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Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Tl;dr
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
We all have our wish lists for that single, perfect phone. I know I certainly do. Whether it's the IPhone's/HTC's/Sony's great hardware/build quality, or the pure Android experience offered with Nexus, or Samsung's wide array of software features/apps, the "perfect" one.
I love technology and I love my smartphone. I love rooting, flashing, trying out a thousand different things on my phone. But why should I care about it (the smartphone) so much? Of course I have invested lots of money into my smartphone, but it's not healthy to be consumed so much by smartphone. I know I'm going a bit off-topic, but really I'm just trying to tell you, just get a phone for what it really was for, to call, to text. I know apps are so convenient nowadays because we have everything in a device, but sometimes it's not bad to do it old-fashioned.
Get a phone that you will use now and a while. Get a phone that can serve its purpose. While a phone may have many features or many apps, I highly doubt a student or a professional will find use for it every single hour of the day. Most of us I assume probably aren't developers, and even as hobbies, it shouldn't consume much time.
GG2012 said:
We all have our wish lists for that single, perfect phone. I know I certainly do. Whether it's the IPhone's/HTC's/Sony's great hardware/build quality, or the pure Android experience offered with Nexus, or Samsung's wide array of software features/apps, the "perfect" one.
I love technology and I love my smartphone. I love rooting, flashing, trying out a thousand different things on my phone. But why should I care about it (the smartphone) so much? Of course I have invested lots of money into my smartphone, but it's not healthy to be consumed so much by smartphone. I know I'm going a bit off-topic, but really I'm just trying to tell you, just get a phone for what it really was for, to call, to text. I know apps are so convenient nowadays because we have everything in a device, but sometimes it's not bad to do it old-fashioned.
Get a phone that you will use now and a while. Get a phone that can serve its purpose. While a phone may have many features or many apps, I highly doubt a student or a professional will find use for it every single hour of the day. Most of us I assume probably aren't developers, and even as hobbies, it shouldn't consume much time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is by far the best advice I have seen on xda ...ever.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
ywindlass said:
Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Back when you were content with your phone(s), things were growing much slower than they are now. At the current rate that phones are being released, it's guaranteed that there will be a new and better phone that you will want within the first year. Companies don't want you to be content with a phone for too long. I bet Samsung has better features right now that could have been added to the s4, but they want to save those for the s5.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
I agree on almost all of your points. I've had my share of android phones (G1, Moto Charm, G2x, and now Galaxy S3) and I'm beginning to become disappointed with the experience of this phone compared to that of a newer android device or even an iPhone and it's been only 8 months since I've purchased it. I don't quite agree with you on the music issue as I'm a music junkie myself with a 7 gig library but poweramp has transformed my android music listening experience into a great one.
Back to the S3, I've found that the battery life and build quality have been very sub par for me. Plus the pentile display is nothing to rave about either. Being only a sophomore in high school and tied to my family's family plan on T-Mobile, I really don't have an option to switch. I desperately want a Note 2 or Nexus 4 but financially I'm screwed. Even with the Nexus 4's low price I'd have to wait for the rumored 32gb version for storage reasons but that'd set me back $400 for shipping and tax. The S3 isn't even worth that anymore used.
All in all, I feel as if I should've waited for the Note 2 or Nexus 4 before getting the S3. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome device that's suits all of my needs fine but there are definitely better choices out there from the perspective of a critical tech junkie such as myself.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
You can see the phones I've had in my signature, all 3 Nokias were indestructible...the old flip phone, I threw it at a wall and it exploded into a million pieces, put it back together and the thing still works...man they really knew how to build phones...
The Nexus One was a great phone. I had to drop it and break the internal screen (oddly enough the outer glass didn't crack at all.). But it felt great in my hand, it was very solid and built well.
The Nexus S was kind of disappointing I have to say...Almost completely the same specs and I felt it wasn't built as well. I sold it for my GS-II
That stupid thing was the retarded stepchild of the S-II fleet...the poor developers were stuck with GB while T-Mobile picked its ass holding back all the updates. ****ty screen for sure, visible display flaws, poor PPI, cheap feeling...I never wanted to get a Samsung again. But I did...
The S-III was a huge improvement to say the least...I'm very satisfied with it. It does feel cheaper than say my old N1, but I think it feels a lot better than the NS or t989. Honestly with a screen protector and an otterbox commuter case, it's just fine. And as long as I have my Cyanogenmod, I don't care what software the thing comes with . Barring anything crazy coming out anytime soon, I don't see myself getting another phone until this falls apart.
In my eyes, as cliche as it may be, since my most important factors are Cyanogenmod and otterbox (or equivalent) case availability, all I care about are the specs. I sure hope screens stop ****in growing though...this one is almost too big as it is...
BTW: I sold my t989 on eBay for $350, all I had to do was unlock the thing, instantly increases it's value by a good $150. Always unlock your phone before you sell it, it will sell for much more.
nyyankees1237 said:
I agree on almost all of your points. I've had my share of android phones (G1, Moto Charm, G2x, and now Galaxy S3) and I'm beginning to become disappointed with the experience of this phone compared to that of a newer android device or even an iPhone and it's been only 8 months since I've purchased it. I don't quite agree with you on the music issue as I'm a music junkie myself with a 7 gig library but poweramp has transformed my android music listening experience into a great one.
Back to the S3, I've found that the battery life and build quality have been very sub par for me. Plus the pentile display is nothing to rave about either. Being only a sophomore in high school and tied to my family's family plan on T-Mobile, I really don't have an option to switch. I desperately want a Note 2 or Nexus 4 but financially I'm screwed. Even with the Nexus 4's low price I'd have to wait for the rumored 32gb version for storage reasons but that'd set me back $400 for shipping and tax. The S3 isn't even worth that anymore used.
All in all, I feel as if I should've waited for the Note 2 or Nexus 4 before getting the S3. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome device that's suits all of my needs fine but there are definitely better choices out there from the perspective of a critical tech junkie such as myself.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Referring to the music, my library exceeds 30 gigs and I've just found it irritating to sync and manage. Not a huge issue though. I think we're on the same page though. I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks that way about the device. The thing is that I can get the HTC One spending all of my current savings, but then of course that means no new phone in the coming months. And Later this year there are just too many rumors about this "X Phone" and the new nexus... Idk.
zander21510 said:
In my eyes, as cliche as it may be, since my most important factors are Cyanogenmod and otterbox (or equivalent) case availability, all I care about are the specs. I sure hope screens stop ****in growing though...this one is almost too big as it is...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see where you're coming from. I got a huge Seido case for my S3, and then took it off after about a month. I dropped it afterwards (about 9 feet onto my subwoofer, long story) and nothing happened luckily. I like it better without a case. I guess looks would be a smaller factor then. Maybe, I should just snap that huge case back on and try to hold out until the holiday season... Idk lol. Thanks for the reply. :good:
I agree, I'll wait for the next nexus or galaxy note 3 with some saved money.
