4G Android phone megathread

[Jaylach]

I just got the Sony Xperia Z1s with my switch to T-Mobile. So far I'm absolutely in love with this phone. It's big. It's beautiful. And it's water proof. I have already taken pictures of my daughter swimming in the bathtub with the phone underwater.

My only complaint would be the keyboard. The space bar is too small. Need to get a new keyboard but too lazy to find one I like on the Play store.

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

+1, the battery on the G2 is insane.

 
+2.  I worked an overnight earlier this month and didn't charge it for 25 hours while using it fairly consistently.  Mostly calls, texts and basic google searching, but still, it was impressive that it lasted that long while not being idle for most of that day.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

I just got the Sony Xperia Z1s with my switch to T-Mobile. So far I'm absolutely in love with this phone. It's big. It's beautiful. And it's water proof. I have already taken pictures of my daughter swimming in the bathtub with the phone underwater.

My only complaint would be the keyboard. The space bar is too small. Need to get a new keyboard but too lazy to find one I like on the Play store.

The Google Keyboard is the best one that I've found on the Playstore.

 

[JakeRae]

The Google Keyboard is the best one that I've found on the Playstore.

I've been using the SwiftKey Beta for awhile now. I love the ability to add a number line. I now have full functionality from my main keyboard. Eliminating all toggling needs makes typing on my phone a vastly superior experience.

 

[JerBear]

I've been using the SwiftKey Beta for awhile now. I love the ability to add a number line. I now have full functionality from my main keyboard. Eliminating all toggling needs makes typing on my phone a vastly superior experience.

Did you know you can long press the keys to get the numbers/symbols rather than toggling between the letters and numbers keyboard?

 

[Jaylach]

The Google Keyboard is the best one that I've found on the Playstore.

 
The reason I haven't gone back to the Google Keyboard is I don't think it learns from things like my outgoing SMS messages and what not. I like having a keyboard that is (eventually) tuned to my style of typing. It also doesn't backup in the cloud (from what I could tell). That's important because once my keyboard learns my style, I want it to always be there.. even through resets, rom changes, and phone changes.
 
I've gone back to my tried and true SwiftKey. It's one of the best keyboards out there for phones, though ThumbKeyboard is a close second in my opinion.

 

[JakeRae]

Did you know you can long press the keys to get the numbers/symbols rather than toggling between the letters and numbers keyboard?

Yes. I am not an idiot. However, long presses for numbers are a pita when doing anything involving multiple numbers. And, because of the space occupied by the numbers, the symbol selection for long presses is inadequate. With the dedicated number row, I don't have to long press for numbers and I don't have to toggle to the annoying third symbol screen when I need a symbol, like a bracket or a percent sign, that Google thinks is unimportant. This, in my opinion, is a vast improvement.

 

[glennhoffmania]

I haven't been following this thread for a little while but I need some advice.  I'm eligible for an upgrade from Sprint, or I may switch to the plan that doesn't require contracts, but either way I now need a new phone after I dropped my Evo last night and the screen cracked.  I'm really pissed because I love my Evo and wasn't planning to switch anytime soon.  What are the current thoughts on the latest options?  The only two I've looked at, although not too closely, are the S4 and the HTC One.  I've heard that the S4 is good but not great, and that after the Evo or S3 it's on the big side.
 
Any thoughts or other suggestions?

 

[JerBear]

Both of those phones have replacements coming out within the month, the S5 has been announced (available in "April"), the 2014 HTC One will be announce on 3/25.  Sounds like you can't really wait though, which is unfortunate.
 
My wife has a current HTC One and its a great phone.  A little on the large side for her but other than that she loves it.

 

[glennhoffmania]

Both of those phones have replacements coming out within the month, the S5 has been announced (available in "April"), the 2014 HTC One will be announce on 3/25.  Sounds like you can't really wait though, which is unfortunate.
 
My wife has a current HTC One and its a great phone.  A little on the large side for her but other than that she loves it.

 
Thanks, I didn't know this.  If necessary I can wait a week or two.  Are there any other options that are worth considering?

