[Q] Buying advice: Samsung GS4 or S5? - Samsung Galaxy S (4G Model)

I am about to get a new phone (now because I cracked the screen on my LG E980...) namely to have a better experience in customizing, etc.
I am aware that the S5 has somewhat better performance than the S4, but I am more interested in the options for ROM development and customize-ability. First off, what is the appropriate model name for the S4? (I'm on AT&T) Wondering this for compatibility purposes.. Also are there any software updates I should avoid? Will I need to go back to any old firmware/software version(s) to have better luck rotting or installing ROMs/recoveries?
Any insight appreciated, thanks!

frankp124 said:
I am about to get a new phone (now because I cracked the screen on my LG E980...) namely to have a better experience in customizing, etc.
I am aware that the S5 has somewhat better performance than the S4, but I am more interested in the options for ROM development and customize-ability. First off, what is the appropriate model name for the S4? (I'm on AT&T) Wondering this for compatibility purposes.. Also are there any software updates I should avoid? Will I need to go back to any old firmware/software version(s) to have better luck rotting or installing ROMs/recoveries?
Any insight appreciated, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This forum is for the 2011 SGH-T959V, you're looking for these forums:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att
or
http://forum.xda-developers.com/att-galaxy-s5

I have both and...
frankp124 said:
I am about to get a new phone (now because I cracked the screen on my LG E980...) namely to have a better experience in customizing, etc.
I am aware that the S5 has somewhat better performance than the S4, but I am more interested in the options for ROM development and customize-ability. First off, what is the appropriate model name for the S4? (I'm on AT&T) Wondering this for compatibility purposes.. Also are there any software updates I should avoid? Will I need to go back to any old firmware/software version(s) to have better luck rotting or installing ROMs/recoveries?
Any insight appreciated, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had an s3 t999 and broke the screen. Loved it! Stable ROMs galore!
I went out and went to the S5 g900T! I love AOSP ROMs and there are no stable AOSP roms. I have trouble getting text messages. Even after i updated bootloader modem. I've tried every rom. Mabye in a few months I will like it
BUT
After having it for about 4 months I just went out 3 days ago and purchased an S4 M919 aand so far I love it. Works greeat and there are a ton of ROMs.
I like checking every ROM out so I might not be the best person to ask because I didnt spend a lot of time on the stock ROMs.

Related

A few questions that I am concerned

Hi Guys, I am planning to buy this phone, I am from Mexico and before I make the purchase I have a few questions and since I have been around with the HD2 for about a year now, I don't know anything related this one.
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s_ii_skyrocket_i727-4303.php
- Is there as much development for this specific model as the vanilla S2 one?
- I saw in a sticky thread that there is a way to unlock a S2 with an app, is it possible with this model?
- Since I will be using it in Mexico (Telcel carrier, GSM) I won't receive the ICS update right? but I guess I will be able to root it and then upgrade it following a guide in the Android development subforum?
- Does anyone tested the MHL (HDMI adapter) with this specific model or at least with the vanilla S2? How is it working so far?
- What are your thoughts overall about this phone?
Thanks guys, I know these are common questions but after reading some posts I would like some fresh ideas.
marcosxd said:
Hi Guys, I am planning to buy this phone, I am from Mexico and before I make the purchase I have a few questions and since I have been around with the HD2 for about a year now, I don't know anything related this one.
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s_ii_skyrocket_i727-4303.php
- Is there as much development for this specific model as the vanilla S2 one? The phone is relatively new and the AOSP hasn't been released yet, so it's only going to get better.
- I saw in a sticky thread that there is a way to unlock a S2 with an app, is it possible with this model?There's multiple ways to unlock it as you can see in the development thread. I used the One Click Root method on my phone and it worked perfectly
- Since I will be using it in Mexico (Telcel carrier, GSM) I won't receive the ICS update right? but I guess I will be able to root it and then upgrade it following a guide in the Android development subforum? I don't see why you shouldn't receive the ICS update, but yeah if you don't you can install a custom version instead.
- Does anyone tested the MHL (HDMI adapter) with this specific model or at least with the vanilla S2? How is it working so far? Can't speak to this yet.
- What are your thoughts overall about this phone? Very good and will probably only get better once ICS is released and LTE is deployed more. Screen isn't the best ever (not up to Galaxy Nexus level) but definitely acceptable
Thanks guys, I know these are common questions but after reading some posts I would like some fresh ideas.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please see above comments
dvandam said:
Please see above comments
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your quick answers!
But do you recommend me to get the Skyrocket better than the vanilla SG2?
I do recommend it over the van. SG2. Better features. The screen IMO is perfect for a phone. One thing you have to consider is the better the screen the more power it's going to consume. I feel the screen was perfect for this phone. Take the LG Nitro HD for example it has an AH-IPS display. Battery only lasts 4-6 hrs max. I'm expecting to see official support for CM9 after one of the carriers drop a ICS rom for this phone (or a close sister phone from like TMobile). Once CM9 is out for this phone that's all I'll use.

