Ok - time for my every 20 month question....
It's time for my upgrade.
I'm looking at 3 different devices, and I'd love the considered opinion of the XDA community.
Please try to avoid blatant phanboi posts... LOL
1 - galaxy Note II
2 - Galaxy S III
3 - Optimus G
Yes, I know I'm posting in the LG forum. I have a lot of experience with the galaxy S (EPIC 4g) and love it... but i'm interested in knowing what your thoughts are out there...
Thanks for playing...
John
I switch to the LG after using the Epic 4G Touch for a year. I love samsung phones, but I chose not to get the Note 2 for its size. There was just no way it was going to ever fit in my pockets. The S3 was a bit out of the question for me, because I was not pleased with the specs for the US version. From the S2 to an S3, it just didn't feel like an upgrade. Yes, its a gorgeous phone and it is noticeably faster than the S2 but it just wasn't enough for me to get it. I was a bit skeptical with picking up an LG device because of their previous track record, but the announcement of the Nexus 4 kind of settled that doubt for me. I decided to give it a try, 14-days is enough for me to figure out if I want to keep it or not. So here I am with this solidly built LG phone with the size/specs that I wanted and is rooted with an unlocked bootloader. Yeah, I think I made the right choice.
Are you a part of SWAC or SERO?
SWAC customers, unfortunately, cannot get this phone yet and there's no ETA at all. I've been looking because that is the only thing holding me back from getting it
It's definitely the best choice though.
I also debated between these phones. First knocked off the Galaxy Note because even with its beastly spec and support, I just couldn't deal with how big the screen was, if the screen was just smaller, that probably would have been my phone now.
Then it was between the Galaxy S3 and Optimus G. I came from the OG Epic 4G and either of these phones would have been a huge upgrade for me but I wanted the bleeding edge hardware and spec wise, the Optimus G was better in every way. The only thing that worried me about the Optimus G was the developer support. Since I knew the Nexus 4 was based off the the Optimus G, I figured that AOSP would be easy to get. So i jumped the gun hoping the bootloader will get unlock and it paid off.
I recommend the Optimus G but take it with a grain of salt because I may be bias. It's up to you to decide what you want. I went for the Optimus G for the hardware, you may not care about that as much however and decide the bigger community and developer support is more important.
I am in the same boat as you OP, trying to decide between these 3 phones. Here's my pro/con list so far. FYI I am on SERO-P so I have to upgrade through Sprint.
GS3
pro:
-cheap ($50 on black friday)
-established active community here at XDA
-micro SD slot
con:
-spec is no longer flag ship worthy
Note 2
pro:
-JB
-multi tasking
-active community
-micro SD slot
-it's huge! Screen is nice
con:
-$100 more than other flag ship phones
-s-pen (I personally have no use for it, and when I tested it at a sprint store it wasn't very responsive)
-it's huge! Barely useable with only 1 hand
Optimus G
pro:
-best spec
-best looking (IMO, don't like the pebble look of Samsung)
con:
-it's LG (horrible support)
-no micro SD slot
-dunno how active the community will be for this phone yet
ryocho said:
I am in the same boat as you OP, trying to decide between these 3 phones. Here's my pro/con list so far. FYI I am on SERO-P so I have to upgrade through Sprint.
GS3
pro:
-cheap ($50 on black friday)
-established active community here at XDA
-micro SD slot
con:
-spec is no longer flag ship worthy
Note 2
pro:
-JB
-multi tasking
-active community
-micro SD slot
-it's huge! Screen is nice
con:
-$100 more than other flag ship phones
-s-pen (I personally have no use for it, and when I tested it at a sprint store it wasn't very responsive)
-it's huge! Barely useable with only 1 hand
Optimus G
pro:
-best spec
-best looking (IMO, don't like the pebble look of Samsung)
con:
-it's LG (horrible support)
-no micro SD slot
-dunno how active the community will be for this phone yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Say WHAT?? NO micro SD? ****, that settles it for me... I got a 32gb SD card full of music and stuff...and I mean FULL!
Bigjohn_S said:
Say WHAT?? NO micro SD? ****, that settles it for me... I got a 32gb SD card full of music and stuff...and I mean FULL!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T version has a microSD slot for up to 64GB.
Sprint doesn't.
The Note 2 is awesome if you're a 6-foot-8 NFL linebacker.
SG3 has a darker screen that I don't like, plus amoled displays have potential screen burn-in problems. My wife was gonna get that one but the Sprint store display had horrible burn-in. Big box in the middle and the status bar. It's apparently not a widespread problem but the risk of that and the relative darkness to begin with was enough to turn that one down.
Both of us went for the OG, absolutely love it so far.
I went with the Optimus g. If you go with the galaxy you would already be dealing with last generation cpu which I think for a guy who uses his phone for 20 months is not good. My wife has the note 2 and it's a good phone but a little too big for my suit pants. She carries it in her purse so she doesn't care. One thing I noticed is that this phone is super fast and that's even without jelly bean. This one is the one to choose as of now.
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda app-developers app
I'm struggling with this decision too. I actually am still running a Touch Pro 2 on SERO, but I've decided its time to move on. I went to the Sprint Store, looking at the GS3, Optimus G, Photon Q, and Note 2. I had initially thought the keyboard on the Photon Q would be very valuable, but after playing with the other phones I decided the on-screen keyboards were adequate to justify not getting stuck with the otherwise ancient Photon Q. The Note 2 was simply too large. After seeing it, I think the ideal size is probably around 5".
