Develop Bugs

Note 2 vs nexus 4

So guys I'm in a dilemma here I have both phones right now sealed in the box I don't know which one to keep and which one to sell. I'm in Canada so lte works on the nexus 4. What do you guys suggest ? Thanks

One for work one for play ;p
sent from outside ur window

twanskys204 said:
One for work one for play ;p
sent from outside ur window
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I was in the same dilemma as well. If you don't mind the size, the Note 2 is the better choice. The Nexus 4 may get the faster updates but we're on xda anyway so pretty much any phone with a good community will get updates.

Personally, if I had a choice between those 2 phones, I would prefer the Note 2. I'm a bit biased because I've been with Samsung for so long and I don't trust any other brand other than them. LOL. But from an unbiased point, the Nexus 4 provides faster updates (as mentioned), the Krait processor, and it's Google. Note 2 has a bunch of useful features and now we have some very reputable and brilliant developers in our community which will jump start our development. There's even an Android 4.2 (WIP) coming for us!

offwiththeface said:
So guys I'm in a dilemma here I have both phones right now sealed in the box I don't know which one to keep and which one to sell. I'm in Canada so lte works on the nexus 4. What do you guys suggest ? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Note 2 hands down...more features and great dev support.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

I've used both and ended up sticking with the note 2 there's nothing out there right now that can compare to its specs not even goggles own baby
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium

Did you ask this same question in the Nexus 4 section? lol...It's gonna be hard to get an unbiased opinion when you ask a question like that in a section specifically for one of the phones
Having said that, I had the LG Optimus G, and aside from the LG skin (which wasn't TOO horrible) it was a good phone, but I still promptly exchanged it for a Note 2 and don't regret it one bit. I have never had good experiences with LG phones. The display was beautiful though.

I have a note 2 and my buddy has a nexus 4. I thought the nexus 4 screen looks way better then note 2 screen hands down in my opinion. The build quality and feel of nexus 4 is also much better. However no removable battery no lte, and no sd card support are major deal breakers. 16gb is just not enough with games and apps installed. At least if they made a 32gb version.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium

The nexus 4 has some attractive points. LTE maybe less of an issue if you in Canada. The screen is nice and it's a fast performer.
But for me the lack of MicroSD and non-removable is a no go for me. Not only is battery life on the Note 2 awesome, but I have a spare battery i can use if every needed. I also really like having the s pen and the 5.5" screen i greatly enjoy. The size of the note is not for everyone, I'm OK with it.
You have to decide how important each of these factors are to you. Once you do that I'm sure you'll be happy with your choice.

If note 2 was made by LG and nexus 4 by Samsung, I'd say go for nexus 4...
Personally I'm staying away from anything LG, I had enough gray hair with LG Nitro HD, thank you very much.

[email protected] said:
If note 2 was made by LG and nexus 4 by Samsung, I'd say go for nexus 4...
Personally I'm staying away from anything LG, I had enough gray hair with LG Nitro HD, thank you very much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're lucky you never tried the Thrill then...
I need more time before trying LG again. The guy at the AT&T store tried to get me to buy the Optimus G when the Note was not in stock yet. The nexus might be okay if LG isn't responsible for the software.
Sent from my Note ][

When you ask such question in Note 2 forum, my feeling is that you are going to get some bias answer.
I have both phones, and I think both phone are top notch in their own way. Here's what I think:
Nexus 4
- Very solid build, the construction is as solid as iPhone. Feels great in hand.
- The display does produce some relatively accurate colour compare to my IPS displays. I do a lot of photo editing/viewing. On the other hand, the sAMOLED does throw the colour off a bit by over saturated (nature of AMOLED), with the "natural" profile on Note2, it does become closer to real colour. Pixel density on the N4 is also better, but it's not critical as the Note 2 display is pretty sharp with the sAMOLED HD.
- AOSP, AOSP, AOSP! If you aren't a fan of Touchwiz, this is what you should keep. Not just the updates, as they don't come everyday. It's the user experience. Samsung does add a lot of neat feature that many can't live without, but in my honest opinion, AOSP does provide a nice layout and great feature out the box. I am also not a huge fan of Samsung's oversized UI, either.
- Believe it or not, the on screen button is a very important "feature" of N4 - You now have a place to put your thumb when you hold the phone, especially when passing the phone to people to show them stuff...without accidentally touching any of the buttons. However, also because of the on screen button, you do lose some screen estate.
- Buttery smooth, yes, smoother than the "more powerful" Note 2
- The price - You are indeed getting a lot of phone for the price that you are paying.
- Battery is medicore, partially due to bugs of 4.2 I believe. Dead locks are draining the battery.
- Lack of SD card might be a deal breaker for you. It isn't for me.
- Camera sucks.
Note 2
- Huge display, this is probably the max that you can carry with the borderline portability. The display is beneficial for reading stuff, browsing, sharing contents with friends
- The battery is ridiculous. The size, with the power management of the software makes it unreal. I get average 2 hours of light/moderate usage per 10%, on LTE.
- Touchwiz - To use the full features of the Note2, you probably don't want AOSP. The S-Pen works well with touchwiz, and I find touchwiz works well with large displays due to the oversized UI elements
- Size - It's pocketable, but it's not extremely comfortable. Taking in and out, using it in public, talking on it looks very awkward. No matter how big your hands are, how big of a person you are, this IS larger than your average phone by a lot
- One hand usability - Samsung does have some one hand accessibility but in general, reaching for places around the screen is a struggle with one hand
- Great sound - Speaker, and headphone jack.
- Strong vibrator
- S Pen - Unless you have a use for it, it's a gimmick. It's fun to fool around with it, but the hype tends to die off quickly
- FAST charging. Nexus 4 is fast, but Note 2 is even faster consider it's massive battery. This is a very important feature to me.
- Impressive camera, but not that it's any/much better than that of SGS3
- Oh, if you don't have a 7" tablet yet, this should fill that gap a bit.
As it stands, Note 2 has some very attractive points to me, such as the large display for reading and the insane battery life that makes me not to worry about being close to a charger. However, I don't feel comfortable using it on a daily basis due to the size. WIth that said, I am using a Note 2 now as I gave my Nexus 4 (8GB) to my other half. I have a 16GB coming in a month, and I will re-evaluate it again by then.
These two phones are pretty much Android in it's best form in today's market, and they are not substitutable for each other due to the different nature of them. The phone war has evolved to beyond to the specs-war just like computing world. The "better specs" of Note 2 doesn't necessary determine whether the phone is better or not, and with that said, Nexus 4 specs is pretty impressive too. You need to pick your own base on your need
Hope it helps a bit with your decision! Any more specific questions you have that can help with your decision, just ask. It's a tough one to make.

Awesome thanks for the input its a huge decision I think of will end up keeping the note
Sent from my SGH-T879 using xda app-developers app

The Nexus 4 ultimately had too many drawbacks for me to consider it. The thermal throttling issues with the S4Pro processor, the non-swapable battery with less than stellar battery life, the limited storage without microSD expansion, the glass back prone to cracking, and no LTE. And now we find out that the Nexus 4 cannot support USB-OTG, so all those who bought one thinking they could move files over to an external drive are SOL. No USB keyboards/mice/Dualshock etc. Not a big deal if you have bluetooth peripherals, but I want to have as many options as possible. The Note II is a superhero in that regard...

I have the Note 2 and personally love it, but if you don't need the size, then nexus 4 is a much better option. I love the vanilla 4.2 JB and the screen is much crispier, any build quality is top notch [I have both phones]
If note 2 had a 1080 display then, I would so Note 2 hands down.

Get a quality BT headphone and you won't have to worry about how you look to other people...personally I really could give a rats behind how others think...but hey that's just me...
Nexus vs Note II...to me it all comes down to do you want the biggest best phone or a smaller phone that doesn't offer as much.
S-pen is there if you need it...and it's always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
ASOP...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2046616..it has a few minor glitches...but if this is your thing...then enjoy it.
Smoothness...drop this one in...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2028661 add Nova launcher and tweak it...and your golden...
Memory card...your going to want one...just to fill up with all of the videos you'll be watching and music you'll be rocking to...
My advice...prop them both up side by side and watch any video on it...browse the internet..then ask yourself...which offers you what you want/need to enjoy it with
Mac

Mac11700 said:
Get a quality BT headphone and you won't have to worry about how you look to other people...personally I really could give a rats behind how others think...but hey that's just me...
Nexus vs Note II...to me it all comes down to do you want the biggest best phone or a smaller phone that doesn't offer as much.
S-pen is there if you need it...and it's always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
ASOP...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2046616..it has a few minor glitches...but if this is your thing...then enjoy it.
Smoothness...drop this one in...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2028661 add Nova launcher and tweak it...and your golden...
Memory card...your going to want one...just to fill up with all of the videos you'll be watching and music you'll be rocking to...
My advice...prop them both up side by side and watch any video on it...browse the internet..then ask yourself...which offers you what you want/need to enjoy it with
Mac
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Mac,
No offense but I think your post is pretty bias.
- Yes, you can always bring a BT headset, but shouldn't you be able to hold a phone comfortably on your face instead of having to depend on a BT headset in order to not look silly? Also, how about the people that don't like bluetooth headset in general?
- S-Pen, yes, it's better to have but at what cost? Size of the phone?
- Touchwiz isn't without it's own glitches, whether AOSP or not is a pure preferences whether it has bugs or not. I actually find touchwiz works well with GN2, AOSP won't.
- Smoothness, sorry, Note 2 just isn't as smooth as a N4 no matter what launcher you put in. It could be due to settings, but out the box even with Nova, it's not there.
- Memory Card - why must he get one?
I do agree with Note 2 having better specs, but the cost is the size. If you can live with the size and Touchwiz, there isn't a reason not to get Note2....but only if you can live with the size.
Cheers.

cy88 said:
shouldn't you be able to hold a phone comfortably on your face instead of having to depend on a BT headset in order to not look silly?
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Click to collapse
Caring about what other people think of you holding a phone to your face reeks of insecurity to me. "Looking Silly" is the last thing that would sway me from buying an excellent device.
Remember how small phones used to be ten years ago? It wasn't that long ago when people also thought 3.5" smartphones were huge.

cy88 said:
Mac,
No offense but I think your post is pretty bias.
- Yes, you can always bring a BT headset, but shouldn't you be able to hold a phone comfortably on your face instead of having to depend on a BT headset in order to not look silly? Also, how about the people that don't like bluetooth headset in general?
- S-Pen, yes, it's better to have but at what cost? Size of the phone?
- Touchwiz isn't without it's own glitches, whether AOSP or not is a pure preferences whether it has bugs or not. I actually find touchwiz works well with GN2, AOSP won't.
- Smoothness, sorry, Note 2 just isn't as smooth as a N4 no matter what launcher you put in. It could be due to settings, but out the box even with Nova, it's not there.
- Memory Card - why must he get one?
I do agree with Note 2 having better specs, but the cost is the size. If you can live with the size and Touchwiz, there isn't a reason not to get Note2....but only if you can live with the size.
Cheers.
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Click to collapse
Cy8888, that's funny you said Mac's post was biased because that's exactly what I thought when I read your long post above.
Remember, the OP asked what people thought and the reply's have been, for the most part, just that. Almost every statement you made in your lengthy post was "your opinion", certainly not facts. For example, I use the S-Pen daily and love it's added benefit and it, in my opinion, is not a gimmick as you stated.
So, no need to call out another forum members post when he is doing the same as you...giving his opinion as requested by the OP.:angel:

andrawer said:
Cy8888, that's funny you said Mac's post was biased because that's exactly what I thought when I read your long post above.
Remember, the OP asked what people thought and the reply's have been, for the most part, just that. Almost every statement you made in your lengthy post was "your opinion", certainly not facts. For example, I use the S-Pen daily and love it's added benefit and it, in my opinion, is not a gimmick as you stated.
So, no need to call out another forum members post when he is doing the same as you...giving his opinion as requested by the OP.:angel:
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I was bias because I love/have the Note 2 so much but the size, right?
What I said: "S Pen -Unless you have a use for it, it's a gimmick." - You do, so it's not a gimmick for you for sure. I know a few people that do have a use for it and I am impressed with how they make use of it for work purposes.
Which other point of my post is pure bias? I simply listed out the things I from with using both devices, I never said one is better for another for everyone. However Mac did say that "you are GOING to want one", "BUGS with 4.2", etc etc to just praise the Note 2. OP is trying to make a decision, and words like that aren't going to make his choice easier is it?
UCLAKoolman said:
Caring about what other people think of you holding a phone to your face reeks of insecurity to me. "Looking Silly" is the last thing that would sway me from buying an excellent device.
Remember how small phones used to be ten years ago? It wasn't that long ago when people also thought 3.5" smartphones were huge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might have worded it wrong, but the fact that it's bigger than normal does draw attention. Yes, you can choose not to care about anyone thinks at all, but there are some actually "dont" want to draw that type of attention with a device. It is a fact that Note 2 is humongous, and that's ALSO it's selling point. Unless you have a need and can live with the size, otherwise you might want to look at other alternatives like SGS3 (which i have one sitting here also if you want comparison) that offers something in the middle.
I apologize if I've rubbed anyone the wrong way, wasn't the intention.
Cheers!

HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4? Anyone upgrading?

I got really disappointed when Samsung released the gs4 and it looked basically the same as the galaxy s3 just with a bigger screen and a few new bells and whistles. So I'm opting for the HTC one cause that thing is sexy all around. What about you guys?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

If you like having a device completely locked down go for HTC. Biggest reason I switched away from them
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Spastic909 said:
If you like having a device completely locked down go for HTC. Biggest reason I switched away from them
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What do you mean exactly? Cause my dad has a htc one s and it was pretty easy to root the phone and install a rom on it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

Are you choosing a phone based on looks alone? Cause the HTC isn't even up to par with the current Euro SIII, let alone the S4 in terms of specs. I guess its about preference but personally I'm pretty intrigued by the S4 eight core processor in a frame slimmer then the SIII, not to mention the 13mp camera features, 5.0 SAmoled (yay no more pen tile) I just don't see a comparison IMO.
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boystuff said:
Are you choosing a phone based on looks alone? Cause the HTC isn't even up to par with the current Euro SIII, let alone the S4 in terms of specs. I guess its about preference but personally I'm pretty intrigued by the S4 eight core processor in a frame slimmer then the SIII, not to mention the 13mp camera features, 5.0 SAmoled (yay no more pen tile) I just don't see a comparison IMO.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
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First of all, the HTC one has a qualcomm 600 processor which is that the same as the Samsung Galaxy S 4 has in USA, except that the s4 is .2ghz faster in terms of clock speed. Second of all, I'm currently on a contract with t mobile and I was talking about upgrading to the Galaxy s4 or the HTC one, so there's no way I can get the eight core s4. The galaxy s4 has a pentile display. Plus I don't really care about the megapixels or ultrapixels of the camera as long as my pics turn out good and not look like they were taken from a potato.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

adil17 said:
What do you mean exactly? Cause my dad has a htc one s and it was pretty easy to root the phone and install a rom on it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
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The source codes take sooo long to be released.
Look at the Amaze 4g and youll see what im talking about.
An awesome phone treated like crap lol.

When it comes to phones and tablets i will not use anything other than Samsung or a nexus. I just can't do it. HTC is a lot harder to root and it takes longer for development and i don't see anything else competing with Samsung.
----------------------------------------------
Phone: Galaxy s2 t989
Rom: SOA Build 2
Kernel: SOA
I'm full of great idea's, but don't have the time to create them or learn the coding to create them. If you want to make one of my ideas a reality just message me and I will give you my idea as specific as possible.
ideas:
-launcher/lock screen
-line rider type game where you control the character
-2d fighting game like art of fighting for the SNES
-multiplayer fps where you create your own map with a creative mode (minecraft style)
-roller coaster tycoon style game
-get phone out of sleep mode
-many more!
Just message me which idea you want info on and I'll tell you!
----------------------------------------------

I'd hold out for the note 3 personally, that's what I'm doing. But then again it's a very long and very impatient wait because I don't think it'll be released until September. It's all on you though bud, there's a bunch of ill phones coming out this year.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

I had an HTC VIVID before this phone (cracked the screen), and it was a pain. Unlocking the bootloader, then flashing boot image and blah blah blah just to root and rom it. And then the development thread was WEAK (at the time ) so it was like for no point. I agree with the 2 above mentioned posts regarding source code & development. Its seriously ridiculous & sad!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

If I had to pick one of those 2 I would probably go with the HTC One, build quality is way ahead of the S4, I'm tired of plastic phones. My S2 has survived its fair share of drops without no significant damage though so I'm happy with that. Processors are nearly the same unless you're comparing the international S4 and HTC One. The One also has a nicer screen (more ppi). It seems like the biggest knock on the One is the fact that it doesn't have upgradable storage and battery but 64GB is more than enough for me and I never carry an extra battery for my S2 so that is pointless. When it comes to camera quality, the S3 with its 13MP will take better pictures when zoomed in since it has more pixels but the HTC One will blow the S4 out of the water when it comes to night pictures or anything with low light (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I was honestly disappointed with the S4, it seemed like all Samsung talked about at the news conference was all the bloatware they added onto the phone that I'm never going to use.

This is a laughable question. S4 stands head and toe over the crap HTC is throwing out nowadays.

S4 doesn't look like it will get any love from too many dev's
cm-developers-passing-samsung-galaxy-s4-should-you
from android central (cant link yet)
:crying:

adil17 said:
I got really disappointed when Samsung released the gs4 and it looked basically the same as the galaxy s3 just with a bigger screen and a few new bells and whistles. So I'm opting for the HTC one cause that thing is sexy all around. What about you guys?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you can get your hads in the developer edition, then go for the HTC One, but i you like big,big,big etc, go for the SG4

MacerHD said:
S4 doesn't look like it will get any love from too many dev's
cm-developers-passing-samsung-galaxy-s4-should-you
from android central (cant link yet)
:crying:
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Click to collapse
I believe that will be the international s4 with the Exnyos processor that probably wont have much development from what i have read. the North American version
still uses Qualacom, so i am thinking the development will be just as good as the S3.
As for which one i will choose, I will need to see them side by side first before I make any decisions.

MacerHD said:
S4 doesn't look like it will get any love from too many dev's
cm-developers-passing-samsung-galaxy-s4-should-you
from android central (cant link yet)
:crying:
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Click to collapse
If you are one of those people who root and flash away from Professionally built phone software in favor of barely working featureless lackluster crap produced by CM and it's near relatives there is no point worrying about having the newest phone anyway cuz you clearly are not going to use it for anything other than looking at your reflection. honestly you kids would be just as well off with a flip phone and a be-dazzeler.
I could understand the CM worship if this was a walmart prepaid phone with some lame flavor of aosp on it then CM might be a slight improvement but leaving Touchwiz for CM is a huge downgrade every time, all Tochwiz needs is some speedtweaks and a tweaked kernel.
Anyway +1 going to the S4 when It's here, might add a note 3 or even the note2 if I can get a good deal on it!

Wow makes me regret getting the Nexus 4 after what I saw in the GS4. Should have waited. But one this is having Google's latest and greatest code feels awesome. GS2 also has outstanding support and CM10.1
I really miss HTC's look and quality. But they have always been terrible battery life phones. Each one I've had except for the G2. My GS2 is still a champ and love that samsung releases the CODE that makes CM even possible.
And at the presentation I really have to reconsider no SD support and no removable battery. Just this week my old myTouch 4G I gave to my cousin, the battery can't hold charge. He got it replaced and its good as new. To me, having a removable battery just makes it easier to replace it when it does go bad.
I can kinda live with 16 gig and no SD Card, unless you are a heavy media user. But having a removable battery makes it possible to replace it. I don't mind the Samsung plastic. It is cheap and got a mini dent that I can't figure out how it happened on my GS2. I should have put a screen protector to prevent that. Still a mystery how it happened.
My LG G2X, I've never ever ever used at screen protector and its still flawless. Samsung **** is sensitive. They could at least use better plastics if they are sticking with that material.

Iconic24 said:
If I had to pick one of those 2 I would probably go with the HTC One, build quality is way ahead of the S4, I'm tired of plastic phones. My S2 has survived its fair share of drops without no significant damage though so I'm happy with that. Processors are nearly the same unless you're comparing the international S4 and HTC One. The One also has a nicer screen (more ppi). It seems like the biggest knock on the One is the fact that it doesn't have upgradable storage and battery but 64GB is more than enough for me and I never carry an extra battery for my S2 so that is pointless. When it comes to camera quality, the S3 with its 13MP will take better pictures when zoomed in since it has more pixels but the HTC One will blow the S4 out of the water when it comes to night pictures or anything with low light (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I was honestly disappointed with the S4, it seemed like all Samsung talked about at the news conference was all the bloatware they added onto the phone that I'm never going to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its mainly software on Samsung side but the HTC sense and their new features don't compare to the new temp and face tracking on the snapdragon S4 ImO get a lg optimus pro ..lg seems to be opening up to GPL
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If you even read the news... htc is yesterday's news...an exact quote "it's not in the kids club anymore" and that is why they pushed the date back for the htc one release...it's not even that it's hard to root, it's that it leaves traces for the carriers and htc to know you've rooted...
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

I was waiting for the One but the battery life is poor. Going to hold off for the next Nexus. Have no interest in the S4
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using XDA Premium HD app

This time i will go with HTC.

How do you like it so far?

I upgraded from SGS2, aka TMO Hercules. The biggest difference for me is screen resolution. Also battery life and camera have huge improvement.
But for the new features, like eye detect or gestures, I haven't found it practically useful... I have been using it for a week though...
So how do you folks like the s4 so far?

I came from s3. And its awesome.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda premium

Also came from the S3. I like the S4 a lot more. The screen is perfection
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at first i saw videos from reviewers i didnt like the look and material they used, but i went to the store on 8th and played with it, it actually like and feel really nice in hand and decided to return my htc one to get the black s4, pretty happy with my decision

Also coming from the S3 and I had my doubts at first but glad I made the switch. The screen is pretty darn sweet. I'm just missing my choice of ROMs to flash and not having Anthrax kernel anymore like I did on my S3.

Came from the S1 - everything's new.

I came from the HTC Sensation. I'm definitely going to stick with Samsung from here on out. I love the S4. There's a few hiccups here and there, but I'm sure as updates, and new ROMs, come out they'll iron that out. Love the camera and absolutely love the screen. And I definitely prefer the bigger physical size.

Came from an iPhone 5. I don't have to squint to read text anymore that alone made it worth it to me
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

Came from the Evo 3D. In regards to e-mail, I like how it fits all on the screen rather than move it left, right, up, down, etc. I must say this is a BIG improvement, but just like the E3D, no PS3/Wii controller syncs EVER. Hopefully like last time, cyanogen mod can fix it. and unlike last time, here's to less drama and such in the CM realm. T-mobile rocks the house and I'd recommend it, so long as you either order from a T-mo store or online.

I'm a tech geek, came from bunch of phones from my recent upgrade. Note 2 to Z10 to the ascend mate, to this Sexy beast. Next phone to try out is the one. For now, I really like every thing about this phone. The features, the feeling in hand, it just feels great. Fast and smooth system.
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witeboy07 said:
I'm a tech geek, came from bunch of phones from my recent upgrade. Note 2 to Z10 to the ascend mate, to this Sexy beast. Next phone to try out is the one. For now, I really like every thing about this phone. The features, the feeling in hand, it just feels great. Fast and smooth system.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i came from the s2 all i can say is wow

I came from the S2 as well and I got this phone last night, and I'm pretty happy with it. I don't have plans to root it anyone soon.

I had about every at&t amd tmobile phone out there. Last phone was htc one . But sold it due to battery life. Got the s4 n fell in love with it . Get about 4 1/2 hrs screen time , and all camera features are nice to have.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

I made a huge upgrade from the S2 Hercules. I really love this phone. I havent had any issues at all with. I like to keep all those air and smart features off as I dont really use them.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

Coming from the tmobile G2/DZ/Vision, and all I can say is phone is pretty awesome. I didn't have to root it and uninstall all the crappy apps just to make the phone work like I did with the G2. I did anyways, just because I like what I like. Overall the performance of the phone has been good so far.
I do miss my hardware keyboard though. I have a physical bluetooth keyboard that pairs with the S4 with no issues, but it's just not the same.

Having upgraded from an S2 I'm very torn on my opinion of the S4. Hardware wish I absolutely love this phone. The lager screen, bigger battery, physical home button. But from a software side this thing is a train wreck. The menu layouts are awful, the browser doesn't let you alter any useful settings beyond homepage, the lock screen widgets don't respond to the settings, and that settings menu is totally wacko on its layout, I can't find anything. I like the new gallery layout but it buys the images in an order can't figure out.
To be honest from an OS perspective I hate this phone. My s2 did a much better job.

I felt as if the S4 was more of a side step from the Note 2, Nexus 4. It actually feels laggy compared to them, which was a big surprise. Of course in games it flew but the overall UI feels slow and there is inconsistent stuttering everywhere. Sometimes it will be smooth, sometimes it would lag. Drove me crazy these past days using it.
I thought the 1080P screen was going to blow me away, honestly it doesn't look that much better than the Note 2's display.
I've been also using an HTC One now for the past couple days and I think it's a much better device, it is consistently smooth in every operation, the 1080p LCD screen is MUCH better on the eyes, it feels crisper, brighter and overall much more pleasant to look at.
I will be returning the S4 and keeping the HTC One, probably wait till the Note 3 comes out and see how that goes.

I came from the S3. Totally happy. Some were saying it wasn't a worthy upgrade but I say otherwise. Better battery, better screen, and just sexy as hell
Sent from Flip's Galaxy S4

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/s...kling-higher-volumes-galaxy-s4-4199380-3.html
Sound quality is screwed up, severe noise and crackling, I get it on my UE900's. Going to see if the One has the same issue, since it's on the same DAC.
So frustrating.

came from the S3, all I can say is I love this phone the only thing I don't really like is the keyboard
but other than that this phone is completely awesome!

Help me choose my next phone? Please :)

So I'm stumped on what phone to get next and my contract is up for an upgrade in July. Here's the phones I'm looking at in no particular order and why I like them..
Galaxy Nexus
Pros: Pure Google. Gets updated to latest Android version.
Cons: specs aren't as good as the others. It's from Samsung.
Galaxy s4
Pros: Specs are great. Probably will be updated to at least key lime pie.
Cons: I'm not a fan of Samsung. I've had two laptops and I had the original galaxy phone...all of those were terrible.
Galaxy s3
Pros: cheaper now for still a premium phone. Good chance will be updated to key lime pie.
Cons: Samsung. Plus I've watched friends go thru 1 s3 after another with problems.
HTC One
Pros: metal with front speakers and great specs. Sense UI.
Cons: traditionally HTC doesn't update well.
LG optimus g? Don't know much about the phone but the specs are nice.
OR....Do I wait for the next nexus phone to make my decision? Prices on ALL of these phones will have dropped and holiday deals would ne near. I wouldn't mind riding my og EVO just a few more miles before I put him out to stud.
Let me know what you think!
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app

ALSO....
Has anybody ordered off of swappa? That way I wouldn't have to use my upgrade. Maybe get the galaxy nexus off of swappa and wait for holiday deals or even next summer for the latest and greatest phone to come out.
Buying my EVO was a no-brainer...but I'm faced with a tough decision now.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app

I recommend the s3
People will go through 3 or 4 phones if they are badly treated... Personally I'm still on my first one and love this phone...
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

What do you think about the swappa idea?
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app

I'll have to check that out myself...
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

Let me begin by saying that choosing is mainly based on personal preference.
Do you like HTC phones, and/or Sense roms?
Give the HTC One a look. It was new software features, a quad-core processor, and a completely new Sense UI, Sense 5. HTC has optimized the performance of both the phone and the UI. Many elements were removed since the previous version of Sense, Sense 4, and even THAT version was slimmed from Sense 3. The device is both fast and beautiful. Its Quadrant scores are off of the charts. I was able to test Sense 5 on my Evo 4G LTE, and I must say that the new UI definitely makes the most difference in speed. While Quadrants are not the most reliable and consistent test, it resulted in a 2000+ point jump from Sense 4 on my phone, using the stock kernel!!!
Some things to note about the One:
- No removable back, which means a nonremovable battery.
- No SD card slot. Keep that in mind when choosing!!!
What about Samsung?
The GS3 is one of the best Android devices released to date, and many units are still selling. Samsung went all the way with their software features, and each update only adds more. However, some of these same features might prove to be quite annoying. The 2GB of RAM prove to be very helpful with multitasking, and I've never seen the home launcher reload even once.
Some things to note about the GS3/4:
- Removable Back!
- SD Card slot!
- Plastic body (Hit or miss)
Other Contenders...
I don't have much of an opinion about the other contenders like LG, Motorola, Sony, and Nokia, because I have not owned any of the above, neither do I have close friends who own any of those. Keep in mind that Sony is non-existent with Sprint.
iPhone, anyone?
I'm surprised that the name iPhone isn't censored on XDA. But readers, please understand, I am NOT here to knock down any manufacturers or smartphones. Dao needs a new phone, and I'm simply providing advice. Now, let's give credit where credit is due. The iPhone gives one of the most solid, simplistic smartphone experiences that most will ever see. Why else would every new phone be compared to it? But, on the other hand, I find iOS to be too simple and lackluster, and also too restrictive. I prefer the power of choice and customization. But if someone bought it for me, will I use it? Hell yeah! Maybe not for long...but hell yeah!
He didn't mention Nexus?!
Once again, not much experience in this department. However, I do know that Nexus devices are the first to get new software, IF it is one of the latest Nexus devices. But since the updates come directly from Google, there are no manufacturer delays due to a remake of the new UI's. While there might be Service Provider delays, they are much more minimal that the delays of other phones.
Summary:
In short, I end with my opening statement, it's truly up to your personal preference. Dao, be sure to read reviews from different websites, and get different opinions. Look up the pros and cons of each phone, look at videos demonstrating the features, and also research into the global interest of the phone (somewhat indicating continued dev support). If this helped, hit Thanks on the bottom. If you disagree, that's fine with me. Just explain your stance without trolling. Or at least troll with some purpose. Later, guys.
Fun read-ups:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6747/htc-one-review
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-S-III-vs-HTC-EVO-4G-LTE_id3068
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-S-III-Review-AT-T-Verizon-T-Mobile-Sprint_id3058
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-S4-Review_id3280
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-S4-vs-Samsung-Galaxy-S-III_id3293

aarsyl said:
Let me begin by saying that choosing is mainly based on personal preference.
Do you like HTC phones, and/or Sense roms?
Give the HTC One a look. It was new software features, a quad-core processor, and a completely new Sense UI, Sense 5. HTC has optimized the performance of both the phone and the UI. Many elements were removed since the previous version of Sense, Sense 4, and even THAT version was slimmed from Sense 3. The device is both fast and beautiful. Its Quadrant scores are off of the charts. I was able to test Sense 5 on my Evo 4G LTE, and I must say that the new UI definitely makes the most difference in speed. While Quadrants are not the most reliable and consistent test, it resulted in a 2000+ point jump from Sense 4 on my phone, using the stock kernel!!!
Some things to note about the One:
- No removable back, which means a nonremovable battery.
- No SD card slot. Keep that in mind when choosing!!!
What about Samsung?
The GS3 is one of the best Android devices released to date, and many units are still selling. Samsung went all the way with their software features, and each update only adds more. However, some of these same features might prove to be quite annoying. The 2GB of RAM prove to be very helpful with multitasking, and I've never seen the home launcher reload even once.
Some things to note about the GS3/4:
- Removable Back!
- SD Card slot!
- Plastic body (Hit or miss)
Other Contenders...
I don't have much of an opinion about the other contenders like LG, Motorola, Sony, and Nokia, because I have not owned any of the above, neither do I have close friends who own any of those. Keep in mind that Sony is non-existent with Sprint.
iPhone, anyone?
I'm surprised that the name iPhone isn't censored on XDA. But readers, please understand, I am NOT here to knock down any manufacturers or smartphones. Dao needs a new phone, and I'm simply providing advice. Now, let's give credit where credit is due. The iPhone gives one of the most solid, simplistic smartphone experiences that most will ever see. Why else would every new phone be compared to it? But, on the other hand, I find iOS to be too simple and lackluster, and also too restrictive. I prefer the power of choice and customization. But if someone bought it for me, will I use it? Hell yeah! Maybe not for long...but hell yeah!
He didn't mention Nexus?!
Once again, not much experience in this department. However, I do know that Nexus devices are the first to get new software, IF it is one of the latest Nexus devices. But since the updates come directly from Google, there are no manufacturer delays due to a remake of the new UI's. While there might be Service Provider delays, they are much more minimal that the delays of other phones.
Summary:
In short, I end with my opening statement, it's truly up to your personal preference. Dao, be sure to read reviews from different websites, and get different opinions. Look up the pros and cons of each phone, look at videos demonstrating the features, and also research into the global interest of the phone (somewhat indicating continued dev support). If this helped, hit Thanks on the bottom. If you disagree, that's fine with me. Just explain your stance without trolling. Or at least troll with some purpose. Later, guys.
Fun read-ups:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6747/htc-one-review
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-S-III-vs-HTC-EVO-4G-LTE_id3068
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-S-III-Review-AT-T-Verizon-T-Mobile-Sprint_id3058
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-S4-Review_id3280
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-S4-vs-Samsung-Galaxy-S-III_id3293
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for the review. Although I will need to do a hands on review...I think the HTC One with the metal chassis and quad core (the GS4 has quad core as well) might win out. I don't know how much I care about a removable battery...It's rare that I remove the one on my EVO. I also don't care much about the storage space because I use google for pretty much everything.
Also, the IPhone is a GREAT phone. HOWEVER, I like flashing new roms. So there goes the IPhone.
Thank you so much for your help!

daoliverio said:
Thank you so much for the review. Although I will need to do a hands on review...I think the HTC One with the metal chassis and quad core (the GS4 has quad core as well) might win out. I don't know how much I care about a removable battery...It's rare that I remove the one on my EVO. I also don't care much about the storage space because I use google for pretty much everything.
Also, the IPhone is a GREAT phone. HOWEVER, I like flashing new roms. So there goes the IPhone.
Thank you so much for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, I had a lot more information pipes out. However, I clicked the wrong button, I lost everything. So what you see here is merely a summary. I did mention in my previous type up that the GS4 has a quad core processor, and that you should also check out the phone in person. It is my pleasure to share mine with you .
______________________________
HTC Evo 4G LTE

I'm going to wait a month or so for a price cut on everything. It's a tough decision since I don't just go and buy phones...I rely on the upgrade.
The nexus brand is appealing because of the updates. Coming from the Hero and now the EVO...I've realized that updates are few and far between with HTC.
I like sense UI...but also like the stock feel and miui. The One would let me (if the devs keep up) have more options.
The features of the gs4 are cool...Samsung is good for that.
Honestly, I don't think I can make a "bad" choice here.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app

I agree, there is no bad choice. However, there are choices that make you second guess every day. But, as long as you know what you want, don't let this trouble you. Sometimes I wonder if I should've gotten the Gs3, but when I truly think about it, the new Evo was truly the phone for me.
Also, I knew everything about the Evo when it was delayed on April and finally released in May. I knew the specs by heart. I watched soooooo many videos that it is unbelievable. But I waited until the price dropped, and until I had the money. I didn't get mine until November (My upgrade was eligible since July). No need to rush. That's all I'm saying.
______________________________
HTC Evo 4G LTE

I just played with the One. Wow. I've never been so impressed with a phone.
Build quality is amazing and the speakers on the front make a world of difference.
Thank you all for your help!!
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app

I didn't like Samsung as much either, but I got the s3. I'm only on my second one and it wasn't anyones fault it messed up, some products are faulty of course. This one has been perfect and with no screen protector for months, of had no scratches. I still prefer a protector, but it is your choice. The phone itself is awesome! I still prefer HTC sense, but I would rather have an SD card slot more. Touchwiz is okay, not as bad as people claim, but it isn't the best. I have cm10 on here and it is awesome! Love the phone! Just my 2 cents.
------------------------
Sprint Galaxy S3
Whiplashh Rom
Look it up.

Samsung is good but, at least with my EVO, I always come back to Sense.
I think having sense and the option of cm is the way for me. The sound and feel of the One is phenomenal.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app

daoliverio said:
Samsung is good but, at least with my EVO, I always come back to Sense.
I think having sense and the option of cm is the way for me. The sound and feel of the One is phenomenal.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But man, with 7 gigs of music and 3 gigs of pictures/video, that extended sdcard is handy. still got 10 gig free of internal memory on my s3
------------------------
Sprint Galaxy S3
Whiplashh Rom
Look it up.

Was not really a fan of Samsung till I got the S3. Man has my opinion changed. The device is a flat out beast. Plus the removable battery, and SD Card slot seal the deal for me. I flash a lot of roms. So having a removable battery is a big thing for me.
TEAM MiK
MikROMs Since 3/13/11

All very good points. However, when I stream from Pandora and Google Music I don't have a use for a large SD Card.
You can't argue with sales numbers....The s3 is GREAT and so is the s4. I bought a few Samsung laptops this year and have a bad taste in my mouth. Build quality is left wanting.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app

daoliverio said:
All very good points. However, when I stream from Pandora and Google Music I don't have a use for a large SD Card.
You can't argue with sales numbers....The s3 is GREAT and so is the s4. I bought a few Samsung laptops this year and have a bad taste in my mouth. Build quality is left wanting.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, I have had no case on my s3 and I've dropped it a bunch of times and it had not cracked yet. My friends weren't so lucky. Build quality is pretty good to me.. but that's an opinion.
------------------------
Sprint Galaxy S3
Whiplashh Rom
Look it up.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that the quality of the gs3/gs4 is bad.
I just think that the HTC One felt "better".
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app

daoliverio said:
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that the quality of the gs3/gs4 is bad.
I just think that the HTC One felt "better".
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well to me it is like this.. do you get the phone that looks cool and "feels" good or the one that looks about the same but works better?
------------------------
Sprint Galaxy S3
Whiplashh Rom
Look it up.

Whiplashh said:
Well to me it is like this.. do you get the phone that looks cool and "feels" good or the one that looks about the same but works better?
------------------------
Sprint Galaxy S3
Whiplashh Rom
Look it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Define "works" better. Same processor but clocked slightly higher. The numbers are better on the gs4 (I dk about the 3), but not THAT much better.
25 gb of "usable" space (according to reports on the net) is more than enough for my needs.
For me, when you combine the look and feel with arguably the best speakers ever in a phone, you get a better overall experience.
In my absolutely humble opinion.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app

What made YOU choose S4?

