Alternatives to the V²

[vertigo_2_20]

Instead of waiting for the V2 to appear I cancelled my order and bought the Motorola Turbo (India version) and I love it!!!

Pros:

• Great Battery Life- easily get a day and half on a single charge with 3.5+ hrs of SOT
• Quick Charge – Super useful in those times when you overslept and forgot to charge your phone
• Screen – The screen visibility in sunlight is very good
• Fast – The 805 Qualcomm is able to handle pretty much everything thrown at it.
• Moto Suite – Moto Display, Moto Assist, Moto Actions and Moto Voice are really really really useful
• UI – Pretty much stock with the few useful apps above

Cons:

• Heat Issues- Phone heats up when on charge and when playing games
• Speakers- With a single front facing speaker, the sound quality is average at best
• Camera – Could have been better
• Display – While outdoor visibility is great, I personally prefer the popping colours on Samsung screen
• Custom ROMs – With sales being limited to 2 countries (India\Brazil) doesn’t look like much development’s going to be done on this phone.

Problem is, this phone doesn't have expandable storage, which is something most people here want. If you're good with what comes with it, then I agree, this is a great phone, though I'm not sure why you bought that version. Care to elaborate?

 

[Cullenator]

Problem is, this phone doesn't have expandable storage, which is something most people here want.

Yeah I agree with you there. It does look like a very, very nice phone otherwise. It looks like Motorola made the most phones with the 805 (at least that I could find), and they all do an amazing job...

If you're good with what comes with it, then I agree, this is a great phone, though I'm not sure why you bought that version. Care to elaborate?

...

Maybe because they live in India..? Just a guess?

 

[Cullenator]

Sony Xperia Z3+

Well this looks very exciting: http://blogs.sonymobile.com/press_release/introducing-new-xperia-z3-plus/

But it is Snapdragon 810... And it's being released in Europe only for now. :crying:

I guess we can wait for reviews to see if they've managed to overcome the 810's wacky throttling/overheating issues, and then decide if it's worth importing (for those of us who don't live in Europe, anyway).

 

[vertigo_2_20]

Well this looks very exciting: http://blogs.sonymobile.com/press_release/introducing-new-xperia-z3-plus/

But it is Snapdragon 810... And it's being released in Europe only for now. :crying:

I guess we can wait for reviews to see if they've managed to overcome the 810's wacky throttling/overheating issues, and then decide if it's worth importing (for those of us who don't live in Europe, anyway).

most of the comments I've seen regarding the 810's issues are with screens > 1080p, and the Z4 stuck with 1080

As mentioned, it may not be an issue thanks to their (IMO) good decision on the resolution (Z3+ = Z4 by all accounts).

Maybe because they live in India..? Just a guess?

I assume so, but then, I try not to make assumptions.

 

[crazedgod]

Problem is, this phone doesn't have expandable storage, which is something most people here want. If you're good with what comes with it, then I agree, this is a great phone, though I'm not sure why you bought that version. Care to elaborate?

Movies, Photos, eBooks, Music and a few big games, I'm still left with over 32 GB. Well I live in Dubai but am Indian. Wanted a phone that was value for the money I pay and this ticked pretty much all the boxes.

Another Pro: Dropped the phone pretty hard yesterday and not one scratch.

 

[jesamyn]

I pulled the trigger on an LG G4. T-mobile in the US is offering a free 128 GB SD card with the phone. LG is offering a free spare battery, charging cradle, and 32 GB card. That pretty much made my mind up for me, though it won't help if you don't want to or can't use T-mobile.

 

[hella356]

I pulled the trigger on an LG G4. T-mobile in the US is offering a free 128 GB SD card with the phone. LG is offering a free spare battery, charging cradle, and 32 GB card. That pretty much made my mind up for me, though it won't help if you don't want to or can't use T-mobile.

You get ALL that by preordering with TMo?

 

[jesamyn]

You get ALL that by preordering with TMo?