So that brings us to GS3 vs Optimus G. The Optimus is hands down better. The screen is better. The processor is better. The graphics are better. The case is better. It's just plain better. But... it's still running Ice Cream Sandwich, it has no microSD, and it has no removable battery. The lack of MicroSD is a minor annoyance -- at this point in time I don't see why you'd ever need more than 32GB of FLASH, especially since you have the 50GB of DropBox. The lack of a removable battery is bordering on inexcusable. Removable battery means A) if the battery fails you can replace it without replacing the phone, B) if you keep a spare battery around you can extend the life of the phone without recharging, C) the GS3 has extended life/oversized batteries readily available on the aftermarket which are probably twice as large as stock.
I spoke to a sales guy there who had an Optimus G and previously had the EVO 4G LTE and was thrilled with the Optimus -- however he also said numerous "power users" had come in with S3s, and they had all been very happy with them. He said one problem he had encountered with the Optimus because of the quad-core was that you could run a ton of apps in the background and not notice they were all still running and hence drain the battery very quickly.
But the other problem is that the Galaxy S3 has sold over 30M units and is probably still outselling the Optimus G. He said he doubted they'd sell more than 1M Optimus G's, and quite frankly by early 2013 there will be better phones out, including the Galaxy S4 -- which will effectively kill off the Optimus G. The lack of a user base puts support (including future software updates) in doubt in my mind, especially since LG does not have a good reputation to begin with (the sales guy said he was at the release event and said LG did everything they could to assure everyone that they understood this was their first high end phone and that they needed to provide superior support along with it, something they had not previously done).
The $50 "BF" deal also tends to push me to GS3, especially if there is no discount on the Optimus G. OTOH, the Optimus G is a sweet phone, and GS3 is a few months old at this point.
hpmaxim said:
I'm struggling with this decision too. I actually am still running a Touch Pro 2 on SERO, but I've decided its time to move on. I went to the Sprint Store, looking at the GS3, Optimus G, Photon Q, and Note 2. I had initially thought the keyboard on the Photon Q would be very valuable, but after playing with the other phones I decided the on-screen keyboards were adequate to justify not getting stuck with the otherwise ancient Photon Q. The Note 2 was simply too large. After seeing it, I think the ideal size is probably around 5".
So that brings us to GS3 vs Optimus G. The Optimus is hands down better. The screen is better. The processor is better. The graphics are better. The case is better. It's just plain better. But... it's still running Ice Cream Sandwich, it has no microSD, and it has no removable battery. The lack of MicroSD is a minor annoyance -- at this point in time I don't see why you'd ever need more than 32GB of FLASH, especially since you have the 50GB of DropBox. The lack of a removable battery is bordering on inexcusable. Removable battery means A) if the battery fails you can replace it without replacing the phone, B) if you keep a spare battery around you can extend the life of the phone without recharging, C) the GS3 has extended life/oversized batteries readily available on the aftermarket which are probably twice as large as stock.
I spoke to a sales guy there who had an Optimus G and previously had the EVO 4G LTE and was thrilled with the Optimus -- however he also said numerous "power users" had come in with S3s, and they had all been very happy with them. He said one problem he had encountered with the Optimus because of the quad-core was that you could run a ton of apps in the background and not notice they were all still running and hence drain the battery very quickly.
But the other problem is that the Galaxy S3 has sold over 30M units and is probably still outselling the Optimus G. He said he doubted they'd sell more than 1M Optimus G's, and quite frankly by early 2013 there will be better phones out, including the Galaxy S4 -- which will effectively kill off the Optimus G. The lack of a user base puts support (including future software updates) in doubt in my mind, especially since LG does not have a good reputation to begin with (the sales guy said he was at the release event and said LG did everything they could to assure everyone that they understood this was their first high end phone and that they needed to provide superior support along with it, something they had not previously done).
The $50 "BF" deal also tends to push me to GS3, especially if there is no discount on the Optimus G. OTOH, the Optimus G is a sweet phone, and GS3 is a few months old at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, HTC TP2? I too have a SERO plan, but its totally worth it to fork over the extra dough ($20 extra/month) for ANY android phone. Even the Kyocera Echo. Still the best possible unlimited plan out there (sans any kind of family plan with 58 phones on the plan).
In any case - yes, its the same old question of locked vs. unlocked bootloaders and whether or not devs will jump on board...but I will say - As is, ICS absolutely FLIES on this device. I'm perfectly happy with the stock feel until the devs (surely fewer than Samsung/HTC atm) iron out all the kinks. Once that happens, I'll do the flash dance and feel like I have a new phone...all over again :laugh:
I'm in the same position - the Optimus G or the Galaxy S3. I'm leaning heavily toward the G right now due to the better internals. Porting 4.2 to it shouldn't be that hard of a chore. The lack of a micro SD shouldn't be that inconvenient because hopefully someone will make USB OTG support so we can just plug in flash drives whenever we need extra space on the spur. I'm really annoyed because I would get the S4 if I could but I can't wait until February as the phone is supposed to be a gift for me for the holidays.
