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Note 2 worth it? (AKA ****ing really, Samsung?)

My infuse has pissed me off enough and I'm looking to upgrade ASAP. I was looking at the note 2, but then I realized the ONLY upgrades are quad core and 2GB of RAM. Almost everything else is DOWNGRADED. Did samsung have pothead 12-year-olds on the dev team for this one?
Note: If you're going to read past this point you're not allowed to comment on how much I hate my Infuse. You live your life, I'll live mine, k?
I guess my question is should I just get the original note since it'll be much cheaper once they release the note 2, and I don't need a quad core?
I would get the note 2 if I wanted to but I don't want to kinda because when samsung does crap like this:
Development dies quickly
Nobody buys it
It ends up like the Infuse with the best xda devs quickly leaving for real devices designed by people that clearly understand what they're doing
When it loses xda dev support, it starts pissing me off like the infuse does

The original note would be a very good choice. It seems several people have used upgrades for the SGS3 and are very pleased. I have the international (quad core) SGS3 and will be keeping it for quite sometime.

TheNetwork said:
My infuse has pissed me off enough and I'm looking to upgrade ASAP. I was looking at the note 2, but then I realized the ONLY upgrades are quad core and 2GB of RAM. Almost everything else is DOWNGRADED. Did samsung have pothead 12-year-olds on the dev team for this one?
Note: If you're going to read past this point you're not allowed to comment on how much I hate my Infuse. You live your life, I'll live mine, k?
I guess my question is should I just get the original note since it'll be much cheaper once they release the note 2, and I don't need a quad core?
I would get the note 2 if I wanted to but I don't want to kinda because when samsung does crap like this:
Development dies quickly
Nobody buys it
It ends up like the Infuse with the best xda devs quickly leaving for real devices designed by people that clearly understand what they're doing
When it loses xda dev support, it starts pissing me off like the infuse does
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about the note 2 is a downgrade? Haven't really looked at the two in depth...but by a quick Google search it appears the only downgrade is that the note 2 has a 720x1280 resolution vs note 1 800x1280 resolution... but this is kinda expected when increasing screen size
Besides that most things seem the same or better...mainly the CPU and RAM
I don't see the note 2 being like the infuse because the note 1 was a huge success and still has a thriving dev community with some of the best devas
Plus being one of the first quad core, 2gb RAM, lte phones for Att...you can be sure it will attract the devs...only thing I can see making them leave the note 2 in the future would be for the sgs4...when ever that comes out
If you don't care about CPU and ram then don't get the note 2...stick with the note 1
But if your so concerned about dev community, why would you get a predecessor? Where the logic in that? Any of the big devs of the note will likely jump ship for the note 2...
Sent from my SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

^^
2MP FF cam > 1.9mp
16:10 to 16:9
pulled an iphone 5 with the lengthening.
PPI is down something like 20...

TheNetwork said:
^^
2MP FF cam > 1.9mp
16:10 to 16:9
pulled an iphone 5 with the lengthening.
PPI is down something like 20...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks...
.1mp is not much of a difference and likely won't be noticed (personally I rarely use the front cam anyways...)
I like 16:9 better then 16:10 anyways...it better for videos since that's what most HD videos are set to
PPI, again 20 isn't much...and likely won't be a noticeable difference
I personally would choose the note 2 over the note 1...but it really all comes down to personal preference
But still...you kinda make a big deal about dev life, so there is still no logic in choosing a predecessor over a new device if you want the best a good dev scene -as I said earlier...a lot of the note 1 devs will likely jump ship to the note 2
But again...all personal preference
Sent from my SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

I'll see what happens to the price of note #1 after #2 has been out for a day or two. If it goes to like $100 or $50 I'll definitely skip over the $300 PoS with $10 worth of hardware difference.

I'll be upgrading to the note II as well. I don't think you've done enough research if you are saying everything is a downgrade.. What exactly is a downgrade? In regards to decreased screen resolution, the subPPI went up and the screen is no longer RGBG. The US Note II's are also getting Exynos + LTE... Its also skinnier than the original note which isn't a bad thing.. IMO at least.

OK you've convinced me that it's a sidegrade.
You think it's worth $200 more (probably $100 on N1 and $300 on N2 for release) for 2 more cores (which still power many phones flawlessly) and another GB of RAM when Android has the best RAM management in the world?
side note: http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/samsung/galaxy-note-carbon-blue.html note #1 has LTE too bud.

the rated ppi is deceptive. you are looking at pentil matrix rgbg vs real world resoloution. pentile matrix is a little weird they are geting away with high resoultion ratings by comparing it to crt tecnology. there are situations with different colors and contrasts that rgbg can create the number of lines it is rated as but it's not what is actually underlying. when you look at rgbg screens you may see a weird diagnal screen door effect depending on the colors on the screen since the pixels wind up being a little spaced out. high contrast stuff is not nearly as crisp, in effect text readability suffers. pick up an htc one x which has near iphone pixel density on an ips panel lcd and scale the text down till you can't read it, try the same on a gs3 which has a close enough screen size and the same rated resolution and you will see the ips is superior in this regard to the pentile matrix amoled. i would pick up an i777 gs2 before i got a gs3 for the size and i honestly think the i777 screen is clearer at the much lower resolution because the samoled+ is not pentile matris but thesamoled and samoled hd are.
also the older samsung devices are a 16:10 (i think this is what he tablets are, i dont feel like looking it up.) or 15:9 (most phones were this for a while) aspect ratio. this is good if the horizontal resolution is whole number scalable to hd video so there isn't a lot of estimations going on (1920x1200 would be ideal) because there is room for subtitles or the black bars just get bigger but it's often not. i'd look at horizontal res (in landscape) and compare it to common video resolutions over reading pixel count or density or vertical pixels or aspect ratio. and the .1 of an mp is nothing to worry about, i'd be more concerned about optics and firmware. i'm sure the pictures are actually improved.
about the dev community, right now the infuse is better than it's ever been. a lot of young talent is out there and guess what, they can't afford new phones, so yea dev drops off but it picks back up. if you want more dev buy a nexus or international device. the note 2 being exynos might see more dev as it may be more compatible with the international versions. i wouldn't worry about core count, watch the market, if the exynos 5 gets into a phone it's a dual core that runs with the ideal performance of the quad core, but the real world performance is much better since parallel processing isn't directly scalable. the snapdragon s4 chip (dual core) in the s3 and one x is also a beast. i'd be getting the most furture proof device. specs are almost meaningless since they don't relate to performance as directly as we would like them to.
in the end it's up to you, both great devices, the n2 will be more powerful but if the cost is a concern the n1 is still very good by any standards.

