Wanting an android phone. Buy now or wait? - General Questions and Answers

I've had my iPhone 5s for about 5 months now and oh how I've been missing android. There's no way I'm waiting for my 2 year contract to expire, should I buy an android phone now, or wait for a new one to come out?
If I went with one now, which phone is best?
If I waited, which phone is worth waiting for and how long?
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Galaxy s 4g

So I have a nexus right now and been yearning for something new for a fee months. I am on t mobile and eligible for a new phone. I actually want a dual core phone but I'm feeling so impatient. And if this phone is coming out now I doubt t mobile will release something better for atleast a few more months after that. So I would be able to get it for 150 on contract. I might be able to sell my nexus for like 250 so I wont be spending any money on that upgrade. Now, my other option is getting an atrix unlocked for full retail price of 500 and use it on t mobile. I don't want to leave to t mobile I like it for some reason. Even though I could get 15 percent off any carrier. But that aside what do you guys think. Because another option also is then sell the s 4g and buy the next good phone falt out and I might end up just paying a difference of 200 or something.
I would wait for galaxy s 2. My N1 can wait another 6 month. I am sure it will be by mid summers.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
I can't wait that long damn. I'm desperate already.
Same here, I really want to get another phone on T-Mobile. Personally, I'm not a fan of Samsung, if I had to get one, I'd get the Nexus S (at least the software is managed by Google). Try flashing a custom ROM or something if you haven't already to breath some new life into your phone. I think I'd be worth the wait for something like the LG Optimus 2x/3D or the HTC Pyramid.
Yea I rooted my phone first week I got it. But its been a year already. I would like the optimus but didn't it come out in Europe like a month ago?
Samsung phones look like they were bought from the dollar-store ... just get an HTC/LG
The Galaxy S2 comes out in Europe in February/March. IMO the Atrix will be better, but meh. The LG Optimus 2X also looks very good.
i'm actually sort of in the same boat. i broke my n1 a month ago, and wasnt planning on getting anything new til the optimus or the pyramid.
but now i'm tired of using my HD2 with android, and wanting to get something immediately. cant decide between g2/myt4g or the 4gvibrant. i'm sort of leaning towards the vibrant but the lack of a trackpad or flash is the only thing that is making me hesitate.
i'm also definitely buying the pyramid whenever it comes out, this phone would essentially just be tiding me over till then.
I was in the same boat as well. I wanted to wait for the dual cores before buying a brand new phone so I decided to look for an HD2 to put Android on. It took about two weeks of Craigslist hunting before I got a good deal on one(190 with all the original access. including 16gb sd). I'm running a gingerbread rom on this thing and love it plus it will be pretty easy to get my money back for it in a couple months when the new phones start to hit.
Wait for next generation of nexus...
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Dam I think I should wait a little more. The s4g is such a small update that I would be wasting my eligibility for something like it. And hd2? Naw I put android on it for my gf and I much rather have my nexie.
zhuoju said:
Wait for next generation of nexus...
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL That's the funniest thing Ive read all day!
bump?
10car

Are there people on this site who would only upgrade when their device dies?

