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should I switch from Maxx to S3

mach1man

mach1man

Android Expert
I'm thinking of switching from the Razr Maxx to the S3 is it worth it? How do they compare hardware wise? My razr has great signal and performance but I like the S voice feature on the S3
 
I'm keeping my eye on this phone as well. I like the battery life of my Maxx, but pressing icons on my homescreen has a mind of it's own sometimes. I'm hoping the ICS update will correct that issue for me. If not, I might grab this phone.
 
Yea I had a Samsung fascinate and a charge they were both garbage. They would lose data connection all the time. Thats what I'm afraid of also I don't want a phone that will never get updated.
 
The S3 has a slight advantage, hardware wise. But, based solely on hardware, I'd skip it if I had a Maxx. It's real difference from other phones is the software. Sammy focused on the user experience. And that, right there, is why I plan on getting one, myself. I like the bells and whistles it comes with.

But who knows what's right around the corner with Google getting Motorola Mobility. Google says they want Moto to make 2-3 cutting edge devices a year. So, if you're on a 2-year contract, I'd keep the Maxx for awhile. Unless you're not happy with it. There is no sense in jumping from phone to phone, otherwise.
 
It depends on what you value most in smart-phone. Maxx is good verizon phone with good signal reception and big battery. But it can't complete with GSIII on screen and camera for sure. Also the S4 processor/radio in GS3 will smoke Maxx in speed and efficiency. It's up to you whether those pros are worth trading Maxx for.
 
If you have a Razr thin, it could be an easy YES and still may be, even with the Maxx:

Good stuff for GS3:

1. S4 runs cooler, a LOT faster and a LOT better battery life
2. Based on current reviews, better display than Razr
3. 32gb AND a micro sd slot (if you choose the 32gb version- I would).
4. 2Gb ram
5. No more fixed battery (not an issue if you have the Maxx, but a BIG issue for Razr thin). Battery life is weak, especially when using 4G- hence the Maxx exists.

The reason I say "could" be easy to choose the SG3 is we do not know the radio reception or if the device will have the same hot running battery sucking LTE chip current VZW devices have. Call quality is apparently good, but the reception and LTE used are biggies IMO.

If reception is good and a more efficient LTE chip, seems an absolute no brainer to me for folks at least with the Razr thin.

Added:

The specs of this device are exactly what I posted for a "dream" device that a lot of us thought may never happen on VZW.
 
The radio on GS3 is inside the new 28nm qualcomm S4 chip. So it won't be like last generation LTE chip running hot and eating battery badly. I will try it to find out against current LTE phones.
 
I'd say no.

And that's just because to me, the question it comes down to is--if battery life is make or break for you? And since you have a Maxx I'd guess that it is your top priority. SGS3 probably has amazing battery life (in USA so still don't have one myself) but it obviously will not blow away your Maxx.
 
I am willing to bet that if the SG3 has even just a 2100 mah battery it will last longer than the Maxx and it's 3300 mah battery.

The 4430 chipset and 40nm LTE chip are both battery sucking demons compared to the S4 Arm 9.

Factor in even bigger batteries will be even wider margins.

Still, the Maxx is not battery challenged like the thin, so point still valid. If battery life is the only concern, not enough to leave the Maxx.
 
Battery life isn't a killer for me BC that's why they make spare batteries. I had a rezound with 2 extra batteries and I loved it. I have an available upgrade next month and an iPhone 4 that's worth $250 on trade in with best buy so i could pick up a free Samsung S3. I really like that its got S voice like siri which is neat. Plus I can get it in white :)
 
My biggest concern is cell reception since I live near west Virginia and I'm always flopping between 3G and 4G and 1x so connection is key. The charge I had last year was horrible for connection.
 
West Virginia? I thought in the mountains from Huntington on through to the Virginia border was awful, regardless of provider. Too many mountains and valley areas. I have travelled through there many times with same on and off coverage.

