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Question

Looking for unbiased next smartphone advice

Dec 23, 2014 8:59AM PST

Hello there~

INTRO
I'm a person who enjoys tech, and when it comes to desktops/laptops I would say I also know a fair bit, both on the software and hardware side of things. I however have never felt the need my classmates felt to get a smartphone, until years later. so I now am 21yo and have my 2nd smartphone, and have been using smartphones for just about 3 years now.

my first phone was a Samsung Galaxy Y, and I absolutely hated it. the OS (a form of android) I found to be very confusing, and the phone itself was slow, and plain cheap in every way - I do realize the Galaxy Y is about as budget-oriented as a smartphone gets though.

after bearing with it for about a year, and doing a bunch of research, I ended up pre-ordering the Lumia 920 - love at first boot. it deemed easy to use, has always been rapid, sports a fantastic camera, has a very pleasing typing-experience (better than the iPod 4G I also have, although if their size was the same it would probably even out).

UNCERTAINTY
... but what now? I still am very fond of my 920, and don't quite want to upgrade. the thing is, however, that in February my 2-year contract ends. moreso, I would love to get another Windows phone, but I don't think it makes sense to get another WP8 phone now that Windows 10's release must be coming closer.. and will probably be released on all platforms simultaneously, as Microsoft's intention is to have 1 platform for every Windows device: simply 'Windows 10'.

so the things I feel there are to consider for me, are the following:
- keeping my current phone and waiting for Windows 10 (my phone has recently has gotten a bit glitchy/slow, but a reset may well fix that)
- getting a new WP8 phone (although I don't think this makes much sense)
- buying an Android phone?

If I could choose anything I want, I would just get a Windows 10 phone right here right now.. but that's not going to happen. therefore, I searched high and low for the best place to look for advice, ultimately ending up here because this community seems most active.

What would you recommend?
I am open for any option, but am not willing to pay crazy high monthly bills (so I doubt iPhones are a possibility). local pros for phones do probably not apply, as I'm living in The Netherlands - I posted here because there are no usable/active Dutch communities for this to my knowledge. Please do take into account that from what I have experienced, Android to me seems confusing and completely overloaded with features no one ever uses - maybe I'm wrong, then please do tell me.. but the learning curve is definitely steeper.

Please give me unbiased, genuine advice Happy thank you so much!

------------------------
LATER ADDED
------------------------

here's a list of features I find important:

Primary:
- ease of use of OS/phone
- not much bigger than my Lumia 920, if bigger
- high-quality quick-processing camera
- surviving a day on a single charge under realistic use
- great multitasking experience (2 apps at once?)
- no bloatware, or at least removable - I've heard some brands don't allow you to uninstall every app

Secondary:
- grippy (e.g. I don't need to hold my Lumia 920, just laying it in my palm allows me to run with it w/o worrying about throwing it) - I'd prefer sticking to not having to use casing or screen protection.
- 1080p screen - no more, unless somehow justifiable.
- Ability to increase storage, unless 128gb is already present.
- microphone up-par with Lumia 920 (sound quality amazes people, although there is a bit of rather quiet noise)

Alright, that should be it. I'm completely open for any serious suggestion, and hope that people with more knowledge of phone models and OS' can help me make a good decision. I consider buying a new smartphone to definitely not be a joke with the price tag they come with.

If there's anything you want to know to help me out more easily, please do ask! I may well have missed important information; I'm just not really home in the world of smartphones yet, although by now my Lumia has definitely become an important factor for me! - I can still restrain myself from using it when inappropriate, however ^^;

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Soon. 2015?
Dec 24, 2014 5:49AM PST
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my bad!
Dec 27, 2014 9:37PM PST

sorry for the slow response, I didn't realize you had responded ^^

I guess as of right now there aren't any phones available that certainly support or will support proper multitasking then. it's not an absolute must though, more importantly I need to look into buying a new phone. The day after I submitted my thread, my phone actually froze in its entirety and I had to wait hours for it to run out of battery, so I could finally reboot it. (I guess not having a reset switch like on PCs is actually a major flaw Silly)

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So far all the phones I've seen (some hundred plus now)
Dec 28, 2014 12:03AM PST

Can reset by holding down the power button till it powers off. The move to zero documentation was well discussed as most folk never read it anyway.

