Gravytrain
Android Enthusiast
In your opinion, which should I go with? I bought the t-bolt around 7 days ago and I'm thinking of returning it for the charge... Experts, what are your thoughts on this? 
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Return T-bolt for Droid charge??
- Thread starter Gravytrain
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- htc thunderbolt
cds0699
Android Expert
Thats a pretty broad assumption. I've had 2 Samsung phones and I'm pretty happy.
Gravytrain, it really depends on what you need, and want from a phone. If the thunderbolt does that, then why exchange it? If you wish to compare, then you should go to a Verizon store and play with a Charge a little bit and decide based on your desires, not what everyone else says you should do.
Gravytrain
Android Enthusiast
Thanks guys. I'm gonna go ahead and stay with my TB. After some setting changes, my battery life has way improved. My next project is to figure out how to root this thing.
nateap87
Android Enthusiast
it's all preference. if you're not blown away by the phone within your 14 day period and are already having second thoughts, i'd take it back :/ but then again, you'll most likely have the same feelings towards the charge. if the charge had a better design, i'd go with that. that screen and battery are amazing. along with the camera quality. i prefer the tbolt but i'd have to recommend the charge due to battery life.
Gravytrain
Android Enthusiast
If the charge didn't have that cheap plastic feel, I would def give it A shot. I just hate the cheap feeling on a $300 device...
D
Dark Jedi
Guest
Samsung likes to drag their feet on updates for the the phones. I think thats the main turn off people has to samsung phones. I remember they had that GPS problem and took them forever to fix that.
I want to say some samsung phones still dont have froyo.
I want to say some samsung phones still dont have froyo.
Gravytrain
Android Enthusiast
what settings did you change? I have tried the suggestions in the forums with minimal improvement. I am hesitant to use the TB because it uses so much battery up.
Silent Thunder
Well-Known Member
To summarize the authors article on the Charge...
".....it must be measured against the first LTE phone, the ThunderBolt. And here the Charge comes up short. The ThunderBolt
fourseamer
Newbie
As stated earlier, you should try a Charge in person and decide for yourself. Also, I'll echo the sentiment that the Samsung Charge feels cheap and plasticky. Especially for $300. I'm upgrading to a TB from a Samsung Rogue, and my Rogue has that same cheap, plastic feel in the hand.
The biggest functional concern I have with the Samsung Charge is its web browsing performance. There are discussions in the Charge forum here that voice similar concerns, and there are videos on Youtube that compare the TB and Charge head to head while browsing web pages. The Charge is laggy and zooming in and out is less than smooth.
For the difference in price--on Amazon Wireless, the TB is $129 for new VZW subscribers and $175 for upgraders while the Charge is $250 for everybody--I'd stick with the TB and use tips and perhaps an extended battery to lick the TB's primary issue.
The biggest functional concern I have with the Samsung Charge is its web browsing performance. There are discussions in the Charge forum here that voice similar concerns, and there are videos on Youtube that compare the TB and Charge head to head while browsing web pages. The Charge is laggy and zooming in and out is less than smooth.
For the difference in price--on Amazon Wireless, the TB is $129 for new VZW subscribers and $175 for upgraders while the Charge is $250 for everybody--I'd stick with the TB and use tips and perhaps an extended battery to lick the TB's primary issue.
Gravytrain
Android Enthusiast
How does purchasing through amazon work? Can you purchase at $175 even if you are still in contract with VZW?
fourseamer
Newbie
My 2-yr. contract was up today, so I upgraded on Amazon without issue. However, Amazon would not let me buy a new phone with a new number or upgrade my current one before my current contract was up.
If you're looking to upgrade your phone while currently on a VZW contract, you probably have to try your luck with VZW directly.
UBRocked
VZW Nexus Please!!!
Okay, so I've owned the OG Motorola Droid, Samsung Fascinate, and Thunderbolt. But I've had ample "hands-on" time with countless devices (as everyone brings me their phones to root and ROM...really not that difficult but I live in the land of people that couldn't follow simple directions to save their lives).
Motorola really does a nice job with their hardware, but Blur on any level sucks (full Blur or something like the Cliq, or the "modified" Blur found on the Droid X). Plus, the locked bootloaders are a major turn-off to someone who likes to root and ROM their devices. But all things considered...Motorola does a good job with their devices for the most part.
HTC does a pretty good job with hardware as well...but not as good as Moto IMO. HTC Sense is the best overlay available BY FAR. So good that I still am not looking to go with a vanilla ROM because I don't want to lose some of the Sense features. The phones are well supported and seems like virtually every HTC phone is a "top of the line" type device. Incredible, EVO, G2, etc. Many Thunderbolt owners are mad because of the EVO 3D and Sensation are raising the bar even higher and they feel left out. HTC just does a good job all around...period. The news of locked bootloaders makes me think that HTC will be more like Motorola in the coming months/years...and this is disappointing news indeed if true.