TechNinja49 said:
I'm in the same position - the Optimus G or the Galaxy S3. I'm leaning heavily toward the G right now due to the better internals. Porting 4.2 to it shouldn't be that hard of a chore. The lack of a micro SD shouldn't be that inconvenient because hopefully someone will make USB OTG support so we can just plug in flash drives whenever we need extra space on the spur. I'm really annoyed because I would get the S4 if I could but I can't wait until February as the phone is supposed to be a gift for me for the holidays.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just had a chat with a friend of mine and asked him the same question. His response was: "I really like the Note 2." When I pointed out that was a little too large, he said: "Well, I just ordered the Nexus 4, but the Galaxy S3 is probably fine." I pointed out that the Nexus 4 is a stripped down Optimus G, which is essentially a Nexus 4 + LTE, but its been adulterated by LG of course. He claimed the Nexus 4 battery was replaceable, it was a separate unit, held in by some small Torx screws. So replacing the battery shouldn't be a big deal. He thought the lack of MicroSD was a non-issue. His primary complaint was its LGism.
But here's the rub... and its exactly what you said. "I'm really annoyed because I would get the S4 if I could but I can't wait until February." As soon as the GS4 comes out, no one will buy the Optimus G. And everyone knows its coming out. So the only support for the Optimus are going to be the small number of people who are buying it between mid-November and March who can't hold out for the GS4. I had hoped that porting 4.2 would be pretty trivial, afterall the Nexus 4 runs it, and its virtually the same phone -- but I'm not so convinced. I'm not going to port it, and there's not going to be a huge number of people who will have the phone who have the skills to port it.
The Galaxy S3 came out in April didn't it? That is a long time from now.
Go to your wireless store and pick up an Optimus g. Use it for 10 days. Go back to the store and switch it out to galaxy s3. You will most likely get frustrated from the lag of the s3, and switch back.
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda app-developers app
Bigjohn_S said:
Say WHAT?? NO micro SD? ****, that settles it for me... I got a 32gb SD card full of music and stuff...and I mean FULL!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 this made my decision between this and HTC Evo 4G LTE easy.
Man, am I torn. Really Really torn.
I'll probably end up with the GSIII, though because I like FLASH on my browser, running 4.0.x don't bug me at all...
Thanks for all the comments... all good points and very valuable.
Bigjohn_S said:
Man, am I torn. Really Really torn.
I'll probably end up with the GSIII, though because I like FLASH on my browser, running 4.0.x don't bug me at all...
Thanks for all the comments... all good points and very valuable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The S3 is now on jelly bean, which doesn't support flash. The Optimus G currently supports it since it's still on ice cream sandwich but a JB update is coming soon. So, flash really shouldn't be a factor here. You're going to lose it with either phone.
Sent from my LG-LS970 using xda premium
I just upgraded to the LG O.G. through Amazon for $100. It's still $199 on Sprint's website, fyi
Wait so you're telling me with jellybean I won't be able stream sports or play flash even if I sideload the app ? Say it ain't so I don't wanna own a LG iphone
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
ackNalej said:
I just upgraded to the LG O.G. through Amazon for $100. It's still $199 on Sprint's website, fyi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also at best buy for that through tomorrow, thinking going to try it out otherwise back to my EVO 3d, radio strength and development will be key over next few weeks. Tried LTE on release day and download speeds half of my 3d...lol, it was returned though loved it.
Sent from Taptalk on the Sense 4.1 EVO 3D Rom of the day!......
Related
Im about to get a sprint phone and i need to decide (before this friday) if i want an Optimus G or a Galaxy S3 (or an iphone 5).
Im currently on Tmobile and i just cannot wait to get rid of my HTC Sensation!
I love the specs on Optimus G: however its still on ICS and the android development on it seems dead so far :/ :\ where as on the Galaxy S3 the specs and battery life arent as good but it has a solid developer team!
What would you guys say?
ps: iphone 5 is an option just because i love to switch and try new things. it also has all the google apps i would want/need
It's really all about preference, ask yourself what is it that you want in a phone.
I choose the Optimus G over the Galaxy S3 because the hardware was amazing and I had high hopes for the community since this is a the older brother of the Nexus 4. I could not see myself buying a dual core phone when quad core phones are just beginning to come out. I was afraid the GS3 would get outdated in a couple of months if I bought it around that time frame (last month for me).
Development will be getting a lot better soon. From what I've seen and read, we are close to having CM and other ROM's for this phone. Optimus G is the way to go.
LGOG ftw. There's a reason Google picked this phone to base its Nexus 4 off of.
Get to a sprint store and try them both. I went to play around with the note 2 and before I left I asked about the LG. After I tried it out I headed over to best buy and picked one up for 49.99 (99-50 phone freedom gift card). I still think it was the best move for me. I really wanted the note 2 for the size. I'm glad I didn't since I'm still trying to adjust to the larger size of the lg (came from a nexus s).
Coming from a Note II without a doubt Optimus G over S III. Optimus G is one of the best performing and best looking phones out.
Development will pick up... Christmas break soon will help. One thing i've noticed about the OG over my ancient samsung is that the radios seem really good. GPS locks on in a couple seconds and coverage is fantastic. Samsung has traditionally had problems with their radios.
Rocket_Science said:
Development will pick up... Christmas break soon will help. One thing i've noticed about the OG over my ancient samsung is that the radios seem really good. GPS locks on in a couple seconds and coverage is fantastic. Samsung has traditionally had problems with their radios.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I must say, I don't really use gps alot, maybe during the golfing season, but I used it for sh*ts and giggles on
my way to my wifes work, and the Nav was dead nuts. I mean to the middle of the intersection. I am really
impressed with it. My Evo lte was never this accurate.
Go with the S3 if you can get it for .99. Honestly I would wait for the LGOG to go down the $99 (entirely possible this Xmas since it was $99 for black friday) to get all its bugs fixed, or at least until Jelly Bean comes out.
