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I have owned an iPhone since the day it was released and I was generally happy with the device. I of course was VERY interested in the Android OS once it was released on the G1. However I thought the G1 was clunky and just not all together there. Once Android hit 2.1 I went out and sold my iPhone 3Gs for a Nexus one. Loved that phone to death except for the fact that the screen sucks in the daylight. It was completely unreadable in dense sunlight. Once the iPhone 4 dropped I switched to it due to the amazing specs and awesome app store games (Angry birds lol) but I soo realized that I missed Android. I didn't want to go back to the Nexus One due to screen brightness issues in the day light. The Captivate was my obvious choice due to its similar spec sheet and Super AMOLED screen. However after several weeks with the device I have some griped I need to express.
1st I will say that Samsung has made some nice additions to the UI with the Mail app and the Contacts app not sure if this is seen on other devices or not. Also the stock camera app is the most excellent most feature packed camera app ive ever used. That being said the battery life is complete ****. I have no gadgets running, my screen is mostly at half brightness and yet I am lucky to get a complete day out of the battery. I doubt there are any extended batteries out there but I'm not entirely sure I even want to bother making such a slim and sleek phone more bulky.
I do at time find that the stock 2.1 is sluggish at times and I am hoping that a 2.2 update will resolve that.
I am well aware of the GPS issues that have plagued this device and I can honestly say it frustrates me that this has gone unresolved up until this point. I have had two Captivates thus far and both have major GPS location issues.
The stock recovery rom is obviously crippled. The Clockwork Recovery rom is nice but I need to know how I can install it permanently because the Nandroid backups are worthless if there is no way to for sure boot to Clockwork recovery if for some reason the OS gets bricked.
My last and final issue with this phone is the fact that it has no LED noticfication light nor is there a trackball or clear way to adjust the cursor when selecting or editing text. My hope was for google to drop a Nexus 2 but I seriously doubt that will happen.
All in all The Captivate provides a great Android Experience and I really hope to see a Froyo update soon.
Please feel free to respond to me as I would love to hear what others think.
Thanks everyone.
Captivate is my very first smartphone.I really love this phone.
Many of my friends have iPhones and i even got a chance to use the iPhone 4. Frankly, i got bored in 10 mins. Be as beautiful as it is , i cant just keep admiring it and feel happy the way it looks, bcoz there's nothing much i can do with it. Combined with the fact that i have to listen to crap on the way i need to hold my phone after paying for it i was definitely sure it was not the iPhone (I am on ATT so the high end phone choices are pretty limited. I dont consider blackberry as a phone. I think is more of a mini-keyboard in a pocket.)
But with android its a completely different story. It is like a linux machine in my pocket. Google Android OS is the main reason i bought a Captivate.
Since i am on ATT, i was waiting for a high end android phone to be released and it was samsung captivate (i wudve bought any high end android phone ATT released it with). I went for the captivate and have absolutely no regrets. I was not ready for the HTC aria as i wanted a high end phone.
Comping to the points you mentioned.
1. Why is everyone expecting everything in a phone to be perfect!!! There is no perfect phone.
2. Battery Life : This device has a 4 inch screen. Obviously we shud understand tht the display in any device sucks most of the battery. So when u know u r buying a 4 inch screen dont expect it to run till eternity.
Its no surprise that evo 4G has an even worse battery life!
(I am surprised that there are so many comparisons between phones like Nexus one, iphone4, captivate etc... Compare battery life with phones having the same screen dimensions otherwise the comparison is worthless. I challenge APPLE to make a phone with 4 inch screen and retain the same retina display and same battery life.. Does anyone think thats possible?)
3. Regarding GPS i am pretty sure its a software problem and can be fixed!! I fixed it the way mentioned in the Sticky section link and the GPS work perfect!!
4. The remaining sluggishness etc is again a software issue. Everbody has to realize that with an android phone you have the most Customizable phone in your hands. So its left upto you to modify the phone the way you want it!
Finally, i am extremely satisfied with my Captivate. It has its share of problems, and sluggishness etc , but some things we can live with (definitely this phone may not be as beautiful/good finishing as an iPhone4, but then it can do the very basic function of a Phone :: make and receive calls.)
Finally the FROYO is definitely gonna make things better.
Cheers
==============
itzz(AN)dRoiD
The only thing that I can really speak to is the battery life.
Haven't used the GPS much at all and don't really notice the sluggishness coming from a Blackjack II.
But I can easily get a day out of a charge....if not more if I stopped using this to replace my laptop lol.
I've been unplugged since 3am. Did some light emailing...Facebook checking...gtalk chatting..xda viewing, etc. Fully charged at 3am before work and used since and I'm only at 63%.
One thing that can help is keeping brightness all the way down. I only turn it up when I'm outside in the sun.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
im satisfied w/ my Captivate minus the ****ty battery life and bad GPS lol
The Captivate is my first smart phone. As such, I can't compare it to other phones, but I feel qualified to comment regardless.
