[Q] Jump to M8 or... - T-Mobile HTC One (M8)

[Q] Jump to M8 or... - T-Mobile HTC One (M8)

Hi all,
I currently have an HTC M7 running a cyan rom but it is kind of dying. I was curious how you like your M8s and how are the ROMS, namely CM is what i like.
I want to use my TMO jump to upgrade, and was hoping for the Moto X to come to TMO but it is not. The M8 seems to be a logical choice to me to get, but it came out early enough last year, that it seems like it is already on its way out. And my M7 is from release date..
I like the G3 but doesnt seem to have much rom support. And the Nexus 6 is ungodly large, but i may have to go that way for future proofing.
So i was just hoping for some input on some XDA experinces with the M8.
Thanks.

Great phone, marginally better than the G2 in my opinion, but my opinion also says that the g3 is inferior to the g2. However I say wait and go Nexus 6. You won't have any regrets with it once you get used to the size.
Only downside of that size a phone is that when I use public transportation people like to peer when i'm reading articles...

Thanks. I was kind of thinking that when i was in the TMO store. The rep showed me the size on an ipad. Its a monster. But i couldnt bring myself to get the M8. With new stuff coming out, its losing its place, and i know an M9 is around the corner, at least in the phone world. Im gonna wait on some reviews and mods to come out on the Nexus 6 and see.

I just traded with my wife g3 and the m8 feels 10x faster I believe the cpu is too small for that screen

Related

[Discussion] Looking for a device upgrade

I've had my trusty Verizon Galaxy Nexus for 2 years and my contract is up. I'm been looking at phones and eyeballing the LG G2. I'd love a Nexus 5 but it isn't coming out for Verizon. Plus the G2 seems to have all the features I want in a phone like Wireless Charging, Good specs, etc.
BUT I'm iffy going away from the Nexus line cause last time I did that with the LG G2x, it was a complete disaster and I see the G2 basically starting off the exact same way. The G2x was released with an older Android rom with the promise of a timely update, which never happened and fixed a few problems and introduced several more. The plagued device still has issues and doesn't work right.
The G2 is doing the same thing with 4.2.2. It doesn't even have 4.3 yet and we're about to roll into 4.4. I have a feeling that by the time it gets 4.3, 4.4 will old and 5.0 will be out... if the G2 even gets any additional love. I'm hoping the N5 will help pull some of the weight with the G2 and some stuff gets moved back and forth. But this isn't really a given. I don't want to be in the same boat as the Galaxy Nexus where Verizon or LG doesn't provide updates for stuff like new radios and kernels.
It is a work phone so I have to go with Verizon. The Note 3 sounds great but too big and I have a N7... The G2 just seems like the perfect phone hardware wise and the software has some neat features... but I'll probably jump on AOKP if it ever gets supported. I was actually calling a few Verizon stores in my area and I can pick one up for less than $100 to renew my contract.
What is everyone's thoughts on LG? Have they gotten better at updating their phones? Hopefully with a huge rollout of the G2 they would try to support it a little better. Anyone know when the Samsung S5 is due out?

I'm actually having the same thought about upgrading from my Galaxy Nexus, and the LG G2 is one of my top choices, along with the Note 3. What is keeping me from making the jump is the horrible UI on the G2, at least that's my though being used to clean stock Android. Apart from that, the G2 is definitely an amazing device, a great option for an upgrade.

From what I hear s5 drops mid 2014
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

I am holding off until the announcement of n5 just to be sure its not coming to verizon. I am weary to upgrade to another device though as support for them seems to die in about a year unless its a nexus.

Yea I have next week before I leave for Detroit for work. G2 dev looks good now but in 6 months it might be dead. I almost bought a G2 yesterday but I'm going to wait for the N5 and 4.4, then see how fast they port it to the G2. Hopefully its fully compatible with AOSP.
[Update]
I went to the Verizon store today and looked at the G2 and the Note 3. Some concerns. The G2 has a curved edge similar to the G2x, which makes putting a screen protector on it painful. Basically you'd have to use a wet apply Screen protector so it sticks to the curves. I run a SP on ALL my devices and really hate wet applies. You probably could use a smaller SP to not reach edge to edge and be ok, but then it looks like crap.
The G2 is very close in size to the Galaxy Nexus which is cool.
The G2 has some pretty good development going on, but I also started looking at the Note 3. It is a little more pricey but basically the same phone in a larger shell with an S-Pen. My phone is a business/pleasure device where I work with customers face to face. I've always thought it would be handy to be able to take written notes on the fly. The size is concerning though. It didn't feel too bad in hand, I could probably manage. The "leather" backing really helped with grip.
I also learned that the Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Developer Edition is coming out "rumored" November 1st (same as Nexus 5). So perhaps we'll get a new launch of "Developer Editions". If the Galaxy Note 3 (Verizon Edition) can use the roms and mods from the Developer Edition, that would be awesome. Although I don't know how the S-Pen would function on AOSP (like a standard stylus?).
So basically, like I said before, I'm really anxious to pick up a new phone. I actually had the guy grab a G2 from the back, along with a blue feather case, waiting to check out. Being a corporate line, I require permission from an authorized person before they can process it.
At this point I really am excited to wait for the Google Announcement to see what comes out. I'd have to do my homework to see how development moves from a "Developer Edition" to a standard carrier edition.
Any thoughts?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I want to upgrade as well. G2 prices is great. Note 3 is way too expensive.
But I'll wait for Nexus 5.
I'm really crazy about getting updates.
At some points, I really want to use other OEM's ROM, as they looks way more stable than custom ROMs like PA or CM.
But... I don't like waiting for updates. and their updates doesn't feel like an update because the UI almost not changed...
---------- Post added at 01:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:36 PM ----------
I want to upgrade as well. G2 prices is great. Note 3 is way too expensive.
But I'll wait for Nexus 5.
I'm really crazy about getting updates.
At some points, I really want to use other OEM's ROM, as they looks way more stable than custom ROMs like PA or CM.
But... I don't like waiting for updates. and their updates doesn't feel like an update because the UI almost not changed...

