Upgrading from a VZW Gnex to a a VZW S3, and I have 2 questions. - Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III

1) Are there any potential drawbacks to getting a "developer" Verizon S3 over a normal off-contract Verizon S3? I would get a 32 gb pebble blue either way, I heard that the developer edition is just the normal one with an unlocked bootloader, and I noticed that on Samsung's website the developer version is $50 less for some reason. Why would it cost $50 less for your phone to with an unlocked bootloader? I read some old threads about the normal version "having a bigger community." Huh? The developer edition wouldn't be incompatible with anything that the normal phone isn't, right?
2) Just to be sure, I will be able to take my sim card out of my gnex and put it in my S3 and that won't interfere with my Verizon plan, right? I'm not sure if it's relevant but I don't have unlimited data or anything, just a normal plan.

Wallace_Brownie said:
1) Are there any potential drawbacks to getting a "developer" Verizon S3 over a normal off-contract Verizon S3? I would get a 32 gb pebble blue either way, I heard that the developer edition is just the normal one with an unlocked bootloader, and I noticed that on Samsung's website the developer version is $50 less for some reason. Why would it cost $50 less for your phone to with an unlocked bootloader? I read some old threads about the normal version "having a bigger community." Huh? The developer edition wouldn't be incompatible with anything that the normal phone isn't, right?
2) Just to be sure, I will be able to take my sim card out of my gnex and put it in my S3 and that won't interfere with my Verizon plan, right? I'm not sure if it's relevant but I don't have unlimited data or anything, just a normal plan.
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A developer edition will have support through Samsung, not Verizon. Have problems - send to Samsung and be without a phone for weeks. You can unlock the bootloader easily and then return to stock if needed for warranty repair. Verizon phone here. I bought a certified used Samsung G3 off of Verizon's website for $450 (32GB).
Yes - take SIM out of old phone, put into new phone, boot it up. I just did this a few weeks ago.

I made the switch and im iffy about it. I do miss my gnex but in time the gs3 will shine
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

I made the switch from a G.Nex to GS3 & I couldn't be happier.
The entire hardware system of the GS3 owns the G.Nex in every single way. Plus, there is a rich enough dev community for the GS3 to make me not miss ASOP on the G.Nex.
I thought I would hate TouchWiz, but I quickly came to really like it. It is in no way laggy or cumbersome, like most people complain about.
As far as getting a Developer version, that is wasted money, since you can unlock the bootloader yourself in under 5 minutes. Unlock/root/custom rom. No issues.

I switched from a Gnex to the S3 as well, best decision I ever made. And yeah as previously mentioned the process for unlocking the bootloader is extremely simple thanks to the great devs we have working on our device. I would just say go with whatever version is cheaper

No input on the first question.
Yes, just take your sim card out of the gnex and put it into the s3. It's that easy.
as far as the two phones are concerned, the S3 is insanely better/faster as far as hardware is concerned. The GNex owns the S3 in terms of AOSP compatibility. There are little nuances that don't work on the S3 like some of the power toggles, etc. That said, i'm sticking with CM10 because I do not like touchwiz at all.

thanks for the info guys, I feel more confident in my decision to make the switch.
My last important question though is: You can get an off-contract phone insured, right?

FYI i bought an unsubsidized (off contract) SGS3 for $500 including otterbox and sdcard.
As long have vzw as for carrier you can purchase insurance from them. I'm sure they'd love your money.
Sent from my CM10 Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2

I brought my GS3 from eBay for over $300. It had a small cream on the screen, but it was the 32gb version. I'm happy I made the switch. Just sold my Gnex on Craigslist 2 days ago. On the day I sold my nexus I accidently dropped the GS3 I had insurance on my phone line and got it replaced for $100.
The GS3 has some great roms available. It is very easy to root and if you mess any thing up you can always flash a stock room with Odin.
Real Life usage has been way better than the nexus. I look forward to this upgrade next year. The phone rocks with the extra ram. When they release the quad core version next year with 2gb ram, this phone will be even greater.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using xda app-developers app

They main difference for me when switching to the s3 was battery life. I get through a full day with the s3 when the gnex with extended battery would be dead by 3pm. That makes the s3 infinitely better for me. Also the camera is much better.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Wife went from a Nexus to a gs3. Better signal in her area at work (0% tws gs3 vs 20% tws nexus every day) and battery life. Not to mention the phone is just better all around for her.

