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Thought I'd stay this thread because of all the threads supporting reasons TO upgrade to the new Note. I'll start with my reasons not to upgrade:
1. Doesn't seem like much of an improvement from my current phone GN2. In all of the videos I've seen (and I've seen a lot) the phone appears to perform at the same level as my phone. There are a few software additions but none seem too advanced for my hardware. Perhaps the hardware is much improved but are all improvement really warranted? I mean, I'm holding in my hand a QUAD-CORE device with 2gb of ram and I almost feel like this is a little overkill. I rarely notice lag, can run any app or game I throw at it, and have never noticed any pixilation.
2. Not big on unwarranted consumerism. Much of the reviews I've seen are reminiscent of the iPhone craze; products are always marketed as being Must-have items. And if you don't have the newest and shiniest item, you considered light years behind the masses... I just don't buy it. My last phone, the nexus s, was just barely starting to show its age with the jellybean update and for a few years now, most devices have far surpassed my old Nexus S.
Here is one of the only reviews that didn't insist that I run out and buy the Note. It was kinda refreshing to read after being completely inundated by what seemed to be a very aggressive marketing ploy:
http://www.idigitaltimes.com/articles/19803/20130906/samsung-galaxy-note-3-vs-2-buy.htm
Your thoughts please
If I had the Note 2, I would agree with you. I think skipping a generation is wise. If you have a 2 year contract, it won't cost much to upgrade at that point and you will see a much greater improvement in performance and features.
I am upgrading from the Note to the Note 3, I skipped the 2 for most of the reasons you cite, however, I did ROM my Note to get ICS then JB so I didn't have to wait for Samsung and my carrier to upgrade the OS.
For those on the fence, consider changing the ROM before upgrading.
I don't have a Note 2 but I know it's a great device. If I did own one it would be a tough decision to upgrade. I'll be coming from a GS2 which has served me well. If you plan on keeping a device for quite awhile, the Snapdragon 800 supports LTE Advanced but who knows when we will see that in the US. I would guess it will be within 2 years though
Ask yourself this. Is your note 2 rooted and rommed? if so it might run pretty good and i had one for several months and one of if not my favorite device to date. Now compare a rooted/rommed note 2 to a stock note 3. about the same you may say. Now imagine a rooted/rommed note 3? Blazing fast. I dont "NEED" the note 3 but i felt the note 2 is lacking when compared to the note 3 now. And the screen you can so see pixelation on the note 2 if you cant i just dont believe that. Note 3 with 4.3 out of the box, s800, 3 gb of ram, bigger screen with better ppi and resolution, better s pen. I could go on all night but i dont see a negative to the note 3 except maybe the price but its the same price point as note 2 was so not much to say there
haemaker said:
If I had the Note 2, I would agree with you. I think skipping a generation is wise. If you have a 2 year contract, it won't cost much to upgrade at that point and you will see a much greater improvement in performance and features.
I am upgrading from the Note to the Note 3, I skipped the 2 for most of the reasons you cite, however, I did ROM my Note to get ICS then JB so I didn't have to wait for Samsung and my carrier to upgrade the OS.
For those on the fence, consider changing the ROM before upgrading.
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Click to collapse
Skipping a generation does seem much more reasonable than going from one to the next. It just seems like hardware advancement may be outpacing the software. I remember being in complete awe over the first dual-core device. If it weren't for motherboard giving out in my core 2duo Thinkpad, I think I'd still be rocking that today. And now quad core....
DataHawg said:
I don't have a Note 2 but I know it's a great device. If I did own one it would be a tough decision to upgrade. I'll be coming from a GS2 which has served me well. If you plan on keeping a device for quite awhile, the Snapdragon 800 supports LTE Advanced but who knows when we will see that in the US. I would guess it will be within 2 years though
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In two years time we'll likely have a new Note on the market. I'm still waiting for the NFC chip in my ancient Nexus S to gain widespread appeal.
oneandroidnut said:
Ask yourself this. Is your note 2 rooted and rommed? if so it might run pretty good and i had one for several months and one of if not my favorite device to date. Now compare a rooted/rommed note 2 to a stock note 3. about the same you may say. Now imagine a rooted/rommed note 3? Blazing fast. I dont "NEED" the note 3 but i felt the note 2 is lacking when compared to the note 3 now. And the screen you can so see pixelation on the note 2 if you cant i just dont believe that. Note 3 with 4.3 out of the box, s800, 3 gb of ram, bigger screen with better ppi and resolution, better s pen. I could go on all night but i dont see a negative to the note 3 except maybe the price but its the same price point as note 2 was so not much to say there
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Yes, I'm rooted. "Blazing fast" you say? How much time can you shave off from .5 seconds? And how much money is each tenth of a second worth? There's no denying the hardware improvements. I'm simply not convinced that there's enough advancement in utility to justify spending the money Samsung is asking me to spend. And perhaps I don't notice pixilation because I'm looking at the screen from reading distance. If that's the case, I stand corrected.
While I do agree with your points, the main reason I am upgrading to the n3 from my n2 is the bigger storage defaulted at 32gb minimum (25gb actual usage) better resolution and better s-pen support. I understand not everyone has the money to spend on upgrades every year, but for those that do might as well have the latest n greatest!
Sent from my note 2 ya bish!
note 1 to note 2, vs note 1 to note 3
I have the Note1, when the 2 came out, I said that there wasn't much worth jumping, but the N1 to N3 jump
will be a better option. I agree, unless something "game changing" happens, it's usually better to skip a version.
Well, that is unless you are an iPhone drone...ANYTHING that comes out new, 3, 3S, 4, 4S, 5...heck it hasn't
changed, but the iSheep sure stand in line
Bruce lee roy said:
In all of the videos I've seen (and I've seen a lot) the phone appears to perform at the same level as my phone. There are a few software additions but none seem too advanced for my hardware.