A decade or two ago I remembered the only time people upgraded were when their device became non-functional. However these days it seems to me that it is norm to change devices every time a newer version comes out. And this form of consumerism is most pronounced in the mobile phone community. Partly because the mobile phone technology evolves faster than other technology.
I wonder how many people still use their until it dies or at least have a upgrade plan (eg I upgrade phone every 3 years, laptop every 4 years, DSLR every 6 years).
I used to upgrade approx every 1.5 - 2 years when I had a dumbphone My first "smartishphone" was the Nokia e70 that still works and I keep it for backup. I then bought an Xperia X1which I used until it died, although about 6 months prior to battery spazzing out I used it as a work phone as I purchased a HD2 for private use. When it died I used a combo of my e70 and HD2. Then last year in November (I think) I then purchased a EVO 3d which I now use as my personal phone and my HD2 as my work phone, the e70 went back in the drawer for when I need it next.
Cool story huh bro? So I guess the moral of it is that I upgrade whenever I cant fight the itch anymore and I never get rid of my old phones even if they are broken.
I upgraded from a dumbphone to my first smartphone: Nokia E72, but I hated the OS when I saw what Android could do, so I bought a SGS. Which I am willing to use till it dies because of the many ROMS and stuff still being made for it.
I only upgrade when my contract is up. It is a 24 month contract so that is when I will upgrade.
For me it is important to get good hardware at the time of purchase and make sure you can load the latest software on top, because at the end of the day what makes the device tick is the software it has inside it... Thank god for XDA community of hackers
I'm using a like 5 year old deskop running vista. I am going to upgrade that once windows 8 comes out.
I have a transformer that i see no reason to upgrade.
MY first phone was an iPhone 3G and i had that for a year till iOS 4 came and totally killed it. Then I upgraded to an iPhone 4 right after they came out in Canada.
Now this month I am upgrading to a Galaxy Nexus because, well the iphones still good, put siri on it and it does what I want to it but i am just sick and tires of iOS and really want something different.
Point and shoots only get replaced when they are destroyed and TV's only get replaced once they stop working
I'm not a big upgrade-a-holic i let my stuff live a good life and i'm upgrading my my iPhone because I still have 18 months on contract and I do not see me using it for another 18 months... and the sooner i get this one the cheaper my next one will be
I go through a ridiculous amount of phones, 5 last year.
I'd upgrade today from my EVO 3d if the HTC edge was out now I love HTC
sent from a galaxy far far away where I actually understand the mods I do to my phone thank fu*k for devs
i may not always wait for it to die, but i'll go a good amount of time with a phone till I like another one, I had a few nokia phones for years, they were just solid
i hate upgrading simply cuz of the fact that you have to extend your contract. i recently got my htc vivid.. and im planning to stick to it until it dies.
Prior to switching over to WP7, I used to "upgrade" my android device weekly or bi-weekly. I was a Craigslist fiend and owned 67 phones in two years.
While I now own all WP7 devices, my daily driver for 9 months was the Dell Venue Pro and is now the Nokia Lumia 800. With WP7 you get high quality regardless of device so the need for frequent updates is kaput.
springy said:
I only upgrade when my contract is up. It is a 24 month contract so that is when I will upgrade.
For me it is important to get good hardware at the time of purchase and make sure you can load the latest software on top, because at the end of the day what makes the device tick is the software it has inside it... Thank god for XDA community of hackers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I do. I upgrade as soon as AT&T will let me. I hate to extend the contract, but I don't see giving up a cell phone anytime soon, I haven't had a land line for years, so if I upgrade early it is like cutting some time off my contract. On a family plan, paying more than $100 a month they used to let you upgrade the primary line every 12 months (so people could buy each iPhone I think), but that ended this year. So I upgraded to the SGS II, the best device at the time, and still, and it should hold me over until may 2013 when I qualify again. By that time I hope to have LTE in my area too, so I will be able to get a second or third gen LTE phone on AT&T. If something really tickles me before then, I might try the 3 warranty replacement trick to upgrade early, but it'd have to be really good to beat the SGS II.
