I want to share some experiences I have with the Galaxy S devices. It's a bit late to post this perhaps, old news even, since Galaxy S is no longer new and is only single core, but there are a few features that give these phones excellent value, especially for those who want to buy a phone out of contract and don't want to pay too much:
-Used ones can go for around $150, less if lucky
-Very easy and cheap to unlock
-Generally good battery life that can last whole day
-AMOLED screen, viewable under sunlight
-Good build quality (Gorilla glass)
-5MP camera takes decent pictures and 720p video with adequate lighting (most variants don't have LED flash)
-Decent graphic card (200 MHz PowerVR SGX 540) can handle all recent 3D games (ie. RipTide & Asphalt 6)
-Easy to root and has great developing community (CyanogenMod supports)
-Support "ODIN", easy flashing factory images in Download mode, making them very difficult to brick
-Used Wolfson DAC which yields great audio quality, which is not featured in the S II and Note
The Galaxy S variants I've owned are: S 4G (T-Mobile), Vibrant (T-Mobile), Captivate (ATT), Nexus S (T-Mobile). I have unlocked, rooted and flash roms on all of them. I also had the Galaxy SII and Note (International).
Overall impressions:
Nexus S: This has to be the most desired of the lot, best screen, best performance, latest OTA update directly from Google and has lots of developers for it. It has LED flash which most of the other variants don't. It also support Near Field Communications. However, it is not my favorite version.
Downfalls:
-no microSD card slot, only 16GB internal
-due to its curved shape, with a case included it can feel bulkier than other Galaxy S variants with flat body
Vibrant: This is my favorite of the lot, simply because it works on both T-Mo and ATT 3G, this is rare for an Android device this cheap. It's not pentaband however (doesn't support ATT 850mhz). It has internal 16GB storage and microSD expansion. Cyanogen support and lots of custom roms.
Downfalls:
-Needs GPS fix patch for custom roms, GPS lock time is a few seconds slower and less precise than other variants.
-(correct me if I'm wrong) It doesn't yet have the official T-Mobile 'WiFi Calling' app that the Galaxy S 4G has, but there is works on a custom version. IMO, you can just use GrooVe IP instead.
-No front face camera (I think there is a rare few Vibrants that does have it)
Captivate (ATT version): This device is the nicest looking Galaxy S I think, due to its slanted design. It feels just a tiny bit slower than the rest to me, I could be wrong, but it just feels that way. Like the Vibrant, it has Cyanogen supports and lots of developers, 16GB internal storage + microSD expansion. No front face camera unlike the Captivate Glide and Sprint's Epic 4G though.
Galaxy S 4G: There is a mix of good and bad for this device. It has good data speed (10Mbps+) as long as you live in a good T-Mobile coverage area, which also results in good tethering experience. It includes the app "WiFi Calling" so you won't use up minutes. Front face camera included.
Downfall:
-Lacks internal storage for users, needs to have microSD card. That also results in apps installed to microSD card by default, this can interfere with functions of some apps. Not sure if stock roms can do this, but you can always manually move the apps to internal storage, sometimes its a must for apps to autostart and for some app's widgets to show up in the widgets selection menu.
-Much less developers available, no CyanogenMod support. Only until now there is some work on porting CM7. With that said, the available Valhalla rom makes this device blazing fast, but also no longer worked on by its original developers.
More info:
Performance:
I'm not basing so much on synthetic benchmarks, but regular usage. The Nexus S seems the quickest and I achieved ~2500points for Quadrant. Aside from that all of devices I've used are on par, they all can play 3D games smoothly. They are all kind of slow with stock rom, but once you put in CyanogenMod7 or 9, they're blazing. In fact, I feel these devices with CM7 are more responsive than stock Galaxy S II and Note (in term of general navigation, of course newer phones are faster overall).
The Vibrant gets low Quadrant score, around 1500, but it seems just as fast as other ones. I feel the Captivate is slowest of the lots, but the difference is so small it doesn't matter. The key here is to flash custom roms.
Data speed:
The Vibrant is the best in term of value, it's not fast, but supports both 1700 and 1900 bands, so can work on both T-Mobile and ATT 3G networks, it does not support the newer ATT 850 band however.
S 4G: theoretical 21Mbps, I've achieved over 10Mbps
Vibrant: can get up to 6Mbps with good signal, generally stays around 2-3Mbps
Nexus S: theoretical 7.2Mbps, about same with Vibrant
Captivate: theoretical 7.2Mbps, but ATT HSPA network is generally slower than T-Mobile imo, it all depends on the area of coverage though
Galaxy S II (T-Mo): theoretical 42Mbps, I've achieved 24Mbps
Also note that with T-Mobile devices, I've been able to tether freely. I know that some people with the $79.99 plans have had text message from T-Mobile that warns tethering is not included with their plan.