T-mobile just gives you the 128GB card (while supplies last, blah blah blah). LG has the other offer directly through their website here. You have to purchase from an authorized dealer, so from a carrier, Best Buy, etc.

 

[shaxs]

I pulled the trigger on an LG G4. T-mobile in the US is offering a free 128 GB SD card with the phone. LG is offering a free spare battery, charging cradle, and 32 GB card. That pretty much made my mind up for me, though it won't help if you don't want to or can't use T-mobile.

Generally t-mobile stuff has an unlocked bootloader right? And att is usually locked? And can I use this phone on att?

 

[TonyStark]

Generally t-mobile stuff has an unlocked bootloader right? And att is usually locked? And can I use this phone on att?

Yes, though you will need to get the phone sim unlocked. That's only $15 - $20 to have done.

 

[shaxs]

Yes, though you will need to get the phone sim unlocked. That's only $15 - $20 to have done.

Aren't they required by law to unlock now at the carrier?

 

[Cullenator]

T-mobile just gives you the 128GB card (while supplies last, blah blah blah). LG has the other offer directly through their website here. You have to purchase from an authorized dealer, so from a carrier, Best Buy, etc.

Unfortunately, it's for residents of the US only. If they offer that when they launch in Canada, I'd jump on that too. It's a really good option for Americans, though! Hope it works out for you.

 

[jesamyn]

Generally t-mobile stuff has an unlocked bootloader right? And att is usually locked? And can I use this phone on att?

My understanding is that the T-mobile G3 and other phones had unlocked bootloaders. My Nexus was purchased from Google directly, and I can't even remember about my Galaxy S2. The GS2 is rooted and running a custom rom, so it was either unlocked or I followed a process to unlock it. Yes, I still have it. I occasionally use it as a Chromecast remote while I'm fiddling around with flashing or stuff on my Nexus.

Regarding SIM unlocking, T-mo's policy is after having the device on your account with them for 40 days. It's free.

As far as later using it on another carrier, the big thing is the LTE bands. I know manufacturers used to produce dif models for the US covering dif frequencies which made devices not completely incompatible, but unable to use the LTE frequences for other carriers. So they'd work with like edge speeds and for calls/texts, but not 3G or LTE. I'm not sure that's still done. That's something you might pop over to the LG G4 forum and check on.

 

[hella356]

That's quite a deal with all those extras. I just went and looked at the G3; it is really stretching the limits of one-handed usage (for my hands) and the G4 is even larger, despite having the same sized screen. If the G4 was a 5.2" device like the G2, I'd order it right now, but I don't think I'll be happy with the size of it. I'm looking for a smartphone in the size range of a GS4, GS6, Saygus, etc. The G4 is more of a phablet, a lot closer in size to a Note than a Galaxy S. I briefly had a Note 3, and while I liked everything else about it better than my S4, the size was just too much so I returned it. I suppose it might be worth it to order it and try it out...not sure what the return policy will be for a pre-order, web purchase compared to picking one up in the store.

 

[jesamyn]

I'm 5'2" and have ridiculously small hands. There's really no smartphone that's practical for easy one-handed use for me without the screen being way too small for my preference (like, barely over 4"). I'm actually not sure how I'll feel about this being bigger than my N5 in usage, but I figured I'll either adapt or return it.

Not trying to sway opinions, just explaining conversationally.

 

[hella356]

I'm 5'2" and have ridiculously small hands. There's really no smartphone that's practical for easy one-handed use for me without the screen being way too small for my preference (like, barely over 4"). I'm actually not sure how I'll feel about this being bigger than my N5 in usage, but I figured I'll either adapt or return it.

Not trying to sway opinions, just explaining conversationally.

Yeah, there's quite a range concerning one-hand usage! I'm 5-8" with about average sized hands (maybe on the smaller side) for a male of my height. A Note 4 for my 6'-5" friend with huge hands works great for him, but is way too big for me. I guess I can give the G4 a go and return it if it proves too large for a DD.