Yey finally an opinion I trust (ok I trust the rest of you but dani is an xda deity)

Dani897 said:
]
about the dev community, right now the infuse is better than it's ever been.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You hit the nail on the head with that one! The infuse has so many options and lots support! I wish mine didn't bork though -_-

5 inch phones, the next big thing

CES brought with it a few good contenders in the 5-inch phone battle. Only a month ago, the Butterfly/Droid DNA from HTC was the only game in town. In the next couple months, the Sony Xperia Z, Oppo Find 5, ZTE Grand S, and Huawei Ascend D2 will be popping their heads up for your consideration. MWC might even bring more 5 inch goodness, but any phones announced then will still be a ways off. The rumored 5 inch Galaxy S4 is still a good half a year away also.
The 5 inch size seems to fit the bill very well between a manageable and pocketable phone and one that is too big to use and impairs walking. It fits my requirements perfectly. I've owned a Galaxy Note that's 5.3" before and the 80+mm width and 140+mm height was cumbersome and bulky for me. However, the Galaxy S III at 4.8" was almost imperceptible in my pocket and very easy to hold. Most of the 5 inch phones currently releasing are about the same size, especially those with onscreen buttons. Some like the Xperia ZL are even smaller.
Here's a rundown on my thoughts of the current crop:
Xperia Z: The sides and power button are stylish. It's thin at under 8mm. The back is too plain and that plainless allows fingerprints to shine very easily and nastily. Front is pretty generic. The screen seems to be a bigger version of the Xperia S/T screen. That is, the viewing angles and color aren't the greatest. The 13MP camera seems to take great low light shots with very little noise, and the HDR video is also stellar. Sound capture could use some tweaking. IT's also water/dust resistant, but that doesn't factor much into my decision.
Xperia ZL: The internals and screen are identical to the Z, however Sony tried to squeeze the dimensions a bit and the height and width is actually smaller than a Galaxy S III. The thickness, however, is less impressive. There is a godawful butt flap on the back, especially noticeable on the white one. The textured black one is too Samsung-ish and cheap looking to me. The lower right front facing camera, similar to the one on the Nokia N9, also drives me nuts because I always notice it. Not on my shortlist.
Oppo Find 5: This is the one I'm enamored with. I've always liked the way the Xperia Arc looked, minus the cheap looking plastics. This one is matte and soft touch instead. It is sleeker and more streamlined than the curvaceous and fluffier, less hardy looking One X and Droid DNA polycarbonate shells. The screen is supposedly the same one as the Droid DNA, which is the best 5" 1080p on the market. The camera is also 13MP and possibly has HDR video and a 120fps mode. This phone already has a release date of 1/29 in China, with many more countries following after. Most important of all, it's been stated that they will sell it unlocked in the US for $500 online. Hassle-free. Close to release and fully unlocked are big pros in my book. The name Oppo is also very endearing.
Huawei Ascend D2: Probably the ugliest and most generic of the lot. The front seems identical to the Galaxy S II from 2011, and the back is just cheap shiny plastic with generic budget phone design. There's also an iffy homemade SoC inside. The screen might be the same as the Droid DNA/Find 5 however. There is also a sizeable 3000mah battery.
ZTE Grand S: The design looks a lot like the HTC One series. At 6.9mm, it is also the thinnest. The screen seems to have varying opinions. Some say it is good. Others say it is washed out with poor colors. The only thing I can gather from the videos is that the default brightness isn't very high and it always looks rather dim. The large raised dais that the camera sits within doesn't look very elegant. It is a fingerprint magnet and contrast sharply with the matte of the rest of the phone.
Droid DNA: This one is actually out and available. I don't know about the Butterfly or international variants, but it is on Verizon in the US and can be easily unlocked for GSM networks. It has the best 5" 1080p screen in the market, and the colors are not overly warm like the One X. It also has the same fluffy pillow look of the One X, but with some fun red stripes on the sides. It is quite light for its size, but on the thicker side for modern smartphones. There is a woefully small battery. The camera is a transplant from the older One X, and is only 8MP compared to the other 13MP shooters. The quality is decent, but it tends to be overly dark and oversharpened. The video capture is also not very good.

at some point phones can get too big. I have fairly big hands, but still I do not want to be stretching out my thumbs every time I need to click the back button.

well........
in my opinion, 5" is the ideal size, any bigger than that, the phone would be hard to handle as a phone atleast for people like me.
i have my fingers crossed for my next BIG phone , already expecting a Nexus-4 soon, and hopefully get a HTC Butterfyl or Xperia-Z soon.
:fingers-crossed:

Next "BIG" thing ... hehehe
the irony!
But serious I'm also an owner of rather big hands and I think I could handle a 5" phone, especially if it had a 1080p display.

it is good if phone has 5 inch screen display but phone should be comfortable in hands, now a days most of the mobile companies trying to launch big screen phone because big screen phone are very famous in youngsters.