Related

Galaxy nexus vs. galaxy S 3

My original galaxy s is getting long in the tooth. I'm due for an upgrade. I was thinking of going with the new S 3 when it comes out, but if its 300$, I think they'd a but much for a phone, and was thinking of getting the nexus.
Do you think that the nexus will still be a decent phone 2 years from now when I can upgrade, our should I get the S3 to keep me until june 2014?
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
I'm getting a GNex soon. So it will be even older! Yes, I think the hardware will last
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium
olyloh6696 said:
I'm getting a GNex soon. So it will be even older! Yes, I think the hardware will last
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium
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Click to collapse
i think the nexus is better, am waiting for the the next one, dont like capacitve buttons on ics
eppo12- said:
Do you think that the nexus will still be a decent phone 2 years from now when I can upgrade, our should I get the S3 to keep me until june 2014?
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Is 2 years a hard or soft limit? (i.e. contract or no contract?) I'm planning on keeping my Nexus for two years, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.
The good news is that the nexus is cheap (off google play or expansys) hence good for buying unlocked. I would not buy it from Verizon, for instance; the updating status on the CDMA variants is questionable.
(Also, yeah, S3 hardware buttons sux.)
naaa you guys have gone soft get the s3 or wait to see the nexus 4
i have the gnex won it from a giveaway and personally i think its dog**** if you have the chance get the s3 not the nexus crap or as i said wait for the next nexus romurs are that it will have a s4 quadcore ship clocked at 1.5ghz sounds sexy also its based on a15
I have verizon, and unless the rules have changed, you can upgrade after 18 months, and get $50 off at a 24 months. Why pay so much for a phone, when your not sure for an upgrade? So I would have to wait 18 months minimum.
Have there been any releases of what the going price would be for the S3 in the US? I ready font want to spend $300 for a phone.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
id prefer the s3, because of its outstanding benchmark, and some new features in smartphones but the design nexus is better,
eppo12- said:
I have verizon, and unless the rules have changed, you can upgrade after 18 months, and get $50 off at a 24 months. Why pay so much for a phone, when your not sure for an upgrade? So I would have to wait 18 months minimum.
Have there been any releases of what the going price would be for the S3 in the US? I ready font want to spend $300 for a phone.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
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I would recommend against the verizon version of the nexus, for the reasons above. Though of course, my opinion is not the end-all.
Buying a phone outright gets you more flexibility and, if you go with prepaid, lower costs overall. As you said, you have to wait > 18 months to get a new one under your plan [and you'd have lost out, with your increased rates, if you don't]. I can get my next phone anytime [and am subject to low rates all the time]. My nexus, for example, is definitely good for this year, but I don't want to count on my prophetical powers for anything longer. If it gets broken, or just plain outclassed, I want to be able to grab the newest thing on the market right away.
(Note: Prepaid vs contract is a much more complicated issue than I might have made it sound above; you'd have to shop and probably have to use something besides Verizon, for one thing.)
Another recent thing to note: Verizon is removing unlimited upgrades (you'd be forced onto a tiered plan), though you can keep your old plan if you get your new phone on your own.
I'm not sure what the exact pricing is, but for arguments sake, lets say that the nexus is 200 with contact, and 400 without, pushy the going rate 400? How would you get out any cheaper? And I'm sure no where near $200.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
eppo12- said:
I'm not sure what the exact pricing is, but for arguments sake, lets say that the nexus is 200 with contact, and 400 without, pushy the going rate 400? How would you get out any cheaper? And I'm sure no where near $200.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
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The price differential over 24 months adds up.
For example, T-mobile has a $30 100 minute 5 gig prepaid, and Straight Talk has a $45 unlimited prepaid; there are others to shop around for, but those are the most commonly cited. Assuming you even get the cheapest Verizon plan, $40 (450 minutes talk) + $10 (1000 smses) + $30 (2 gb data) = $80 (per month)
Verizon's $80/month is already $35/month more than ST. That means you save $840 over 24 months by going even the more expensive prepaid. (Compared to this, the puny $200 subsidy is nothing.)
For the t-mobile plan, the differential is a whopping $50, and you save, holy hell, $1200 over 24 months.
In other words, the subsidy is just a psychological scam make you think you've got a discount, when really, the higher prices per month make all the difference.
thebobp said it quite well.
But I'm hoping to sign a new contract and keep my grandfathered unlimited plan. I'd liked to upgrade to the S3 with unlimited grandfathered LTE, but that's hoping that the S3 is available before Verizon starts pushing the shared data plans (at which point I can't upgrade to LTE and keep unlimited data).
If the S3 isn't coming out before then, then I'm thinking I should just get a Gnex so I can start enjoying unlimited LTE data.