What made you choose this device instead of others? Will you select your next smartphone based on the same criteria or do you care more about some other spec?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2

I'm a Samsung fan boy, I've liked Samsung as long as I can remember and it was a shame I was never able to get a Samsung phone, I wanted the sgs1 but got the Evo instead, wanted to upgrade to the sgs2 but samsung wouldn't announce when it would come out and ended up getting a Motorola phone, and when the sgs3 came out I was broke... now come the SGS4 around, I bought it on launch day and it came to me the 30th I was really really happy... I'm going to get every reiteration of the phone as long as my pockets allow it...
Sent from my SGH-M919

I've been using iphones since it first released. Iphone2g, iphone 3g, iphone 3gs, iphone 4 then iphone 4s.
Over the years, I've grown tired of apple locking their firmwares to limit user customization; and the only way around was to jailbreak- a major pain in the behind. So the first reason is ease of personal customization.
Second, the screen size and ppi.
Third, the option to expand memory and switch battery.
And lastly, the popularity of S3.

a few reasons actually :
1) expandable storage
2) removable battery
3) community/developer support
a) why I picked Snapdragon > Exynos
4) Generally positive experience from past Samsung purchases. I've owned a few HTC devices and felt really burned in the past by how poorly they support their products in the long-term, haven't heard many good things about LG (other than the Nexus 4). Although I like Apple's stuff, and own an iPod I like Android's openness and flexibility to switch between Stock and AOSP

Copypasta from another thread:
This was my very first smartphone purchase, so I had to weigh all the factors. In the end, I went with the S4 because....
-It has removable/expandable memory. I plan on using my phone for a LOT of media consumption, and depending on the cloud to store all my stuff won't do it for me since I'm going to use T-Mobile on a 5GB/month data plan. Spotty coverage and limited data means cutting down on cloud usage.
-Removable battery. I figure carrying a spare battery ensures I can go a whole day of heavily using all these awesome phone features and apps without worrying about getting tied back down to a wall outlet.
-Better hardware like the CPU, RAM, Camera (for the most part it seems), and sensors.
-More software features. I can't wait to try out stuff like dual-shot and air view!
-The S4 has Mobeam, which should ensure I can largely replace my wallet and a lot of physical membership cards and just use the IR on my phone to purchase items and get discounts.
-It has a bigger screen while still maintaining a fairly small profile and a high pixel density.
-I prefer AMOLED/OLED to LCD on my TV's. All the issues not withstanding, I love the contrast ratios, the rich colors, and the saturation. It makes watching movies a blast. So I'll naturally prefer the same on the phone.
-From all the video reviews and articles I read, I think I'll end up preferring TouchWiz to sense. Once I use the fixes people have posted here and elsewhere to clear up the lag, the phone should be snappy. It will probably feel really snappy to me anyway since I've never owned a smartphone before.
Overall, as someone who is just entering the big boy league of the mobile phone market, it seems I couldn't have arrived at a better time. The S4 seems like the device for me to start with. If it turns out to be all that and more, I could see myself getting an S5 or whatever is the big kahuna next year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And I actually just got my S4 today and I'm completely blown away. I've been busy downloading apps on my home wi-fi and playing with the device most of the day. I feel like a caveman who just discovered my first computer.

For me, its just has swag!
Sent from my GT-P5113 using xda premium

1) Expandable battery. After having an extended battery on my GS2, I can't fathom having a phone that I really have to hope can last all day.
2) Even with custom ROMs, hearing all the crap HTC owners had to deal was a major negative due to lack of support from HTC.
I really wish I could get those awesome speakers on the GS4 though.

thehelios said:
1) Expandable battery. After having an extended battery on my GS2, I can't fathom having a phone that I really have to hope can last all day.
2) Even with custom ROMs, hearing all the crap HTC owners had to deal was a major negative due to lack of support from HTC.
I really wish I could get those awesome speakers on the GS4 though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup same reasons and same regret also
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

I've had HTC phones up until now and I've been pretty happy with them.
I've had to replace the battery in my EVO 3D, as well as my wife's Mytouch 4G. So, for me, a removable battery is a really important feature. Also, I wanted to have expandable storage and put large apps and pics on the SD card, so the S4 won easily over the HTC One.
The aluminum body of the One does nothing for me...I put a case on every phone I own anyway. But the One's speakers seem nice.
For my next smartphone, I think I'll still look for the same things.

I switch to the s4 because T Mobile gave it to me absolutely free no $20 a month fee completely free. I had to complain to retention quite a bit because I was having issues with my galaxy s2 and they caved in and said I'll go ahead and give you one for having so many issues with your phone and I don't want to lose your business.
works every time
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda premium

Spastic909 said:
I switch to the s4 because T Mobile gave it to me absolutely free no $20 a month fee completely free. I had to complain to retention quite a bit because I was having issues with my galaxy s2 and they caved in and said I'll go ahead and give you one for having so many issues with your phone and I don't want to lose your business.
works every time
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, teach me lol. I tried doing that when the S3 came out because I was having a lot of problems with my s2 but all i got was a credit lol
Sent from Flip's Galaxy S4

got mine s4 just because i wanted to get a new phone, and i wanted to switch to unlimited data plan.. i was thinking first of getting xperia Z (about $525 cash) but there was some complaints about earpiece volume from users, so i decided to get a contract tmobile with S4
Basically the loudness of earpiece of Xperia Z made me choose the S4.. (i had an Xperia ION and earpiece on this phone was horrible, i could not hear anyone in loud places... )

Basically I got sick of HTC and sense.