The battery hasn't been a problem for me, as I'm not constantly using it during the day for texting/watching videos/etc. However, I have noticed that it drains quickly when you do watch a lot of video. But I went in expecting this, so it's not a big problem for me. If it gets to be that big a problem, I'll buy an extra battery (a cheap shot, but anyway) or pack a charger.
The GPS issues bugged me a lot to start with, but for whatever reason it's become less of a problem over time. I don't know why, but it's seemed to have become more reliable over the past week or so. Still, it is slow to locate, and I expect it to be patched in the near future. However, to get rid of it over that one issue is a bit much in my book.
The lack of a notification light doesn't bother me simply because I'm not used to having one in the first place. Besides, it warbles at me when something new arrives, so it's not a total loss. I can see where it would be useful, as when in a meeting, but you can't exactly start tooling around on your phone at those times, either, so, to quote Clara Peller, "where's the beef?"
I hear a lot of folks complaining over the lag in the phone, whether it's due to Eclair or TouchWiz or bad ley lines or whatever. I experience these from time to time, and I find that Advanced Task Killer usually takes care of the issue. I wish multitasking was handled better, and that there was a built-in way to terminate apps and services you don't need. But it's not been enough of an issue for me to bother with rooting and wiping data and risk doing something stupid and wind up with a black plastic brick for my trouble. I, too, look forward to the Froyo update and the goodness it promises to bring with it, not the least of which is greater speed and reduction of lag...not just for this phone, but the advancement of the platform as a whole.
While I have more-or-less disagreed with the OP on most of his complaints, I must also disagree with the one who said, "why is everyone expecting everything in a phone to be perfect". Anything for which I pay $200 should meet my expectations. See the GPS issue: I think it'd be foolish of me to return the phone based on that complaint, but that's because I use it primarily as a phone and not a GPS receiver. If it's a deal-breaker for someone else, I certainly wouldn't hold it against them. Their standards are not my standards, and so long as it remains a personal standard, more power to them.
The only reason I would have returned mine would have been to go to Walmart and get the same phone for $148 instead of $199, but the savings wouldn't have been worth the hassle of backing up and restoring everything. Besides, I did get it ahead of street date, and you have to pay for little pleasures sometimes
Hi everyone,
I'm pretty satisfied with my Captivate, but it has become a bit boring. Also, I don't like the unofficial ROMs because they come with their own share of problems and they get updated way too often for me to keep up with new releases. My friend from a foreign country happens to REALLY want a Captivate and is willing to buy me a Nexus S or G2 for it. I thought this way pretty cool but now I'm in the dilemma of choosing which one I want. Just so you know, I'm not changing my mind about switching the Captivate, as I just want something new badly. I am aware that I won't be able to use 3G on any of the phones as T-Mobile phones use different frequencies, and if you can tell me how this would affect me (light web browsing in car, tweets, facebook, XDA) that would be great.
G2: I really like the physical keyboard on the device and the device feels really upraised in the community for it's modifiability. This is something I really like in the device. Also, the device comes with Froyo, and I like the look and feel of stock Froyo more than anything else, even Gingerbread. Some of my concerns are the crappy HTC headphones that the phone comes with. I know it may be a stupid concern, but I really like listening to music a lot on the road. The headphones with the Cappy are ideal and I really like them. If anyone knows any good headphones on the cheap that are similar to the Galaxy S ones, please give me a link. Also, I'm afraid that this phone is already phased out by Google since it still hasn't gotten a Gingerbread update.
Nexus S: This phone is SEXY. I really like the black design with the huge Google logo, so the design really has me hooked onto this one. I also really like the fact that this comes with a front facing camera and a camera flash (even though idk when I'm gonna want to use either of those, the fact that's it's there is nice). Also, this phone has really good headphones like the Galaxy S line. I'm just really worried that this phone isn't much better than my phone at all. In fact, the absence of 3G I think is going to make it a step backwards. The active Google support is nice too, but I really wish that the G2 was the Dev phone, not this. The G2 has some of the key features that Samsung for some reason hates like a keyboard, trackpad, and notification light. I'm scared that all of these useful pieces of hardware are going to get phases out all because Google let Samsung make the next Nexus. I could care less about Gingerbread really. It doesn't feel like too much of a step forward and I don't like the slick black design as much as the accustomed bright colors. I know it sounds weird, but it's true.
So, if anyone can help me out it would be great. Thanks.
I thought the Nexus S was Just a Captivate in a different housing.
The only difference is the front facing camera, I think.
fruitpunch36 said:
Hi everyone,
I'm pretty satisfied with my Captivate, but it has become a bit boring. Also, I don't like the unofficial ROMs because they come with their own share of problems and they get updated way too often for me to keep up with new releases. My friend from a foreign country happens to REALLY want a Captivate and is willing to buy me a Nexus S or G2 for it. I thought this way pretty cool but now I'm in the dilemma of choosing which one I want. Just so you know, I'm not changing my mind about switching the Captivate, as I just want something new badly. I am aware that I won't be able to use 3G on any of the phones as T-Mobile phones use different frequencies, and if you can tell me how this would affect me (light web browsing in car, tweets, facebook, XDA) that would be great.