GPS location fix:
These devices work pretty well as GPS navigator since their AMOLED screen remains viewable outdoor. They all generally takes around 6-10 secs to get a fix outdoor. The Captivate and Vibrant using custom roms required GPS fix patches. I have the most trouble getting location fix with the Vibrant which can take longer than 10 seconds. I've lost GPS signal on the highway with the S 4G with dark clouds overhead. These devices while does a good job, are not reliable as devices that include both GPS and GLONASS support, such as XPeria variants and the Galaxy Note, these can get really fast location fix and rarely lose signal.
Screen: The Nexus S has best screen quality than the rest of American carrier-locked variants, which all has 'blue tint' to them, although just as crisp details. However, if you have CyanogenMod9 installed, you can change the color temperature of the devices to warmer to match the Nexus S. There are no CM9 for the S 4G currently however.
Final:
If I have a final say about the Galaxy S model, is simply that it has Wolfson DAC, that is a big deal for audiophiles like me. The SII and Note just doesn't sound as good, regardless if they are more powerful devices. With that said, I recently got an XPeria Play which also has some excellent quality too, so XPeria devices might worth looking at if audio fidelity is your concerns.
Good Job.
I think Note is very big.
What Do you think the performance in games with Sony?
Cheers.
The Adreno 205 in the Play vs the SGX540 in the Galaxy are about the same performance, maybe the later edging by a bit. But the Play has a slide out gamepad which is unbeatable for gaming. However it also has terrible screen. And you need to unlock the boot loader to flash custom rom, and its not as easy if you don't have the international version. It is going too get official ICS release soon though.
I'm not sure if PS3 contoller also work with Gingerbread for the Galaxy devices, but the iControlPad can work with all apps just like the Play gamepad (using iCade mode and pairing with Bluez IME).
The Note international is the best device I've own by the time of its release, I think the SIII will take it to another level though. But the Note still has Wacom pen support which is useful.
Related
I'm putting together a general guide for people to choose an Android phone because increasingly, there are so many choices. This guide will likely be more focused on North American customers at the moment, because that is where I come from and have the most knowledge. This is not going to be completely comprehensive (impossible), but it will be intended to be a good starting point.
I will be updating this thread as new phones emerge and removing older devices.
What to look for when buying a new phone:
Write down all of the features you want. Then take a look at the phones available and the carriers. Remember that specs are not everything (ex: higher megapixel does not mean better camera and clockspeed does not mean faster CPU). Look at how good a carrier is, their coverage, their price, and the customer service. Am I roaming? What are the terms of the contract?
When choosing a phone, remember that each manufacturer will have their flaws:
- HTC: Expensive phones (when buying unlocked), poor battery life, and poor cameras. On the plus side, HTC has the best upgrade record of the Android makers, generally good build quality, and easy to mod (most amount of development at XDA as well), although not always prompt at releasing source code. They use mainly Qualcomm Snapdragon CPUs with Adreno graphics. They are known for their distinct "Sense" UI.
- Samsung: Samsung phones have worse build quality than HTC (they seem to be very fond of soft-touch glossy plastic that makes their phones, even their flagships feel cheap) and they have a bad rep for their slow updates. Samsung generally will have some of the best displays (that is their speciality, although their SuperAMOLED is over saturated), good specs overall (they are a massively integrated company and make most of the parts in their phones themselves). They are also prompt in releasing source code. Cameras are also decent on Samsung phones. They use a variety of different CPUs.
- Motorola: Motorola has good update speed on the American phones, but in the rest of the world, updates are poor. One alarming recent trend is their locked bootloaders, which make it hard to load custom ROMs. They have generally good audio and call quality, but cameras are average. One noteworthy thing is the colour accuracy on their screens is excellent. They use mainly TI's OMAP series of CPUs, although an Nvidia Tegra 2 phone is expected.
- LG: LG has had tough times recently, but seems to be turning around. I have not had a lot of experience with their handsets, but it seems that the build quality is decent, judging by their Optimus series. I look forward to seeing whatever variant of the Optimus 2X ends up in North America.
The next step would be to consider your budget. Low end phones are generally less than $250 USD/about 200 Euros (things are more pricey in Europe), midrange would make up about $250 - $400 USD (200 Euros to maybe 350 Euros), and anything greater than $400 would be considered high end. Higher end phones generally have better build quality, resolution, processors, cameras, and are faster at getting updates, not to mention features that low end phones often skimp on.
Globally: Worldwide, phones will vary significantly based on carrier, coverage, and choice. High end phones tend to come out uniquely for North America and the rest of the world. There are going to be way too many choices to mention here, but here are the ones that stand out. In most cases, I'd recommend getting a phone at least 480x320, becuase that is the resolution that Android was intended for.
- Samsung Galaxy S: Super AMOLED screen, it's own unique variant of the buttons, front facing camera, 5 MP 720p camera, and SuperAMOLED screen. This phone is hampered by no LED flash and defective GPS units.