Perfect phone for me though:
High quality metal build (aluminum perhaps)
1080p 5+inch screen
3000mah+ battery
2ghz quadcore processor
2gb+ ram
Micro SD card slot
64gb+ internal storage
Stock android (for nexus updates)
8+ megapixel camera
Front facing speakers
Not insanely expensive lol
A guy could dream. Can anyone get it right?
ywindlass said:
Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Companies are getting us used to crave new things within very short periods of time, an example of this is the fact that new phones, tablets or any kind of electronics pop every 4 to 6 months, which is done to satisfy our non-basic needs of always having the latest gadgets, and to create more profits or economic growth for the typical capitalist corporations. We've been spoiled to have new tech very fast, which is in a way bad as this craving (or addiction?) can easily go out control and we can be left bored with very new gadgets in our hands or even go into debt t o satisfy this craving for more. This spoiling behavior makes us feel the need to want more or not to be satisfied with what we have and we can quickly become slaves of technology if we dive too deep into it, hence what you are feeling when you say that you are growing unimpressed with so many innovations or not satisfied or please with the current technology. Perhaps I'm going a bit of topic, but is worth to be aware where we stand as consumers and the invisible ways corporations play with our "addictions" or "needs" for the latest.
I love the looks of both the Nexus 4 and the HTC one better than my Galaxy S3, but no removeable battery and no expandable memory? Get serious? I can deal with a plasic back, the price I paid tells me it's not cheap! Anyways, I don't agree with anything else you said. This phone was awesomly fast out of the box and now I have a custom ROM that even improved on that. Plus, I prefer Samoleds although I admit Samsung could do better. A 1080p screen with Super Amoled + with a different pentile arrangement would be nice. My next phone is most likely to be the Note 3, Samsung is just at the edge of innovation right now, too much so for me not to buy. Can't wait!
nyyankees1237 said:
A guy could dream. Can anyone get it right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say my dream phone would be:
-1080p 4.75in (no bigger, no smaller) super-fancy spaceage whatever screen that can actually get its brightness as low as possible at night, and stays clear and readable in direct sunlight...
-1.5ghz+ ultra-energy efficient 4+ core processor.
-2GB+ RAM
-Micro SD card
-16+ GB internal storage
-Removable back cover and battery
-NFC, Barometer, compass, so many sensors I can start a weatherstation lol.
-Vibration with adjustable intensity from barely felt to earthquake magnitude.
-Latest Cyanogenmod stock, with options to auto-update to stable, M, or nightly releases (a guy can dream...)
-A rear camera that can shoot 1080P video and instant-shutter, no noise high quality pictures, and a front camera capable of doing an HD Skype call.
-2 front-firing speakers (one on bottom, one on top that doubles as earpiece); a rear-facing mic for the camera, and a bottom-facing mic for phone calls
-Capacative buttons underneath screen (menu, home, back in that order)
-24-hour runtime battery
-Body of carbon fiber (the durabilty of plastic with the feel of metal)
-Super gorilla glass whatever that can withstand a 5-foot face-down drop.
I would pay a good $450 for that phone.
Can't forget the holographic keyboard.
Scores over 10,000 on quadrant, I saw a stock HTC one today score 9133 on quadrant running stock 4.1.2. That was impressive.
I like your dream phone.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
zander21510 said:
I would say my dream phone would be:
-1080p 4.75in (no bigger, no smaller) super-fancy spaceage whatever screen that can actually get its brightness as low as possible at night, and stays clear and readable in direct sunlight...
-1.5ghz+ ultra-energy efficient 4+ core processor.
-2GB+ RAM
-Micro SD card
-16+ GB internal storage
-Removable back cover and battery
-NFC, Barometer, compass, so many sensors I can start a weatherstation lol.
-Vibration with adjustable intensity from barely felt to earthquake magnitude.
-Latest Cyanogenmod stock, with options to auto-update to stable, M, or nightly releases (a guy can dream...)
-A rear camera that can shoot 1080P video and instant-shutter, no noise high quality pictures, and a front camera capable of doing an HD Skype call.
-2 front-firing speakers (one on bottom, one on top that doubles as earpiece); a rear-facing mic for the camera, and a bottom-facing mic for phone calls
-Capacative buttons underneath screen (menu, home, back in that order)
-24-hour runtime battery
-Body of carbon fiber (the durabilty of plastic with the feel of metal)
-Super gorilla glass whatever that can withstand a 5-foot face-down drop.
I would pay a good $450 for that phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll take two! Haha
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
The power of a desktop computer, specifically i7 3770k, gtx 580 sli x3, 24gb ram, 256gb sd, all in a sexy Nokia n9 form, running windows 8.
Thats my dream phone. Seems realistic enough.
---------- Post added at 11:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 PM ----------
ywindlass said:
Hello XDA Community,
I got my first smartphone in middle school. It was my first phone. The T-Mobile Shadow (Windows Mobile). I was 13 then. Now I'm 18, and in College. I spent my free time in doing the easy mods the community created. I got the MyTouch 3g as soon as it came out and started flashing roms. Then, the Nexus One came out and I immediately came up with a scheme to convince my sister to take my old phone so I could get the Nexus One. Anyways, I got it in 10th grade and life was sweet. I was happy. I became a "crack flasher". So I had the phone for a while and decided then to get the Galaxy S3.
As for the Galaxy S3...
I don't know about this phone. I've had it for less then a year. Obviously, I became an HTC fanboy growing up with HTC phones. My friends all got HTC phones. We all flashed roms and enjoyed ourselves. But when this phone came out, I had to make a hard decision. The removable battery, expandable storage (and T-Mobile availability) made it a good choice. It was unlike the HTC One X in those regards. (My friend got that phone) The HTC One just came out. I want it now.
Why?
Well I suppose I'm not that happy with the S3. I got a 64gb micro sd for it. I thought I could replace my ipod. I was so wrong. I hate all of the music players on Android. I regard music too highly to be happy with the Android music experience. Anyways, that's not going to change with any new Android phone. I've learned to live with that. The screen is nice, but it doesn't compare to other displays I've seen. I guess it's because I keep the DPI kind of low and expect crispness? The LG Nexus 4 has an amazing screen also and works very well. The biggest thing though, that I really dislike about this phone, is the build quality. I hate the plastic feeling. I hate the gloss and fingerprints. It feels so cheap. And, the UI isn't even liquid smooth. I've flashed a lot. I guess I'm comparing it to the Nexus 4 now, as I've played with that a bit. I've got very close to really quick, but I'm not satisfied. I paid a lot of money and invested my hopes in this technology but I'm not pleased.
I've found that throughout the time I've owned this phone, I've thought a lot of different things. I've considered Windows Phone, Blackberry, and even iPhone, just because I want something sexy that works well. But I'm an Android man.
I don't know if this is because deep down, I'm an HTC fanboy. Or if it's because I'm a Google fanboy and love Nexus phones (or a combination?). i hate these second thoughts I'm getting after such a long time of having the phone. It's not long enough to justify an upgrade. Am I cursed with being unimpressed forever growing up with so many innovations around me?
Do share your thoughts for me on this. I just wanted to share,
Cheers,
ywindlass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
" I want something sexy that works well"
Get a cerulean n9. Though the s3 hardware is very much superior to the n9, the n9 just wins hands down IMHO.