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I have a N2 (which I love) but mine's surely different than yours if yours performs like the one in GSMArena's unboxing video. The amount of lag on the N2 pinch-zooming to display multiple home pages is obvious vs. what's shown on the N3. Same thing for using S Note and Action Memo (formerly Pop Up Note). Now if you're rooted and running a non-TW ROM that may be a different story. If you are, that’s great. But believe it or not people actually do buy the Note for its marketed productivity and creation features. And those features will perform significantly better on the N3 because of the advanced h/w and improved s/w.
Not big on unwarranted consumerism.
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That's a valid point. Replacing my N2 with a N3 is a want not a need. I could spout some random commentary about "increased productivity" but I'm getting a N3 because the differences are sufficient enough to me to warrant the investment; even though it's purely discretionary. You and others may feel differently and that’s perfectly fine. There’s nothing wrong with the N2.
Here is one of the only reviews that didn't insist that I run out and buy the Note.
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Doesn't that in and of itself say something? Or are all the positive reviews (actually "hands on") just part of the conspiracy?
It was kinda refreshing to read after being completely inundated by what seemed to be a very aggressive marketing ploy
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That's kind of funny. So you think Samsung should say in their marketing “the N3 is a meh upgrade from the N2 that only people who are irresponsible with their finances or easily influenced should buy?" I'm in marketing and spend every business day figuring out how to separate people from their money. If you're looking for honesty, integrity, and conscience you're not going to find it in sales and marketing. At least not at a for-profit company.
Here are links to two different threads that detail some of the differences between the N2 and N3. Whether they are worthwhile or not is subjective and I wouldn't fault either camp (keep N2/upgrade to N3) for their decision. And theads like this are swell and "pro" threads are too; as long as people provide their opinions followed by "for/to me." I'm very pro and you're pretty down on the N3. Neither of us is right or wrong.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2438466
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2445774
I have a galaxy S 2. I'm loving this upcoming upgrade for myself.
I don't know what everyone's layout/plan is, but I have 2 smartphones and 2 feature phones (both of which don't use upgrades). So I can get an upgrade every year at subsidy pricing. So every year I upgrade and sell the old to neutralize the cost of it (some cases making money). Waiting would cause the old phone to depreciate too much and make upgrading more expensive. So I don't really upgrade based on features, more to continue advancing with little to no cost (or rebate).
Fact of the matter is if History repeats itself like it always does
People will buy it or upgrade to N3 anyways even the ones here saying skip it.
Its not the ram cam... or CPU its the ir blaster that's a big selling point I believe.
I think the lg g2 is more appealing as crazy and that sounds .
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
I have the note 2 and plan to get the N3 as long as the bootloader is not locked or if it is wait to see if it can be cracked.
Why would I buy it since I have the N2 (and an s3 & s4) you ask? Simple answer is because I can, and I dont say that in arrogant way..its just not a big deal to me to buy a few devices per year.i may pick up the nexus 5 as well..who knows lol.
The 2 things ( and they are minor) I dislike are cosmetic. The back cover is awful and I dont like how the spen just sticks out. On the note 2 its curved and blends in with the back...it looks sleek.
Other than that all good.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda premium
force70 said:
I have the note 2 and plan to get the N3 as long as the bootloader is not locked or if it is wait to see if it can be cracked.
Why would I buy it since I have the N2 (and an s3 & s4) you ask? Simple answer is because I can, and I dont say that in arrogant way..its just not a big deal to me to buy a few devices per year.i may pick up the nexus 5 as well..who knows lol.
The 2 things ( and they are minor) I dislike are cosmetic. The back cover is awful and I dont like how the spen just sticks out. On the note 2 its curved and blends in with the back...it looks sleek.
Other than that all good.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda premium
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Click to collapse
+1 to that.
I say that skipping a generation is a great and very economical idea, save your money plus really see the difference when you do upgrade.
However, If you have the money and do not need to justify the upgrade, then I'M right there with you. The Note series is just perfect for me, from music, movies, drawing, photoshoping, roms and games. There is no question that I will be getting the N3 and the N4 the N5....... and so on.
Thanks to the OP for posting. It is always nice to see both sides.
i also have a Gnote and i didn't get a Gnote2 because i reasoned the same as the OP ... not much of a difference.
now the Gnote to the Gnote3 will be a HUGE upgrade this phone looks sick :highfive:
Meh.. I have a 2 month old HTC one and will be selling it to get the note 3
Love my HTC one .. but
- i want the bigger screen
- I want the s pen
- I love the design of the note 3
- I get bored easily with phones
- I got my HTC one free cause I work for a carrier.
- Samsung phone hold there value better than HTC phones
- I fear support dropping off for HTC since they are struggling as a company
- I upgrade as often as possible so that my previous device hasn't depreciated much and it's cheaper to upgrade.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
I love my Note 2 but I upgrade every year. Before that I had a Verizon Nexus; 2 completely different devices so you really notice the improvement right away. But this year I don't feel as excited about going from a Note 2 to a Note 3 especially after buying a Note 10.1 a month ago. I picked up a LG G2 on Sunday and I find it very nice. Smaller but just as powerful as a Note 3. After carrying the Note 2 around since launch day going back to a smaller phone feels nice. And if you think about it there is only 0.1" difference between the 5.2" G2 vs the original Note 5.3" display. So your not giving up tons in screen size but it feels more comfortable. You do however give up the S-Pen.
I've only had 1 day with the G2 but there's not many options. Sure I can get the HTC One for $49 or the S4 for $100 but those phones are reaching their mid life crisis. The phone I really want is the Nexus 5 but not sure if I can give up my reliable service for prepaid.