I would choose the Sony ZL from that list for these reasons:
-Smallest surface for a 5 inch phone (for now)
-On screen buttons, very modable like Nexus devices once rooted
-Sony UI are lighter and more tolerable to me than sense and even touchwiz
-The camera, sound quality and durability should be good to excellent which is a trend with Sony devices from what I see, quite important factors
-It has removable storage which the DNA does not, this is a big deal for a 1080p device. They go hand in hand.
-It have bigger battery capacity than the Z and DNA.
-Base on so spec charts, it is 3G pentaband, a huge plus, you can bring it to any GSM carrier in the world. With LTE too.
If you read the spec charts, the DNA and ZL thickness is .1mm apart, if that is enough of a concern than you deserve the 11gb storage space and overpriced CDMA contract. Though the Z is 2mm thinner, it is 8.4mm longer with big empty space below the screen.
But probably I won't buy it due to the price and my preference of Nexus devices.

Still depends on the size of your palm.

bigger screen is better to use, but the issue is the pocketable size, I m a guy and i dont carry a purse with me.... if u put a 5" in ur front pocket, its hard to bend or kneel down, and u risk sitting on the phone if u put it on ur rear pocket, especially for those who wear tight jeans
i guess its fine if u use a purse or a belt hanger or clothing with big pockets

5.0 Screens
I was concerned my 4.3 inch screen would be too large, not so. Now with the bevels disappearing a 5.0 inch screen is workable for an average sized hand. The long term issue for all this larger screens with all the added functionality is going to be battery life. Sony's White Magic integrated white pixels into the screen to help reduce battery consumption, not sure if it did. They are also introducing a new deep sleep mode that is suppose to reduce battery drain, further. I think the Sony Z and ZL are extremely nice. I have an Xperia Arc S, but we will have to see what Google's X phone is...
It could be a leap in development and one would assume it is a 5.0 screen.

As you see everyone have own opinion. I think 4.5-4.7" is max size. So it's good when we have many option to choose.

I like 4inch phones :/
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2

Phew! I have a phone so small that the resolution is cut off sometimes when I play a game. 5 inches would be massive thing to handle casually, and I like to be able to handle my phone from hand to hand easily. Not giving it a death grip afraid it'll be too big for my hands!

Nice.........I don't think 5 inches will be that bad.........looking at the note 2 and then going back to my phone is night and day lol
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

I will bei getting a Xperia Z or Ascend D2 depending on availability in Germany/Switzerland....5 inch is perfect for my long fingers and Huawei impresses me already with my second phone (G615).

Mmx canvas 2 superphone A110
----------------Read If You Have Time----------------
Send From My Samsung Galaxy Note 2 N7100,
HIT thanks if I did Helped you.
LIFE! It's what you make out of it!

Many people also forget 1 very important thing.
For some people 5" might be/seem to big, why is it too big? Most people use both hands when they operate their phones anyways.
And the important thing I was talking about is:
The eyes!
The bigger the screen, the less eye problems you'll have once you become older.
So think about it, don't just think in the now, but also try to think about your own future.:good:

Dsteppa said:
Many people also forget 1 very important thing.
For some people 5" might be/seem to big, why is it too big? Most people use both hands when they operate their phones anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most? Perhaps. Certainly not everyone. I use my phone with one hand most of the time.
I really only use it with both hands when playing games or writing a really long SMS. And that's not even certain.
Playing Puzzle or rotation games(Like Mega Jump) is easier with just one hand.
I could not for the life of me want to drop your bag or tossing your smoke just cause you have to answer a call. 2 Hand phones really should be a hassle.
I will wait abit till theres a durable, fast speed 4.5" (maximum) phone.
For years everything has gotten smaller I think making them bigger is really a step backwards.
Dsteppa said:
And the important thing I was talking about is:
The eyes!
The bigger the screen, the less eye problems you'll have once you become older.
So think about it, don't just think in the now, but also try to think about your own future.:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm only 19. When I'm 80 with eye problems (which probably by then has a magic cure), Phones probably wont even have screens or some crazy stuff.

I like the 5-inch phones, but I am just worried where I am supposed to keep them since they will barely fit in my pocket. I currently own a Galaxy S3 and I have trouble keeping that in my pocket. I'll have to purchase custom pants if I want to get a 5-inch phone

I think 5" is really the acceptable limit. Anything over that would be too uncomfortable to use as a phone.
It'd make more sense to get a tablet if you need anything bigger.

After using the Note 2 for a while, the biggest thing I don't like is the fact that I don't want a smaller screen for my next phone. I have average sized hands and don't find it cumbersome hardly at all. 5 inches would be the smallest id consider. The DNA is certainly a lot easier to manage though. 5 inches would be the minimum for me and 5.5 the max. I will say that I've lost count of how many times I've dropped the Note 2 on my face when laying down
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app

EEK! There's a monster coming straight for us... and its called the Optimus G Pro