Still, a weak radio makes things even worse. My guess is the device is too good to be true, so will have at least one glaring fault. I put dibs on a weak radio ;)

...... :(
 
Well I live closer to martinsburg and Charles town WV so its not to bad with cell strength but its the fact that parts of WV has 4G and others have 1X and at my house its 3G but switches a lot lol so i need to have a good connecting phone. Lol
 
I am going to wait and see how battery and signal is first then decide. I like the bigger screen but if it has the same issues the nexus had then I will wait for something else. If it fixes the signal and battery issues I will sell my maxx and grab one for sure.
 
Same here. IF the radios have good reception, I will bail from the Razr.

Anybody want to buy a modded Atrix lapdock for a firesale price? ;)
 
From articles I read a few months ago, they claimed the s4 was not as good as thought on battery life. I will venture a guess that battery life will be dead nuts in between the razr and maxx. I dont think it will beat the maxx. I cant wait til a maxx user gets one and compares the battery life.

What I cant, for the life of me, understand why noone is attemping to try bigger batteries or concentrate on new battery technology. It i the number one complaint on all cell phones mostly lte.
 
I'm gonna try to wait and see what everyone thinks of the phone and cell reception. Battery life is whatever since I could get an extended battery. But I'll probably end up getting it on the second day of release LOL. Damn my impatience lol
 
dmaxfan said:
From articles I read a few months ago, they claimed the s4 was not as good as thought on battery life. I will venture a guess that battery life will be dead nuts in between the razr and maxx. I dont think it will beat the maxx. I cant wait til a maxx user gets one and compares the battery life.

What I cant, for the life of me, understand why noone is attemping to try bigger batteries or concentrate on new battery technology. It i the number one complaint on all cell phones mostly lte.
Click to expand...

Those carbon nanotube batteries last weeks but I don't think they're anyway near ready for consumer production. When you think about how wide ranging battery technology is used in, it needs a massive amount of testing in various devices and conditions.
 
I have been reading the opposite for S4 dual core devices. Great battery life and better performance. There could be poor firmware or some other issue (bad battery), but read enough to see the S4 as a good fit for phone form factors.
 
dmaxfan said:
What I cant, for the life of me, understand why noone is attemping to try bigger batteries or concentrate on new battery technology. It i the number one complaint on all cell phones mostly lte.
Click to expand...

I agree, but unfortunately not all phone manufacturers do. I read recently that HTC will not be using the larger batteries because they have determined that their customers think a thinner phone is more important than longer battery life. Personally, I think a lot of the newer phones are actually TOO thin. An extra millimeter or two for double the battery is a no brainer IMO.
 
ALurker said:
I agree, but unfortunately not all phone manufacturers do. I read recently that HTC will not be using the larger batteries because they have determined that their customers think a thinner phone is more important than longer battery life. Personally, I think a lot of the newer phones are actually TOO thin. An extra millimeter or two for double the battery is a no brainer IMO.
Click to expand...

Galaxy S3 is really thin yet has a massive battery so it's possible to have both!
 
matttye said:
Those carbon nanotube batteries last weeks but I don't think they're anyway near ready for consumer production. When you think about how wide ranging battery technology is used in, it needs a massive amount of testing in various devices and conditions.
Click to expand...

New Battery Tech Promises 10X Charge Life of Today's Batteries | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

I was more or less speaking of this. It's more or less the same battery tech but they've added thousands of holes to make ions move more freely. They were getting 10x battery life in testing and they charge alot faster also.
 
rushmore said:
I have been reading the opposite for S4 dual core devices. Great battery life and better performance. There could be poor firmware or some other issue (bad battery), but read enough to see the S4 as a good fit for phone form factors.
Click to expand...

hmmm. I hope they are correct. I just would like phone that lasts all day. My razr does good to go 6 hours before I charge it.
 
dmaxfan said:
New Battery Tech Promises 10X Charge Life of Today's Batteries | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

I was more or less speaking of this. It's more or less the same battery tech but they've added thousands of holes to make ions move more freely. They were getting 10x battery life in testing and they charge alot faster also.
Click to expand...

Sounds good!!

----

Op:

If it helps your decision I'm getting awesome battery life. 3hr 36min since unplugged, 2hr 21min screen on time (mostly browsing over wifi), 2 hours Spotify..54% remaining.
 
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