You can play with the new Note 4 at Best Buy starting today. Hopefully some of you will get us some good videos to check out.
You best me to it. Store had the white one only. Absolutely fantastic. Looks so Much nicer than my white Note 3. Definitely felt heavier but I am sure it won't bend in the pocket! I cannot understand the love for the iPhone 6 plus. This is smaller with a bigger more Hi res screen and simply more together
Can't wait til it Comes out.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Free mobile app
ekerbuddyeker said:
You best me to it. Store had the white one only. Absolutely fantastic. Looks so Much nicer than my white Note 3. Definitely felt heavier but I am sure it won't bend in the pocket! I cannot understand the love for the iPhone 6 plus. This is smaller with a bigger more Hi res screen and simply more together
Can't wait til it Comes out.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People are afraid that there might be something better out there than their beloved iPhones! I don't mind using either one. Hence, pre-ordered the 6+ and as soon as I got to play with the Note 4 today I canceled my order and preordered the Note. Just so much more to be excited about and may I add the Note 4 feels miles better in the hand than the iPhone 6+.
Hardcore73 said:
You can play with the new Note 4 at Best Buy starting today. Hopefully some of you will get us some good videos to check out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will check it out this weekend.
I wouldn't put too much stock in the bending iPhones. Those guys are use too 4" screens. Gotta adjust. My HTC One S was initially vilified for screen cracking. Again, mostly mishandling imho.
I just played with one at my local Best Buy! That screen is noticeably crisper IMO. A big surprise is how loud that back speaker is! Hands-down the loudest Samsung phone I've ever heard! Significantly louder than my Note 3 in the demo video I played. I could easily hear the Note 4 over all of the other background sounds! I don't know how Samsung did it, but it could potentially be a huge selling point, especially considering the controversy with the awful back placement. However, my hands usually rests where the speaker is placed, so the sound is actually redirected towards me and it's great! I'm sure it's no HTC M8 boom sound, but it beats anything else I've heard! I'll do it! I'll upgrade to the Note 4!
Sent from my AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 3™, a 4G LTE smartphone.
I played with the note 4 at best buy today, and I'm glad I cancelled my preorder for the iPhone 6 plus. I have a note 2 right now and using the note 4 made me want it today! October 14th can't come soon enough
Hardcore73 said:
You can play with the new Note 4 at Best Buy starting today. Hopefully some of you will get us some good videos to check out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to the KOP Best Buy tomorrow to have a close look
I want to confirm that it has the "super dimming mode" like S5.
I checkout out the demo ones in my local best buy too. Such beautiful construction, hands down the best screen I've ever seen. Too bad there are only two white units for display. I can also confirm that the other members are right about the speakers, it sounded very loud, even with all the background noise in the store. Also, the store rep was able to confirm that the Note edge should be out about a month and half later than the Note 4, but no pre-order just yet.
Haha. I can't believe they have it out now. I literally went in the day before to talk to them about the phone and their trade in deal. They guy was like, "we should have our demo in really soon." Lol.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
Can people who've seen this in the flesh eelaborate more on the sound. Ok its loud, but what about the quality? Is it loud tiny or is there some bass in that sound?
Went and looked at the Note 4 when picking up one of the new grey Moto 360's this morning. All I can say is wow. I've had all the Note phones over the years and the construction of this new one is really premium. Compared to the 6 Plus on display there's no question that the Note 4 is a better construction and in hand feel. I've had every iPhone from 4 through 5S for work and its clear Apple doesn't know how to build a "big" phone yet.
I'll be putting in my preorder this week!
I put in my preorder as well for the black one. Should get the $200 BB gift card for trading in my old Galaxy Nexus and am now wondering if I'll also get the $100 at&t bill credit for getting it on Next (promo from at&t is thru 10/31).
Vaygr said:
I checkout out the demo ones in my local best buy too. Such beautify construction, hands down the best screen I've ever seen. Too bad there are only two white units for display. I can also confirm that the other members are right about the speakers, it sounded very loud, even with all the background noise in the store. Also, the store rep was able to confirm that the Note edge should be out about a month and half later than the Note 4, but no pre-order just yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a real good friend who is actually the lead rep at our samsung store. Been friends with him for about 4 years, since he sold me tons of phones as an AT&T sales rep. He says that his information has the Edge being actually available by black Friday, but they arent sure when pre-orders will start. That being said, the bad news is this. He says good luck getting one. Apparently, the way things look right now, it is expected that the carriers will only get roughly 5,000 units so its gonna be tough to get a hold of.
Edited to add: Thats 5,000 units per carrier.
jlczl said:
I put in my preorder as well for the black one. Should get the $200 BB gift card for trading in my old Galaxy Nexus and am now wondering if I'll also get the $100 at&t bill credit for getting it on Next (promo from at&t is thru 10/31).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's only if it's for a new line, right?
lawtq said:
Can people who've seen this in the flesh eelaborate more on the sound. Ok its loud, but what about the quality? Is it loud tiny or is there some bass in that sound?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well i will catch hell for this but--
i played with it and 6+ at BB. the screen on the 4 is astounding. speakers did not impress me and no bass. however all i could play was a sammy demo. my s4 seemed a lot better and i played the s4 with and without viper. not a good test i know. just initial impression. i am going to play with both a lot. i always do before buying. will try other music on the demos. it is tough bc of the backround noise in store.
both phones did not seem to scroll smooth for me. this was done by bringing up Google News and scrolling down through all the news links. 6+ seemed the same. they stutter. i may be too critical on that though. my note demo seemed to have some touch screen issues like my nexus one did where touches weren't registered immediately. again may have been me as it is hard to hold the phones with the security attached. reviews i have watched didn't show those issues. so i am taking all this with a grain of salt atm.
i am looking at both as i may take a break from flashing and son and his wife have iPhones and live out of town. he only seems interested in the iPhones IM. Weird I know. but if it gets me more IM time, the better. my next phone i want smoothness and good audio/call quality so when on speaker phone it is not raspy.
at this point undecided. but will test the audio as much as possible in store. my needs for the phone may not include all the features the 4 has. i do give apple credit for running good ui's with only 1gb ram.
both phones seem really nice and it comes down to what works best for each person. i always assumed the 4 was a no brainer, hope so.
this is an honest, unbiased initial impression. i need much more time with both
spinedoc said:
That's only if it's for a new line, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I have a line I need to port over.
