[Q] Which Galaxy SII ? - General Questions and Answers

I am currently a Blackberry AT&T customer and i really would like to jump to an android based phone and see if i can knock my monthly cost down a bit as well. The Galaxy S2 phones have really caught my interest but i am having a hard time picking which variant to go with.
The Sprint Epic 4G Touch sports the nice large screen, slightly less monthly cost. but seems to have an unresolved Loss of Network issue that tons of people are having plus battery issues and lacking NFC.
The T mobile variant has the same nice screen but the Qualcomm processor due to their network which supposedly is a bit slower.
Or the last option is to go with the ATT version, smaller screen, has NFC and the higher monthly cost.
Currently with AT&T data connectivity and having fast service mostly everywhere has been pretty good. What are your thoughts and experiences with the other carriers and why ?
Thanks

Its usually better to choose the carrier based on pricing, features and coverage and then choose your device.
Picking carrier based on device is something that started when iphone was only on at&t. With android its not necessary.

The ATT version has kept the GSII the closest to it's original form in both looks and internals. However the T-Mobile version does have the bigger screen, faster network, cheaper prices (rate plan wise) and the Qualcomm supposedly has been benching better than the Exynos oddly. Either way, the difference in processing speed is going to be negligible, they are both beasts.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App

Related

OG Galaxy s2 or Skyrocket?