The other potential issue I have with the G4 is the software buttons vs the hard home button & capacitive buttons on the Galaxy phones. It seems to me that the soft keys on the G4 take up screen real estate, somewhat defeating having a bigger screen. I could maybe see a logic to it if the bottom bezel was smaller due to not having the buttons like the Samsungs, but it looks like the similar-sized bottom bezel is just wasted dead space.

---------- Post added at 02:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:28 PM ----------

The other issue I have is whether the G4 will have an unlocked bootloader, and whether there will be root achieved within the time I'd have to try it out. I've never bought a phone this early in its cycle and there has always been root and custom ROMs available by the time I got mine, but I guess that's the chance you take with a new model. Having always immediately rooted my phones, I'm not too keen on being stuck with a completely stock device, which makes the S6 (despite the infuriating loss of SD & battery) look more appealing at the moment, along with knowing the physical size is right.

 

[vertigo_2_20]

Yeah, there's quite a range concerning one-hand usage! I'm 5-8" with about average sized hands (maybe on the smaller side) for a male of my height. A Note 4 for my 6'-5" friend with huge hands works great for him, but is way too big for me. I guess I can give the G4 a go and return it if it proves too large for a DD.

The other potential issue I have with the G4 is the software buttons vs the hard home button & capacitive buttons on the Galaxy phones. It seems to me that the soft keys on the G4 take up screen real estate, somewhat defeating having a bigger screen. I could maybe see a logic to it if the bottom bezel was smaller due to not having the buttons like the Samsungs, but it looks like the similar-sized bottom bezel is just wasted dead space.

---------- Post added at 02:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:28 PM ----------

The other issue I have is whether the G4 will have an unlocked bootloader, and whether there will be root achieved within the time I'd have to try it out. I've never bought a phone this early in its cycle and there has always been root and custom ROMs available by the time I got mine, but I guess that's the chance you take with a new model. Having always immediately rooted my phones, I'm not too keen on being stuck with a completely stock device, which makes the S6 (despite the infuriating loss of SD & battery) look more appealing at the moment, along with knowing the physical size is right.

You sound just like me (5'8" with average to slightly below average hands for a guy). I'd be interested in what you decide if you try the G4. I just can't wait for technology to advance to the point where we can resize the screen on the fly. And I agree about the onscreen vs capacitive buttons. The argument is that the onscreen ones go away when you're in an app to give you more screen space, but then you have to bring them out to use them, unlike capacitive ones that are just always there, and if you're going to have a bezel anyway, may as well use it for them.

The flipside of your concern regarding the bootloader is that if you wait too long, the carrier may come out with an update that locks it down tighter. I bought my S4 and immediately rooted it, and shortly after the carriers updated the firmware to fix the loophole used to root it. I realize this is not the same as the bootloader, but the same logic applies. I never did unlock the bootloader.

Recent news shows the Xperia Z3+ going global in June, still unclear if that includes the U.S. I'm hopeful it comes here and is priced appropriately, because that's looking more and more like the most ideal phone for me. The only problem with it is that it's a bit big, similar to the G4, but I may just have to suck it up, since who knows how long it'll be before the release a Z3+ compact, if ever.

 

[sonhy]

I'm 5'2" and have ridiculously small hands. There's really no smartphone that's practical for easy one-handed use for me without the screen being way too small for my preference (like, barely over 4"). I'm actually not sure how I'll feel about this being bigger than my N5 in usage, but I figured I'll either adapt or return it.

Not trying to sway opinions, just explaining conversationally.

Not sure if you know it but there is One-handed modes on most samsung phones and other brands too.
heres a video demo - ignore the first half of the vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrxrZ8Y0-XE

You basically shrink the screen to what ever size you like and there are software buttons on the bottom.

 

[jesamyn]

I didn't know. That's pretty cool.

 

[t3chfan]

The G4 has just been released sim free in the UK, but you're looking at £500 ($750+) which is a ridiculous price for a phone which is made by a manufacturer which many could argue is not 'top tier', and is only a little more than an evolution or incremental upgrade of the G3.
Given that this is 50% more expensive than the V2, it's not really an alternative to me... albeit, it exists...