Checked out the Note 4 as well at Best Buy, screen is fabulous! Will be getting the Note 4 when it becomes available. Did a quick test vs my Note 3 camera. I took a picture of the sign at the store with my Note 3 and the Note 4 and the Note 4 was much better. Also the Note 4 is a tad bigger.
Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk
rugmankc said:
well i will catch hell for this but--
i played with it and 6+ at BB. the screen on the 4 is astounding. speakers did not impress me and no bass. however all i could play was a sammy demo. my s4 seemed a lot better and i played the s4 with and without viper. not a good test i know. just initial impression. i am going to play with both a lot. i always do before buying. will try other music on the demos. it is tough bc of the backround noise in store.
both phones did not seem to scroll smooth for me. this was done by bringing up Google News and scrolling down through all the news links. 6+ seemed the same. they stutter. i may be too critical on that though. my note demo seemed to have some touch screen issues like my nexus one did where touches weren't registered immediately. again may have been me as it is hard to hold the phones with the security attached. reviews i have watched didn't show those issues. so i am taking all this with a grain of salt atm.
i am looking at both as i may take a break from flashing and son and his wife have iPhones and live out of town. he only seems interested in the iPhones IM. Weird I know. but if it gets me more IM time, the better. my next phone i want smoothness and good audio/call quality so when on speaker phone it is not raspy.
at this point undecided. but will test the audio as much as possible in store. my needs for the phone may not include all the features the 4 has. i do give apple credit for running good ui's with only 1gb ram.
both phones seem really nice and it comes down to what works best for each person. i always assumed the 4 was a no brainer, hope so.
this is an honest, unbiased initial impression. i need much more time with both
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also thought that the scrolling felt a bit laggy. I think that it may have to do with the demo software that samsung had installed on the device. It seemed to be bogging things down quite a bit. It just did not feel all that fluid, but the iphone 6 plus felt that is was scrolling it a bit better. I do hope that the ATT note 4 will be root soon enough so that I can rid touchwiz of the device.
lovenokia said:
I also thought that the scrolling felt a bit laggy. I think that it may have to do with the demo software that samsung had installed on the device. It seemed to be bogging things down quite a bit. It just did not feel all that fluid, but the iphone 6 plus felt that is was scrolling it a bit better. I do hope that the ATT note 4 will be root soon enough so that I can rid touchwiz of the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could have been me and demos may vary. The S5 was fluid on the demos I used, so would expect same on 4. Thought speaker could be better. Only HTC gets that I guess--
I am torn on the 6+ and N4. Either way flashing will be probably stopping for me. Too much time to keep up on it all with these locked bl's.
I tried my son's iPhone 6 on Sunday. Met him and his wife for dinner. Had my other son call me from inside restaurant and I was outside on speakerphone. Sounded good and screen was very readable in sunlight.
I am looking for smoothness and good audio from one of these two. I know I will never use all the "neat" stuff on the N4. Don't use it on the S4.
Nothing but high praise on the camera. He showed me some photos of a new born, not theirs. Very nice--:good:
Am hesitant on the many apps needing optimized for the 6+
I will probably wait and see how they both go and the Nexus 6. But, pretty sure it will be 6+ or N4. :good:
rugmankc said:
It could have been me and demos may vary. The S5 was fluid on the demos I used, so would expect same on 4. Thought speaker could be better. Only HTC gets that I guess--
I am torn on the 6+ and N4. Either way flashing will be probably stopping for me. Too much time to keep up on it all with these locked bl's.
I tried my son's iPhone 6 on Sunday. Met him and his wife for dinner. Had my other son call me from inside restaurant and I was outside on speakerphone. Sounded good and screen was very readable in sunlight.
I am looking for smoothness and good audio from one of these two. I know I will never use all the "neat" stuff on the N4. Don't use it on the S4.
Nothing but high praise on the camera. He showed me some photos of a new born, not theirs. Very nice--:good:
Am hesitant on the many apps needing optimized for the 6+
I will probably wait and see how they both go and the Nexus 6. But, pretty sure it will be 6+ or N4. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel similarly pretty much across the board except that I'm down to Note 4, Moto X, and Nexus 6. I'm kind of tired of the flashing game, but I want a bit more customization than iOS allows. Honestly Moto X would have been the ideal device had they not skimped on the battery. I'm not confident that it will last a full day for me and I hate having to charge during the day.
Related
I get my shiny new 6502 today and I am sooo excited I am coming from a Note II.
Reasons I switched:
Love the fact that it is a 5" screen but compact, tired of lugging around such a huge phone but love a bigger screen.
Love the clean UI, almost Nexus 4'ish.
Love that it's not all glass like the Z because I use my phones naked so less chance of damage there.
Love the fact that I bought a factory unlocked phone and that I am actually going to finally give T Mobile a try (coming from AT&T), will save $70 a month.
Love the fact that my phone will be different than the other 90% of the population because its not an iPhone or Samsung.