It must be the apps I'm running or the games I'm playing but the phone just gets hot all the time after game play and it starts to lag a bit...it also has issues with wakelocks that causes the battery to drain at a slightly faster pace. Hopefully they fix that bug soon. Those are my only complaints. Other than that the phone is super fast, great battery when not gaming and the screen is amazingly clear. I love the sleek square-ish design and it's ability to run anything I've thrown at it.
After owning the s3, iphone 5, and this all I can say is the hardware is in another league the materials used in the iphone are better and the camera on the others are better but this screen is great the phone is fast and our feels like more of a premium device than the s3. I am completely happy with my decision to buy this phone but your decision will be personal preference minus the 1080p screen I feel like this is what we will be the class of devices released next year. Oh and try to test the s3 in bright conditions because in my experience it was a little to dim
bizzshow26 said:
After owning the s3, iphone 5, and this all I can say is the hardware is in another league the materials used in the iphone are better and the camera on the others are better but this screen is great the phone is fast and our feels like more of a premium device than the s3. I am completely happy with my decision to buy this phone but your decision will be personal preference minus the 1080p screen I feel like this is what we will be the class of devices released next year. Oh and try to test the s3 in bright conditions because in my experience it was a little to dim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. Screen is dim on the s3 in direct light. I never notice until I got the DNA. Next week I'll be getting the lgog for my gf. Feels snappier and more quality in the hand than the s3 for real. I don't know about the iPhone. I'm a dedicated fanboy
sent from my unlocked and rooted droid DNA
I noticed it because I had an evo lte prior to the and I could everything without issue outside. When I got the s3 it became more of an issue I couldn't play certain games or watch videos because the screen just wasn't bright enough. I with this phone I have no issue even without using auto brightness and the display set to 50%
ivanthec said:
Go with the S3 if you can get it for .99. Honestly I would wait for the LGOG to go down the $99 (entirely possible this Xmas since it was $99 for black friday) to get all its bugs fixed, or at least until Jelly Bean comes out.
It must be the apps I'm running or the games I'm playing but the phone just gets hot all the time after game play and it starts to lag a bit...it also has issues with wakelocks that causes the battery to drain at a slightly faster pace. Hopefully they fix that bug soon. Those are my only complaints. Other than that the phone is super fast, great battery when not gaming and the screen is amazingly clear. I love the sleek square-ish design and it's ability to run anything I've thrown at it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed,
only two complaints for me. Both having to do with heat issues. I've been doing some heavy gaming. Mostly FPS , gta, Max Payne......very graphic heavy games with eco mode on and off. Screen brightness 50% or more. Yeah it gets hot fast. Nothing to concerning though.
Second. When the phone is too hot it automatically reduces and forces a lower brightness level. Usually around 60% I've noticed. However its still plenty bright.
Other than that the phone is an absolute beast. Also with the quad core it will be better suited for up and coming apps / games.
mi7chy said:
Coming from a Note II without a doubt Optimus G over S III. Optimus G is one of the best performing and best looking phones out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What drove you away from the note 2? I'm trying to decide between the two phones.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app
Currently a Tmobile user but i have to decide before friday because im switching to sprint and im pretty much between three phones right now:
SGS3, LGOptimusG, Iphone 5 (JUST because its different and ive been using android for a long time now)
Im pretty much looking for specs, batterylife and updates or at least solid devs
I know with the Optimus G im getting awesome specs and awesome battery life but its LG and its still on ICS despite being a damn new phone (WTF)... Not sure when will it even get 4.1 or 4.2... And it has no developers
Iphone 5 i get specs, a new OS and i guess i get to re-discover everything before i get bored with it again. Also its tiny (i like smaller phones)
Galasy S3 has updates, good specs (not as good as Optimus G) and im not sure about its battery life but one thing is for sure and that is its solid developer community and constant ROM updates!
>.< keep trolling and fanboyism out please! i greatly appreciate your opinions
My honest opinion is that the GS3 is hands down the best of the 3.
1. Specs are fantastic, you really won't notice the difference on a quad core.
2. It is still supported by Samsung and sprint.
3. Battery life is great
4. Dev support is the best I've seen save for maybe the gnex
5. It is a big phone. If you prefer small ones, that may be a problem but honestly I got used to it pretty quickly.
6. It's sexy.
It seems that you enjoy change and playing with new stuff, so I'd suggest getting the iPhone5, using it for as long as you need, and then moving on from there if you insist. The device will have good resale value at that time, so it will be like a free rental if or when you decide to get a GS3/GS4/Note2/LG/etc.
IPhone 5 is not for tweakers
Considering jailbreak is virtually impossible ATM with nearly no chance of it happening any time soon (soon =now to may)
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
I had an Epic and recently got the GS3. I love it. With that said I also is an iPhone 4S for work. Apple's iPhone is boring. They all look the same, no customization, no fun rooting. Lame. They do work well, but boring.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
Just get the iphone 5. Once you get bored, sell it and get gsiii or something else. Iphone have really high resale value so at the end you will get to try both the iphone 5 and gsiii without wasting extra money. Maybe you will end up with more money lol.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
Razpr said:
Currently a Tmobile user but i have to decide before friday because im switching to sprint and im pretty much between three phones right now:
SGS3, LGOptimusG, Iphone 5 (JUST because its different and ive been using android for a long time now)
Im pretty much looking for specs, batterylife and updates or at least solid devs
I know with the Optimus G im getting awesome specs and awesome battery life but its LG and its still on ICS despite being a damn new phone (WTF)... Not sure when will it even get 4.1 or 4.2... And it has no developers
Iphone 5 i get specs, a new OS and i guess i get to re-discover everything before i get bored with it again. Also its tiny (i like smaller phones)
Galasy S3 has updates, good specs (not as good as Optimus G) and im not sure about its battery life but one thing is for sure and that is its solid developer community and constant ROM updates!