- Samsung Galaxy Apollo: Mid-range Android phone (need more details)
- Samsung Galaxy Europa: Need details, but looks like low-end phone
- HTC Desire HD: Essentially an Android GSM variant of the HTC HD2 and the HTC Evo. It has a large 4.3" screen, a camera with dual LED flash, standard 4 button Android configuration, but no front facing camera. It's hampered by the poor battery life.
- HTC Desire Z: A smaller variant of the Desire HD with a lower end processor, keyboard, and a smaller screen. I'm not comfortable with the durability of the hinge, but otherwise, an excellent phone.
- HTC Legend: Successor to the HTC Hero, this is phone is a midrange phone and feels pretty snappy. My choice for a midrange phone.
- HTC Wildfire: Lower-end phone (320 x 240), small screen, and light
- Sony Ericsson X10: Currently Sony's flagship. Hampered by Sony's slow updates, and no multitouch. Low storage. On the upside, it has a pretty good camera and a high-res screen.
- Sony Ericsson X8: Pretty decent mid-range phone. Comparable to the HTC Legend in specs, but only has Android 2.1.
- Sony Ericsson X10 Mini: Somewhere in between the X10 and the X8. It's similar to the X8 in most cases and feels like a pretty good phone overall.
- LG Optimus: Well priced mid-range handset. Build quality is pretty good and comparable to the X8 and the HTC Hero.
- Motorola Milestone 2: High end handset, but Motorola's seems to be slower with their international updates
- Motorola Defy: Durable handset, mid-range specs, but stuck on Android 2.1
There are many, many cheap phones coming in from China and India that are too numerous to mention here. I'd recommend looking at reviews and examining what you think is reliable based off of your best judgment. Some nations also have their own phones that cannot be bought elsewhere, such as the Meizu M9 and Sharp's IS03.
The North American Market:
North America uses what is known as a subsidy model. The carriers buy the phones from the manufacturers, brand them (often with their own bloatware), and in the case of GSM carriers, apply a SIM lock. I recommend that if you live in North America, that you only buy a high end phone if you are going on contract. The cost of a high end phone (an extra $150-$250 + tax) is not significant relative to the life of the contract. I suppose that if you are buying lower end phones, you could consider something less potent.
LG Optimus is my recommendation for a low-end phone. An alternative are the low-end HTC devices, most notable the HTC Wildfire and HTC Aria. I anticipate that as Android gains more traction here, that we'll begin to see low end, prepaid Android phones within the $100 mark.
Canada (my home country):
The Canadian market is dominated by 3 carriers (Bell, Telus - which shares infrastructure with Bell, and Rogers, the largest). Three drawbacks that we Canucks face is the poor choice of smartphones compared to the US, the expensive data plans, and the 3 year contracts. On the upside, buying a phone unlocked is cheaper than Europe (all electronics are generally cheaper than Europe, but cheaper still than in the US). They all use GSM and HSPA+ at this point, with their phones unlockable and interchangeable.:
Bell:
- Samsung Galaxy S (dubbed "Vibrant", although it is an i9000). Be careful about upgrading to Froyo, bricked devices have been reported.
- Desire Z (your choice if you want a keyboarded phone - luckily, it can be bought and unlocked. At $500 CAD, it isn't a bad deal either)
Telus:
- Samsung Fascinate (GSM version of the Verizon phone)
- HTC Desire (Nexus One Clone)
- It is expected that the HTC Desire HD will come onto Telus in H1 2011
Rogers (best coverage of the three carriers, but poorest Android support):
- Samsung Captivate (i896 - buy this instead of the i897 if you're going off contract; it doesn't seem to have the lag or GPS problems, plus no bloatware)
- Acer Liquid E (cheaper alternative)
I recommend against buying the Dell Streak (poor build quality overall) and the X10 (poor updates). For Rogers particularly, every year, there is a 6gb data promotion that I recommend holding off and waiting specifically for.
United States:
Dominated by 4 carriers, plus a host of smaller CDMA carriers.
Verizon: Largest carrier, CDMA; going to LTE. They seem to have lots of Motorola phones.
- Motorola Droid X (large screen, no keyboard)
- Motorola Droid 2 Global (keyboard, good for world travel as it has a SIM slot, although the GSM SIM card doesn't work on AT&T)
- Motorola Droid Pro (like a Blackberry sized version of the Droid 2)
- Samsung Fascinate (Galaxy S with LED flash, but less storage, and standard Android key layout); Bing
- Samsung Continuum (smaller Galaxy S with a "ticker on bottom")
- HTC Droid Incredible (older phone now, still pretty good device that appears to be derived from Nexus One)
AT&T: GSM carrier; second largest in North America. Be advised that AT&T locks down their phones, allowing no apps from unknown sources. A custom ROM is recommended.
