This was made on the go, just some quick thoughts and my opinion.
T989
Pros:
Camera Quality
Extended Memory
Battery Life
Double Development(Can flash skyrocket roms)
Pentaband
1.5 GHZ Processor(Can OC to 1.7/1. 8)
Quick Bootup
Mass Storage
Fast GPS Lock
ICS Coming
More Choices Of Launchers
Sound Quality
9-11 Hrs Of Battery Life
Price
Cons:
No Voodoo
Some Devs Jumped Ship
Running Gingerbread
Graining/Blobbing
$20 For Unlock Code
Plastic Feel
I9250
Pros:
Screen Resolution
Comes With ICS
Camera Capture Speed
Development
Pentaband
Fast Charge Up
Standby Time Is Awesome
Quick Boot Up
Cool Accessories
LCD Mods Play Better With Display
LED Notifications
Constant Google Updates
Download Speeds
Fast GPS Lock
Awesome Video Capture
Face Unlock
Softkey Mods
Awesome Call Quality
Android Beam
1 Click Everything
Task Manager
Will Hold Value Better Over Time
Build Quality(Better feel without case)
Cons:
Battery Life
Grainy Pics
Some Apps Aren't Compatible
Processor(Highest OC is 1.4)
16GB Storage
Have To Use Wifi Explorer To Drag/Drop Files
No Mass Storage
$50 For Battery That Should Have Launched W/Device
Sound Quality Sucks
Now this was in a recent course which was 2 weeks of use. Had one briefly during launch and traded it because of the demand. Saw development picking up so I got one back and gave it a longer try/go.
The Galaxy Nexus is awesome don't get me wrong its just that it seems like they put more into the interface looking pretty than basic elements running smoothly. It has cool features which will definitely be a upgrade to people that haven't tried it but some of your favorite apps may not work and if your someone that likes to use your device day in and day out be prepared to bring a charger with you. The only 3 things that amazed me about the phone was the face unlock,the screen resolution and the softkey mods. Battery life was lacking and those three features weren't enough to make me want to keep this device. Tried everything from rom, radio, baseband combos and it just didn't make it better. Some other people may disagree. I don't buy phones to have them sit on a desk so showing me screenshots with 75% display(meaning standby/lack of use) won't convince me otherwise.
Now when it comes to the T989 I feel like it's a overall better device. Even though we are on GB we will have a ICS rom soon whether if it's OTA or Leaked. Better battery life with rom and kernel combos that actually show improvement, great storage for pack rats, and development from both sides of the fence. Not to mention we have a new addition to the Devs I feel like the Sgs2/T989 is a strong enough device to hold me or anyone over till the Sgs3, but I'm sure I will try out the Blaze as well.
2 Galaxy Nexus owned/traded and I don't feel like I'm missing out by coming back to the Sgs2. In my eyes they both have strengths and weaknesses but it's far from a slaughter.
:-D
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA Premium App
I feel like the Skyrocket is a better device too, it's the reason why I haven't grabbed the GNexus.
And with the CPU/GPU thing, the S3 just about destroys the OMAP4460.
Adreno 220 is much faster then the SGX540, and even though the OMAP has the same tech as the Exynos, it just doesn't seem nearly as fast, and the Snapdragon feels much quicker.
Also, on the GNexus, could you still see pixels because of the PenTile display? On my friends GNexus, I have no problem noticing the pixels, but I can't see them on my Skyrocket.
Longcat14 said:
I feel like the Skyrocket is a better device too, it's the reason why I haven't grabbed the GNexus.
And with the CPU/GPU thing, the S3 just about destroys the OMAP4460.
Adreno 220 is much faster then the SGX540, and even though the OMAP has the same tech as the Exynos, it just doesn't seem nearly as fast, and the Snapdragon feels much quicker.
Also, on the GNexus, could you still see pixels because of the PenTile display? On my friends GNexus, I have no problem noticing the pixels, but I can't see them on my Skyrocket.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From every angle the display was crisp. Didn't notice any pixels. Watching movies on it was AMAZING.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA Premium App
charlieb620 said:
From every angle the display was crisp. Didn't notice any pixels. Watching movies on it was AMAZING.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, guess it's just my eyesight then, or it's his screen, because I could EASILY see pixels without a problem.
And I agree, I watched a movie on it, looked ****ing AMAZING.
I'm glad to have another perspective on this. All I can say is glad to have another fan back.
Message relayed from the dark side.
Good decision, the gs2 battery life is no joke. And especially now that TDJ has his hands on a device, expect greater things to come. Eugene, not sure how great he is, but other people can vouch for him, so i can't wait! But RK and TDJ is an amazing combo, they finished strong at the mt4g dev section. Made it imho the best single core device.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
I love the Nexus. Battery life has been the biggest surprise for me....though I came from a charge....
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
mkarps said:
I love the Nexus. Battery life has been the biggest surprise for me....though I came from a charge....
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you think your battery life is good, ask us Skyrocket's and T-Mo SGS II users.
Thanks to the GSM/LTE combo in the Skyrocket, I use battery at the same rate as they do, so there's no battery drain.
I do 12-14 hours on a charge with heavy usage (I mean, constant texting, web browsing, gaming, listening to music).
I use my phone constantly. On the Nexus I was getting 4-5 hrs. I don't see how that is acceptable. In time I'm sure a kernel will give it more juice. The phone has only been on the market for 2 months.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA Premium App
charlieb620 said:
Cons:
No Voodoo
Some Devs Jumped Ship
Running Gingerbread
Graining/Blobbing
$20 For Unlock Code
Plastic Feel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.. while i agree with some, most of them i don't, and the unlocking fee is not applicable in the equation
firstable what do you mean by Graining/Blobbing?
Voodoo is not applicable to our device
ICS is guaranteed so the GB part is only partially applicable until we get 4.0
the Plastic Feel is subjective to each person feel, to me the T989 is one of the better quality Samsung has ever build to date
the Galaxy Nexus actually feels more plasticky, i like our back cover more than the one that came with the i9250
AllGamer said:
Hmm.. while i agree with some, most of them i don't, and the unlocking fee is not applicable in the equation
firstable what do you mean by Graining/Blobbing?