>.< keep trolling and fanboyism out please! i greatly appreciate your opinions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OP- It's going to come down to your preference... Iphones are limited on what you can do with them (Customziation wise) However, Androids are Open to possibilites.. The Optimus is slowly gaining Dev Support and is a fairly new device. Biggest turn off for that is the Non removable battery (Well difficult to remove) and no SD card slot for extra storage. Spec wise.. it's awesome..Personally, I went to the S3... I have all 3 Galaxy (Epics) in my house.. (all were mine at one point) and loved every bit of them.. OC the S3 and it's a beast in it's own! But just go check them out.. see which you can live with!
Please discuss other devices and comparisons in the sticky thread
Thanks
FNM
Please discuss other devices besides the S3 here.
Thanks
FNM
Good place to start, because you know the "what do you think about the s4" is coming.
Re: Off-topic other device and upgrading phone discussion
I will hopefully get the ball rolling. I personally will wait with upgrading. Reason being is when I upgraded to the s3 when it was at preorders and rumors of other more powerful phones came out. Then the note 2 appeared. I was upset. I will personally wait for the next stage of the new and hopefully octa core processors that the note 2 or the next google phone comes out with.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Re: Off-topic other device and upgrading phone discussion
+1 I absolutely agree with you Bruce Lee. There's really no need for the S IV. The S III does everything I need it to do and more. The last thing I need a phone to do is take over my life.
The only reason to upgrade from the S III to S IV would be bragging rights... How much are they really worth?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Re: Off-topic other device and upgrading phone discussion
theROMinator said:
+1 I absolutely agree with you Bruce Lee. There's really no need for the S IV. The S III does everything I need it to do and more. The last thing I need a phone to do is take over my life.
The only reason to upgrade from the S III to S IV would be bragging rights... How much are they really worth?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S3 doesn't have a 1080p screen with a 400+ ppi. It is as substantial upgrade as any these days. That being said, I'm going to skip over it. It's pretty much one step above or a half step above the s3 in many ways but I am under contract until December so I can't justify paying outright 500$ mostly for the screen overhaul. If anything I'll wait to see the Motorola X phone since it is supposed to be as low as 200$ from what I've read and wait for the s5 or whatever the new hotness is next year.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
I found the Samsung IV release presentation extremely cheesy---I'm not sure what they were thinking.
I am disappointed at all the hype that preceded the release. What happened to the flexible, unbreakable screen? What happened to the very innovative Big-Little Exynos octocore that the US will not be receiving? And a pentile screen again!
I am pleased with the slightly bigger screen, the +400 ppi, and the bump in battery capacity. IMO, Samsung would have hit a home run if they would have built the Galaxy 4 with similar construction like the HTC One (instead of all the plastic). I hear the speakers on the One are amazing and I hope the Galaxy's are at least on par. My contract renews in January and so I will wait to see what the Motorola X and the new Galaxy Note will provide (if it doesn't go up to a 6 in. screen).
I'm completely happy with my s3, not planning on upgrading any time soon!
I don't understand the hype for 1080p displays... Playing any type of game is going to murder your battery, and you're waisting CPU cycles on pixels you can't see. I personally would've rather had a 720p samoled plus display. No more screen burn in, dark pixels, and battery effiecent.
Re: Off-topic other device and upgrading phone discussion
Brand New said:
I don't understand the hype for 1080p displays... Playing any type of game is going to murder your battery, and you're waisting CPU cycles on pixels you can't see. I personally would've rather had a 720p samoled plus display. No more screen burn in, dark pixels, and battery effiecent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sammy has some new tech that's supposed to reduce battery used by the screen, forgot where I read that but I believe it said Nokia has used it as well before. I haven't used the s4 obviously, but the DROID dna has a 1080p screen and I at least can see a huge difference between that screen and my s3 or my girlys one X which is more comparable given that both the HTCs are lcd. Especially in plain text.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
No I will not upgrade,this is something that I learned the hard and expensive way. There is always gonna be something better.
My thoughts exactly on the stupid Galaxy IV event:
http://androidheadlines.com/2013/03...tude-on-display-not-a-new-flagship-phone.html
I will personally wait for the next stage of the new and hopefully octa core processors that the note 2 or the next google phone comes out with.
So I'm coming from a Samsung Infuse, and honestly, this phone cannot piss me off even more than I already am. I'm talking about constant resets (stuck power button), terrible GPS reception, UNBEARABLE LAG even with the latest paranoid android, and finally, messed up APN settings which bares the phone useless since I can't have any service on it! So now you understand of my struggles with my current phone. I'm in search for something that I can rely on and won't have even the slightest bit of lag after 2+ years of owning it.