Should I return my OG galaxy s2 that I just got about a week ago for the skyrocket? I heard the OG Galaxys2 is still faster because3 of the Exynos processor. Need some advice on which phone is faster/better.
I think there is already like 4 other threads about this haha. I think it really boils down to whether you have LTE in your area or not. I have LTE where I live and made the switch, LTE is so fast that it was well worth the switch. The Exynos vs Snapdragon debate is a little played out and doesn't make as big of a difference in the phone as many are making it out to be, my Skyrocket is just as fast in real life day to day usage. Should we assume you are thinking of returning your OG GSII before your 30 day window of opportunity? Are you expecting to get LTE soon?
jbsg02 said:
I think there is already like 4 other threads about this haha. I think it really boils down to whether you have LTE in your area or not. I have LTE where I live and made the switch, LTE is so fast that it was well worth the switch. The Exynos vs Snapdragon debate is a little played out and doesn't make as big of a difference in the phone as many are making it out to be, my Skyrocket is just as fast in real life day to day usage. Should we assume you are thinking of returning your OG GSII before your 30 day window of opportunity? Are you expecting to get LTE soon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im within the 30 days yes. I live in Toledo, Oh so I have no clue when we would get LTE coverage in my area.
Without LTE I would have stuck with my original GSII, I like the 4.3" screen a little better
Everyone will say that it depends on the person and their needs/wants. But then again, you are posting in Skyrocket forum...
I returned my $200 SGS2 and walked out with 2 Skyrockets for $300. One for me and the wife. If there wasnt that deal, I would probably stick with the SGS2. Both almost the same size, might as well get a bigger screen.
As for speed, they're both still fast. A hairline in bench marks didnt bother me. Resolutions still decent- some people exagerate about its low quality. Heck, I'm a graphic designer and photographer, I'm good with the resolution. Phone is usually a foot away from my face anyhow. Also, I'm not really much a gamer, but I do love my tower defense games (Sentinel 3 is awesome with a bigger screen).
My opinion, SGS2 has better screen quality, better 3D graphics, (insanely better? no. but technically better). Skyrocket has weird issue with their screens in dim lighting with neutral grays (doesnt bother me, I not at dim or looking at neutral grays). Some encounter problems, some look for it. Would I go back to SGS2 if it was the same price? No.
Why Skyrocket (for me): Bigger screen, faster internet speed. Use internet more than anything, play games where a bigger screen would be nicer.
If I had the opportunity, I would probably get the Skyrocket. The larger screen is magnificent. While the exynos variant gets better development support, the real world differences between the two are likely negligible. Most people I've seen say that there isn't much difference, others say they notice. Initially, I made the decision to keep my original GS2. A short time after my 30 day window passed, I kind of regretted it. Either one will be an excellent choice. I just want the larger screen. I may buy it outright just for the heck of it.
I had the S2 and exchanged it for the SR being as I was in my 30 return window.
I like the phone much better. The extra screen size for me is a plus, I don't notice the pixelation other people talk about.
For what I do with the phone I don't notice the difference in processors. I really think a lot of people put too much stock in the benchmarks just to say their phone is faster that your's. Faster benchmarks mean nothing to 90+% of phone users being as most people never probably use a fraction of the processor speed anyway.
My only issue is that although I live in an LTE area, I am on the fringe of the LTE coverage and often it will hover on lower bars of reception on LTE where as HSPA would give me full bars. You would think I would get a bit better reception with LTE being as it is a lower freq with better building penetration.
I really wish there was a way to turn off the LTE radio and stick with HSPA if I wanted to. When I am in a deep LTE coverage area it is fine, but where I live at I would prefer to keep it on HSPA to maintain a better signal and battery life. I am not into rooting, and I am sure when the ability to turn off LTE comes out it will probably be for custom ROMs.
I know it is a contridiction to want an LTE device and want to run it on HSPA, but until they convert a few more towers in my fringe area, HSPA is fine. Also at home I am always on my WiFi.
One thing I did notice, which is wierd. SMS and MMS send much faster on LTE than on HSPA. I can actually notice how much faster it is.
But I did want to be a bit more future proof and have the latest phone. Of course I can't remember keeping a phone over a year anyway. I am sure there will be a Galaxy S 3 out by the time LTE starts getting built out a bit more.
I'd do the exchange you get a bigger screen and more CPU power. I'm not in an lte area and haven't noticed any difference still get great speeds.. I did the exchange your talking about
Thanks for all the help. I think im gonna keep the OG galaxy2 just because I have no idea when I will have LTE
much more dev support on og sgsII
I had the original Galaxy S2 but took it back because of some dead pixels and Mini USB port was very loose and was causing disconnect with the slightest movement. I loved the original Galaxy S2 my only complaints about it would be the battery life, loose mini USB connection (bad design I feel) and it was too thin for me. I don’t have the biggest hands in the world but the phone was not comfortable to me in the hands.