Voodoo is not applicable to our device
ICS is guaranteed so the GB part is only partially applicable until we get 4.0
the Plastic Feel is subjective to each person feel, to me the T989 is one of the better quality Samsung has ever build to date
the Galaxy Nexus actually feels more plasticky, i like our back cover more than the one that came with the i9250
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I included the unlocking fee because i buy my phones for full price and i have to have them unlocked which most of the time it cost me money since none of the unlocker apps work and tmobile wont give them to me. I travel alot and being as though the nexus comes factory unlocked i figured i would list it as a con on the sgs2 side and a pro on the GN for myself.
The Graining/Blobbing is from a thread i read which most people have been experiencing which runs more in the category of lines running vertical in some screens. I experienced some but its not a big issue. That was in comparison to the 720p screen of the GN which i found no screen issues viewed from any angles.
I know Voodoo isnt functional with our device but i saw several people mention it and i was one of the people that miss it. Just from back in the Vibrant days. I think it is or was more effective than Volume+.
ICS is coming we all know that, but trying out ICS and than coming back to GB to me is a downgrade. Not just based on the OS #, but because ICS has more cooked in, and it will be great once we have it officially on the Sgs2. It was listed as a con for me because we have to wait on it for some time. May not be a biggie to other people.
The feel of the GN felt more nice is the hand to me with or without a case. The sgs2 in the color black feels nice in the hand maybe more so because of the door material , but the white model feels more cheap. I have a white on the way as im selling my black because I like the full look of the white but i know i have to add a white body glove to it to get a better feel of it.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA Premium App
very interesting regarding the white vs black model of the T989 i didn't know the back cover was different on the white
i was under the impression it was just the color.
re: unlocking fee, well in that case i do agree if you compare it as the total Cost of the phone, but that being said, the i9250 is still more expensive even with that included into the total of a T989
i'm indifferent about the Graining/Blobbing as it happens on both devices, actually all new AMOLED devices seems to be suffering from the same thing from what i've read across devices (Nokia, G Note, G Nexus, T989, i727, the new HD version of skyrocket, etc)
it'a factory production thing... not much we can do
that being said, i don't see the problem when using it normally, it only shows up when you have brightness all the way to Zero, otherwise is not noticeable
any brightness setting of 20% of more will just make it go away
AllGamer said:
very interesting regarding the white vs black model of the T989 i didn't know the back cover was different on the white
i was under the impression it was just the color.
re: unlocking fee, well in that case i do agree if you compare it as the total Cost of the phone, but that being said, the i9250 is still more expensive even with that included into the total of a T989
i'm indifferent about the Graining/Blobbing as it happens on both devices, actually all new AMOLED devices seems to be suffering from the same thing from what i've read across devices (Nokia, G Note, G Nexus, T989, i727, the new HD version of skyrocket, etc)
it'a factory production thing... not much we can do
that being said, i don't see the problem when using it normally, it only shows up when you have brightness all the way to Zero, otherwise is not noticeable
any brightness setting of 20% of more will just make it go away
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive read that as well, but i only noticed it so much on the devices i had.
The door on the black t989 is more so like a carbon feel sort of with more grip, and the white t989 is more glossy/slippery.
Also thanks for editing my OP. I was mobile at the moment of post.
i usually get the best phones available.. glad i have the s2.. the camera/sd card on the nexus is a deal breaker..
ive been using the same sd card for years and i wouldnt want it any other way.. its the easiest way to move ur music/pics/info quickly to a new phone.
magnum_touchpro said:
i usually get the best phones available.. glad i have the s2.. the camera/sd card on the nexus is a deal breaker..
ive been using the same sd card for years and i wouldnt want it any other way.. its the easiest way to move ur music/pics/info quickly to a new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup a quick swap and your done. Real convenient.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA Premium App
I wonder why all these GN vs GS2 threads are here? No need to justify your purchases. We all like and want different things. I can appreciate a new POV, but in essence its all the same. I can find thousands of people who can say the GNs pros outway the cons. To all their own I say.
Sorry, if it feels like I am targeting you, it's just these threads just seem like people trying to convince themselves more than anyone else that their phone is better than the GN...which is very subjective.
There is enough hate in the world. Why can't we all get along here ...?
I seen the gn and hated it its so ugly the missing buttons r ugly too
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Well this thread is more reasonable than the others because at least he listed a whole list of pros and cons. While the other ops are like "gs2 ftw" or something along those lines. He's not necessarily bashing either phones. he's listing some things that will help others decide if the cons outweigh the pros for either phone. Like if you're a battery user, immediately you would want to stick with the gs2.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
I agree with your points.
I just traded my white gs2 for a galaxy nexus and I plugged it into my computer and couldn't even transfer files to the sd card -.-. After installing drivers I can do it through MTP but I feel like out of the box internal sd card support was one of the major advantages of having an android device.
I might be interested in trading back for a gs2 but.... the screen is just... AMAZING on the nexus. I can't notice any pixels like someone else stated earlier but the screen quality is great. I had a sensation and was complaining about the ppi when I moved to the gs2. It would be hard to readjust to the galaxy s 2 if I do decide to go back to it.
Another point is the camera quality on the galaxy s 2... it completely blows away the nexus. I don't think the nexus is horrendous but for a 700 dollar phone you would think they could make some improvements. I also think that a better camera app would help, the native camera app in ICS isn't that much of an improvement from AOSP gingerbread.
The last and final point that would make it difficult for me to move back to the gs2 would be the operating system. Ice cream sandwich took a bit to get used to but after playing with it, its definitely a more fluid experience than the galaxy s2. Even if the gs2 gets the update.... I find it hard to believe that the update would be as anywhere as stable as the nexus. There are major bugs in the CM7 build from a couple months ago.... I just wonder how long would it take to get a stable ICS one. Also I would assume that the ics update for the t989 would come with touchwiz. Touchwiz sort of kills the beauty of ICS for me, I tried it out on the i9100 and it wasn't very impressive--it didn't add many pros over the gingerbread build.
I think its a toss up... if camera/internal hardware/specs is important def go with the t989
If updates/support/screen quality is important then go with the nexus.