Wow, I've never thought about it that way. I always thought those other providers offered a lower level of service? I know t mobile has crap service around here, so you can't be using all of verizons network.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
eppo12- said:
I always thought those other providers offered a lower level of service?
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"Lower level of service" is just company propaganda. The only relevant question is which one offers good enough service for you, for the cheapest price. And unfortunately, there's no easy way to answer that except to try them out, preferably cheapest to most expensive. Even reviews aren't all that relevant, simply because service can vary so wildly depending on location. Thankfully, prepaid is a natural platform for "just trying a service out", but it does require a compatible phone.
I don't know what you mean by "tmobile using all of verizon's network"; they're completely distinct. Straight talk (and many others) are carried over AT&T and t-mobile's networks, though.
Thanks a lot for all your replies.
As far as the network goes, I thought tmobile used verizons network, because when 4g came out, they were the only other ones saying they used 4g lte. So I just assumed they used verizons network.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
I'm in a similar situation, right now I'm waiting to see what the S3 looks like in the US. If its not to my liking I'll probably get the Nexus, and a + for the Nexus is it will be getting Android 5.0 aka Jellybean. I would also buy it from the Google Play Store so it doesnt have any bloatware, however that is $299.
If you've made it this long with the Galaxy S, I say wait for the next Nexus. Especially with the rumors of several different manufacturers being able to build their own Nexus device.
I would take the samsung nexus. The S3 doesn't offer enough power difference in my opinion to spend the extra money on. Most of its software features aren't that good imho. And if they are you can find a similar app on the market for it.
blackthundaar said:
I would take the samsung nexus. The S3 doesn't offer enough power difference in my opinion to spend the extra money on. Most of its software features aren't that good imho. And if they are you can find a similar app on the market for it.
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Have you heard anything about the S3 US version being dual core? because i would think that the Nexus being Dual Core, vs the S3 being quad core would be a big difference.
I'm going to have to look around to see when the next nexus is getting released.
my S1 annoys me a bit, but maybe i'm just getting the itch to get a new phone. every once and a while it stops responding to touch, if you hit the power button, and then unlock the phone again, its been coming back. also, playback skips when i first start playing something in dog catcher, and some games... yeah, I know.. i guess its more of an itch than anything else, but at least this way, i can make an informed decision if/when my phone completely dies.
i am running gingerbread rom, i recently reinstalled it from scratch, and then reinstalled my apps, but its still the same.
I guess i'll try and hold onto this phone as long as i can. I do like the service with verizon, and get a hefty discount from my job, so i'm a bit weary to switch carriers.
eppo12- said:
Have you heard anything about the S3 US version being dual core? because i would think that the Nexus being Dual Core, vs the S3 being quad core would be a big difference.
I'm going to have to look around to see when the next nexus is getting released.
my S1 annoys me a bit, but maybe i'm just getting the itch to get a new phone. every once and a while it stops responding to touch, if you hit the power button, and then unlock the phone again, its been coming back. also, playback skips when i first start playing something in dog catcher, and some games... yeah, I know.. i guess its more of an itch than anything else, but at least this way, i can make an informed decision if/when my phone completely dies.
i am running gingerbread rom, i recently reinstalled it from scratch, and then reinstalled my apps, but its still the same.
I guess i'll try and hold onto this phone as long as i can. I do like the service with verizon, and get a hefty discount from my job, so i'm a bit weary to switch carriers.
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Click to collapse
Have you seen the difference between the Quad core One X and the dual core version? No? Neither has anyone else.
eppo12- said:
Have you heard anything about the S3 US version being dual core? because i would think that the Nexus being Dual Core, vs the S3 being quad core would be a big difference.
I'm going to have to look around to see when the next nexus is getting released.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S3 LTE will most definitely be a dual core, because no quad core supports LTE.
Rumors about Nexus launch date say thanksgiving.
eppo12- said:
As far as the network goes, I thought tmobile used verizons network, because when 4g came out, they were the only other ones saying they used 4g lte. So I just assumed they used verizons network.
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There is no 4g; it hasn't come out yet. The 4g standard requires 1Gbps data, while LTE is capable of max 300Mbps data and, in practice, can get as low as a single-digit Mbps. See this article for more information. Basically, the marketing departments here in the US realized they could get away with calling crap 4G, and that's what we have now.
The much more relevant question is how fast a particular service is in your area (because it can vary so wildly), and that can't be answered by anything except trial and error.