FinancialWar said:
A decade or two ago I remembered the only time people upgraded were when their device became non-functional. However these days it seems to me that it is norm to change devices every time a newer version comes out. And this form of consumerism is most pronounced in the mobile phone community. Partly because the mobile phone technology evolves faster than other technology.
I wonder how many people still use their until it dies or at least have a upgrade plan (eg I upgrade phone every 3 years, laptop every 4 years, DSLR every 6 years).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I pick a time to upgrade my stuff. I aim for about 3 to 4 years out a desktop, but I will go for top of the range CPU, and add more RAM 9 months after getting it... So i7 2600K right now, and 12 GB RAM. That will see me through to 2014/2015 I hope.
Phone, I will see how it goes. I kept my hero from 18 months of date of purchase, but it was pretty diabolical performance-wise after 9 to 12 months, as other devices raced on. My SGS2 is now 8 months old, I think, yet is probably still the fastest all-round device on the market. So I am looking for AT LEAST 2 years out it, perhaps 2.5 or 3...
I only get a new phone when my old one breaks...I would still be on my droidx if the battery hadn't gone to mush and exploded. Now I can only get to the stock recovery.
But it was too early for an upgrade, but once I was on the phone with verizon for awhile and explained what happened they gave me an early upgrade.
z33dev33l said:
Prior to switching over to WP7, I used to "upgrade" my android device weekly or bi-weekly. I was a Craigslist fiend and owned 67 phones in two years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^ Pretty much this for me too...
The HD7 was the first step to breaking the addiction, and now im planning on keeping my newly acquired HTC TITAN till third gen WP7 phones release. Seriously, the saturation of Android phones are bad for guys like me that like to always be up to date or have the newest thing. No more, WP7 is garanteed support and updates for at least 2 years so I dont have to worry anymore. Plus its great to get away from the Rom addiction and just enjoy the damn phone lol
sEnT fRoM mY >TiTaN(iC)< BeAsT
Yup! it's been three years with this HTC hero, I wonder how much longer it'll last?
Sent from my Hero using xda premium
I would need a very compelling reason to upgrade. My phone dying would be one such reason. The only other would be a new device that ticks all the right boxes for me, and currently the phone i have is the only one that does that.
Carrier upgrades are a no go for me as Vodafone are awful for locking down, branding and delaying updates, even on Nexus devices which should get their updates directly from Google.
Only update when there is something worth updating to. My last phone was the HD2 then went to the captivate but traded it for.the Inspire which is what I had wanted but it hadn't hit yet. Now I will wait for a decent HTC phone to come out that is not just a minor hardware change. Maybe the quadcore will be enuff to make me update but too soon to tell. Inspire still does what I need it to and is fast as hell for me
I've only ever owned 3 smartphones. My first was the iPhone 3GS when it was first released I had it for 1 year and 3 months until it started playing up. I bought the phone outright biggest waste cost me 1G with the Apple care for 2 years. Apple then replaced the phone with a brand new one so I never opened it and sold it on Ebay for $600. I then bought my Desire HD had it for 6 or so months and I couldn't resist the Sensation XE when it was announced so I sold my Desire HD for $322 and bought the Sensation XE for $560 about 3 months ago and I'll have this phone until it dies.
Using my 10 years old pc with windows xp and using till it dies and I change phone when earler dies but I had SE w810 since 2007 and it still works but I wanted something new and small so bought this one and I think I will use it until 2013 summer when contract ends or until his end dont see purpose of spending money on high end phones its better to have psp or psv and small android for everyday using because every day theres new better android on sale but psp will stick few years unchanged and with same performance ofcourse maybe you have lot of money to spend it
Sent from my GT-S5660 using Tapatalk
It all depends on the device, but phones in my house have the shortest upgrade cycle (24-36 months) while laptops and desktops can generally be refreshed with upgraded hardware halfway through their lifecycle lasting 4-5 years.
Tablets look like they are going to age fast...

