Anyone else have second thoughts on getting a S4 now that HTC One is getting rave reviews?

[Abird!]

The non removable battery and no sd slot was practically a deal breaker for me. Then I though about it and I swapped out my sd card once for more memory in my Shift and never swapped batteries so the deal was back on for the One, granted I keep no music on my phone I prefer an iPod for that I'm just weird like that minus a handful of songs I use for ringtones. I just love the look of it, and no I don't use cases ever so its looks won't be covered. I have one pre-ordered but still find mysel swooning over some features of the S4

 

[Beards]

The only negative for me is internal storage.
SIM Free UK will only see the 16GB model at launch.
This used to be enough but Samsung have not moved with the times.....
Granted when you download an app to the internal storage it will only consume around 50MB or less but it's not the actual app which is the problem it is the additional data files required to run the app where the problem rises.
A couple of years ago with a 16GB device you could happily install and run many, many apps.
These days though developers are pushing the boundaries but at the cost of storage space. Now we see apps requiring well over 1 to 2GB+.
At this rate with data sizes increasing, if you move this problem on six months to another year you then quickly realise the 16GB model has little chance in longevity.

 

[ScandaLeX]

I agree with you. The 16GB standard should've been phased out a long time ago with 32 becoming the norm.

 

[sorka]

Not really. The market for removeable battery and SD slot account for very little of the target audience.

Both removable battery and SD slot are easily fixed:

1. Instead of carrying that spare battery around, carry an external battery that is around the same size.

2. HTC gives you 32GB out of the box instead of 16GB already. More than enough.

Niether works for either myself or my wife. She needs nearly all 64 of GB on her S3. Not only do we store all of our music(and I mean ALL of it), she takes hours of video and hundreds of photos every week.

Neither of us would put up with an external battery. It's just that simple. I've suggested the same thing to many others even though we wouldn't accept it ourselves and have always gotten the same response. Bleh!

 

[crabman]

My HTC Hero and HTC Desire Z say hello. Both still using their original batteries.

+1

My captivate (og galaxy s) still chugs along when I power it on from time to time (Original battery)

lol Rolls eyes back at you. As I said, if you call being able to take a charge and then die without use halfway through the day working then yeah, maybe they do last 3 years. Again I entreat you to tell me where you folks are getting these batteries that last 3 years because I am not getting them nor does anyone I know seem to know how to lay hands on one either. Or have you gents hired battery faeries that somehow maintain your batteries in their original condition? Maybe its a locality thing and batteries in the Pacific Northwest simply don't last like they do in other places do to strange and unexplained magnetic fields? lol I mean seriously guys. I'm not trying to be a Richard here but your claim does not jive with my experience or that of any persons experience that I have ever met and I'm fifty and know a ton of people. I'm not quite sure what you want me to make of that but there it is...

Regardless I'm going to give both of you the nod that your word is good and it is as you say because I cannot do otherwise not knowing you personally. This is the best I can do.

 

[EarlyMon]

Everyone's mileage varies but that's not uncommon.

I have a phone with a great battery, still strong, from 2011. I have another that's highly diminished.

The second one I ran into shutdown all of the time, the first, I didn't.

If you're usage is high enough to have to swap batteries in the middle of the day, and you wait until one is depleted before swapping, then that's killing the battery life.

As they go into deep depletion, their little metal tubes tend to deform. That will always accelerate battery death.

Science.

No personal skepticism required.

PS - I haven't seen 50 in quite a while, and I know a lot of people as well.

 

[rushmore]

No sd card slot and no replaceable battery..... Nope. The One is for Android users not quite sold on an iPhone

BTW, 16gb means that minus apps, OS and operational floor of Android, you will be juggling about 13gb of space for apps and media. Learn to love the cloud and its battery and data cap draining ways.

 

[EarlyMon]

No sd card slot and no replaceable battery..... Nope. The One is for Android users not quite sold on an iPhone

Give the arrogance a freaking rest.

That's just flame bait.

 

[rushmore]

Give the arrogance a freaking rest.

That's just flame bait.

If posted in a One forum, fair point. A simple joke in the S4 forum seems non arrogant.

 

[EarlyMon]

If posted in a One forum, fair point. A simple joke in the S4 forum seems non arrogant.