[Q] Going from Galaxy Nexus to SGS3 Verizon?

So I currently own a galaxy nexus but after playing around with the S3 in stores, I'm really sold on it. However, I do not want to pay the unlocked price for this device. Currently my Gnex is rooted and unlocked but since I have factory images, I can relock my phone and flash the images and I will technically be back under warranty. I talked to a verizon rep about a screen issue on my Gnex and they are prepared to give me a brand new Gnex to trade for my older one. My question is, is it possible that I can convince them to give me a galaxy s3 instead since I paid 300 for my nexus?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
if you replace it three times in 6 months, they will change devices. or the device needs to be discontinued. they are just going to ship you a warranty replacement, you arent getting a new phone
So basically if I can get my replacement to get screen burn in, and the replacement to that to get screen burn in, I can switch devices? challenge accepted.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
You can certainly do what you want, but purposefully getting multiple phones replaced does not sound like the right thing to do, IMO. Doing so drives up the cost for everyone else. I would suggest either just pay the full price if you want the GS3 so badly, or... you could always use the upgrade from another line or open a new line and then just switch the phone to your line and put a dummy phone on the new line. Those are both legitimate ways of getting the new phone at the subsidized price. Since the GNex is still available, I highly doubt you're going to get them to give you a GS3 in place of the GNex.
Personally, I kept my GNex when upgrading to the GS3 because I still want to use the GNex to hack and install the newest updates from Google. It's easy to swap the sim between the GS3 and GNex.

Rezound Owner, Seeking GS3 upgrade advice.