How often do you change phones?

As a former iphone owner and current galaxy S3 owner. Wondering how often android users buy or switch devices?
As we know with Apple we only update every two years. Seems like androids have a new king every few months. So how often for everyone?
I usually change on a year, Last year I had a Galaxy mini, Today I have Galaxy Gio
I think I will buy Galaxy S2 in next year
I change whenever I feel like my phone is starting to suck. I started using Android late in the game, so my transitions went like this.
Got first Android, 7 months later gets a better one, and I recently bought my third main phone after about 1 and a half months of using my second.
So I changed rapidly last time, but my first to second transition took more than half a year
Sent from my LG-C800 using xda premium
I just change my phones whenever I see a new one that I want, which is significantly better than my previous one.
Last year I had an X10 mini pro for about 5 months until the Xperia S came out. I've still got the Xperia S now but I got an S2 last month aswell. I probably won't upgrade until a new OS comes out, considering both of my phones will be getting JB.
Sent from Stephen Hawking's rooted wheelchair
I keep mine longer than most apparently.
asr10user said:
As a former iphone owner and current galaxy S3 owner. Wondering how often android users buy or switch devices?
As we know with Apple we only update every two years. Seems like androids have a new king every few months. So how often for everyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am still using my Motorola Droid 2 that I have had for over a year and a half. It still does everything I need it to do. In my opinion, the question will be whether or not you feel the need to always have the latest and greatest gadget. I don't, obviously. LOL.
There will always be newer, nicer phones coming out than the one you have, especially since there are multiple manufacturers battling for your Android business, and I'm just not inclined to try to keep up.
2-3 years for me ... Using HTC One X with ARHD 9.3.1 haha won't change that fast XD
i only buy the new phone only until the now-using phone is broken, or i will never drop it away.
Usually every 2 years when my phone contract expires.
So it costs me a new device (like S3) a copayment about 50 € .... thats OK.
2-3 years for me :good:
Every year. I have it down to a science. Get first phone at a discount on contract. Wait a year and sell that phone for $200-$300. Come out of pocket $200 for a new phone. Wait another year and get another phone on contract. No point in me going to prepaid...I get such good discounts on T-mobile that it is completely worth me keeping my contract.
I got my first phone in 1998 and since then I'm on my 11th phone. 11 phones in 14 years. I'll try to use this atleast for 2 years. But you never know.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
As long as I have money enough to buy a new one
A year and a half at the very least. And depends on new phones that I might like.
Late 2010 I bought my first phone (Satio & it's Symbian) due to some short circuit around August 2011, I decided to get a new one which is Galaxy S Plus that I've been using since September 2011 till now.
Sent from my GT-i9001 using xda premium
Nexus one
Trying to change my phone now but dont see my galaxy nexus dying anytime soon it still runs ics smooth as butter
I only change phones whenever my current phone gets broken or stolen. Otherwise, I have no reason to change it.
About once a year just to keep up with the latest tech and not get bored of a phone.
Hopefully the next HTC flagship / Nexus
1ST OG Droid
2nd incredible
3rd thunderbolt
4th incredible 2
5th Rezound
6th charge
Three of which have been repurposed as home modem, work modem, and 2 damn fresh Mp3 players.
Rezound is what I use for carry everywhere...and until it disintegrates or a four core , 2 gig Ram, no bigger than the thunderbolt comes out....Rezound it will be.
}}} my BUSINESS with Nils P was a REZOUNDing success on the ICS....uhmm 2.3 {{{
I buy 400$ phones every year sometimes 2 years
I don't change phone so often, just in case when i need it.
1st Samsung Galaxy 5 (DIED)
2nd Samsung Galaxy Mini (current)
3rd HTC One V (plan)
4th Sony Xperia P (plan)
Sent from Lil'G GT-S5570
Press "Thanks" if I'm helping you
Everytime I see a phone that is slightly better ( read better performance) I want to buy it.. It`s just an impuls. I have to withold me everytime when i`m in a electronic store / phone shop to NOT to buy a new phone. Because I actually can`t afford it