I have both phone and u would pick the n9 over the s3 any day of I didn't water damage the power switch on my n9.. Grrr Seattle rain..
wardoc22 said:
The power of a desktop computer, specifically i7 3770k, gtx 580 sli x3, 24gb ram, 256gb sd, all in a sexy Nokia n9 form, running windows 8.
Thats my dream phone. Seems realistic enough.
---------- Post added at 11:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 PM ----------
" I want something sexy that works well"
Get a cerulean n9. Though the s3 hardware is very much superior to the n9, the n9 just wins hands down IMHO.
I have both phone and u would pick the n9 over the s3 any day of I didn't water damage the power switch on my n9.. Grrr Seattle rain..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those specs would definitely be amazing haha. But yeah, I did end up getting the HTC one, and I think I'm happier. I havent even rooted yet and I'm still content. It just works so well. Everything is so clean and sexy.
nyyankees1237 said:
I agree, I'll wait for the next nexus or galaxy note 3 with some saved money.
Perfect phone for me though:
High quality metal build (aluminum perhaps)
1080p 5+inch screen
3000mah+ battery
2ghz quadcore processor
2gb+ ram
Micro SD card slot
64gb+ internal storage
Stock android (for nexus updates)
8+ megapixel camera
Front facing speakers
Not insanely expensive lol
Perfect phone for me though:
A guy could dream. Can anyone get it right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By your specs, would the Google S4 be it?
BTW, my dream specs:
1080p 5+inch screen
3000mah+battery
2ghz quadcore processor
3gb ram
Micro SD card slot
128gb+internal storage
Stock android
12+MP camera
4+MP front camera
Wireless charging
Front facing speakers
FM radio (for my mom)
LTE
Inexpensive
wardoc22 said:
Grrr Seattle rain..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rain? Seattle? Pfft.....
Thetenthdr said:
Rain? Seattle? Pfft.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It rains here 24.7 in the winter.
Yes, yes it does.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
I have an opportunity to get a 16GB Galaxy Nexus BNIB (brand new in box), literally never opened or used, for what I consider to be a really good price at this point given the age of the device. I know that as of a few days ago Google posted the 4.3 factory Android image for the Galaxy Nexus and I've been reading up on how it seems to have breathed new life into the previous flagship device for the Nexus smartphone series.
Now, with yesterday's price drop on the Nexus 4 I have to say I'm on the fence as of this moment. I'm not absolutely sure which one to get given I know the Nexus 4 will be $250 (plus tax/shipping, so about $283 and change according to Google Play), and I can get the Galaxy Nexus for $150 - no it's not some online deal, no it's not on eBay, no I can't point you to where they're that cheap, it's literally a one-time thing from a friend that worked for Google last summer and was given the GN and he never even bothered to open it (he's an iPhone person).
I guess I should say that I'm fully aware of the community of support for the Galaxy Nexus, it's huge and it continues to grow even in spite of the age of the device. It's probably only bested these days by the still awesome community of support for the HTC HD2, probably my fave device ever but that one has long since gone off my radar.
So to make a long blah blah blah help me make a decision post short, here's the real question:
If you had the chance to get a Nexus 4 16GB for $250-ish, today, or a Galaxy Nexus 16GB for $150, today, brand new never opened never touched used etc, which would you choose, and if you can say why then say why.
I'm honestly leaning towards the Galaxy Nexus for several reasons:
- I like the build better and the curved aspect of the shape/display
- I'm not a big fan of the backside glass on the Nexus 4 even in spite of it being Gorilla Glass
- the Galaxy Nexus obviously has pretty much the same or similar features as the Nexus 4 overall (meaning from a functionality standpoint)
- the Super AMOLED display (which with this one I'm considering being brand spankin' new means it doesn't have any burn-in whatsoever which does happen with AMOLED displays; I had a Galaxy S Captivate that after 1.5 years finally started showing the burn-in consistently)
- the removable battery which is probably the biggest most amazing plus of all for the Galaxy Nexus
- the pogo dock (using the contacts on the side) for the Galaxy Nexus (I know it's just for audio and charging but even so it saves wear and tear on the microUSB port (yes I'm aware it's insanely expensive but whatever)
and some other reasons as well but that covers it. So, is the Nexus 4 with a slightly increased resolution (1280x768 vs the GN at 1280x720), the quad core CPU (which isn't a big selling point to me, really), and whatever else it features that much of a better buy over the Galaxy Nexus I'm considering?
One thing that worried me about getting a Galaxy Nexus at this point would have been the age, and the wear on the internal Flash-RAM since it doesn't support a microSD card. I know that with Android 4.3 now available and TRIM finally in action, that's part of why some people are saying their Galaxy Nexus devices are "like new again" because TRIM is cleaning things up - with this brand new never used Galaxy Nexus I could buy, it would be even better and last longer because again a) it's never been used and b) I'd put 4.3 on it within an hour of opening the box, so that's a win-win if I've ever had one.
Anyway, I am seriously curious what other people might thing, so instead of asking this in the Nexus 4 forum where people would probably just flat out call me insane to want a Galaxy Nexus over that device, I figured I'd propose the question here where the Galaxy Nexus community lives.
What say you... the Galaxy Nexus brand new for $150 or the Nexus 4 for $250-ish. I really can't commit to either at this moment so I'm still on the fence.
Regarding 4G:
The 4G aspect potential for the Nexus 4 which I know can be put to use (I use the T-Mobile $30/month plan and I'm in Las Vegas where T-Mobile has outstanding coverage now) is not a consideration as I don't care about 4G at all, period, to any degree whatsoever. Obviously the Galaxy Nexus can't support that at all, but it is HSPA+ capable and again, T-Mobile here in Las Vegas has outstanding coverage so in that respect, from the actual provider perspective, the Galaxy Nexus and the Nexus 4 are the same for my intents and purposes.
The potential 4G capability of the Nexus 4 is therefore irrelevant and not a "buying point" for me at all. Just wanted to make that aspect clear in my considerations.
Thanks.
Nexus 4. I love my Gnex but for the price it will last you much longer. The Gnex although going strong is starting to show its age. And with the N4 soooo cheap I'd say go for it.
if you're getting a new phone, get the nexus 4. the extra $100 is worth it.
Guess I missed another aspect of the Galaxy Nexus that I am interested in:
Ubuntu Touch development uses the Galaxy Nexus pretty much as the reference device in terms of smartphones, and I would love to be able to do some work with that too, so that's another plus towards the GN.
Hrmmm... I see that they're working with the Nexus 4 as well, go figure.
br0adband said:
Guess I missed another aspect of the Galaxy Nexus that I am interested in:
Ubuntu Touch development uses the Galaxy Nexus pretty much as the reference device in terms of smartphones, and I would love to be able to do some work with that too, so that's another plus towards the GN.
Hrmmm... I see that they're working with the Nexus 4 as well, go figure.
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Still, you should go for the N4. Even if the Gnex is going strong now it is not going to last forever. It's slow dual core (compared to the new CPUs), slow GPU and 1 gb of ram are already showing their age. Combine that with the already leaving devs and google's now-crap-support and you should have enough reasons to buy an N4.