Now, I've been doing some research on some phones (gs3, htc one x, htc one, gs4) And I come here to find out your honest opinion on the GS3 since the time you've owned it. Should I save some cash buying a GS3 or a One X, or are there some sort of problems with these phones that have ticked you off that I should consider paying the extra buck and looking at the 2013 flagships instead?
lemonz23 said:
So I'm coming from a Samsung Infuse, and honestly, this phone cannot piss me off even more than I already am. I'm talking about constant resets (stuck power button), terrible GPS reception, UNBEARABLE LAG even with the latest paranoid android, and finally, messed up APN settings which bares the phone useless since I can't have any service on it! So now you understand of my struggles with my current phone. I'm in search for something that I can rely on and won't have even the slightest bit of lag after 2+ years of owning it.
Now, I've been doing some research on some phones (gs3, htc one x, htc one, gs4) And I come here to find out your honest opinion on the GS3 since the time you've owned it. Should I save some cash buying a GS3 or a One X, or are there some sort of problems with these phones that have ticked you off that I should consider paying the extra buck and looking at the 2013 flagships instead?
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Click to collapse
I have had the blackberry storm WOW I literally through that against the wall it was stupid, I got an xperia arc, liked it got bored with it... then I got the Sony XPERIA ION enjoyed the 12MP camera but again it got boring. I can honestly say since I have gotten the S3 I have not thought about owning another phone, the ease of customization all the support for it and it works. I rely on it and there seems to be always something new to try out on it and I am still not bored with it. I am on the i747m.
lemonz23 said:
So I'm coming from a Samsung Infuse, and honestly, this phone cannot piss me off even more than I already am. I'm talking about constant resets (stuck power button), terrible GPS reception, UNBEARABLE LAG even with the latest paranoid android, and finally, messed up APN settings which bares the phone useless since I can't have any service on it! So now you understand of my struggles with my current phone. I'm in search for something that I can rely on and won't have even the slightest bit of lag after 2+ years of owning it.
Now, I've been doing some research on some phones (gs3, htc one x, htc one, gs4) And I come here to find out your honest opinion on the GS3 since the time you've owned it. Should I save some cash buying a GS3 or a One X, or are there some sort of problems with these phones that have ticked you off that I should consider paying the extra buck and looking at the 2013 flagships instead?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went from the Infuse to the GS3 and haven't looked back. I had a small crack in the corner of my Infuse and also the camera would not focus so I called up to see what my options were to get it replaced through the insurance plan. They told me my replacement was going to be a GS3 but that a $200 deductable would be charged to my next bill. It was a no brainer, especially since I am not eligable for an upgrade for another year. The GS3 is head and shoulders above the Infuse. It's a flagship phone with tons of support. I got it and rooted it that night. There are tons of great roms on XDA and have tried most of them. This phone is amazing. Can't really see why I'd get the S4. Perhaps when the Note 3 comes out, I would consider upgrading. An even larger screen would be very welcome.
Re: Off-topic other device and upgrading phone discussion
An upgrade is really dependant on what you use a device for. The s3 does pretty much what I need it to do for work and for personnel uses.
It's plenty fast still. I ran my iPhone 4 to end of contract and still think it could what I need from a phone.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
nexus
I think ill wait for another nexus 4 to come out
wutbdat said:
I think ill wait for another nexus 4 to come out
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Click to collapse
why would they release another of the same version?
It would be nexus 5 or some other name, they wouldn't reuse the same name
Just moved from my trusty Nexus S to the Canadian Galaxy S3. Love it. Finally I have free ram even when doing intensive tasks. Honestly, this is what Android should feel like.
Still learning the thing, installed TWRP, flashed latest cm10.1 nightly and put back my titanium backup. This thing feels like home, but twice as fast.
It's a bit of a shame there's so many S3 variants, really spreads out the development for it, whereas on the Nexus S there were very few versions (like 4, which all shared similar internals minus modems), making things very simple.
I'll see you guys around!
Off-topic other device and upgrading phone discussion
Wow, Samsung 4 is $250 at AT&T and I can only assume that Verizon and possibly Sprint will follow suit:
http://www.phonearena.com/news/AT-T-Galaxy-S4-price-will-be-249-pre-orders-start-on-April-16_id41309
This is a mistake and will cost them some sales numbers. I'm sure HTC, Motorola/Google, and LG are licking their chops.
Tmobile no contract $99 Galaxy S IV is really tempting. Too bad their service sucks in this area. I'll be at 18 months come January and ready to upgrade and am currently tempted by the LG Optimus G Pro and am awaiting the details on the Google X. It sounds like the Note 3 screen will be too big for my liking.
I've had every phone. I have the Galaxy S4, Note II, S4 Active, iPhone 5 and now the LG Optimus G Pro. I have to say the G Pro is leaps and bounds better than all of them. So why is it so undercover? Why does AT&T selling them dirt cheap and only AT&T? The phone is incredible. This is what I love over the S4.
- Notification light in the button. Awesome.
- 5.5 " awesome screen.
- Removable battery, SD card Same as S4 but but still awesome.
- Remote TV control IR blaster. Same as S4 but doesn't have to access the internet for shows. Just works.
- The videos don't have to access the internet. Hate that about the S4.
- No samsung bloatware. Just ATT crap.
- Quick button used for anything.
- Wireless charging out of the box.
- Interface is quicker than S4.
- It's only $99 on contract or $450 off contract. Cheapest smartphone yet.
- Comes with 32gb of space vs 16gb on S4.
I can't believe this is not a top seller. Loving this phone. The S4 is a great phone as well but this one is so much better and cheaper I can't believe it. Thinking about picking up a spare while supplies last. Don't see AT&T having this much longer. Looks like they are phasing it out already. Don't know why. This would have made a great Nexus device. Leaps and bounds better than the nexus 4.