[Q] VZW SCH-i925 stock rooted > 4.1.2 ?

I have been relatively happy running on Stock Rooted 4.1.2 on my (2012) Verizon GN 10.1 (SCH-i925) for a while now. This device, unfortunately didn't get much love due to the very few people that bought it. After having a couple of Verizon LTE tablets I've about decided it's not worth buying from Verizon since you get almost completely different hardware from the rest of the world. In any case I digress.
What I want to know with 4.3 or is it 4.4 for these tablets showing up is anyone working on a stock rom higher than 4.1.x? I like CM and all that for about anything except a Note tablet. Unless something's changed since last time I looked for this there is no way to get the samsung features and frameworks in there to do multi screen etc on the CM roms right? Anyone out there still wanting to breathe some more life into these VZW tablets now that the new ones are out?
ddickenson said:
I have been relatively happy running on Stock Rooted 4.1.2 on my (2012) Verizon GN 10.1 (SCH-i925) for a while now. This device, unfortunately didn't get much love due to the very few people that bought it. After having a couple of Verizon LTE tablets I've about decided it's not worth buying from Verizon since you get almost completely different hardware from the rest of the world. In any case I digress.
What I want to know with 4.3 or is it 4.4 for these tablets showing up is anyone working on a stock rom higher than 4.1.x? I like CM and all that for about anything except a Note tablet. Unless something's changed since last time I looked for this there is no way to get the samsung features and frameworks in there to do multi screen etc on the CM roms right? Anyone out there still wanting to breathe some more life into these VZW tablets now that the new ones are out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just curious, but how did you get it rooted? There is no known Root method on 4.1.2, at least that I know of.
It's been quite a while but if I'm not mistaken I was on an earlier version and then there was some upgrade path to keep root. Found it here on xda

Galaxy S vs HTC HD2 - the return

NOTE: I have read the older threads HD2 vs Galaxy S, but they're from the very beginnings of the two and, while I still believe some of the comments are fair enough, they refer to other times.
Ok, so here's the background: I own a Galaxy S (GT-i9000) and I am not satisfied at all with it. Whatever Android version I'll flash on it, it does always strike back with some annoying bugs. Stock GB 2.3.6 works but many apps I have will not go along with it; CM9 (ICS 4.0.4) works, but hangs too often. CM10 (both JB 4.1.2 and 4.2.1) for some reason is so slow I can't even keep it for a day-to-day use, and it crashes frequently with no apparent reason. Finally I ended up using a CM11 nightly (KK 4.4.2), and seems to work, I'm still testing it.
But the point is I can't keep going on like this. It's more than a year that I don't have a stable configuration on the phone and I keep flashing ROMs and installing apps over and over every two weeks or so, every time going through all the settings again and again, restoring backing up and restoring... I'm just tired of it all!
Today, good news: A friend gifted me his HTC HD2 because he messed up with the software and the phone wasn't working anymore. I managed to flash the original WM6.5 OS and I found out that the touchscreen wouldn't respond to any kind of touches -> most probable cause, as discovered from searches, is the touchscreen controller which got broken. A touchscreen (only) would cost me around 25€ (around 35$ USD) excluded the costs of the actual replacing job. Not a very big deal, I may afford that.
I haven't tried an Android OS on the HD2 (even if wanted, I couldn't with a broken touch) but I see there are many custom ROMs available, and this is nice. Hardware differences seem to be not too big and honestly I like very much the HD2 design and the slightly heavy feel of it in my hand (off topic: what's all this thing about making phones light-weight? it's not like people would love to have a piece of paper in hand instead of a phone ). The Galaxy S is just awful from this point of view and as I said before, I am not satisfied at all with it.
The big question: is it worth spending money on the HD2, so I could replace my Galaxy S (possibly sell it)? Or should I keep the Galaxy S? When replying with your opinion on which should I keep, please add your reasons for suggesting such. And before you ask, yes, I have a whole life (apps) on android that I need so I would be using Android on the HD2. Thank you very much in advance!
Hello,
There are 3 threads devoted to discussions about devices, please repost your question in one of these three threads: The what should I buy thread or the The Device Suggestion Thread or the The Device Comparison Thread.
Thanks!

