4G Android phone megathread

Fratboy · Nov 13, 2014

Samsung battery life is just fucking horrible on Samsung phones, or at least it was on the S3. No idea about the S5 though.

LondonSox · Nov 13, 2014

Foulkey Reese said:
The S4 was just ok, but I don't think it was terrible.

Touchwizz was terrible, but you can disable/hide just enough of it to make it palatable.

My S4 is HORRIBLE, but I'm half convinced I have some magnetic output from my body that fries batteries, my horrible work blackberry battery needs to be replaced every few months, and my s4 is about half the life of my wifes. Maybe I'm unlucky, the battery died in three HTC thunderbolts, but they were so frickin crap that's probably just a co-incidence

Time to Mo Vaughn · Nov 13, 2014

My wife has an S4 and the battery life blew away my S3. I have an S5 now and get great battery life out of it, plus it has a removable battery, so I have an extra one for when I'm traveling anyway.

DanoooME · Nov 13, 2014

Got a Droid Turbo Tuesday and i like it, but somehow my contacts/photos etc from my old phone got over to the new phone and then pretty much disappeared. No longer backed up anywhere and the old phone (S3) was turned in for a $100 credit, so that's gone too. More annoying than anything else, but I have to rebuild my contacts from scratch. Photos weren't a big deal, but going forward I need to find a better way to backup I guess.

Fratboy · Nov 13, 2014

Okay so I just strolled into a Verizon store with my encrypted Droid X in tow , explained I did not receive the info, and I'm leaving with my gift card. It can be used only for Verizon wireless services, so I'll just apply it to my bill.

Seven Costanza · Nov 13, 2014

TouchWiz Foulkey. ONE Z.

I thought you were an android guy. Jeez.

saintnick912 · Nov 13, 2014

Touch Whizz, like peeing on your hands to not need batting gloves.

Rustjive · Nov 13, 2014

Apisith said:
Some reviews haven't been kind to the Nexus 6. The Ars and Anandtech ones have noted sluggish performance that some people are attributing to the encryption being turned on by default. The problem is devices shipping with Lollipop won't have the option of turning encryption off. Lots more discussion in the Reddit sub if you want to have a read but it'd be something to keep an eye on when you first get the phone.

Yeah, having read those my conclusion was really that you had to hate TouchWiz *a lot* to opt for the Nexus over the Note 4. Compared to other flagship phones the Nexus 6 really seems mediocre or bad in every single category.

Apisith · Nov 13, 2014

Someone probably fucked up on Google's part in optimisation so I expect that they'll be able to alleviate it in a firmware update later on but it's worrying that the read and write times are so slow, slower than the Nexus 5. I don't think they meant for this at all.

I'm still on the Nexus 5, guess I'll wait for next year's iteration of flagships especially with the new USB and 64-bit chips coming in. Next year's should be the biggest upgrades in terms of hardware for a while.

Tim Naehrings Girl · Nov 13, 2014

I just saw that Radio Shack is giving the S5 free on Black Friday for Sprint, Verizon and AT&T so that's even better. I always have an external battery with one charged, so battery life isn't a huge issue for me.

Seven Costanza · Nov 13, 2014

Foulkey Reese said:
I'm embarrassed for you

Bro at least I know how to spell iOS.

Fratboy · Nov 13, 2014

It's cute when the iOS fanboys troll the Android thread

Seven Costanza · Nov 13, 2014

I'm just trolling Foulkey. The rest of you I like.

Traut · Nov 14, 2014

The updates to Google apps are outstanding. Just got new maps. Looking forward to getting calendar.

Apisith · Nov 14, 2014

I've got both. They look great. Agreed that the updates are very nice.

I'm still waiting for the bloody OTA on the Nexus 5, though. Google are taking their sweet time. Don't know why they can't do it Apple style and push it out to everyone.

PortlandSoxFan · Nov 14, 2014

Tired of waiting for the OTA, I'm flashing the image on my Nexus 5 right now. Will report back.