Having owned several Exynos (fabbed by Samsung) based devices including the Note II I appreciate the stability where it's rare or non-existent to experience a random reboot, app suddenly exiting, etc. Can't say the same for my devices based on Qualcomm fabbed by TSMC. If Snapdragon is the only US option then I'll probably skip Note III, wait for Note IV and hope for return of Exynos. A fast unstable device is useless to me like the Snapdragon based Nexus 7 (2013) that I'm experiencing overheating instablity issues with.
clninja said:
Meh.. I have a 2 month old HTC one and will be selling it to get the note 3
Love my HTC one .. but
- i want the bigger screen
- I want the s pen
- I love the design of the note 3
- I get bored easily with phones
- I got my HTC one free cause I work for a carrier.
- Samsung phone hold there value better than HTC phones
- I fear support dropping off for HTC since they are struggling as a company
- I upgrade as often as possible so that my previous device hasn't depreciated much and it's cheaper to upgrade.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Going from an HTC One or even a S4 is understandable. It's the people that already have Note 2. Especially since the Note 2 has a unlocked bootloader right now. There should be customs roms based on the Note 3 ported over to the Note 2 pretty soon I'd imagine.
I have the original Note and reasoned that I'd skip a generation so the Note 3 is on my shopping list, but I don't think I'll go for it, at least not initially. I never buy with a plan, use only prepaid because I actually don't call people, I complement it with a surfing plan, but they don't offer those for LTE yet. Besides, my Note I bought outside Japan so there was only Samsung bloatware on it, Japanese operators load their phones with so much crap it is laughable, hence if you can't root and install a standard Samsung ROM, I happen to be happy with Touchwiz, then I'd be happier with what I have.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk 4
For me price could be one factor which will keep me away from note 3. I will buy it later on when price will drop.
So I am getting sick of the battery life of this device and charging twice a day just to get by... the QC helps but it isn't always a viable option for someone who is on the road/travels a lot. I am probably going to go back to my Moto G 2015 for the time being as I could get a full days use most of the time on a single charge and just selling my MXPE.
But now the question comes up as what to replace it with... Moto G 5th gen, Blu Pure XR, ZTE Axon 7 Mini, or ???
My requirements are simple, or so I think...
1) 4+ hours SOT, preferably 5+, in mixed signal environment of WiFi/LTE/3G and sometimes without the best signal strength (for reference, I currently get about 2.5 hours on MXPE)
2) 5.2"-5.7" screen with 1080p minimum resolution
3) Stock Android, "near" stock, or simple UI (no TouchWiz, EMUI, ZenUI, or other bloated UI) that allows easy use of replacement launcher
4) 64GB internal storage or 32GB internal+microSD
5) 3GB or more of RAM
6) Full AT&T network compatibility (GSM 850/1900 and LTE Band 2/4/5/12/17 and optionally 29/30)
7) Nougat or Marshmallow with a Nougat upgrade "guaranteed"
8) 3.5mm headphone jack
9) Dual band WiFi - 2.4 & 5Ghz
10) $300USD or less
Would be nice, but not essential...
1) Unlockable bootloader (implies root/custom recovery/ROM development community)
2) Front facing speakers
3) NFC
4) USB 3.0
Absolute no no's are Samsung, Asus, or Huawei/Honor devices.
What else fits these requirements that I am not considering?
I believe the one phone that comes to mind that would fit most of your requirements is the Axon. I took a break from the MXPE (when it flew off my roof and died a horrible death in a rain storm) and had the Axon 7 (normal size) for about a month. You will get NEAR 4 hours of SoT, a qhd screen, 5.5 inches, relatively light for metal body. Unlockable bootloader and decent dev for it, last I checked. Things that bothered me/ pissed me off were that DTTW was laggy and slow, the actual cell service seemed to be really bad, possibly because of the full metal body phone, and the biggest annoyance - no backlit capacitive buttons, so you were left sort of blind in the dark trying to hit buttons. There is also no way through the build.prop to enable the on-screen buttons to bypass the issue at night, last I checked.
LG V20 could be an option too since it has a bootloader unlock now, 3.5-4.5 hours of SoT. I think it has a bottom bezel speaker though, which is a little weird, and as always the LG software has complaints. The dev is good enough to get around that though.
I'm in the same boat as you though. I've been looking pretty hard to find a new phone and the V20 is the only one I am really considering right now.
Get the OnePlus 3T it meets all your needs I get easily 6 to 7 HR sot
datchico305 said:
Get the OnePlus 3T it meets all your needs I get easily 6 to 7 HR sot
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Would love to... tell me where I can get a new OP3T for under $300... That one is a hard stop requirement.
@xgerryx Same for LG V20 and Axon 7 (which never goes on sale, although the Mini does often), the $300 price point is a big deal
This phone has been a little disappointing. It's good, but definitely not great. It's a night and day difference from the Galaxy S3 I was using, but I wish I had held out a little longer for the SD 820 phones instead of buying in 2015.
It sounds like you've already got a pretty inclusive list for phones that are sold in the US and meet your requirements.
I just checked swappa, and if you're willing to go used, the OnePlus 3 is starting to get down towards the price point you're looking for. It has the same size battery as the MXP, and between the more efficient SoC than this godawful 808/810 generation and an FHD AMOLED I'd think you should get better screen on time out of it. It's a OnePlus so it has loads of good development, so you'll have all kinds of kernel/rom/tweaking available to really squeeze every erg out of it.
jason2678 said:
This phone has been a little disappointing. It's good, but definitely not great. It's a night and day difference from the Galaxy S3 I was using, but I wish I had held out a little longer for the SD 820 phones instead of buying in 2015.
It sounds like you've already got a pretty inclusive list for phones that are sold in the US and meet your requirements.
I just checked swappa, and if you're willing to go used, the OnePlus 3 is starting to get down towards the price point you're looking for. It has the same size battery as the MXP, and between the more efficient SoC than this godawful 808/810 generation and an FHD AMOLED I'd think you should get better screen on time out of it. It's a OnePlus so it has loads of good development, so you'll have all kinds of kernel/rom/tweaking available to really squeeze every erg out of it.
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That actually could be an option... I will investigate further.
acejavelin said:
Would love to... tell me where I can get a new OP3T for under $300... That one is a hard stop requirement.