- Samsung Captivate: Variant of Galaxy S; no front facing camera, standard Android button layout
I mentioned that I would only recommend high-end phones, because for the duration of a contract, the extra initial price is not significant. I do not recommend choosing the Sony X10 over the Captivate. AT&T does have a host of lower end phones, such as the HTC Aria and Motorola Backflip.
Sprint: CDMA carrier; currently rolling out WiMAX in many cities (be aware that WiMAX phones carry and extra $10/month charge):
- Samsung Epic 4G (Galaxy S phone with keyboard and standard Android button configuration. WiMAX. Also has LED flash, but less storage. Arguably the best of the Galaxy S variants).
- HTC EVO (first WiMAX design): Qualcomm Snapdragon 1 GHz, 4.3" LCD screen, front facing camera.
Note that there is a significant drop in battery life with WiMAX enabled and that the high frequency of WiMAX can make it hard to get a reliable signal in some buildings and underground. Not all cities have WiMAX yet either.
Recall what I said about getting a high-end phone in North America.
T-Mobile: T-Mobile is also a GSM carrier, using mainly AWS banded phones. They were the first Android supporter.
- Samsung Vibrant (not be confused with the Canadian Bell version, this is a variant of the Galaxy S with the standard Android button configuration)
- Nexus S (I'd recommend in most cases that you get this instead of the Vibrant between the two due to fast upgrades, NFC, and gyroscope. On the downside, the concave screen is more fragile, there is no microSD, and no HSPA+).
- HTC MyTouch 4G (latest version of MyTouch, comes with a variant of HTC Sense, and a trackpad)
- HTC G2 (basically a variant of the Desire Z intended for the T-Mobile bands; unique to this variant is that it is close to stock Android)
- HTC Nexus One (aging now, and not available for sale, but an worthy mention as this is the phone that made this generation of phones happen)
Feedback and constructive criticism are always welcome.
sorry for bump, but what would you say is the best in the realms of prepaid-available phones?
note: i just got the optimus V from virgin mobile for cheap and have been playing with it, and am slightly dissapointed at it's quality, but impressed by virgin mobile's actual network service.
ICS phones?
Are there any ICS phones, I am fed up with hw buttons.
When it comes to phones use the tattoo theory. A good one ain't cheap, and a cheap one ain't good. I run on prepaid networks and after dealing with the craptastic phones now I just by any one I want that is GSM based and be happy.
The galaxy line has it burning am waiting till the quad core HTC is released. Hardware should start to slow down after that.
LukeQr said:
Are there any ICS phones, I am fed up with hw buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you can try more.
Along with the ICS for the HTC Vivid, AT&T announced ICS for several other phones... *including* the Captivate Glide. I never thought I'd see AT&T and Samsung outdo T-Mobile and HTC in terms of an update.
Sent from my pyroiced doubleshot using xda premium
well, the glide is a dual core device and it's actually newer than the doubleshot... it makes perfect sense.
it's just the mt4gs not being updated that's shameful and disgusting
True, the Device has a 1Ghz Duel Core, and 512Mb of Ram. Its just a Thin Duel core Epic 4G.
Virtuous Primo v1.12.00 Alpha 1 for myTouch 4G Slide
Well 2 things:
1. T-mobile hasnt officially announced their upgrade list yet.
2. Samsuck had all the time in the world with ICS before any other OEM. There were pictures leaks of TouchWiz builds before the AOSP was released on google's site.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using xda premium
I own numerous devices.... a lot... as an addict...
While the Glide may not be the sexiest Droid on the market, it is hands down the best HW KB slider period. While it is constructed typically like a Samsung, lots of plastic, the features of the device are pretty impressive. With a dual core Tegra 2, it opperates smoothly & in direct contradiction with Samsung's plastic toy-like build style, the keyboard itself is solidly built & operates nicely with it's quality assisted hinges. The Tegra 2 is a solid chip & rendering is pretty darn good. It's 1Ghz dual core is as almost (if not more in some cases) as responsive as many of the 1.2 & 1.5Ghz devices.
I am an HTC guy, but I always have a HW KVB device as well. While the Glide is great for those that have to pound out emails & make some document changes, it also packs some really great features for your down time too. With the 8MP camera & 720P video support, Native support for HD-DIVX, XVID and most all AVI formats & the ability to play heavily encpded AAC, FLAC as well as AC3 media files, it also the only slider I know of that can utilize its BCM4330 module (Broadcomm) on the true wireless-n 5Ghz band. While you can get wifi-n on the more common 2.4Ghz band, it is usually more cluttered & sometimes limited by other devices or repeaters, so that all connections default to the lowest speed of all devices connected. Use of the 5Ghz band makes streaming media to your home entertainment system a super fast & pleasant experience.