Engadget: LG Optimus G Pro coming to AT&T on May 10th
Not only does it have a removable battery and SD card slot (same as the Galaxy S4)... but it also has:
- IPS LCD display for better sunlight visibility than AMOLED
- 32 gb of internal memory standard for the lowest model
- A programmable "q button" that allows you to map any function you want to have happen when you press it
And of course all the basics of a high end superphone nowadays
- 5.5 inch 1080p display
- 3140 mAh battery
- Snapdragon 600
- 13 mp camera
- IR Blaster
- 2gb RAM
- LTE
Here's a video I found from ATT :
#%&! ... I'm not sure which one to order now

ap3604 said:
Engadget: LG Optimus G Pro coming to AT&T on May 10th
Not only does it have a removable battery and SD card slot (same as the Galaxy S4)... but it also has:
- IPS LCD display for better sunlight visibility than AMOLED
- 32 gb of internal memory standard for the lowest model
- 5.5 inch 1080p display
- 3140 mAh battery
- 13 mp camera
#%&! ... I'm not sure which one to order now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Techradar did a feature on it and found it to be a bit of a tacky version of the note.
Concerning IPS, I much prefer amoled now that it's avialable with more accurate colours. Before, IPS had the advantage but now the colour accuracy on the galaxies (e.g.movie mode) is good enough. Combine that with the beautifully inky blacks, and I never want another IPS display again. (except the one on my macbook

Except the rip off design and the lack of Spen on that big screen, anything on Optimus G Pro is great.
______________
Edit: Oh, I forgot about the horrible update from LG

Personally, I won't go anywhere near LG devices unless it's Nexus to be honest. And it's a competitor to Note II (or rather Note III) than S4.

tuxonhtc said:
And it's a competitor to Note II (or rather Note III) than S4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally don't care what someone says its a competitor for.
With those specs it's simply a competitor for best phone of early 2013, which is what I care about.

ap3604 said:
I personally don't care what someone says its a competitor for.
With those specs it's simply a competitor for best phone of early 2013, which is what I care about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jesus Christ it's a 5.5'' phone, hence it's a competitor for the "phablet" (hate the term, but whatever) category rather than ordinary smartphone. Hence my comment.

tuxonhtc said:
Jesus Christ it's a 5.5'' phone, hence it's a competitor for the "phablet" (hate the term, but whatever) category rather than ordinary smartphone. Hence my comment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jesus Christ all flagship phone screens are starting to be at least 5+ inches anyways, hence every smartphone is turning into a "phablet" (I hate the term too). So no, it simply is competing with all the other giants of 2013... including the Galaxy S 4.

ap3604 said:
Jesus Christ all flagship phone screens are starting to be at least 5+ inches anyways, hence every smartphone is turning into a "phablet" (I hate the term too). So no, it simply is competing with all the other giants of 2013... including the Galaxy S 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really. they have 5.5'' screen and the flagships are </=5 inch. Big difference. The target audiences are different. Anywho, whatever.

LG is mostly known to be great regarding its swift updating policy

gee2012 said:
LG is mostly known to be great regarding its swift updating policy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see what you did there...
As for the android version, it comes with 4.1.2 and while I'm sure both Samsung and LG are going to make it a point to try and update handsets to the latest android versions... I really don't care as that's the whole reason I come on xda anyways (so I don't have to rely on the manufacturer for updates)

i'll be sticking with the s4.
thinner, lighter, still an enourmous battery. dont need all that size in the screen.. although the LCD would be an upgrade if u ask me. AMOLED is nice, but i prefer the brightness for sun viewing.

Don't get neurotic about having the absolute "best" phone, ferchrissakes. Guess what? That bling new piece of latest and greatest shiny you just plunked down your cash for? It's always going to be second best in a few months. Use your device and enjoy it, and maybe learn to not give a rat's ass if it isn't the absolute newest on your block.

burhanistan said:
Don't get neurotic about having the absolute "best" phone, ferchrissakes. Guess what? That bling new piece of latest and greatest shiny you just plunked down your cash for? It's always going to be second best in a few months. Use your device and enjoy it, and maybe learn to not give a rat's ass if it isn't the absolute newest on your block.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed.
I'd actually go one further and say the tell-tale sign that you're 'with' the right device is that you're NOT that desperate to upgrade as soon as something new comes out. During my iphone-phase I was always excited when the new model came out - I know now it was partly due to the marketing and partly because I was never completely happy with them.
Even when better phones than the gs3 were coming out I was happy sticking with it until an upgrade that REALLY appealed to me came along (s4).

fade2green514 said:
... although the LCD would be an upgrade if u ask me. AMOLED is nice, but i prefer the brightness for sun viewing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a preference for LCD over AMOLED as well (although both can be great). The outdoor visibility is a big deal for me so I'm not sure which one to get
Also the 32 gb of internal memory on the standard lowest $199 w/ 2-yr contract model isn't too shabby
burhanistan said:
Don't get neurotic about having the absolute "best" phone, ferchrissakes. Guess what? That bling new piece of latest and greatest shiny you just plunked down your cash for? It's always going to be second best in a few months. Use your device and enjoy it, and maybe learn to not give a rat's ass if it isn't the absolute newest on your block.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an upgrade coming up so of course I'm going to chose the best phone for me at the time.
1) Removable battery
2) Outdoor screen visibility
Those are the top 2 features I'm looking for in my next phone and I'm not sure which phone to go with yet (LG Optimus Pro or Galaxy S4).

tuxonhtc said:
Not really. they have 5.5'' screen and the flagships are </=5 inch. Big difference. The target audiences are different. Anywho, whatever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. It's so cool that Samsung was able to push the max screen size to 5" in basically the same package as the SIII. But the jump to a 5.5" screen is a big overall package jump. To me, that's just no longer a phone, but falls firmly in the phablet market.
Not putting down the phone, or what features are important to individual buyers. But it's not in the same place in the market as an S3/S4, HTC One is, IMO.