I'm back with the nexus but i want a att note now that it can get tmobile 4G.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium App
Related
I had this question recently for the sgs2 forum and was set when I find out att doesnt have them no more, and almost leaned towards the note or sgs2 skyrocket today when I had the most aggravating time with att csr where my upgrade date was changed for no apparent reason so I'm done with att and contracts but thats nor here nor there. Yes I tried to find these devices on craigslist but nothing went through and I rather save myself the aggravation with used devices from people that did who knows what to them.
So my main reason for even thinking of the sgs2 was for the dev support. And I know this device has some great dev support but the reputation for this device isnt the greatest like the screen and camera I believe. So with that being said is it worth the $400 for a new one?
Absolutely it's worth $400. If you want to put it in perspective a bit, yeah it's not as good as the GS3, BUT, it's about 90% as good for 50% of the price. As far as bang for your buck goes, it doesn't get any better without signing two years away.
Yup.
$400 for the GSM model is a really good price IMO.
I guess ordering one this weekend would be useless due to the holiday?
Also, what kind of benchmarks are you guys getting with the custom roms?
And I hardly hear any talk about the led notifications? Do any roms take advantage of them, I mean do they work well with different types of alerts like say just one color for google voice texts?
I think is worth I got a htc one s(had a sprint galaxy nexus loved the phone hated the network) so I got tmobile and I'm gonna sell my sprint gnex and get me a galaxy nexus unlocked the one s camera is really good and sense has improved but man this phone feels faster and with tmobile speeds I'm hooked
SysAdmNj said:
I guess ordering one this weekend would be useless due to the holiday?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well might as well order so it ships out ASAP on Tuesday.
Also, what kind of benchmarks are you guys getting with the custom roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Benchmarks are pointless.
And I hardly hear any talk about the led notifications? Do any roms take advantage of them, I mean do they work well with different types of alerts like say just one color for google voice texts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stock ROM offers limited LED control app-by-app. Some ROMs have LED control with more granularity. Most people are using Light Flow to control their LED. It works extremely well. You can configure everything.
I wouldn't pay 10 pounds for this phone!!! Google doesn't care about this nexus!!!
Sorry I forgot , this is no phone because u can't make a call after 20 attempts or receive a call )
So its more like a mini tablet )
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
Mine is working quite nicely. I'd highly recommend it over others at $600-$700 for sure.
I will never buy a carrier device again after owning a Nexus device. I will get updates beyond what any carrier will offer so my $400 device is worth more than any $2-300 subsidized device.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
As others have said for $400 its a wonderful deal. I got mine 3 months ago for $450. That being said the screen on devices like the OneX look nicer.
For that price, you cant really argue. I love the stock android experience and getting updates direct from Google. There's a really active development community for this phone (and the other nexus devices for that matter) and i've been able to check out a lot of custom roms and kernels.
Go for it
It's obviously still a relevant device if the OP is still thinking about this device compared to what's out there.
It's a great device at a great price. Not much to really say.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
martonikaj said:
Benchmarks are pointless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With all due respect benchmarks are not pointless or else people wouldnt use them at all. Its not a black or white issue. Its a bit more complex than that. When used properly they can serve to paint a generalized picture of performance for any given device. Admittedly they can also be manipulated to post huge numbers that do not reflect real world performance. They can also be used as a tool to diagnose or confirm a performance issue. Now in no way am I suggesting that these benchmarks are the be all end all but they surely are not pointless.
A while back I posted in a thread regarding this topic and asked the participants to explain to me a way that would ensure accurate results when testing our devices. No one responded, probably because nobody cares. It seems there two kinds of people here with regards to benchmarks. Those who use them and those who do not. And I have yet to see any rational discussion on this topic. not that im looking for it.
Anyways My Gnex scored a 6801 on AnTuTu
GNEX- Running AKOP 4.04 with Francos Kernel overclocked to 1344MHz
What's not to like? I have had this phone for a few months now, rooted it the first day and am running all kinds of ROMS and Kernels. I guess if you are running stock and wait for Google or carrier updates you may get a bit frustrated but I have had a great experience with it.
The camera controversy is silly. 5MP vs 8mp on a "flat lens" with a cell phone processor to me is not detectable (IMHO). I carry a DSLR to get my high quality pictures not the phone.
My only complaint has always been battery life. Coming from a Thunderbolt with a very large extended battery and a smaller screen, I routinely run out battery. But this phone has a large beautiful screen and that screen eats power. So I bought this
http://www.amazon.com/New-Trent-IMP1000-Thunderbolt-Blackberry/dp/B003ZBZ64Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338036621&sr=8-1
and my problems are solved. But performance wise, looks wise, and reliability wise, this phone is awesome. Just run the latest rom (AOKP), kernel(franco), radio (FC04/05) and you'll be fine.
First android device ive owned that ive not felt the need to root or flash a custom rom on.
Very fast and smooth phone.
Stock ICS looks so much nicer than any of the skins out there.
Ive ordered my wife an SGS 3 and im not even a little bit jealous. The novelties that it adds like pop up play i already have on my phone from a free app on the play store.
The hold your phone to your ear from a message to call can be added though smart gestures.
Tried S voice on my phone and i honestly think that speaktoit assistant is better so i deleted the S voice. ( before it was patched )
2 of my friends have One X and i hate the new sense. The only thing i like from the newer phones is the burst mode which again can be added through an app.
The Galaxy Nexus will recieve much better support than other phones obviously in case you care about that.
Great phone and i plan on keep it for quite a while.
Edit: Oh yeah and use light flow for the notification light. I have blue for sms... Green for Gmail... Red for missed call... Yellow for Gtalk etc etc. Again another free app
How about the onscreen buttons , is that hard to get used to?
I upgraded from an og EVO4g and after this I will never use anything but a Nexus phone ever again. LightFlow unlocks all of the LED notification colors, and the 5mp camera on this phone blows the 8mp camera of my Evo out of the water.
SysAdmNj said:
How about the onscreen buttons , is that hard to get used to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For a few hours maybe but once you get used to is hard to go back to capacity buttons
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2
Not hard to get used to, but then I've had a Honeycomb tablet for about a year.