PS: I love my gnex but if I had the option to buy an N4 or even the N5, which is coming soon, I'd go for the new one
I'm still sad that I got the GNex last August when the N4 was right around the corner for the same price. It has me salivating for an N5 in a couple months!
I recently was in the same situation but was looking at a used Nexus 4 at the time and went with the Galaxy.
What should you do? Well, I think its more of what do you want to do with your phone.
I don't play games that are very demanding on a phone (if any), I mostly use it to browse sites / message when I'm away from a PC.
So for what I need the GNex does it fine.
If you want more power, well this price drop should effect the value of other second hand phones and you could get something better then the N4. (or a cheaper the new N4)
I've still not found a way to keep enough available memory so that my services don't eventually go into restarting loops, necessitating a reboot. My wife just got a GS4 with 2GB of ram (same amount as the N4), and it's much nicer. Haven't seen it pause for 5 seconds to reload the home screen widgets and icons when exiting the browser, that's for sure.
I think everyone with gnex should w8 until nexus 5 come out.
N4 isnt the Upgrade we're all looking for. Performance on gnex is still decent, sure getting aged a bit but still enough to handle everything for our daily needs.
I agree with the memory point, 1 gig isn't enough anymore these days. You simply getting redraws all the time using facebook or chrome.
For me it's gnex, lg can't make quality phones. Besides, the nexus 4 doesn't have lte either, so it doesn't worth "upgrading". But if buying a new phone, I think nexus 4 is better since price wise they are same, why not the newer one.
If you can wait till Nexus 5 but Nexus 4 is much smoother in every aspect. Yes 4.3 made my GN smoother but it even boosted Nexus 4 performance as well.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4
Nexus 4 has the better GPU. So I'd choose that.
Get the N4, future proof with 1.8GB of RAM. The 700 on GN is getting cramped. That's the only reason I sold mine last week for surprisingly good 200€ (was without any sings of usage though) and ordered a 250€ 16GB N4 on Play Store via German VPN, so with shipping and all that it'll be 265€ (ordered 2, we're splitting costs).
So you'll be off basically even cheaper. If you worry about the glass back, get a dBrand back sticker, looks great and protects the device.
If the Nexus 4 is still available by the end of the year, i'll get that one (Google recently chopped off 100 Euros off of the price of the N4).
I love my GNex and will most likely not sell it because it has been a very solid performer that still gets the job done.
I don't care all that much for gaming and the like, but the increase in raw processing-power and the amount fo RAM are what does it for me.
Of course, the user-replaceable battery on the GNex is a big plus, but the problem is, that in the future we are going to have to live with built-in batteries (I don't like it either, but that's the way things are looking at the moment).
Strongly considering selling my 2012 nexus 7 and then paying cash for the rest to get the 8gb nexus 4. Its such a good deal at $199.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4
madd0g said:
So you'll be off basically even cheaper. If you worry about the glass back, get a dBrand back sticker, looks great and protects the device.
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Click to collapse
Had never seen or heard of those, but that yellow one is awesome (big fan of yellow and black schemes here), thanks for the info.
I'm still on the fence, remarkably, but I think I'm leaning more towards the Nexus 4 at the moment since I do want to participate in that Ubuntu Touch testing and development. The increased horsepower of the Nexus 4 (quad core, 2GB of RAM, etc) just make it the better device even in spite of me ending up paying almost twice as much (since the GN for me would be $150 brand new as noted). And according to that spreadsheet they use for tracking progress, it's the only device that currently is fully functional as far as the aspects they've worked on (Bluetooth doesn't work on anything of course, and some other hardware like the gyroscope, etc hasn't even started development yet).
Decisions, decisions...
I really hate N4... So I choose my Galaxy Nexus....
Nexus 4 no doubt.It has better battery..more rams mean more speed , not to mention the better gpu.And with google chopped off 100 bucks of its price itll be a good deal for you mate.
Sent from my SMART Galaxy S4 i9500 via Tapatalk 2
was going to get an iphone 5 instead of my nexus , but after i knew google dropped down the price on the nexus 4 , i think i will get that ,, what do u think guys ??
Nexus 4, if I can choose straightly without losing anything.
I would replace my GNex for Nexus 4 if I no need to add something else. I know it's impossible.
However, GNex is really an amazing device. Gonna use it for another year and I'll see what's next.
I am in the market of purchasing my first Nexus device and have been looking at the Nexus 7 (2013) model but have concerns. After doing a lot of research about the various problems with the Nexus 7 the ones in particular that caught my attention are the touch screen issues, random reboots (this one is my biggest concern) and gps issues. How widespread are these issues? What is the likelihood I'll get unlucky and get a "bad" Nexus 7 tablet? I've read in various places people getting 2-4 replacements and still having the same problems. Is this isolated to a minority of people or do most Nexus 7 (2013) tablets have these issues? Is it a rare event to find a 100% functional Nexus 7? Should I wait until after the holiday season when new batches are made and hopefully have been fixed? Should I buy it all?
I have been itching to get a Nexus device for awhile. I currently own a Galaxy sIII on Verizons network and hate the fact Verizon delays android updates so I am looking to jump ship to a pre-paid plan in the future and more than likely going with a Nexus phone but want to experience a Nexus device (Nexus 7) before doing so. My contract is not up until July of 2014. I am at a point where either its Nexus or Apple. I like to be current on updates. Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
drummer132132 said:
I am in the market of purchasing my first Nexus device and have been looking at the Nexus 7 (2013) model but have concerns. After doing a lot of research about the various problems with the Nexus 7 the ones in particular that caught my attention are the touch screen issues, random reboots (this one is my biggest concern) and gps issues. How widespread are these issues? What is the likelihood I'll get unlucky and get a "bad" Nexus 7 tablet? I've read in various places people getting 2-4 replacements and still having the same problems. Is this isolated to a minority of people or do most Nexus 7 (2013) tablets have these issues? Is it a rare event to find a 100% functional Nexus 7? Should I wait until after the holiday season when new batches are made and hopefully have been fixed? Should I buy it all?
I have been itching to get a Nexus device for awhile. I currently own a Galaxy sIII on Verizons network and hate the fact Verizon delays android updates so I am looking to jump ship to a pre-paid plan in the future and more than likely going with a Nexus phone but want to experience a Nexus device (Nexus 7) before doing so. My contract is not up until July of 2014. I am at a point where either its Nexus or Apple. I like to be current on updates. Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't speak for others, but my Nexus tablet had no major problems. The only problem I experienced was that I could't install the second update, but I was going to root it anyway so I just flashed a stock version and have had no problems since. Even for those who had problems, there have been updates that fixed the GPS, multi-touch etc. I say that there is probably a 80% chance of getting a perfect tablet with no problems. I am pretty sure ( don't really know ) that Google has fixed most of the problems that some people have experienced. I am positive that our tablets will get the 4.4 KitKat update so you will have the latest technology. If you want a bigger tablet, I would get the Nexus 10 that is rumored to come out with the Nexus 5. Personally, I'm saying that this tablet is pretty amazing and that you should get it while you can.