Samsung...this is a love/hate thing with me. Their designs are typically plasticy and cheap feeling but they usually offer thin and attractive designs. Samsung's displays are generally top notch...but they are Samsung...they should have great screens! The Touch Wiz overlay is as bad as Moto's Blur in terms of adding "lag" to the phone...but at least TW looks better
. After having the Fascinate...I wouldn't trust a Samsung phone to lead me out of the woods if I was dying of dehydration and starvation. I think I would use the sun's position in the sky to get a general idea of where I needed to go because it may be a few hours before getting a GPS lock otherwise! Software updates are absolutely ridiculous! The Fascinate just got Froyo (Android 2.2) not too long ago. IT SHOULD HAVE SHIPPED WITH FROYO and there is not one good reason that it didn't...except that I think they hold software updates to sell newer phones. If you don't believe I'm right about this...explain how you release the Nexus S with 2.3 when the Fascinate (almost identical hardware) still only had 2.1! But they way it looks...Samsung might be the most root friendly manufacturer. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that they don't know how to lock a bootloader... but regardless, they haven't really chartered into that water. Like I said...it's a love/hate thing for me.Now, I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab and I love it. But it would take one hell of a phone to make me go with Samsung again as my "primary" device. The Droid Charge...definitely isn't that phone. And the $299.99 price tag just makes me laugh. One thing is certain...I was glad to see that the Charge didn't look EXACTLY like the Fascinate. Nice to see Samsung actually put out a phone that isn't a Galaxy S clone with a 4G radio and call it "new" (hello Galaxy S 4G on T-Mobile
). Bottom line...the Droid Charge isn't a bad phone, but I don't think it is as good...and certainly not better than the T-Bolt. The $299.99 price tag is Samsung and Verizon cashing in on the "LTE" and "Droid" branding. If "LTE" is a $50 adder to the price of phones (as evident by the T-Bolt's pricing) they are now trying to suggest that the "Droid" branding is worth another $50 and trust me...it is simply a word that is added to the box. But if the phones were the same price...I'd still get the Thunderbolt and I am 100% sure of that. Samsung really needed to bring this phone out at $200 and try to "value price" it to be competitive. Honestly, I think that the price was determined after the Bionic was delayed and they are going to try and sell as many as possible in as short amount of time as possible. The Thunderbolt and other future phones on Verizon will be selling well long after the Charge is forgotten. They are trying to cash in on what will be a pretty short lived device IMO.
Just my opinion guys and gals and you are welcome to disagree with me on any point I've made. I'm just calling it the way I see it and this is the same breakout I would give to personal friends seeking my opinion. I'm really not that partial to any manufacturer and I'm not a Thunderbolt fan boy. I will be trading in my T-Bolt next year like usual and may change carriers at that time cause being stuck with a phone for 2 years doesn't sound appealing to me...Thanks Verizon! But right now, HTC is the best manufacturer for Android devices IMO followed by Motorola and then Samsung. LG and other's have yet to prove they can hack it in the long-term but LG's G2X seems pretty damn nice. Maybe LG can sell me a new phone next year if they really come out with a whopper.
rocky s.
Well-Known Member
Okay, so I've owned the OG Motorola Droid, Samsung Fascinate, and Thunderbolt. But I've had ample "hands-on" time with countless devices (as everyone brings me their phones to root and ROM...really not that difficult but I live in the land of people that couldn't follow simple directions to save their lives).
Motorola really does a nice job with their hardware, but Blur on any level sucks (full Blur or something like the Cliq, or the "modified" Blur found on the Droid X). Plus, the locked bootloaders are a major turn-off to someone who likes to root and ROM their devices. But all things considered...Motorola does a good job with their devices for the most part.
HTC does a pretty good job with hardware as well...but not as good as Moto IMO. HTC Sense is the best overlay available BY FAR. So good that I still am not looking to go with a vanilla ROM because I don't want to lose some of the Sense features. The phones are well supported and seems like virtually every HTC phone is a "top of the line" type device. Incredible, EVO, G2, etc. Many Thunderbolt owners are mad because of the EVO 3D and Sensation are raising the bar even higher and they feel left out. HTC just does a good job all around...period. The news of locked bootloaders makes me think that HTC will be more like Motorola in the coming months/years...and this is disappointing news indeed if true.