The Optimus G Pro is competition for the Note series, not the S series.

ap3604 said:
I have an upgrade coming up so of course I'm going to chose the best phone for me at the time.
1) Removable battery
2) Outdoor screen visibility
Those are the top 2 features I'm looking for in my next phone and I'm not sure which phone to go with yet (LG Optimus Pro or Galaxy S4).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What makes you think that Optimus G Pro has better outdoor visibility? S4 has great outdoor visibility from what I gather. And even Note II scores better than G Pro when it comes to outdoor visibility. Although Note II isn't bad when it comes to outdoor visibility, S4 kicks Note II up the butt and is just marginally worse than the One. Brightness is not the only thing that's a decisive factor in outdoor visibility.
Here's the outdoor visibility chart:
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s4-review-914p3.php

ap3604 said:
Jesus Christ all flagship phone screens are starting to be at least 5+ inches anyways, hence every smartphone is turning into a "phablet" (I hate the term too). So no, it simply is competing with all the other giants of 2013... including the Galaxy S 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
competing by the specs yes
by the sales heck no
by the updates ultimate no

fade2green514 said:
i'll be sticking with the s4.
thinner, lighter, still an enourmous battery. dont need all that size in the screen.. although the LCD would be an upgrade if u ask me. AMOLED is nice, but i prefer the brightness for sun viewing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, brightness is ONE of the factors that helps in outdoor visibility. AMOLEDs have higher contrast ratios, so despite much lower brightness, it can still have good sunlight visibility. Not HTC One good obviously, but still good.
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tuxonhtc said:
Again, brightness is ONE of the factors that helps in outdoor visibility. AMOLEDs have higher contrast ratios, so despite much lower brightness, it can still have good sunlight visibility. Not HTC One good obviously, but still good.
[/IMG]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well this is good news, i'll have to take a look at it when i get it. DAMN SUN! lol
oh and +1 thanks!

[Solved] Please help me choose between: G3/Z2/S5/M8 to replace S4.

I've had my SGS4 for over a year now.. and lets just say.. I'm not satisfied with it. I never really have been. I've supported Samsung from having the Galaxy S+ right now up to the S4. Samsung almost lost my support after the design and performance of the terrible S3, however after seeing and hearing of the improvements of the S4 I decided to give them one last chance. Lets just say that they blew that chance and now I want another phone.
In my country of Finland only these top phones are currently available (listed in absolutely no order of preference):
Sony Xperia Z2
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Pros:
Large Battery
3GB RAM
MicroSD
20.7MP Camera
Cons:
Non-removable battery
Slightly slower clocked Krait 400 CPU (2.3Ghz)
Camera quality lacks definitive sharpening (everything looks like paper)
GUI looks terrible
No MicroUSB 3.0
No Infra-red port
Samsung Galaxy S5
Pros:
Best quality camera and video by far, best sharpness and detail but is there an issue with some colours? (shown here)
MicroUSB 3.0
Dust & Water Resistant
2.5 GHz Krait 400
Undoubtedly the best contrast/quality screen in a smartphone
Large removable battery and supposedly good battery life
Infra-red port
Cons:
It's a Samsung phone... and I'm not keen on supporting them again after all the issues I've had with the S3 and S4
Plastic design again, and even uglier backplate this time
2GB RAM vs. 3GB RAM on the Sony Z2 and LG G3
Galaxy S5 Prime / Galaxy F around the corner?
TouchWiz sucks elephant pole
LG G3
Pros:
QHD 1440 x 2560 Display
Good visual look
3GB RAM with the 32GB version
GUI Looks pretty nice
2.5 GHz Krait 400
Large removable battery
Infra-red port
Cons:
Overkill with the Display size? Heat / Lag issues? / Battery life? / Not 'that' stunning?
It's still plastic even if it doesn't look like it
Camera and video quality isn't that amazing and tends to sport a lot of those typical 'squarey' textures in photos
It's reportedly bigger, borderline 'phablet' (tbh I think my Galaxy S4 is large enough)
LG's first attempt at trying to compete with the big boys... ergo. lack of experience in the field?
No MicroUSB 3.0
HTC One M8
Pros:
That awesome design look, by far the most appealing/premium feel
Stereo Speakers that are apparently good
Front facing 5MP camera over all the other's 2/2.1MP
Infra-red port
Cons:
Abysmal camera that is overexposed and etc in regular light, depth stuff doesn't make up for the lack of Megapixels even if low light shots are good. Also the video isn't remotely as good as the other phones
Slightly slower clocked Krait 400 CPU (2.3Ghz)
Smaller non-removable battery
No MicroUSB 3.0
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All of them in Finland are priced around the same amount. €640 - €660. I have to get the phone on a plan and these are the only 4 that I am really considering. I am not interested in Apple phones at all. Terrible iOS, 8MP cameras and smaller non-full HD screens do not remotely interest me. Especially for the premium price tag and ease of smashing them if they drop. But lets not get started on that. In addition I am not interested with Lumia phones at all.
What I use my phone for mostly (in this oder):
Taking many pictures and videos and using the front camera for video & skype
Whatsapp and Viber
Music music and more music
Some small gaming
Maps and GPS use
Email and Web browsing
Youtube and other video stuff
Modding, and stuff I am not supposed to do. dSploit and etc.
My most important things (all of these are top-priority):
I have no interest on getting a proper DSLR/Point-and-shoot camera so I want my phone to have a good camera.
It needs to be lag free, I am paying a premium price
I want the colours and pictures to just jump out at me like WOW
I don't want the company/brand I buy it from trying to make things like modding/xposed/rooting etc. progressively harder for me
Connectivity. Good signal strength, no lags on 3G or 4G
That if it falls, it will not just smash/screen crack on the first mistake
What is not so important:
Battery life, unless it's got a non-removable battery (which I usually auto-hate) because I will just buy another spare battery (if I can)
Warranty options and Customer support (only in the sense of warranty and troubleshooting)
Stuff like fingerprint scanners and heartrate monitors, barometers etc. I don't really care about
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So guys any suggestions? It would help if you do own/have owned the phones I am talking about. I can only get these phones that I have listed so I am not interested in any others. Do you think there is a phone there that would fit the things that I am looking for? Or do you think that I should seriously wait for the Galaxy S 5 Prime / Galaxy F (or whatever it will be called) and then see what differences to the build design/material and hardware there are and make my decision then? Do you think the release will be close by, or are we looking at something like late September (maybe too far away for me).
Sorry for a long thread and hopefully this can help more than one person !
P.S. I've read many reviews and watched many videos on all of the phones listed but they do not constitute really in my opinion 'real world use' that is what I seem to get from XDA forum members. In that we all share the same experiences and problems which is why I am asking here.
Thanks again!
P.S. If a mod thinks that this is in the wrong section or that it should be merged with a larger thread then feel free to do so. I couldn't find really anything using the search option

For me, the short answer is that Sony Z2 is the overall best device (feature wise) of 4 of them.
Based on the facts and your needs:
- You should not choose G3 because it has a QHD display that you will not need. And believe it the screen brightness and quality doesnt look as good as S5 from user reviews.
- You should not choose S5 because its not that pretty and overrated
- You should not choose M8 because simply the only thing is better from other 3 is the astonish aluminium design
On the other hand i will agree on the cons of Sony Z2 you mention but i believe there are minor based on the other 3 devices and your needs. I also dont like the huge bezels in Z2 but this is something i can leave with it. Note that you will hold on your hand a device that is as huge as Lg G3 but is 5.2 inches instead of 5.5
Final words, there is no such a thing as best device. But based on what you wrote Z2 is the overall best for you since it has the greatest camera, very good design, performance and of course dont forget that is waterproof and dustproof device.

lakiscy said:
For me, the short answer is that Sony Z2 is the overall best device (feature wise) of 4 of them.
Based on the facts and your needs:
- You should not choose G3 because it has a QHD display that you will not need. And believe it the screen brightness and quality doesnt look as good as S5 from user reviews.
- You should not choose S5 because its not that pretty and overrated
- You should not choose M8 because simply the only thing is better from other 3 is the astonish aluminium design
On the other hand i will agree on the cons of Sony Z2 you mention but i believe there are minor based on the other 3 devices and your needs. I also dont like the huge bezels in Z2 but this is something i can leave with it. Note that you will hold on your hand a device that is as huge as Lg G3 but is 5.2 inches instead of 5.5
Final words, there is no such a thing as best device. But based on what you wrote Z2 is the overall best for you since it has the greatest camera, very good design, performance and of course dont forget that is waterproof and dustproof device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for such a detailed reply. The Z2 camera doesn't look as good as the S5, and I think that Sony has definitely just tried to push the Megapixel limits without really giving much thought to anything else. The ISO seems to be so much lower in all of the pictures, and all of the colours are very washed out. I could use software on the computer to add more colour to the pictures, but that's kind of time consuming and annoying. In addition to this a lot of people have said that the triluminous display is very flawed in that it glares so heavily in the light and that the screen is riddled with dead pixels and has inherent flaws that cause the screen to deteriorate after even a short time. The lack of removable battery is a let down too and the GUI is terrible and it definitely doesn't feel very comfortable in my hand, though it doesn't feel big either. These are the main reasons why I wasn't really considering it at all. And also why I think I have narrowed it down to just the S5 or the M8.
S5 for the best possible camera for pictures and videos.
I can still get a metal case to hide its ugliness.
Good battery life and power saving modes.
It does the best for what it is, camera is very refined, shooting modes are great and it's blisteringly fast if you get rid of TouchWiz.
It has by far the best screen of any smartphone.
MicroUSB 3.0
Removable battery
M8 for the fact that it looks and feels like a million dollars
It's not a Samdung phone
The Ultrapixel camera would come in handy for certain types of shots and indoor/low light pictures
Lack of removable battery means less messing around with external batteries (still I would prefer removable)
It's lightning fast, charges quickly and the UI looks amazing (but I'd probably still use Themer)
Could be nice to just finally change brands after the long haul of Samsung phones
This is why I lean more to the S5 even though I am really, really put off by Samsung these days.
Otherwise I really, seriously appreciate you taking the time to suggest the Z2. Especially as your first post on the forums.
Thanks so much

leijonasisu said:
Thanks for such a detailed reply. The Z2 camera doesn't look as good as the S5, and I think that Sony has definitely just tried to push the Megapixel limits without really giving much thought to anything else. The ISO seems to be so much lower in all of the pictures, and all of the colours are very washed out. I could use software on the computer to add more colour to the pictures, but that's kind of time consuming and annoying. In addition to this a lot of people have said that the triluminous display is very flawed in that it glares so heavily in the light and that the screen is riddled with dead pixels and has inherent flaws that cause the screen to deteriorate after even a short time. The lack of removable battery is a let down too and the GUI is terrible and it definitely doesn't feel very comfortable in my hand, though it doesn't feel big either. These are the main reasons why I wasn't really considering it at all. And also why I think I have narrowed it down to just the S5 or the M8.
S5 for the best possible camera for pictures and videos.
I can still get a metal case to hide its ugliness.
Good battery life and power saving modes.
It does the best for what it is, camera is very refined, shooting modes are great and it's blisteringly fast if you get rid of TouchWiz.
It has by far the best screen of any smartphone.
MicroUSB 3.0
Removable battery
M8 for the fact that it looks and feels like a million dollars
It's not a Samdung phone
The Ultrapixel camera would come in handy for certain types of shots and indoor/low light pictures
Lack of removable battery means less messing around with external batteries (still I would prefer removable)
It's lightning fast, charges quickly and the UI looks amazing (but I'd probably still use Themer)
Could be nice to just finally change brands after the long haul of Samsung phones
This is why I lean more to the S5 even though I am really, really put off by Samsung these days.
Otherwise I really, seriously appreciate you taking the time to suggest the Z2. Especially as your first post on the forums.
Thanks so much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, It is my first post because i was searching the same thing on the web and came to your post lol.
It seems that you have already make up your decision and you just need confirmation for it
I dont want to debate on Z2 but most of your points might be special cases but mainly they are all wrong.
While you have narrow your results to S5 and M8 i would just say if you are going to use a case on your phone then just get the S5