Hi,
My noob search didn't seem to provide the info I was seeking.
I am considering purchasing a Galaxy S III. I am on Verizon and do not have any plans on leaving Verizon anytime soon. My upgrade is in January 2013, so I will only purchase a device outright so that I do not lose unlimited data.
I have the $7/mo. insurance on the line that I have the Rezound on. Considering I would be purchasing a device outright, insuring the new device is top priority. If filing a claim, I would like to ensure that I can flash the device to stock (I guess the future will tell regarding the Verizon bootloader and whether it is unlockable and relockable (HTC's shows "re-locked")).
I don't want to compromise on any frequency bands being unavailable, so I suspect that options 1&2 below would be the only way to ensure compatibility with Verizon's network.
1. Purchase Verizon locked GS3
2. Purchase Verizon unlocked GS3
3. Purchase International GS3 (with Wolfson DAC!) and try to get it to work on Verizon.
Any hints? Please feel free to defer me to search if the answers are out there. Thanks
I have no clue what your asking
But there are high chances international s3 won't work in vzw
Also if you are buying out right get the dev edition from the Samsung site
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
If you're willing to shell out the cash, I would recommend getting the unlocked bootloader dev edition from Samsung for VZW whenever that is released. It isn't worth spending the same amount of money to get the non-dev version with a locked bootloader
gtuansdiamm said:
I have no clue what your asking
But there are high chances international s3 won't work in vzw
Also if you are buying out right get the dev edition from the Samsung site
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Sorry for not being too clear.
1. Is it possible to insure a device with Asurion that I purchase outright? I suspect I could if I bought it from Verizon (possibly Amazonwireless.com, Best Buy, or Samsung as well).
2. If I did purchase a device outright, is the International version no-go? I would need Verizon voice/3G/4G compatibility, so I suspect it would not be an option. That would be a shame since the International version has a Wolfson DAC.
3. Developer vs Normal version: will there be software development segregation and will Developer-version users be left behind since so few people will own it compared to the normal version? Also, doesn't that alert Verizon that you are a "power-user" where they suspect you may be rooted or tethering (call me paranoid). Additionally, would insurance claims be complicated with a Developer version device?
Elysium1215 said:
If you're willing to shell out the cash, I would recommend getting the unlocked bootloader dev edition from Samsung for VZW whenever that is released. It isn't worth spending the same amount of money to get the non-dev version with a locked bootloader
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Click to collapse
I figure that the sheer interest in this phone will eventually yield an unlocked bootloader. If so, what advantages would the Developer version have?
Thanks guys.
the dev edition would be less of a pain when using custom software and rooting and such
Also I dont think asution will let u insur it with them if bought form else where
I prefer best buy insurance
More coverage less annoyance
You can just bring in a phone that is less than 30 days Old and they'll insur it and there are no deductible
Int gs3 can't use 4g
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
You can add insurance at anytime from Verizon by calling 611 no matter where you purchased the phone- it just gets added to your plan. Now, would I trust that insurance would send me back a Dev phone? no way. Unless the dev phone (SCH-I535MBC and D) carries a different model number in the Verizon system (I haven't seen any - my phone is just listed as Samsung Galaxy SIII 16GB in blue not SCH-I535MBB), you'll just get a refurb with whatever internal memory and color your original phone had. I am imagining that Best Buy's insurance would do the same, but it is a lot better than Verizon's. It doesn't cover loss or theft though.
josephpalozzi said:
. I am imagining that Best Buy's insurance would do the same, but it is a lot better than Verizon's. It doesn't cover loss or theft though.
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Click to collapse
Of course, BestBuy is on the verge of bankruptcy.............
I would personally just buy the phone outright from Verizon if you want insurance (I have the Asurion insurance as well- they're definitely great).
I'm not sure how much support the Developer Edition will garner anyways- the vast majority of Verizon Galaxy S3 owners are not going to own one. Plus, with the current auto-kexec method of booting custom kernels, you don't gain much from owning one.
The biggest issue with custom ROMs on the Galaxy S3 at the moment is the risk of losing your IMEI, which has affected pretty much every S3 model regardless of carrier.
I wouldn't want to be stuck with no warranty from Samsung if this happens and we find no way to fix it.
The IMEI and associated data are able to be backed up now. As a matter of course, I have done this myself, just keeping a copy on my laptop in case anything goes horribly horribly wrong.
As for insurance, you can insure any phone you add to your account within 30 days of activating.
Asurion will replace it with the closest thing they have on-hand, so you would have to be very careful about replacement if you bought the dev edition, as it would be very unlikely that they would know/care about the differences between them.
The international version is a non-starter with CDMA carriers due to ESN locking. Besides, even if you had one with the appropriate LTE frequencies, none of the international models are CDMA, so if it activates, you would lose data any time you lost LTE.
If you're paying retail, just buy the dev edition and put $7 (or more) away every month toward replacement if anything bad were to happen to your phone. Over time, the decrease in value that comes with time will reduce the cost for replacement outright to make it worth it. Even with Asurion, you have a $100 deductible for smartphones (plus the possibility that you wouldn't get a dev edition back). If your damaged one isn't utterly destroyed and you managed to keep it for say a full year, you could probably take your $84 + whatever you can get for your busted phone + $100 (deductible), and be pretty close to the $600 retail, if it's even still that high after a year.
AlexDeGruven said:
The IMEI and associated data are able to be backed up now. As a matter of course, I have done this myself, just keeping a copy on my laptop in case anything goes horribly horribly wrong.
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Click to collapse
I disagree- not a single person has successfully restored their IMEI after losing it to a "0", people are just assuming this works, yet we haven't even seen a proof-of-concept.

To wait or not to wait... That is the question!