Samsung...this is a love/hate thing with me. Their designs are typically plasticy and cheap feeling but they usually offer thin and attractive designs. Samsung's displays are generally top notch...but they are Samsung...they should have great screens! The Touch Wiz overlay is as bad as Moto's Blur in terms of adding "lag" to the phone...but at least TW looks better
Now, I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab and I love it. But it would take one hell of a phone to make me go with Samsung again as my "primary" device. The Droid Charge...definitely isn't that phone. And the $299.99 price tag just makes me laugh. One thing is certain...I was glad to see that the Charge didn't look EXACTLY like the Fascinate. Nice to see Samsung actually put out a phone that isn't a Galaxy S clone with a 4G radio and call it "new" (hello Galaxy S 4G on T-Mobile
Bottom line...the Droid Charge isn't a bad phone, but I don't think it is as good...and certainly not better than the T-Bolt. The $299.99 price tag is Samsung and Verizon cashing in on the "LTE" and "Droid" branding. If "LTE" is a $50 adder to the price of phones (as evident by the T-Bolt's pricing) they are now trying to suggest that the "Droid" branding is worth another $50 and trust me...it is simply a word that is added to the box. But if the phones were the same price...I'd still get the Thunderbolt and I am 100% sure of that. Samsung really needed to bring this phone out at $200 and try to "value price" it to be competitive. Honestly, I think that the price was determined after the Bionic was delayed and they are going to try and sell as many as possible in as short amount of time as possible. The Thunderbolt and other future phones on Verizon will be selling well long after the Charge is forgotten. They are trying to cash in on what will be a pretty short lived device IMO.
Just my opinion guys and gals and you are welcome to disagree with me on any point I've made. I'm just calling it the way I see it and this is the same breakout I would give to personal friends seeking my opinion. I'm really not that partial to any manufacturer and I'm not a Thunderbolt fan boy. I will be trading in my T-Bolt next year like usual and may change carriers at that time cause being stuck with a phone for 2 years doesn't sound appealing to me...Thanks Verizon! But right now, HTC is the best manufacturer for Android devices IMO followed by Motorola and then Samsung. LG and other's have yet to prove they can hack it in the long-term but LG's G2X seems pretty damn nice. Maybe LG can sell me a new phone next year if they really come out with a whopper.
Nice survey of the droid manufacturing field! Agreed...don't think anything out there from Motorola or Samsung could tempt me away from the t-bolt at all. And I also have really become attached to htc with the smoothness of their sense UI and accessibility of their customer support. So, I think my t-bolt (bugs and all) is here to stay for awhile. But....boy with those Sensation 4G specs...it's almost like it's the phone the t-bolt was meant to be! Oh well, like you said, with each new htc phone, they especially seem to be "raising the bar even higher." The Sensation certainly draws attention...but I don't think it could draw me to that network at all. I mean I'd be hanging out in 3G (+) land with tiered data plans...and I'm guessing the tmo girl would probably still not be returning my calls.
karmamule
Well-Known Member
For me HTC Sense is a huge differentiator, and even if there weren't any other advantages, that would be enough for me. IMO it combines the power of Android with a more sophisticated design than any other overlay or iOS for that matter. I love that I can drag-and-drop my screen order anytime I want, and little touches like the "flip over to send call to voice mail" are also great. It's interesting to note that these HTC "extras" are the ones that seem to most impress my iPhone-toting friends too.
In any case, I'd say nothing beats some hands-on time, so if you don't have a friend with one, don't be shy about hogging one in a store for a good chunk of time. You are making a huge decision that you'll have to live with for a couple years (unless you want to eat ETF), so take the time you need to get a good feel for your own reaction to it.
In any case, I'd say nothing beats some hands-on time, so if you don't have a friend with one, don't be shy about hogging one in a store for a good chunk of time. You are making a huge decision that you'll have to live with for a couple years (unless you want to eat ETF), so take the time you need to get a good feel for your own reaction to it.
UBRocked
VZW Nexus Please!!!
Good point! As much as iPhones are diminished on an site like this one, you have to admit that no one puts on the "finishing touches" on devices the way Apple does. HTC is one manufacturers that actually pays attention to this and that is what Sense is all about.
Now are the fancy transitions or other little cosmetic things like that necessary? Of course not...but if I have a choice of "functional" or "pretty and functional", that's a pretty easy choice for me.
An iPhone has better polish BY FAR when comparing it to any Android phone. But it's nice to see someone trying to compete in that arena. God knows...Moto isn't going to do it with Blur LOL.
whytecountry
Member
And the project after that should be installing Liquid Thundersense + Adrynalyne's kernel! Amazing battery life at 1.0 Ghz!
I recently went from the Droid X to the Thunderbolt to the Charge and now I'm back with the Thunderbolt.
The Charge simply wasn't my cup of tea. It had significantly more noticeable lag, I didn't notice the battery life as being a drastic improvement over the Thunderbolt, and for whatever odd reason it simply wouldn't pick up 4G signal in my house even though my Thunderbolt would. Then again, that seems to be a documented issue that several reviewers noted with the Charge erratically switching through signal modes whenever they went indoors.
The Charge simply wasn't my cup of tea. It had significantly more noticeable lag, I didn't notice the battery life as being a drastic improvement over the Thunderbolt, and for whatever odd reason it simply wouldn't pick up 4G signal in my house even though my Thunderbolt would. Then again, that seems to be a documented issue that several reviewers noted with the Charge erratically switching through signal modes whenever they went indoors.