimited M2M/1000 msgs/unlimited data, and I'm wondering if I should consider moving to Verizon Edge with a 6 GB plan because I'll be Max eligible and the minutes and texts will be useful (I'll finally kill the landline with my next smartphone), or just suck it up and get a subsidized plan with either 2GB or 4GB of data.
I'm considering the pre-pay route, but I will use minutes. I actually use my phone as a phone.
I'm considering the pre-pay route, but I will use minutes. I actually use my phone as a phone.
Just picked up a Motorola Moto X to try for a month. Pretty solid phone as far as the features but I've noticed that nearly everyone I've talked to has trouble hearing all but about every other word unless I'm on speaker. It must be the noise cancellation built into the speaker but it's annoying. Anyone else having issues? Looks like it's going back which is a disappointment because it's the perfect size for me (coming from an Iphone 4s). I hate to go to the HTC one or S4.
I have a Moto X on Verizon and no one has any trouble hearing me. I even called an left a voicemail for myself at work to test it out. It sounds perfectly normal.
Not likely since it's a new model, but I was having problems hearing people on mine, and later they were having trouble hearing me. I have an HTC One X, and the mic/earpiece holes are very small. I ended up using an old toothbrush to brush out debris from them and now I can hear and be heard fine. Maybe something got lodged in the mic hole(s)?
sonsoftrotnixon said:
I haven't had any issues with mine (on USCC) - in fact, I've loved it. The near-complete lack of bloat is incredible, Google's supervision appears to be a godsend
Alcohol&Overcalls said:
I finally figured out that it's actually a signal strength issue at my office, and not the phone. All the calls I've had trouble with were because I was in my office with shitty signal. Outside and at home, no issues. I may have to get an amplifier which is odd because I never had issues with the Iphone 4s I had (nor the previous androids).
The only complaint thus far is that the camera on this phone is absolute junk. It's light sensor has trouble telling whether it should open/close the shutter depending on what I'm pointing at. Otherwise I'm pretty happy and have decided to keep it.
sonsoftrotnixon said:
I've actually experienced the opposite - this phone has far better radios than all of my previous phones, with the exception of my first Droid which was also a Motorola. The people on the phone forums insist Moto's radios are the best. Why this is the case, I have no idea.
Also, there's supposed to be a camera update rolling out soon that makes it far better. I think it's already out on Sprint.
The WiFi on my HTC One X absolutely sucked for the first year that I had it. Recently I rooted and unlocked it and part of the recommendation that came with the new ROM I installed was to update the WiFi radio partition. It has been night and day better since. So oftentimes this can be software drivers. I updated the cellular radio at some point too but I don't really notice any difference since I never really had problems, the scuttlebutt was that the new one handled LTE better.
I have a Galaxy III and an upgrade on October 1st. Is it worth it to spend the $200 to upgrade to the Galaxy IV or is it pretty much the same phone? I have been looking at the differences and nothing is jumping out at me. The biggest thing I see is the IV has a much better camera but that isn't enough to make it worth it to me.
I never had an S3 but I compared my S4 to my co-workers' S3. The screen is a bit bigger and has better resolution, with no virtually no change to the size (S4 is a bit thinner). The biggest difference I've heard about is the battery. I've never had any trouble getting through the day without charging, even when using it pretty heavily.
I have no complaints about my battery and I have 3 different ones that I change out with an external charger. I think I am going to stick with the 3.SoxFanInCali said:
I just picked up an LG G2. It's snappy as heck with a great display and I'm looking forward to the battery life (which is supposed to be significantly better than the Galaxy S4 or Moto X). The biggest knock on it in reviews is the button placement, something that doesn't bother me (the power and volume buttons are on the back, rather than the side). I'll let you know if I run into any problems or any cool features.
Just in case anyone is looking at any of the samsung devices - Apparently, they are inflating their benchmark scores with some nifty programming.
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/01/samsung-again-caught-inflating-benchmarking-scores-phil-schiller-calls-shenanigans/
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/01/samsung-again-caught-inflating-benchmarking-scores-phil-schiller-calls-shenanigans/
I have a hard time caring about the difference between "staggeringly fast" and "tremendously fast". We have hit the point where apps are not going to be demanding more CPU time in the near future and there isn't a ton they can do with it anyway. Specs mattered to me a lot more a couple generations ago, but at this point...who really cares?
Blacken said:
It's all about battery life, really.
Though I miss the Atrix fingerprint scanner. I'm not sure why those went away, maybe the iPhone's lead will bring them back.
crow216 said:
CPU's have been doing this for years. Intel was caught having the compiler drop inner loops from some benchmarks a few times IIRC.
BucketOBalls said:
Whether they have or haven't doesn't mean it's good. Apparently moto and apple are the only two major mobile manufacturers not artificially boosting results.
Nexus 5 To launch end of October.
http://www.intomobile.com/2013/10/03/nexus-5-ship-end-october-half-price-iphone-5s/?mstac=0
http://www.intomobile.com/2013/10/03/nexus-5-ship-end-october-half-price-iphone-5s/?mstac=0
Maybe. This is still just a rumor, although one with sufficient force behind it to likely be true.jayhoz said:
So I'm going to Geneva for a month in May/June to teach an undergrad class at the UN, and I have no idea how this international stuff works. I have a Galaxy 4 on T Mobile, and I just read something about them eliminating international roaming, and allowing data/texting, etc., so am I just all set, or is there something I have to do (other than make sure I'm on the simple choice plan) to be covered? I've never been away from the States before, and this is a decent stretch where I'd like to be able to talk to family/friends. Is it a good idea to get a prepaid SIM card on an international carrier, stick with T Mobile and pray, or something I'm not thinking of? It's crazy to me that in 2013, our cell phones are still so restricted by artificial boundaries.
Hmmm this Nexus 5 looks good, but it's unclear whether Sprint will let it be activated on Ting. I'm probably going to wait a few weeks anyway, then figure out whether I want to pick one up and switch carriers, and which carrier to jump to (TMo or Ting).
Looking at making the switch from iPhone to Android. Bought a Nexus 7 last year and really enjoy the Android experience. Main use is for work, email and apps centered on travel. I am on Verizon mainly due to the nation wide service since I travel around the US for work. Right now, leaning towards either the Galaxy S4 or Droid Maxx or Moto X. Droid Maxx right now in the lead due to best battery life and pretty clean droid experience. Not a big fan of Touchwiz and prefer a pure Android expereince.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
kwa1430 said:
Moto X unless camera is our #1 concern, then I would go with the S4.
Touchwiz sucks, but you can mask over it with a custom launcher app. S4 camera really is fantastic.
Foulkey Reese said:
It was pretty standard on phones that are only a couple of years old--I was on 2.3.x (some kind of Gingerbread) until I picked up my new phone a month or so ago.
SumnerH said:
On the whole I really like this so far, but the button placement turns out to be crappy for a surprising reason: my fingers adjusted to the placement in no time, but the placement on the back does mean that if it's in my pocket back-to-back with my wallet then it'll periodically hit the button, turn on the screen, and burn through battery faster. It's easy enough to split them into different pockets, but it's annoying to have to do it--overall, there's no benefit to the button move and that's a real though small harm from it.
Otherwise it's been great. The screen is amazing, I can charge only every other night even if I'm talking on the phone and/or listening to music/podcasts for hours, the camera is great and works surprisingly well in low-light situations, and it's fast. And I've gotten numerous positive comments on the voice call quality.