Hello folks! Well, let me preface my question with this: I love my infuse. Unfortunately, AT&T has become to expensive, so I must switch over to another carrier. I'm 15 so I don't really have a source of income, but I would very much like a new phone. I will most likely be switching over to Verizon, and getting a phone then. So here is my main question: Should I buy the SGS3 VZW variant, or wait for a while until Google releases their new line-up?
Things I am looking for in a phone:
Screen size: 4.5-5.0''
Brand: Samsung, Motorola, or Nexus branded phone (Preferably Samsung)
Micro SD: Must have (I bought a 64GB Sandisk for 100$)
CPU: Preferably a Quad-core, dual would be acceptable if overclockable.
Ram: Preferably 2GB, 1GB is acceptable (I hear that Android utilizes RAM very efficiently)
Radio: As long as it has 3G, I'm fine
Audio card: Preferably something with a Wolfson, I really enjoy Voodoo Sound
Camera: The higher the better (preferably with a low shutter lag camera)
Thank you guys for your time,
Connor Baker
Here's the thing. Verizon I find is the most expensive of the bunch. So if your looking to save money I'm not sure Verizon is the way to go.v
Another thing I thought of, if it was just me I would do a prepaid plan. I know T-Mobile offers unlimited talk, text, and web for 50 a month. If it was just my phone on the plan that's how I would go. Especially if I already had a phone. I think at&t offers similar deals.
I like Samsung myself but they seem to be doing away with microsd storage. I can deal with a non removable battery but I don't like cloud storage.
Ultimately the choice is yours and if you do decide to wait for a new line up of phones maybe you can switch to a prepaid plan until then. Save a couple bucks anyway.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda app-developers app
csandman1977 said:
Here's the thing. Verizon I find is the most expensive of the bunch. So if your looking to save money I'm not sure Verizon is the way to go.v
Another thing I thought of, if it was just me I would do a prepaid plan. I know T-Mobile offers unlimited talk, text, and web for 50 a month. If it was just my phone on the plan that's how I would go. Especially if I already had a phone. I think at&t offers similar deals.
I like Samsung myself but they seem to be doing away with microsd storage. I can deal with a non removable battery but I don't like cloud storage.
Ultimately the choice is yours and if you do decide to wait for a new line up of phones maybe you can switch to a prepaid plan until then. Save a couple bucks anyway.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
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Thanks for your quick reply I may have not explained in depth enough why I have to leave AT&T. My parents just recently finalized their divorce, and my Dad and I (who are on AT&T, with my younger brother and Mom on Verizon ) literally can not afford to continue with the plan. Either I get a *dumb* phone on prepaid t-mobile, or I can get a smartphone on Verizon. Both my parents are really tight on money, but my Mom would be willing to take me on to her plan (Verizon that is).
I was previously hoping to save up and buy a GT-i9305, but that most likely not be possible for a VERY long time. I am looking forward to the LG Optimus G gracing the U.S, but I have no clue whether LG will follow through with this phone and provide software updates. I often hear that LG has a bad reputation.
Thanks for your time,
Connor Baker
P.S: I most likely will want to develop android, so that's why I'm aiming for android phones. I may however, go over to the light side and get an iPhone 5 as I know it will be supported for 2 years at least.
Connor Baker said:
Thanks for your quick reply I may have not explained in depth enough why I have to leave AT&T. My parents just recently finalized their divorce, and my Dad and I (who are on AT&T, with my younger brother and Mom on Verizon ) literally can not afford to continue with the plan. Either I get a *dumb* phone on prepaid t-mobile, or I can get a smartphone on Verizon. Both my parents are really tight on money, but my Mom would be willing to take me on to her plan (Verizon that is).
I was previously hoping to save up and buy a GT-i9305, but that most likely not be possible for a VERY long time. I am looking forward to the LG Optimus G gracing the U.S, but I have no clue whether LG will follow through with this phone and provide software updates. I often hear that LG has a bad reputation.
Thanks for your time,
Connor Baker
P.S: I most likely will want to develop android, so that's why I'm aiming for android phones. I may however, go over to the light side and get an iPhone 5 as I know it will be supported for 2 years at least.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could always switch over to Straight Talk SIM, (BYOP) for $45/mo for unlimited talk, text, and data. Simply buy the SIM card, insert into your phone, and activate it. You can even port out your existing number to the new plan, and your ATT line will be closed. If you get an ATT Compatible Straight Talk SIM, you won't even need to unlock your phone to use it.
k-semler said:
You could always switch over to Straight Talk SIM, (BYOP) for $45/mo for unlimited talk, text, and data. Simply buy the SIM card, insert into your phone, and activate it. You can even port out your existing number to the new plan, and your ATT line will be closed. If you get an ATT Compatible Straight Talk SIM, you won't even need to unlock your phone to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking about this... The thing is though, as awesome as my infuse is on Scott's CM10, it's still old. There's only so much a single core processor can do (ex. Music stutters while browsing the web or reading a book). I'm really looking into Verizon, and their SGS 3. I've looked at it's forums a few minutes ago, and it doesn't seem to have gotten nearly as much love as our precious Infuse. That kind of worries me. Anyone think the new Nexus phone will have a micro sd?
Thanks for your time,
Connor Baker
Connor Baker said:
Anyone think the new Nexus phone will have a micro sd?
Thanks for your time,
Connor Baker
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Just did a search for Nexus 4 specs and found this - credit PCMagazine
The bad news? The Nexus 4 comes with just 8GB of on-board storage, and does not have a microSD slot for expansion, according to the pre-sale page.
Pony Express said:
Just did a search for Nexus 4 specs and found this - credit PCMagazine
The bad news? The Nexus 4 comes with just 8GB of on-board storage, and does not have a microSD slot for expansion, according to the pre-sale page.
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Ooooohhh.... That stings. So a quick question on opinion, how future proof is the SGS 3 at Verizon? I understand that you can OC the CPU, but I'm mainly worried about the poor GPU. Also, it's the advent of the quad-core phone, and 2GB of RAM is the new standard. I'm really perturbed now at the lack of attention in terms of development that the SGS 3 is getting. It's a big turn off.
My parents main problem with me not having a phone is that they can't contact me.
I would say go by a Verizon store soon and give the SGS3 a test spin based on the way you use the phone... you will no doubt have to keep it for a couple of years and we will all ( that are under contract) have to sit back and watch more cool stuff come out that we will have to wait to get. I have the International SGS3 - take a quick look at the dev for it - I am amazed... and lovin' it !!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1566
Pony Express said:
I would say go by a Verizon store soon and give the SGS3 a test spin based on the way you use the phone... you will no doubt have to keep it for a couple of years and we will all ( that are under contract) have to sit back and watch more cool stuff come out that we will have to wait to get. I have the International SGS3 - take a quick look at the dev for it - I am amazed... and lovin' it !!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1566