If my judgment on that point was harsh, I apologize.

But it's still flame bait and not funny, and the converse isn't allowed over there either.

No need for a bunch of iPhone ragging when so many Android newcomers are visiting both forums trying to decide.

Android is about choice.

If people have theirs satisfied without a removable battery or sd card slot, then Android still wins. Unless you own a LOT of stock in Samsung, who cares if someone chooses another model?

We've clipped troll wings from both camps, we're equal opportunity on that.

 

[EarlyMon]

BTW, 16gb means that minus apps, OS and operational floor of Android, you will be juggling about 13gb of space for apps and media. Learn to love the cloud and its battery and data cap draining ways.

You're referring to the initial SGS4 in the UK from only some vendors on that 16 GB, right?

Minimum on the One outside of Taiwan is 32 GB.

I've not heard of 16 GB limitations on the SGS4 elsewhere yet.

 

[trparky]

I have to agree with EarlyMon here, Android is indeed about choice. If we start imposing our will on anyone just because we think the S4 is better than the HTC One, then we are no better than those in the Apple camp that impress their will on everyone who buys an iDevice.

Android is about freedom to choose. It is your right and freedom to choose what device you want.

 

[ScandaLeX]

E-X-A-C-T-L-Y!!!!!
If it's Android, no matter who the manufacturer, it's still Android.

 

[Android26]

I continue to flip flop between the two camps.

I was sold on the HTC One many times because I highly value build quality, but I keep getting turned off by the fact that it is worse than the Galaxy S4 in every way (not including speakers and look).

 

[Hadron]

You're referring to the initial SGS4 in the UK from only some vendors on that 16 GB, right?

I've not seen anyone offering the larger sizes in the UK so far.

The 32GB S3 is rare here (not all networks offer it, not available from the biggest independent or from many of the online SIM-free smartphone vendors), so we have to hope that they do better with the S4.

 

[barryl85]

lol Rolls eyes back at you. As I said, if you call being able to take a charge and then die without use halfway through the day working then yeah, maybe they do last 3 years. Again I entreat you to tell me where you folks are getting these batteries that last 3 years because I am not getting them nor does anyone I know seem to know how to lay hands on one either. Or have you gents hired battery faeries that somehow maintain your batteries in their original condition? Maybe its a locality thing and batteries in the Pacific Northwest simply don't last like they do in other places do to strange and unexplained magnetic fields? lol I mean seriously guys. I'm not trying to be a Richard here but your claim does not jive with my experience or that of any persons experience that I have ever met and I'm fifty and know a ton of people. I'm not quite sure what you want me to make of that but there it is...

Regardless I'm going to give both of you the nod that your word is good and it is as you say because I cannot do otherwise not knowing you personally. This is the best I can do.

Don't think i've ever had a phone for longer than 2 years but i've never bought a replacement battery for any of my phones and never had any of the issues you mention.

Last phone before my Galaxy S3 was an iPhone 4, had it for two years and the battery was as good as the day I got it, in fact it was better than my Galaxy S3 has ever been.


As for the HTC One, it does look good from most angles, I specifically cannot take to the curved back, it makes it look fat and does not appeal to me. I have also never been a fan of HTC phones and heard a lot of bad things regarding them. I was very interested in the front facing stereo speakers which are suppose to sound great but then I asked myself how often I would use them and it's almost never (minus notifications). When I listen to music I always use headphones.

Although the Galaxy S4 has some drawbacks when talking about materials used I actually think it looks better, I like the textured finish and I think on the most part it isn't heralded because of Samsung keeping the same design language from the GS3 / Note 2.

The biggest plus for me is the expandable memory and one of the big things that sold me was the fact it has a larger screen but keeps almost the same size as the GS3.

 

[rushmore]

If my judgment on that point was harsh, I apologize.

But it's still flame bait and not funny, and the converse isn't allowed over there either.

No need for a bunch of iPhone ragging when so many Android newcomers are visiting both forums trying to decide.

Android is about choice.

If people have theirs satisfied without a removable battery or sd card slot, then Android still wins. Unless you own a LOT of stock in Samsung, who cares if someone chooses another model?