Love the fact that paired up with my shiny new black Pebble watch, this will be a sick combo!
Love 13MP camera so i can zoom into everything. (use phone a lot for engineering work and take pictures of things for notes)
Also love the fact that I bought an HTC One (still waiting for it) and will probably use both as my daily driver (I get bored really quick haha)
Concerns:
I hope that the camera is good and if not that we can either tweak the software for the original camera app, or get a custom camera app that will work better.
I hope the display doesn't wash out as bad as everyone says (or that I don't actually use the screen from a different angle, because I have never thought of it)
Hope the external speaker is at least decent enough that if I watch youtube videos I can hear them ok.
Hope I can tweak the heck out of the phone.
Hope I can get the camera app to launch faster. (might just have to keep it loaded in memory before I know I am going to use it, but what happens when you need it quickly...)
Just some of my thoughts for now as I day dream of my new phone today.
Come on mail lady, please be swift today!
If you have any thoughts on any of these things, or your own reasons you switched or concerns, I would love to hear them.
I will post back on here as soon as I get the phone in my hands (my precious will be with me soon) haha
Guess what I just got in my hands! My little precious!!!
Congratulations! I find that my zl battery got so much better after about 5 days, also I find it gets less warm these days. I have action launcher, lmt launcher and the phone is great. I find the camera launches pretty fast using the shutter key.
Absolutely love the screen and the feel of this device! Cannot believe how small this is with a 5" screen, amazing. Excellent build quality, screams elegant.
10x faster than my Note 2.
Will continue to download all my apps and get it fully customized and write more later on it.
1st impressions; love it!
Hardcore73 said:
Absolutely love the screen and the feel of this device! Cannot believe how small this is with a 5" screen, amazing. Excellent build quality, screams elegant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree! Every single time I pick up the phone, it just sits so well in the hand. I wanna touch it over and over again. I even run my hands over it gently when its lying in front of me with that gorgeous back
Hardcore73 said:
Absolutely love the screen and the feel of this device! Cannot believe how small this is with a 5" screen, amazing. Excellent build quality, screams elegant.
10x faster than my Note 2.
Will continue to download all my apps and get it fully customized and write more later on it.
1st impressions; love it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
awesome...seriously that faster over note 2? haha
If you live in a major city. Try T-Mobile, they are upgrading their network at the moment to 4g/LTE. Although LTE is not ready to be turned on. I'm working on the NYC metro market.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using xda app-developers app
6502 does not have LTE
After using this phone for a full day I am so in love with it. I really was unsure and thought it would just get me by until the HTC showed up.
This might actually become my new daily driver.
Been messing with camera app all day. It is hit or miss.
Everything about the phone is great. I can also go a whole day with moderate use.
only downfall of this phone is the camera software. Pictures are hit or miss.
I have to say i'm very disappointed.
Not comparable to the HTC ONE or the Galaxy S4. Maybe new design but we didn't even get flagship. Sorry Sony.
GodKingKnight said:
Not comparable to the HTC ONE or the Galaxy S4. Maybe new design but we didn't even get flagship. Sorry Sony.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wtf is we didn't even get flagship? That's a reason the zl can't beat one or s4? Wow the people on this forum does not fail to amaze me with their stupidity every single day.
Sent from my LT29i using Tapatalk 2
This phone is a flag ship. Sony may be behind on processor and screen but the difference against the competition in real world use is not visible. If you read all the blogs and believe everything you read you may believe this phone is inferior. Actually the ZL holds its own. Just sold my htc one for it. Horses for courses.
Sent from my C6502 using xda premium
GodKingKnight said:
Not comparable to the HTC ONE or the Galaxy S4. Maybe new design but we didn't even get flagship. Sorry Sony.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer ZL over the two phones u mentioned. Overall ZL seems well rounded device & better suited to my use. Of course, ZL is a flagship (along with Z). I'd have answered objectively if only your post were so!
switching from nexus 4
I just ordered a 6502 today, should be here tuesday or wednesday.
I'm switching from a nexus 4. Yes I know but I have always liked Sony:laugh:
glovesave said:
I just ordered a 6502 today, should be here tuesday or wednesday.
I'm switching from a nexus 4. Yes I know but I have always liked Sony:laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will keep picking it up, just feels so good in the hand. Sony has come along way from the days of x10
Sent from my C6502 using Tapatalk 2
Hey, I liked the x10!!!
ronj1986 said:
Hey, I liked the x10!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
software was so blotted and the built quality was alright..
Great phone!
I'm also waiting for my HTC One in the mail. My carrier was offering a ridiculous deal for the ZL so I went for it, and will make my decision when it comes. The ZL is awesome for many unique reasons and could very well become my DD
Elegant design - great feel in the hand!
Can use one handed because of compact design and small bezel
Display is gorgeous. Yeah we know about the poor viewing angles...but we mainly look at our phones straight on...right?
Sexy and visible LED notification light (HTC take note)
Power button has perfect placement. It's just accessible no matter how you pick up the phone (again take note HTC)
Expandable storage
Dedicated camera button
Clean and unbloated Android experience. Super fast ui response!
IR blaster works great with other devices
Great sound with headphones
No point in outlining negatives here. Either way you slice it this is a fantastic phone....enjoy it!
got it....love my 6502
It came today, haven't had time to play too much with it so still setting it up.
So far I am loving it.
Don't have to enable data to receive pictures in my texts (that always annoyed me on the Nexus 4). Also I am torn between all the updates vs giving even more info to Google. I picked the Sony route for a bit.