I agree 100%.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium
mactruck said:
I've had every phone. I have the Galaxy S4, Note II, S4 Active, iPhone 5 and now the LG Optimus G Pro. I have to say the G Pro is leaps and bounds better than all of them. So why is it so undercover? Why does AT&T selling them dirt cheap and only AT&T? The phone is incredible. This is what I love over the S4.
- Notification light in the button. Awesome.
- 5.5 " awesome screen.
- Removable battery, SD card Same as S4 but but still awesome.
- Remote TV control IR blaster. Same as S4 but doesn't have to access the internet for shows. Just works.
- The videos don't have to access the internet. Hate that about the S4.
- No samsung bloatware. Just ATT crap.
- Quick button used for anything.
- Wireless charging out of the box.
- Interface is quicker than S4.
- It's only $99 on contract or $450 off contract. Cheapest smartphone yet.
I can't believe this is not a top seller. Loving this phone. The S4 is a great phone as well but this one is so much better and cheaper I can't believe it. Thinking about picking up a spare while supplies last. Don't see AT&T having this much longer. Looks like they are phasing it out already. Don't know why. This would have made a great Nexus device. Leaps and bounds better than the nexus 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed... :thumbup:
When the f*ck did we get ice cream??
This phone is a underdog, when I brought my a month ago and showed to my friends, they don't believed how nice this phone its. I had lots of phones, but this its the best one I have it and without a custom rom. Its a beast!! :victory:
LG has done a fantastic job with the GPRO.
Agreed those phone is awesome
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium
Damn right!
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium
I've personally talked about 7 of my friends into buying the OG Pro....
When the f*ck did we get ice cream??
I can't believe this is not a top seller.
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Click to collapse
B'cause the xda croud looks for ROMs and kernals and customs and it lacks them. And youtube and 'net is full of SGS4 ads and lacks G Pro ads. And every review says like "yeah, it's almost cool, almost... BAH! Look! it's camera is worse than in SGS4. Verdict: you better buy SGS4!" So ppl fly to stores and swipe SGS4 from set-outs. And who don't want plasticy SGS4 they go "Oh! HTC One is full metal body! I'll buy it! I really don't care for lack of microsd or battery life since is's metal"
mactruck said:
I've had every phone. I have the Galaxy S4, Note II, S4 Active, iPhone 5 and now the LG Optimus G Pro. I have to say the G Pro is leaps and bounds better than all of them. So why is it so undercover? Why does AT&T selling them dirt cheap and only AT&T? The phone is incredible. This is what I love over the S4.
- Notification light in the button. Awesome.
- 5.5 " awesome screen.
- Removable battery, SD card Same as S4 but but still awesome.
- Remote TV control IR blaster. Same as S4 but doesn't have to access the internet for shows. Just works.
- The videos don't have to access the internet. Hate that about the S4.
- No samsung bloatware. Just ATT crap.
- Quick button used for anything.
- Wireless charging out of the box.
- Interface is quicker than S4.
- It's only $99 on contract or $450 off contract. Cheapest smartphone yet.
- Comes with 32gb of space vs 16gb on S4.
I can't believe this is not a top seller. Loving this phone. The S4 is a great phone as well but this one is so much better and cheaper I can't believe it. Thinking about picking up a spare while supplies last. Don't see AT&T having this much longer. Looks like they are phasing it out already. Don't know why. This would have made a great Nexus device. Leaps and bounds better than the nexus 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed on all points, though you forgot one thing; no hideous TouchWiz.
LG killed this device by not paying a decent amount for promotion. Period.
Samsung, HTC & Apple pay to promote their products. In this case, LG did not. Why?
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium
I want it , but where I can buy it in same price 450$ ??
Word...I'm feeling this phone. Coming from an S3 and a Note 2.
Sent from my Optimus Primal G Pro via your hacked wifi....Dig it?
I re-uped for 2 years with ATT and got the G Pro for $8 (traded in my Infuse for $100)
Sent from my LG Optimus G Pro using XDA Premium
ReggieSmith said:
LG killed this device by not paying a decent amount for promotion. Period.
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Click to collapse
I don't know about "killed" but a big reason I feel comfortable purchasing a phone is the size of the xda community behind it. A big community not only helps with development but also for a constant stream of information, ideas, reviews, and problem solving. Sadly, certain phones lack the huge user base and suffer because of it
Well, me too started to love this G Pro over my S4.
GoLfWRC said:
Well, me too started to love this G Pro over my S4.
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Click to collapse
You should! There is no reason why anyone should not!:good::good:
I got to agree this is the best phone on the market today, my last 3 phones were s3 note and note2 this thing is just way better. The only thing i miss is the swipe to call/message from contacts and swipe to call from text messaging.
I'm more than passing familiar with android devices and I have to say this is the top phone I've ever played with. With a few customizations it would also be the fastest since I have a crazy high bin on the CPU. All in all though even on stock this phone satisfies all my needs in a phone. I declare it KING of Phablets! Long live the king!
So ummm. A long stretch on top in android world is what .... 4 months? Lol
Yeah I get asked a lot what phone I am using and when I tell the person what it us they just look at me like a dear staring into headlights
A week ago I broke my nexus 4, cracked it lol. So Im using this chance to get a upgrade of space(sdcard slot) and I found this phone broken on ebay (cracked screen nothing else) for 130. My question is: is it worth getting this phone, or should I get the optimus G (e970) and put it on tmobile..
