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[Q] Nexus 5 or S4?

I know people may have asked this same question before but I wanted to get some personal opinions.
I am in UK and I can get galaxy s4(16gb) or Nexus 5 at almost same price(32gb). I am aware of the specs of each of the phone.
I like the clean and fast ui of nexus but I can always install a custom rom on s4 to do the same. I like the clean look and feel of the nexus hardware over s4 but s4 has few perks such as the IR blaster and expandable memory card slot and removable battery which I can replace for a bigger battery and also a 13mp camera.(I am an architecture student so I take a lot of pics). I use to have galaxy note 2 and it had a good battery life and good speaker which I have heard is the main problem with nexus 5.
What do you think, should I choose s4 or nexus 5
Thank you

thestar1992 said:
I know people may have asked this same question before but I wanted to get some personal opinions.
I am in UK and I can get galaxy s4(16gb) or Nexus 5 at almost same price(32gb). I am aware of the specs of each of the phone.
I like the clean and fast ui of nexus but I can always install a custom rom on s4 to do the same. I like the clean look and feel of the nexus hardware over s4 but s4 has few perks such as the IR blaster and expandable memory card slot and removable battery which I can replace for a bigger battery and also a 13mp camera.(I am an architecture student so I take a lot of pics). I use to have galaxy note 2 and it had a good battery life and good speaker which I have heard is the main problem with nexus 5.
What do you think, should I choose s4 or nexus 5
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know how easy it is these days to flash to Samsung phones. Binary counters and what not.
Plus they really pissed me off by not open sourcing their drivers in my Note 1 days.
No ICS buttery smooth experience on CM9 there. And the bloat Samsung packages with their roms is just horrible.
IR blaster is a gimmick, just as a lot of other stuff it has. I wouldn't let that weigh in too much.
The camera is way better though. But I must say if you are going to take architectural pictures the N5 will not disappoint.
Moving subject are, even after the update, hit or miss. But still shots of buildings will look great.
Speaker on the N5 is no problem for me, although I only use it for YouTube videos.
Never used it for voice calls, but I don't expect good quality sound out of any phones speaker.
I would check how easy it is to install CM on the S4. It's probably easy given there is Google Play Edition.
For me physical buttons below the screen are a huge fail. And I will never buy another device that has them.
For the same price, it's a difficult decision. I love the N5 but I think the S4 build quality is a little bit better.

thestar1992 said:
I know people may have asked this same question before but I wanted to get some personal opinions.
I am in UK and I can get galaxy s4(16gb) or Nexus 5 at almost same price(32gb). I am aware of the specs of each of the phone.
I like the clean and fast ui of nexus but I can always install a custom rom on s4 to do the same. I like the clean look and feel of the nexus hardware over s4 but s4 has few perks such as the IR blaster and expandable memory card slot and removable battery which I can replace for a bigger battery and also a 13mp camera.(I am an architecture student so I take a lot of pics). I use to have galaxy note 2 and it had a good battery life and good speaker which I have heard is the main problem with nexus 5.
What do you think, should I choose s4 or nexus 5
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I used to have a galaxy S4, it was an awesome phone but I switched to N5 and I'm very satisfied with it.
Like you said, N5 has a clean and fast ui compared to S4. Of course you can always have custom roms for that, but all custom AOSP based roms I tried had problems with the camera, especially HDR. So if you want to keep all features and camera quality, you will have to stay on stock ROM or touchwizz base roms, which I personnaly don't like because it isn't as fluid and snappy as AOSP base roms.
Concerning the battery, I have better battery time with the N5 even though it has a 2300mah (vs 2600mah for the S4). But both phones would last a day without charging.
So I would advise you to buy the N5 because the difference between 8 and 13mpx pictures is not huge
The only thing I miss from S4 is the sd card slot !
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

IMO nexus 5 all the way. First it's generally cheaper. Second, it's a true developer device meaning it's unlocked in all possible ways(except hardware )

benfiller said:
Hi, I used to have a galaxy S4, it was an awesome phone but I switched to N5 and I'm very satisfied with it.
Like you said, N5 has a clean and fast ui compared to S4. Of course you can always have custom roms for that, but all custom AOSP based roms I tried had problems with the camera, especially HDR. So if you want to keep all features and camera quality, you will have to stay on stock ROM or touchwizz base roms, which I personnaly don't like because it isn't as fluid and snappy as AOSP base roms.
Concerning the battery, I have better battery time with the N5 even though it has a 2300mah (vs 2600mah for the S4). But both phones would last a day without charging.
So I would advise you to buy the N5 because the difference between 8 and 13mpx pictures is not huge
The only thing I miss from S4 is the sd card slot !
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did see a review that said that the N5 did quite a bit better on battery than the S4. Maybe Anandtech