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I know... I had actually wanted to get the international, but unfortunately I don't have enough money to do so. that's why I'm scared of how little development that phone has going on.
EDIT: Also, I will be going into the Verizon store to test out the SGS 3 tomorrow. Do you think it'll be really laggy on account of them never restarting the phone? Is it strange I always get the urge to clear the demo phone's Cache and Dalvik? xD Maybe so. Just a little worried at the prices of the plans.
Connor Baker said:
I know... I had actually wanted to get the international, but unfortunately I don't have enough money to do so. that's why I'm scared of how little development that phone has going on.
EDIT: Also, I will be going into the Verizon store to test out the SGS 3 tomorrow. Do you think it'll be really laggy on account of them never restarting the phone? Is it strange I always get the urge to clear the demo phone's Cache and Dalvik? xD Maybe so. Just a little worried at the prices of the plans.
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Ok. So I went to the Verizon store at the mall near me and messed around with the phone there. I have no idea why, but compared to my infuse, the thing felt clunky and slow. No OC kernel on Scott's CM10. I thing I may just wait for the LG Optimus G to arrive, but I'm kind of wary with LG smartphones. Has anyone owned one before?
Connor Baker said:
. Anyone think the new Nexus phone will have a micro sd?
Thanks for your time,
Connor Baker
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No Nexus device will ever have the capability to use MicroSD.
Why Nexus devices have no SD card
TL;DR: They want to be like the iPhone with a unified memory structure.
verizon has some nice things like much better insurance and shared data, (att followed up with similar data plans though) but the pricing is very similar between the two companies. they tend to mirror each other but what verizon doesnt say is that any phone with 3g needs a data plan, not that you are looking at texting phones or anything.. other things are verizon has free verizon to verizon minutes. att has free mobile to mobile on any network and roll over minutes.
the plans look basically identical but att is in some ways a better deal and verizon tends to have fees you don't think about. but you also have to consider that verizon has a stronger network. it is less frequent now but i still get dropped calls for no reason on att. and the lte coverage is basically nothing. but then you have to look at the fact that hspa+ is faster than verizon 3g and lte is still in it's infantcy even with verizon and verizons gs3 has locked bootloaders (wtf) their phones are not cross network compatible and have isolated development due to different radio hardware and firmware....
sprint may be a better deal money wise. they get android updates when att and verizon lag behind in that area. they also are much cheaper and get better htc phones than verizon...
but if it's just you and not a family plan then what you need is strait talk. they have the gs2 on their website and that is still a great phone but i here the bootloaders are locked, it's bassically an i777 without the att emblem but someone tried to flash other firmware on one and it didn't work.. but maybe that person didn't know what they were doing? if the screen res is too low for you on the gs2 you could just buy a phone out right and get a strait talk sim card. that's what i'll do when my contract is up.. no question about that at all.
Well, now I've turned my sights on the Optimus G, and the specs look amazing. I have almost no doubt that it will land on Verizon before or on the holidays... So, what are peoples experiences with LG smartphones? Any opinions on the Optimus G?
i think you'll have to wait and see on that one. the screen looks to have amazing specs. and the s4 snapdragon dualcore is very fast so the s4 pro quad core has got to be a beast. but i messed with the lg nitro which had great specs at the time and it was kinda laggy. not that i think it would slow down with a load but the interface was slow. i also played with the thrill and it seem fast enough but the 3d screen was not great and the camera app took time to load.
from what i understand there was a lot of frustration with development on the thrill. the g2x/optimus 2x was a big seller but there was a certain amount of screen problems, no other major complaints though. i think you'll have to just wait and see if they got it right this time. the hardware is there for sure. you just might want to check out the forums and see what users are saying.
Dani897 said:
i think you'll have to wait and see on that one. the screen looks to have amazing specs. and the s4 snapdragon dualcore is very fast so the s4 pro quad core has got to be a beast. but i messed with the lg nitro which had great specs at the time and it was kinda laggy. not that i think it would slow down with a load but the interface was slow. i also played with the thrill and it seem fast enough but the 3d screen was not great and the camera app took time to load.
from what i understand there was a lot of frustration with development on the thrill. the g2x/optimus 2x was a big seller but there was a certain amount of screen problems, no other major complaints though. i think you'll have to just wait and see if they got it right this time. the hardware is there for sure. you just might want to check out the forums and see what users are saying.
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Well, I went over to the LG Optimus G forum and it basically consists of people asking for a way to unlock the bootloader, and fear of being abandoned in terms of software updates. That was kind of shocking to read through some 20 pages of anger, fear, and bitterness from past phones.
Now I'm pretty sure I'll just wait for the GT-i9305 to arrive in the U.S I guess. Anyone heard anything about this?
Connor Baker said:
Well, I went over to the LG Optimus G forum and it basically consists of people asking for a way to unlock the bootloader, and fear of being abandoned in terms of software updates. That was kind of shocking to read through some 20 pages of anger, fear, and bitterness from past phones.
Now I'm pretty sure I'll just wait for the GT-i9305 to arrive in the U.S I guess. Anyone heard anything about this?
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Click to collapse
The GT-i9305 is the Euro version of the SGS3 and as such would most likely only be available here as an import. As it also has Euro LTE radio, US LTE would be a no-go.
Pony Express said:
The GT-i9305 is the Euro version of the SGS3 and as such would most likely only be available here as an import. As it also has Euro LTE radio, US LTE would be a no-go.
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Do you think that the U.S will get a similar version? I really hope so...
Connor Baker
Sent from inside hurricane Sandy
Connor Baker said:
Do you think that the U.S will get a similar version? I really hope so...
Connor Baker
Sent from inside hurricane Sandy
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Doubtful as the US carriers already have their versions.
Stay the heck out of Sandy's way. :silly:
Pony Express said:
Doubtful as the US carriers already have their versions.
Stay the heck out of Sandy's way. :silly:
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So the U.S will just have to wait for the S4? That's kind of sad...
Connor,
FYI
You'll be able to purchase the Nexus 4 unlocked in the Play Store starting November 13th for $299 (8GB), $349 (16GB) or $199 with a two-year contract on T-Moble (16GB).

