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Best Phone?

BlueIce5249

BlueIce5249

Android Expert
I think I'm in the market for a new phone. I broke my S3 screen and it seems to be best option available right now. Instead of paying $100 for my deductible, I'm going to try and find a way to get a new phone on contract and still keep my unlimited data. What are the best phones out right now? Battery life is important. I also wouldn't mind waiting a month or so if there's one around the corner.

Opinions?
 
T ome, the best phone is the HTC One w/ a custom ROM. But that's just me.

Other contenders: Moto G/X, Nexus 5, LG G2. But that's just my opinions, of course.
 
On Verizon, I'd definitely go with the Moto X (as the Nexus 5 isn't available on that carrier).
 
What makes the Moto X better than G2? Everything I've seen kind of points to the G2 being the better phone and the most likely to last longer. The processor especially.
 
Motorola / Google have done some truly magical stuff with the Moto X - building in a ton of extra features that don't get in the way or bog you down AND are actually quite useful. That's a formula that no one else really seems to understand right now. Motorola has also been pushing out software updates like no one's business - Samsung and LG can't make that same claim.

The G2 may have beefier specs, but there is a lot more to what a phone is like to use on a daily basis than specs and benchmarks. I'd wager that the Moto X does a lot more with the specs it does have than the G2 does.

And have you seen that skin that LG slathers shamelessly on top of the beautiful work that the Android team has churned out lately?

Ars Technica's Ron Amadeo sums it up pretty well in his review of the phone:

Now on to the software. Oh, the software. You immediately know you are in for a wild ride just by unlocking the G2. Turn on the device, and clouds appear behind the current time and slowly part. The sun lights up in the upper left corner, shining rays of light down upon your lock screen and eventually firing a lens flair across the display. Touching the screen unleashes a light-bending black hole animation surrounded by a continuously bubbling "froth" that expands as you move your finger outward, ripping a void in the fabric of space-time and revealing your home screen underneath. This is the G2 software design in a nutshell. Everything is designed and animated in the cheesiest, most overwrought way possible. If you have any design sensibilities, look away.
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Video: http://bcove.me/mvrbylcq
 
Moved to sub-forum where phone comparisons are discussed.

My vote is Droid Maxx ... without a doubt the very best phone I have ever used.

... Thom
 
funkylogik said:
Id rather have the g2 for the bigger screen. Plus, i think the g2 would be better to tinker with
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Yeah, but DAT UI:

gSqFuQX.jpg


:bawling:
 
funkylogik said:
Id rather have the g2 for the bigger screen. Plus, i think the g2 would be better to tinker with
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I played around with the moto x before buying my g2, have to say I don't regret my purchase one big.

Plus nothing root and aosp can't fix for that near vanilla experience ;)

4yvadyty.jpg


My g2 but running slimkat ;)

+1 to g2 over moto x :)
 
I forgot to add, I'm not worried about the UI as much because I'm not afraid to root.

But I want to buy a phone that's "future proof". The Snapdragon 800 is the best out right now.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Moto X. In fact, I almost bought it already. But the specs don't impress me.


People who have the G2 and the Moto X. How long does your battery last on a normal day? And how good is the camera? And how is the durability? All of these matter to me because of my business.
 
Im particularly fond of the nexus 5, but thats not available on verizon.

So for your scenario, I'd go with the G2. Latest and greatest specs, and a huge battery to boot (3000mah).
 
After nearly a months worth of use, typically normal to heavy, a battery will last me a good 20 or so hours.

Camera, definitely nothing to complain about either, better than my retired gs3.

Durability is my only complaint, dropped it on cement in a cheap case and completely shattered the screen.
 
kate said:
The Galaxy S5 should be released in a month or two, but I don't think the specs are known yet. As previously mentioned, the G2 is a good choice.
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Last rumors I heard was an announcement in April, but who knows when it'll actually go on sale though.

I don't think Id be able to go with a cracked screen for that long :eek:
 
DragonSlayer95 said:
After nearly a months worth of use, typically normal to heavy, a battery will last me a good 20 or so hours.

Camera, definitely nothing to complain about either, better than my retired gs3.

Durability is my only complaint, dropped it on cement in a cheap case and completely shattered the screen.
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This may be a deal breaker for me. Durability, battery, and the lifespan of the product are really the top things for me right now. :hmmmm2::dontknow:

I was thinking this over a bit more at dinner as well. I'm not sure Google would phase out the Moto X anytime soon and I think I'd rather have that than an LG. Never had an LG smartphone, but if they're as bad as their dumbphones....I'd be in for a bad time.
 
Battery life on the G2 is insanely awesome. I'm running a CM 11 nightly so not concerned with the UI. You can also sideload the LG camera app which is far better than the AOSP one. :)
 
Best phones right are the LG G2, Nexus 5, Galaxy Note 3 and Xperia Z1.

But for me it's between the Nexus 5 and LG G2, if you want battery life get the LG G2.

BlueIce5249 said:
This may be a deal breaker for me. Durability, battery, and the lifespan of the product are really the top things for me right now. :hmmmm2::dontknow:

I was thinking this over a bit more at dinner as well. I'm not sure Google would phase out the Moto X anytime soon and I think I'd rather have that than an LG. Never had an LG smartphone, but if they're as bad as their dumbphones....I'd be in for a bad time.
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Moto X is great value and the build quality is great, even the cheaper Moto G is well built. Any high end device will take damage when dropped, some people get lucky and some don't so buy a case or be careful.

It has similar performance to most current Snapdragon 600, S4 Pro based devices in the real world and should last the same as they do.

The fact it's dual core could potentially limit performance in some apps, but that shouldn't put you off.
 
BlueIce5249 said:
This may be a deal breaker for me. Durability, battery, and the lifespan of the product are really the top things for me right now. :hmmmm2::dontknow:

I was thinking this over a bit more at dinner as well. I'm not sure Google would phase out the Moto X anytime soon and I think I'd rather have that than an LG. Never had an LG smartphone, but if they're as bad as their dumbphones....I'd be in for a bad time.
Click to expand...

Well I think that LG have earned their credentials by producing the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5, so I don't think you should have a problem there.

As to durability, DragonSlayer said he was using a cheap case. I bet if you dropped any of the phones we're discussing in similar circumstances, they would shatter.
 
From your description of what you want... I'd look at the Note 3.

The Moto X (what I use) may look lower on the specs sheet, but it isn't a slouch. And what really makes it a good phone is that it has USEFUL features that most Moto X users use daily... most importantly, the touchless controls. Very nice to have! From bed, without touching the phone, I just say out loud "OK, Google Now... what time is it" or other commands and it responds. Just as useful in the car (no fumbling for the phone).

Still, if the Note 3 was available on Republic Wireless, it'd be what I'd get... the Moto X would be my 2nd choice.

As for the Moto G... ummm... no. No 4G radio in it.
 
I'm gonna head to a vzw store later this afternoon and see what I think. Not going to buy anything right now, still working on a loophole lol. But I'll let everyone know what I think.
 
My contract is up soon and i'm starting to trawl the internet for details on new phones.

Anyone point me in the direction of a good website that reviews phones that have been released or are future releases please.

:smokingsomb: Muchos Gracias.
 
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