Soxy · Nov 14, 2014

I've tried reading through Android threads on other sites and haven't found a clear answer to this question. I'm on a rooted Nexus 5, with kernel and rom both stock. Will I be able to update to Lollipop OTA? From what I understand I'll have to disable Xposed Module since it doesn't work on Lollipop, which sucks but isn't a deal breaker. But I haven't seen a clear answer about whether or not I'll lose root, or even be able to get the OTA update. I'm guessing I'll lose root but do I need to unroot in order to even get the update pushed to my phone?

PortlandSoxFan · Nov 14, 2014

SETUP:

After setting up wifi, there is a Tap & Go option to transfer accounts, apps, and data. Obviously this doesn't help me right now, but when I transfer from this phone to the Nexus 6, that should be nice

I backed up apps/data to my computer first, and it automatically recognized that and appears to be restoring from that backup.

I never installed a preview of Lollipop before so this is my first experience with it; animations are beautiful.

PortlandSoxFan · Nov 14, 2014

Soxy Brown said:
I've tried reading through Android threads on other sites and haven't found a clear answer to this question. I'm on a rooted Nexus 5, with kernel and rom both stock. Will I be able to update to Lollipop OTA? From what I understand I'll have to disable Xposed Module since it doesn't work on Lollipop, which sucks but isn't a deal breaker. But I haven't seen a clear answer about whether or not I'll lose root, or even be able to get the OTA update. I'm guessing I'll lose root but do I need to unroot in order to even get the update pushed to my phone?

From past experience with my rooted 4, I believe you'll get the update but it won't install.

Monbo Jumbo · Nov 14, 2014

A check of the Sprint website shows they ARE offering a subsidized Nexus 6, but at $300 for the 32 gb version. sheesh And given the meh reviews, I'm not enthused. Perhaps I should wait and see what LG comes out with running an 805 chip. Also I need to investigate more plan options with other carriers and prices etc. etc. etc. I can possibly get an employee discount with other carriers, Sprint pulled mine - need to factor that in as well.

Traut · Nov 14, 2014

I had Sprint for 15 years. Leave now. For what you get, they are mb by mb the most expensive carrier on Earth. Moving from Sprint to ATT was like moving from Liberia to Boston. If you've been in Liberia your whole life you probably realize it sucks. If you move from Liberia to Boston, you realize that you had no concept of how much Liberia sucked.

Monbo Jumbo · Nov 14, 2014

Trautwein's Degree said:
I had Sprint for 15 years. Leave now. For what you get, they are mb by mb the most expensive carrier on Earth. Moving from Sprint to ATT was like moving from Liberia to Boston. If you've been in Liberia your whole life you probably realize it sucks. If you move from Liberia to Boston, you realize that you had no concept of how much Liberia sucked.

racist

Bunt4aTriple · Nov 14, 2014

I have an s4 that's a year and a half old. Battery life has been slowly dwindling, but the real problem is that when I'm at work (hooked into wifi, but terrible cellular reception in my section of the building), I continually get phantom voicemail notifications. I keep it on vibrate, so the phone vibrates, I see the notification, then a few seconds later it vibrates again and the notification is gone. Everything I've found online only talks about a voicemail notification that never goes away. This comes and goes and is never on in the office. This contributes to the battery drain and is infuriating.

Also noticed that the cell antenna just sometimes completely switches off. I get zero bars and the circle with the line through it. I could drive ten miles with no change, unless I reboot.

I wish I could go back to subsidies after a one year contract. These things ain't made to last 2 years.

FL4WL3SS · Nov 14, 2014

Monbo Jumbo said:
A check of the Sprint website shows they ARE offering a subsidized Nexus 6, but at $300 for the 32 gb version. sheesh And given the meh reviews, I'm not enthused. Perhaps I should wait and see what LG comes out with running an 805 chip. Also I need to investigate more plan options with other carriers and prices etc. etc. etc. I can possibly get an employee discount with other carriers, Sprint pulled mine - need to factor that in as well.

What 'meh' reviews? I've only seen glowing reviews. I'd like to read some not so glowing reviews, if you have them handy.