@xgerryx Same for LG V20 and Axon 7 (which never goes on sale, although the Mini does often), the $300 price point is a big deal
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If you happen to be SUPER interested in the V20, I have seen some go for like 310-320 on Swappa in good to mint condition. You gotta hound the seller though and keep track of it all damn day for when the price drops. Not an awesome experience but I'm waiting for the same thing myself.
xgerryx said:
If you happen to be SUPER interested in the V20, I have seen some go for like 310-320 on Swappa in good to mint condition. You gotta hound the seller though and keep track of it all damn day for when the price drops. Not an awesome experience but I'm waiting for the same thing myself.
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I'm not really interested... TBH, my experience with non-Nexus LG Android devices has been... well... lets just say less then wonderful.
Although I would have to say that the LG enV from years ago probably ranks up there as my favorite phone of all time, back when you could actually get DAYS of usage out of a cell phone on a single charge. I remember I would charge it twice a week. lol
acejavelin said:
I'm not really interested... TBH, my experience with non-Nexus LG Android devices has been... well... lets just say less then wonderful.
Although I would have to say that the LG enV from years ago probably ranks up there as my favorite phone of all time, back when you could actually get DAYS of usage out of a cell phone on a single charge. I remember I would charge it twice a week. lol
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Yea I agree. After my terrible experience with the buggy LG G4, I'm very skeptical about going back again. At the same time I am running out of companies to try out! Haha. Gotta circle back eventually, especially on Verizon.
xgerryx said:
Yea I agree. After my terrible experience with the buggy LG G4, I'm very skeptical about going back again. At the same time I am running out of companies to try out! Haha. Gotta circle back eventually, especially on Verizon.
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NEVER AGAIN!!! I refuse to drop $140 plus taxes and fees (realistically $160) for the service level I get now for $72 per month. Plus the limitations on devices, I would have to buy at least one new phone and/or go under contract. Nope, not happening. (Can you tell I have a grudge against Verizon, lol)
I would look around swappa for a OnePlus 3 or 3t it's worth it no bugs lag free and monthly updates it's already on nougat 7.1.1 and the beta builds they offer are great as well and development is great lots of greats ROMs and kernels and unlocking bootloader will not void warranty
TBH...I think you will have a hard time meeting all of your requirements right now. The market looks pretty dismal which is very unfortunate. I personally will hold out a little longer. I'm really looking hard at what Nokia/HMD are coming up with and hoping their roadmap for US devices includes a mid range device soon. So far their line up seems decent and if they are true to their word about expedient updates for Android, and they will sell devices with unlockable bootloaders at decent prices, I'll be sold.
moving to a galaxy s8 plus, comes tomorrow
unitz0mbie said:
moving to a galaxy s8 plus, comes tomorrow
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Like @acejavelin stated, Samsung is not an option, and I agree with him. Yes they have great hardware for the most part, but a less powerful processor running vanilla, our near vanilla Android will run just as well considering the lack of heavy handed UX. I will admit the phone looks great hardware and looks wise, but I personally don't like the look and feel of Samsung TW.
unitz0mbie said:
moving to a galaxy s8 plus, comes tomorrow
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Sammie's are to bloated... Every Samsung devices we have ever had has been problematic... Hope you enjoy yours though but I would never spend that kind of money on a phone.
I have a moto g5 plus as well, its pretty good. It's fast and smooth. Screen and camera are good too, but obviously not as good as the X style.
Yes mxpe battery sucks. I have to charge 2-3 times a day and am not even a heavy user. I know its more than your actual budget but better wait, save a bit more and probably the price will drop also and go for a OP 3T.
i know your problem man.. but why don't you wait for a nougat update?? why not? maybe they might fix up the battery drain issue!
there are barely very less phones which have dual front facing speakers.. market has got very saturated.. all look for flagship but they just don't think that having a good speakers is also a part of flagship project!
as per my personal opinion... this phone is just the best phone ive ever used (till 2015) but in upcoming era you will see more and more features
i will recommend you to wait and not hurry up to get a phone...
if you need a pure stock surely get nexus but just wait for new nexus phone.. maybe they might consider it as a flagship and the value might be cheap??
anyways if you're just asking for all the requirements my opinion (AXON 7) not just only for dual front facing speakers but also for the processor(sd 820),storage(64gb,6gb ram) expandable ovbio (256gb)
plot twist: has hybrid sim XD
but im legit that it'll be upgraded to android 'O'
but it cost around $350
think man.. public reviews are also good
it meets all the requirements but is as costly as mxpe
Sagar_1401 said:
i know your problem man.. but why don't you wait for a nougat update?? why not? maybe they might fix up the battery drain issue!
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Nougat can't "fix" our battery issue... Radio and display panel are hardware issues and that's where 75% of all battery drain is. It isn't even issues, it's just how much power they use normally. The SD808's radios are terribly inefficient, and the display panel uses more power than some small towns. If you think Nougat is going to noticably improve active use time, your kidding yourself.
To be honest, I might just pull my old Nexus 5 out if the drawer and switch to it... The battery life can't be much worse.
The sound aspect is less important. FF speakers are nice, but as long as I can hear a YouTube video in an average room and turn the ringer up enough u don't care.
I bought the MXPE as an upgrade to my G 2015 and it was on sale for under $250, and for the most part it is, I just didn't realize how bad the battery was, it is easily half of my G.
I got Axon 7 after X and can't be happier. I've had the A7 since August. Has the front speakers i wanted, nice beautiful Samsung screen. Battery is definitely better then X. Software was buggy at the beginning but they have improved it a lot. Axon 7 has been getting a lot of updates, doesn't mean it'll continue, we were the 1st ones to receive 7.0 with the exception of Google devices, and we are the only ones so far (afaik) to receive 7.1.1 with also the exception of Google devices.
It has its flaws but i love the phone. For the money you can't beat it. It's on sale now on newegg for $330.