G2: I really like the physical keyboard on the device and the device feels really upraised in the community for it's modifiability. This is something I really like in the device. Also, the device comes with Froyo, and I like the look and feel of stock Froyo more than anything else, even Gingerbread. Some of my concerns are the crappy HTC headphones that the phone comes with. I know it may be a stupid concern, but I really like listening to music a lot on the road. The headphones with the Cappy are ideal and I really like them. If anyone knows any good headphones on the cheap that are similar to the Galaxy S ones, please give me a link. Also, I'm afraid that this phone is already phased out by Google since it still hasn't gotten a Gingerbread update.
Nexus S: This phone is SEXY. I really like the black design with the huge Google logo, so the design really has me hooked onto this one. I also really like the fact that this comes with a front facing camera and a camera flash (even though idk when I'm gonna want to use either of those, the fact that's it's there is nice). Also, this phone has really good headphones like the Galaxy S line. I'm just really worried that this phone isn't much better than my phone at all. In fact, the absence of 3G I think is going to make it a step backwards. The active Google support is nice too, but I really wish that the G2 was the Dev phone, not this. The G2 has some of the key features that Samsung for some reason hates like a keyboard, trackpad, and notification light. I'm scared that all of these useful pieces of hardware are going to get phases out all because Google let Samsung make the next Nexus. I could care less about Gingerbread really. It doesn't feel like too much of a step forward and I don't like the slick black design as much as the accustomed bright colors. I know it sounds weird, but it's true.
So, if anyone can help me out it would be great. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm, I think you're better off asking people in the G2 and Nexus S forums.
The G2 is very slow and laggy, even though it gets higher benchmarks, my friends G2 lags like crap compared to my captivate and my friends vibrant.
I think a lot of those benchmarks are just a bunch of BS written for the Scorpion and Snapdragon processors because his G2 with nothing loaded on it is very slow.
HTC G2. It is a HTC, has good build quality and I really like the keyboard. Plus, it runs AOSP Froyo, and I'm sure you can get an international ROM with Sense on it.
The Nexus S is more of the same with the Captivate, just with a working GPS, a FFC, and 2.3 AOSP. I would guess that Captivate development would eventually reach this stage sans FFC anyway.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Aus_Azn said:
HTC G2. It is a HTC, has good build quality and I really like the keyboard. Plus, it runs AOSP Froyo, and I'm sure you can get an international ROM with Sense on it.
The Nexus S is more of the same with the Captivate, just with a working GPS, a FFC, and 2.3 AOSP. I would guess that Captivate development would eventually reach this stage sans FFC anyway.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
I would seriously disagree, my friends G2 lags all the time.
At least with the Nexus S you'll get 2.4 when it comes out right away also. And devices have been spotted with devs using 2.4 on Android Central.
Def go with the Nexus S. Better hardware and better software support. The only reason to go with a G2 over the Nexus S is if you can't stand not having a physical keyboard, and since you own a Captivate I'm going to guess thats not a big deal.
+1 Nexus S
fruitpunch36 said:
Hi everyone,
I'm pretty satisfied with my Captivate, but it has become a bit boring. Also, I don't like the unofficial ROMs because they come with their own share of problems and they get updated way too often for me to keep up with new releases. My friend from a foreign country happens to REALLY want a Captivate and is willing to buy me a Nexus S or G2 for it. I thought this way pretty cool but now I'm in the dilemma of choosing which one I want. Just so you know, I'm not changing my mind about switching the Captivate, as I just want something new badly. I am aware that I won't be able to use 3G on any of the phones as T-Mobile phones use different frequencies, and if you can tell me how this would affect me (light web browsing in car, tweets, facebook, XDA) that would be great.
G2: I really like the physical keyboard on the device and the device feels really upraised in the community for it's modifiability. This is something I really like in the device. Also, the device comes with Froyo, and I like the look and feel of stock Froyo more than anything else, even Gingerbread. Some of my concerns are the crappy HTC headphones that the phone comes with. I know it may be a stupid concern, but I really like listening to music a lot on the road. The headphones with the Cappy are ideal and I really like them. If anyone knows any good headphones on the cheap that are similar to the Galaxy S ones, please give me a link. Also, I'm afraid that this phone is already phased out by Google since it still hasn't gotten a Gingerbread update.