Former S4 user here, really glad I made the switch to the N5. The only thing I miss is the SD card slot. I still wish I could use my 64gb card that is currently just sitting idle. Other than that, the N5 is better in every way.
A big part of the reason I switched is because of all the Knox crap that Samsung is installing on their phones now. It makes the whole rooting/flashing process a much bigger pain in the a$$. Plus, the battery life on my N5 has been at least as good as the S4, if not better. I would definitely advise you to go with the N5.

Son in law has the s4.. I have to admit the screen made me say 'wow'.. camera is also awesome
If you can live with the s600 chip set rather than the 800, I'd say get the s4, as long as it's the 9505 version you can put the gpe edition software on it if that's a concern.

meangreenie said:
Son in law has the s4.. I have to admit the screen made me say 'wow'.. camera is also awesome
If you can live with the s600 chip set rather than the 800, I'd say get the s4, as long as it's the 9505 version you can put the gpe edition software on it if that's a concern.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Over saturated colours tend to do that at first glance. If you prefer accurate colours however, it's Nexus 5 all the way. Due to calibrating their screens Google has even given Apple a run for their money in this department.

I went from an S4 to a Nexus 5 and haven't looked back. If you care at all about modding, get the Nexus 5. Samsung makes modding intentionally difficult by locking down the bootloader, and if you happen to screw something up, reflashing the factory firmware requires making a trip to a 'Samsung Experience Shop'. Samsung could easily make their bootloader unlockable, and they could release flashable firmware but they choose not to in order to discourage tinkering and modding. Their loss, as far as I'm concerned they may as well be Apple. With an S4, you're stuck with Touchwiz and a bunch of half-baked, gimmicky features that don't even work. If you really don't want to get the Nexus 5 and you must get a carrier phone, consider the Moto X. At least with the Moto X you get a stock Android user experience and you have the ability to mod.

After using a friend's S4 I have to say I can never use a galaxy phone again. The horribly placed home button and the amoled screen makes me mad. Plus the amoled screen makes everything look almost fake, I prefer accurate colors.

Imho the only phone worth getting over the n5 is the z1. Im a former s3 user and have to say, I could never go back to samsung....
If you do get an s4, ensure its not the exynos version.
Megapixels don't make for a better picture btw
-----------------------
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i sold my htc one for the galaxy s4.. then sold my s4 for the nexus 5.. couldnt be happier.. my fav phone i ever owned

Here I have a S4, note 3 and the Nexus 5.
I bought the Nexus the last because I was bored of all the bloatware from Samsung...
Both Samsung got an awesome camera while the N5 is crap. But I don't really care since I don't take picture. If I need to picture I'll use my Canon.
The Nexus is way more fun to use everyday and it doesn't feel that cheap vs these 700-800$ device.
For the price, you can't go wrong
Sent from my SM-N900 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

rootSU said:
Imho the only phone worth getting over the n5 is the z1. Im a former s3 user and have to say, I could never go back to samsung....
If you do get an s4, ensure its not the exynos version.
Megapixels don't make for a better picture btw
-----------------------
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I do NOT reply to support queries over PM. Please keep support queries to the Q&A section, so that others may benefit
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Took the words right out of my mouth and I had the S4 (octa-lag version). Even with kernel guru Andrei_Lux, it still lagged. It was one of the more disappointing phones I've had in a while. Won't go Samsung again for a long time.
I have both the N5 and Z1 and while I love the N5, the Z1 is better in a number of respects. If i had to chose just one it would be the Z1. for business reasons I require two devices so thankfully i don't have to make choice but I agree with your statement

Former S4 owner --> now N5 Owner.
If you can get an S4 that supports unlocking the boot loader (US AT&T doesn't for example) then I would still consider it a worth while device. Samsung piles on a ton of garbage into the ROM, but as long as you disable the bloat or go with a debated ROM as you mentioned then I had very few complaints. The camera was solid, you can purchase a cheap Qi receiver from Ebay and the battery was definitely better for me.
I still prefer the N5 though. The image stabilization on the camera has made for better low light performance and honestly the camera is still pretty good compared to the S4. The N5 is definitely faster and feels a bit better in the hand. It's not Moto X comfortable, but still really good.
Honestly, it's one of those choices that only you can make. I personally never got really, astonishingly good pictures with the S4 but I think I've gotten decent ones with the N5 so I don't feel like I've lost anything. Battery can be solved with something like the Powerskin Pop'n which I love, and I've yet to feel cramped with the built in 32GB of storage. For me it really boiled down to Samsung's locked boot loaders and slow updates.