This phone is undeniably worth the $400. I'm getting the GS3 for my husband, and I'm not even jealous.
other than the dodgy radio's it's the best phone ive had soo far. runs ics as it's suppose to be.
how much do you give Galaxy Nexus from ten
?/10
and why
thanks:good:
Well.
Since you were creative enough to add a scale...I'll respond.
These questions are asked DAILY, however. So I wouldn't expect everyone else to be very kind.
Humn.
7.5/10 - General
10/10 - Me
What I mean is...
I've seen what seems like a large percent of users with problems with their phones. While I understand that those with problems are more vocal than those without...it just seems to be weighed differently with the GNex.
TONS of call/signal quality problems...
Screen problems...
USB randomly taking a ****...
Random reboots on even the stock rom...
Random bricks on even the stock rom...
While, I personally, have none.
I absolutely love it.
Build quality (again, for ME) is great. Feels great in hand.
Call quality/reception is again great.
Screen quality is great. It's a different type of screen than I'd PREFER, really...
But for what it is...great.
Size is great.
Customization (via custom roms) is great.
Great great great.
Jubakuba said:
Well.
Since you were creative enough to add a scale...I'll respond.
These questions are asked DAILY, however. So I wouldn't expect everyone else to be very kind.
Humn.
7.5/10 - General
10/10 - Me
What I mean is...
I've seen what seems like a large percent of users with problems with their phones. While I understand that those with problems are more vocal than those without...it just seems to be weighed differently with the GNex.
TONS of call/signal quality problems...
Screen problems...
USB randomly taking a ****...
Random reboots on even the stock rom...
Random bricks on even the stock rom...
While, I personally, have none.
I absolutely love it.
Build quality (again, for ME) is great. Feels great in hand.
Call quality/reception is again great.
Screen quality is great. It's a different type of screen than I'd PREFER, really...
But for what it is...great.
Size is great.
Customization (via custom roms) is great.
Great great great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What he said.
Only downpoint i can see is: not gorilla glass (prone to scratches), bluetooth a little buggy. Which is very minor points in the overall picture.
Swyped on my CM9 Galaxy Nexus
I'd give it an 8.5
Definitely the best phone I've had so far but..
Screen does indeed scratch rather easily
Lack of SD card let it down a little too I think ( only 16GB version available in my area)
Signal on the phone not great compared to others
My GF has a new SG3 and she can get signal on hers in places where I have none ...
Other than that all good
His next thread will be rate your favorite rom and why
good day.
9-/10
Nexus being released at the end of last year should rather have quad core and better gfx hardware. Plus it could be even better if the softkeys had their own dedicated screen space so we could enjoy the whole 1280x720.
But the design of the phone plus the ui smoothness wins for me.
There is only one niggle I've had with the phone that I haven't been able to fix with a hack or app, that's the storage space. But I don't use my device for music and I can handle only having a handful 720p episodes of whatever I'm watching at the time.
I've had more fun with hacks ROMs and kernels on this phone than any other I've owned, and I can't say I'd swap it for anything newer. I may well be a Nexus convert.
---IS THE GALAXY NEXUS COMPETITOR IN THE BATTLEFIELD---
samhawk said:
how much do you give Galaxy Nexus from ten
?/10
and why
thanks:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
7/10
It lost 2.5 points because I am stuck on Verizon.
samhawk said:
---IS THE GALAXY NEXUS COMPETITOR IN THE BATTLEFIELD---
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I have installed several tactical nukes, chain guns, and an RPG on it.
For me it's either 8.5 or 9 out of 10. I'm on Verizon and have no issues. It's incredibly smooth and the UI and general aesthetics are futuristic and sleek. Only thing that ever makes me somewhat sad is that I absolutely love 4g, but 3+ hours of screen time and 16 hrs standby is max for this phone for me (even with the 2100 extended battery). So that's my only beef, which is quite a small one since it still lasts me the whole day on a single charge (barely though...).
10/10 for me. this phone does everything I need, and it does it very very well. perfect in my eyes.
dschoenike
10/10 for me......love the display
8/10 for me. Awesome performance with a lovely display. Only gripe is the battery. I get around 16hrs on medium usage. Might get a mugen/extended battery someday
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
9/10
10/10 if I could use my 32GB class 10 sdcard from my old GSII
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
I'm gonna give it a 7
Ghost screen issue and poor wifi reception are the reason
It's definitely not a 10. Got a few gripes I'd like to see gone in future Nexus phones, but it's a sold 8 at least.
For me it's 10/10....because of the updates, customization and the variety of ROMs to choose from...and the screen, oh it's just gorgeous!!!!
All my friends uses high end smartphones, and believe me all of those envy my phone just because of it's sexy look and eye catching display...and to add more of their envy, it's gonna get 4.1 Jelly Bean in a month's time, while my friend using Galaxy R is still stuck on Gingerbread...lol!!!!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
thank you guys for your judgments
in the general viewpoint we can say the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is not simple adversary
*-but how does the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in face of its neighbors???
How does the Galaxy Nexus compare to other smartphones?
samhawk said:
thank you guys for your judgments
in the general viewpoint we can say the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is not simple adversary
*-but how does the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in face of its neighbors???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have 4 Android smartphones, and the Galaxy Nexus is by far the best.
The HD screen looks great to me, and the phone is fast, works well, and I have had no problems.
I have 2 extended batteries with a wall charger, so virtually no downtime, a rugged case, if I drop it, and there is great community support with lots of roms and kernels to choose from.
Some of the other new phones look great, especially their screens, but they don't seem to have as much community support as the Galaxy Nexus.
I am looking to purchase this phone currently and I'd love to know the Pros and Cons! Thank you
Pros - Everything.
Cons - Nothing.
This is my opinion and I am entitled to it, so take it or leave it.
Sent from my AOSP Android 4.1.1 Galaxy Nexus
Cons - Some people will say the Camera is a con but IMO its awesome. Others have trouble with battery life but then again I don't.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
This is the deal i am getting, I'm spending $310 for it and apparently its almost brand new only 1 month old. Do you think this is a good deal?