Nexus S: This phone is SEXY. I really like the black design with the huge Google logo, so the design really has me hooked onto this one. I also really like the fact that this comes with a front facing camera and a camera flash (even though idk when I'm gonna want to use either of those, the fact that's it's there is nice). Also, this phone has really good headphones like the Galaxy S line. I'm just really worried that this phone isn't much better than my phone at all. In fact, the absence of 3G I think is going to make it a step backwards. The active Google support is nice too, but I really wish that the G2 was the Dev phone, not this. The G2 has some of the key features that Samsung for some reason hates like a keyboard, trackpad, and notification light. I'm scared that all of these useful pieces of hardware are going to get phases out all because Google let Samsung make the next Nexus. I could care less about Gingerbread really. It doesn't feel like too much of a step forward and I don't like the slick black design as much as the accustomed bright colors. I know it sounds weird, but it's true.
So, if anyone can help me out it would be great. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get a G2. I got it and I love it. Switched from Captivate too. I am done with Samsung, therefore I refused to get a nexus S. Since the nexus is the latest and greatest, it may cure the updating problems that samsung has, but I have reason to believe from experience with samsung devices that it will come with hardware issues, if not now then later.
I have had 0 problems with my G2. I'm running GingerVillian on it. I have the proc OC'd to a max of 1.5 ghz. I have no lag whatsoever. I love my physical keyboard, the trackpad is useful, I don't have to hack to get backlit notifications. I don't have to hack to get tethering, I don't have to hack to sideload, I don't have to hack to get the full market.
The root is a little more involved than I'd like it to be, but nothing beyond my comprehension.
If by hardware and software support you mean "Release a newer version of the phone with the same hardware and updated software 2 months after initial release", then yes, you are correct, it does have better hardware and software support.
http://androidandme.com/2011/01/pho...h-android-2-4-and-4g-data-headed-to-t-mobile/
I've read alot of the threads and it does seem like alot of mixed reviews about it... i'm coming from a s3 so i'm hoping i'll be impressed besides the screen (sorry i love amoled)
i hope the problems everyone been talking about is gonna be fixed by google updates or what not
you're coming from an S3?
Prepare to have your pants blown off by a pure google experience.
spitefulcheerio said:
you're coming from an S3?
Prepare to have your pants blown off by a pure google experience.
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Click to collapse
well i broke my s3 a couple months back and been with the bb9900 but i did vow to buy the next google flagship
ahahah i've been with the google expirience from roms but not from a nexus maybe it'll be a difference
there is a difference. Something you'll learn quickly: pure google developed by thousands of people for a certain device will always be smoother than a port done by a small group of people.
I came from an S3 myself, I ran AOKP on it most of its life. IMO, the N5 easily tops it in all aspects. The screen is ridiculously sharp, and color reproduction is great compared to the S3's pentile display. The camera works SO MUCH better in lower light scenarios that it's not even funny. Actually, it works better in every scenario that I've tried so far. HDR+ is also quite nice and can really make for some great shots. Battery life I can't really comment on since I just got it today, but I've already gotten more screen on time out of it than I ever managed with my S3, and the N5 came out of the box at 80% charged for me.
So, two big things to remember:
1. The people most prone to posting experiences online are going to be those with either an overwhelming positive or negative experience, and based off of my admittedly personal observations, negative reports almost always outweigh positive ones in terms of passion (if not quantity) - regardless of the quality of the product. In other words: one or two frustrated people tend to make infinitely more noise than ten to twenty happy ones; consequently, that doesn't mean the product in question is a dud.
2. This is the inaugural batch of hardware. There are going to be a few minor kinks in this first batch that will be fixed with the next production runs from the factory. Usually this is very minor. Unrefined edges, very slight chassis tweaks, etc. Part and parcel for impatience and immediate gratification is the roll of the dice that you might get a unit that is... a bit alpha
All this being said, the answer to your question is...
Absolutely not.
Mine is going to be delivered tomorrow, but there have been enough variances in the reports and reviews for me to definitely believe that most units are of excellent quality, and any "lemons" out there are well within the bounds of what is to be expected from an initial hardware distribution. Plus, it also helps that almost all gripes seem to be more software related than hardware - and will be fixed by Google in the coming weeks.
if there's something wrong with it, dont be afraid to RMA it immediately. especially on a first batch of hardware. put it throw all the tests you can at it, i bet you could google this and find out a great set of apps to run on it as soon as you get it. i like cpu and gpu benchmark apps as well as a flashing color screen testing apps(to check for bad pixels), plus any testing that you yourself will be doing. like extended periods of gaming or youtube watching or even just browsing, even if you dont plan on every playing a game for 2 hours straight, do it and see if there's any hiccups.
From my experience and research, if you get one with no defects than your in great shape.
If you do get one with a defect like me (speaker defective causing massive distortions in phone calls and most audio) then you had a really bad day.
neok44 said:
From my experience and research, if you get one with no defects than your in great shape.
If you do get one with a defect like me (speaker defective causing massive distortions in phone calls and most audio) then you had a really bad day.
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Click to collapse
bro why not just call google and get a replacement before its to late =D
Im also really unsure with my decision buying the N5.. Im coming from an Xperia Z which is IMO a good Phone, but not really that smooth.. Do you think it will be a big step up?