I just last week enjoyed destroying my S4 because of a locked bootloader and am using my S2 till I can get the Nexus 5.this phone from all I have read about is super sweet.
Sent from my SGH-i777 using Tapatalk

thestar1992 said:
I know people may have asked this same question before but I wanted to get some personal opinions.
I am in UK and I can get galaxy s4(16gb) or Nexus 5 at almost same price(32gb). I am aware of the specs of each of the phone.
I like the clean and fast ui of nexus but I can always install a custom rom on s4 to do the same. I like the clean look and feel of the nexus hardware over s4 but s4 has few perks such as the IR blaster and expandable memory card slot and removable battery which I can replace for a bigger battery and also a 13mp camera.(I am an architecture student so I take a lot of pics). I use to have galaxy note 2 and it had a good battery life and good speaker which I have heard is the main problem with nexus 5.
What do you think, should I choose s4 or nexus 5
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If u are architecture student I will suggest try Note 3 in store before decide, spl look Use of S pen.

<3 my nexus 5. Best device I've ever owned, would love to get another.

thestar1992 said:
...What do you think, should I choose s4 or nexus 5...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've come to realize that the only way to determine whether or not you like a phone is to try it out. I have a second line on my T-Mobile account that I use to test new devices. Yes, it's an extra $30/mo, and, there's the restocking fees, but, all in all, it's a very cheap hobby. Compared to golf, for example. (At least that's what I'm always telling my wife)
Sent from my Nexus 5

rootSU said:
Imho the only phone worth getting over the n5 is the z1. Im a former s3 user and have to say, I could never go back to samsung....
If you do get an s4, ensure its not the exynos version.
Megapixels don't make for a better picture btw
-----------------------
Sent via tapatalk.
I do NOT reply to support queries over PM. Please keep support queries to the Q&A section, so that others may benefit
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Click to collapse
I share the same sentiment, I'm also a former s3 user and I gotta say Samsung still has a bad taste on my mouth. If EVER I'm getting back to Samsung I won't touch any Exynos version of it. Nexus 5 all the way! But if you want Samsung, get the Note 3 Snapdragon 800.
Just my 2 cents

Recommend the G pro 2? Would you buy again? What's to know?

I've kept my eye on the G pro 2 for a while (was about to get the original O G pro, but waited for this to come out). So I'm well aware of the specs, features, reviews, etc. But what I want to know is a real world user's opinion of the device.
Is the phone pretty decent? Any frustrations or quirks to know before trying to get one?
Key questions:
*How is the Mic/voice quality? (sending and receiving during a voice call)
*How is the battery life(I know it depends on usage and habits of the user, but just overall, how would you rate it personally, compared to other current/comparable Android phones)?
*Is it relatively stable and responsive?
*What bothers you about this phone?
*Would you buy it again if you were in the market for a new phone right now?(tells me that you like the phone and are overall happy with it)
I plan on getting a F350(a bit confused with the S/L/etc. acronym endings, can any one shed light?) I want to use it on at&t's network. On paper, and seeing professional reviews, the G pro 2 seems like my phone (1080p 5.9" screen, expandable memory via microsdhc, user replaceable battery, decent camera, etc.) But I want to know, if in practice, the phone is stable/frustration free(relatively speaking), decent real world battery life (if it's competent/comparable at least.. ), hoping that this is not one of those, "you have to root it and install a custom rom in order for this phone to be bearable"- type thing.
My other considerable is the Sony Xperia Z2 (prices are right, even though the screen is smaller and the battery isn't "replaceable"). I didn't want the Samsung Galaxy series due to the smaller screens and bloatware they put on there(note's a great series, but simlar.. bloatware, plus really expensive).
Thanks! I appreciate any input!

these are my questions too..