As to "proper multitasking" I guess some definition would be required. I've seen apps run in the background so multitasking is there. However with such small screens the concept of any Windows like screen had to wait.
Bob

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response
Dec 28, 2014 9:32AM PST

well in my case the phone was actually frozen for 100 percent - even the physical buttons had no effect.

and yeah I think most phones these days support apps running in the background, but with resolutions of 1080p and higher, and the average phone size shifting over 5 inches, I think multitasking with 2 apps at a time can be very useful if well-implemented.

I got some info from a friend who's somewhat familiar with Windows Phone and owns an Xperia Z2. He told me some deeper information that comes into play when actually owning an Android phone; such as certain apps being restricted to the built-in memory, and we also found out that many universal apps (e.g. Facebook, Youtube) are 2-3x as big on Android as on WP8, with the Youtube app actually being over 20x as big. (<1mb on WP8, 20mb on Android). that I presume is an exception, however, but even the very feature-rich Youtube-app replacement I personally use, is only 2mb.

I guess I'll slowly continue gathering info and hope for my phone to stick with me for a bit Silly

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Answer
explore
Dec 27, 2014 6:09PM PST

Now that you've tried the Android and Windows OS's, why not give iOS a shot? That way you could at least get to experience each and eventually know which one's actually the best for you. It's actually more fun exploring! And I agree with you, multiple apps on screen is definitely something to look forward to. Good luck!

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I do own an iOS device :)
Dec 27, 2014 9:46PM PST

If you look closely, you can actually see I mentioned owning an iPod 4G. I know the device is no longer supported, but I think although Apple devices are easy to use, they are certainly not simple to use. I just don't find them very convenient to use when using them as much as I wish to use a phone. aside from that, iTunes makes my life so much more harder than it should. Every time I use another computer or have reinstalled Windows it made me run into trouble. Perhaps these issues have mostly been solved in the latest generation devices, I'm not sure. I could always ask my sister to let me try out her iPhone 5S if you think I should though!

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You are working with outdated info
Jan 13, 2015 4:26AM PST

iTunes is no longer required to manage your music, etc. on newer iOS devices. Plenty of decent third party options. Google is your friend.

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Answer
Heck of a wish list!
Dec 28, 2014 11:03AM PST

And tough to fill with one device. Considering what you are used to, anything will be loads better, faster and fun to use.
I'll start with storage and Bloatware. Hate it. Every carrier adds Bloatware to new devices. I strongly advise NOT purchasing through your carrier, even if you have to shell out full price. Most of the new models come with locked boot loaders and rooting in not possible. Samsung is the worst at Bloatware, but most of it can be disabled or uninstalled if it's not a carrier model.
Apple offends less than the others. Nobody tells apple what to include on its phones.
Storage is always an issue, even on a device with a lot of storage. As a Tech guy, I assume you use DropBox and other online storage. The iPhone has the storage and is light years better than the iPod touch 4. But if you loved the windows phone, and IOS phone is gonna feel like handcuffs. I lasted one week with the iPhone 5s before trading it in for the Note 3. (Which comes with 32gb onboard and you can add SD card for 64 more. I have yet to make a dent in it.
Battery, I refuse to buy a phone if I can't replace the battery myself, on the road if necessary. Another point for Samsung. Both Note and galaxy S5 easily go all day, if not 2 days on a charge. After 1 year my Note still holds all day, but I am reassured because I can order and replace the battery myself if it doesn't last 2 years. The larger phones have bigger, longer lasting batteries, but bigger battery sucking screens. It isn't a wash, but close.
Other androids to look at the LG G3, the M8
Grippy. No case or screen protector? That's just nuts. At least consider a full body zagg type protection. Adds grip too. The iPhone is not grippy, the Samsung active is. But not my first choice.
Some of the new windows phones have a velvet like back, which is no slip.
You asked for unbiased, but I'm not fond of the windows phones. They still have less to offer in apps than IOS or android.
Just to throw a monkey wrench in... As a techie you would have heard of the one plus one? Look it up on YouTube.