I've bought my Nexus 7 LTE 2 weeks ago and don't have those problems. But I also seem to be relatively lucky when it comes to electronics. My advice would be to either buy one at a later date when more users report success with regards to the issues. Or to buy it from a reputable place where you can easily get it replaced or a refund.
Also, keep in mind that people having issues with electronics are far more likely to make threads and posts about these issues and be vocal about them than people who are content with their device.
My touch screen is still kinda meh. It register as if I hold the screen when I just tap sometimes (like 1/25 time ish?). Also when I scroll like 1mm, it doesn't start to respond until I scroll a little bit more. Kinda annoying when I just want to scroll a very tiny bit. Not too big of a deal but it does get slightly annoying. Other than that, nothing was bad right out of the box. I think it's worth a shot.
drummer132132 said:
I am in the market of purchasing my first Nexus device and have been looking at the Nexus 7 (2013) model but have concerns. After doing a lot of research about the various problems with the Nexus 7 the ones in particular that caught my attention are the touch screen issues, random reboots (this one is my biggest concern) and gps issues. How widespread are these issues? What is the likelihood I'll get unlucky and get a "bad" Nexus 7 tablet? I've read in various places people getting 2-4 replacements and still having the same problems. Is this isolated to a minority of people or do most Nexus 7 (2013) tablets have these issues? Is it a rare event to find a 100% functional Nexus 7? Should I wait until after the holiday season when new batches are made and hopefully have been fixed? Should I buy it all?
I have been itching to get a Nexus device for awhile. I currently own a Galaxy sIII on Verizons network and hate the fact Verizon delays android updates so I am looking to jump ship to a pre-paid plan in the future and more than likely going with a Nexus phone but want to experience a Nexus device (Nexus 7) before doing so. My contract is not up until July of 2014. I am at a point where either its Nexus or Apple. I like to be current on updates. Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi OP, I understand your concerns and I would love to share my experiences with you!
I had a Galaxy Nexus with Verizon, and jumped ship because Verizon only had their 3G network at the time and it was painfully slow, it made AT&T look really good.
The Nexus 7 2013 I got, the first one was pretty bad. It would freeze occasionally (also random reboots) and had a cluster of dead pixels and another dead pixel off some random place. After I got that unit swapped, this N7 works almost flawlessly- there is still some of the random phantom taps but not as much. It's enough so I can live with it.
If memory serves me right, the best way to buy it would be through Best Buy. I am a little leery of support through the Google play store and I know with best buy I can be there to get it swapped out on the same day if need be. You will not save on sales tax from the play store so I would opt for better sales support and buy it from Best Buy, or any other retailer carrying the device.
Other than that I think you will be very happy with it. I would avoid AT&T like the plague- I had their service for 3 days (cancelled today) and they charged me an ETF for cancelling- I had to call 4 different people and chat with a rep before I could get it resolved. Your best bet would be through T-Mobile. Their CS support has been a lot better than AT&T. But remember, T-Mobile service only works well in the cities. If you're out on the highway you will be stuck with EDGE or domestic roaming. AT&T has far better speeds on major highways but their CS experience really cheesed me and turned me away from their service. They even scratched my SIM card tray! But I'll step off my soap box for that.
I think these issues are waning, it might just be early production kinks. We've seen it in iPhone 4s when they came out with the incomplete gluing of the screen causing yellowing for example. I can say production wise, the 2 tablets I had were perfectly fine.
Coming from a Note 2, it's refreshing to be with stock android. Touchwiz just eats up RAM like it's nothing.
I'd say go for it. It's nice to have a tablet with cellular access.
I have BB Rewardzone Silver or whatever they call it with 60 day returns. If you feel you want the extra 30 days, send me a PM and I'll send you an invite! I think I can give some invites away until the end of the month.
And tl;dr, YES IT IS WORTH IT
I agree with others on the touch screen. It's has so much lag and just not that responsive. I got the LTE version and I'm very disappointed.
I'll have to see how the LG G pad is but of its as bad as N7 I'll pick up the ipad mini2.
Sent from my VS980 4G using xda app-developers app
Its worth it. I bought my 32gb Nexus 7 at best buy mid August. Its working flawlessly so far. I have no complaints, this is my first tablet I've ever owned and I adore it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Just got mine today, 32gb version, really worth it, even though I paid 320usd for this ( no Google play store in Vietnam ). Amazing device. So far so good
Hi, I got mine yesterday. The 32gb version. Unlocked, flashed custom recovery and rooted in less than 3 minutes. Coming from HTC this is refreshing. I was tired of going MacGyver on HTC devices for the sake of unlocking them.
After 24h of use, no touchscreen issues. Far as I remember I had one reboot but I think it was on purpose due device update (didn't notice the reboot warning maybe). I'm very happy with it, fast, sleek, all functional for now and I hope it stays that way.
A friend of mine also ordered his recently and had 0 issues as well. I think these latest batches are coming out much better.
Sent from my Optimus 4X HD using xda premium
It worth. And when kitkat will be there, it will even worth more.
derpyderps said:
If memory serves me right, the best way to buy it would be through Best Buy. I am a little leery of support through the Google play store and I know with best buy I can be there to get it swapped out on the same day if need be. You will not save on sales tax from the play store so I would opt for better sales support and buy it from Best Buy, or any other retailer carrying the device.
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I disagree completely on this point. My experience with Best Buy customer support has been awful. They will give you a hard time about any issues that are not readily apparent (for example, with the touch screen issue, they would use the device and say "Well, the touch screen is working fine for me" even if you tell them it's an intermittent issue). Google has been fantastic about customer service. I went through four or five Nexus 7 2012's due to the screen lift issue and they never gave me a hard time. Additionally, they offer the full support for a full year. For example, my Nexus 4 (that I bought on launch day) was having a new issue recently and they replaced the device without needing to go through LG support.
Mine was free so it's kind of hard to complain (sister won it, has and ipad and didn't want the nexus too), but I'll give it a shot:
It's a nice light device, looks slick, works well, seems fast (for my use at least), fantastic screen, and battery life seems to be really good.
Great for reading books, great for playing games and it's small enough to slip into any pack.
Live wallpaper is cooler than stink (at least I think so). Graphics are great all around.
The micro USB is a nice bonus over anything apple puts on theirs and the ability to add storage though it is brilliant. I wish I had more than 16 GB (more like 11 after os usage) but I didn't pay anything for it so; Meh....16 gb will do fine. I can always add an app and a usb stick if I want to carry lots of movies, music or documents with me.
People complain about the sound from the speakers sometimes, but what do you want from a "micro thin" 7" tablet? They're better than my iPhone and better than my wife's iPad. I'll get Bluetooth speakers if I want more than they offer. They work fine for most use for me or I use earbuds. It's a tablet, not a stereo...
It works fine for skype and Wifi video calls as is. Sound is fine when I'm talking to my little girl from the hotel. I even find myself turning it down sometimes.
The only problems I've had with it was a slightly "wonky" touchscreen. Very infrequently it would miss a touch or skip on a drag. More prevalent when I wasn't holding it (ie; sitting on the table, etc). Games like Angry Birds were painful to play because of skipping drags. Damned birds flinging everywhere! (lol)
Rooted it and installed sfhub's TS-10 driver and now it's perfect. Little bit of lag on a drag, but nothing serious. Might matter if you're a big tablet "gamer" and need speed in shooter games or similar.