I came from a Samsung S3 (running CM).
first impressions were: Nice clean looks and lines, it's big (but it's not unwieldy). my wife has a Note 3 and it's about the same. the curve along the back sides makes it more comfortable to hold. Obviously, it's a heavier phone due to size, so your hand might get tired if you're one to use your phone lying down or something.
Screen is fantastic. I have no problems with colour issues with the screen and it's bright enough for me, even outdoors.
Battery life is good. standby can last more than a day. in usage, i was a bit busy yesterday and didn't use it too much, but from 0700 to 2300, i had 63% before i plugged it in. on a more typical day, I'd probably have around 40%. mainly a mixture of whatsapp, a few blogs, games and some TV show watching at lunch.
Camera is decent and acceptable auto focus speed. not a lot of bloatware.
I'm running 10e firmware due to bugs in 10f and waiting for lollipop. 10e is stable. not had problems with it.
problems: it's not widely available and the user base is small. so don't expect any fancy mods/firmwares or anything like that. as such, there's not a lot of accessories for it either outside of LG's own stuff.
My friend has the Z2 (not looked, but isn't the Z3 pricing nearly the same now?), and his camera is better and the battery life is longer due to Sony's Stamina software. display is about the same. If you want a big, stock phone, the LG is great. if you want to play around and like to customise your phone, then i'd go with the Sony.

Thanks for your input Ray-Lee .
I'm on the fence between the two phones, I like the bigger screen on the G pro 2, I haven't held one yet in person, but I don't think I"ll be bothered by it at all. Only thing that really entices me for the Z2 are the current prices for it right now.. for relatively similar specs, smaller screen, but better camera compensates. Honestly, I want the device to work well out of the box.. this is xda and I do play with custom firmwares and roms, but that's more of a result than a mission for me these days.. as in, if the unit runs better/faster/more stable compared to stock(or.. if stock is so horrendous that it must be rooted and flashed to be "decent").

ssnova said:
Thanks for your input Ray-Lee .
I'm on the fence between the two phones, I like the bigger screen on the G pro 2, I haven't held one yet in person, but I don't think I"ll be bothered by it at all. Only thing that really entices me for the Z2 are the current prices for it right now.. for relatively similar specs, smaller screen, but better camera compensates. Honestly, I want the device to work well out of the box.. this is xda and I do play with custom firmwares and roms, but that's more of a result than a mission for me these days.. as in, if the unit runs better/faster/more stable compared to stock(or.. if stock is so horrendous that it must be rooted and flashed to be "decent").
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive been using this phone pretty much since it came out (D838 rooted stock) and the stock Performance is fantastic if im honest it really doesn't need a custom rom unless you want to "mod" alot of things and even then as long as your careful theres still alot you can do with just root, i love this phone so much and its modified enough for my liking without a rom, its fine right out of the box and if you can live without a custom rom (which is really doesnt need that much) i think you'll be as happy as i am with this phone on stock with or without root.
But yes if you do like to flash and mess about alot go with the z2/note3 as there is more options there but this is still a brillant phone.

bjscott55 said:
Ive been using this phone pretty much since it came out (D838 rooted stock) and the stock Performance is fantastic if im honest it really doesn't need a custom rom unless you want to "mod" alot of things and even then as long as your careful theres still alot you can do with just root, i love this phone so much and its modified enough for my liking without a rom, its fine right out of the box and if you can live without a custom rom (which is really doesnt need that much) i think you'll be as happy as i am with this phone on stock with or without root.
But yes if you do like to flash and mess about alot go with the z2/note3 as there is more options there but this is still a brillant phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for the assurance. I'm still bouncing around phone options, I guess it just comes down to price (best bang for buck, with expandable memory at least). I'm still considering the G pro 2, but I saw how the GS note 3 has come down a lot in price.
Thanks again!

ssnova said:
Thanks a lot for the assurance. I'm still bouncing around phone options, I guess it just comes down to price (best bang for buck, with expandable memory at least). I'm still considering the G pro 2, but I saw how the GS note 3 has come down a lot in price.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had both and granted you can mess around with roms and stuff but for pure joy in use i much prefer the g pro 2 its a really really good phone and for the low price you really cant beat it in my opinion unless this phone gets a good recovery and cm11 ill never bother with costom roms ect. For me its perfect on stock the peformence is amazing, to date (about 6 months of owning this phone) the battery still amazes and im yet to see any lag ever!! The ui is amazing, for a phone out of the box you cant beat it if you like music it outputs brillantly im just in love so maybe im a little one sided but i hope whatever you do you will be happy! Let me know!