We've clipped troll wings from both camps, we're equal opportunity on that.

Sans the iPhone joke, more to the point when choosing that folks need to appreciate the lack of an SD card means juggling apps and media. If you like games, a lot are over 1GB, so if you also want to have media on your device, even the 28gb free on the 32Gb version becomes cramp.

2GB caps and the cloud are not practical unless "blessed" with a prolific public wifi range. A lot of areas are not. Even when I was in London last summer we had to hunt for places (will not use much data with international roaming- yikes). Not as practical as using the data radio. Being stuck on the M5 for two hours and other similar places do not have wifi anyway. Added: I was not driving, BTW.

 

[EarlyMon]

I think that with every thread and set of article comments discussing the merits of expandable storage, it's not a hidden fact.

For those that have rocked an 8, 16, or 32 GB sd card and never filled it up, or one of the iPhones with 16 or 32 GB, the fixed 32 GB storage of the One is not a big deal. Not having to buy an sd card is one less thing to hassle. For those needing more, there's the 64 GB model.

That takes in a lot of people. They don't care about not having an sd card, not because they're uniformed or don't know the question to ask or because they're stupid, they don't care because they don't have to.

That's why the One is neither defective nor deficient - it's simply targeted to that not-small group of people.

Then, there are the others. People that have run out before, and don't want to again. People that want to carry multiple sd cards for alternative uses - work and home, videos vs other, etc etc, it's an interesting solution.

For them, the flexibility of the SGS4 is essential. It's neither defective nor deficient in offering a more complex array of choices to purchase.

We have a whole thread here discussing the merits of small vs large built-in storage on the SGS4, along with selecting an sd card by class.

With flexibility comes complexity. And from that, frustration at times. We have the internal vs external sd card storage management threads to prove that in abundance.

With simplicity comes limitations. We have those threads of frustration in abundance as well.

Criticizing each other for "not getting it," something that I see in both camps sometimes, brings to mind diners at two different tables telling the other that their choice of lobster or filet mignon is wrong because they're not getting it.

Discuss, go nuts on the positive merits of the feature, whichever camp your in. Just please don't make fun of the other guys, their opinion matters too.

And lest assumptions be made because I presently roll with an HTC, mine is the One X 16 GB variant with an sd card slot. And I've been rocking a 64 GB sd card for almost as long as I've had it. And I very often want more or for it to be configured differently, more simply. So I'm very much on both sides and especially the third side that doesn't see this as black and white simple.

 

[rushmore]

I still do not understand why only the China version of the One has the sd slot. HTC put it in that version, so why not keep it simple and have for all? Sales will be constrained without the option, so makes more sense to offer it everywhere.

 

[EarlyMon]

I still do not understand why only the China version of the One has the sd slot. HTC put it in that version, so why not keep it simple and have for all? Sales will be constrained without the option, so makes more sense to offer it everywhere.

Sales are constrained for those wanting storage flexibility.

Sales are enhanced for those wanting storage simplicity.

I think it's that second group that you may not relate to, not sure.

~~~~~~~~

Samsung is huge - I think we all know that. They are offering how many storage options for SGS4? 16, 32 and 64 GB plus sd card plus two processors - plus the per-market model variations that they haven't announced yet.

HTC is not huge and offers two - 32 and 64 GB, one processor plus two model variations for poorer markets (the dual-sim/sd card and the 16 GB for Taiwan).

If you want to see HTC maintain quality, expect fewer variations. That lesson they proved to themselves and us already. (Plus, they still have to produce their non-flagship phones, just like Samsung. They're offering fewer of those as well.)

If you prefer the One, but the only-64 GB model is out of the question - or you prefer it and the non-removable battery is a killer - you're out of luck.

If you prefer the SGS4, but the external speakers and lesser microphones are out of the question - or you prefer it and the non-LCD display is a deal-killer - you're out of luck.