Ge note 3 would be awesome. But IMHO snote is what makes the spen bad ass. Been hoping For Google keep to support wacam spen. Don't see why it would hurt seeing that those who don't have spen won't notice the difference. Or since my understanding is Google edition is basically an OEM ROM with OEM framework maybe snote could be downloaded in the play store...
I am partial to the note is say get the note. Chances are their will be ROMs for the latest and greatest. TW has some neat features you may end up liking them. Or you can hate them. For me the G2 seems too awkward with the volume And power button on the back. Made the phone feel bigger than it actually is. Maybe you could adjust to it.
I am running kit kat 4.4. on my note 2000

I'm not 100% sure. After doing some research, I think I misspoke here and there is supposed to be a "Developer edition" which is basically stock TouchWiz but comes pre-unlocked.
Although if they were going to announce it at the Nexus keynote, why wouldn't it have stock Android?
Anyway, the Verizon Note 3 is locked down tight right now. No Root. No bootloader. No custom recovery. No roms. The other carriers are having fun though. We'll see. I played with the G2 and the Note3 in depth at the store and while I was leaning on the Note3, I'll probably get the G2. It all really depends. My company typically buys them, so if he says "Hook him up", then I'll take the Note 3 for a trial run to see how I like it.
The G2 on Verizon is getting blown up with mods and roms but don't expect LG to come through with updates after a year. For me, it is a really tough call. Going AOSP on these phones pretty much ruins the experience with all the extras that make them unique. I do plan on using the stock roms for a while. I just hate how LG released on 4.2.2. In 9 months they'll update to 4.3 and call it a day. Note 3 is already 4.3, and probably see 4.4 here soon. And you know you'll get 5.0 (or whatever the next update is).
The Note 3 also felt better in hand.

player911 said:
I've had my trusty Verizon Galaxy Nexus for 2 years and my contract is up. I'm been looking at phones and eyeballing the LG G2. I'd love a Nexus 5 but it isn't coming out for Verizon. Plus the G2 seems to have all the features I want in a phone like Wireless Charging, Good specs, etc.
BUT I'm iffy going away from the Nexus line cause last time I did that with the LG G2x, it was a complete disaster and I see the G2 basically starting off the exact same way. The G2x was released with an older Android rom with the promise of a timely update, which never happened and fixed a few problems and introduced several more. The plagued device still has issues and doesn't work right.
The G2 is doing the same thing with 4.2.2. It doesn't even have 4.3 yet and we're about to roll into 4.4. I have a feeling that by the time it gets 4.3, 4.4 will old and 5.0 will be out... if the G2 even gets any additional love. I'm hoping the N5 will help pull some of the weight with the G2 and some stuff gets moved back and forth. But this isn't really a given. I don't want to be in the same boat as the Galaxy Nexus where Verizon or LG doesn't provide updates for stuff like new radios and kernels.
It is a work phone so I have to go with Verizon. The Note 3 sounds great but too big and I have a N7... The G2 just seems like the perfect phone hardware wise and the software has some neat features... but I'll probably jump on AOKP if it ever gets supported. I was actually calling a few Verizon stores in my area and I can pick one up for less than $100 to renew my contract.
What is everyone's thoughts on LG? Have they gotten better at updating their phones? Hopefully with a huge rollout of the G2 they would try to support it a little better. Anyone know when the Samsung S5 is due out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am hearing great reports on the LG phone, especially that it might be the only ofew getting the Kit Kat update on verizon. these are from some dev's and long time Samsung owners. i think a LG thread was created and development started in XDA. i havent used it yet, i have a few months left on my contract. here is the xda link http://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g2
maybe i will upgrade my wifes phone to LG and secretly swap phones:laugh:

Things that bother me on the G2 is:
Curved sides of the screen = problems with screen protectors
LG's horrible history supporting phones for very long.
4.4 is just a stepping stone so upgrading to 4.4 shouldn't be much of a hassle for any 4.x+ phone. However Android 5.0 will probably require a kernel update which must be supplied from LG.
This is exactly the same problem the Galaxy Nexus is having. Verizon isn't updating the kernel for 4.3+ builds and thus are having radio issues. It works but if you travel, you'll notice your data will never come back once it disappears... until you do a hard reset of course.
So who knows. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about the LG too and they've included lots of functionality into customizing the phone. Pretty much everything can be disabled and changed. It even has built in system-wide theme support.

player911 said:
Things that bother me on the G2 is:
Curved sides of the screen = problems with screen protectors
LG's horrible history supporting phones for very long.
4.4 is just a stepping stone so upgrading to 4.4 shouldn't be much of a hassle for any 4.x+ phone. However Android 5.0 will probably require a kernel update which must be supplied from LG.
This is exactly the same problem the Galaxy Nexus is having. Verizon isn't updating the kernel for 4.3+ builds and thus are having radio issues. It works but if you travel, you'll notice your data will never come back once it disappears... until you do a hard reset of course.
So who knows. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about the LG too and they've included lots of functionality into customizing the phone. Pretty much everything can be disabled and changed. It even has built in system-wide theme support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea you are rite, LG does have a history of not supporting their phones in the long run..maybe you can get a good 2 years out of the LG, just in time for the next release.

player911 said:
Things that bother me on the G2 is:
Curved sides of the screen = problems with screen protectors
LG's horrible history supporting phones for very long.
4.4 is just a stepping stone so upgrading to 4.4 shouldn't be much of a hassle for any 4.x+ phone. However Android 5.0 will probably require a kernel update which must be supplied from LG.
This is exactly the same problem the Galaxy Nexus is having. Verizon isn't updating the kernel for 4.3+ builds and thus are having radio issues. It works but if you travel, you'll notice your data will never come back once it disappears... until you do a hard reset of course.
So who knows. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about the LG too and they've included lots of functionality into customizing the phone. Pretty much everything can be disabled and changed. It even has built in system-wide theme support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What bothers me about the G2 is the software. Being used to stock Android, and after reading a bunch of reviews from trusted sources about how the UI that LG put into this new device is quite bloated and ugly. My idea is to buy one of these devices now, and sell it once the Nexus 5 is out and in stock in Europe.
I've been looking up comparisons between the G2, the Galaxy S4, and the HTC One. The latter two are older devices, and if I want to be able to sell it in less than a year, I think the smartest choice would be to get the newer one.
The Note 3 looks incredible, but I'm already having trouble fitting the Galaxy Nexus into my pockets sometimes, and I'm not the kind of person who is constantly carrying a backpack. Maybe I could change that, I've always liked the idea of the S-pen.
In conclusion, I'm undecided between the HTC One and the LG G2.
The HTC One is amazingly built, with it's irresistible alluminum unibody and the speaker/audio quality, and has a plethora of ROMs and customizations to it, but it's already been out for a while, which makes it less profitable if I want to resell it in 6 months.
The LG G2 is brand new, has a better screen, more powerful in terms of processor, but at the same time I'm hearing about lots of issues with the camera, sound and lag. I hope the ROMs and mods from the Verizon G2 will be ported to the international variant, as there are many more available.
Today I'll go look at them in person, and hopefully make my decision aswell.