Sent from my C6603 using xda app-developers app
Been waiting for the S6 to come out and now that it's been released not happy about several things and think I'm going to pass. The Z3V seems to have everything I'm looking for, waterproof and good reception being high on the list.
My needs:
Good call quality and reception
Water proof
Good battery
Good camera
SD card slot
Durable
From everything I've been reading it looks like the Z3V has got this covered. Not sure I like the glass back but it'll live in a case anyways, which I'm finding out there is not much choice there. Btw I'm coming off a Razr Maxx HD, I ruled out the Turbo fairly quick lol. Thanks!
My Z3v has blown away every expectation I've had on any phone I have owned. Battery life, radio reception, OS stability, no lag, seriously the smoothest running device I've ever used, camera, SD Storage, 3gb RAM, waterproofing and Wireless Qi charging, stereo front facing speakers, and LED notification. Everything works as intended and expected. I've had mine since launch and 4-5 months later I'm actually more enthused about it than I was the first day. Without question if my phone met its demise today, I'd turn around and get it again without hesitation. It's hard to think about switching to another device when the one you have has performed flawlessly with no hiccups.
The only thing it doesn't have currently but supposedly is planned to is simultaneous data and voice. It is a slight disappointment, but not critical for me.
Yup I agree with PChain
Everything needed to be said, pchain has said it. I won't likely ever get another branded phone since there's nothing too new or attention worthy about them. I'm very disappointed how the S6 turned out to be as the Z3v is already everything as it is but incredibly better.
The glass back isn't too much of a concern since it is Sony's tempered glass. Look up any youtube video of Sony's Drop test, they're nearly indestructible. It's worth it man, get this phone and you won't have to wait as long for the update for simultaneous voice and data.
Well I'm sold, thanks for the replies! Should've just got it in January when my contract was up but I was hoping for great things from the S6 and thought I'd wait it out, but like many I'm disappointed in the direction they went.
Awsome, but none of these phones are particularly "durable"...
The hardware guts, performance and elegant form of this phone blow me away. No question, hands down, this is more pocket computer than I ever imagined. In the Verizon store it's absolutely the best bang for the buck.
I'm a bit OCD, so if it gets dropped and marred, or scratched, or dented, or cracked I'll completely freak out and cry like a baby! It's not a particularly durable design, but it's really well put together. No weird seems, misalignments, etc. Because I work in landscaping and construction, I've swapped my unused Xoom tablet line with an old handset that I'll bring to work instead of the Xperia so I won't have to feel like I'm performing an act of surgery every time I take a call (cleaning hands off, etc).
I think this phone in a top notch case is super hard to beat for most applications.
IMO - the Z3v is the best bang for your buck. I was first intrigued by Sony Xperia when the Z2 was @ Verizon a few years ago. I'm glad that the Z3v was available when my Razr Maxx bit the dust last Fall, though not initially.
I first went "Cheap" with a LG G Vista, but it shutdown a few times. I swapped it for the Moto X 2014. While the Moto X is a fine phone, it got hot to the touch and the battery isn't the greatest. Luckily - the Z3v came out during my 2 week trial and the third time was the charm!
It has never shutdown, the battery life is pretty good, and the MHL and mirror link functions work via my Smart TV! The same cannot be said on the former phones mentioned.
Go for it!
Based on your post, stan smith, i think this is the ideal phone for you. Thats awesome to hear youre making the move. Just picked the Z3v up a few days ago and I'm blown away. I like to believe im an educated consumer and did a lot of digging on all the latest VZ offerings. My expectations for this phone were sky high and they are being surpassed! i'm running nova launcher and the phone is by far the snappiest device ive ever had. Tap to wake is phenomenal. Having moved here from an HTC ONE M7, my primary concerns were pixel density (M7: 468ppi - Z3v: 424ppi) and screen brightness (M7: 460nits - Z3v: 407nits) but these are no longer a concern. Expectations exceeded.
Really excited about this phone! I will admit I'm concerned about the size, haven't even seen one in person yet. I did some comparisons at phonearena and it looks really tall, like .66" taller than my current razr maxx hd. Going to hit Verizon maybe tonight if not tomorrow and check it out, probably bring it home if I think I can manage the size of it. :good:
I love my phone. I came from a Galaxy S5 and I think this phone is so much better in many ways. I particularly like the solid feel and build of this over the S5. Don't know how it would compare to the S6.
Like someone posted, the only bummer about this phone is the lack of simultaneous voice and data. That is very disappointing in this day and age on a high end phone. But I can live with it and perhaps they will fix that with an update in the future.
vplaza96 said:
I love my phone. I came from a Galaxy S5 and I think this phone is so much better in many ways. I particularly like the solid feel and build of this over the S5. Don't know how it would compare to the S6.
Like someone posted, the only bummer about this phone is the lack of simultaneous voice and data. That is very disappointing in this day and age on a high end phone. But I can live with it and perhaps they will fix that with an update in the future.