I need a new phone. I've been on a Note 4 for a while now, and it has reached its end-of-life. Done tons of research, and even when compared against the latest-and-greatest, the Pixel 2 still reviews well. It seems to be exactly what I am looking for. Even though the announcement of the Pixel 3 is right around the corner, it will mostly likely be late Oct / early Nov before consumers can get them in hand anyway. Five months is a long time, and I'm kind of ready to make a move now.
Is the Pixel 2 still the way to go? Do I have to bite the bullet and get another Samsung and get an s9? (I'm on AT&T btw, and I'm really really sick of having a carrier locked phone and waiting on AT&T to add bloatware to all the updates).
Would I be stupid to get the Pixel 2 today? Talk me into it / talk me out of it.
You'd be stupid to go Samsung again, that's for sure.
The Note 4 was arguably Samsung's peak for the Note line, and the S7 Edge the peak for their S line. Sure the new designs are fancy, but are fragile, and Samsung are horrendous when it comes to updates.
I'd suggest looking into a OnePlus 6 especially if you're sick of being carrier locked. Cheaper and more powerful than the Pixel 2, better in every way aside from speakers and camera if they are important to you.
That being said, I miss my Pixel 2 XL for the software as it's so damn smooth, but I do not miss the abysmal screen (Note 4 screen is better). So if you go Pixel 2, definitely get the smaller one with the nicer Samsung screen.
As opposed to what ? Samsung ? Pixel 2 still had several years of guaranteed updates and a smoother software interface with less bloat. I could understand MAYBE if you said an iPhone as most businesses are starting to use iOS and Apple supports their software for several years but against a Samsung that's just a joke.
My $0.02., develop your own pros/cons list as no one knows what's more important to you, than you. Example, I absolutely hate lag in software, probably an unhealthy amount... I also enjoy a headphone jack, but that's less important than software to _me_. At the end of the day, no phone is better at software and camera than the Pixel 2 (I have non-XL, coming from a Samsung Galaxy S3) and that's what I think ultimately creates the Pixel appeal because literally every time you use your phone, in an app, to take a pic, etc, you get that top-of-the-line software experience. How much does Samsung's superior hardware matter when apps lag or freeze and frustrate the user or they're running a 6-month old security patch level?
Also got mine 50% off during Verizon's Black Friday deal last year, figured the savings was worth the locked bootloader. Then we got an unlock method anyways in December so win-win, half price + unlocked BL now. Is the P2 worth full price to you? Who knows. But good luck whatever path you choose!
istrikerx said:
You'd be stupid to go Samsung again, that's for sure.
The Note 4 was arguably Samsung's peak for the Note line, and the S7 Edge the peak for their S line. Sure the new designs are fancy, but are fragile, and Samsung are horrendous when it comes to updates.
I'd suggest looking into a OnePlus 6 especially if you're sick of being carrier locked. Cheaper and more powerful than the Pixel 2, better in every way aside from speakers and camera if they are important to you.
That being said, I miss my Pixel 2 XL for the software as it's so damn smooth, but I do not miss the abysmal screen (Note 4 screen is better). So if you go Pixel 2, definitely get the smaller one with the nicer Samsung screen.
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I love my Pixel 2, but honestly the reason I bought it was because of the camera and because I thought there would be more rom development by this point, but mostly for the camera. I came from a oneplus 3t and I loved that phone so much. The development community was large and very active, and the phone's hardware was awesome.
If it wasn't for the Pixel 2's camera, I would've much rather upgraded to a newer oneplus device or even stuck with my 3t. But seriously, imo forget samsung and there locked ass bootloaders and stupidly overpriced phones.
I ditched Samsung (S6) finally last month and got the Pixel2. I am not much of a ROM flasher but root is very important to me. I was dreading going down in resolution but haven't regretted it once.
Is there any reason NOT to get the Pixel 2? What other phone is popular enough to receive continual updates, and easy to find accessories? Gives fast performance without lag-inducing bloat-ware?
I have an AT&T brand Note 8 and i really like the phone (wish i would have bought the unlocked version). But i like to root and flash roms occasionally and I'm pretty limited on the Note 8. Lucky me my work takes me all across Texas and i just happen to be where AT&T don't have service so i bought the Pixel 2 direct from Google and I'm loving it. I'm running it on Verizon. Super easy to unlock bootloader and root. I've only had it for about a month now and have only did one update (the June update) that got a little confusing but i figured it out (i downloaded it myself from Google instead of doing the ota). Personally, i think the camera on the Note 8 is better than the Pixel 2 camera, but i have both phones so i can always take pictures with the Note and it syncs to my Google photos and i have the pic on both phones. I do feel like the Pixel runs a lot smoother than the Note though. If you buy a Pixel, I'd suggest buying straight from Google so you don't have to worry about the bootloader, although i know carriers bundling things in makes it hard to pass up.
I believe it is still going strong and worth a buy.
Personally I don't the notch design which everyone is copying from Apple now.
In fact I bought one three weeks ago and I'm very happy with it. It's already running Android P DP3. I have considered a Huawei P20, but in the end went with the Pixel 2, mainly because of the fast updates and stock Android (I came from a Nexus 5X)
No regrets!
Meh not that many accessories...
mellojoe said:
Is there any reason NOT to get the Pixel 2? What other phone is popular enough to receive continual updates, and easy to find accessories? Gives fast performance without lag-inducing bloat-ware?
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Well, gotta disagree a little with you on the bolded section. The P2 just isn't sold in large enough numbers to get the choices in accessories like the mainstream iPhones, S9, etc. Otterbox Defender series only has 2 colors for crying out loud...
Edit: a word
It could be a winner for you if that's what you want...luv mine!
Personally I would wait and buy a cheaper, last year's phone in the meanwhile.