I did see all the comments about how the skyrocket would not be beneficial unless you were in a LTE network and also since the proc in the GS2 seems to be outperforming the proc in the skyrocket it didn’t make since to purchase it in addition to that it had a worse battery life.
I don’t do a lot of gaming so the proc was not a huge concern to me and even though LTE is not available in my area they explained it still connected faster on the networks. I tested the both phones at att and at my house. The GS2 connected on average at a 1.2 Mbps while the skyrocket on average was 3.2 Mbps. It was nearly doubled. So even though you may not have LTE in your area you will still see some benefits with LTE technology. However my battery life was even worse on the skyrocket. This is because I am downloading files via torrent on both phones when testing them.
I rooted my phone removed all the crap At&t loaded and also removed some auto starts up applications. Now my phone works very well. Out of box I though it was slow compared the GS2. Now it seems to be working fine and performance wise I cannot tell the difference.
Quadrant scores were very close to the same. Out of box my score on the GS2 was on average 2900 with the sky rocket it was 2500. After freeing up some memory and disabling LTE by connecting to wifi vs LTE to upload my info my scores were anywhere from 34426 to 3633!
Those of you with Skyrocket phones I am curious to know what your quadrent scores are. Here is how I improved my scores and tested between none LTE and LTE connection. I downloaded root uninstaller and removed all the crap Att installed and then downloaded start up manager and ran only a few apps. After a clean reboot I then connected to wifi opended task manager and exited all programs and cleared ram before each test. Ran quadrent 5 times and wrote down my scores (3573, 3429, 3633, 3459, 3426) on wifi. Disconnected wifi and let LTE connect. Cleared ram and cleared programs again then ran the tests on LTE my scores were (3075,2045, 2312, 3104, 2287).
My question to all the developers is can LTE be taking up a lot of the proc speed during benchmark test and this is why people are claiming the SG2 is outperforming the proc in the skyrocket? Also can anyone develop a toggle to turn off LTE? I think this will free up the unnecessary stress on the proc for those who don’t have LTE networks in their area and also increase battery life.
So fare I am happy with the Skyrocket. What I liked is the not so thin rounded back that feels a lot better in the hands while holding in landscape mode. Performance wise I did not notice any difference between the two phones (after tweaking). Battery life the GS2 was better. Connection speed on the skyrocket was nearly doubled even though LTE not available in my area. The screen was noticeably bigger at a first glance compared to the GS2. The mini usb connection is a lot more secure and is not wobbly on the skyrocket, even the displays at the store had a wobbly loose connection. Viewing angle was better on the Skyrocket and it did not have the blueish tint when viewing at a angle like the GS2 did. I go through At&t and the GS2 did not come with a headset, the skyrocket came with a headset as well as a smaller power adapter similar to the square iphone power adapter. I hope this helps those of you trying to decide if you want to buy the GS2 or the Skyrocket. Let me know if you have any questions.
Hello to all.
New Android user here, coming from Iphone 3GS. Finally was eligible for AT&T upgrade, and decided to go Android. Took advantage of the $99 Target deal for the Galaxy S2. I wanted to the skyrocket, but they didn't have it in the store yet. Told me to get the GS2 for now, learn Android in the meantime, and later on swap out for Skyrocket when available. I was afraid of losing my grandfathered unlimited data plan, so didn't want to order online. AT&T was too pricey for the Skyrocket ($249)
So, have the GS2 for now and trying to flatten the Android learning curve. But as I'm in my 30 day window, I am lurking here finding out how you guys like the Skyrocket.
My eyesight isn't getting any better (late 50's) so the bigger the screen the better, but don't want to be trying to put a tablet in my pocket.
Was a jailbreaker on the iphone, and consider myself an old hacker in pc world, so probably will be getting into rooting, and rom's eventually. For now just trying to learn Android without taking on too much at once. I hope the Skyrocket development will pick up like I see for the GS2. No hurry for now!
Don't have LTE in my area yet. But it seems like the Skyrocket does better on HSPA than the GS2. Little nervous reading that AT&T doesn't seem to honor the "unlimited" plans for LTE. And no way to turn it off on the Skyrocket. Maybe this will be possible in future ROMs?
After reading all your informative replies, I believe I am still leaning to swapping out the GS2 for the Skyrocket.
Nice to see that these forums are so active with so many helpful folks!
Nice to be here!!
Another one of these threads....
SGS2 is outdated now. Especially since LTE will be rolling out all over the place next year. My phone is OC'ed to 1.83mhz and I can tell you it is noticeably faster than my old s2. This phone is most likely to get ICS before any other at&t phone also. Out with the old, in with the new.
Skyrocket is superior
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
Global Swag said:
Another one of these threads....
SGS2 is outdated now. Especially since LTE will be rolling out all over the place next year. My phone is OC'ed to 1.83mhz and I can tell you it is noticeably faster than my old s2. This phone is most likely to get ICS before any other at&t phone also. Out with the old, in with the new.
Skyrocket is superior
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ogs2 already has ICS.
Yes a buggy unofficial version
Global Swag said:
Yes a buggy unofficial version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is true..
I will be keeping my SR... I had them side by side.. and the SR is a superior phone ... all my issues are solved...
I take back all my nasty comments!

