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ArmageddonX

ArmageddonX

Android Expert
First off, hello everyone. I'm glad to be a new member of the community! I don't want to be long winded so I'll try to keep this short. I have a situation I'd like some help with. ;)

Back in 2009 I took a chance with webOS and a Palm Pre and got burned. I hate my Palm. So when HP/Palm decided to lie to it's customers over webOS 2.0 was the final straw. :mad:

I've been shopping for an Android Smartphone for several month. Some would say, even obsessing. In-Fact I think my Wife would tell you I have "issues" over this phone hunt (LoL) :D

I've familiarized myself with most of the terms and spend hours in the stores playing with different models to see what I liked or disliked.

I really prefer the 4.3 inch screen. It's probably become my largest "must have" feature.

If I could get a larger screen on a phone I'd take it. I've even joked (but I'm totally serious) I would carry around a 10 inch tablet with me if I could use a Bluetooth headset to make calls and be able to make texts from it.

I'd prefer an AMOLED display but the only phones with a 4.3 AMOLED display are really not looking so spectacular. I would settle for a different display type if the rest of the phone was amazing. For instance the Evo3D looks amazing but it has a qHD SLED.

I really want a DualCore Processor and 1gb of ram. It just seems like what I'd need to have a somewhat "future-proof" phone. Or at least "a few months" proof. I'd also prefer it have a SD slot but if it has good internal memory it wouldnt be a deciding factor.

Honestly the Galaxy S2 fits all of my specification "needs" but I dont think I can wait until the end of this year or the beginning of next for a S2 variant to hit Sprint or Verizon. Which are my only two realistic options for local networks.

I'm considering settling for the Evo3D as it fits all my specifications except the AMOLED display. I've also considered the Nexus S 4G but it doesn't have a Dual Core, only has 512mb ram, and doesnt have Swype. (Which is also something I'd really like to have.)

I'm on my phone probably 45 minutes out of every 1 hour. I use my phone mainly for Web Browsing and a LOT of Text Messaging. I use about 1-3gb a month data and have about 5,000 text messages. I usually only spend 300 minutes or so a month on my phone. I don't talk a lot on it but it is my only phone.

Any advice? I'm extremely new to Android so please forgive any mistakes I may have made in the technological terms.

Should I get for the Evo3D when it comes out this summer?
Am I really going to have to wait until winter for a S2 on Sprint or Verizon?
Should I get the NexusS 4G and settle for a current generation phone?
Dare I even ask on the Android Forum if I should wait and get an iPhone 5? (LoL) :D
Other suggestions?

Thank you & sorry that wasn't short at all. :rolleyes:
 
Do you really need to get a phone "right now"? Could you wait until you find the phone that pretty much satisfies your wants/needs? I was going to order the HTC Thunderbolt recently but decided that I really want a phone that had better battery life and dual core. I definitely want to stick with Verizon as my cell carrier so I'll wait it out a bit more and see what comes out. My current phone, the HTC Incredible, sucks at battery life and I'm squinting when viewing the smallish display.
 
If you like games get the Play. It rocks for Games. I will be getting the NGP when it comes out also.
 
ArmageddonX said:
doesnt have Swype. (Which is also something I'd really like to have.)
Click to expand...
Sign up now for the Swype beta to broaden your options.

ArmageddonX said:
Dare I even ask on the Android Forum if I should wait and get an iPhone 5? (LoL)
Click to expand...
How long are you willing to wait? I guess you need to answer that question regardless of the device you're considering. It might help to prioritize your wish list to help you determine what you're willing to settle on.
 
I'm really not willing to wait any later than November. Frankly, I've been telling myself November and I don't honestly think I'll make it that long. :o

Also really none of my "wants" are absolutely except for probably the 4.3" requirement. For instance I have also been seriously considering the Samsung Infuse on AT&T. While AT&T isn't known for the best voice service, I dont really talk on my phone a lot. The Infuse has a 1.2ghz Single Core and has a gorgeous 4.5" Super Amoled Plus. :eek:

So I would say for me:
Settling: Nexus S 4G (Released)
Almost Perfect Fit: Evo3D (June)
Perfect Fit: Galaxy S2 (but probably can't wait for Q1 2012)
Off-Carrier Option: Samsung Infuse (June)
Non-Android Option: iPhone 5 (September)

Thoughts?
 