Couple these nice additions to the AMOLED screen & you also get pretty amazing battery life, making it, in my oppinion, a top-notch device for road warriors that prefer or must have a HW keyboard.If Samsung were to remake a next generation Glide (Glide 2?) & add a larger 4.5 or even 4.7 super-amoled & use the larger surface area to slightly slim the device down, I would definitely shell out for it again. With the advanced power management features of ICS, I can envision the Glide getting a good 48 hours of use.
So while again, the Glide may not be the sleekest & sexiest beast (Like my Vivid), it's solid reviews & customer satisfaction index, alongside the chance for Sammy to have the first ICS slider device on the market, updating the Glide to ICS was a no brainer.
I know there are many things about the Tab Plus that make it a superior piece of hardware, but the Nexus 7 is one of the few 7" devices that even comes close to it in specs and performance.
The one great thing is that it will get the latest OS updates and that will make it a more fun device to use. It hasn't even shipped yet, but has its own forum and someone has already figured out how to root the device . . . The most frustrating thing about Samsung is its silence and sluggishness regarding updating our beloved device. Not to mention the wifi driver issue.
I don't plan on getting rid of my Tab Plus but I have a Nexus 7 on pre order and can't wait to try some Jelly Bean.
change the title to:
microsd x JB
Enviado de meu MB525 usando o Tapatalk 2
Well it has the superior processor and better software support, downside would be the missing microSD slot, limited internal storage and lack of 3g. So on the one hand you are dependent on the cloud but you dont get mobile data capabilities. Sure Tegra 3 is nice but i still think the tab+ is at the very least more mobile.
Oh yeah and the n7 is supposed to have a bit of a better screen.
Since it has only wifi and limited storage it's designed to be used at home mostly which conflicts with the concept of such a small screen size.
OK, so I was really curious about this too. I made a little spreadsheet to compare the GT+wifi to the 16gb N7. It's attached. There's several small differences (dimensions, materials, asthetics, etc.) that were either a matter of taste of too insignificant to call "different." BTW- if I've missed something let me know and I'll update.
Nexus 7 (16gb)-----Galaxy Tab Plus (6210 wifi only):
Processor: Tegra 3 Quad Core 1300MHz-----1.2 GHz dual-core Exynos 4210
OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean*- Vanilla-----Android 3.2 Honeycomb - Touchwiz
OS Future: Early upgrades for 18 months-----ICS July/August; nothing more
Display: 1280 x 800 IPS-----1024 x 600 PLS
Magnetometer: Yes-----No
USB Digital Audio: Yes-----No
NFC: Yes-----No
USB: MicroUSB w/host-----Samsung Proprietary w/host
Back Camera (MP): No-----3.1
Front Camera (MP): 1.2-----2
Expandable Memory: No-----Yes
Wifi: B/G/N-----A/B/G/N
Wifi 5Ghz: No-----Yes
So, there you have it. If you need mobile data, don't compare, just get a GT+. Also note the difference in user base for the two tablets which means a huge difference in the amount of development.
slack04 said:
OK, so I was really curious about this too. I made a little spreadsheet to compare the GT+wifi to the 16gb N7. It's attached. There's several small differences (dimensions, materials, asthetics, etc.) that were either a matter of taste of too insignificant to call "different." BTW- if I've missed something let me know and I'll update.
Nexus 7 (16gb)-----Galaxy Tab Plus (6210 wifi only):
Processor: Tegra 3 Quad Core 1300MHz-----1.2 GHz dual-core Exynos 4210
OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean*- Vanilla-----Android 3.2 Honeycomb - Touchwiz
OS Future: Early upgrades for 18 months-----ICS July/August; nothing more
Display: 1280 x 800 IPS-----1024 x 600 PLS
Magnetometer: Yes-----No
USB Digital Audio: Yes-----No
NFC: Yes-----No
USB: MicroUSB w/host-----Samsung Proprietary w/host
Back Camera (MP): No-----3.1
Front Camera (MP): 1.2-----2
Expandable Memory: No-----Yes
Wifi: B/G/N-----A/B/G/N
Wifi 5Ghz: No-----Yes
So, there you have it. If you need mobile data, don't compare, just get a GT+. Also note the difference in user base for the two tablets which means a huge difference in the amount of development.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for pulling all this together!
Honestly if the nexus 7 had a microsd card slot id probably rid my gt+ but im not sure if im willing to give up storage for a faster cpu. ... I think it kind of is a downgrade, and cloud come on why would you want your files on another device and not your own? I think its a cool device and may work for you but all n all i think the gt+ is for the win in my book
Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk 2
I just sold my Gtab+ on ebay today and pre-ordered two Nexus 7.
I'm just tired of Samsung taking forever to roll out major updates, namely ICS. I've had working ICS leaks on my E4GT for several months now, which I am enjoying and all, however my P6210 has seen no such love. Its not mobile/3g so the carrier argument is null. What bothers me further is that Samsung put out the tab 2, which is extremely similar yet its got ICS.