[Q] Phone upgrade recommendation.

I'm running cm7.2 on my Motorola defy, and due to a need for more storage(64gb sd support) I am upgrading. I primarily do emails, music, and occasional photography and web browsing.
I am looking for a phone that has:
- Some sort of cyanogenmod support, official would be preferable.
- 64gb sd support.
- Decent battery life.
- 8mp camera, a good lense would also be nice.
- Gorilla glass.
- Smaller than the Galaxy S2, as my hands are too small.
- Decent specs.
I had a look at the htc sensation(not 4g), and it looked fine- except I've heard things about it overheating, and having abysmal battery life. I had a look at anker batteries, and the like but getting them shipped to my country would be expensive. It's my primary choice currently, but I'm still iffy about it, hence this thread.
Thankyou in advance.
Even though the Development is fantastic, I didn't find the Sensation much chop.
So far, the 64GB card has worked for me in:
HTC Vivid 4G
LG Nitro HD
Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100
Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 and i717
Dell Streak 5
HTC Incredible S (a bit patchy - required a few formats before it recognised)
There are some reports of it working in the Motorola Atrix also, although I didn't try it.
Hope this helps! It probably works in a lot more, these are just the ones I've tried personally
Thanks.
So as an opinion, would you recommend the Incredible S over the sensation if the two were relatively similar in price?
get the vivid or s2 9100, both fit ur needa to the T.
choovanski said:
Thanks.
So as an opinion, would you recommend the Incredible S over the sensation if the two were relatively similar in price?
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Click to collapse
No. If they are similar in price, get the Sensation. The Incredible S, while excellent in everyday use, is much older on paper and is not worth the price of a Sensation.
The Development for Sensation here makes it a good phone. The only reasons I didn't like it was the out-of-box performance (no modifications), and the fact that out of three units I've owned, two have overheated or shorted out and died completely. Those experiences just left a bitter taste for me
I'd recommend a Vivid/Raider/Velocity (all the same phone) over anything else HTC at the moment. It's a pity you can't be pursuaded to the size of the GS2, as that's the best all-rounder on the market currently
Sensation is good. but if you like smaller hanset, I think Xperia sola is good for you. it's dual core and the rest of the specs are good too. they dont say that if its capable to use a 64GB sd card, but you can try it anyway. its a lil bit pricy tho..
...alternatively you can consider Droid Razr. a 64GB sdcard works in Razr too,
The vivid is twice the price of the sensation, and I will not be able to take advantage of the 4g.
My step-dad has the S2, and it's very nice- but I'm only 5'8 and have girly hands, so I can't reach all of the screen. It's a bummer.
Due to the sensation's overheating problems, would you recommend avoiding it completely? I'm getting mine(regardless of the price) shipped from Australia, or Singapore so I'm not sure how htc are about warranty. I have had terrible overheating problems, fire and all that with hp computers and would rather not go down that road again.
choovanski said:
The vivid is twice the price of the sensation, and I will not be able to take advantage of the 4g.
My step-dad has the S2, and it's very nice- but I'm only 5'8 and have girly hands, so I can't reach all of the screen. It's a bummer.
Due to the sensation's overheating problems, would you recommend avoiding it completely? I'm getting mine(regardless of the price) shipped from Australia, or Singapore so I'm not sure how htc are about warranty. I have had terrible overheating problems, fire and all that with hp computers and would rather not go down that road again.
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What radio bands does your network use?
I found my Vivid right here on XDA for 300 dollars. Sensations here are around the 230 mark, so there isn't a whole lot of difference, unless you are looking at retail prices in which case there will be.
I personally will not touch another Sensation, but it may be completely bad luck on my part. There are plenty here who love it, and it's important to remember that for every member who raises an issue with their handset, there are 100 who have none