The Optimus G pro is supposed to be alot better than the e970 and I really think it is, Specifically because:
Internal Storage of 32gb
Bigger screen
13 Mega Pixel instead of 8
Notification Led is in front instead of side
Battery is way bigger
and many others..
My brother doesnt think I should try for the phone because he has heard that the performance is worse than the e970 because its a bigger screen with a higher pixel density and the same gpu as the e970, Im not worried about the gameplay right now. Should I be?
However I do have some concerns which are:
The Developer community is smaller I think
And is the service good on tmobile?
My brother has his en970 on Tmobile, is it possible to have the Pro on tmobile? and if so does it get good service?
Ill list more if I remember any
Have any of you had the e970 before you got this phone? how did the difference feel?
I look forward to hearing your opinions. and I really appreciate them.
Sincerely Joshua
P.S. I apologise for any incorrect grammar
Both LG phones just work, not much need for development.
It comes down to whether you want the larger screen.
I have never used T-Mobile and have no idea how they work on that carrier, but don't they have the same bands?
I am currently using a MotoX and keep eying the G Pro as my next phone. My Optimus G was every bit as good as the MotoX and the G Pro is essentially the same phone with a larger screen.
Good luck with your next phone..
BTW - the camera is great on my wife's G Pro and so is the battery life.
Yeah I'm really hoping to get that phone soon too. Because it looks amazing, way better than the e970 lol. And personally I think the larger screen will be something I'll get used to.
Yeah, both the pro and the e970 have the right bands for T-Mobile and I'm hoping it'll work good or better than the e970 does.
I bet, as soon as I heard about the camera and the battery life I was like "whoa"
And thanks btw, Good luck to you too.
bought one today on ebay for 225$...
i think its the cheapest used snapdragon 600 phone on the market..
capeorigins said:
A week ago I broke my nexus 4, cracked it lol. So Im using this chance to get a upgrade of space(sdcard slot) and I found this phone broken on ebay (cracked screen nothing else) for 130. My question is: is it worth getting this phone, or should I get the optimus G (e970) and put it on tmobile..
The Optimus G pro is supposed to be alot better than the e970 and I really think it is, Specifically because:
Internal Storage of 32gb
Bigger screen
13 Mega Pixel instead of 8
Notification Led is in front instead of side
Battery is way bigger
and many others..
My brother doesnt think I should try for the phone because he has heard that the performance is worse than the e970 because its a bigger screen with a higher pixel density and the same gpu as the e970, Im not worried about the gameplay right now. Should I be?
However I do have some concerns which are:
The Developer community is smaller I think
And is the service good on tmobile?
My brother has his en970 on Tmobile, is it possible to have the Pro on tmobile? and if so does it get good service?
Ill list more if I remember any
Have any of you had the e970 before you got this phone? how did the difference feel?
I look forward to hearing your opinions. and I really appreciate them.
Sincerely Joshua
P.S. I apologise for any incorrect grammar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm comming from an LG E970 (OG AT&T variant) and got my g pro recently so here are my thoughts:
Pros:
-GORGEOUS screen. The huge screen is a lot better than the OG, and the size makes it ideal for movie/video watching.
-Lots of storage. The OG has 16 internal and sd slot. I had mine with a 16 gig sd. Never ran out of space but the extra is always welcome.
-Camera. The 8mp cam on the OG is decent at best. The G pro's cam is a whole lot better in every aspect.
-Battery. Whith my OG i was reaching for my charger before my workday ended (with moderate to heavy use of course, some gaming, lots of music, web surfing), the G pro battery lasts a lot longer.
-Stock modded kitkat rom with optimus UI and several lg goodies available (knock off anyone?)
-Price. I got mine in mint condition for under $300 on ebay, and there are a lot of offers for $250-$300 in good shape. Just like the OG this phone is a good bargain when it comes to bang for buck.
Cons
-Very small dev support. The OG and N4 have a ton of roms to choose from, the G pro doesn't.
-Size can be overwhelming at first, takes a while to get used to. I have small hands but still manage to do most hings one handed.
-"Brickability" or how easy it is to get a soft brick on this phone(read the threads). Though it is easy to bring back and i havent read of any hard bricks, a lot of people have soft bricked trying to flash radoenmaya's kitkat rom.
so there you have it. I've only had my G pro for a couple of days, but used an optimus G for months, and with the new kitkat rom, I can't say I miss the OG except maybe for the size sometimes(playing ingress on the G pro is sweet!).
Yeah, personally I think it is one of the cheapest too. That's why I want it so bad haha.
However my plan is to buy a cracked one on eBay and repair it myself, hope it goes well.
And that's one of my fears is about the fact that the dev community isn't too big so there are few ROMs, however I don't really mind because it was a little overwhelming to choose from so many ROMs on the nexus 4.
P.s. have you tried beanstalk? How was it?
Og pro has snapdragon 600 no s4 as og has.
Oh yeah true.. Lol
capeorigins said:
Yeah, personally I think it is one of the cheapest too. That's why I want it so bad haha.
However my plan is to buy a cracked one on eBay and repair it myself, hope it goes well.
And that's one of my fears is about the fact that the dev community isn't too big so there are few ROMs, however I don't really mind because it was a little overwhelming to choose from so many ROMs on the nexus 4.
P.s. have you tried beanstalk? How was it?
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Click to collapse
Havent tried it, not really fond of AOSP or CM based roms. I prefer stock modded. I tried it on my OG though and it was solid.
Oh lol yeah I love cm based roms.
Haven't tried too many stock ROMs with mods