Sometimes I do find myself wishing for a bigger screen, but not very often. It's fine for what it is. A bigger screen would add size and weight and that would ruin the concept of it being light and easily portable anyways. Pick your poison.....
It does feel a little cheap. Or maybe that's not the right word, fragile might be better. But that's likely because it is so light and thin. It probably only feels that way because it is light and thin. That usually means it's probably cheap or low quality to someone of my generation. We like a good, heavy solid feel which says quality to us. It might be very well be quite robust, I just don't want to be the first to find out by dropping it.
It needs a stand too. IMHO, any tablet does. It's light enough that you can hold it fine, but if you watch a movie or read for hours on end it would be nice to put it down. Lots of cases incorporate that option.
So, worth it?
Yeah, I'd say so. It's a nice little tab and it comes in pretty affordable compared to crapple products.
Go try one out is my best advice. Either use a friend's or go try a demo one at the store.
Thank you all for the great responses! They have helped in lowering my worries about receiving a faulty device and increased my desire to pick one up
I do have another question pertaining to Nexus devices in general. Do nexus devices "lag" over the course of time? I hate to mention the competition (aka Apple) but I know that over time their operating system doesn't lag very often as compared to Android devices (or at least that's what I've seen from friends etc who own Apple devices). My Galaxy SIII has been laggy to an extent and was wondering if this would be significantly less on a Nexus device. Devices in particular would be the Nexus 7 2013 model, Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 (I know its not out yet but one can speculate).
Again thank you all for the responses.
Depends on how it lacs. The s3 is a dual core so it may lag when you throw a bunch of things at it. I have the note 2 with a 4core exynos and it still runs fine. The nexus 7 doesn't use a top of the line 4 core but it still packs a punch. I actually got the old nexus 7 because it was a bargain but I couldn't deal with it stuttering so bad. It had issues with the memory controller and the poor design of the tegra 3. I think Asus learned from their mistakes with this second release.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
I think about buying N7 2013 but I read here that it has many hardware issues, that prevents me from getting it..whats the chance I get faulty device?
Buy it and you will see.
Duh!
drummer132132 said:
I do have another question pertaining to Nexus devices in general. Do nexus devices "lag" over the course of time? I hate to mention the competition (aka Apple) but I know that over time their operating system doesn't lag very often as compared to Android devices (or at least that's what I've seen from friends etc who own Apple devices). My Galaxy SIII has been laggy to an extent and was wondering if this would be significantly less on a Nexus device. Devices in particular would be the Nexus 7 2013 model, Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 (I know its not out yet but one can speculate).
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Click to collapse
Honestly, I've seen plenty of lag with Apple devices as well. My fiancee has an iPhone 4 and my mom has a 4S, and both run noticeably slower since the most recent update. Android systems tend to get laggy due to too much stuff installed/running on them and it can easily be fixed with a factory reset. Apple devices tend to get bogged down just due to system updates.
I'm wondering if my experience with my sIII has simply made me more apprehensive about purchasing another android device in fear of it being "laggy" over the course of time. Technology has come along way since the sIII in terms of speed and from what I know stock android is pretty fast and not bogged down with bloatware that both Samsung and Verizon think we want. Also to be fair when I talk about "laggy" I'm not saying I'm unable to do things it's just noticeable on certain things but overall runs pretty smooth.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
swisstourist said:
Buy it and you will see.
Duh!
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I don't wanna buy semi-working device so I'm collecting infos about hw issues before purchase
441Excelsior said:
I don't wanna buy semi-working device so I'm collecting infos about hw issues before purchase
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Click to collapse
The data just isn't there to give you a percentage of defective units. Plenty of people receive units without issues but plenty of people receive a unit with an issue.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=15276
Based on that poll 15/18 people receive a unit without a defect. Keep in mind that one of the people in the thread said he exchanged it multiple times due to backlight bleed, which is (unfortunately) normal for an IPS LCD depending on the severity. Some of the people who answered "No issue" may have received a tablet with backlight bleed but compared it to other tablets and realized it's "normal."
Just buy it from somewhere with a good return/exchange policy and go from there.
When I got my Galaxy Nexus (GN) it was sheer happiness. I was using a legacy Nokia Symbian candy bar and this was my first foray into unmolested Android. While all was not perfect with the GN, I was still mostly pleased. Then the fateful day occurred when I dropped the GN a little too hard and the screen shattered even though the phone was protected by a Diztronic TPU case. I now needed a new phone, but I knew the Nexus 5 (N5) would be out soon, so I kept using my shattered GN until the N5 was available and when it arrived, I realized cracking my screen was a blessing in disguise.
Without further ado, my quick major comparisons to the GN:
The N5 is FAST. REALLY FAST. It makes my GN feel like an unfinished prototype/research model that should have never been brought to market.
The N5’s GPS locks on quickly. REALLY quickly. My GN could take a minute or more at times to get a lock and, by then, my wife, annoyed, would whip out her iPhone and tell me my phone sucks.
The N5 has “awesome battery life.” While its battery life is average in general, compared to the GN it is legendary. The GN’s screen and data connection would kill the battery and it would rarely last till the afternoon if I frequently used both. With the N5 I can make heavy use of my screen and data connection and my battery will likely last the day.
Qi support. This makes number 3 above even better and there’s no jamming of Micro-USB ports into the phone and hoping I didn’t have the port upside-down (particularly when it’s dark/at night). When I’m at my desk, my phone is always charging. When a call comes in, I simply pick up the phone and then put it back down to charge when I’m done—nothing to plug in/I’m untethered. When I leave my desk for an hour or three, I have no fear of using or pushing the phone as hard as I’d like as I know I’m probably fully charged, because the phone was sitting on the charger, and I’ll have more than enough battery life for whatever I might encounter. Qi is simply elegant and something the iPhone can’t do.
LTE. While I got decent “4G” speeds on the GN—around 8Mbps down—the 20+/30+Mbps I get now alongside far better PING times is a great improvement.
The N5 has almost zero lag. It’s really that fast. My GN was almost all lag. Project Butter improved things, but the GN still has lag all over the place. I’m sure the N5 will start to slow down as newer software makes greater demands of the hardware, but, for now, this thing flies.
If you’re still using a GN, stop. It sucks, particularly when compared to a modem smart phone. Get the N5 and stop having your wife/girlfriend tell you your phone sucks, because it does.
Cheers.
GN sucks? Off course if you are comparing it to a 2 year newer phone with much better specs... Compare the Galaxy Nexus with Galaxy S2 (similar hardware) or even with newer phones but without those overwhelming specs and GN still rocks.
Maybe not everyone is rich and can affort paying up to 300$ per 2 years for a new phone... We all know that Nexus 5 is better than Galaxy Nexus in everything, I would like to say "Thank you mr obvious".
The point is, I'm happy with my GN, it has poor batery, awful speaker sound and s*tty Wi-Fi antenna but aside that it is a great phone which doesn't lag at all if you equip it with a good kernel and a stable rom. Well, it lags in heavy games or apps but I'm sure a bad optimized app will also lag in the Nexus 5.