Should I get a Nexus 4 or Galaxy S3?

I have an oppurtunity to get the Galaxy S3 on T-Mobile for free (on two year contract), but the Nexus 4 isn't in stock and will cost me $200 on a two year contract. It's a hard decision for me, since the Nexus 4 is quad core and a Nexus phone. On the other hand, the S3 has expandable memory, costs me less money, and I can get it now, rather than wait for Nexus 4 to come back to stock.
I know I'll get updates slower on the S3, but I plan on installing a custom rom (Cyanogenmod or AOKP) and I believe the S3 on T-Mobile has a good developer community.
What should I do?
I'm currently using an OG Droid on Verizon.
Verizon is getting way too expensive and I figured I can save lots on T-Mobile.
Thanks
Kyle Chen said:
I have an oppurtunity to get the Galaxy S3 on T-Mobile for free (on two year contract), but the Nexus 4 isn't in stock and will cost me $200 on a two year contract. It's a hard decision for me, since the Nexus 4 is quad core and a Nexus phone. On the other hand, the S3 has expandable memory, costs me less money, and I can get it now, rather than wait for Nexus 4 to come back to stock.
I know I'll get updates slower on the S3, but I plan on installing a custom rom (Cyanogenmod or AOKP) and I believe the S3 on T-Mobile has a good developer community.
What should I do?
I'm currently using an OG Droid on Verizon.
Verizon is getting way too expensive and I figured I can save lots on T-Mobile.
Thanks
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Click to collapse
The S3 is clearly a better deal here. If you were going for the Nexus, it'd be better to buy it unlocked from Google (no contract).
Please use the sticky in this section for all phone decision questions. Thread closed.

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