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Thank you!
Dec 28, 2014 10:02PM PST

That's the kind of response I was hoping to get Happy

You mention that every carrier adds bloatware to new devices. As far as I'm aware the bloatware that comes pre-installed are f.i. Samsung apps for Samsung phones though, right? And does "every carrier" imply to virtually any carrier in the world, or is it American carriers we talk about? - Just making sure, because I'm based in The Netherlands.
My friend also mentioned Samsung being the worst - I actually already had a tendency to avoid them prior to knowing this, just because everyone wants the new Galaxy, regardless of how it compares to its rivals or the price tag it comes with.

"Apple offends less than others" - true, but as you're aware that has its downside: Apple devices are rather restricted.

I don't use Dropbox, because I initially found it to be unintuitive, so I went with Google Drive. I later had to use Dropbox with a team I was part of, but half the people could not access it (including me), while they were permitted.
Google Drive support is probably - no, surely - my main reason for switching to Android. I truly hate Google for blocking all the Google Drive apps in the Windows store. Like it's not bad enough we're not permitted an official app. (and I'm one of few who's generally positive about Google/Youtube/etc.)

Battery. I'm not sure how a battery's lifetime realistically decreases over the span of 1 or 2 years, but is it really necessary to be able to replace the battery? I must admit that my iPod Touch 4G's battery is as dead as it can be, while it has known little use, but my Lumia 920's battery seems fine. Do you have any insight?

Is it really nuts to not use any phone protection? From my point of view you should be able to enjoy your phone to the fullest. No annoying casing to deal with, no screen protector that you'll likely have to get replaced one day or another (correct me on that one of I'm wrong).
Phones already have become quite big, so I really can't imagine buying a case for my phone. It's not like it'll die if I drop it once or twice, unless I somehow have it drop on something pointy, screen down.
as I said, I've had my Lumia 920 for nearly 2 years now. I have only dropped it twice. The second drop did cause a small dent in one corner, and some scratches in another, but you won't notice it unless you look for it. (that drop was from walking-and-texting height - dent from impact, scratches from sand/dirt)

---later added---

I looked into screen protection a bit. It seems like Liquid Armor really is the way to go.
Lasts many uses, works on (about) every device, and can easily be (re-)applied. Even for single-device use it's pretty cheap, too!

I also just looked into the OnePlus One. That thing has actually got me pretty hyped! Especially after watching this video, from someone who's also found himself struggling to find the right OS/phone. The only thing that worries me, is its camera. The guy wasn't very pleased with the camera, nor the preview experience. It does have more megapixels than my current Lumia 920, but I think we both know megapixels don't really say that much. Other than that, I think it should great.. except maybe for the physical size of the phone. I may have 'piano fingers', making my reach above average, but I feel like my 920 is already quite size-able.

I had heard of the name, but I guess I hadn't paid much attention to it - probably because I was still fine with my 920 back then. As a techie though, I definitely do find new brands, new concepts, or just simply different things very interesting. I'll take a look into the other phones you mentioned, and perhaps the new brand which's name has just escaped me - I'll find it soon enough though Silly

---

I would like to ask you to tell me about possible cons Android has that I'm not aware of. The review video did touch cons as well, obviously, but I'd like to hear from you too. Thank you for your time!