bjscott55 said:
I've had both and granted you can mess around with roms and stuff but for pure joy in use i much prefer the g pro 2 its a really really good phone and for the low price you really cant beat it in my opinion unless this phone gets a good recovery and cm11 ill never bother with costom roms ect. For me its perfect on stock the peformence is amazing, to date (about 6 months of owning this phone) the battery still amazes and im yet to see any lag ever!! The ui is amazing, for a phone out of the box you cant beat it if you like music it outputs brillantly im just in love so maybe im a little one sided but i hope whatever you do you will be happy! Let me know!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only can agree with that!
I did get mine last week and i am very happy with it! Came from Galaxy Note 2 wich i liked very much but i dont trust Super Amoled Display technology since noone grants you that it will operate more than 3 years with heavy use. I chose this device because it has similar dimensions as the Note 2, stronger hardware, bigger 1080p reliable IPS LCD screen and fabulous 3200 mAh battery.
It's a must have for phablet lovers that want to have a good performing phone with large screen.
After just a few days of use this is my opinion. On software side is everything ok, just the usual Kit Kat problem that bugs lots of users out here, tha lack of having permissions for apps to write to sd card. That was the only thing that bothered me, but thats on Google side. This phone is truly amazing!
Hope that helps the peple to choose the best device for their specific needs. I found mine definitely.

Thank you for the input bhun and derbyshire! I really like the phone and want to get it, but for me the G pro 2 shipped from Asia to the US (I need the F350 model for LTE compatibility), it's about $600, I'm going to wait out just a little longer, it's a bit out of my budget (was hoping to score a phone for less than $450.. Sony Z2 and ZU did fit that for me, but not anymore either, haha).
I'm glad to hear that it's a great phone though(G pro 2), hopefully the prices will come down a bit for the F350 model and I can obtain one soon. Thanks again to all who have contributed!
bhun said:
I only can agree with that!
I did get mine last week and i am very happy with it! Came from Galaxy Note 2 wich i liked very much but i dont trust Super Amoled Display technology since noone grants you that it will operate more than 3 years with heavy use. I chose this device because it has similar dimensions as the Note 2, stronger hardware, bigger 1080p reliable IPS LCD screen and fabulous 3200 mAh battery.
It's a must have for phablet lovers that want to have a good performing phone with large screen.
After just a few days of use this is my opinion. On software side is everything ok, just the usual Kit Kat problem that bugs lots of users out here, tha lack of having permissions for apps to write to sd card. That was the only thing that bothered me, but thats on Google side. This phone is truly amazing!
Hope that helps the peple to choose the best device for their specific needs. I found mine definitely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

The things that bother me about this phone are the poor wifi signal, I can be within a meter of my router and it still fluctuates between 3 and 4 bars. Any less than 4 bars wifi signal seems to have a noticeable impact on browsing performance. I also find the mobile data hotspot a pain, every so often the connection would hang and you would have to turn data off and back on again to get it to work. It seemed to do that every hour or so. Also if the phone gets even minutely warm, the brightness level will restrict itself to between 80% and 90%. I have had 3 LG G Pro 2 and they have all been the same. I also notice some flickering at times, especially when there is a white background on a webpage. I am almost fed up of mine and looking at selling it soon. It does have the potential to be a good phone, and I think all the faults I mentioned could be fixed with a decent firmware update.

I agree with you on wifi reception, its been the worst amongst all the phones i have owned
Sent from my LG-D838 using Tapatalk

Good Buy
It's a good buy switching. Switched from GS5 to this

Would you still recommend s7?

Hi, I am looking for a new phone and basically I am left with choosing between s7 (edge maybe) and Google pixel. So far I am leaning towards S7 as it is water resistant, it has expandable storage, bigger battery, and it is damn sexy.
I have couple questions though.
Firstly, how is TouchWiz? I remember that it used to be laggy af and not really useful.
Secondly, how is Samsung with updates? I understand that pixel will always get the newest updates and I don't expect Samsung do that, but I don't want the phone to be outdated in February when the S8 comes out.
Lastly, would you still recommend S7 as a great phone to buy, especially with today's competition (like pixel and lg v20)?