Love the 5 inch size, with the screen taking most of the front it is just right it seems
Went with the unlocked 6502, won't pay $200 extra for LTE (I'm on WIFI all the time anyways)
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 been using mine for a few hours now and decided to write a bit about my first impressions. I hope these will be helpful.
Here are my initial thoughts (I am coming from the iPhone 5 that I had been using for the last 5 mos)
- The phone is light (feels too light for its size), but well made and well balanced in terms of weight. No issues with build quality (except for the one mentioned below). But it's so freaking slippery. I can't wait for my Spigen case to arrive.
- The screen is gorgeous. Large and vibrant. If you don't like AMOLED oversaturation, there is a "Movie" preset that tones down the colors.
- Battery life is the best I've ever experienced. Even compared to the iPhone. I used the phone for about 3 hours and was only down 25% (I understand that the gauge still needs to be calibrated and the battery life so far may not be typical).
- I am not a fan of stock Android, but Touchwhiz is bloated and laggy. With the specs that the phone has, there shouldn't be any choppiness or waiting for stock apps (caller, etc.) to open. But there is. I am hoping that Samsung will optimize the skin's performance in the next update.
- Related: People who put so much non-removable bloatware should be hung by their necks. Why is Flipboard, Chrome, Lookout and tens of other apps non-removable and always seem to run in the background? I'll wait for a verified list of safe-to-remove apps and bye-bye bloatware.
- Overall Touchwhiz is inconsistent. The design of stock apps varies so much. And damn those stupid bubble sounds.
- Camera is amazing in well-lit environments (better than the iPhone's), but not so much in low light (The Night mode fixes the issue for static objects though).
- Call sound quality is great.
- The only minor gripe about the build quality / design that I have concerns the power button. It's small, almost flush, and has very weak, almost non-existent tactile feedback. Just the opposite of what the power button on the iPhone is like. The volume rocker is fine though.
I will update this thread if I discover anything new.
Please, post your mini-reviews and first impressions here as well. Thanks.
Thanks for the early review. I'm getting mine tomorrow, so the wait is killing me.
Which color did you get by the way? And what did you think of that color?
I got black but still have some urge to get white. It might not matter because I also bought the Neo Hybrid case.
It does seem Samsung and T-Mo have put a lot of bloatware into the device - I can't wait for a good ROM to come by.
From my showrooming at AT&T and Best Buy, the display is indeed gorgeous and the design is better. I don't know.
I've seen the HTC One side by side with the S4 in AT&T and Best Buy, and I don't think the S4 is that much worse/cheap-feeling.
I actually found the S4 to be more comfortable to hold, and seems to fit more comfortably into my hand. The HTC One,
with all its aluminium glory, feels more rigid, and certainly not as light as the S4. I don't know.. preference.
I do think one other phone that doesn't get too much love is the Xperia Z. Great build quality, near-stock UI.
They have some nice themes that I'm using on the S3.
Good early review. I do have a question for you. I am thinking of returning this iPhone 5 for the S4. Knowing what you know now, would you advise others like me to hang on and wait it out? or is this a phone that even with its lag problems worth the switch?
GG2012 said:
Thanks for the early review. I'm getting mine tomorrow, so the wait is killing me.
Which color did you get by the way? And what did you think of that color?
I got black but still have some urge to get white. It might not matter because I also bought the Neo Hybrid case.
It does seem Samsung and T-Mo have put a lot of bloatware into the device - I can't wait for a good ROM to come by.
From my showrooming at AT&T and Best Buy, the display is indeed gorgeous and the design is better. I don't know.
I've seen the HTC One side by side with the S4 in AT&T and Best Buy, and I don't think the S4 is that much worse/cheap-feeling.
I actually found the S4 to be more comfortable to hold, and seems to fit more comfortably into my hand. The HTC One,
with all its aluminium glory, feels more rigid, and certainly not as light as the S4. I don't know.. preference.
I do think one other phone that doesn't get too much love is the Xperia Z. Great build quality, near-stock UI.
They have some nice themes that I'm using on the S3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the black mist version and I like it much better than the white. But it's personal preference.
I have already rooted the phone using the Motochopper exploit (very easy; thanks to Dan).
I also find the design much better than the S3 (more "professional", "industrial").
I do like how the HTC looks and feel, but it's not by any means more rigid. None of these phones are rugged.
The Xperia Z is a great looking phone but I personally thing that the screen on the S4 and HTC One are miles better.
With that said, the most important factor for me was the removable battery. It's always great to have a phone that doesn't have a worn battery even after a year or two of use. Plus, the battery itself is the largest one among five-inchers.
ferganer said:
I got the black mist version and I like it much better than the white. But it's personal preference.
I have already rooted the phone using the Motochopper exploit (very easy; thanks to Dan).
I also find the design much better than the S3 (more "professional", "industrial").
I do like how the HTC looks and feel, but it's not by any means more rigid. None of these phones are rugged.
The Xperia Z is a great looking phone but I personally thing that the screen on the S4 and HTC One are miles better.
With that said, the most important factor for me was the removable battery. It's always great to have a phone that doesn't have a worn battery even after a year or two of use. Plus, the battery itself is the largest one among five-inchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note 2 has the best battery life by far of any smartphone that is not the Droid Razr Maxx. That thing can last for days, and maybe weeks with the monster Anker extended battery. I hope I can get similar results with the S4, though I'm afraid if I keep a lot of apps, that will drain the battery faster. I have to say the dual speakers on the HTC One really impressed me. I'm wondering why Samsung still hasn't done it this way (or even better, dual front and back speakers). They're already one of the few tablet makers that put the speakers in front, and not the back. I live for the replaceable battery and microSD slot.
oak25 said:
Good early review. I do have a question for you. I am thinking of returning this iPhone 5 for the S4. Knowing what you know now, would you advise others like me to hang on and wait it out? or is this a phone that even with its lag problems worth the switch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's personal preference. There are advantages for both phones.
iPhone is much more practical to use as a PHONE (smaller size, pocketability). It's much more fluid. However, the screen size and resolution are limiting.