Samsung Galaxy Nexus with:
-Zagg Invisible Shield screen protector (lifetime warranty)
-Incipio blue hard case
-Samsung car charger
-Samsung wall charger
-Extra Samsung usb cable (for computer ext..)
-Original and extended battery (includes wall charger for second battery)
-Updated to Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, fully carrier independent and unlocked.
jerfy said:
This is the deal i am getting, I'm spending $310 for it and apparently its almost brand new only 1 month old. Do you think this is a good deal?
Samsung Galaxy Nexus with:
-Zagg Invisible Shield screen protector (lifetime warranty)
-Incipio blue hard case
-Samsung car charger
-Samsung wall charger
-Extra Samsung usb cable (for computer ext..)
-Original and extended battery (includes wall charger for second battery)
-Updated to Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, fully carrier independent and unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming it's in the condition they're advertising then yeah I think it's worth it.
Sent from my LTEVO
If thats the condition and for that price. Get it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Does the phone have SD storage abilities or should I sell my old junk smartphone with the SD?
Edit: Also this phone gets the latest updates right?
jerfy said:
Does the phone have SD storage abilities or should I sell my old junk smartphone with the SD?
Edit: Also this phone gets the latest updates right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No yes yes. I kept my 32gb SD card though, in case maybe we could get so lucky to have an SD slot in the next nexus.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
i m using this for like a week or so ... the only thing that bother me is not external memory means you are lock to use 16GB but if doesnt bother you then go get it ..... like now my fone has only 1.8GB free and dont know what to do .... else i m loving this ... awesome phone but with the limited memory i will now use it for development purpose and going to get S3 or One X ...
android-lover said:
i m using this for like a week or so ... the only thing that bother me is not external memory means you are lock to use 16GB but if doesnt bother you then go get it ..... like now my fone has only 1.8GB free and dont know what to do .... else i m loving this ... awesome phone but with the limited memory i will now use it for development purpose and going to get S3 or One X ...
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Click to collapse
16GB? I'm so glad he standard Sprint version is 32GB and was only $50 for the upgrade.
Sent from my AOSP Android 4.1.1 Galaxy Nexus
Zeinzu said:
16GB? I'm so glad he standard Sprint version is 32GB and was only $50 for the upgrade.
Sent from my AOSP Android 4.1.1 Galaxy Nexus
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Click to collapse
well my country dont have locked carrier we have to buy unlocked phones for retail price and without much options and i was not able to get sprint 32gb model also not even the white version and if i calculate the price in $$ it coasted me 540$ well then if he is getting 32gb model then its awesome
Mate go for it :laugh:
Cons of hardware:
- doesnt have stero speakers, something I miss from my old Nokia
Cons of software:
- none if you are willing to spend the time to find your perfect rom and kernel combo
Everything else is amazing
Another pro in my opinion is battery life. Formerly I used Galaxy Ace and LG P970, both with stock and custom roms, none of those was nearly as good in battery life as stock JB on the Gnex!
I generally like it, however two things that have annoyed me. First, the turn by turn navigation didn't work when I tried (stuck on "Searching for GPS") so the GPS portion of it is useless. I'm told that this has something to do with Jelly Bean and the Nexus and that toggling "Google Location Services" in the settings sorts it out; I've not had chance to try that yet.
Second, the device randomly shuts down. However, I'm not sure if that has something to do with the power button being pressed when in my pocket due to the SGP Neo Hybrid EX case making the buttons more sensitive. I've removed it from my phone now (it was also sagging so I don't recommend this case at all).
Other than that, I've noticed no real issues.
Pro's: AOSP, no bloatware to be found. Updates directly from Google. ROM's that are completely bug free.
Cons: None that I can think of. Maybe just the camera..I always look ugly in the pictures I take of myself (though maybe not the camera's fault? ).
Swiftkey'ed on my CM9 Galaxy Nexus
Depends on what its compared to. The camera could be a little better, but still okay for a $350 phone. People complained about low speaker volume and screen, but my device has better screen than the S3 (yes I did say that) and is loud enough so maybe I got a good one. Build quality could be better, but certainly better than the S3. Its GPU is a bit dated and probably not future proof for heavy HD gaming. Also no microSD slot, but I have come to term Google will never allow it in their devices.
'Some' people with the CDMA version report poor signal, sometimes unbearbly bad. But GSM version don't have the issue.
Overall its the best Android phone in the market now in term of getting the latest softwares until the next Nexus phone arrive. It also have the best custom roms in term of quality.
jerfy said:
I am looking to purchase this phone currently and I'd love to know the Pros and Cons! Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CONS
- ICS/JB link ringer+notification volumes. And JB somehow broke the vibrate for notifications 'master' switch, you need to configure this per app now.
- MTP/PTP protocol instead of mass storage.
- Camera quality should have been better.
PROS
- Vanilla Android! (quick OTA updates directly from Google, no carrier crapware)
- Fastboot
- Development community/support
- AMOLED display
- It looks good
- Build quality (I bought this phone in December 2011, not scratch on it yet and I don't use a case or screen protector)
- Battery life
- In short, pretty much everything else.
Buy it, if you are a tech-enthusiast you won't be disappointed. My next phone will definitely be a new Nexus.
eksasol said:
Depends on what its compared to. The camera could be a little better, but still okay for a $350 phone. People complained about low speaker volume and screen, but my device has better screen than the S3 (yes I did say that) and is loud enough so maybe I got a good one. Build quality could be better, but certainly better than the S3. Its GPU is a bit dated and probably not future proof for heavy HD gaming. Also no microSD slot, but I have come to term Google will never allow it in their devices.
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Click to collapse
As much as I like the Nexus, I doubt you'll find many who would agree the screen is better on the Nexus than the S3; My girlfriend has the S3, and the screen is clearly much better, brighter, better viewing angles, sharper, everything. The screen on the Nexus for me was a little better than the S2 (higher res, but the colours aren't quite so good).
I also find the build quality to be the same.
The Nexus is a good phone, but lets be honest about its shortcomings compared with newer rivals.
tameracingdriver said:
As much as I like the Nexus, I doubt you'll find many who would agree the screen is better on the Nexus than the S3; My girlfriend has the S3, and the screen is clearly much better, brighter, better viewing angles, sharper, everything. The screen on the Nexus for me was a little better than the S2 (higher res, but the colours aren't quite so good).