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Click to collapse
Idk how solid the S6 would be, but compared to this, it definitely can't withstand water anymore. lol
The lollipop update that will include everything is reaching upon us soon. Sony confirms they're in final phases of testing to work out the bugs. We will all soon get simultaneous voice and data (again, depending from whatever phone we came from before).
Got it tonight!! Solid phone, love the look and feel. A little big but I can get used to it. Lol the guy at Verizon didn't know anything about it, said he never sold one and tried to talk me out of it. Once I schooled him on the features he was pretty impressed. Glad to join this very limited club and thanks for all the advice!
americandad said:
Got it tonight!! Solid phone, love the look and feel. A little big but I can get used to it. Lol the guy at Verizon didn't know anything about it, said he never sold one and tried to talk me out of it. Once I schooled him on the features he was pretty impressed. Glad to join this very limited club and thanks for all the advice!
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Click to collapse
Yay, welcome aboard. I should school the employees more often too because I talk to the reps about account assessment and stuff, and they just have not much of a clue about my phone being there. This is what Apple and Samsung (as well as Motorola Droid) brainwashing does to corporate employees..
GigaSPX said:
Yay, welcome aboard. I should school the employees more often too because I talk to the reps about account assessment and stuff, and they just have not much of a clue about my phone being there. This is what Apple and Samsung (as well as Motorola Droid) brainwashing does to corporate employees..
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Yup-Yup! Pretty sad when the consumer has to do the job of the salesman. but more sad that this illustrates just how easily the masses are brainwashed.
Good for you, AmericanDad. hope you enjoy it!
Coming from a rooted Droid DNA w/ a custom ROM, I'm not seeing any improvements, says the camera. If it wasn't for the ailing battery in my DNA, I would have kept it. Form factor is a bit of a downgrade and visually, it looks very reminiscent of the Droid Razr HD. Camera is definitely better, but the autofocus time takes away from it. A good phone, but nothing here to make me forget my DNA entirely.
sabinblitz said:
Coming from a rooted Droid DNA w/ a custom ROM, I'm not seeing any improvements, says the camera. If it wasn't for the ailing battery in my DNA, I would have kept it. Form factor is a bit of a downgrade and visually, it looks very reminiscent of the Droid Razr HD. Camera is definitely better, but the autofocus time takes away from it. A good phone, but nothing here to make me forget my DNA entirely.
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I'm not sure what exactly you're asking or what your point is but I assure you the Z3v has surpassed every expectation I've had in any device I've ever owned. Battery life will absolutely crush the DNA, radio reception is better than today's Moto offerings, there is zero lag, the camera is really good, it is water proof, has front facing stereo speakers, multicolor LED notification, Qi wireless charging etc. I've had the Z3v since launch and if my device met its fate today I'd immediately get another. Once you have a completely fast stable OS that performs flawlessly you don't want a different device. The Z3v is without a doubt is the most underrated unknown non-marketed devices on Verizon. Unless rooting is a necessity for you there is no reason to question if the z3v is worthy of being your next device. While the DNA is a good device in many ways, the Z3v is good in just about every way. The new Samsung S6,, S6 Edge, and HTC M9 aren't even close in tempting me away from this bulletproof device. I've never had a Sony device before and took a chance and it has been the best technology decision I've made in years. Just my two cents....
pchain said:
I'm not sure what exactly you're asking or what your point is but I assure you the Z3v has surpassed every expectation I've had in any device I've ever owned. Battery life will absolutely crush the DNA, radio reception is better than today's Moto offerings, there is zero lag, the camera is really good, it is water proof, has front facing stereo speakers, multicolor LED notification, Qi wireless charging etc. I've had the Z3v since launch and if my device met its fate today I'd immediately get another. Once you have a completely fast stable OS that performs flawlessly you don't want a different device. The Z3v is without a doubt is the most underrated unknown non-marketed devices on Verizon. Unless rooting is a necessity for you there is no reason to question if the z3v is worthy of being your next device. While the DNA is a good device in many ways, the Z3v is good in just about every way. The new Samsung S6,, S6 Edge, and HTC M9 aren't even close in tempting me away from this bulletproof device. I've never had a Sony device before and took a chance and it has been the best technology decision I've made in years. Just my two cents....
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I couldn't say this any better. I really liked the underrated phone part of the post. That is so true. I came from a Nexus 5 on ATT. I am so impressed. My only gripe is I like stock Android. But the phone build quality and the countless other features make it awesome.
I've had mine for about a week now. Battery is amazing, I'm on my 4th day without a charge but I'm not a heavy user and it gets turned off at night. Wifi signal is incredible! My workshop is about 150' away from my house and I never got wifi there with my razr maxx hd, but the Z3v gets a strong signal. Real pleased with the call quality also. All in all happy with my choice.