[Solved]
I don't think the issues with the Z2 are special cases. Yeah it might have 3GB of RAM. But it also has no Infra-red device. Read the XDA forums, a lot of people have returned 3 devices in a row for dead pixels and other screen issues. Triluminos doesn't hold a candle to AMOLED anyway. The camera really isn't all that special at all. It might take the biggest pictures, that look really nice zoomed out but the colours are so, so so washed out compared to other phones. It's a fact. Also it feels uncomfortable in my hands, I can't remove the battery. The GUI really actually IS BAD.
In terms of the camera quality. Check this page:
http://www.gsmarena.com/piccmp.php3?idType=1&idPhone1=6144&idPhone2=6033&idPhone3=6294
Then move to the 'colour poster' and look at the difference. The camera has such a low level of sharpness and finite detail to things like hairs and leaves. Namely edges really don't show up at all, it makes the whole picture look like there's absolutely 0 depth what so ever. It looks like a paper print out. That isn't to say that it is a bad camera. It's just not as good as the S5. Images on the Z2 might look a lot more smooth but they are also a lot more washed out in terms of colour.
I really don't like the idea of the S5 at all and I don't want to really support Samsung but I am not paying a premium for a phone that I feel doesn't match the money that I am spending on it, just because I have personal issues with the brand, I'm just speaking on facts in this case. :/
Thanks though, I really appreciate it and I am happy that you seem to have found what phone you want.
EDIT: I got the S5 and I have never been happier, it's improved on every aspect of the S4 that I hated. Just wish it had more RAM.

Dude hi im really happy for you getting the S5. I also decided not to buy Z2 and got G2 because i couldnt resist on the low price of it (270 EUR).
Wish you the best

leijonasisu said:
I don't think the issues with the Z2 are special cases. Yeah it might have 3GB of RAM. But it also has no Infra-red device. Read the XDA forums, a lot of people have returned 3 devices in a row for dead pixels and other screen issues. Triluminos doesn't hold a candle to AMOLED anyway. The camera really isn't all that special at all. It might take the biggest pictures, that look really nice zoomed out but the colours are so, so so washed out compared to other phones. It's a fact. Also it feels uncomfortable in my hands, I can't remove the battery. The GUI really actually IS BAD.
In terms of the camera quality. Check this page:
http://www.gsmarena.com/piccmp.php3?idType=1&idPhone1=6144&idPhone2=6033&idPhone3=6294
Then move to the 'colour poster' and look at the difference. The camera has such a low level of sharpness and finite detail to things like hairs and leaves. Namely edges really don't show up at all, it makes the whole picture look like there's absolutely 0 depth what so ever. It looks like a paper print out. That isn't to say that it is a bad camera. It's just not as good as the S5. Images on the Z2 might look a lot more smooth but they are also a lot more washed out in terms of colour.
I really don't like the idea of the S5 at all and I don't want to really support Samsung but I am not paying a premium for a phone that I feel doesn't match the money that I am spending on it, just because I have personal issues with the brand, I'm just speaking on facts in this case. :/
Thanks though, I really appreciate it and I am happy that you seem to have found what phone you want.
EDIT: I got the S5 and I have never been happier, it's improved on every aspect of the S4 that I hated. Just wish it had more RAM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know every time I see someone bashing the z2's camera it always turns out that they get their info from gsmarena. No wonder you've always gone with Samsung. They're notorious Sammy promoters. There are a lot of other techblogs, pocketnow, CNET, android authority, the verge, etc that all preferred the z2's camera.
For as long as you keep relying on gsmarena, you'll always stick to Samsung
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app

Hehehe you're hacker
You should go for HTC M8 !
2,3 Ghz is enough for a CPU
Sent from my beastly SM-T320

I would be very annoyed if the Note 4 will only have a 5.7" screen

All the size speculates that the Note 4 will only have a 5.7" but with 4k resolution. I don't get the point of this, why have a such high resolution but still on 5.7" screen?

kuromusha38 said:
All the size speculates that the Note 4 will only have a 5.7" but with 4k resolution. I don't get the point of this, why have a such high resolution but still on 5.7" screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd be more than happy if it would retain 5.7". Anything above 6 inch seems to go overboard with the so called phablet. Pocketability option would be close to non existent if it is.
4k resolution on 5.7 inch for me is fine too. I've tried LG G3 and I am honestly impressed.
But that's just my opinion.
We'll still see what Note 4 has to offer. If it is just a screen size/resolution bump and additional sensor gimmicks. I'd probably pass and wait for Note 5.
Since Note 3 still serves me well. I'm hoping that at 2015. New battery technology would be powering the upcoming handsets, as we all know we are just a year or months away from 64 bit processors. The supposed new ion batteries that theoritically doubles battery life of the current lithium ion batteries.