As far as warranty goes, handsets have to go back to country of origin for servicing if they are carrier branded. I believe an International warranty applied only on unbranded handsets - this may be incorrect though.
Even though I'm in Australia and ship a few phones myself, I'd recommend against sourcing from here if you can. Getting phones out of Australia is a nightmare due to silly Lithium battery regulations. I source most of my handsets from the US and Hong Kong Also, prices here are over-inflated for personal technology. We are one of the most expensive nations in the world for gadgets.
Out of curiosity, where are you located?
New Zealand. The prices for tech are stupidly high here, I would never buy in this country.
My network, 2degrees says "we run a 900MHz GSM network. Data is provided using both GPRS and EDGE technology. We provide HSDPA at 2100MHZ within our Mobile Broadband Zones. Outside our Mobile Broadband Zones we use 2G 900 MHz or 3G 2100MHz."
So those are the kind of specs I would need.
The Vivid is even bigger than the galaxy.. Wow. The sensation seems to be the same size, but feels a lot smaller. Maybe its the case my step-dad has on his. Will have to do a test.
Out of interest, how do you get phones on xda? Also how much is the S2 on here?
choovanski said:
New Zealand. The prices for tech are stupidly high here, I would never buy in this country.
My network, 2degrees says "we run a 900MHz GSM network. Data is provided using both GPRS and EDGE technology. We provide HSDPA at 2100MHZ within our Mobile Broadband Zones. Outside our Mobile Broadband Zones we use 2G 900 MHz or 3G 2100MHz."
So those are the kind of specs I would need.
The Vivid is even bigger than the galaxy.. Wow. The sensation seems to be the same size, but feels a lot smaller. Maybe its the case my step-dad has on his. Will have to do a test.
Out of interest, how do you get phones on xda? Also how much is the S2 on here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, you poor buggers get hit harder than what we do. How's petrol there these days? It was 1.80 a litre last time I was there. We're not far off that here, now
2100MHz 3G you'll get on just about every phone in existence, same with 900MHz GSM. I use a Vivid daily and it's marginally smaller than the GS2, and very close to the size of the Sensation (just heavier).
There's a Marketplace here on XDA. Unfortunately they've just put a rule in place limiting access for newer members. Average going price here for a GS2 is around US350 for a black model. White ones a little higher. You're lucky in that you can take any model and it will work so long as it's unlocked. You'll need to factor in shipping also, it's around US50 for a phone and US60 for a tablet to Australia, don't expect it'd be much more to NZ.
I don't drive, and for that I am glad. Things are expensive here.
Well, I won't be able to use the market place due to restrictions. So I will have to settle for an import. Is AUSD410 a good price for a sensation, as I have a relative who would be able to pick one up for me in Australia when they go.
When you mentioned the lithium customs problem, does that go for the luggage that is not the carry on?
Sorry if it's too many questions, it's just I'm a student and I don't want to sink my money into a bad phone.
choovanski said:
I don't drive, and for that I am glad. Things are expensive here.
Well, I won't be able to use the market place due to restrictions. So I will have to settle for an import. Is AUSD410 a good price for a sensation, as I have a relative who would be able to pick one up for me in Australia when they go.
When you mentioned the lithium customs problem, does that go for the luggage that is not the carry on?
Sorry if it's too many questions, it's just I'm a student and I don't want to sink my money into a bad phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Carry-on luggage doesn't seem to be a problem (at least domestically), I carried multiple phones/tablets with me on my last couple of trips and didn't run into any issues.
To be honest, that's GS2 territory price-wise. What's your budget, and what do you most desire?
I just really want a device that supports 64gb sd, has a decent camera, a good battery and isn't huge. I'm still really iffy about phones the size of the galaxy S2, because I just can't reach all of the screen. The Incredible S is looking tempting, because of the size and the fact people say good things about it's battery life.
I wouldn't want want to spend much more than NZD550, which is AUD430 and USD450.