To pile on with the radios, i've been in my current house for nearly five years. Previous phones were htc one m7 and a galaxy sIII prior to that. When making calls, i was forced to stand near the front of the house. living room/foyer/bedroom didn't matter. as long as i was near the front. Most likely due to some very large trees in the backyard. Just last night, i noticed i did not have to leave my den when taking a call. for the first time in this house, i could relax on a phone call. so very pleased with this device.
I've heard things like the notification LED are amazing, someone care to elaborate? Not sure what people mean and I've watched some review videos and they don't show it off or anything so I'm confused
Hi, All! I am going to be leaving the world of Windows Phone and switching to Android. The V20 looks like a good choice. The only thing that worries me is the bootloop problem I keep seeing when I search for user reviews.
Has this been resolved? I don't want to get a used one and have it pop up suddenly. If the issue has been corrected, then a new one from the factory might be a better option?
The other thing that I cannot figure out are the bad reviews complaining about lag, poor audio volume, and loss of wireless signal. Is that all related to the bootloop/solder issue? Are these common problems?
Anyone wish they had gotten an S7 or another phone?
I'd appreciate any advice or thoughts.
Update: And let me add that I first came to xda years ago when I was messing with Palm ROMs. I am not afraid of getting my hands dirty with rooting, etc. I'm getting old and not as up on things like I used to be, but I'd rather post here than some Android site with less technical knowledge.
frettd said:
Hi, All! I am going to be leaving the world of Windows Phone and switching to Android. The V20 looks like a good choice. The only thing that worries me is the bootloop problem I keep seeing when I search for user reviews.
Has this been resolved? I don't want to get a used one and have it pop up suddenly. If the issue has been corrected, then a new one from the factory might be a better option?
The other thing that I cannot figure out are the bad reviews complaining about lag, poor audio volume, and loss of wireless signal. Is that all related to the bootloop/solder issue? Are these common problems?
Anyone wish they had gotten an S7 or another phone?
I'd appreciate any advice or thoughts.
Update: And let me add that I first came to xda years ago when I was messing with Palm ROMs. I am not afraid of getting my hands dirty with rooting, etc. I'm getting old and not as up on things like I used to be, but I'd rather post here than some Android site with less technical knowledge.
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I've had my Verizon V20 for awhile now. Honestly stock isn't so bad. After awhile it got laggy for me, but I had it loaded full of apps and media. Never had any issues with it until I rooted, unlocked bootloader, and starting flashing ROMs. Since then I've been running LOS. I love the phones stock camera, the filters and software are amazing. The wide angle camera is my favorite feature. Video quality is amazing. The sound output on headphones even better (with good headphones). Louder than any phone I've ever tested...but the actual phone speaker is rather dull. Would I recommend it for a first Android phone? Probably not. Usually Sammy phones are great first Android phones. Personally I'm coming from a Galaxy Note5. I do miss my Galaxy a bit. Just better overall build quality. My V20 hasn't had a single software update and is still months behind on security patches. Cell signal is iffy all the time, although it may just be the area I live in but I've heard this is a V20 issue. Never had VoLTE working, which sucks too. Lose data each time I call. Do I wish I had chose another phone? Not really. Although my next phone will most likely be a Note 8 since I'm a basic Sammy fanboy. But that's my 2ยข for what it's worth. I never really knew about the solder/bootloop issue until you brought it up actually. That may have been an early production defect...
I haven't really seen definite proof of a bootloop issue on the V20s-- just lots of people who know of LG's reputation (G4/V10 *do* have horrible bootlooping issues-- much of it due to a processor that runs far too hot, which the V20 does not share) and make assumptions. People who get into bootlooping situations on the V20 are usually trying to root the phone without reading the instructions. (and with that said, the V20's root is complicated but not impossible and as long as you're patient and *read*, you can get out of most any jam.)
I love my Verizon V20 but I don't know about it being someone's first Android phone. It's not a perfect phone, but it's AMAZING at what it does well. The sound quality for both playback and recording is unmatched IMHO. The onboard speaker is pretty bad but with headphones and good source material it shines. I haven't had any lag or jerk issues but I DID root it as soon as the exploits were available and have done a lot of tweaking on it to keep it running well (on stock rom). That said people talked about lag out of the box which I never experienced (I had it for about a month or two before the root was found) which makes me wonder if there wasn't a bad initial batch of hardware. I'd say if you decide to get one and it lags, return it and get a new one right away. It's not "normal", or at least doesn't have to be.
I feel like the V20's hardware was incredible, but let down a bit by LG's software (it's not as bad as some complain, but it is a bit "spartan" and would've been nice if it was better documented given how complicated the phone is) and really let down by lack of documentation and by reviewers who didn't "get" it and tried to review it like an iPhone. I feel like it got a bad reputation from LG's previous hardware and from people not understanding this isn't an iPhone. This phone is incredibly complicated to use at times if you really want to push it, and it takes patience to learn. It's sort of like giving a fighter jet to someone who's never even driven before-- this isn't a standard "phone" and takes time to learn its ins and outs. That said,if you take the time you'll realize it can do a lot of things most phones can't do and in a lot of ways is as good or better than much more expensive media devices in general. It was my primary camera on a trip to Europe this summer, mostly because it was just easy to have it with me all the time. The photos aren't perfect but I felt like much less of a tourist/target using it a lot of the time. Manual mode is your friend, which is the case for much of this phone.