 

[JerBear]

 
Thanks, I didn't know this.  If necessary I can wait a week or two.  Are there any other options that are worth considering?

The LG G2 and the Moto X are both phones that seem to be at the top of most lists currently.

 

[glennhoffmania]

I checked out the LG and I wasn't thrilled.  Just did some reading about the new HTC.  I think that sounds like the one I want but I guess I'll have to wait about 3 weeks.  Sounds worth it though.

 

[SumnerH]

I love my G2, the battery life is awesome.  If you don't like the bigger screen it's a pass, though.

 

[Boggs26]

Yes. I am not an idiot. However, long presses for numbers are a pita when doing anything involving multiple numbers. And, because of the space occupied by the numbers, the symbol selection for long presses is inadequate. With the dedicated number row, I don't have to long press for numbers and I don't have to toggle to the annoying third symbol screen when I need a symbol, like a bracket or a percent sign, that Google thinks is unimportant. This, in my opinion, is a vast improvement.

SwiftKey has a song which allows you to change the length of time for a "long press". I set mine to just about half of the default and it makes using the numbers MUCH easier.

 

[glennhoffmania]

Is there any downside to buying a phone at Best Buy or Radio Shack instead of one of the wireless corporate stores? 

 

[jayhoz]

No.  Check out Staples and Amazon as well.

 

[glennhoffmania]

Thanks.  My wife was in a Shack yesterday and the iPhone was $50 cheaper.  I just never knew whether to trust a non-Sprint place with my Sprint account and handling all of the data transfers.

 

[Blacken]

Don't worry: there is literally nothing they could do to your Sprint account that is worse than using Sprint.



In less Sprint-y news, my Nexus 5 is bright fucking red and I am entirely too happy about that fact.

 

[rembrat]

Is bright fucking red code for something?
 
Sincerely, Concerned Nexus 5 User.

 

[Blacken]

No, it's literally bright red.

 

[jayhoz]

 

[Blacken]

Without the eyefucking sore that is a case, yes.

Case people are bad people.

 

[Blacken]

Bad, bad people.

Who are bad.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

When was the Nexus 5 released?

 

[saintnick912]

N5 was released back in the fall.  About a month after that they did a stealth update to fix some of the complaints with the first batch (loose buttons mainly).  My friend got one recently and is thrilled with it, I have an itchy trigger finger and may switch to one soon.
 
I always used to get good deals on phones at Radio Shack, never had an issue with not buying at the company store.

 

[PortlandSoxFan]

I really love my N4 and can't see a real reason why I should get the N5, but I've come very close to pulling the trigger a few times.

 

[rembrat]

Do it. Do it so fast, man.

 

[Blacken]

The N5 is a lot nicer than the N4. I'm still not quite sure what they were smoking with the N4 design. Too hot, crap battery, and a glass back (which felt really nice to hold, but not so great to, like, use).

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

I need to get rid of my iphone 4. Its horrendous. And 3G. 3!
 
I was thinking of just grabbing the S5 when it comes out, but am I better off going for the HTC One 2? 

 

[JerBear]

I need to get rid of my iphone 4. Its horrendous. And 3G. 3!
 
I was thinking of just grabbing the S5 when it comes out, but am I better off going for the HTC One 2? 

Personal preference on user interface and special features.

Rumor has it the new One might be available as early as right after announcement. I think it's unlikely but who knows.

 

[PortlandSoxFan]

The N5 is a lot nicer than the N4. I'm still not quite sure what they were smoking with the N4 design. Too hot, crap battery, and a glass back (which felt really nice to hold, but not so great to, like, use).

Glass back is irrelevant to me; I became a case person after dropping my last phone (and broke 2 N4's, 1 with no case, 1 with a case (fell off the roof of a moving car so not much would have saved that I think).  I don't have a huge problem with battery life, I'm in the habit of plugging it in all the time.  
 
But maybe I'll pull the trigger and sell the N4 while I still can.