I hate those decisions, all are good phones, but just have to pick which one feels better. I think to resell down the line, the Samsung phones may hold better value, maybe due to the watch launch.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

I went to the store to buy the Note 3, but I just couldn't use it at all one handed. Because of the huge size, I couldn't even barely get it stable enough in my grip to even remotely reach half of the screen. Plus the lack of Wireless Charging is a pity. I like feather cases and the additional thickness of the Qi backplate would make it not sit well. Plus I have a make-shift Qi Note2 charger pad in my Galaxy Nexus that is crafty. I don't want to have to worry about if the contacts are clean, connecting, working. I just want it to work.
I took home a G2. They had the Blue Incipio Feather case I wanted. Being used to Nexus and AOSP for so long, some of the apps do feel bloated. Email Exchange has a new SMS Sync that was syncing all of my drunk texts to my corporate exchange! I had to quickly disable that feature and delete all my sexy text messages off the email server. I've disabled like 20 different apps. There are TONS of bloat on there. Default ringtone (Boy Choir?) was god awful. You can have up to 7 apps in the Launcher Tray. Making the Font size to smallest gives you that roomy feeling. I don't understand why you would get a big screen when everything is just bigger. I buy a bigger screen to give me more room to move around.
BUT once you sit down with it, adjust the Notification toggles, lockscreen, homescreen, freeze unwanted apps, find a good theme combo (keyboard, SMS, homescreen, lockscreen), some new wallpapers, etc... it really starts to feel like a decent phone.
I DO really like the Memo app, where you can make notes over top any app. At the bar last night we were taking pictures of friends in my group and drawing stupid stuff on them. I can see how it would really be handy.
I also don't know why there are a bizillion icons in the status bar. There is a Signal bar... then a separate 3G/4G icon... then what appears to be some sort of GPS icon that I can't get rid of, AM/PM Clock, battery, alarm, etc. It takes up like half my status bar. I just need 3; Signal, Battery, Clock. Boom.
Most of the floating apps I can't really see myself ever using. I couldn't get the IR Blaster to turn off the Bar TV last night.
Most of the G2 is fluff. Fluffy fluff. Outside from that overlay note app, I'm already thinking about going to a custom rom. The IR Blaster doesn't work on AOSP though which is something I do want to utilize.
It has a pretty bad out of box experience but it is a super nice phone. Once you get rid of all the junk, it starts to come together nicely.
Not giving the G2 a bad review, I'm just used to Nexus Devices and stock Android... I'm used to that and I like that. The Stock UI has a nice feel to it. Very quick and snappy. I'm impressed with the level of customization you have with the device. I would like to see a single general theme app with all of the options. Right now, the theme settings are in there respective places so finding them is a little intense, especially for someone who isn't strong on Android skills. I know my gf probably wouldn't have found the SMS or Keyboard theme settings.
I was a little skeptical last night but it is growing on me now its setup and I'm getting familiar to the different app layouts. I just pray LG doesn't screw me again with Software updates. At least Qualcomm is better at opensourcing their stuff. I know the G2x had lots of problems because of NVidia Tegra 2.

I'm in the same boat. Running my nexus for about 1.5 yrs and looking to upgrade. I have unl. Data w Verizon but as all know vzw sucks w how they bloat and lock their phones. So gar I'm looking/ interested in the note 3, g2 or maybe the HTC one or moto x. Some of the things I want are a bigger chassis...not huge but bigger than the gnex, customizable w ROMs and kernels, timely updates, ect. My cousin has the one but it didn't wow me, but it was a stock unit no customization. The g2 looks great...good size, batt, ect but afraid like others slow w updates. As far as I read on the note 3 it is looked tight. Not a lot of ROM for customization due to Knox I guess..
I think I would love the note 3, bigger, big batt, fast but the lack of development saddens me haha. I was so waiting for the nexus 5 but that small batt honestly is making me sway away from it and the styling isn't to different from the rest of the nex. If new reviews come out saying batt life is much improved I may sway back but for now ...egh. Carrier wise I want a cheaper plan, good coverage ect and really only do maybe on a heavy month 3 gig as I use mostly wifi so I was looking at art. Gonna take a ride today and check them out and see which phone excites me. Any batt life better than my next is an improvement .
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Nexus 5 to the One M8?

Long time lurker as you can tell but this M8 has me quite interested in jumping ship from my Nexus 5. Has anyone made this same jump? Regrets or thoughts? The Nexus 5 is a very bland but solid device, IMO. The One M8 looks pretty much awesome. Thanks for the replies.

Currently have been using the G2, N5, and now M8, the M8 is a great device, something about how it looks and feels makes me want to use it more, but I am also an AOSP fan, both the N5 and One are smooth when it comes to general usage, once AOSP is on my M8 I probably won't carry my N5 around.

I would say why not? The biggest thing you'll gain is far superior battery life. Well you'll get a MicroSD slot too, but that's almost useless unless HTC fixed the writing permissions. Or if you root (which is likely), you can manually fix it.

I decided to go ahead and order the developer version from HTC. The fact that the Nexus 5 is SO stripped of any kind software enhancements is one of the things I dislike about it while I love that theres none of the att bloat. Tried the Note3 but good grief is it huge. And while the stylus is cool I never, ever used it.
Ive had my Nexus rooted with custom rom up until it started rebooting all the time and just put it back to stock. Now the battery life and signal are back to horrible, lol.
Anyway, hoping the dev edition gives me the best of both worlds. Some of the HTC stuff but none of the bloat.

Kmac_thp said:
I decided to go ahead and order the developer version from HTC. The fact that the Nexus 5 is SO stripped of any kind software enhancements is one of the things I dislike about it while I love that theres none of the att bloat. Tried the Note3 but good grief is it huge. And while the stylus is cool I never, ever used it.
Ive had my Nexus rooted with custom rom up until it started rebooting all the time and just put it back to stock. Now the battery life and signal are back to horrible, lol.
Anyway, hoping the dev edition gives me the best of both worlds. Some of the HTC stuff but none of the bloat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep! The Moto X is also pretty great, and I've considered cancelling my M8 order for a DE one. I used it in store and it's actually really nice. Probably gonna stick with the M8 because it's so much newer though XD

I think about to switch from my "Nexus 5" to the "HTC One M8", but I'm not sure yet. Is it worth it in your opinion?
It looks really very elegant, but does it runs just as smooth without bucking like the Nexus?
Does anyone have a direct comparison between the two phones?
How about if you start games or apps, is the HTC faster?
It has really nice features, such as with the tap to the screen.
How it looks with the battery power? Does it last as long as the Nexus? Or is it even better?

dfMails said:
I think about to switch from my "Nexus 5" to the "HTC One M8", but I'm not sure yet. Is it worth it in your opinion?
It looks really very elegant, but does it runs just as smooth without bucking like the Nexus?
Does anyone have a direct comparison between the two phones?
How about if you start games or apps, is the HTC faster?
It has really nice features, such as with the tap to the screen.
How it looks with the battery power? Does it last as long as the Nexus? Or is it even better?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends so much on what do you want from phone. Gf has N5 and I have M8. My battery lasts longer, her device gets faster updates, both have about same kind of camera quality but not in the same way etc etc. If you want a flagship device you get M8 but if you already have N5 I'd wait for the prices to drop or maybe Nexus 6 or some other new model.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

dfMails said:
I think about to switch from my "Nexus 5" to the "HTC One M8", but I'm not sure yet. Is it worth it in your opinion?
It looks really very elegant, but does it runs just as smooth without bucking like the Nexus?
Does anyone have a direct comparison between the two phones?
How about if you start games or apps, is the HTC faster?
It has really nice features, such as with the tap to the screen.
How it looks with the battery power? Does it last as long as the Nexus? Or is it even better?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am very happy with my Nexus, but HTC looks very high quality and has a newer processor. But my Nexus is not old, so I do not know if it's worth it at all.
One reason to buy it would be the front speakers and the Unibody
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

I made the move from the Nexus 5 to the M8 and I can tell you without a doubt that the experience on the M8 is greatly superior to the Nexus 5. I used to love the bare-bone nature of the Nexus/GPe device but since using this new M8 with the new Sense 6 I have been converted to the HTC way of using android.
Also the build quality and feel of the device on its own just did it for me. The Nexus 5 has been a great device for the last 6 months but it is no comparison for the way the M8 looks and feels. I'm usually the first in my circle of friends and family to get a new phone and since my purchase of the M8 on launch day I can assure you that everyone has been admiring my M8 with envy (this includes all the Apple lovers).
The camera on the M8 is brilliant to mess about with and the user interface is extremely well thought out compared to the stock android interface. BUT I can confirm that in reality the camera quality is not even on par with the Nexus 5 never mind the S4 that my other half uses. I am a photography enthusiast and own loads of DSLR's and can inform you this with some expert knowledge.
Now the battery life on the M8 just blows the Nexus 5 to pieces. I can easily go full day and half of M8 use, this is in comparison to me only getting 3/4 of a day from the Nexus 5.
In conclusion my Nexus 5 has hardly seen use since the day I got the M8 and will soon be finding a new home with one of my friends. My advice would be to upgrade and you will not be dissapointed.

Moderator Information,
Thread closed as comparison threads are not allowed.
Many thanks,
Ghost

[Q] Lack of G3 ROM development and interest?

I am debating whether to get the G3 or M8 and was leaning towards the G3..but on looking at their respective XDA development pages, on first look there are only 2 custom ROM's being developed for the G3 whilst the M8 seems to have more and they are significantly more active.
This is swaying me more to the M8, though I would rather have the better camera/OIS/laser focus..saying that, it appears too that benchmarks of the G3 vs M8 unfortunately make the M8 a better performer too despite having a higher clocked SOC and more RAM with the EU version.
I was also told in Carphone Warehouse that basically people are buying on brands so the HTC is flying off shelves and nobody is interested in the G3. The guy said that even he wasn't aware of how matched a contender the G3 was to the M8 until a rep from LG came in and showed them. He was really pushing me the M8 also saying that they have had 0 in for repair whilst the whole Samsung range esp the S5/Note 3 are unreliable and plagued with issues such as the battery expanding so it does not fit anymore.
I imagine people are happy with their G3 here but do people recommend the M8 if what I am looking for is active development of more features through regular ROM developments? I currently still have a I-9000 and I have kept it as it does what I want and still has a very active ROM development community.

D0MINO said:
I am debating whether to get the G3 or M8 and was leaning towards the G3..but on looking at their respective XDA development pages, on first look there are only 2 custom ROM's being developed for the G3 whilst the M8 seems to have more and they are significantly more active.
This is swaying me more to the M8, though I would rather have the better camera/OIS/laser focus..saying that, it appears too that benchmarks of the G3 vs M8 unfortunately make the M8 a better performer too despite having a higher clocked SOC and more RAM with the EU version.
I was also told in Carphone Warehouse that basically people are buying on brands so the HTC is flying off shelves and nobody is interested in the G3. The guy said that even he wasn't aware of how matched a contender the G3 was to the M8 until a rep from LG came in and showed them. He was really pushing me the M8 also saying that they have had 0 in for repair whilst the whole Samsung range esp the S5/Note 3 are unreliable and plagued with issues such as the battery expanding so it does not fit anymore.
I imagine people are happy with their G3 here but do people recommend the M8 if what I am looking for is active development of more features through regular ROM developments? I currently still have a I-9000 and I have kept it as it does what I want and still has a very active ROM development community.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason there is no development is that the bootloader is still not unlockable, so there is no way to actually flash a ROM if one was made. This should change once it is, the G2 had plenty of good development and the G3 is outselling it quite a lot.

ChrisM75 said:
The reason there is no development is that the bootloader is still not unlockable, so there is no way to actually flash a ROM if one was made. This should change once it is, the G2 had plenty of good development and the G3 is outselling it quite a lot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, I didn't know that..well with my custom ROM today just randomly wiping all my apps and data, 1st time something like that has ever happened and when I was even out and needed my phone, unless the bootloader gets unlocked in the next few days thenI am just going to get the M8 as I don't have time to wait for that. The first thing I would do is root and flash a custom ROM on any new phone so to buy the G3 and be stuck with an inferior stock ROM missing many features compared to my current CM11.2 based I-9000 one will end up annoying me.
Can I ask, how long did it take after launch for the bootloader to be unlocked in the G2 and are LG power user friendly or are they like some companies have been in the past and purposely made it super difficult to unlock the bootloader?

G2 bootloader was never unlocked. They find an exploit to get roms through. The only version so far that has an unlocked bootloader is the T-Mobile version in the United States. Development will come, just going to take a bit longer than other phones. But to me is worth the wait, however I am one of the lucky ones who got the unlocked bootloader from T-Mobile.
Sent from my LG-D851 using XDA Free mobile app

if you go look through the Bootloader Bounty thread in the AT&T subforum, you will see that @utoprime and a few others are pretty optimistic that the bootloader will be unlocked pretty quickly. not a "few days" quickly, but more like a few weeks. and once it is (or once there is a work around (i.e., loki) like with the G2), i would anticipate there being pretty stout development for the G3.
like you, my phone history has all been unlocked devices: OG, GNex, and N5. that being said, i got my G3 first day, and rooted within a couple hours. despite my long-standing flashing history, i haven't really missed custom roms on this thing - it's that nice. i'll have to see, but once L drops, i don't know that custom roms will be that big of a deal - Andy OS has come so far. the main reason i want an unlocked bootloader is to be able to have the OS versions more quickly.
IMO, you can't go wrong with either device. BUT, if you like the G3 better, and are basing your buying decision solely on an unlocked bootloader and a variety of custom roms, personally i would still go with the G3 - it will get there.

huskerkate said:
if you go look through the Bootloader Bounty thread in the AT&T subforum, you will see that @utoprime and a few others are pretty optimistic that the bootloader will be unlocked pretty quickly. not a "few days" quickly, but more like a few weeks. and once it is (or once there is a work around (i.e., loki) like with the G2), i would anticipate there being pretty stout development for the G3.
like you, my phone history has all been unlocked devices: OG, GNex, and N5. that being said, i got my G3 first day, and rooted within a couple hours. despite my long-standing flashing history, i haven't really missed custom roms on this thing - it's that nice. i'll have to see, but once L drops, i don't know that custom roms will be that big of a deal - Andy OS has come so far. the main reason i want an unlocked bootloader is to be able to have the OS versions more quickly.
IMO, you can't go wrong with either device. BUT, if you like the G3 better, and are basing your buying decision solely on an unlocked bootloader and a variety of custom roms, personally i would still go with the G3 - it will get there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for ur reply...I just came across this which seems hopeful but obviously we know that these things are always faster through unofficial means. I guess I am looking at these phones as being able to last up to 5 years like my I9000 as I am not a conspicuous consumption kinda person and if something can still be updated/relevant and keep doing the job then I don't see the need to spend hundreds to replace it every year just to keep up with fashion.
A few things more.
After having a Super AMOLED screen for the past 5 yrs and being very happy with the vibrancy of the colours how does the G3 compare (and M8 too if you have used it)?
Is the G3 comfortable to use one handed and is there a tendancy/risk of it being able to drop out of your hand due to the size? This was another biggie for me as a colleague has a Note 3 which is 0.2" bigger and he complains that it's often awkward to put in pockets and handle. Tbh I have never been interested in a phablet nor something 1.5" bigger than my i9000 causing pocket fitting issues so if it was just a little smaller (~5.2") then I would have been sold on it. The M8 seemed in store to be just the right size and quite comfortable to hold especially with the weight, the G3 was just on the cusp of being too big and ok but noticeably lighter and I'm wondering if this would make it more likely to slip/drop. Obviously I would get a case for it but then that will increase it's size further too.

If you're wanting the phone to last 5 years I wouldn't go with a non replaceable battery like the M8's. The G3's battery is replaceable.

I have the D855 32GB and all I can say is I'm very satisfied even running on stock...
Had the N7 2013, it was awesome, but the G3 is just on a different level...
Once the bootloader is unlocked and custom roms are available, this will fly leaving the rest...

radicalisto said:
I switched from the M8 to the G3 (S3 > M7 > Note 3 > N5 > M8 > G3) size wise, the G3 is comfortable, easy to hold and relatively light.
Screen wise, you definitely notice the difference. Colours are more vibrant and bright on the G3 IMO, I don't miss my M8, not saying the M8 was a bad device it was actually a very very good device.
There isn't a lot of differences between flagship devices these days hardware is almost identical it's really cosmetic, I switched as I got bored of the M8 and I'm already bored of the G3.. Just waiting to see what else comes along before I maybe look at the OPO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol a man very hard to please! I'm guessing you have more money than the average person as most would not be able to afford buying a new flagship every time they were bored of it!
I was thinking of the OPO but it appears inferior to the M8 and G3 from the reviews I have read of it except perhaps in price, but if you want to lose 32GB internal memory and gain an SD card slot then that may be worth it. Tbh, if you are fine with getting a grey import you can get any phone for about the same price as the OPO.

What holds me back from the Opo, besides not having an invite, is the lack of support through my carrier(T-mobile). If my G3 refuses to turn on one day, I can get one overnighted to me from them. If i have the Opo, and it does the same, I move looking at a much longer period of time.
I'm also not willing to pay for an invite. If i had one, then I'd probably buy one because I do miss the stock experience.
Sent from my LG-D851 using XDA Free mobile app

I have the tmobile g3, and i heard the bootloaders were unlocked when u buy them..im rooted but i have no custom rom, so im not totally sure if its true or not, i believe i seen it on here somewhere..

Zachary droid said:
I have the tmobile g3, and i heard the bootloaders were unlocked when u buy them..im rooted but i have no custom rom, so im not totally sure if its true or not, i believe i seen it on here somewhere..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile has an unlocked Bootloader yes. Check out the T-Mo section here.

Does anyone know if the cat 6 f460 can install the same roms as the US versions or will it need separate development?

radicalisto said:
T-Mobile has an unlocked Bootloader yes. Check out the T-Mo section here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So basically only a G3 that T-Mobile (US?) has branded and loaded with their own unlocked bootloader is able to take ROMs without any exploits at the moment. A stock G3 fresh from the LG factory does not and is not able to have an unlocked bootloader on it ATM?
I'm guessing then that means that it IS possible and LG can unlock the bootloader if they want, but for us lot, someone has to find out how to find an exploit in the blocked bootloader to load the required content from the T-Mobile firmware on to non T-Mobile devices?

tospace2006 said:
Does anyone know if the cat 6 f460 can install the same roms as the US versions or will it need separate development?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, I didn't realise there was an updated/premium G3 too. Is it any worth getting this one over the G3 as the specs look like they are far superior but I don't know how realistic it is that really affordable 4K TV's will be mainstream in even perhaps 2 yrs time to be more than just a marketing gimmick for the F460.

D0MINO said:
Thanks for ur reply...I just came across this which seems hopeful but obviously we know that these things are always faster through unofficial means. I guess I am looking at these phones as being able to last up to 5 years like my I9000 as I am not a conspicuous consumption kinda person and if something can still be updated/relevant and keep doing the job then I don't see the need to spend hundreds to replace it every year just to keep up with fashion.
A few things more.
After having a Super AMOLED screen for the past 5 yrs and being very happy with the vibrancy of the colours how does the G3 compare (and M8 too if you have used it)?
Is the G3 comfortable to use one handed and is there a tendancy/risk of it being able to drop out of your hand due to the size? This was another biggie for me as a colleague has a Note 3 which is 0.2" bigger and he complains that it's often awkward to put in pockets and handle. Tbh I have never been interested in a phablet nor something 1.5" bigger than my i9000 causing pocket fitting issues so if it was just a little smaller (~5.2") then I would have been sold on it. The M8 seemed in store to be just the right size and quite comfortable to hold especially with the weight, the G3 was just on the cusp of being too big and ok but noticeably lighter and I'm wondering if this would make it more likely to slip/drop. Obviously I would get a case for it but then that will increase it's size further too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
with 3 gig RAM, an sdcard, and the 801, i think the G3 will be serviceable as a daily driver for a few years - i don't know about 5 years, given how fast tech changes, tho.
as for the screen, if you really like Super AMOLED, you might be initially disappointed in the G3. with AMOLED, some people call the colors "vibrant," others call it "over saturated." it all depends on personal preference. for me, the G3 colors are more "true," and the screen is outstanding. i found Super AMOLED (like the GS5) to be too saturated, and almost cartoonish. but, again, its a matter of preference. i think that 4k resolution is going to be the standard going forward, and you are going to see apps becoming optimized for that. so, in terms of relevance beyond a year or two, i think the G3 is ahead of the curve, so to speak, and that the M8 (as with just about any HTC device ever made) will become pseudo-obsolete/outdated in a year or so.
the size of the G3 is fine. with the lack of bezel, it is pretty easy to use one handed, and i'm never concerned with it slipping out of my hand (but, i do have large hands). it fits comfortably in my pocket, is easy to get out, and feels light and slim in the hand. you do have to do a little "hand shimmying" to get from the top of the screen to the bottom, but i don't find it troublesome at all. tbh, if the screen was just 0.2" smaller, it would be perfect for me. but all other things considered, that's a pretty minor gripe.
D0MINO said:
So basically only a G3 that T-Mobile (US?) has branded and loaded with their own unlocked bootloader is able to take ROMs without any exploits at the moment. A stock G3 fresh from the LG factory does not and is not able to have an unlocked bootloader on it ATM?
I'm guessing then that means that it IS possible and LG can unlock the bootloader if they want, but for us lot, someone has to find out how to find an exploit in the blocked bootloader to load the required content from the T-Mobile firmware on to non T-Mobile devices?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct, TMo is the only variant with an unlocked bootloader, and it came from the factory that way. but, again, the devs are pretty confident that they are close to unlocking the bootloader for the other variants. this device has been getting a lot of attention, and sales have been pretty robust. i think the demand is there, and we WILL see custom roms for the G3.
D0MINO said:
Ah, I didn't realise there was an updated/premium G3 too. Is it any worth getting this one over the G3 as the specs look like they are far superior but I don't know how realistic it is that really affordable 4K TV's will be mainstream in even perhaps 2 yrs time to be more than just a marketing gimmick for the F460.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so far, the "premium" G3 has only been announced in Korea, and the ONLY difference is it has an 805 processor, instead of the 801. from the reading i have done, it appears that the ONLY reason LG put in the 805 was to gain access to the cat6 LTE bandwidth. if you are in a market that does not have cat6 (like in the States), the prevailing speculation is that the "premium" G3 won't even be made available by LG. if it is made available, it probably won't be until the end of the year or after the first of the year. a lot of people have been clamoring for and 805 version of the G3, because it supposedly has a faster and more efficient graphics processor. i really don't do any gaming on my device, so that's not a huge concern for me.

huskerkate said:
with 3 gig RAM, an sdcard, and the 801, i think the G3 will be serviceable as a daily driver for a few years - i don't know about 5 years, given how fast tech changes, tho.
as for the screen, if you really like Super AMOLED, you might be initially disappointed in the G3. with AMOLED, some people call the colors "vibrant," others call it "over saturated." it all depends on personal preference. for me, the G3 colors are more "true," and the screen is outstanding. i found Super AMOLED (like the GS5) to be too saturated, and almost cartoonish. but, again, its a matter of preference. i think that 4k resolution is going to be the standard going forward, and you are going to see apps becoming optimized for that. so, in terms of relevance beyond a year or two, i think the G3 is ahead of the curve, so to speak, and that the M8 (as with just about any HTC device ever made) will become pseudo-obsolete/outdated in a year or so.
the size of the G3 is fine. with the lack of bezel, it is pretty easy to use one handed, and i'm never concerned with it slipping out of my hand (but, i do have large hands). it fits comfortably in my pocket, is easy to get out, and feels light and slim in the hand. you do have to do a little "hand shimmying" to get from the top of the screen to the bottom, but i don't find it troublesome at all. tbh, if the screen was just 0.2" smaller, it would be perfect for me. but all other things considered, that's a pretty minor gripe.
correct, TMo is the only variant with an unlocked bootloader, and it came from the factory that way. but, again, the devs are pretty confident that they are close to unlocking the bootloader for the other variants. this device has been getting a lot of attention, and sales have been pretty robust. i think the demand is there, and we WILL see custom roms for the G3.
so far, the "premium" G3 has only been announced in Korea, and the ONLY difference is it has an 805 processor, instead of the 801. from the reading i have done, it appears that the ONLY reason LG put in the 805 was to gain access to the cat6 LTE bandwidth. if you are in a market that does not have cat6 (like in the States), the prevailing speculation is that the "premium" G3 won't even be made available by LG. if it is made available, it probably won't be until the end of the year or after the first of the year. a lot of people have been clamoring for and 805 version of the G3, because it supposedly has a faster and more efficient graphics processor. i really don't do any gaming on my device, so that's not a huge concern for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The LG Prime is being launched in Europe at the IFA next month.
http://mobile.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/...tylus-smartphones-pegged-for-ifa-2014-launch/

Batfink33 said:
The LG Prime is being launched in Europe at the IFA next month.
http://mobile.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/...tylus-smartphones-pegged-for-ifa-2014-launch/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i did not know that (obviously). cool! maybe the States will actually see a G3 Prime...

huskerkate said:
i did not know that (obviously). cool! maybe the States will actually see a G3 Prime...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I've read rumours it will be launching worldwide. Who knows.

Nexus 6 and Android 5.0 Lollipop finally revealed. Will be available on Sprint.

Google Nexus 6 Reveal Page
Android 5.0 Lollipop
According to the nexus 6 page on the very bottom it seems that it will be available on all 4 big carriers, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-mobile. Ofc; you can still get it from the Play store. The release date given by google is late october; no specification as to if it applies to just the play store or the carriers as well. I'm hoping it releases late this October because I get my upgrade late November. If I have to I will probably wait, I'm sure many of our dev's here will successfully port Android 5.0 to our devices. I'm more interested in the full release of the OS; the multitasking features and the uniform material design looks so nice.
So, thoughts? Is android 5.0 everything you have hoped for? Will you be upgrading to a Nexus 6 soon?
I somehow managed to delete my opinion on the the device, I'm loving the specs; the 6" screen is pushing me away though.
When I say I plan on upgrading to the Nexus 6 I'm not 100% set on it yet. I was planning on going with the HTC One M8 simply because of the screen size, but I have used a LG G3 in stores before and I love how amazing the screen is so I'm very torn. The LG OG was such a great device for it's time, shame it never got an official update past 4.1 but it's hard to complain with all the dev support we get with it.

I might go for it but I'm still hating Google's propensity to think that cloud storage can replace the function of a microsd slot. Also a 6-inch screen, why? The phone still has to fit in my pocket. At this rate the number of people on these forums with manbags is going to blow up. Also $649 unlocked... ouch. I honestly don't know what Google was thinking here. They might be pushing their luck a little too hard here but I won't really know until I can hold it in my hand. On paper the size of the LG G3 used to sound like an atrocity so we'll see. Regardless the price isn't much of an issue if you pay it out over the length of a contract anyways but honestly, I'm disappointed.

gentlemenace said:
I might go for it but I'm still hating Google's propensity to think that cloud storage can replace the function of a microsd slot. Also a 6-inch screen, why? The phone still has to fit in my pocket. At this rate the number of people on these forums with manbags is going to blow up. Also $649 unlocked... ouch. I honestly don't know what Google was thinking here. They might be pushing their luck a little too hard here but I won't really know until I can hold it in my hand. On paper the size of the LG G3 used to sound like an atrocity so we'll see. Regardless the price isn't much of an issue if you pay it out over the length of a contract anyways but honestly, I'm disappointed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean, when you look at the specs, that's when you realize what all that money is really going to.

I just want the finished Android L roms to get ported to the LGOG. As long as i'm up to date and the roms arent too buggy, I can stick with my LGOG for another year if I have to.

We'll definitely get some L ROMs sooner or later. We have some amazing developers here for our phone, so be sure that once the major ROM devs update their sources, we'll get updated as well.

I think since the 6 is WAY too big for my personal use, I'm gonna jump to the Nexus 5 next.
Sent from my LG-LS970 using XDA Free mobile app

zomgalama said:
When I say I plan on upgrading to the Nexus 6 I'm not 100% set on it yet. I was planning on going with the HTC One M8 simply because of the screen size, but I have used a LG G3 in stores before and I love how amazing the screen is so I'm very torn. The LG OG was such a great device for it's time, shame it never got an official update past 4.1 but it's hard to complain with all the dev support we get with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the G3 now and I love it. Battery life has been better for me than on the lgog, even with that amazing screen. The major downside to the G3 is development but we finally received twrp so the roms will be coming. But having root, freezing/deleting bloat(and there is a lot of it) and making mods have helped my g3 be lag free, last over 40 hours on a full charge and just be generally awesome. If you want something that is also awesome but has a ton of development - go with the m8. A lot of devs and themers who had lgogs grabbed the m8 so you will be in good company. Only a few of us from here have the G3 but Im happy with my choice. It's big but not unruly, the new nexus looks good but too big and still no sd card. And if 3000mah battery isnt big enough for you, zerolemon is selling a 9000mah battery you can swap right in. Just my two cents.
---------- Post added at 12:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:04 AM ----------
iamterence said:
I mean, when you look at the specs, that's when you realize what all that money is really going to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off, how ya been buddy? Secondly - the nexus 6 looks great but I'm a little disappointed in a few things, size being one of em, still no sdcard and still not 64bit. The rumors made me have higher hopes - its still gonna be a great phone with an insane amount of support. I have no use for it but I am really impressed by the nexus 9(my nexus 7 is collecting dust). That processor, even being a dual core and only having 2 gb of ram is crazy fast, and it's 64bit!

HPTesla said:
I have the G3 now and I love it. Battery life has been better for me than on the lgog, even with that amazing screen. The major downside to the G3 is development but we finally received twrp so the roms will be coming. But having root, freezing/deleting bloat(and there is a lot of it) and making mods have helped my g3 be lag free, last over 40 hours on a full charge and just be generally awesome. If you want something that is also awesome but has a ton of development - go with the m8. A lot of devs and themers who had lgogs grabbed the m8 so you will be in good company. Only a few of us from here have the G3 but Im happy with my choice. It's big but not unruly, the new nexus looks good but too big and still no sd card. And if 3000mah battery isnt big enough for you, zerolemon is selling a 9000mah battery you can swap right in. Just my two cents.
---------- Post added at 12:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:04 AM ----------
First off, how ya been buddy? Secondly - the nexus 6 looks great but I'm a little disappointed in a few things, size being one of em, still no sdcard and still not 64bit. The rumors made me have higher hopes - its still gonna be a great phone with an insane amount of support. I have no use for it but I am really impressed by the nexus 9(my nexus 7 is collecting dust). That processor, even being a dual core and only having 2 gb of ram is crazy fast, and it's 64bit!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been good man, how have you been? Glad to see you around these parts one more time
For me, I'm drawn to the N6 because I know it'll drop down to a decent price by time my upgrade is due (which would be summer of 2015), and, assuming I even get it, it'd be the most high-end phone I've ever owned, plus it's a Nexus, so development is guaranteed. I'm just modest If I were to get a G2, I'd be pretty happy with that.

iamterence said:
I've been good man, how have you been? Glad to see you around these parts one more time
For me, I'm drawn to the N6 because I know it'll drop down to a decent price by time my upgrade is due (which would be summer of 2015), and, assuming I even get it, it'd be the most high-end phone I've ever owned, plus it's a Nexus, so development is guaranteed. I'm just modest If I were to get a G2, I'd be pretty happy with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha ha yeah I was checking on one of my bootanimations and saw this thread. Im good, biked more than I ever have so Im really sore but other than that Im good.
Nexus devices definitely have the best support but HTC is pretty solid(as is Sony, sadly we can't get xperia on sprint) and they come with other perks(removable storage, etc). I know HTC will be releasing another flagship(from some rumors, 2) before you're due for your upgrade and I have a feeling it will be better(and smaller) than the nexus 6. Biggest drawback to the HTC flagships seems to be the camera but that's also been an issue on Nexus devices. Nexus devices are still a great way to go. Their biggest selling point is having official updates before anyone else. My nexus 7 is solid, but between my phone and laptop I just dont have a need for a tablet. I wanted to hold out for the nexus 6 myself but now Im glad I didn't. Just too big for me and LG fixed my biggest issue with the lgog - sdcard support.
They're all great phones with pros and cons tho - really does depend on the user.

Are you going to keep your G4?

Having previously owned the G2 and G3, I was looking forward to the G4, however personally the camera is the only reason why I stick with it. Everything else seems like a downgrade from the G3, especially in the looks and feel. I'm glad we have root and Xposed which helps greatly, but going from the G2 to the G3 showed a large decline in dev support, and seeing as how it's been several months since release and we still have no custom ROMs makes it seem like there is going to be very little dev support going forward, even if we eventually get custom ROMs.
I don't remember wanting a new phone so quickly the last 2 years, but I've been anxiously awaiting the new phones this fall to see if there is something else that I'd like more. I'm leaning towards either the Moto X Pure or new Nexus.
Is anyone else disappointed enough in either the phone or dev support that they are looking to replace their G4 earlier than usual?

For most people the G4 is one heck of a phone, but for those of us who hang out here, no development = no fun.

I do like the G4 for the most part. It has it's issues though. Particularly the Verizon one more so from all I've read.
I mainly am bothered by the touchscreen issues. So many missed taps or swipes registering as taps instead and opening things I meant to just swipe across or whatever. Little bit of lag but it's workable.
Coming to it from the Galaxy S4 it was definitely an upgrade regardless. The only thing that really stopped me from buying the S6 edge was the piddly battery and it not being changeable. Now that the S6 edge + is out and they've beefed up the battery, in hindsight if it was released at the same time I would have bought that instead because I did like the S4 for it's time.
That's the tech world for you though, you buy something new that's the best that day and something (arguably) better comes out right around the corner.

Every point I was going to make has been covered.
The Samsung development overshadows LG development, 2 to 1.
Definitely will be a consideration on the next purchase.
Take note LG, we wont be fooled again.

I was going to sell my G4 now, but not really excited about anything out there. Probably waiting for the new Motorola X Pure. Checked selling prices on swappa and I will already lose $100 or more if I sell now. Maybe I shouldn't wait..

I already got the galaxy s6 edge+ and have the moto x pure arriving soon. The development in this and the main G4 section bores me, so i recently listed my G4 on Swappa. Time will tell if i list my Samsung, but I should at least be good with the moto for a while!

If I wasn't trying to save money, I would consider the MXP. That said, even though there isn't a thriving development community for it, the G4 works pretty well for my needs since root and Xposed are available for it and haven't been giving me any issues.

mtva24 said:
I already got the galaxy s6 edge+ and have the moto x pure arriving soon. The development in this and the main G4 section bores me, so i recently listed my G4 on Swappa. Time will tell if i list my Samsung, but I should at least be good with the moto for a while!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I remember reading that the Note 5 and I assume S6 Edge + are not able to be unlocked/rooted on Verizon and AT&T, as Samsung has incorporated that into Knox that the phones will no longer work if modified (or something along those lines).
I miss the days when pretty much all phones, especially flagships, had tons of dev support and were rooted quickly. Seems like as time goes on pretty much only Nexus and unlocked global phones get any support.

Bailed for Nexus 6...couldn't take not having roms....... my wife is happy with it.

Made the exact same decision. I don't miss that phone at all. Nexus 6 may be older but it still is a kick a** phone
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

I may regret this decision, but I decided to preorder the iPhone 6s lol
Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

So far love the G4, but it's only been a week, not noticing any issues thus far. Coming from a bad experience with a Sony Z3V and Verizon, who finally agreed to give me a new phone and I picked the G4. My biggest concern was the battery but I'm getting 2 days with moderate use.

Yes, for now.
In general the phone is pretty good I'm just disappointed that there is no unlocked boot-loader and custom recovery as yet for the VS986. I hope it becomes available in the near future.

Cwey55 said:
Coming to it from the Galaxy S4 it was definitely an upgrade regardless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Galaxy S4 and trying to decide between the S6 and G4. What has me most considering the G4 over the S6 is the lack of removable battery and expandable memory on the S6. Reviews I have seen mostly rate the S6 higher as far as specs. But I can live with a slightly slower performing phone if it has other features more important to me. I don't care what material the phone is made of because I always put them in cases to protect them. You say the G4 is definitely an upgrade. What about the G4 in your opinion make it better then the S4? Also that screen issue you were referring to, is that typical of the G4 or an issue with some owners? I would appreciate feedback from any other former S4 owners. Thanks.

Pretty unhappy with my G4, even after rooting and trying several fixes for existing issues. The battery life is poor at best, the touch screen misses and issues are awful and on top of that, general lag persists throughout the day. Overall, I WANT to like the phone. I like the camera, the shape, etc. I really think we need the bootloader unlocked to have users fix these issues that LG and VZW cannot. I'm stuck on the edge plan, so I guess I'm waiting.

Eddie Hicks said:
I have a Galaxy S4 and trying to decide between the S6 and G4. What has me most considering the G4 over the S6 is the lack of removable battery and expandable memory on the S6. Reviews I have seen mostly rate the S6 higher as far as specs. But I can live with a slightly slower performing phone if it has other features more important to me. I don't care what material the phone is made of because I always put them in cases to protect them. You say the G4 is definitely an upgrade. What about the G4 in your opinion make it better then the S4? Also that screen issue you were referring to, is that typical of the G4 or an issue with some owners? I would appreciate feedback from any other former S4 owners. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well to be honest as I write this I'm working on getting myself into the S6 edge + or Note 5 now that they've come out. More on that later.
But, coming from the S4 back in June my contract happened to be up for upgrade on the exact release date of the G4, I would have been totally content to stick with the Galaxy line had they not gotten away from the removable battery and SD card support in the S6, and the battery that is in the S6 really is pretty tiny. That was the deciding factor for me buying the G4 much like you're concerned with. Other than those things the S6/S6 edge would have been perfect to me. I decided to try something new and went with the G4 on the basis they had the removable battery and SD card slot (and the changeable backs as a bonus).
Naturally with there being two years between my S4 and the G4, the G4 is faster and smoother, has a better display, better camera. That's just advancements in technology at work. Down the line we'll look at the same specs as today's flagship phones as minor leagues.
Read around here and just about any phone forums, you'll see the same things echoed to varying degrees:
S6: Piddly battery life, no SD card, no removable battery, great looking screen, fast, arguably best camera, great build with the glass/metal, quick charge/wireless charge built in
G4: Bigger swappable battery, great (larger) screen, fast but some models lag depending on carrier, arguably best camera, nice changeable backs, wireless charge not built in, some models with touch screen response issues
Like I said you'll read the same things everywhere and just have to decide what works best for you. If you're the type that prefers to swap the battery for a quick boost to 100%, don't buy the S6 obviously. If you like the idea of using wireless charging, don't buy the G4 obviously. If you prefer a smaller screen go with the S6, if you want big go G4 (Or the newer Note 5 or S6 edge + of course), if you want to try a new button scheme go G4 (I do like the rear buttons) or if you like traditional side buttons go Samsung. It's a tough call really, you get what I mean, either way it's been years since the S4 so no matter what you're going to get a better phone due to the advancements both companies have made. Compared to the S4 both the S6 and G4 will fly through processing, have better displays, have better cameras, and be more efficient. You just have to decide which features are more important to you.
Now, I know you didn't mention the newer S6 edge + or Note 5 but they've been released since the G4 was released and in hindsight if they'd been released all at the same time I'd have chosen one of them over the G4 and am probably switching over to one of them soon as I can. As I said earlier the only reason I went with the G4 over the original S6 was the tiny battery in the S6, and in the newer two phones Samsung has beefed up that department to match the G4 at 3000mah. So that said, I'm probably looking to get back into a Samsung, because when it was in it's prime, I really did love my S4.
My main gripe with the G4 is the touch screen response, which like I said if you read around you will see it is pretty common and no known fix has been brought to light. It seems pretty hit or miss but it is really frustrating.
Hopefully I helped and answered some of your questions. If not feel free to let me know.

Cwey55 said:
Well to be honest as I write this I'm working on getting myself into the S6 edge + or Note 5 now that they've come out. More on that later.
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Cwey I very much appreciate your detailed and very helpful reply. After reading it this morning I decided to get the S6. I picked one up a 64gb version a couple of hours ago and my wife got a iPhone 6S (she loves apples ). I figure with 64gb's SD card memory expansion is no big deal. I had to give up my unlimited data because I'm doing the 24 month no-contract phone payment service. I really don't use a lot of data anyway. I was on the old service plan paying for minutes and text. I'm actually paying about $10 a month less with unlimited calls and text. I looked into other phones also like the soon to be relesed Nexus 5X but the specs don't seem to be that great. The S6 Edge+ and Note 5 are too big for my taste. The larger size of the G4 is also a negative for me. Also I have the S6 with the OE2 firmware which can be rooted. The updated OF1 cannot be rooted at this time. I just have to be careful not to allow the firmware update to go through. Thanks again.

I got a Nexus 6 as well. Great phone even though it is old now. Also got a One M9 and sent it off to Java Card S-Off'ed. Also a good phone with custom roms. I miss the G4 camera a bit but nothing else.

I'll be looking at the Nexus 5X or the Moto X Pure as a replacement for the G4

I'm not sure how long i will keep it, because the digital products update so fast!

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