choovanski said:
I just really want a device that supports 64gb sd, has a decent camera, a good battery and isn't huge. I'm still really iffy about phones the size of the galaxy S2, because I just can't reach all of the screen. The Incredible S is looking tempting, because of the size and the fact people say good things about it's battery life.
I wouldn't want want to spend much more than NZD550, which is AUD430 and USD450.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's quite aa few options in your budget, but the size limitation rules out the majority, although I definitely understand it. I don't think I could comfortably use any of my phones one-handed!
You should be able to pick up an Incredible S for around the AU300 mark. I'm not 100% sure on comparability with a 64GB card, mine did work eventually but it took a few formats and a bit of coaxing, it certainly wasn't just drop-in-and-go.
What about one of the newer Sony Ericsson phones, like the Arc or Arc S, or even the Ray might be a better fit for you?
Sent from my HTC Vivid
The arc S looks very nice, and there are some cases where people have been able to get 64gb cards to work on it. While the headphone jack placement is bad, it's of a good size and has a great camera. If you know of a way that I could buy one for a decent price, I would be very grateful.
Nice choice. There is limited difference between the Arc and Arc S (just a hifher-clocked SoC and 1080p video) and no size difference at all, so even if the Arc S is out of budget, there wouldn't be a lot of difference in taking the Arc instead.
Is the width of the GS2 the off-putting feature? The Arc is narrower and thinner, but about the same length overall?
I'll see what I can dig up for you
Sent from my HTC Vivid
And the hight of the screen, I couldn't actually reach the status bar.
The arc is well within my price range, but I would like the faster processor of the arc s.
Thankyou so much for the help.
choovanski said:
And the hight of the screen, I couldn't actually reach the status bar.
The arc is well within my price range, but I would like the faster processor of the arc s.
Thankyou so much for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use this tool at PhoneArena to compare dimensions if you like. Remove the TyTN and add any four phones you like.
Chapest prices I could find you on the Arc S in Australia are eBay unfortunately. There are a couple here on the MP, but after shipping to Australia they'll come out more.
You're looking at around the 410 mark, that's including postage to Australia. I dug it up in white, silver and blue. I can't speak for the seller with the silver and blue units, but I can tell you that even though IMobilePhoneX send their stuff from Hong Kong, it is genuine and always factory fresh. I have dealt with them multiple times.
Anything else I can help with, let me know
Massive thanks.
I just order the arc S from IMobilePhoneX. Thanks for the recommendation. I assume it should be arriving before next Sunday, am I correct in that assumption?
Also, on a related note- are you running ICS, and if so is it really that much better than gingerbread?
Once again, thankyou.
choovanski said:
Massive thanks.
I just order the arc S from IMobilePhoneX. Thanks for the recommendation. I assume it should be arriving before next Sunday, am I correct in that assumption?
Also, on a related note- are you running ICS, and if so is it really that much better than gingerbread?
Once again, thankyou.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My pleasure.
I would guess so. That gives it seven days from HK, which is possible as they usually use a courier.
I am running ICS, but am not the biggest advocate for it. I dislike the 'stock' ICS launcher/UI, and only enjoy ICS on my Vivid because it has Sense over the top. It takes a few cues from Honeycomb naturally, and I wasn't the biggest fan of that UI either.
Performance-wise it is a definite improvement, especially with the GPU now rendering the little things like homescreen flicking, opening/flicking the app drawer etc. ICS on the Vivid is much more fluid and responsive than GB (not that GB was bad by any means - ICS is just noticeably better).
What annoys me the most is that it breaks compatibility with my favourite launcher, LauncherPro. There's no development for it anymore either, so it's probably going to be that way for a long time.
It all comes down to personal preference on the look, but the performance and rendering gains are definitely there