I agree with Rayaxe. Of course the Nexus 5 is a much better phone in every aspect, but why does that suddenly mean the Galaxy Nexus sucks?
And I can say, aside from games (I don't really play very demanding games, so I wouldn't know), my phone with KitKat and Mpokang flies. It hasn't lagged at all, not once, and I can multitask without problems (in 4.3 it was painful, compared to 4.4). So I also agree that with a good ROM and kernel that's not an issue.
I still want to get a Nexus 5 (which at the moment is a bit difficult for me, because of my country's massive currency devaluation), but certainly not because I got tired of my GN or feel that it's old/sucks, etc.
AnnS said:
I agree with Rayaxe. Of course the Nexus 5 is a much better phone in every aspect, but why does that suddenly mean the Galaxy Nexus sucks?
And I can say, aside from games (I don't really play very demanding games, so I wouldn't know), my phone with KitKat and Mpokang flies. It hasn't lagged at all, not once, and I can multitask without problems (in 4.3 it was painful, compared to 4.4). So I also agree that with a good ROM and kernel that's not an issue.
I still want to get a Nexus 5 (which at the moment is a bit difficult for me, because of my country's massive currency devaluation), but certainly not because I got tired of my GN or feel that it's old/sucks, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but the Galaxy Nexus does suck.
I'm agree with your comparison. Nexus 5 is much much better than GNex.
But I think it's rude to say GNex sucks.
When GNex just launched, it's also great, isn't it?
Nexus 5 will be in a same position I believe, when the newest Nexus will get launched in the year 2015!
I still love my GNex. Gonna use it for 1 more year.
My wife is still under GN contract and the GN is still nice and getting it done.
This is like the most stupid sentence you could write.
It's like, I remember, when the Game Boy Advance came out and in the shop where I went to buy it a guy told me for 10 minutes how it was the best console ever, how awsome it was etc.
Two years after the Game Boy SP came out and the same guy told me that this was the best console ever and blablabla.
I mean, it's obvious, the upgrade of a phone has to be better than the old version (if it wasn't what kind of upgrade would it be?!), but this doesn't mean that the previous version then sucks.
And maybe you were saying the same about the N1 when the GN came out...
Thank you all for the support of GNex in this forum. I have also switched to N5.
Are you serious? I have a newsflash for you: the Xbox one is better than the Xbox 360. This is just dumb to say dude, no offence. I still love my gnex, it rocks. Its flying and of course it wont play asphalt 8 on max. But its a 2 year old phone.. This is a stupid comparison and a bad conclusion. Sorry to say that.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium HD app
I think you should buy an I-Phone 5S
mrgnex said:
Are you serious? I have a newsflash for you: the Xbox one is better than the Xbox 360. This is just dumb to say dude, no offence. I still love my gnex, it rocks. Its flying and of course it wont play asphalt 8 on max. But its a 2 year old phone.. This is a stupid comparison and a bad conclusion. Sorry to say that.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium HD app
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Click to collapse
, I can play Asphalt 8 with graphics on Low without any lag (in medium it laggs a little bit) and I don't notice any difference in graphics (maybe some lights but irrelevant), the gameplay isn't affected even a bit so why should I care? I am not playing in a TV to tell the difference, in a small screen with a large resolution for its size (like GN) the graphics will always be good for the eye (at least for me and I'm not blind).
Asphalt 8 with Low Graphics > PSP Graphics... so, our Galaxy Nexus can preform really well in gaming, it's not that crap.
I think it's hypocritical to be a fan of the Nexus philosophy and upgrade every year cause of the specs. The original intent of the Nexus line was to show that it isn't about the hardware but the software ultimately delivers. That's why every Nexus phone up to the Gnex had subpar specs, and why people chose to buy Nexus devices cause of the philosophy. The only way I'm changing phones is when this one croaks and I haven't felt limited enough to ditch this phone for my uses. Especially over specs when realtime usage besides gaming is only milliseconds apart from $150 phone vs a $350-$700 phone. Anything, KitKat shows there's still potential to tap. Our brothers with the Nexus S, the HD2s would agree as much.
This thread is stupid. Gnex<3
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium HD app
lonestrider said:
I'm agree with your comparison. Nexus 5 is much much better than GNex.
But I think it's rude to say GNex sucks.
When GNex just launched, it's also great, isn't it?
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I bought this phone due to it's hype. And frankly the S2 I feel is a better phone till today. And from launch this phone had lag issues on ICS and also grainy displays.
Battery life was also rubbish from day 1. I didn't feel it back then because I had no data plan. Speaker is also another lousy aspect of this phone. I've also had stock 4.0.1 totally made me go into a bootloop.
I went through 2 screen replacements, a battery and motherboard replacement. And today my phone reboots after using 3-5 GB of space. Does it suck? I'm afraid it sucks hard.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
I came from an iPhone 4 to a gnex when it first launched, I have to say I loved the large screen of the gnex at first because iPhones always feel tiny an narrow in comparison an still do to this day but everything else sucked about gnex.
Wow. I didn’t expect all the negativity and blind support for the GN, but I’m glad to see many here also agree with my assessment of the GN’s performance. My intention wasn’t to create a “GN sucks” thread, but, rather, to share my experience as a GN owner and enlighten my fellow GN owners as to how taken aback I was and how much better the smartphone experience is with the N5. I didn’t realize how good Android could be/how poor of a performer the GN is until I received the N5. Yes, one should expect the latest and greatest to perform better than an older model, but I chose to share my experience with the community because I am a part of the community and I wanted my fellow GN owners to know how significant this was for me, a GN owner.
As for the GN zealots, I apologize if I insulted you—feel free to keep your legacy device/I won’t make further commentary on this—but, again, the smartphone experience of a GN, compared to the N5, well, sucks, and after using the N5 I feel I was fortunate to have the display of my GN crack. Maybe you’ll get lucky as well .
you're comparing the n5 to a 2-year old phone. of course it will suck in comparison to the n5. the n5 will probably suck in comparison to whatever device is released this time in 2015.
on a tangent, though, i really wish these phones wouldn't get so big. i'd actually like a high-end phone that's not 5" or some craziness like that. i really wouldn't want to have to get an iphone just to get a high-end phone that is around the size i prefer.
naturalblue said:
on a tangent, though, i really wish these phones wouldn't get so big. i'd actually like a high-end phone that's not 5" or some craziness like that. i really wouldn't want to have to get an iphone just to get a high-end phone that is around the size i prefer.
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If I didn’t get the N5 I would have gotten the Moto X, which it probably as close as you’ll get to a modern Nexus with a smaller screen.
I'm thinking of buying one, it's in the price range I'm looking at ($80-$100 on swappa), and it seems like it still has good dev support.
The Nexus is almost 3 years old, those that still have it, are you keeping it because you like it, or just because (don't want to loose your data plan for example).