I love mine, but it's not for everyone by any stretch. I have no idea what I'd want to replace it with since the things I use are pretty much dead features now going forward on phones-- I USE the spare battery (again, on the trip to Europe, I had to swap batteries a few times mid day after a lot of photos-- quick charge would've been of no help in the middle of a sightseeing day!), I use the SD card, I use the remote, I use the HD audio recording... I think I'll have this phone until it dies, and then I might have to find another one.
I've had my v20 for about 7 months now or so.
After rooting and getting on the lastest Weta + Werewolf kernel, adding in updates here and there, installing xposed, and substratum themes... I think this is the perfect phone for me.
When I purchased the phone from the verizon store it was blazing fast. It's been fast for me since I bought the thing. I haven't had any issues with it whatsoever besides my own blunders. Signal never cut out for me. Bluetooth works fantastically. This phone + Arise makes every single song I play sound like an ear orgasm. I haven't even looked at other phones or felt that urge to flash roms I've had on other phones like the LG G3, Galaxy S3, and such. I get constantly 7 hours of Screen on Time. Even more if I use it conservatively.
This is the first phone I fell in love with. Everything is how I want it exactly the way I want it and I wouldn't have it any other way. If this phone lasts another 2+ years I'll be perfectly fine.
Id say its an ok device i moved in
Thanks for the advice thus far. THIS is why I didn't want to ask on an Android fan site. I wanted input from power users and people that would be more objective.
I actually just made the same move as you. Been using a windows phone for years but finally switched to the V20. It's a nice phone but there are a lot of things about windows phone I miss. I've been frustrated with it since I got it but I think they are android beefs and not beefs with this phone. I have seen the lag though, not sure what is causing it but it's definitely there. Not enough for me to recommend against getting this phone.
Quality of stock Google/LG apps seem to be of lesser quality than Microsoft apps, but I have been pleasantly surprised that some 3rd party apps have way more functionality than their windows phone counterparts did.
Also, I am using the Microsoft launcher and switched to all Microsoft services and it has made the transition a little easier.
Well till about a couple of years back i used to be a Samsung fanboy, but the day I got my G3, I realised how good LG can be.
You might hear a lot of stuff about LG phones here and there but I find them to be pretty good, the best part is the screen, due to ips display the whites are pretty punchy and that's what I prefer.
I have had all the LG devices (mostely ) g2, G3, g4, g5 and now the v20.
V20 is pretty solid, nice build quality, great cusyomization options via LG smart world, you can get Ringtones, wallpapers, themes. If you are willing to spend you can buy many more awesome looking themes from The playstore.
Camera is good, battery backup is decent, I haven't rooted it and apart from those adverts here and there I don't see the need, though till date i have only used rooted devices with huge cusyomization therein.
Call quality is great, signal strength though network dependent but is great.
Another notable thing is the awesome dac that v20 has, wonderful audio output from of the 3.5 mm jack and Bluetooth.
Go for it, though you might find more whistles than you may be used to like the second screen, but they are great to play around with.
My 2, best is go to the store, check the device personally if it's still available in em, play around for atleast half an hour and check whatever you can.
Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk
lord dredd said:
Well till about a couple of years back i used to be a Samsung fanboy, but the day I got my G3, I realised how good LG can be.
You might hear a lot of stuff about LG phones here and there but I find them to be pretty good, the best part is the screen, due to ips display the whites are pretty punchy and that's what I prefer.
I have had all the LG devices (mostely ) g2, G3, g4, g5 and now the v20.
V20 is pretty solid, nice build quality, great cusyomization options via LG smart world, you can get Ringtones, wallpapers, themes. If you are willing to spend you can buy many more awesome looking themes from The playstore.
Camera is good, battery backup is decent, I haven't rooted it and apart from those adverts here and there I don't see the need, though till date i have only used rooted devices with huge cusyomization therein.
Call quality is great, signal strength though network dependent but is great.
Another notable thing is the awesome dac that v20 has, wonderful audio output from of the 3.5 mm jack and Bluetooth.
Go for it, though you might find more whistles than you may be used to like the second screen, but they are great to play around with.
My 2, best is go to the store, check the device personally if it's still available in em, play around for atleast half an hour and check whatever you can.
Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk
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I bought mine used last February, and it has been an excellent device. I plan on grabbing a new one before they become unavailable. The V20 is a large phone, though, so if you prefer small phones, it's not a good choice. Extra battery and charging cradle means I rarely need to plug it in.
Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk