[Q] What phone is next for you? - HTC Vivid, Raider, Velocity

I see 3 contenders, each has strengths and weaknesses [in no particular order]:
HTC One (M8)
Samsung Galaxy S5
Sony Xperia Z2
I'm not thrilled with the camera on the HTC One (M8), but overall I'm ok with HTC
and have been very happy and thankful for the support I've received on this forum,
I love my Vivid and it's still a great phone.
The S5 has a great camera, and all the other features that matter for me [SD card slot,
active community support, replaceable battery, strong environment resistance] ... BUT
I don't like KNOX and based on what I'm reading [and experiencing with my Samsung
Galaxy Note 10.1 - 2014 Edition tablet], that lockdown & strategy isn't going to go away
any time soon ... and may, for all intents and purposes, be 'insurmountable' without
giving up warranty support - which isn't OK with me, cuz I'm not made of money ...
On to the Sony ... seems like the specs are pretty good, perhaps lacking in onboard
memory [16Gb at the moment, I'd prefer 32Gb or 64Gb], good processors, decent design
and build quality ... but the community support seems thin [perhaps because Sony isn't
a huge player in the US? Perhaps because they're release cycle & adoption by big US
carriers is a lilttle thin & doesn't get as much press as HTC and Sammy? I don't know]
and I don't know how good the accessory market is for them ...
So the question is ... what phone is next for you, and how/why did you come to that
decision?
If it's one of these three, great ... if it's not, great ... because that may help me to see
options I have missed.
Thanks in advance for taking time to slog through my drivel.
-dmm

Trying to keep the expenses down, so to actually upgrade I am considering the Galaxy S4. The S5 is too expensive, HTC One does not have a replaceable battery, don't particularly like Sony these days.
Mind, I am still 3 months from upgrade time, and my mind is not set.

I replaced the Vivid with a Nexus 4. Comparing the early effort for custom roms Vivid vs Nexus, it was literally night and day. Waiting weeks/months to find a way to unlock the bootloader vs 2 minutes with the nexus.
I will never buy another carrier branded phone, nor a phone that is locked down. If I were to upgrade again, I would have to go with the Nexus 5. I might not get the bells, whistles and prestige of the lofty flagships, but for an Android buff like me, the open nature of the nexus line is priceless.

cmerlyn said:
Trying to keep the expenses down, so to actually upgrade I am considering the Galaxy S4. The S5 is too expensive, HTC One does not have a replaceable battery, don't particularly like Sony these days.
Mind, I am still 3 months from upgrade time, and my mind is not set.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was using Vivid in 2011, 2012.
In 2013, I was thinking between google edition i9505 and AT&T SHG-I337 for the upgrade Google edition came unlock but it was cost around $600 at that time. AT&T phone was network locked but it cost around $65 for upgrade with 2 years plan.
I went with AT&T SGH-I-337. I rooted the phone before I activated. After activation I installed the custom rom. The phone came with Android 4.2.2.
This month I installed the 4.4.2 custom rom (Golden eye 29, 30 then 31). I am very happy with S4 this way.
I am thinking of going for S5 after the developer find a way to tame the knox thingy.

Related

[Q] Is the Moto X "unlocked T-mo" a good choice for me?

I have been interested in the Moto X ever since the release late last year and now its at such a great price... But I must ask everyone that has already made the jump, is this device what I am looking for?
At the moment I have a Galaxy S3 through At&t loaded up with CM 10.1.3 and to be honest I am happy with the phone... but am becoming more anxious for a upgrade each day, mostly due to the abysmal battery life and non-support for things I like *wallet*.
Anyways needless to say I am about ready to upgrade to something fresh and new. I am choosing to go unlocked because AT&T is offering a discount towards customers who do not take up a subsidized plan.
Naturally I checked out the Google Play edition phones and the Nexus line first, I was hoping the X would be among their ranks, after all google did own motorola up until a week ago. However all they had was the Moto G which was is the lower end sibling to the X.
So thats when I started really digging in and when I found out motorola actually sells unlocked phones through their site. The T-mobile one being the best choice because you can unlock the bootloader and it still supports at&t fully in the USA. The only other option would had been the GSM developer edition, but I would have to forgo any customization for very little benefit in the end.
But I am sitting here wondering to myself... is now a good time to get a new phone, is this the right choice, would this phone make me happy for at least a year and half?
My largest concern with this phone is its future, how much longer can/will motorola support updates for the X? Will we see the next version of android come to this device before its antiqued by motorola? If it is shelved, is the community broad enough to provide quality unofficial updates that will offer a wonderful experience?
I mean when I look at the development section just for the AT&T galaxy S3 there is numerous ROM's several of them being official groups like CM and AOKP. But then when I checked the CM site for the T-Mobile Moto-X there is nothing, it is literally blank, is it because they don't believe the Moto X yet needs CM to fill in the gaps, or is it because they have no interest in supporting it at all?
I would pick a Nexus 5, given it is guaranteed fast updates, but the Moto X just seems like a better fit for me. I love the idea of the anywhere handsfree google now, the style of the phone just looks better, and it is stock-enough for my needs.
I guess ultimately these are my biggest questions.
1. How future-proof do you guys think this is, at least update wise? Since CM does have a page for the Moto-X does that mean they will support it eventually? The phone is widely regarded and to my knowledge quite popular, I dont see why the carrier-locked boot loader would stop CM when it didn't for other handsets.
2. What is battery life like? Given alot of you have probably had the phone for a few months, hows the battery life now, is it degrading badly?
3. Overall would this be a good upgrade coming from a GS3?
4. Should I save up and get a Nexus 5 or another google play device?
5. Is it a good time to upgrade? Or should I wait a month or two?
6. How is the camera? Is it really much worse than the GS4, IP5S, and Nokia Lumina camera's?
7. Does it support google wallet? Does it lack support for any other apps on the play store?
Lastly, how is the support for accessories? I would like to get a Pebble eventually and I have a few bluetooth stereos. Does the Moto X support most of these without issue?

[Q] any regrets?

Greetings All,
I'm on a Note 3 right now, and Monday or Tuesday it's time for my upgrade. I'm torn between a Note 4 and the Nexus 6. The last 3 devices I owned were Note 3, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy S2. I'm really looking to switch it up here, and step back from Samsung for a little while. The Nexus 6 is my first choice right now, seeing as the Note 3 has me pretty spoiled with the large screen and the s-pen. I guess my question would be, since I've been seeing mixed reviews for Nexus 6 around the web, does anyone here have any regrets buying this device so far? And if so, are any regrets stone cold deal breakers, or just minor issues? I'm really looking at giving "vanilla" android (if that's even such thing on xda) a run, and I've heard that the Nexus devices have had the most and best development as far as that goes. So I guess I'm asking if there's any major problems with the Nexus 6 that is not being mentioned in a standard review, before I go scoop one up in the next day or two. Many thanks in advance...
My only gripe with this device is the poor cell signal. My phone is constantly searching for a signal and it is really impacting my battery life. Other than that I am happy with this device, hopefully T-Mobile pushes the OTA update for WiFi Calling soon.
no regrets here. want unlockable, rootable device that I can do as I want with. this is my first Nexus device. got it from Moto direct. on VZW
have generally had moto devices in the past and like their overall solid construction.
like Samsung devices but they are always a but flimsy IMHO.
None at all, I came from my 2 G3's (D850 and F460) and haven't looked back. My wife liked my Nexus so much (except the size) she wanted a Moto X 2014 so I bought her one. This so hands down my favorite phone so far
If u get the nexus use HDR+ on your camera day and night looks amazing. I thought I would miss Samsung but I don't . I miss the knock on. With the g3 but that's something I can put on the nexus
My only regret was not buying this phone sooner.
I'd only have a regret if something with otherwise the same specs but a smaller screen came out within a month of release; I guess I also regret switching to T-Mobile right before release but that's a different issue.
godsafk said:
My only gripe with this device is the poor cell signal. My phone is constantly searching for a signal and it is really impacting my battery life. Other than that I am happy with this device, hopefully T-Mobile pushes the OTA update for WiFi Calling soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whoa, no WiFi calling?? I kind of need that for work....
Got it. I think I'm gonna go scoop one up tomorrow. Thanks all
I regret not waiting for the Nexus 6+ with the 6.7" screen.
Do you like to spend time tinkering?
twatts723 said:
Got it. I think I'm gonna go scoop one up tomorrow. Thanks all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have the time to tinker and are willing to wait for things to get fixed or turned into features, this is the phone for you. If you have been using Samsung devices and think you will get anything close to the features Samsung adds, especially to their Note line, forget it. One thing the Nexus will help you see and appreciate is all the care and hard work that goes into their overlay. Things you may have thought were standard user options turn out to be features of branded manufactured phones. I have much respect for the care that Sammy and LG and even HTC puts in their phones now that I'm pure Vanilla. So, yes// there are definitely some trade offs I was unaware of.

[Q] Buying today... (?)

Hi guys and gals,
Looking for some advice from more experienced and wiser users such as yourselves.
My Z1 has just crapped out on me, meaning it took a huge fall and crapped itself all over the pavement.. Sigh...
As such, I'm in need of a new phone. As we all know the S6 and the M9 are up for grabs and in my country, the unlocked price between these and the Nexus 6 is pretty much the same.
So the question is, do I buy one of these or is the Nexus still a valid option?
I mean, the S6 has a beautiful display but Exynos stands for a very complicated third-party development theatre and Samsung has a ******ng horrible policy regarding upgrade cycles, screwing everyone and their pooch in the process.
As for the M9, while a fine device, it isn't Quad HD and I'm really hankering for one of those, Plus... It does have that shiny new 64bit SoC inside...
Do you guys still think that the 805 can hold it's own against this new breed of SoC's?
TIA.
baseline01 said:
Hi guys and gals,
Looking for some advice from more experienced and wiser users such as yourselves.
My Z1 has just crapped out on me, meaning it took a huge fall and crapped itself all over the pavement.. Sigh...
As such, I'm in need of a new phone. As we all know the S6 and the M9 are up for grabs and in my country, the unlocked price between these and the Nexus 6 is pretty much the same.
So the question is, do I buy one of these or is the Nexus still a valid option?
I mean, the S6 has a beautiful display but Exynos stands for a very complicated third-party development theatre and Samsung has a ******ng horrible policy regarding upgrade cycles, screwing everyone and their pooch in the process.
As for the M9, while a fine device, it isn't Quad HD and I'm really hankering for one of those, Plus... It does have that shiny new 64bit SoC inside...
Do you guys still think that the 805 can hold it's own against this new breed of Qualcomm SoC's?
TIA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, a bit of advice if I may. If you're waiting for something better, then you'll always be waiting. In my opinion, the Nexus is an amazing device but not in the same category as the other two you mentioned. This is a "phablet", meaning it is large. Much larger than either of the other phones you're considering. So take that as a factor in your decision. Also, the Nexus will get updates faster and probably for longer than those two. Just look at the likes of the Nexus 4 and 5. As for performance this device will continue to hold its own as it is pure, unskinned Android. Good luck with your choice but I recommend trying to get some " hands on" time with any device you're considering.
I just got the Nexus last Friday and I'm thrilled! N6 all day long :good:
Also just ordered this 64gb blue bad boy!
galaxys said:
Also just ordered this 64gb blue bad boy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been a Samsung Note user, the 2, 3, and recently the 4. Great phones, but i was on ATT and the 4 is totally locked. I just couldn't stand touchwiz anymore. Not that it was bad, but i was tired of not having the ability to install or delete whatever i wanted on my phone.
I gave up the Note 4 for the N6. The N6 doesn't have quite as nice of a screen, and it doesn't get as bright for direct sun, or as low in complete darkness. Other then that i couldn't be happier. I find that having the flexibility to do what i want is far better then being locked into a device and it's software.
I think for each person it's very personal choice about what they want to do with the device they are buying.
Got my N6 9 days ago, unlocked bootloader, updated to Android 5.1, and rooted the phone right away.
N6 is great.
My previous phone was HTC Vivid (4.7 inches) -- now the 4.7 inch phone looks too small.
Edit: I always wanted to have a Nexus device, since it is very easy to unlock its bootloader, and root the device.
I bought my Nexus 6 from amazon.com, so no AT&T traces anywhere on the phone No, AT&T bloatware either.
You can install android updates (it you need to) without any delay.
Also, by the end of my day, N6 battery shows 67% residual charge.
Thanks for all the input guys.
Pulled the trigger today and it's quite an imposing device.
Fiddled around with the S6 on the store and I must say that I walked away thoroughly unimpressed. The screen and feel of the device are difficult to fault but man... That touchwiz is really urghh!
In conclusion, the N6 was certainly a great choice.
Cheers.

[Q] as of today

would you buy the nexus 6 again today over other phones?
Yes but not direct from Motorola
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Probably not.
bambam126 said:
would you buy the nexus 6 again today over other phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I perhaps would try the LG G4. Prior to switching I had the LG G3 and it was a pretty great phone. Considering you only needed root and the exposed framework to do many cool features. Thought that it was a great concept for moving forward with devices. No longer waiting for that special ROM to come. It was truly a no hassle phone.
I'd go with the Sammy S6 edge except it is very small on screen size. But my number one concern with any phone is support for Android Auto, cause when I'm mobile, I am and want to be hands free mobile. But in my humble opinion, the Nexus is much more of a dedicated ROM, Framework, and Governor type phone which requires constant attention and tweaking by the user to get the most out of.
I love my N6 but I wish the camera was faster. The camera on the G4 is the only thing I covet
Sent from my Benzo'd Google N6 on VZ
Yes, I was not at all impressed with the m9. I must admit the s6 did impress me however only 5 inches and no front facing speakers makes me not want it. I must admit I am anxiously waiting for the note 5 and what ever the next Nexus device is going to be at the end of the year. If the next Nexus is smaller than 5.5 inches I will definitely consider the Note 5.
I am still very happy with my Nexus 6
I tend not to buy phones that are 6 months old. If it was 3 months ago, then yes.
There is nothing now that I feel would be any better either though. I'd probably be waiting until Autumn unless I had a desperate requirement
Yes, mostly because root is more and more elusive. There's so much less to worry about with a Nexus device: no need for exploits nor bootloader codes, no worries about bricking, and no lack of dev support.
That said, there are areas I would like to see improvement. Between Google and all the dev support, we don't have to wait long to see and implement them.
Coming from a S4 to this phone is like night and day. Boot loader, root, general flashing all much easier with a great forum to provide support.... whats not to love?? If none of those things matter to you then any phone would do but if you like to live a little on the edge and try new stuff.... this type of phone is a good choice.
Yes. Tired of waiting for ROMs and bootloader hacks and root access for other phones. Google gives you access to everything right out the box.
I would buy my Nexus 6 today in a heartbeat. Even though it's now an "older" device, there are many points that I love and haven't really seen in other devices. Top 5 reasons:
1. Aftermarket/community support
2. Build materials and quality (I like the plastic back with the metal frame. Might not be as "pretty" but the back is less likely to show abrasions and won't dent)
3. Lollipop/"Pure" Android (no bloat, cutting-edge software, timely updates)
4. The amazing hardware package (although we all agree the camera could be better on a device in this class)
a. awesome processors
b. lots o' RAM
c. fantastic radios (cell, GPS, BT, WiFi)
d. wonderful front stereo speakers
e. dat screen, doh
f. etc...
5. Size and shape
As others have said, I cannot go without an rooted and unlocked device. My heart would sink if i had an unmodable phone. The dev and community support is great. Other phones may have nice features here and there or higher benchmarks but if it cannot rooted and unlocked I'll pass. The manufacturers may have a their own idea of how a phone should be setup, but I don't prefer it. I want to tweak it to my liking, especially since this is primarily what in use to communicate with the world.
Just as in the plethora of ROMs available here: some are stock+ while others have a ton of features. I, fortunately, have the ability to choose which user-interface best pleases my needs.
If all phones were unlocked and rootable I would have to rethink my answer.
I would absolutely buy it again.
I did just purchase mine. Had the s6 and had to return it because of display issues and the battery life was terrible. At the store they gave me a replacement with the same display issue (pink tint on bottom 1/3 of the display, very noticable next to the display model). Looked at the g flex 2 and m9 and decided I wanted to go with this. I had been saying I was gonna get a nexus anyway but the s6's hardware was very appealing. I am not disappointed with my decision at all. I did think the battery life would be a little better on this and it does get uncomfortably toasty at times but I do love this phone.
Definitely would buy again.
1) Unlockable bootloader with so little hassle
2) Dev community
At the same time I have been putting up with a slow camera ;(
Edit: good solution for camera just found: open camera (in the GPS: Dev mark Harman)
glenny buster said:
I did just purchase mine. Had the s6 and had to return it because of display issues and the battery life was terrible. At the store they gave me a replacement with the same display issue (pink tint on bottom 1/3 of the display, very noticable next to the display model). Looked at the g flex 2 and m9 and decided I wanted to go with this. I had been saying I was gonna get a nexus anyway but the s6's hardware was very appealing. I am not disappointed with my decision at all. I did think the battery life would be a little better on this and it does get uncomfortably toasty at times but I do love this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out the disabling services thread in general http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/disabling-google-play-services-guide-t2999821/page22 post 220 talks about disabling receivers, it refers to the google play update receivers they start with system.update. I disabled those 3 and battery life has been pretty good (along with other stuff I don't use... Fit, Kids, and such). Of course you need to be rooted to do this, I am using My Android Tools (I got the paid version but there is also a free version I think) to disable stuff. Just pay close attention to the thread and don't try to experiment.... at a minimum, you will want to have a nandroid backup before you start just incase you disable something by mistake.
in tech, its all about timing. there are 810 phones i can get today.. though i think i might be happier with the 805 than the 810, but the chips in the s6 look pretty good... i might even wait for the 6s-plus to come out if i were shopping today (if the 6 plus had 2 gigs of ram i would have gotten a 6 plus)... the phone i wanted more than anything was the droid turbo when deciding (was between nexus 6, moto x, m8 and droid turbo... so lots of moto). after seeing all the development for the nexus, i dont think i would go to another phone... but an lg nexus with ips display might be nice (dont need 4k, 1080 is fine... want a 4200 mAh battery).
and i have a feeling we are still unlocking new potential with the phone, porting moto features, getting cm implementation ironed out... lollipop is still in growing pains...
I just bought mine a couple weeks ago so I'd say yes. I was just tired of lack of root and delayed updates on the Note 4.

Note 3 at the end of 2015, worth buying?

Hi guys,
Yesterday I hard bricked my GS4 trying to update it to marshmellow. The repair will cost $40 and this is after I spent $110 replacing the digitizer. I decided to give up on that device (It was getting a bit beat up anyway).
Walmart is currently selling the ATT version for $250. I bought it but now I am wondering if it is still worth the value now (late 2015). The S4 was starting to show its age especially with the bloatware which is why I was attempting to upgrade the OS. What better place to ask this than a forum full of tech geeks like me who have actually used the device!
So, what do you guys say? Is it worth it now to buy as a daily driver? What do you guys think of the cost? How is the custom rom community? I saw that Samsung EOLed it at 5.0 but what are the chances custom roms will keep going for a few more versions? I have just started to browse this section of xda. The S4 was a hassle especially if people accidentally upgraded it to Lollipop. I know I followed the directions to a T but I still go the hard brick so I am hesitant to attempt to mess around with a Samsung device again.
If anyone has experience with the S4, how is the experience compared to it?
Sorry if this stuff was recently asked, I just quickly browsed the front page of this section
It is an excellent device. The only thing that bothers me is the size. My personal opinion: Debatably, even the latest gen devices haven't added much value to the daily use factors(speed, screen quality etc). A little bit, yes. But not a lot. You can compare the devices and see it yourself. I don't need to upgrade the device. My hands are relatively smaller, so the size matters especially considering the case etc. Otherwise Note 3 is a solid device. Ofcourse root and get rid of the crapware if you running stock rom. You will be happy you did.
FYI to give you an idea about the price: In 2014, i bought a "certified like new" from att for 270 + taxes + activation without contract. It was really new except for the brown box it came in.
Again, My Personal opinion: Just got a OnePlus X for my wife. Only $267 including shipping. Good specs, 1080P screen , snapD 801 processor, thinner, lighter and handy compared to iphone or GS 6. In short Love it.
For me size doesn't matter since I am 6'2" with giant hands. I bought my mom the original OPO and she liked it. The only thing I feel like I would be missing out on are the fingerprint readers but those are currently only on the high end devices right now which I can't afford yet.
Note 3 is indeed a great phone/device you can have but in the mean time you can have too many other comparatively new devices in the same range of bucks, then why go back to 2013 while in my opinion you can buy some MOTO, LG, Asus, and a lot of Chinese flagship devices in that range or just a little more up on. I would suggest you Note 3. And i would never bought it if i was in your place. (worthy mention that i have one AT&T's N900A) but my situation is quite different, i have bought it (used one) almost 9 months ago and that too here in Pakistan where most of the new devices are either out of my range or not at all available here.
Hell yes. I wont upgrade cause I know I wont like my nextphone as much as my note 3. Its a tough phone. Ive bootlooped and softbricked this thing so many times and it just keeps getting better. I broke the screen once and mailed out for it to savea couple hundred and do it myself and now have half n900a and half n900t. I know. Just the carriers. I might just get another note 3 when this one dies.

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