I decided to sell it now, while i still can and forego the microSD card slot. apart from that, i am gaining a far superior tab that has much greater function (to me) than the tab plus.
Despite the Lack of external storage I do not see how a Gtab plus is in any way better than the Nexus 7. Even if it has 3G, pages are slow to load and browsers FC more often than i'd like to admit. I find myself (when using my phone) waiting and hopping onto wifi more often than waiting for 3G.
Based on Specs alone, my wants and needs would be satisfied by the Nexus 7. As great as external storage would be for movies during flights and trips, i can still make plenty of use of 16GB of on board storage for my half way around the world flights.
Small correction, the plus has a magnetometer
Sent from my GT-P6200 using xda premium
killerbicycle said:
I just sold my Gtab+ on ebay today and pre-ordered two Nexus 7.
I'm just tired of Samsung taking forever to roll out major updates, namely ICS. I've had working ICS leaks on my E4GT for several months now, which I am enjoying and all, however my P6210 has seen no such love. Its not mobile/3g so the carrier argument is null. What bothers me further is that Samsung put out the tab 2, which is extremely similar yet its got ICS.
I decided to sell it now, while i still can and forego the microSD card slot. apart from that, i am gaining a far superior tab that has much greater function (to me) than the tab plus.
Despite the Lack of external storage I do not see how a Gtab plus is in any way better than the Nexus 7. Even if it has 3G, pages are slow to load and browsers FC more often than i'd like to admit. I find myself (when using my phone) waiting and hopping onto wifi more often than waiting for 3G.
Based on Specs alone, my wants and needs would be satisfied by the Nexus 7. As great as external storage would be for movies during flights and trips, i can still make plenty of use of 16GB of on board storage for my half way around the world flights.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just some quick thoughts on my future with my GT7+...not commenting on anyone else's decision to switch or not....
Not sure if I'll sell my GT7+ or repurpose it, but I too have ordered an N7. Lack of ICS (my 10 android tab has it so I do know what I'm missing- unfortunately I don't have time these days to root/hack as much as I'd like to get an unofficial ICS on the GT7) is a big issue for me so getting to leapfrog it for JellyB is a dream. Day to day performance compared to iOS has always been so disappointing and it looks like JB will have that smooth, buttery UX that android has been severely lacking. I can't wait! I know many will disagree with that statement, but fanboi-ism aside, you gotta admit, why does android need two or even four cores running at 1.2-1.7Ghz to run as smoothly as iOS (which only uses a dual 1Ghz cpu or slower)? I'm not a dev or coder so don't know the nuts and bolts of the OS, but as a consumer the slow downs, freezes, stutters, etc is a deal killer.
These days an iPad3 is my main tab (/ducks...lol), but I still think the GT7 size is a portable sweet spot. There are times the iPad just feel to big to bring. Plus, the horsepower of Tegra 3 with that monster GPU (12 cores!) will make the N7 a serious competitor to the iPad for games and multimedia content creation (photo and video in my case)- if we get the proper apps. Another thing the the N7 got me with is a better supported screen rez- I've had app compatibility issues possibly because 1024x768 wasn't properly supported for a honeycomb tablet.
16GB with no expansion might be tough, but support for USB drives will come soon if not available at launch. No HDMI out is also a bummer, though again, I've read MHL support could be added with a firmware update.
Lack of 3G is a non-issue. 3G sucks. Sorry, but come on, in this age of LTE, good WiFi coverage about anywhere and LTE MiFi's, I would never pay extra to have 3G in a device these days. LTE data plans are about the same cost as 3G now and coverage is only getting better (obviously, I'm only talking about the US and have no idea what the situation for LTE is in other parts of the world)
Anyway, I know I'll always have uses for both OS's- well, my work requires I know and use both, but it's gonna be great to have a device that won't sometimes make me feel like a beta tester when I use Android.
Damn, ipad was never into the discussion.
Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk 2
Yuck, sold mt ipad 2 to get this one. As long as they put ****ty software on it which is only designed to restrict your freedom, im not ever gonna get anything with a bitten apple on it lol.
Sent from my GT-P6200 using xda premium
Oh yeah an that with 3g is your opinion, but it highly depends on where you live. When youre on the countryside 3g is your only option, since there is bad lte coverage and wifi only at home so...
Sent from my GT-P6200 using xda premium
Keeping my TabPlus, waiting for N7+.
Hey! nobody saw that the n7 has no interface for tablet? This is very important for the GT +
glaucosv said:
Hey! nobody saw that the n7 has no interface for tablet? This is very important for the GT +
Click to expand...
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If you can't find google or the search button, how did you make it to XDA?
GTab+: MicroSD, HDMI (with dongle), rear camera + LED, haptic feedback.