~~~~~~~~

If an sd card slot prevents constraining sales, then why has Samsung added to their manufacturing costs by reportedly going with 3 different storage versions??

~~~~~~~~

Markets are like casino tables to manufacturers. They steps up to the table, they pays their money, and they takes their chances.

In my opinion.

 

[Beards]

Samsung is huge - I think we all know that. They are offering how many storage options for SGS4? 16, 32 and 64 GB plus sd card plus two processors - plus the per-market model variations that they haven't announced yet.

Unfortunately not the UK market SIM Free.
This market will only see the 16GB model released at launch.
Further, it has been noted once you switch on a new S4 for the first time that 16GB will have dropped to 9.8GB remaining.

As I mentioned before, with Apps increasing in their additional data files at an alarming rate it simply gives little longevity in owning and using a 16GB S4.

 

[EarlyMon]

Unfortunately not the UK market SIM Free.
This market will only see the 16GB model released at launch.
Further, it has been noted once you switch on a new S4 for the first time that 16GB will have dropped to 9.8GB remaining.

As I mentioned before, with Apps increasing in their additional data files at an alarming rate it simply gives little longevity in owning and using a 16GB S4.

Yep, caught that earlier - I guess I'm prattling on about what we expect for long term options.

Agree on the other 100% - my 16 GB phone leaves just under 10 GB for user storage, and too many apps don't understand that there just might be an extra storage card plugged in besides the built-in partition.

Again, I suppose that some may be happy with that configuration, but as for me? I've already lived with that, so 16 GB plus sd card = no thank you.

 

[markyboy81]

Yep, caught that earlier - I guess I'm prattling on about what we expect for long term options.

Agree on the other 100% - my 16 GB phone leaves just under 10 GB for user storage, and too many apps don't understand that there just might be an extra storage card plugged in besides the built-in partition.

Again, I suppose that some may be happy with that configuration, but as for me? I've already lived with that, so 16 GB plus sd card = no thank you.

I guess it depends on whether you're a gamer or not, as that's where a lot of the large apps are. I don't tend to play many games on my s3 and have about 7.5 gb left. I direct all my music, videos and pictures onto the 64gb sd card

 

[Beards]

Yep, caught that earlier - I guess I'm prattling on about what we expect for long term options.

Agree on the other 100% - my 16 GB phone leaves just under 10 GB for user storage, and too many apps don't understand that there just might be an extra storage card plugged in besides the built-in partition.

Again, I suppose that some may be happy with that configuration, but as for me? I've already lived with that, so 16 GB plus sd card = no thank you.

Yes, unfortunately I'm the one prattling on so I sincerely apologies in advance.
It used to be fine when we had apps like Apps2SD which would at least allow you to transfer Apps and data files to an external card but Google being Google who simply do not like external storage took out the option of App and data transfer with Jelly Bean.

It annoys me no end when on one side we have one telling us we must use internal storage and the Cloud but on the other side we have the manufacturer not providing suffice internal storage and developers giving us great apps at the cost of storage space...... The two just do not meet.

It is a great shame for me personally. I have several medical apps which although are only 50MB in size they however require well over 1GB each of added files, all that have to be stored with the main app.

Oh for a metal S4 (hint.... could be on the cards by the end of the year) with it being a 128GB model to boot.

 

[BzB]

for android i think the battery discussion and sd card storage are more relevant than on the iphone. why?

the iphone typically has good battery life given comparable usage and battery size to an android phone (non-rooted). android phones can run through battery faster due to multitasking functionality, lte, etc. it's easy to lose track of how fast your battery is depleting or how long you can go before you need to recharge. being able to swap in a fresh battery is a huge benefit to power users or a huge relief to users that don't monitor their battery closely. also consider the flexibility of being able to put in an extended battery for even longer up time.

the sd card storage provides a "safe zone" for media on an android phone. updates, upgrades, flashing roms (for rooted phones), can put on board storage in jeopardy of being lost. i've seen a lot of cases where galaxy nexus users lost all of their data while performing a simple carrier upgrade. an sd card can be easily removed which pretty much eliminates the possibility of data being lost by accident. it also makes data storage and arrangement a cinch since you can just pop out the card, plug it into your computer and have it recognized as a drive. sometimes computers\android act funky when you plug in your phone and how it recognizes internal storage. for iphones i suppose they have some of the same risks, but not as much since most of the onboard storage is saved in itunes.

so...in terms of the sg4 and the one, user preference is a significant driver, but the practicality and flexibility of sd card storage / swappable battery is an undeniable advantage imo.