The S4 being a flagship Android device offers great hardware (namely the screen) and customizibility.
I have rooted my phone and installed Titanium. I will remove as much bloatware as possible and see if that fixes the lagginess problem. I will report back.
Overall, I do not regret switching from the iPhone. So far, I am really liking the S4. Let's see if that changes
My wife and I just got ours. We switched from verizon to tmo and I switched from my galaxy nexus and she switched from an iphone5. I was really nervous that she wouldnt like it but so far she loves it and hasnt put it down in few hours. For me it wasnt that big of a change... but for her it is like the first time she picked up a smart phone. The screen i think is what she likes the best... it is big but the phone doesnt feel massive. I think it actually feels smaller in hand than my gnexus. And she really likes the camera (not talking quality just the options). It is going to take me some time to get use to touch wiz but I will probably unlock the bootloader and install cm 10.1 whenever it is available for it.
If anyone else is interested in any other details let me know.
I would have no problem recommending this over an iphone5 to anyone. I probably would never have said that about any other phone before (i made my mom get the iphone4s when it came out). Now when the next iphone (5s/6) comes out that may be a different story (but we will have to wait until apple lets us know what they are doing next).
ttrevorr said:
My wife and I just got ours. We switched from verizon to tmo and I switched from my galaxy nexus and she switched from an iphone5. I was really nervous that she wouldnt like it but so far she loves it and hasnt put it down in few hours. For me it wasnt that big of a change... but for her it is like the first time she picked up a smart phone. The screen i think is what she likes the best... it is big but the phone doesnt feel massive. I think it actually feels smaller in hand than my gnexus. And she really likes the camera (not talking quality just the options). It is going to take me some time to get use to touch wiz but I will probably unlock the bootloader and install cm 10.1 whenever it is available for it.
If anyone else is interested in any other details let me know.
I would have no problem recommending this over an iphone5 to anyone. I probably would never have said that about any other phone before (i made my mom get the iphone4s when it came out). Now when the next iphone (5s/6) comes out that may be a different story (but we will have to wait until apple lets us know what they are doing next).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your input. Unfortunately, Tim Cook stated that we shouldn't be expecting a larger size/resolution screen iPhone any time soon. So, if screen size matters to you, the S4 is indeed a better option.
Phone is great. Lag is minor. But I do notice top of screen can get hot fairly quick from not too much intense tasks.. not to bad though. Amd an update will surely adress these things
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
I made a unbagging (because Tmo shipped my GS4 in a polybag rather than a box), unpackaging, setup, and initial impressions video.
http://youtu.be/6aaJ_pAlFZw
Since I've filmed this, I wanna add this:
Basically, I believe this launch was less than stellar. Not only did Samsung tease the S4 over the last few months, but there's the locked/verifiable bootloaders (again I add verifiable because from my understanding on AT&T and most likely Verizon too, there's checks to make sure you have a legit recovery and boot image for those particular carriers, and if it fails, brick), little availability for 32GB (ironically the only carrier to have a 32GB version is the locking down AT&T); ZERO 64GB when they claimed that 16, 32, and 64 GB versions would be available, and as I expected, Sixaxis and Wii Remotes DO NOT work out of the box (mostly because it uses Android 4.2.2 and from past experience with my Nexus 7 it does NOT play nice with sixaxis or wii remotes for whatever reason).
Oh well, at least I did showcase the Motochopper root method at the time of filming and some time after I filmed, T-mobile's version of the bootloader can indeed be unlocked. (Sprint's is unlocked from the start, btw.)
adventure_of_link said:
I made a unbagging (because Tmo shipped my GS4 in a polybag rather than a box), unpackaging, setup, and initial impressions video.
http://youtu.be/6aaJ_pAlFZw
Since I've filmed this, I wanna add this:
Basically, I believe this launch was less than stellar. Not only did Samsung tease the S4 over the last few months, but there's the locked/verifiable bootloaders (again I add verifiable because from my understanding on AT&T and most likely Verizon too, there's checks to make sure you have a legit recovery and boot image for those particular carriers, and if it fails, brick), little availability for 32GB (ironically the only carrier to have a 32GB version is the locking down AT&T); ZERO 64GB when they claimed that 16, 32, and 64 GB versions would be available, and as I expected, Sixaxis and Wii Remotes DO NOT work out of the box (mostly because it uses Android 4.2.2 and from past experience with my Nexus 7 it does NOT play nice with sixaxis or wii remotes for whatever reason).
Oh well, at least I did showcase the Motochopper root method at the time of filming and some time after I filmed, T-mobile's version of the bootloader can indeed be unlocked. (Sprint's is unlocked from the start, btw.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's funny because AT&T keeps claiming "soon" for the 32 GB version yet no one knows (and AT&T will not say anything about) when "soon" is. So, although it could happen, AT&T doesn't have the 32 GB yet (and I think may never).
adventure_of_link said:
T-mobile's version of the bootloader can indeed be unlocked. (Sprint's is unlocked from the start, btw.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not "can be unlocked", is unlocked. Period.