I also find the build quality to be the same.
The Nexus is a good phone, but lets be honest about its shortcomings compared with newer rivals.
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Click to collapse
Like I said, it'll be a surprise. One thing I like about the S3 is ability to lower saturation. But I can see pixels with the S3 which I cant with the slightly smaller Nexus. My Nexus screen also has smoother shading than the S3. I did not think it was any brighter than the Nexus. But I have owned many Galaxy phones and I like Samsung phones, but I still think AMOLED screen quality can be hit and miss and not consistent globally.
Pros: Everything else besides 2 for me. Look below
Cons: No MiroSD, Super Amoled(Not +)
Which phone would be the better option to buy? I've been asking around and the results are mixed. The sensation is cheaper and I'm on a budget but there is a S2 not too far out of my budget. I am looking for something to last me a year max maybe a little more if needed. which will get me the best mileage and be stable. I don't want something that lags, something with a good camera, doesnt have to be top notch but takes clear images. I'm on an optimus one right now so either is a big upgrade for me. I'm thinking maybe in the year i can save up and just buy the next google nexus phone to come out.
This phone is better for development, the s2 all the way!
~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~
Phone: Samsung Galaxy s2 T989 Hercules
Rom: Jedi Jelly 4
Kernel: Insecure Kernel
Radio: LB7 Blaze
~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~
I am going to try and make an app, if anyone wants help this beautiful talented celebrity in making it just message me!
well I found one, im just hoping the price goes down. site I use, they change discounts all the time on electronics so I'm hoping it'll go down a little more
screamline458 said:
Which phone would be the better option to buy? I've been asking around and the results are mixed. The sensation is cheaper and I'm on a budget but there is a S2 not too far out of my budget. I am looking for something to last me a year max maybe a little more if needed. which will get me the best mileage and be stable. I don't want something that lags, something with a good camera, doesnt have to be top notch but takes clear images. I'm on an optimus one right now so either is a big upgrade for me. I'm thinking maybe in the year i can save up and just buy the next google nexus phone to come out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S2 hands down
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
Are you guys saying that because this is a Galaxy forum? I've had some forumers tell me the sensation will be good and to save the extra money to put towards my next phone which hopefully would be the newest killer phone at the time
screamline458 said:
Are you guys saying that because this is a Galaxy forum? I've had some forumers tell me the sensation will be good and to save the extra money to put towards my next phone which hopefully would be the newest killer phone at the time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have owned both. The screen is terrible on the sensation. Washes out as soon as you tilt it even 5°. It has bad screen refresh rate problems and everything looks blurry when it moves on the screen. The S2 has a great screen, better processor and camera. Go with the S2
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
corwest said:
I have owned both. The screen is terrible on the sensation. Washes out as soon as you tilt it even 5°. It has bad screen refresh rate problems and everything looks blurry when it moves on the screen. The S2 has a great screen, better processor and camera. Go with the S2
so you think its worth 240?is the t-mobile version good enough to last maybe another year or so? It's already a year and a half old and I know its a slower processor than the international s2. I've been doing lots of reading on different phones so I can make my decision. I made a snap call on my optimus t and while its not the worst phone out there, it wasn't good for two years. also if i get it and i do some modding, how much storage is there and is there a good app2sd or link2 to add to the amount i can store on the phone
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Click to collapse
screamline458 said:
corwest said:
I have owned both. The screen is terrible on the sensation. Washes out as soon as you tilt it even 5°. It has bad screen refresh rate problems and everything looks blurry when it moves on the screen. The S2 has a great screen, better processor and camera. Go with the S2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so you think its worth 240?is the t-mobile version good enough to last maybe another year or so? It's already a year and a half old and I know its a slower processor than the international s2. I've been doing lots of reading on different phones so I can make my decision. I made a snap call on my optimus t and while its not the worst phone out there, it wasn't good for two years. also if i get it and i do some modding, how much storage is there and is there a good app2sd or link2 to add to the amount i can store on the phone
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Click to collapse
Phone supports 64 GB SDXC cards, not officially buy just stick and format the card
In the phone and use ICS it higher and it'll work.
Sensation is over 2 years now no? Plus the T989 specs slap it anyway. As for the processor being "better," on the international, I'm not going to say that's wrong, but that's from synthetic benchmarks and even then its only a 5-10% performance difference for the 1.2 exynos, real world application u can't tell the difference, gaming, browsing or anything.
icenight89 said:
Phone supports 64 GB SDXC cards, not officially buy just stick and format the card
In the phone and use ICS it higher and it'll work.
Sensation is over 2 years now no? Plus the T989 specs slap it anyway. As for the processor being "better," on the international, I'm not going to say that's wrong, but that's from synthetic benchmarks and even then its only a 5-10% performance difference for the 1.2 exynos, real world application u can't tell the difference, gaming, browsing or anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
benchmarks don't mean anything to me. it's like specs for a motor on paper. imaginary. I like to know how it actually handles with apps running, multitasking, gaming, streaming and all the stuff smartphones are suppose to do but some can't.I really think I'm settled on the S2, just watching the price hoping it'll go down a few bucks this weekend. fingers crossed.but I like the specs on it better anyway plus i can set up nfc beam so i can start saying my phone can do that, mocking the commercial.
screamline458 said:
benchmarks don't mean anything to me. it's like specs for a motor on paper. imaginary. I like to know how it actually handles with apps running, multitasking, gaming, streaming and all the stuff smartphones are suppose to do but some can't.I really think I'm settled on the S2, just watching the price hoping it'll go down a few bucks this weekend. fingers crossed.but I like the specs on it better anyway plus i can set up nfc beam so i can start saying my phone can do that, mocking the commercial.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your buying out of contract then yes this phone is worth 250 in my opinion. Its the best phone I've ever owned and myself will be keeping it until the GS4 or next Nexus device comes out which is later this year.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
I have bolth. They are equally cool. Screen looks nice on either... Just smaller on the sensation.. However the sensation has a better screen resolution. As for development I'd say its in favor of the sensation.. It has way more ROMs and kernels available.. And when its juiced on over clock and other performance addons it kills the S2 in benchmarks.. But I prefer my S2.. Its just nicer IMO..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
S2
Hello All,
I've mostly lurked on the forums and found a lot of information related to Android as well as various phones. I'm not a noob and have flashed ROMs, radios etc. and know a bit about Android and Android devices in general.