N7: Better resolution, OS, CPU, easier to hold (grippy case), NFC
I'll be keeping my GTab+ P6210 for now. Besides being a bit slower and lower res, it suits my purposes fine and has all the extras. Hopefully the OS will catch up eventually (at least 4.04 with good custom ROM, don't care for TW that much). Might get an N7 later but not in a huge rush right now.
Keeping my GT+
but want to order the 32 Gig Nexus 7 (they are currently sold out)to have a cream of the crop OS to play with . The only reason I need the Xtra space is for movies so I'll just bring my GPlus when on long trips and the Nexus 7 for short ones. :good:
Well i wont leave my GT+ for sure.. I use it for cellular purpose and also browsing internet.. its my main gadget now ^^, but eyah, another 7" tab for 200 $ with 1.3 quad tegra.. jelly bean.. quite a good offer for self amusement.. will consider getting that N7 as well.. but GT+ will always be my main, for now..
Another direct comparison.
http://versusio.com/en/google-nexus-7-8gb-vs-samsung-galaxy-tab-7-0-plus-p6210-32gb
This comparision is bull****.
No DLNA on P6210?
Nexus 7 doesn't have USB mass storage out of the box.
Free navigation? You can install Google Maps on P6210 for free too.
Also this bull**** comparision doesn't mention things like rear facing camera, LED flash on P6210.
I know there is a couple threads on here and a few other places but they seem to get side tracked very quick battling between specific features, and most of these threads are in one of the phones sections making the people disusing usually a little bias.
Little info on me. Currently own a samsung captivate (i9000 variant), running cm9 and devil kernel thanks to the amazing dev's here. I've loved all the roms and modification that can be done to this phone.
Now I'm looking into getting a bit newer phone (but mostly likely it will be a used phone)
I really like a phone that is supported by the community here, as they are the ones who bring the latest and greatest.
Keep in mind what is important to me is screen, camera and browsing speeds. Not in that order. And don't care about storage space or gaming.
So the phones I have been looking into are:
Galaxy Nexus - i9250 (TI OMAP 4460, Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9, PowerVR SGX540)
Samsung Galaxy S2 LTE - i9210 (international?) i727 Skyrocket (AT&T) / i727R (Rogers) (Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon,Dual-core 1.5 GHz Scorpion,Adreno 220)
Samsung Galaxy S2 - i9100 (international) / i777 (AT&T) (Exynos C210, Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9,Mali-400MP)
Samsung Galaxy S2 LTE HD - E120S (Qualcomm MSM8660 Snapdragon,Dual-core 1.5 GHz Scorpion,Adreno 220)
Basically the between the Nexus and the GS2 but there is so many GS2 variants. I worried if I get a variant then there is less community support for it. Does the Nexus perform better due to all of the code being optimized by google? I would like the speeds of LTE but is it much of a difference? (I plan to go to a store and use an HSPDA phone vs a LTE phone) but it would have to be a GS2 variant.
Galaxy Nexus Pros:
Screen
Supported by google (but that doesn't mean to much with xda supporting the GS2 phones)
GS2 Pros:
Camera? (Supposed to be better at low light and video)
SD Card slot (tho this isn't really a big deal to me at all)
So not taking into account chipset or CPU:
Nexus vs GS2:
Nexus better screen
GS2 better camera
Nexus vs GS2 LTE:
Nexus better screen
GS2 better camera and faster internet
Nexus vs GS2 LTE HD:
Nexus - nothing better?
GS2 - better camera, better screen/equivalent, faster internet (but also higher priced and less common)
Does the CPU manufacturer and/or chipset/GPU make a big impact in performance? I seem to be reading it does but it sounds like opinion not fact when I've read it....
I've been wondering also how the GS2 LTE HD stacks up to the GS3 dual core version, as they have similar specs. Looks like the S3 just has a little bigger screen and a bit better battery life, due to slightly newer Snapdragon CPU.
The Nexus will /always/ have better support from developers than anything else. Nexus phones are incredibly popular and draw huge crowds.
That said, the S2 is also a very popular phone with arguably the second best community support behind it next to the Nexus.
My suggestion would be to go with the Nexus phone simply because you'll get it direct from Google. It's a much more fluid experience. Samsung's custom software is quite a pain, and even if you decide to run custom software on the phone, there are always going to be some aspects (like hardware keys) that don't match Google's current specifications. I'm telling you this as a current AT&T Galaxy Note user, which has the same hardware as the S2 Skyrocket.
First of all welcome everyone, glad to be a part of this forum. I've been lurking XDA developers since long, long time ago back in the PDA era (HTC SPV M5000 anyone?).
I've owned my Galaxy Note 2 for over 2.5 years now and I'm tired of constantly running out of internal storage and the now-supar camera. I'm looking to buy a new smartphone that will check off many boxes, but if I could describe what I need in 2 sentences, it would go something like: a large-screened productivity workhorse with loads of storage and battery, and a good camera. And if it's future-proof, that's even better! I want a device that will last me for at least 2+ years.