[Q] Phone upgrades

So, my upgrade is still a year out. I'm currently on an iPhone 4, but I'm thinking about going with an Android device for my next phone. I'm on VZW. My friend keeps telling me to get a Motorola X, but if that comes out May of this year, will there be something more "worth it" come March of next year? Will the Motorola X even get a VZW flavor? What do you guys think?
I don't think it's really possible to know what will be on the market a year or so from now. I'd just wait and see.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Definitely wait, there will be some amazing new developments a year from now.

[Q] Anyone else angry about the M9 already on it's way?

I, for one, am pissed. I just got into another 2 year deal to get this phone and they are talking about it's replacement already. They should have made it known, so people could decide themselves if they want to wait.
I'm not sure where you've been but in today's smartphone market, flagship devices are lucky to last 4-6 months before they are dated. The 2 year plan is not feasible for keeping the latest smartphone.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
sensatti said:
I'm not sure where you've been but in today's smartphone market, flagship devices are lucky to last 4-6 months before they are dated. The 2 year plan is not feasible for keeping the latest smartphone.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
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Transparency is all I'm asking. If the phone is coming out in 2-3 months, then they already are past the planning stage and may already be in the manufacturing stage. Either way, I think it would be decent of them to layout the long term. Don't know where you are but in America these phones are expensive and tied to expensive carriers, So I would like to know all my options if the ,manufacturer already knows they're putting them out.
If that's true I'm not really mad. The way I see it is that with such a short time between releases the M9 will be only a slight improvement at most.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Free mobile app
Where are you seeing information about the M9?
I don't think they need to disclose anything... There will always be a newer phone around the corner.
You know that without them announcing anything... And if you are on a 2 year contract, what is the difference if a new one comes out 6 months later, or a year later. Changes nothing.
And if you are going to play the waiting game for the next 'big thing' you'll always be waiting, as there is always a next big thing coming...
The only thing I have read about an "M9" is that they are cancelling the M8 Prime to focus on the M9 which will be released in Q1 2015......... right on schedule.
So enjoy your M8......... I know i am.
If you wait for the M9 you might as well wait for the M10. You'll only have the latest and greatest for a month or two with all the flagship phones available.
I believe I'm in the Verizon forum and if so they have the Next program. If u got it when this phone came out they had a special which basically every month what Next costs you is credited back to you so you have the Next program free! New phone can come out tomorrow for all I care and I can trade my phone in for it with $0 out of pocket. A beautiful thing for the OCD people that want the latest and greatest . Those not interested there is the standard 2yr contract plan for phones. Easy two choices so choose wisely . Don't blame the cellphone company for your choices on how u will upgrade. They have to keep up with the times to stay in business, the user doesn't have to, it's a choice.
deeznuts said:
I believe I'm in the Verizon forum and if so they have the Next program. If u got it when this phone came out they had a special which basically every month what Next costs you is credited back to you so you have the Next program free! New phone can come out tomorrow for all I care and I can trade my phone in for it with $0 out of pocket. A beautiful thing for the OCD people that want the latest and greatest . Those not interested there is the standard 2yr contract plan for phones. Easy two choices so choose wisely . Don't blame the cellphone company for your choices on how u will upgrade. They have to keep up with the times to stay in business, the user doesn't have to, it's a choice.
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Buy a phone on contract, root it (if possible) keep it in mint condition. If one day it becomes un rootable sell it as mint rooted and dance in the profit. Buy new phone off contract. Rinse. Repeat.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
wtoj34 said:
Buy a phone on contract, root it (if possible) keep it in mint condition. If one day it becomes un rootable sell it as mint rooted and dance in the profit. Buy new phone off contract. Rinse. Repeat.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
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True but unless u find a real dummy ur never gonna get back what u paid. Still going to pay at least $100 out of pocket after selling 8-14 month old device. How much does an HTC One X+ go for today compare to when it came out? Example
I'd rather pay $0 out of pocket and upgrade when I want to and still pay only $160/month for two lines with 10gb of shared data. Just need to turn s on, unroot, fix tampered banner, flash stock Rom and return device. No one knows the better .
deeznuts said:
True but unless u find a real dummy ur never gonna get back what u paid. Still going to pay at least $100 out of pocket after selling 8-14 month old device. How much does an HTC One X+ go for today compare to when it came out? Example
I'd rather pay $0 out of pocket and upgrade when I want to and still pay only $160/month for two lines with 10gb of shared data. Just need to turn s on, unroot, fix tampered banner, flash stock Rom and return device. No one knows the better .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True true. The example I use for my case though would have to be the note 2. Once that got locked up on an OTA it started selling like hot cakes. 100-150$ for a new phone is perfectly acceptable for me though. I am losing some money but the enjoyment from the phone is worth it :good:
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
The day you buy a phone is the day it's old. These guys have at least two models when they release the "current"phone. They pay for the new phones research costs.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
wtoj34 said:
Buy a phone on contract, root it (if possible) keep it in mint condition. If one day it becomes un rootable sell it as mint rooted and dance in the profit. Buy new phone off contract. Rinse. Repeat.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
+1
I did this to get the DNA, SG3, SG4, M7, bought M8 on contract, still have mint M7 and mint M8 and those will be sold to fund next flagship device of my choosing to buy off contract until I have my contract ready, or a new phone is out.
Personally, for me. I think I might deviate away from the HTC One series devices unless they make some serious design changes which I do not see. I don't truly have a need for the boomsound speakers and would give those up for a regular phone speaker and a smaller phone overall. (Just imagine the M8 without the top and bottom speakers, jeez, or even without the wasted htc logo bar) - sorry for off topic.
Dude, this is HTC WAY OF OPERATING. more than the others. I know, I was a huge HTC fanboy. I bought the Sensation, then 3 months in they announce Amaze...bought the One X only to hear DNA. I THINK THEY DEVELOP TWO at a time. I left for LG with the Nexus 4 then the G2, but get this, while waiting for the G3 I bought the M8 cause I couldn't wait any longer.
I'm big enough to say NO MATTER WHAT A COMPANY DOES WITH RELEASES I'M GONNA *****....I have a problem
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I don't get it man. There are talks about the m9 but that doesn't mean that it's going to be released soon. The earliest would be around January. Talks are just talks and they're more than likely leaks.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
Does the M9 you speak of make your current phone any less usable? I dont understand this way of thinking. You could wait for this new phone but then again you might as well just keep waiting from now on because there's always something better down the line. Enjoy what you have.
Samsung, HTC, and Apple all release one phone a year in its line (ex Galaxy S). So the M9 in Q1 of 2015 is right on schedule. You're mad about that? I bet the iPhone 7 will be out summer 2015... Doesn't mean people won't buy the 6 this summer.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Not mad at all. Such is life in this fast-paced world of technology.
the only thing i am angry about is the stupid black htc bar what a waste of real estate. I do witsh his thing had a 5.3 inch screen. then it would be perfect. its super fast no lag and it looks cool. o ya and it has s-off

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