Speaking as a s7 edge owner, I would still recommend it
- TW is not as bad as it used to be, I am not experiencing disturbing lags or stutters
- HW is good, camera is still top of the pops
- at least security updates are coming regularly, big updates take longer though
- it's price dropped to a very reasonable level. No comparison to the pixel
- plus you named all the other advantages it has over the pixel
- if you're worried that you don't have the most up to date device available you shouldn't probably buy any phone at all

MisterKanister said:
Speaking as a s7 edge owner, I would still recommend it
- TW is not as bad as it used to be, I am not experiencing disturbing lags or stutters
- HW is good, camera is still top of the pops
- at least security updates are coming regularly, big updates take longer though
- it's price dropped to a very reasonable level. No comparison to the pixel
- plus you named all the other advantages it has over the pixel
- if you're worried that you don't have the most up to date device available you shouldn't probably buy any phone at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same position but.. where are all the roms for the snapdragon S7?? Is the bootloader still locked or something? I'd be coming from an s6. Since I'm on T-Mobile, my only choices are the s7 and s7 edge, LG V20 and.. an iPhone ? I love T-Mobile but their phone selection is garbage. I called to ask about the HTC 10 and they pulled it. WTF T-MO???
Sent from my SM-G920K using XDA-Developers mobile app

H3adru5H said:
I'm in the same position but.. where are all the roms for the snapdragon S7?? Is the bootloader still locked or something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't tell you, I have the Exynos one
Anyway I refrain from flashing and rooting because I'd like to keep the warranty this time.
And there's really just only one thing I am missing, which is an ad blocker. Rest is working fine.

I also have the S7 Edge.
Great phone and Samsung is easy to root with Odin.
The Google Pixel is expensive for what you get.

MisterKanister said:
Can't tell you, I have the Exynos one
Anyway I refrain from flashing and rooting because I'd like to keep the warranty this time.
And there's really just only one thing I am missing, which is an ad blocker. Rest is working fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Adguard works perfectly for non rooted phones, it's not free but I have a lifetime subscription for phone and desktop.
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

MisterKanister said:
And there's really just only one thing I am missing, which is an ad blocker. Rest is working fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No root needed - Free
https://block-this.com/

I would just go for the s7 becaise its cheaper then the pixel and you have more features like sd card and waterproof and also a QHD screen.

*Detection* said:
No root needed - Free
https://block-this.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I used a VPN based ad blocker before, but used too much battery. Would like the good old hosts file changing
Nevertheless, will give block this a chance

MisterKanister said:
Thanks! I used a VPN based ad blocker before, but used too much battery. Would like the good old hosts file changing
Nevertheless, will give block this a chance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Galaxy app store search disconnect.

MisterKanister said:
Thanks! I used a VPN based ad blocker before, but used too much battery. Would like the good old hosts file changing
Nevertheless, will give block this a chance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good things said about this one and battery life, I've got it installed and haven't noticed any battery draining
Yep, hosts file is the ideal solution, but unfortunately is a system file and thus needs root

I had both Pixels here for a week and while they're certainly nice phones I don't think they're worth the price Google is asking for. The quite black is not black at all but some sort of brownish gray color which I didn't really like. The XL did have some issue with my WiFi, but I guess they'll fix this sooner or later with a software update. Android feels nice, blazing fast but the assistant is downright stupid.
I sent them back and went for an S7, which is a great phone with a reasonable price tag. Also I liked the S7 camera a lot more, I can take photos in really dim situations no probs something I couldn't do with the Pixels.

sbuttler said:
I had both Pixels here for a week and while they're certainly nice phones I don't think they're worth the price Google is asking for. The quite black is not black at all but some sort of brownish gray color which I didn't really like. The XL did have some issue with my WiFi, but I guess they'll fix this sooner or later with a software update. Android feels nice, blazing fast but the assistant is downright stupid.
I sent them back and went for an S7, which is a great phone with a reasonable price tag. Also I liked the S7 camera a lot more, I can take photos in really dim situations no probs something I couldn't do with the Pixels.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting, supposedly the Pixel has an amazing / best smartphone camera
Personally I couldn't see any justification for the ridiculous price-tag, specs were nothing special

Yup, it's a Solid device that I'd recommend over the Pixel any day. For its price it provides the best specifications and features, and as you've read from most reviews Online, The S7 is pretty much iterative perfection when it comes to a Smartphone.
Google's Flagship is great as well don't get me wrong but with that Price tag, I don't really see any practicality with buying unless you want Google Assistant ( which was already ported anyway )

Overall love

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Samsung Galaxy Note FE, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Samsung Galaxy Note FE is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!