Here's what I'm looking for:
- Screen size between 5,5" and 6"
- Internal storage min. 32 GB, needs to have a microSD card slot (unless it has 128G internal storage)
- Decent camera with OIS (camera should handle low-light shooting well)
- Decent UI (unlike the majority of community here, I don't really want to be flashing my phone with new ROMs or any of that, I just want something that works well right out of the box and is user-customizeable through custom home launchers etc)
- Great battery life (this is big for me, I'm often on the road, I listen to tons of podcasts, use mobile data, bluetooth, sometimes wifi tethering etc. I need a phone that can get me through a looong day)
- Fingerprint scanner
- Won't put a huge hole in my wallet (I wouldn't mind paying more for the perfect and FUTURE-PROOF phone but seems like there isn't one that checks off all the boxes. At the same time I'm trying to keep it below $500)
- A physical home button is a plus (and capacitive buttons! Just like in Samsung Galaxy series)
- Screen res. above 1080p is a plus (better for VR and I will probably try some VR in near future)
- Replaceable battery is a plus (plus extended phone cases, yay!)
- OTG support is a plus
- USB-C is a plus
- Dual SIM is definitely a plus
- No curved screens like on the Samsung Edge series
I looked at:
- Huawei Mate 8 - checks off most boxes, nice big battery but crappy, buggy, and not very customizable UI.
- Huawei Mate P9 Plus - very interesting camera-wise, the rest just like above
- LG G5 - also very interesting camera-wise, a bit smaller screen, and a battery that's way too small. Although replacable, I cannot imagine remembering to bring a spare battery with me everywhere.
- Nexus 6P - great reviews and everything, great software BUT I'm mostly based in China where ALL Google services are blocked, so it would probably be a big pain to have to rely on VPN the whole time. Also camera has no OIS, although I did read it's great. Another con: a bit expensive and not easily available in the 128G version
- Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro - the top contender for me so far. The 5000mAh battery is nuts and just what I need. Dual SIM and dedicated microSD slot. Affordable. But the big bummer: sub-par camera. Also a bit low on the DPI if I ever want to use VR. And no notification light (how am I supposed to know if I got notifications?)
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 - a bit slower than the A9 Pro, smaller battery, but better camera. And the stylus - I could definitely use the stylus for more productivity. Just really not sure about investing in the aging technology. I want to get at least 2 years out of the new smartphone. Also I've read there's some issues with GPS that are hard to solve. Added benefit of possibility of extended battery case.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5 - nice and seems like a significant upgrade from Note 4 but no card slot, and expensive at 128G. Still only microUSB v2.0 even at the high price point.
- LG V10 and LG G4 - very interesting propositions, reportedly good cameras, very mediocre batteries (and not too good power management it seems) at 3000mAh but both could be extended with a bigger battery. Pretty sure I would be fine with a little bulkier phone with a case that accommodates a 4000-6000mAh battery, but I would still need to keep it as slim as possible, I don't mind if it's not the slimmest phone but I certainly don't want a thick and heavy brick in my pocket. I've also read reviews of some of the extended battery cases and it seems like the battery quality can be a real lottery. The batteries lose their capacity quickly, and I think none of them can be charged using the Quick Charge 2.0
- ZTE Avon 7 - veeery interesting proposition, not the biggest battery but almost everything else knocks me out of my socks. 6GB RAM possible, 128G storage that can be expanded by another 128G (!), capacitive buttons in the higher version, an added benefit of insane speakers. The camera is reportedly not too impressive though, although I'm pretty sure it's better than the one in Galaxy A9 Pro. The main concerns: it's a very fresh phone, the UI is reportedly not very optimized, I can imagine there will be plenty of issues that ZTE will need to fix through software before this phone runs as smoothly as the Galaxy A9 Pro or LG G4 would. And I hate waiting in hopes. Also, being in China, I think it's a bit tricky to purchase the phone in International/European version that has a broader range of bands and doesn't block Google services. I've read through the entire 35 page thread on XDA about this phone and yes, it seems like you can get the Google services to work without problems but who knows what the next ZTE updates will do to that. The way I generally see it is Chinese UI = potential problems.
For the Galaxy A9 Pro or LG G4 I would just go to Hong Kong to buy them and enjoy a phone that doesn't have the Google services blocked. I couldn't find the ZTE Avon 7 anywhere in HK on the internet.
All in all if I had to go to the store tomorrow I'd probably need to choose between a Galaxy A9 Pro, the well-proven LG G4 with a great camera (but a need to buy a good extended battery case and ultimately ending up with a rather bulky phone), the Galaxy Note 4, and the ZTE Avon 7.
Any suggestions, thoughts, recommendations?