Now to the reason for the thread. My wife is eligible for an upgrade and wants to get rid of her Inspire 4G due to various issues. She would like to get an SGS III but I want to ensure that is the correct choice before proceeding. I had previously looked at the Motorola Atrix HD (discarded due to only 8 GB of storage and no ability to save apps to SD in ICS and beyond) and the LG Optimus G (still thinking of this). I would like the opinion of the helpful people on XDA regarding the following points pertaining to the SGS III since it's been out for a while now. Any opinions you can provide would be very much appreciated.
1. Signal (not had a good experience with signal on the Inspire 4G - lots of dropped calls. We live in an area that doesn't have the best signal but it has been ok on other phones that we own)
2. Battery life (again not a good experience on Inspire 4G). I'm aware of the extended battery available but would like an idea of the stock battery life that can be expected
3. Screen readability, especially in sunlight (this was not one of the cons on the Inspire 4G but is based on reviews indicating that the SGS III doesn't go as high in brightness as other phones)
4. Touchwiz (She prefers the stock AOSP interface - Cfx ROM - running on her phone currently over Sense and I haven't played with Touchwiz yet to figure out pros/cons)
Any personal feedback that you can provide on the SGS III based on your time using it would be much appreciated. Please note that I do not intend to flash ROMs on the phone since this is going to be her daily driver and I would rather keep it stock (at least in the beginning ).
Thanks in advance.
I would say you are correct about deciding against the Motorola. I looked at the LG but have read some really bad things about the phone. When I was in the store the ATT employees confirmed that its not that good of a device.
I can say that the GS3 is IMO the best phone you can buy for ATT. The battery life for me is good, the screen is nice and you can make it bright if you are in direct sun. If you search a little you can see a lot of bad comments about the LG screen. The GS3 out of the box is fast and is a very capable phone even without a custom ROM. I disabled a lot of the bloat and stuff I would never use and I am impressed with the phone.
If she can wait, I would say hold off for about 3 months. We should start seeing the new 2013 LG, Sony and Galaxy S4 here very soon. Most, if not all will have a 1080p screen, better battery life, lower power consuming 8 core or quad core processor, etc.
A lot of people speculate these to arrive this summer May-June months specifically. Would be a shame to burn up her 2 year agreement now when a lot of new toys are right around the corner.
Thanks
iceman4357 said:
I would say you are correct about deciding against the Motorola. I looked at the LG but have read some really bad things about the phone. When I was in the store the ATT employees confirmed that its not that good of a device.
I can say that the GS3 is IMO the best phone you can buy for ATT. The battery life for me is good, the screen is nice and you can make it bright if you are in direct sun. If you search a little you can see a lot of bad comments about the LG screen. The GS3 out of the box is fast and is a very capable phone even without a custom ROM. I disabled a lot of the bloat and stuff I would never use and I am impressed with the phone.
If she can wait, I would say hold off for about 3 months. We should start seeing the new 2013 LG, Sony and Galaxy S4 here very soon. Most, if not all will have a 1080p screen, better battery life, lower power consuming 8 core or quad core processor, etc.
A lot of people speculate these to arrive this summer May-June months specifically. Would be a shame to burn up her 2 year agreement now when a lot of new toys are right around the corner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
iceman - I appreciate your feedback. I was thinking the same thing considering all the recent processor announcements (Tegra 4, Exynos 5, Qualcomm 800 series etc.) and the rumors about the GS IV, LG's next big thing, 1080p screens etc. I'm just not sure she would like the 5"+ screens those are expected to have. I'll ask her to hold out for a few more months. Even if she doesn't like those, they should make the GS III fall in price, at the least.
Thanks again.
best phone spec wise is probably the galaxy note 2 followed by the galaxy s3 . the blackberry is worth a look to i find it feels cheap and has small screen. Id wait for march-april thats when most of the tech seems to come out. theres tons of new ones coming out soon id wait for the galaxy s4(Exynos 5 Octa is a chipset manufactured on ARM’s big.LITTLE architecture, packing four Cortex A15 cores at 1.8 GHz for the tasks requiring a lot of processing power and four 1.2 GHz ARM A7 cores for the basic tasks, which are supposed to improve the battery life. )
My personal feelings towards the Galaxy S3 are overwhelmingly positive but mostly after rooting and playing with various ROMs and kernels and finding the right balance of things. I do favor the TouchWiz interface over Sense and even over stock AOSP but not necessarily the stock TouchWiz. I don't know whether or not you'll be rooting the device and customizing things but if I had to deal with the phone stock I'd probably have been happier with my previous 4S.
Battery life is very solid now that I've changed kernels and ROMs and found the right mix of settings. The stock battery life didn't impress me greatly but it wasn't the worst I'd seen by far and given it's capabilities was probably right in line with what I should expect. I'm actually very surprised by how great my battery life is now that I'm running DeviantKernel on Wicked ROM with the settings I've chosen.
Hopefully that helps some.
curry67 said:
best phone spec wise is probably the galaxy note 2 followed by the galaxy s3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that's only accurate with the international version. I don't know where the OP is located but in the US, and possibly elsewhere, the S3 has the Qualcomm cpu instead of the Exynos if I'm not mistaken which would put the One X ahead of it technically. Then again I may have misinterpreted and you're talking about other things.
Best phone I've ever used.
My wife and I both got sg3's together. Mine is now running Task's ROM and my wife's is still stock. She loves it just the way it is, and i am fine with that, now i won't have to be constantly flashing hers or hear her complain about glitches, she uses it for news, Facebook and gossip mags and texting. Stock Is fine for all that. I honestly don't know many people who actually talk much on their phones anymore, and if that is the case, then screen size is important. I don't know how all these girls stare at their tiny iphone screens.
My 2 cents
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda premium
gpo1956 said:
Best phone I've ever used.