Yeah seriously, 5.7 is like perfect size. Instead of bigger and bigger screen, they can spend that time making better screen and other specs. Seriously the whole thirst for bigger screen and octo processors is just asinine. At the end of the day, its a damn phone. And then after all those specs dumped into the phone, another one will be released the next year. 5.7 with better screen and more PPI. Yes please
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Free mobile app

I want smaller bezel and slightly shorter.
I reckon its about 5mm too long at the moment.

IF the note 4 has the same 5.7 inch screen size as the note 3 I am going to skip it and wait for the note 5 next year. I want a 6 inch screen note and won't support a phone or a company with my hard earned $$ for a new device with the same screen size as last year's model! I currently own a note 3 with a 10,000 mah zerolemon battery and rugged case so I can wait for the note 5 if need be.

QHD =\= 4K.
I'd like a jump to 5.9" myself.

Introducing the Galaxy note 8, with the best AMOLED screen yet, sitting at 9 inches!
Come on guys, when and why did a bigger screen become part of an update requirement?
I won't mind a bigger screen as long as the size of the phone stays the same (ie smaller bezels). But, there's not much room left.

Hhhhh , you wont see a 4K display in a phone untill next year or the year after and the screen size will be smaller not bigger
Samsung need to compete with the 5.5inch iphone 6 so they will make the note 4 screen smaller to 5.5inch or they will keep the same 5.7inch and it will have a snapdragon 805 chip with a QHD=2K super amoled display like the galaxy s5 lte-a
Personally i have the galaxy note3 and i skipped galaxy s5 because the note 3 was better and i am waiting for samsung to impress us/me with the note4

The screen size doesn't bother me if it goes up, but any of the epic fail features (waterproofing causing system overheating or port covers that fall off/are a pain to use) will preclude me from buying the Note 4.
I want buy it but I won't if it's going to be a turkey like the Galaxy 5, Xperia Z2 etc.

I must admit I get quite a kick out of people who say they'll wait for the Note 5, even though the Note 4 hasn't even been released yet.
For the guys who think the Note 4 sucks, I'd just like to save you a little time...
The Note 5 sucks too.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW

If this the logic is new device = bigger screen then note 6 will be a tablet. For me 5.7" is perfect. If they make the device any bigger than this I won't buy it. It would be perfect if they could keep he 5.7" screen but make the device smaller which means more practical and easy to handle with one hand.

What logic?
I just think 5.7" is too damn small for a phone with a stylus.
Minimum should be 6".

*smaller bezel, like the G3
*stereo speakers, cupping speakers is ridiculous, imo
*better battery life at full brightness, no tweaks
*improved TW speed, the devs have it pretty smooth, but there are still some lag relative to iphones
*an incremental processor upgrade is not going to be enough imo
the iphone will have the better design, better battery life, better processor, and smoother OS and it will be released withing DAYS of announcement, which really means nothing to me since the phone is so locked down, so I am done with Apple products
why can't HTC just release the REAL phone I want which is a 5.7 M8

Personally 5.7" is my perfect size too.. i wouldnt buy if the size would increase..
but screen bigger than 5.7" but smaller or same footprint, well thats another story..

Personally I'm gonna wait awhile before getting a new phone as I am still really happy with my Note 3. Of course I'll be curious and probably tempted but the Note 3 can easily last another 2 years (if not more) and it will be interesting to see what is out and available by then

ciprianruse88 said:
It would be perfect if they could keep he 5.7" screen but make the device smaller which means more practical and easy to handle with one hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much this. at 5.7" the screen only just fits in the pockets of my slacks without sticking out, and barely better in my jeans. If the device retained the current form factor and reduced bezel size that would be okay though.
One area where samsung could really reduce the size of the device, or increase the screen size is by moving the damn buttons. It is 2014 and Samsung are now the only android OEM with physical home/back/menu buttons, just give us some damn softbuttons already.

Juan123 said:
Personally I'm gonna wait awhile before getting a new phone as I am still really happy with my Note 3. Of course I'll be curious and probably tempted but the Note 3 can easily last another 2 years (if not more) and it will be interesting to see what is out and available by then
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much this. The only thing that could make me move off the Note 3 before that would be a Nexus for Verizon Wireless in the states haha.

Hmm.
1. I think physical button will stay. (have not seen a galaxy phone without it)
2. I think we won't get stereo front speakers. (aforementioned physical button)
3. So much hate for the phone that's not even out yet.
4. I think TW is going to stay. (they now have "Galaxy Apps"!, instead of Samsung apps..., not to mention Samsung wearables only for Samsung phones)
5. New features from S5 will definitely be a possibility. (i.e. heart rate sensor, fingerprint scanner, water resistant rating)
6. I agree that they will have to come up with something we have not seen before(not just software, or features from the S5) or many people will not upgrade or jump ship to a different manufacturer. (sigh...no more updates to Wanam Xposed)
Relax and enjoy the ride.

lilstevie said:
Pretty much this. at 5.7" the screen only just fits in the pockets of my slacks without sticking out, and barely better in my jeans. If the device retained the current form factor and reduced bezel size that would be okay though.
One area where samsung could really reduce the size of the device, or increase the screen size is by moving the damn buttons. It is 2014 and Samsung are now the only android OEM with physical home/back/menu buttons, just give us some damn softbuttons already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And if they move that ugly logo to the back, it would be amazing *_*
But where would they put the finger print scanner though?

kuromusha38 said:
What logic?
I just think 5.7" is too damn small for a phone with a stylus.
Minimum should be 6".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really, when you remember that the note has no on screen buttons getting in the way. A phone still has to be portable you know and unless they're gonna be fitting that screen in the same footprint it may be a little too large IMO.