PortlandSoxFan · Nov 14, 2014

The new Calendar is beautiful.

Monbo Jumbo · Nov 14, 2014

FL4WL3SS said:
What 'meh' reviews? I've only seen glowing reviews. I'd like to read some not so glowing reviews, if you have them handy.

ars technica here.

In our experience, the Nexus 6 was slower than the Nexus 5. Apps took longer to launch, tasks took longer to switch, and sometimes—particularly during heavy multitasking—our Nexus 6 liked to get stuck and pause for a few minutes while it thought about things. It would often "chug" during our normal usage and in general felt like a slow device.

FL4WL3SS · Nov 14, 2014

I'm disregarding any comment about size because 1.) if you're buying this phone you know what you're getting into and 2.) while the screen size is bigger than any phone out there, the actual form factor has been proven to be barely noticeable compared to the iPhone 6+ and the Note 4.

The performance issue is a concern and this is the first time I've seen that anywhere, I'll have to keep an eye out for that.

Everything else they complained about was nitpicky at best.

Monbo Jumbo · Nov 14, 2014

FL4WL3SS said:
I'm disregarding any comment about size because 1.) if you're buying this phone you know what you're getting into and 2.) while the screen size is bigger than any phone out there, the actual form factor has been proven to be barely noticeable compared to the iPhone 6+ and the Note 4.

The performance issue is a concern and this is the first time I've seen that anywhere, I'll have to keep an eye out for that.

Everything else they complained about was nitpicky at best.

yeah - I don't care about size. I WANT big. But I isolated that paragraph about slowness as that concerns me. I don't know. I wonder when LG is coming out with an 805 chip based phone.

I mount my phone in my car a lot, so I can't get any model until Proclips releases a holder for it anyways. I'm not going to be an early adopter of any phone. But I'm starting to shop and look.

Caspir · Nov 14, 2014

The only thing I don't like about the new Calendar is the widget, which is meh. I like the month view but all I see is the 2x3 daily view, but the map overlay, etc is awesome, and it pulled all my flight/hotel/car rental info for an upcoming trip, mapped the route to my hotel and did a bunch of other little things that organized some of the trip details. Maps and Calendar have been fantastic. If Drive adds a camera sync in the next update and a PIN lock like Dropbox, I'd use it a lot more.

Infield Infidel · Nov 14, 2014

Note Edge comes out today, most reviews say it's interesting and the second screen is useful but probably not worth the $100 premium over a Note 4. Not sure if I'll buy any phone now or wait until new year, but I'll ideally check it out over the weekend.

Also, for lefties, they say that the Note Edge can be flipped 180 degrees to use with the left hand.

Traut · Nov 14, 2014

The calendar app is outstanding. Wow. iOS feels so dated in comparison to what Google is going with material design. The way Google now brings it all together is great.

DanoooME · Nov 14, 2014

Foulkey Reese said:
They weren't backed up in Google?

They were and when they were downloaded, I think 2 got into the new phone and the rest disappeared into the ether. My Google account doesn't have them any more either. It's the weirdest thing ever. Totally baffled the techs at VW.

Time to Mo Vaughn · Nov 16, 2014

Is it possible to get the new calendar app without waiting for lollipop? I'm on an S5.

JerBear · Nov 16, 2014

It should be in the play store. Doses Samsung have their own custom calendar app? I had to download the app on my HTC because the m8 came with an HTC calendar app.

Orange Julia · Nov 16, 2014

Fratboy said:
Samsung battery life is just fucking horrible on Samsung phones, or at least it was on the S3. No idea about the S5 though.

The S3 was far better than the 1, but I am now at the end of my S3 life, i suspect. With the last bunch of app update the phone is running like it is powered by one of those 150 year old tortoises.

I am thinking of just bouncing to the S5 unless someone has a compelling reason why I should not. I truly love my S3 and if it wasn't taking a full minute sometimes to pull up my keyboard, or to send texts, I would just keep it.