Screen tech is easy to get worked up over, but it's not always what you think.

If you hold a SAMOLED up against a good LCD, the OLED tech looks more vibrant. If you hold both up against a properly adjusted or calibrated HDTV (showing same content at same time) - you find they both have color inaccuracies and neither is really right. Under those conditions, people split on preference, but many prefer the LCD - it's not as vibrant, but it's not as oversaturated.

Depending on the model, either tech will have too much blue or too much red.

Some say one does better in sunlight than the other, I've seen those posts all over the forums here, then people argue about it and at the end of the day, none of these techs are really ideal in sunlight.

SAMOLED was touted as a power-saver - but - just now the new SAMOLED+ is coming with standard RGB sub-pixels. The previous SAMOLEDs had a size-ably smaller number of subpixels due to a layout called PenTile and that no doubt contributed to some of the power savings - but made text less sharp. (The newer + types, such as on the Infuse, shouldn't have that text problem, so far as I know.)

What's really interesting is an LG display on only a few of their phones called NOVA. So far as we know, it's an LCD of some sort - but it's WAY WAY WAY brighter than anything on the market and uses 50% less power. (Believe me - big displays use big power, the end.)

They have it now on a phone called the LG Black at 4" - and just announced the LG Optimus Big at 4.3" with it - but no idea whatsover if/when that will come to the US.

In 2012 or 2013 we may get lucky enough to get transreflective displays - think Kindle in color - they look like paper. There's also a hybrid tech available on an Android tablet (the Notion Ink Adam) called Pixel Qi - it's switchable between transreflective and LCD.

Bottom line - if you're super-concerned with the screen tech, trust your own eyes over anyone's internet claims, because no one makes the perfect phone display - no one.

I honestly can't say that any one tech is better - none of them come with any color or contrast adjustments, so it's all a choice of which one looks least wrong if you care about color accuracy as I do, and then that's up to the user. Both types of tech are popular for good reasons, that's really the truth in my opinion.

I will say this: NEVER compromise your carrier choice to get a handset. After the new wears off, and it's settled down to just day-to-day use, you're still stuck with that carrier, month in and month out.

One of our members, Outlaw71, said that if any of these makers put out one phone without compromise and with all the top features possible today, they wouldn't sell any (or enough) because they'd end up being too expensive for the sweet-spots in pricing that buyers respond to - I think he's absolutely right.

FWIW - I own an Evo 4G, 4.3" LCD and I'm happy and based on that, I'm going to upgrade to the Evo 3D at some point, but that's just me.
 
You know now that you mention it I read all these things online about amoled vs lcd... but when I go to the stores and look at them next to each other its really not that big of a deal.

Then I get home and people are crying "amoled! amoled!"... It's a contradiction to my sensibilities.

I know the smart thing to do is get the Evo3D. Its coming out when I need a new phone and it does everything I need a phone to do. Sure, I'll never use the 3D feature except to show off the device but it'll do everything I need it to.
 
Cool tech develops a fan base - perfectly ok.

When someone makes the perfect phone, we'll probably all agree and buy it.

And then we'll all go to the washing machine forums and argue about their programmable options or something. ;)
 
LOL - "My washer has a super-spin double-wash triple-dry with 16gallons of water capacity."

But seriously, I should just get the Evo3D and stop worrying & obsessing about all of this. It does what I need, is being released when I need it to be, and has a beautiful screen.
 
So I pre-ordered my Evo3D. I'm pretty excited about the possibility of having a new phone within a month or two.

I must admit, I would prefer the Galaxy S2 by a small margin. (Personal preference issue.) If Samsung came out saying it would be released by August I'd wait, but I don't think that's going to happen.

A store rep told me; "If you wait for 'the next big phone' forever then you'll never get a new phone. At some point you just have to decide, and do it."

However a person on these forums told me; "Don't compromise what you want because you don't think you can wait."

So the journey to my upgrade continues... :o
I still have no idea what I'm doing ultimately... lol
 
I'm sure whichever phone you ultimately end up purchasing will be a very nice device that will serve you well :) Hopefully in a couple weeks or so more info will be released and you'll be able to ultimately decide.
 
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