T-Mobile USA phones with full 42Mbps support?

Just wondering, as probably the major complaint with my G2 is the network speed, especially when tethering. I live in a great 4G coverage area and my friends with Galaxy II's get much better speeds than me, so I know the upgrade would be worthwhile.
Anyway, I know the Galaxy II, Amaze, and Blaze are all "full" 42Mbps, but finding info on the network specs with other devices is kinda hit-or-miss - the same phone can have numerous numbers listed across the web, but I have no idea which would be the most reliable source.
For example, I have no idea whether the recent LG Mytouch phones support 42Mbps or something lesser, and I'm considering one for the low price and specs at least equal to my G2 (don't care about camera as I have a decent P&S).

[Q] Contemplating phones, want advice.

Hi everyone,
I'm a longtime lurker in these forums, and I'd love some advice on phone options.
I'm a Verizon Wireless customer, and for some specific reasons, have to stay that way.
My current phone is a Droid 2 Global. It's my first Android device. Previously, I had Windows Mobile, for phones and PDAs, dating all the way back to when it was called Windows CE.
I'm happy-ish with Android, and plan on staying with Android for now, but it's time to upgrade, and I'd like to do it while I can still stay on my grandfathered unlimited data plan (so anytime between now and the next 3-4 months).
I'd like to get a phone I'll be happy with for the next 2 years, so I'd like to have some future-facing features, like high resolution and NFC, in addition to enough RAM to run today's software and tomorrow's.
My current phone, the D2G, running the stock rom and the .629 update, is slow like a turtle moving through molasses. It once wasn't this way, and it's not overloaded with apps, but it's a situation I'd like to avoid in the future.
So, in my next phone, I'm looking for the following, and I can't seem to find a phone that has all of these features:
-removable, easily replaceable battery (so I can carry around more than one)
-global (GSM/HSPA) capability
-physical keyboard
-1 GB RAM or more
-dual core processor (or better)
-4G LTE
-ICS + moderately decent upgrade schedule for future releases
-NFC
-1280x720 screen
No phone matches all of these. The three phones that come closest are:
1. HTC Rezound: no physical keyboard or NFC
2. Samsung Galaxy Nexus: no physical keyboard or global capability
3. Droid 4: non-removable battery, no NFC, no 1280x720 screen
I travel internationally a couple of times a year, but not more frequently, so I suppose that I could just keep my current phone (the D2G, which is SIM-unlocked) for world-roaming purposes, and use it when I travel.
I've had a physical keyboard for a long time - my last 5 phones have had one, and I type much faster on it. I could give it up, but don't really want to.
I feel like NFC is a serious want-to-have, not for today, but for 12 months from now, when it'll be convenient and more common.
I want the higher resolution 1280x720 screen. I don't HAVE to have it, but when buying a phone for 2 years, it seems like it'd be foolish not to get it.
The other thing that tempts me is that it seems like we have phones with quad-core processors just around the corner - is it worth waiting a few more months to get one? My single core D2G was the fastest phone out there when I got it about two years ago, and now it's one of the absolute slowest - does it make sense to go dual core when quad cores are here?
---
Anyway, that's what I am thinking about. Can anyone provide some guidance?
Should I just bite the bullet and get the Galaxy Nexus, and travel globally with my slow-as-molasses D2G? Or should I saddle up with the Droid 4 and its sad screen, forget about replacing the battery, and live near a charger at all times? Or maybe just wait until something cooler comes out from around the corner?
Anyone?
Bueller? Bueller?
Wait a couple weeks for the S3 and either use your D2G for global use, or buy an incredible 2 or Droid 3 for global use on the cheap. Physical keyboard is worthless now, as screen sizes coupled with amazing auto correct software make touchscreen keyboards a breeze and an obvious choice.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
Would you take the SIII over the Galaxy Nexus?
Are the non-Nexus Samsungs much harder to root?
I honestly love the Nexus. It's sexy and snappy. I bought one for my wife. I don't think the SIII will be harder to root than the Nexus. Your call really. The SIII will be newer and the "it" phone for a while, but the Nexus is still very capable and is gonna be way cheaper right now. You can probably get a Nexus for about $100 on contract as long as you avoid corporate Verizon stores. They will rape you on price and give you **** service. Check Costco or Best Buy in your area. They'll be cheaper on both devices than a Verizon store.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
one thing I would say about the resolution is that its a bit of a marketing ploy.
once you start getting above WVGA resolutions unless you perch the device on your nose its quite hard to tell the difference.
Whats more important is actually the screen tech, I can promise you that a decent panel at a lower res will look a lot better than a cheap or average panel with a high res.
Will time make a difference? nope, not unless you become very short sighted and actually have the device on the end of your nose
To be honest id agree with you on the NFC thing, if your set on keeping it for a few years it would be worth it, but that's a relatively newish tech hitting the markets, might be worth holding back a few months until Q3 12 to see whats in the pipe line. A lot more NFC devices will be coming out, one of them is bound to tick more of your boxes....
just a thought.
Nexus is always a good bet...
Coming from Sprint, I don't really know about Verizon's phones..
However,
Physical Keyboards are a dying breed. Most of these phones will be bulky and have bigger batteries or shorter battery life.
Currently typing this on my Galaxy Nexus, I highly recommended this phone.
Yes, there are only soft buttons (sans the power and volume), but its definitely future tech.
Amazing resolution (the screen has mfc defects, but they're often overlooked)
LTE, HSPA, GSM
And I do believe it has a place for your SIM card (Sprint doesn't use sim cards, so I'm not sure)
The phones extremely thin, light battery, and has a nice feeling curved glass and battery cover.
Great battery life once you unlock it and flash a battery mod.
No complaints here
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA

Cheap, knockoff phablets that sacrifice the least performance

I was browsing the web earlier, looking for a cheap upgrade to my LG Nitro which is slowly getting on my nerves with its battery life. I came across these two phones, which are fairly impressive knockoffs of the Samsung Galaxy S4:
http://technokarak.com/orient-n9500-samsung-galaxy-s4-clone.html
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1qUhm...agon-v89-specs-samsung-galaxy-mega-clone.html
The Orient N9500 is most impressive, delivering similar performance as the S4 at only $234 USD. The only problem is that it doesn't support LTE, which for me is a total deal breaker living in one of the largest US metro areas.
Does anyone know of any similar knockoff phones and/or cheap phablets that support LTE? The Nexus 4 would be a no brainer with it's ROM support and quality at $299, but once again, no LTE.
Technocian said:
I was browsing the web earlier, looking for a cheap upgrade to my LG Nitro which is slowly getting on my nerves with its battery life. I came across these two phones, which are fairly impressive knockoffs of the Samsung Galaxy S4:
http://technokarak.com/orient-n9500-samsung-galaxy-s4-clone.html
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1qUhm...agon-v89-specs-samsung-galaxy-mega-clone.html
The Orient N9500 is most impressive, delivering similar performance as the S4 at only $234 USD. The only problem is that it doesn't support LTE, which for me is a total deal breaker living in one of the largest US metro areas.
Does anyone know of any similar knockoff phones and/or cheap phablets that support LTE? The Nexus 4 would be a no brainer with it's ROM support and quality at $299, but once again, no LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although the Orient / Star n9500 has a smaller battery than preferred for such a beefy package, I'm seriously considering it. If its relatively steady - and that price range - it will probably see massive outspread - wich means mods & ROM galore ^^,
As to LTE, You'll most likely have to look in a different price range, "china phones" targeted for international marked - as China wont be getting LTE services untill estm. early 2014. And The largest network provider by far, China Mobile - is backing LTE TDD - a different standard.
pr0xZen said:
Although the Orient / Star n9500 has a smaller battery than preferred for such a beefy package, I'm seriously considering it. If its relatively steady - and that price range - it will probably see massive outspread - wich means mods & ROM galore ^^,
As to LTE, You'll most likely have to look in a different price range, "china phones" targeted for international marked - as China wont be getting LTE services untill estm. early 2014. And The largest network provider by far, China Mobile - is backing LTE TDD - a different standard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I assumed when they meant "Galaxy S4 clone" that it included the pentaband/multicarrier radio.
Oh well, the Orient is still amazing for the price and honestly HSPA+ really is good enough! If you are streaming Pandora and it never skips or buffers, you can't tell the difference between even a good EDGE connection and LTE unless you ran Speedtest. Wifi is the thing to be on anyways so you don't go over any data limits. I might go for it myself.

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