It is simply the MOST beautiful thing... Sometimes I find myself just staring at it.
I need a life.

Estetically astonishing, an amazing swansong for the pre "infinity display" desing language at Samsung. If it weren't for all that crappy bloatware. If only I were brave enough to root it. If only i could have one N935F just released in some asian markets like Malaysia.

Much love
The FE just became available here in Manila so i quickly pounced on one. I really liked the Note 7 when it came out and was sorely disappointed when it ended so badly
This phone is magnificent, I have the N8 as well but the FE fits in my hand better and is easier for me to handle. Sort of the difference between an S7 and an S8 overall but very happy to add to my collection. This one is a real keeper here as resale is nil and barely anyone know about it.
Also important for me it's a dual SIM version!

Definite love
Great phone! Dimension, FP reader position, battery life are all to my liking. Top notch phone! Accessories are much cheaper too! lol!
Price of phone could have been slightly lower though.
4.5/5 for me.

note fe is very good, similar to note 8, the price is also affordable, if we talk about the hardware also still able to survive at least 2 or 3 more years (I think)

I just love it too, seriously. Although not being able to root it (for now I hope!) makes me a bit frustrated.. Overall, I agree that the price could have been a bit lower but it's a Note so that's quite understandable...
I'll keep it and keep loving it until there's a really more appealing phone released which I think, won't be released soon as this Infinity-whatever trend of Samsung of the newest devices is just awful to me..
I highly prefer my capacitive navbar and the 16:9 ratio lol

I'm considering buying one. But with shipping and import...that'll be at least 600 EUR, probably more towards 650. The Note8 is already sold at 750, even Dual-Sim. Is it worth shelling out that much (I actually only hate the S8/Note8 because of the rear-mounted FP sensor).

treysis said:
I'm considering buying one. But with shipping and import...that'll be at least 600 EUR, probably more towards 650. The Note8 is already sold at 750, even Dual-Sim. Is it worth shelling out that much (I actually only hate the S8/Note8 because of the rear-mounted FP sensor).
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Click to collapse
The Note FE is the last of his kind, physical front home button, 16:9 ratio.
It's not a bad thing so I ordered one instead of the Note 8 even if price is almost the same.
This phone is made for the Fan only

Hm, I thought about ordering a few so as to minimize my costs. But looking at prices for Note8 on ebay, I doubt this will be a success, if you can buy a European dual-sim Note8 with local warranty for only 50-100 Euros more. Would really need someone who appreciates the front FP as much as I do.

i just traded my s7 with the fe. reasons:
1. i skipped s8 and newer ones because i really despise having to pickup the whole phone from table just to securely unlock it. i trust biometric as far more secure, accurate and convenient compared to password, pin or pattern. the fingerprint scanner must always in the front, ready on your command only by using 1 finger. i readily accept last year hardware performance for this, i really don't mind since they are already powerful enough
2. the design is simply gorgeous and i luv it for still giving my finger some space to grip it on landscape mode because i enjoy watching video on my phone quite a lot during travel/commute. newer phone designs barely give anything to grip
i really wish the design trend will reverse but if it doesn't i think this will be the last time i upgrade my phone. lol

The main issues for me are a) no AOSP/LOS/RR (can't stand Touchwiz or Samsung Experience), b) not much community/official/3rd party development/support, and c) I just can't find it anywhere near me or I would have bought it (despite the curvy edges and non-replaceable battery).

Bought the blue dual sim Note FE about 5 months ago. Always wanted a Note device but choosing this one over the newer models, is due to the consideration of the smaller size and the much more beautiful design (imo) the the front fingerprint sensor. Kinda disappointed that the custom scene is not big, but at this moment in time and considering how stable and good the phone has been so far, rooting it will be enough for me.
Reading though about losing some samsung apps is worrisome though. Apart from the samsung pay (don't care at all as I don't pay through the phone), knox, what else won't work after rooting? Is there a list somewhere?