GG2012 said:
The Note 2 has the best battery life by far of any smartphone that is not the Droid Razr Maxx. That thing can last for days, and maybe weeks with the monster Anker extended battery. I hope I can get similar results with the S4, though I'm afraid if I keep a lot of apps, that will drain the battery faster. I have to say the dual speakers on the HTC One really impressed me. I'm wondering why Samsung still hasn't done it this way (or even better, dual front and back speakers). They're already one of the few tablet makers that put the speakers in front, and not the back. I live for the replaceable battery and microSD slot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sold my razr maxx to someone and bought a galaxy nexus.I will never again buy a phone with a non removable battery. With my gnex I love carrying an extra fully charged battery in case of emergency or if I just run out of juice
GNex // Toro // CodeX // AK exp // Hue
scott14719 said:
It's funny because AT&T keeps claiming "soon" for the 32 GB version yet no one knows (and AT&T will not say anything about) when "soon" is. So, although it could happen, AT&T doesn't have the 32 GB yet (and I think may never).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im sorry man but this has to be the worst video i have seen in my life
Sent from my Nexus 4
dkotoric said:
Im sorry man but this has to be the worst video i have seen in my life
Sent from my Nexus 4
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ROFLMAO!
The best part is we get to see his feet and crusty toes roflcopter! (just kidding man)
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Charlie Brown said:
ROFLMAO!
The best part is we get to see his feet and crusty toes roflcopter! (just kidding man)
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
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hahahaha, I had to do anything I could to get that darned bag open (and on that note, is probably yet another reason I need to seriously consider getting the tripod for my S4... EDIT 5:45 PM: Just ordered the tripod. Use SPRINGACC up till May 15th to get 20% off on Accessories at T-mobile)
dkotoric said:
Im sorry man but this has to be the worst video i have seen in my life
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Okay, in all fairness I accidentally made it all wordy, but it's the first unpackaging video I ever made..
adventure_of_link said:
hahahaha, I had to do anything I could to get that darned bag open (and on that note, is probably yet another reason I need to seriously consider getting the tripod for my S4... EDIT 5:45 PM: Just ordered the tripod. Use SPRINGACC up till May 15th to get 20% off on Accessories at T-mobile)
Okay, in all fairness I accidentally made it all wordy, but it's the first unpackaging video I ever made..
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LOL I'm just giving you shlt cause I'm jealous I don't have one. LOL
Check this out
http://www.androidauthority.com/lg-optimus-g-pro-217526/
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium
Samsung fanboys are everywhere, every time there's an article about LG those annoying people show up, I wonder why...
No doubt I love this phone! Playing Iron Man 3 and Dungeon Hunter 4 is a blast on this thing.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
Look, some moron says "Sgs4 wins in every category and is cheaper. You can wait for the Note 3 or HTC T6 if you must have a phablet!" Why can't Samsung fans just shup up?
waiting on the next badass smartphone is retarded. not only will you be waiting longer than you planned, the next new baddass smartphone will be on the horizon, might as well wait for it.
scott0 said:
waiting on the next badass smartphone is retarded. not only will you be waiting longer than you planned, the next new baddass smartphone will be on the horizon, might as well wait for it.
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Trying to keep up with technology is a waste of time and expensive. There will always be something hotter and better on the horizon
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium
Billy Madison said:
Look, some moron says "Sgs4 wins in every category and is cheaper. You can wait for the Note 3 or HTC T6 if you must have a phablet!" Why can't Samsung fans just shup up?
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Any company achieves (or has ever achieved) a high position will have that kind of badasses. The most annoying is Apple fans, next is Samsung fan. Sony and Nokia fans are different than not a lot as two companies above but somehow more crazy and ignorant.
I think currently LG's fans are the best in behaving:good:
I've had my E980 for 2-3 weeks now
It performs the way I would expect for having the same internals as the SGS4, with a larger screen. It freakin SCREAMS. I looked at the Note2, but its got obsolete hardware compared to SGS4 or E980. I would definitely say the E980 effectively IS the Note3 without the Samsung extras. If Samsung had done a simultaneous release of the Note3 (which they *should* have), I probably would have gone for that, but the E980 is working out just fine and I'm happy with it. I think LG scored a nice coup here. Why compete with the the smaller SGS4 head to head and lose, when you can release a Phablet with the same specs, and no competition for 6 months until the Note3 releases? They really need to advertise it though while they have an effective but temporary "monopoly" on the high end Phablet.
Observations:
Battery life has been awesome. I use it periodically during the day like normal, and its sitting between 70-80%. The 2.1A charger in the car has it fully charged in the 30+ minute drive home in the evening. This is a MASSIVE improvement over my SGSII where I would be at 30% at the end of a similar day and would take a couple of hours to charge since it didn't charge above 1A.
Screen is awesome! I got this over the SGS4 which I'd been planning on, since my eyeballs have had a recent and relatively sudden "degradation of capabilities". The combination of LARGE screen and sharp pixels is working out quite nicely for me to be able to see the text without having to make other compromises. (btw this getting older crap sucks) Thank goodness for variety, because if I was stuck on a tiny iPhone screen I'd be sunk by now.
It runs good on T-Mobile (at least where the frequencies have been refarmed like DFW, not sure about elsewhere). 4.78Mbs up, 1.7Mbs down for HSPA+ in Dallas. Unable to test LTE yet until more towers get lit up.
Application installs are almost all instant. Big upgrade from my SGSII. Blink and you miss the installation from Play.
Camera is proving to be pretty awesome and sharp. Definite upgrade from my SGSII. It focuses a lot faster, and I can do more rapid shots, which comes in handy when children won't sit still... Colours seem correct, or close enough, I'm not noticing anything wrong.
Still fits in my back pocket - YMMV on this one, but Levi's 36x34 can take it.
First phone EVER that actually fits comfortably in my hand. One handed operation is not compromised either for ME. However, this is another YMMV - folks with smaller hands WILL have a problem on this. My SGSII was ok, provided it had a case on it, and the same with the SGS3 and 4's that I've borrowed. But this is definitely better. If you're of the smaller handed set, this may not be the phone for you, but for those who have medium to large hands - take a look at this phone. it may be exactly what you've been looking for comfort wise. Viva la difference.
i'd agree with all the good things posted. it's a fantastic device. re: the camera sensor, i've noticed it has a hard time reading bar codes for apps, anybody else experience this?
re: barcode scan?
scott0 said:
i'd agree with all the good things posted. it's a fantastic device. re: the camera sensor, i've noticed it has a hard time reading bar codes for apps, anybody else experience this?
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I haven't noticed any issue on the barcodes, and I know I've scanned a couple in the last couple of weeks. I just gave it a couple of smaller ones off a Lenovo power supply that gave it a fit, but it still got them after a few seconds. Switched over to a magazine and it picked it right up (in low light even). For the app barcodes, those have been nearly instant as well. For all of the above, I'm using ZXing's Barcode Scanner.
admiraljkb said:
I haven't noticed any issue on the barcodes, and I know I've scanned a couple in the last couple of weeks. I just gave it a couple of smaller ones off a Lenovo power supply that gave it a fit, but it still got them after a few seconds. Switched over to a magazine and it picked it right up (in low light even). For the app barcodes, those have been nearly instant as well. For all of the above, I'm using ZXing's Barcode Scanner.
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that's prolly a better way to describe it. it has recognized all the bar codes i've thrown at it, but it seems to struggle to settle down and focus. twitchy, like the image stabilization is not engaged.
scott0 said:
that's prolly a better way to describe it. it has recognized all the bar codes i've thrown at it, but it seems to struggle to settle down and focus. twitchy, like the image stabilization is not engaged.
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OK, yeah, I've seen what you are talking about. Almost seemed like it focused on the WRONG area a couple of times. With that said, I've not noticed much difference over my previous SGSII. Although subjectively, its seems faster than my SGSII for getting a lock.
just received my OGP this week...in just love it!!!
from a former note user...lollll though my note had been a nice phone
Still willing to buy...bye to my HTC desire X
I've been wanting to wait for the Note 3, but I hardly use the stylus. I love the phablet form of the phone.
I really would love to get this phone. I really enjoyed playing with it at the store, but the locked boot loader is no bueno for me.
Maybe once things get rolling with this device, I'll pick it up.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
I love g pro more than my GF
Sent from my Evo 3D GSM using xda premium
jlauren said:
thats true.. but i think that if the SN3 comes out that it will be a failure. for one, a 6 inch screen is a big turn off. 2nd, benchmarks mean nothing even if it'll have the best specs when it debuts.
i think the OGP will lbeat the SN3 even when it comes out, despite the higher specs. theres gonna come a time when ram and processor speed will reach a point where it doesnt matter anymore.. like the laptop where chip manufacturers stopped making faster chips cuz laptops are fast enough.. theres no need to make cellphones faster now.
i'm gonna buy the OGP soon.. i wish there was a white version available in the USA though.
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How can you tell unless you know exactly what the note 3 will be about? Also the note 3 will have a better development support that's pretty much guaranteed. And the Spen is s major plus that the note series have over the other phablet.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
nthknd said:
Check this out
http://www.androidauthority.com/lg-optimus-g-pro-217526/
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium
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This is the one smartphone that I want and good old Verizon does not have it. Unfortunately Verizon has the best coverage in my area. I do not want the Galaxy Note 2 , so that is not an option with me. I will just hold off until maybe Verizon will get an LG phone with the same style and the same specs as this one. I don't like the pointed square corners of the LG phones on Verizon. The Optimus G Pro have the rounded corners. Looks great. I'm really sick that I cannot get this phone. I guess I will have a long wait on Verizon. Wish I could switch carriers.
such a beautiful screen, best phone ever had
thanks LG
I've had mine for a little over 2 hours now...sweet!
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
In a sticky situation right now. My phone just died on Verizon and I need a new phone. Unfortunately I'm still under contract for another 9 months so I have to pay full price for a new phone or I can jump to Tmobile and have them pay my ETF but then I have to buy a phone from them. I don't want to spend more then $350 on something and I want to be able to unlock it and use it with AT&T at some point.
I can pick up the Note 2 as a refurb for $344 or I can get a Nexus 4 for $324. I guess what I'm wondering is whether or not the Note 2 is worth spending that much on?? Should I just ride out my contract for 9 months and get my old phone fixed (Razr Maxx HD $200 to fix)? Is there another phone I should consider?
Any thoughts appreciated.
Nexus 4 for $342?? I can't even sell my brand new Nexus 4 for $180 AUD.
I would not get a refurb Note II for $344, it's not worth it. You can get brand new for a bit more online.
kuromusha38 said:
Nexus 4 for $342?? I can't even sell my brand new Nexus 4 for $180 AUD.
I would not get a refurb Note II for $344, it's not worth it. You can get brand new for a bit more online.
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If I pay $200 to get out of my contract with Verizon I can get anything. I'm looking at jumping to Tmobile since they'll cover the ETF cost. Only catch is I have to buy a phone from them. So whats a good Tmobile phone that will work on ATT under $350? I'm trying to do this as cheap as possible. Otherwise I would just cancel for $200 and get a nexus 5 for $400.
Hi there,
YES it is still worth buying the Note 2. I had both phones, Nexus 4 and Note 2 and the Nexus 4, compared to the Note 2, was garbage. Nexus 4s battery is small (mAh), display colors were washed out, the speaker was completely crap when listening to music, etc. That's just my experience.
Better get the Note 2
I moved on to the Galaxy S5 and maaaan, do I miss my Note 2. That's all I need to say LOL
Okay so price of the note 2 refurb'd w/tax and shipping is about $330. I know I can buy brand new on Amazon for roughly $60 more but I have to buy from Tmobile if I want my ETF covered and they only sell a refurb'd note 2.
I'll probably go this route then unless there are any other suggestions. Thanks!
Absolutely! Its still fast as hell, even on KitKat and Im sure will remain to be so for the near future.
Note 2 still kick ass and I love it. But I think u should get a newer phone.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using XDA Free mobile app
naeem86 said:
Note 2 still kick ass and I love it. But I think u should get a newer phone.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using XDA Free mobile app
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If you can find it around $350 , I would say yes
I bought note 2 over s4 and i am perfectly satisfied
mubeenshahid said:
I bought note 2 over s4 and i am perfectly satisfied
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I'd take Note 2 over S4 (even S5) any time!
Allow me give you my opinion on this. I strongly believe the Note 2 is a remarkable device for the following reasons and I would still chose it over any other phones.
- It still has one of the best battery life of Samsung devices. I know... the Note 3 has 100mah more but that doesn't suffice, having a 1080p screen, more pixels means more drainage. Also, it has a more powerful octa-core processor (a nice pro) but again with great power comes even greater battery drainage, remember that.... lol The Knox app components which constantly guards the phone from illegal privileged access is also a resource hog (RAM) and hiders the phone even more (coming from 4.3 I have that experience). Take a look at the Huawei Ascend Mate 2, they are doing it correctly... keeping 720p resolution (which is dense enough imo) and a gigantic 4050mah, make it the longest running phone (not tablet) on the market at the time of this writing.
- The screen is 720p, as I discussed already has its benefits on battery, furthermore, it is the only flagship device by Samsung that isn't pentile. This means full RGB sub-pixel for every single pixel. It is a true-HD display. While its not as dense as other phones, it still can hold its ground very well. I am scared for the note 4, Samsung will make it a 2k display, instead of focusing on what really matters. 2k on screens below 7inches is a waste of technology. 10-12 inch tablet with 2k displays and larger batteries, now you are talking.
- It is made polycarbonate plastic, as with all Samsung phones, can be regarded as a pro. As CPUs get faster it generates more heat. Metals heat very quickly and can make you feel uncomfortable when holding while running CPU-intensive tasks. I think even though metals can dissipate heat well, if run too long it, exposes the internals to heat and wear the internals faster. But one definite pro of polycarbonate is improved reception, I assure you, along with other benefits, naturally scratch resistant, lighter, and more durable. When I look at a phone, I don't care for "premium feel", I care for quality of operation.
- Lastly, camera. Sadly, I must admit the Note 2 doesn't have the top optics, as it improves rapidly with technology. But after lots and lots of reading and comparing, I found that the Galaxy S4 has produces the best quality/sharpness/color IHMO, bar NONE (not even Lumia 1020 which captures more detail, but fails at color reproduction). The Note 2 does inherit the S4's color reproduction traits, so that's good. But the best all-rounder (ie. in low light, good light, night mode etc) I have to give it to Iphone 5s. Well done Apple, even if you do not belong here. lol
Video strangely doesn't fall into the same category as photo, as the S4 gives murky, blurry 1080p videos. For the best video I nominate the S5 at 4k, clear even when zoomed in at the slightest detail, thanks to 16MP camera. This is improvement from what used to be the best, Note 3, which is blurred when zoomed in. No, optical image stabilization sadly, but that comes later. Even so the Note 2, doesn't slouch and gives its best in both categories. It also produces the loudest audio, and all devices after the S4 has poor speaker sound quality.
So, there you have it, my long explanation of why I would still choose the Note 2 over S4, Note 3, or S5, even if it breaks now. Samsung really hit the nail on the head when it made the S3/Note 2 generation, and I hope they will again someday. Was the very best, make history, and set a good example for generations to follow.
Thanks everyone! Definitely helped make this decision much easier than I thought it would be. My note 2 arrives today and then I'll active it with T-mobile. I plan on unlocking it after the 40 day wait period is up with T-mobile and bringing it over to AT&T. From my research that shouldn't be an issue as T-mobile and AT&T share all the same bands outside of one that AT&T uses for 4G LTE. Curious to know if anyone has done this previously?
On another note (no pun intended :laugh, I've been looking into installing a custom ROM once I get it. I love cyanogenmod but curious if there are other recommendations I should consider? This may need to be in another thread so I can move it if needed.
I bought my Note 2 about 450$ in Samsung brand shop at April 2014, it worth because my work need 3G always on to check email or contact with boss (my country not have 4G LTE)
eknee1417 said:
On another note (no pun intended :laugh, I've been looking into installing a custom ROM once I get it. I love cyanogenmod but curious if there are other recommendations I should consider? This may need to be in another thread so I can move it if needed.
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In my opinion, CyanogenMod isn't a good idea for this phone. It has some annoying bugs and you lose ALL the SPen features. I'd recommend you to install any TouchWiz based Rom.
Note 2 screen is outdated though.
onagric places
Yeah, original Note screen is better
I had a Note 2 and bought a Nexus 4 as backup when my Note 2 was being repaired. I was thinking that I might switch to Nexus as android is a big interest of mine and it would be wonderful to get all the new features quick.
It was a big relief to get my Note 2 back from the shop. The Nexus 4 doesn't last a whole day (with my usage pattern). The external speaker volume is to low. And its very slippery! (had to buy the LG bumper).
Recently upgraded to a Sony Z2 and it feels like a smaller upgrade than I expected, coming from the Note 2. Its was/is an awesome phone.