Pixel 2 series is great, but you still have to make hard compromises. If you want the 2018 screen quality, go pixel 2; if you want a 2018 battery life and screen size, go XL. But to me these 3 things are essential to a phone (ok maybe not the screen size). Considering the price being top of the lines even compared to an iPhone, and it is a 2017 phone (sort), I would wait.
Plus I got a feel that Pixel 3 may come with wireless charging and other technologies that would make using a phone more convenient. While Pixel 2 is just, with great camera. Not an important factor to me personally.
I just got it coming from a Huawei mate 10
Honestly its a great phone . I got the small version cuz I have a U11PLUS plus as my daily big screen phone. And it's awesome they have all these goodness in such a small phone can be handled one hand
At the moment u11plus plus 128gb and 6gb ram is going for 600$ ish on eBay. If u don't care about updates I would advice u to go with it. The camera with gcam performing better than the pixel believe it or not and the battery is the best in the market. Colours of amazing silver or red are phenomenal, nothing else comes close even the copycat p20 pro
Absolutely! I would recommend the Pixel 2 to anybody who asked I haven't even had any reason to want the XL - I've just got the 5" Pixel.
The software is essentially bloat-free (if you use the Google apps) and the experience is as polished as that of the iPhone.
(I'm not a fan of the iPhone but anybody who's used an Android can't deny on most phones the platform is bloated and a little half-assed in places.)
Plus, if you're big into getting the latest Android versions - we get the Android betas first (and they're supported for 2 years.)
And, once the 2 years are up, if you haven't got a new phone by then, I'd imagine there would be a ton of custom ROMs and such for the phone.
I'm planning on developing some ROMs for the Pixel 2 but I haven't for the moment because I have no reason to; the software is the best I've experienced, so I have no reason to mod the phone. (This is probably why there isn't much in the way of development going on for the phone)
In my opinion, the camera is excellent; I don't use it that much but when I do, it's fast, the quality is fantastic and I have trouble faulting it.
Finally, the battery life is great. As a student, I don't use my phone all day but relatively speaking, I'm quite a heavy user and I get about 3 hours more screen time than most others. Plus, as the phone charges to upwards of 80% in about 45 minutes, battery isn't really an issue. (5-10 minutes at an AC outlet can usually get it up to 20%.)
TL;DR: Particularly if you buy a phone for utility (rather than as a fashion statement), this phone is brilliant. It's the best Android device I've ever owned and, I think, one of the best on the market.
If you want something that looks a bit more flashy, I'd suggest the Pixel XL, though.
The give-a-friend 15% offer is making this pracitcally a no-brainer for me. That brings a brand new direct from Google Pixel2 to $550. That's basically the same price as low end or older model phones. Looks like I'll be picking one up. Thanks for the advice.
Feel free to add any more thoughts, tho, cause I'm sure as we get closer to the launch of the 3, more people are going to be asking for opnions on the 2 as a budget-friendly option.
jerryhou85 said:
I believe it is still going strong and worth a buy.
Personally I don't the notch design which everyone is copying from Apple now.
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Let me correct you sir. Copying from Essential ph-1, not apple. Apple copying that design from Essential ph-1. Get it right.
ivanov13 said:
Let me correct you sir. Copying from Essential ph-1, not apple. Apple copying that design from Essential ph-1. Get it right.
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Ahh, I see. Learned that recently, thanks.
This year Pixel 3 should be the choice if I want to change my phone again.
edwinek said:
In fact I bought one three weeks ago and I'm very happy with it. It's already running Android P DP3. I have considered a Huawei P20, but in the end went with the Pixel 2, mainly because of the fast updates and stock Android (I came from a Nexus 5X)
No regrets!
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me too, I bought my pixel 2 (128GB) using a 20% coupon, used to have a nexus 5x, huge improvement
Hi All,
I was wondering what you guys think of the phone now 8 months down the line. I am getting this at a good price around £650 for a good condition used phone on ebay. I was wondering if you guys think most of its problems have been fixed by now.
Just to give you a background, I currently have a note 9 and frankly I am very happy with this phone but it is old now and I am itching to upgrade to something newer, primarily for the cameras and 120hz refresh rate. I did buy the S21 ultra on pre-order but was really disappointed with the camera performance as I found the images my exynos variant produced to be very soft and noisy and not as sharp/clear as my note 9 and overall the phone felt like a big compromise (no s-pen, no sd card, no headphone jack) after paying £1300, so I sent it back. The camera and screen are the primary reasons for me to upgrade and I expect at least decent battery life (maybe 6-7 hours SOT with youtube abd browsing). I do use the S-Pen every now and then and think it would be a good to have. I know the note 20 ultra doesnt support WQHD+ and 120hz at the same time but at the price im getting it at i think this is a compromise i am willing to make since i mostly use my phone at FHD+ anyway and I can barely tell the difference.
I know there was talk about the exynos variant being bad when compared to the SD 865+ version but frankly I am not a gamer and dont need my phone to be ultra powerful. But what i would like to know from you guys is whether the software updates over the past 8 months have fixed most of the issues with battery life and camera performance. Those of you coming from the s10 range or the note 10+ / Note 9 etc. How would you say the camera is on the Note 20 U? Do you guys think its a good buy now? Or should I just give it a miss and hang on to the note 9 till they stop the security patches? Any advise is appreciated.
I have a mate who upgraded from the Note 9 to the Note 20 Ultra. He was VERY impressed with the differences...
He has the Exynos variant but when there is no other phones to compare but what you already have he's happy...
It all comes down to you, go to a store, play with a demo version and make up your mind.
I've upgraded from S10e Exynos with 4,5 screen on time maximum and terrible idle battery drain to Note 20 Ultra Snapdragon. First week was thinking to give it back because it was too big for me and those rounded edges always made me typos. Then I've get used to it, set the keyboard paddings from edges and finally bought nice case (I never used any cases before) and now I'm totally happy with it. I as far as I've read it's almost impossible to get 7-8 screen on time on Exynos variant. I got around 7 on my Snapdragon version but never tested it with gaming so I can not tell yet how good the battery is. I can tell that Qualcomm modem is much better in sense of keeping good connection and speed and very good keeping battery in idle state. Considering the camera - it's much better that in my old S10e ofcourse but I don't use it often so can't say I care about it much. What I love about my new Note 20 ultra Snapdragon is I've rooted it to tweak some small things here and there and now totally feel it's mine. I've rooted my past phones around 5 years ago last time.