Feregorn said:
Bought the blue dual sim Note FE about 5 months ago. Always wanted a Note device but choosing this one over the newer models, is due to the consideration of the smaller size and the much more beautiful design (imo) the the front fingerprint sensor. Kinda disappointed that the custom scene is not big, but at this moment in time and considering how stable and good the phone has been so far, rooting it will be enough for me.
Reading though about losing some samsung apps is worrisome though. Apart from the samsung pay (don't care at all as I don't pay through the phone), knox, what else won't work after rootinng? Is there a list somewhere?
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Hi i was thinking the same as you till month ago . But believe me no need at all , first now we got Android 9 with all new look. Second you can install rootless substratum with andromeda , you will find many themes.
Third now there are many apps that will cover your needs instead of rooting . Just dig in xda
Finally Samsung firmware is very complicated. I used to root my note 3 . It was rootable . It works ok but with some bugs . But now i think that any custom rom will give you a hard time fixing bugs especially with latest version of samsung note .
And all custom rom will not be friendly with s pen features.

nesoor1230 said:
Hi i was thinking the same as you till month ago . But believe me no need at all , first now we got Android 9 with all new look. Second you can install rootless substratum with andromeda , you will find many themes.
Third now there are many apps that will cover your needs instead of rooting . Just dig in xda
Finally Samsung firmware is very complicated. I used to root my note 3 . It was rootable . It works ok but with some bugs . But now i think that any custom rom will give you a hard time fixing bugs especially with latest version of samsung note .
And all custom rom will not be friendly with s pen features.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for your response. The biggest reason that I want root is to install an ad blocker like adaway and ad-free YouTube as ads can be really annoying to me. But I will surely check the substratum that you mentioned.
Sent from my SM-N935F using Tapatalk

LG V30 or S8+ ?

Long story short, my classic Nexus 6P has been dying for a few months, battery drains, random reboots, super low volume on speakers. I have wiped the phone tried different ROM's and back to stock, still same thing. Don't get me started on the Pixel 2 XL for almost $1,000. It's really a Nexus 8P that should be selling for $599, but since it's a "Pixel" they wanna charge us more now. No thank you.
I'm on T-Mobile
I picked up the LG V30 last week, and it is a great phone, but no root ( I knew that going in ) And zero good themes ( no offense ) On my Nexus 6P I ran the Swift Dark theme for years, and got so used to it and fell in love with it, it's hard going on the V30 without that theme, and the themes available are basic and don't do Google apps, or notifications, etc... I know Samsung has a way deeper theming system, and just tons of themes available. And most important Substratum is active for the S8 / Note 8, which is a BIG DEAL.
Is the SD835 S8+ as smooth and lag free as the V30 ? I hear that Lagwiz is still evident on the 2017 Galaxy phones ? Would a S8+ be better than the V30 ? I want the same great battery life as the V30, and I need deep dark themes system wide applied to everything.
How about package disablers ? I did that with my V30 and it made a huge difference in battery life, and stopping bloatware and unwanted apps from running in the background.
Thanks, and looking forward to the responses.

Almost 50 views, and no replies.
Seems the S8+ section on XDA is a ghost town ? Did everyone move on to newer phones since release ?

Zorachus said:
Almost 50 views, and no replies.
Seems the S8+ section on XDA is a ghost town ? Did everyone move on to newer phones since release ?
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Well i have 0 experience with LG. You need to go to the samsung store and LG store and compare those 2 phones by yourself. In hand experience is away different experience than specs and reviews. I bought the s8 plus exynos ver n may i never had issues with the phone and never thought about exchanging it. This phone is a beast has a beautiful design and last all day long with a single charge.
Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

I also have the Verizon version of the S8+ and love it. I get all day battery and no lag for me at all. I also think the design is awesome. My wife has the V20 which is an awesome phone also, so I imagine the V30 is also a good choice. I picked up the S8+ because it was the best deal at the time and have no regrets at all. Good Luck

this is my opinion but phones are reaching the point that all of them will provide a smooth experience for normal usage. I used to get rid of the extras to make my phone run faster and smoother, but now the chip is even more than what I need for my usage, those extra power can be used to provide a better UI (theme, live wallpaper and such). So I went with the one that will receive most attention in custom rom (there are great roms that make the phones even smoother than it already is and lasts longer, I use renovate ice and notorious kernel) and theme to suit my needs (and be able to change it if I want).
My gf got the V30 because she's an audiophile (the dac is simply amazing) but other than that, she likes my s8+ more. And I love my s8+. these are my experience so far anyway.
Both is amazing. Good luck

I'd personally never get an LG. They have a history of bad motherboards, prone to break. Also in MHO, they just copy Samsung, design wise. LG wants hard to make flagships, but they are the ACER of mobile phones, they just don't know it yet. I'd take S8/Note 8 anyday over any LG.