 

[JerBear]

More rumors of immediate release after announcement for the new HTC One.
 
http://www.androidcentral.com/promo-materials-new-htc-one-m8-appearing-verizon-stores

 

[jayhoz]

Launch event today at 11:00 AM.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cumo08eViHk

 

[glennhoffmania]

Anyone heard anything else about when it'll be available?  Last I read Verizon may have it today at certain stores but no word about other carriers or Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc.

 

[EddieYost]

Anyone heard anything else about when it'll be available?  Last I read Verizon may have it today at certain stores but no word about other carriers or Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc.

 
Alls I know is you have to have one today.

 

[glennhoffmania]

Nah, I can wait.  I just don't want to get shut out and end up waiting weeks for new shipments to come in.  I wasn't planning to go today actually.  But don't worry, once I get it you'll be the first call I make.

 

[JerBear]

Interesting that its Verizon exclusive initially as they were the last to get the original. If it's really $299 at launch I'll be very disappointed.

 

[saintnick912]

Because there are suckers who will pay it.

 

[zenter]

Keeping the same 4MP shooter while removing optical image stabilization is like building a Vette with a 5-speed transmission and then "upgrading" to a 4-speed with worse ratios.
 
Smartphones are for 1) apps/web, 2) photos, 3) messaging, 4) music/podcasts, and 5) phone calls. Given that people crop/zoom photos, a 6MP is sort of an ideal minimum... Especially since the front-facer is actually 5MP.

 

[jayhoz]

Not a Verizon exclusive.  Available today online across carriers.  In store today at VZW only.

 

[JerBear]

In store @ Verizon as of 1PM Eastern. $199 for 16GB, $249 for 32GB.

 

[glennhoffmania]

What are people's impressions based on the info in the release? 

 

[Seven Costanza]

I had an HTC Thunderbolt for 2 years, so I can't comment accurately on anything HTC related.
 
I also think I'm the only person in the world that hates how the One line looks, although given the above, take that with a grain of salt. 

 

[Seven Costanza]

To actually answer your question though, by all accounts it seems like a great phone.  Last year's model was very well received and this one has some decent press thus far from the Verge et al.  
 
Like zenter said though- the camera is going to be the biggest question mark.  That's a non- starter for many people.

 

[zenter]

What are people's impressions based on the info in the release? 

 
Three immediate negatives.
 
1) Camera, noted above.
2) Size. My wife got the HTC One over GS4 because it was just barely small enough to use one-handed. This is bigger than the original HTC One, which means she's SOL for future non-iPhones.
3) Nonremovable battery. Wife had to get a warranty replacement because something went wrong with the either the battery or the board. She was phoneless for ~1 week and we both think it was a battery issue.
 
EDIT: Counting.
 
Also a couple positives:
 
1) Depth sensor for Lytro-like action is super cool.
2) microSD!
 
And, that's it.

 

[jayhoz]

This would be my new phone if not for the camera.  Why would you opt for some gimmick that no one will quite understand or use instead of, you know, fixing your image quality issue?
 
Assholes!

 

[glennhoffmania]

Thanks.  How does this camera compare to the Evo LTE?  I don't use my phone for a ton of pictures, but the Evo camera isn't great so any upgrade over that would probably be enough for me.
 
Sorry for what may be dumb questions.  I'm tech illiterate.

 

[zenter]

Thanks.  How does this camera compare to the Evo LTE?  I don't use my phone for a ton of pictures, but the Evo camera isn't great so any upgrade over that would probably be enough for me.
 
Sorry for what may be dumb questions.  I'm tech illiterate.

 
The spec-based answer to your question is here. The HTC One-2 would likely be a big upgrade in every respect but the camera. The camera would be better than your current one in terms of app capability and color/light processing, but worse in terms of resolution.

 

[glennhoffmania]

Thanks
 
Edit- yeah why the hell would they go from 8 MP to 4 MP?  I don't know what the rest of that shit means but this seems pretty stupid.

 

[glennhoffmania]

And the Sprint site only has the 32 GB option for $249.