Not sure if anything I said will help you but if you have any questions I would be glad to answer.
Thanks guys really useful. As mentioned I don't really need a new phone as my current phone does pretty much what I need it to. But I am itching to upgrade and I don't want to end up being stuck with something that I feel is not as good as my current phone. I currently average 4-5 hours screen on time on my 2 year old note 9 which I think is good for an old phone so hoping to get more. The S21U was good battery wise I got 7 hours SOT with 10% remaining. But the cameras were a let down for the price. I might just wait a couple of months and pick one used if they fix the camera with software updates as the price difference doesn't seem that much like a barely used S21U is going for around 850 on ebay so might be worth the extra 200 vs the note 20 ultra. Especially because I heard a lot of bad things about the n20u battery in particular.
Hi, @eldrid
I upgraded (downgraded considering the cost/storage, lol) from the Note9 (512GB) to the Note20 Ultra (128GB) with Android 11/One UI 3.1.
Have you considered replacing the battery in your Note9? Maybe have the battery replaced and purchase the N20U?
I don't use the camera much, but hopefully one of the forum members will give you some feedback on the N9 vs N20U cameras.
I can hear the Note20 Ultra camera *rattle* but I think this is normal??
If you purchase the N20, you may not want to update the phone to Android 11 (scoped storage, bugs galore, etc...).
I enjoy using the N9 more than the N20U because of the OS and the apps function without issue.
I detest Android 11, ahem, and think it contributes to my attitude of the N20U. N9 is the Beast!
I haven't had note 9 earlier but for me the note 20 ultra is perfect.
We get 1080p with 120hz (sure only 1080p but battery friendly and do you even notice higher res on regular basis?)
Sdcard slot, perfect for pictures, movies, big files and so on, also very easy to swap. (cloud exist but what about vacation or if u got limited data)
Very good cameras, still one of the best out there.
Very good performance with snapdragon 865+, even the exynos one is good. Recent updates have made it better than release version.
S-pen in a slot, no ugly weird case and all functions works perfectly.
The design is also very modern and future proof, I mean the front is almost all display.
People even speculate that this could be the last note ever, so if I were u, I would really consider note 20u if u liked your note 9 and want something better.
I've had my Note 20 Ultra Exynos version since launch, and it's a lot better now than it was when it first came out in both battery life & performance, I also don't game on phone's so it's been more than fine for me.
The camera has also been on point for me as well I've not been disappointed with any pictures or videos I've taken with it.
For 650 quid i think it's well worth it for what you get.
Thanks a ton guys for the honest advice. I finally picked an almost new one for £650 on ebay. They offer a 30 day return so fingers crossed i hope it works out. I won't be selling my note 9 just yet so I will have some time to compare side by side and see what it's like. I am sure it's an upgrade in many regards. But the three key things for me are 1)screen and I'm sure that's great I don't use wqhd and will be perfectly happy with the adaptive 1080 120hz. 2)The cameras... This is one area I am not sure how it will be... This is a very subjective area but I like my images to be sharp and I noticed on the S21U the images were soft and fuzzy not crisp like on the note 9. And 3) is battery life... I still get around 5 hours from the note 9 which is great so I hope to get at least that much. Will keep you guys posted on how it goes over the next few days. I feel like @650 there won't be much to complain about. I was really upset with the s21 ultra as I had paid full price for it and it (£1300) and it felt like a downgrade. Seems like the more modern Samsung phones while powerful are compromising on the basics and are not what they used to be 2 years ago.
Finally got the note20u and frankly I am quite happy with it. I am getting pretty good SOT and plus i used Bluetooth headphones for at least an hour. Considering that I think the battery life is good. Also the camera software seems to be ironed out and the image sharpness is much better than the current image quality on the S21U 1st pic is from note 20u and 2nd from s21u. Overall I think it was a good buy. I would never recommend anyone buying a Samsung phone at launch as the software is very unpolished and you pay a huge amount for an unfinished product. Comparing the experience i have with this nearly new note 20u for 650 is great compared to the ****ty experience the s21u offers for £1200 plus no sd card support or charger in the box. Very good value overall at £650
I upgraded from my still pristine Note 9 and found it a very worthy successor. From the enhanced Dex and S-pen features to the improved cameras, the Note 20 Ultra has provided me with a great user experience. Given Samsung's quest for becoming more -like and shedding features left and right, the Note 20 Ultra is the closest to what the Note line once was: the no holds barred, everything but the kitchen sink, no compromises, Note. I don't know if there is a Note 21 Ultra in the works and if there is it will probably include less features than the Note 20 Ultra offers.
Medevac1 said:
I upgraded from my still pristine Note 9 and found it a very worthy successor. From the enhanced Dex and S-pen features to the improved cameras, the Note 20 Ultra has provided me with a great user experience. Given Samsung's quest for becoming more -like and shedding features left and right, the Note 20 Ultra is the closest to what the Note line once was: the no holds barred, everything but the kitchen sink, no compromises, Note. I don't know if there is a Note 21 Ultra in the works and if there is it will probably include less features than the Note 20 Ultra offers.
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Absolutely agree. Probably why i was finding it hard to part with my note 9 as well. What a great 0 compromise device. I really hate how Samsung were originally the anti apple and a premium alternative for those that didn't want to chain themselves to apple. But now they're becoming more like apple taking away our choice.