Help me pick my next Slim LP phone

Hello Slim ROM fans. I've got a tough choice to make. I currently have a Galaxy S3 (i747m) which is running Slim LP 5.1.1 beautifully. I love this ROM. I recently flashed the S3 back to the stock touchwiz and instantly missed the Slim ROM. It has become a major factor in the purchase of my next phone.
Anyways, my contract has expired and I figure that since I am going to keep the same plan that my last contract had, I might as well resign and get a cheap / free upgrade to a new phone. My biggest problem is which phone to pick...and most importantly, make sure there is a Slim LP ROM for it...or at least in the works. I have tried Slim Kat and Bean but I prefer LP. Also, installing Kat or Bean is difficult now because any new phone comes pre-loaded with the latest bootloaders which apparently will not boot the older versions of Android, so I'm pretty much stuck with Slim LP....not that I mind tho. So here are my choices.
Galaxy S4 (i337m)
Galaxy S5 (not sure which model exactly, but its from Fido so Canadian version Im sure)
LG G3 (D852)
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua (unknown model)
So what do you all think? I am biased towards the Samsungs for the better contrast screens (super AMOLED) and extra buttons so keep that in mind.
Wow, no thoughts on this eh?
Nexus line maybe a good line to follow
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk
You have to be careful when buying a carrier branded phone because they often come with locked bootloaders which can be difficult to unlock, if an exploit even exists. You're best bet is pay the extra money and get a dev edition device that has an easily unlockable bootloader.
Interesting post and way to choose your next phone.
But I totally understand.
The last couple phones I chose, the Slim was no longer being developed for.
And with Slim being my favorite base ROM, upon which several other VERY cool ROM's are based, it meant my phones were very limited in ROM choices.
After some [very] quick research, it seems Slim has been on the down-low for awhile now and may still not be developing much until after Marshmallow hits.
So, as mentioned above, a Nexus device is likely your best bet.
And if you're not on T-Mobile or Sprint, then totally forget about Samsung. Because AT&T and Verizon Samsung are totally screwed with the locked bootloaders.
One phone to keep an eye on is the relatively new unlocked (for all carriers) Motorola Moto X Pure 5.7" device.
As of yet, there are no ROM's. But development for prior generations appears to have been pretty decent. And this phone will have an unlocked bootloader on all carriers.

Easiest Samsung Phone to work with

I am a relative noob and currently have a Galaxy S4 i9500 which I have successfully flashed with the Halcyon Deodexed rom... however it's still an older phone and is slow so I am thinking about a replacement. However there are so many Samsung phones to choose from, so my question is, which Samsung phone from the active range is fast and easiest to get a reliable debloated, deodexed, rooted rom that can have xposed installed? (similar to Halcyon on i9500?)
I'm not concerned with warranty, for me the availability of workable recovery and reliable roms with good performance is the most important.
Please let me have constructive suggestions.
Thanks,
If you're interested on Touchwiz Custom ROMSs, S6 is a good device. Otherwise, I suggest you to buy another phone.
Inelukis said:
If you're interested on Touchwiz Custom ROMSs, S6 is a good device. Otherwise, I suggest you to buy another phone.
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Click to collapse
It's the "other phone" that's the burning question..... Samsung, HTC, Xiaomi, which is easiest?
Looking forward hopefully to some suggestions..
swahull said:
It's the "other phone" that's the burning question..... Samsung, HTC, Xiaomi, which is easiest?
Looking forward hopefully to some suggestions..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you should look which has the largest development community. You can easily check the number of threads and posts in various phone sections. But over the years Samsung phones have had lots of support even with exynos processor difficulties. SO I suggest to go for a S6. Personally I have a LG G4 but it runs so good that I don't think about root or custom roms.
Thanks
ciprigeorgiu said:
I think you should look which has the largest development community. You can easily check the number of threads and posts in various phone sections. But over the years Samsung phones have had lots of support even with exynos processor difficulties. SO I suggest to go for a S6. Personally I have a LG G4 but it runs so good that I don't think about root or custom roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the constructive suggestion...
I guess my options are Samsung, HTC, Huawai, Xiaomi, but all have their issues I guess, maybe I'll just stick with the idea of upgrading to an S6
swahull said:
Thanks for the constructive suggestion...
I guess my options are Samsung, HTC, Huawai, Xiaomi, but all have their issues I guess, maybe I'll just stick with the idea of upgrading to an S6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus devices are easiest to flash roms! LG devices get great support as well! The S6 has great support, but due to lack of exynos code which will never be released, will never have a stable rom!
Huawei which use their own cpu have bad support. Basically snapdragon devices have stable custom roms! Sony and HTC have excellent support as well.
But fortunately I like the stock S6 which has great multitasking features and camera processing.

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