Thanks
Dan
It's a decent phone and there is still some Dev support. I bought mine about a year ago and have been satisfied. Battery life sucks compared to newer phones signal isn't to great compared to my RAZR. But all in all it having an unlocked BL on Verizon makes it all worth while. I thoroughly enjoy mine and will only move if nexus 6 is unlocked on Verizon.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
I can join my previous speakers. It has a very bad battery, it's lags often in apps and the screen is very worn because of this early AMOLED technologie, BUT if you have only 100€ its one of the better phones. I'm using it right now because my nexus 5 were broken and I really like it because it just works. However if you have $50 more to spend when you should buy the moto g. It has clearly more power and offical support by motorola.
no. this phone is terrible, and i'm currently looking into buying a replacement battery for my S3 since it's been sitting in my drawer and i have no idea where the battery went, plus it's broken
i can probably find some way to fix it on ADB, but if not, i'll just wait until i upgrade then i'll get the oneplus one
seriously this phone sucks, there is nothing to recommend about it
No man dont do it .. phone performance is pretty random, dont know why, sometimes it flies like an S4, sometimes it lagz and freezes like an S1..
I've been very satisfied with my phones performance. But I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like to mess around with kernels, ROMs and settings.
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Maximinus I said:
I've been very satisfied with my phones performance. But I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like to mess around with kernels, ROMs and settings.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
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Thanks for all the responses. I actually do like flashing roms. Should've given more info in OP. I currently have a verizon s4 but since a warranty replacement a few months ago i no longer have an unlocked (exploitable) bootloader and am stuck with touchwiz roms and no custom kernels.
Use my phone mostly for web browsing, xda app, Pandora, Google music - no gaming, coupled that with the fact that i can use the $100-$125 difference I'll make after selling the s4, thought this phone might work.
Will have to think about it a bit more.
rrrrrrredbelly said:
Thanks for all the responses. I actually do like flashing roms. Should've given more info in OP. I currently have a verizon s4 but since a warranty replacement a few months ago i no longer have an unlocked (exploitable) bootloader and am stuck with touchwiz roms and no custom kernels.
Use my phone mostly for web browsing, xda app, Pandora, Google music - no gaming, coupled that with the fact that i can use the $100-$125 difference I'll make after selling the s4, thought this phone might work.
Will have to think about it a bit more.
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Well, web browsing has become hard since 4.4.x. To be honest, KitKat is a mess on this phone. I hope new GPU drivers and 3.4 kernel will help.
If I were you I would buy a Moto G.
I'm using Gnex for a half a year. I bought used. So not because of data plan.
For me Gnex can still give what i need for "normal" daily use - sms, browser, messenger, driving assist, news reading, some games ....
So it depends on your need
best regards
It's a beautiful device, but it's definitely not the best. I absolutely love the unobtrusive design of the front -- just plain black. The phone is the exact right size for me, and the volume and power buttons are in exactly the right place; however the bezels are quite large in comparison to newer phones. This makes the structural integrity of the phone better, but it isn't really nice to me. The back of the phone has a comfortable plastic "grippy" feeling that makes it easy to hold, especially with the curved extrusion at the bottom by the speaker grill.
The speaker is awful, as with all Samsung devices. It's a back-facing speaker that's tiny and easy to cover up. Not much of a problem if you use earphones like I do.
It easily lasts me through a school day, though it only lasts about 4 hours streaming video. Its dual core processor is definitely outdated and consumes far more powererformance than any modern phone.
The screen is on-par with the Galaxy S3 screen, which isn't a compliment. It's low-resolution in comparison to new phones (1280x720), it's hot (as in it actually feels hot) and consumes a heck of a lot of battery very quickly. The colour is amazing, vibrant and simply gorgeous... but, within a few months, you get screen burn-in which is especially noticeable in low light -- speaking of which, the screen in low light is far worse than any IPS with a slightly grainy image, though it does retain a good contrast. Its slightly curved display prevents it from scratching anything facing down and, in my opinion, makes it easier to touch things at the top of the screen.
The phone's radio is only GSM (unless you're going for Sprint or Verizon), so if you're wanting LTE, tough luck. It also doesn't have FM or AM radio if you're into that.
The camera's not the best, but it does the job. The flash is often over-bright, and lacks HDR, motion stabilisation and is only 5 Megapixels. Front camera is 720p.
So why buy this phone? If you can get it really cheap, go for it. If not, go for something newer like the Moto X, Moto G, Nexus 5 or the upcoming Nexus 6 for a similar, updated experience.
Just remember, it's truly an Android modder's dream. It's extremely mod-able with a decent sized community. In my opinion, it is still the best phone I have ever used. I find that just the pure feeling and look of the phone is enough to keep me with it. Also, with recent additions to the phone like F2FS, graphics drivers, new kernels, new ROMs etc., the phone is still very usable for just about everything -- even most gaming.
For $100 i would buy it. The moto g is comparable and faster but almost $100 more. But I think your question is already answered
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bought mine for 70 dollars one month ago, definetily worth it.
I would much rather use an s4 with touchwiz than use a galaxy nexus. The gnex is the second worst android phone that I've ever owned.
You really can't compare a three year old phone to a phone that is just over a year old. Of course the s4 will be better but touchwizz yuck it would probably be just as slow as a galaxy nexus.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Appreciate everyone's response, thanks
It's a good phone when it was released but the battery life is quite short even though I don't have a lot of apps on it. When the battery life is in the red, it usually last around 5 minutes then it shuts down. I think it was better than than iPhone 4 at its time since it was one of the first phone with a larger screen.
I agree with the other posts.
Honestly, I think CM10 runs amazing on the phone and the signal is actually quite good with that version. 4.4.4 doesn't do well on it for the signal...at least for me. I have been trying many ROMs / Kernels and I have the same luck with them all. I only have mine because I bought it for like $80 on ebay and still have the unlimited plan with Verizon so I don't want to upgrade to a new phone unless I pay the big dollars.
Battery life...is crap like everyone else states. I bought three batteries for this phone for that reason and always have it plugged in, which is why I actually have burn in from my apps.
I own GNex for almost 3 years now and here are few things coming into my mind right now:
Terrible camera
Terrible speaker (Very low volume)
Slow as hell
Worn screen
Incredibly short battery life
Also, with such limited memory multitasking is pretty much not existent if you like installing many apps
Honestly, there is not a single day that I don't want to throw my unit against the wall.
Do yourself a favor and stay away from this peace of junk.
N4 would be a much better option http://swappa.com/buy/nexus-4-unlocked/us
rrrrrrredbelly said:
I'm thinking of buying one, it's in the price range I'm looking at ($80-$100 on swappa), and it seems like it still has good dev support.
The Nexus is almost 3 years old, those that still have it, are you keeping it because you like it, or just because (don't want to loose your data plan for example).
Thanks
Dan
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I'm keeping it because I don't have much money on a new phone and there isn't much on the market that really makes me want to spend anything.
The Galaxy Nexus is a really ****ty phone. If it wasn't a Nexus it would get zero respect from me.
I mean for an old and cheap phone, it's probably the best you can buy at this moment but I'd suggest saving a few more dollars and getting something better.
kobik77 said:
N4 would be a much better option http://swappa.com/buy/nexus-4-unlocked/us
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Thanks but on verizon, looks like that gsm only.