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More on bloatware
Dec 29, 2014 3:18AM PST

Samsung and AT&T are the most unholy pair when it comes to Bloatware. As if Samsung didn't put enough on the phones. AT&T not only added their own 'branded' apps for navigation (a monthy subscription when I can use google for free ), family locator, drive mode, code scanner and a planner app. But they also hid - not removed - just hid apps Samsung stuck on the device. Samsung tried its own music and App Store, failed. Only the music store can be uninstalled. Anyway, you get the idea. I resent paying cash in full for a phone, not having control over its content and having an update also install an app I will not use.
Grippy/breakage. For the most part, all the phones have gotten thinner, bigger and more fragile. At a minimum, I use a skin. (Great online options for color and design)

What will rock, compared to the Lumia.
Quad core and more RAM. Newer phones are faster, and it isn't about the network alone.
You mentioned multi tasking or multi screen. The Note is the one phone that does multi screen, and well. But it is limited, not every app is capable, most popular apps are. The other android phones all allow you to leave an app in progress and do something else, come back and still be where you left off. Apple is getting better, but still fails to run apps in the background in favor of saving battery.
Camera and screen. Lumia has a pretty great screen and camera. My Note 3 has a better one. If I were a professional photographer I might notice and care more. All in all the pictures are crisp, detailed and have good color. You have seen screen reviews. Some is a matter of the individual eye.
For me it also came down to apps and integration. I have 2 Macs, 2 windows laptops, an iPad, a galaxy note 8, and an iPod touch 5. Just to skim the surface. If they don't all speak to each other, I have no use for them. I have apps that work on all platforms and sync seamlessly with icloud and or DropBox. Including my ridiculous number of logins and passwords with Enpass (one of the few apps I actually paid for)
I don't know why your DropBox experience was so bad. I've been using it 3 years and thanks to my Samsung gadgets, have 57 GBS of storage (I use about 5-6). I auto sync photos and video. I store documents in Google drive, much easier to read and I can scan from my printer directly into it.
The point is, my storage exceeds what my device holds and I can retrieve what I need anytime.

The one plus one has some fine attributes. And the price is less than half of most similar phones. It might be a little larger than your Lumia according to the specs.
The problem is buying one. They aren't selling mass market. The few that are sold are by invitation and they want you to smash your old phone for the record. (I would use an old broken one).
They kinda had me at 3 gigs of RAM.... I have 2.
I looked at the LG G3, it's smaller. Nice enough. I think I'll keep my Note. ( the new Note 4 is much nicer build, but I'll hang on till they make a note 5 )

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quick reply
Dec 30, 2014 10:07AM PST

Bloatware really is an interesting topic. I've had to force OneDrive to break on my PC; there's just no way to shut it off otherwise.

'What will rock, compared to the Lumia.'
A wrong assumption is that Lumia devices are slower because they use lesser hardware. I can't make up quite how well you're aware of this, so that's why I wanted to mention it. Yes my 920 only has a 1.5GHz dualcore, I believe, but it has never actually been slow. With Android being as open and revampable as it is, I guess it's to be expected, but from what I heard the Galaxy S line does get issues with becoming slow more quickly. I previously knew close to none about Android, so did not know the reason prior.

The camera apparently is a noticeable improvement over my current one, so I'd say my conclusion there is that I can't really complain.

I am still a little bit concerned about its size, as well as the actual feel when holding/using the device.
First off, it's quite a bit more sizable than my 920. See
Secondly, the 920 is possibly ones of the best phones you can get, when it comes to the way it digs into your palm, and feels natural because of its sides that closely resemble half a circle.
I have recently held a Xperia Z2, and with its harsh edges, it just doesn't feel like it's even meant to be held - at least that's how I experienced it. Describe the way the Z2 feels in a single word? A Brick.
Perhaps fine lines may look nice (although it's getting old now imo), but I'd say for many comfort is also a rather important factor.

Ok sorry, I guess I had to get that little rant out of the way Silly

My point though, is that I'm not sure how it actually feels when holding it.
It's quite lightweight for its size, which I consider to be negative; although on the other hand its size:weight ratio is nothing exceptional either.
The other thing, as I mentioned, is the corners, which which I believe play a big role in a phone's comfort. When I took a closer look at those, they seemed to be nearly identical to the LG G3's. the big difference however, is that the G3 has a flat and sharp front, whereas the One seems to be more ergonomic there.