Rumours are that there will be a watered down fan edition only this year and that the s-pen toting phone is going to be the fold from now on. If its true its a poor farewell to the note. I say they should bring back the headphone jack, sd card and pack the box with goodies. Make the whole experience of buying a premium flagship feel premium again.
eldrid said:
Absolutely agree. Probably why i was finding it hard to part with my note 9 as well. What a great 0 compromise device. I really hate how Samsung were originally the anti apple and a premium alternative for those that didn't want to chain themselves to apple. But now they're becoming more like apple taking away our choice.
Rumours are that there will be a watered down fan edition only this year and that the s-pen toting phone is going to be the fold from now on. If its true its a poor farewell to the note. I say they should bring back the headphone jack, sd card and pack the box with goodies. Make the whole experience of buying a premium flagship premium again.
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The 10+ was the last Note before Q. After Q things started going south and 11 is even worse.
Between Android and Samsung's "improvements" it's been a dismal year.
Everything's coming up psuedo Apples... and I mean that in the most derogatory way.
As for the Fold series it has been a self made disaster for Samsung. Overpriced and unreliable.
Samsung, you do know the definition of insanity don't you? Apparently not.
Late to the party here but I'm happy with my N20 Ultra 5G Snapdragon soc I imported from Hong Kong.
I wouldn't of been keen to buy a used phone from ebay due to the amount that get imei locked a few weeks / months after receiving it.
BandOfBrothers1 said:
I wouldn't of been keen to buy a used phone from ebay due to the amount that get imei locked a few weeks / months after receiving it.
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How can you avoid that from happening 100%?
Is it that common?
blackhawk said:
How can you avoid that from happening 100%?
Is it that common?
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It's something I've come across way too often throughout the years on forums.
A person sells a phone on ebay and then fraudulently claims it lost or stolen.
Auction Sites need to tighten up and introduce even more protection for the buyer as well as the seller.
BandOfBrothers1 said:
It's something I've come across way too often throughout the years on forums.
A person sells a phone on ebay and then fraudulently claims it lost or stolen.
Auction Sites need to tighten up and introduce even more protection for the buyer as well as the seller.
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Doing that in the USA be incurring multiple federal felonies.
BandOfBrothers1 said:
Late to the party here but I'm happy with my N20 Ultra 5G Snapdragon soc I imported from Hong Kong.
I wouldn't of been keen to buy a used phone from ebay due to the amount that get imei locked a few weeks / months after receiving it.
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Damn didn't know that happens. I got mine from a business seller with 100% ratings so looks like hes been at it for a while with no issues. He claims the phones are customer returns from the official Samsung store and would barely have any usage if at all. And everything looked the part it seemed brand spanking new, scratchless and even no signs wear or dust in the usb c port. Also he had a whole batch of 7-8 to sell so everything sounded legit. Let's hope everything works out well.
On a separate note. I thought id use the phone without a screen protector for a few days while the tempered glass one I ordered arrives and so removed the factory one. After a day or so i have already noticed a couple of micro scratches on the screen visible at certain angles. This is with careful use at home. I feel like this whole gorilla glass thing is just market hype.
blackhawk said:
Doing that in the USA be incurring multiple federal felonies.
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I wouldn't worry about it too much. The only reason someone would do that is to be malicious and most people are not. I doubt the seller has a personal vendetta against you. He got his money and will move on.
I have had the N20U since release and have no issues and at this point is a good as it gets functionally.
I never usually start this kind of thread as it's so based on rumor etc, and it's early days, but having been a NOTE fan (plus the s21), so far, I AM disappointed by what the rumor mill is suggesting is more of an S22 Ultra 'S' than an exciting device for 2023. I have the 22 Ultra and it seems for the first time in years, it may not be much of a difference year to year... Unless this is Samsungs way to push people to their folded devices?
Well I have no plans in the distance future to buy another phone until this one is hopefully 5 yrs old, and no longer working.. Of course if I hit the lottery, then I might buy a new one.
ekerbuddyeker said:
I never usually start this kind of thread as it's so based on rumor etc, and it's early days, but having been a NOTE fan (plus the s21), so far, I AM disappointed by what the rumor mill is suggesting is more of an S22 Ultra 'S' than an exciting device for 2023. I have the 22 Ultra and it seems for the first time in years, it may not be much of a difference year to year... Unless this is Samsungs way to push people to their folded devices?
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I'm staying put w/the S22 Ultra, as you mentioned, the 23U is a very iterative bump at most.
I'd like to see a smaller option, akin to the Note 20, but, that's not likely to be in the cards.
If their foldable lineup included something dimensionally similar to the Oppo Find N2 & had a siloed pen, that would be a great option.
I still have a Note20 Ultra, I'll be hanging on to it & the S22 Ultra for at least the next two years or so.
It does sound like it's going to be a very iterative upgrade. Really the only exciting upgrades so far are better camera and potential for much more battery efficiency. They really need to bring back the 16 GB RAM option, louder speakers, and stronger vibration motor from the S21 Ultra.
@KOLIOSIS
How you been? For once I will not jump on the newest shiny device. It's basically going to be the same device being sold again. Should be the S22 Ultra+
I'll wait for another year. My S22 Ultra has been excellent.
butchieboy said:
@KOLIOSIS
How you been? For once I will not jump on the newest shiny device. It's basically going to be the same device being sold again. Should be the S22 Ultra+
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Life is good!
Yeah, the past 2-3 model years have been pretty much meh, but, any improvement is welcome, just not enough on the S23 to rationalize an upgrade just for little else to have the latest model.
Kinda on-topic, as far as new/improved features to look for:
Looks like the EU may mandate the return of the removable battery :
The EU wants to make your next phone's battery easier to replace
The EU wants to revive the concept of removable and user-replaceable batteries
www.androidpolice.com
Barring anything new as features goes, I'm willing to wait for this to actually happen & hopefully, it'll make it's way internationally.
I don't upgrade every year. I usually go every other year. Going from the Note 10+ to the S22 Ultra was the first time i waited an extra year to upgrade. I'm waiting to see how the next Z Fold will be refreshed.