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Click to collapse
^This
I have very few bad things to say about the s3, but because of the phones coming out in the next 3-6 months, I really think your wife should wait it out.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Looks like I'll wait
gtrslngrchris said:
My personal feelings towards the Galaxy S3 are overwhelmingly positive but mostly after rooting and playing with various ROMs and kernels and finding the right balance of things. I do favor the TouchWiz interface over Sense and even over stock AOSP but not necessarily the stock TouchWiz. I don't know whether or not you'll be rooting the device and customizing things but if I had to deal with the phone stock I'd probably have been happier with my previous 4S.
Battery life is very solid now that I've changed kernels and ROMs and found the right mix of settings. The stock battery life didn't impress me greatly but it wasn't the worst I'd seen by far and given it's capabilities was probably right in line with what I should expect. I'm actually very surprised by how great my battery life is now that I'm running DeviantKernel on Wicked ROM with the settings I've chosen.
Hopefully that helps some.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for providing your feedback. All of the responses suggest that I can't go wrong with the GS III. Glad to know that Touchwiz is better than Sense. I didn't even consider the One X due to the improper priority setting for the Sense UI over all the other running apps. But as some others have suggested in this thread, since new phones are coming out I'll wait a couple of months before making the decision. Her phone is now running stable with the AOSP Jelly Bean ROM provided by the CodefireX team so I think I can afford to wait.
I think that's only accurate with the international version. I don't know where the OP is located but in the US, and possibly elsewhere, the S3 has the Qualcomm cpu instead of the Exynos if I'm not mistaken which would put the One X ahead of it technically. Then again I may have misinterpreted and you're talking about other things.[/QUOTE]
You may be right for the processor speed but the no SD card no removable cover (iphone model) and I just feel Samsung makes a better product IMO.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
I seriously love this phone...
fast, smooth and great battery life.
I have been very happy
sound quality
very less weight, bright screen, fast processor and a great rom with features no other vendor yet provided.
I heard great reviews about the audio quality of international S3. Does the ATT model and international have different audio chip's?
---------- Post added at 03:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:03 PM ----------
I loved the ext SD card and also with 64 GB support, that was a buying point for me. Removable battery, hardware home button.
I love mine and got one for my wife this past Christmas. She had the atrix and didn't like the size of the s3. Now she can't put it down.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda premium
Great phone! Just make sure that you put it in a good solid case cause the glass is easily broken.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Look honestly plain and simple
The GS3 is enjoyable even with TW.. 2Gs of ram makes this butter smooth with TW. And that says alot
(And for those who come and whine and say 'boo it doesn't AOSP rocks' this is just an opinion with MY personal experience)
I have a hard time deciding which ROM to use.. I have a nandroid of TW and AOSP just to switch back and forth...
No dropped calls, excellent signal and good reception.
Battery is amazing even with stock TW
Screen is amazing and I have no trouble seeing it even with brightness turned all the way down.
TW has its benefits over AOSP as does AOSP does over TW.
In over all its a HUGE step up from a Desire and blows the Optimus out the water in my opinion.
Easy to root easy to fix if you're soft bricked and good ROM choices.
I came from a Galaxy Note and this puts it in the DUST... I wouldn't have any other phone
Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
jayRokk said:
Look honestly plain and simple
The GS3 is enjoyable even with TW.. 2Gs of ram makes this butter smooth with TW. And that says alot
(And for those who come and whine and say 'boo it doesn't AOSP rocks' this is just an opinion with MY personal experience)
I have a hard time deciding which ROM to use.. I have a nandroid of TW and AOSP just to switch back and forth...
No dropped calls, excellent signal and good reception.
Battery is amazing even with stock TW
Screen is amazing and I have no trouble seeing it even with brightness turned all the way down.
TW has its benefits over AOSP as does AOSP does over TW.
In over all its a HUGE step up from a Desire and blows the Optimus out the water in my opinion.
Easy to root easy to fix if you're soft bricked and good ROM choices.
I came from a Galaxy Note and this puts it in the DUST... I wouldn't have any other phone
Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I own a note and an s3 and I agree that the s3 is way better.
so much smoother and faster
S2 was my first smart phone before that I had flip phones no text no nothing. For a skyrocket it's only ok. S2 was amazing and best of what was out but with hardware I'd issues bad drivers and just Samsung sucking I think s3 could been the best again and wasn't. I'm disappointed in how much better it could be. It's great phone I love it. I don't protect it just good warranty no issues. But Samsung sucks. They got billions and can't release a driver to work with Windows.that just upsets me a lot. It's pathetic. Because of Samsung the s3 is only even player of the game not the leader as it should be and could be. Laziness isn't excitable for a billion dollar company or being cheap. Christ I wish could beat up the guy who released last drivers.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda premium
I just came over from t-mobile and had an HTC Amaze lovely phone but sense was terrible and it killed the battery almost instantly. I had to purchase additional batteries to pop in whenever I went anywhere.
I have had the SGIII from AT&T for about a month now, and it is still stock, I haven't even rooted it... I probably will one day when I'm bored but for now I'm happy. The battery life is like 100x better than my amaze was stock and the screen is bigger as well. I also get a lot better signal with AT&T than I did with T-Mobile. I can actually use my phone at work now! As for the touchwiz, I already own Apex Pro and SSLauncher so I didn't keep touchwiz as the default for long. I am too "nerdy" when it comes to customizing. The bluetooth works flawlessly in my car for making phone calls and listening to podcasts and music. The camera works great, and I like how it flashes first then flashes again to try to prevent people from blinking. Also the SGIII is one of the few phones that still comes with a wired headset.. it's the small things that count
I recommend you do NOT get the LG. I have the LG Optimus from t-mobile at home and it can't even do app2sd nor can I root it to add apps2sd. I was going to install a bunch of games on it for my 6-year-old to play on, but 3 games in I got the "storage full" message. It's going to ebay and I'm gonna get her a tablet or chromebook instead.
The S3 was/is my first android device and I love it. Coming from an iPhone, expandable storage and a removable battery are very welcome. The screen size feels great and looks great as well. I kept touchwiz on it for about a month before I rooted it and flashed a new rom. For the most part TW was ugly as sin and frustrating.