I'll see if I can get a closer look at the Xperia Z2 so I can estimate what it would feel like to hold the OnePlus One.

Oh and, it seems to me that the invite codes are very easy to come by. A quick google gave me a local website where about 1 person an hour was offering free codes, although in many cases they did ask something in return - f.i. a 5/5 user rating. Fair 'nuff.

---

I think it's clear now, but in case it isn't: I really do have my eye on the OnePlus One now. I think I'll just have to go for it, and tackle this whole new experience Happy For that €300 price tag, can I even really go wrong here?

Thank you everyone for answering my questions; especially Ilovemynote. I'm not sure I should mark my question as resolved just yet, because if I do change my mind or forcibly have to take another route, then I may prefer to resort back here. I will definitely come back to mark the post as resolved once I order the phone, but If I'm still supposed to mark this thread as resolved right now, let me know and I'll do so straight away. Thanks!

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*peeks head up again*
Jan 10, 2015 1:08AM PST

Hi again. I'm here to let you know the outcome of my topic. I ended up being told against buying the Oneplus One, because of import charges that will even out it's pretty price tag. + I'd then have to get a subscription that is more expensive than otherwise.

Today - I literally just got back - I went to a well-known store for Smartphones and other electronics here in Holland (CoolBlue, for those curious). I've been told that they put customers first and should just head over there and seek advice.

.. and so I did.

After walking in and being asked what I'd like to drink, the lady bringing me my drink, and just a minute later being called, I then spent 1.5 hour talking to the lady behind the counter. yes, one point five hour... and not once has she or others in the store told me to hurry, no, the opposite. I'm not only very glad this kind of service even exists, but also just astonished. I wish this is how every store would work!

The phone I ended up getting, they did not have in store, but I got myself the LG G3. I tried out a bunch of the phones that came close to my desires, and found that (probably because of their slimness) phones with bigger screen sizes really don't have to feel bulky. I could easily navigate the LG G3, but also their recommended Sony Xperia Z3 and the HTC's Desire with spec'd up camera - all single-handedly, with only my thumb. Slightly easier than my much smaller 920 actually!

The HTC's interface seemed more confusing to me, and its pricetag w/ subscription just did not justify the cost. The Sony I found to be less snappy than the LG, plus its screen seemed far more dull.. and so I fell for the G3. I'm not sure its camera is quite what I'd like (you'd really have to take the pictures onto an actual monitor to see), but I'm happy!

Somewhere this week I'll probably have the device delivered at my door, and I can begin my journey in the world of Droid! Wink

First impressions from in-store hands on:
+ Gorgeous Screen
+ Gorgeous Exterior
+ Comfortable
+ Smoothest experience from what I could test / test against
+/- Very light-weight (personally I'd prefer it to be a little more hefty)
+/- No buttons on the phone, aside from the on-off/lock-unlock button below the camera lens. I yet have to see what the actual experience will be like
- Camera doesn't seem quite up-par with other phones

Thank you everyone Happy Would people be interested in me posting my extended impressions here, or in a new thread, after some time using the G3?

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Answer
iPhone 6 Plus
Jan 13, 2015 4:07AM PST

- ease of use of OS/phone
- not much bigger than my Lumia 920, if bigger
- high-quality quick-processing camera
- surviving a day on a single charge under realistic use
- great multitasking experience (2 apps at once?)


For all that Apple iPhone 6 PLus is your best bet. It has Best Camera in the industry as been confirmed by all reviews on the web.

Easy to use - Well we all know iOS is easy to use as compare to Android.
Full Day Charge - Again iPhone 6 Plus has one of the best batteries in the business.
Great Multitasking - iOS 8 wins hands down, and trust me i have both Android and iOS devices.

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Odd.
Jan 13, 2015 4:12AM PST
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;) (n/t)
Jan 13, 2015 4:28AM PST
Wink