I am a long term Tmobile customer (unlimited everything plus handset insurance for $90 a month including taxes n fees) and would like not to leave, even though more and more I am finding too many areas here in NoVA where the phone loses the ability to make calls. It seems like of all the places in the country, that this region should be very well covered so I am pretty disappointed in that. I also have no service (but almost no one does) at my mother's in CT and at my inlaws in NC. So three of the places I am most likely to be--near home, Mom's In-laws, I have no service.

Traut · Nov 16, 2014

Dernells Casket n Flagon said:
Is it possible to get the new calendar app without waiting for lollipop? I'm on an S5.

It's downloadable. Google tends to roll out applications gradually. You may get new Calendar on Friday and your buddy gets it on Monday.

Caspir · Nov 16, 2014

JerBear said:
It should be in the play store. Doses Samsung have their own custom calendar app? I had to download the app on my HTC because the m8 came with an HTC calendar app.

Yea, Samsung has it's own but I disable it as soon as I get the phone. I don't mind parts of Touch Wiz but Google is too good at organizing/calendar stuff to compete with.

Orange Julia said:
The S3 was far better than the 1, but I am now at the end of my S3 life, i suspect. With the last bunch of app update the phone is running like it is powered by one of those 150 year old tortoises.

I am thinking of just bouncing to the S5 unless someone has a compelling reason why I should not. I truly love my S3 and if it wasn't taking a full minute sometimes to pull up my keyboard, or to send texts, I would just keep it.

I am a long term Tmobile customer (unlimited everything plus handset insurance for $90 a month including taxes n fees) and would like not to leave, even though more and more I am finding too many areas here in NoVA where the phone loses the ability to make calls. It seems like of all the places in the country, that this region should be very well covered so I am pretty disappointed in that. I also have no service (but almost no one does) at my mother's in CT and at my inlaws in NC. So three of the places I am most likely to be--near home, Mom's In-laws, I have no service.

I'm selling my T-Mo S4 if you change your mind and want a short term fix, but the S5 has gotten pretty bad reviews overall. I wasn't crazy about it when I played with it, and waited months before upgrading because I felt like it was just an S4 with a new coat of paint, so to speak.

Orange Julia · Nov 16, 2014

So what did you move to if you're selling your S4?

Fratboy · Nov 16, 2014

OJ, what's your time frame for getting a new phone? Immediate, or can you wait, say, 6 months? Are you married to the Samsung brand?

Marceline · Nov 16, 2014

My wife just got an S5 and she really loves it. In comparison to an S4, the camera is definitely an upgrade if that matters (and dramatically better compared to the S3). If you liked the S3 I would say the S5 is a great choice for an upgrade.

Orange Julia · Nov 16, 2014

Fratboy said:
OJ, what's your time frame for getting a new phone? Immediate, or can you wait, say, 6 months? Are you married to the Samsung brand?

I am not sure I can wait 6 months. The recent round of app upgrades has made this phone a lot less useful. Not married to the samsung brand although overall been pretty happy with it (i have a samsung laptop and a samsung camera that are both aces) but i do like all the the android brand. not interested in going the iPhone or windows phone route, I don't think. What happens in 6 months?

Fratboy · Nov 16, 2014

Samsung S6 and HTC One M9 or whatever the successor to the M8 will be. We're kinda in the middle period between upgrades, but that might mean there's some value to be had in the holiday season. SECRET SANTAS TAKE NOTE FOR MS OJ.

If you like TouchWhiz and the Samsungy stuff that makes Samsung Samsung, then go with the S5 through TMobile. Consider the Google Play edition through the Google Play Store if you want to have plain vanilla Android that will be upgraded to Lollipop quickly without all the trappings of TouchWhiz. I'll admit, though, there are some nice features (email, task manager) in TouchWhiz that remain when you use a 3rd party launcher to remove the annoying things, and the S5 battery life is far, far superior to the S3's.

Fratboy · Nov 16, 2014

Never mind: the GPe S5 is a magical unicorn that will probably never be seen.

4G Android phone megathread

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