Okay, partly a bump, but also needing to express thoughts as I'm still researching this myself, and wanting to be on the same page. And possibly, come up with a more action-able plan.
So, since someone did bring up the
Nexus 6P, I needed to see just how difficult it would be to replace the sealed battery on it.
iFixit shows a tear-down that not only requires a lot more tools than I have available to me (added $$$), but also the high risk of damaging other components along with it (also, more parts needed to get). Searching for said teardown showed that Google was also in a habit of replacing warrantied 6P phones for a Pixel XL, in large part
because of (big deal for me)
battery problems. The very reason that I had to dump the MXPE so quickly. So, that's a hard pass for me.
So, besides a
US996 V20, was trying to research what else was available, and basically realized "oh, hang on, I forgot about the G4". I would have said a G5, but since nobody ever made an extended battery for it (thanks to the design choice for the body). I know I held off in part because of the apparent endemic of phones falling into an unrecoverable boot-loop, but based on its specs, the
US991 G4 would be able to work fully with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and
partially with Sprint. To its credit, there's a wealth of choices for Extended batteries, too.
Swappa has them reasonably cheap, too. I'd just need to see about how far they were able to be updated, and if I can find some supported custom ROM's like I was able to find for my existing Note 3.
I had a friend try to offer me their
T-Mo branded Galaxy S5, but the one they have is going to be a fixer-upper. Most notably, the power connector is in need of replacement.
iFixit's link for that shows it is somewhat doable, but the fact that it requires removing the screen
before I can access anything else, is a point of concern. The power portion might be modular, but I'll admit I'm no expert. The risk of damaging more along the way does bother me. It wouldn't do much good to get (even at a far reduced price) a phone that doesn't fully work right now. Maybe if I already had a working phone and was getting one for a stand-by or something I'd be more willing, but definitely not now.
Failing all that, I suppose the inevitable fallback would be to get a phone financed from T-Mobile itself (my current carrier). However, a quick glance of what they sell now, and what I know of their own insurance/warranty thing, I basically have two options:
- If I prioritize the ability to actually be able to take said phone with me and switch to other carriers, then the only option that qualifies is some flavor of iPhone 6S (likely, plus), since it retains the headphone jack. On the aspect of battery replacement, I do have most of the tools for the job already, and sourcing batteries for it is far easier than it's been for ANY android phone model. Downsides with this include the famously tiny battery, the insidious nature of Apple outright gimping performance on anything but the current model of iPhone to try and drum up sales, and the rather stingy and cynical nature that most of the useful add-ons for a jailbroken iPhone are behind paywalls.
- If I prioritize battery life/capacity/upgradeability, then the only choice they offer that even lets me replace the battery easily, is the LG Stylo 3 Plus, which I know nothing about. What I do know, is as of this writing, there were extended batteries listed on Amazon for the battery, but not anymore. That and based on bands, the thing is basically a $225 brick if ever T-Mobile's network either gets sour, or I end up moving somewhere during that time that doesn't get usable service. If I can't even secure an extended battery for it, it's otherwise not worth it.
What I do know of their insurance/warranty program also made it sound like not a deal at all, seeing that per their in-store reps, it wouldn't cover if a battery goes bad, much less anything else that would render it unusable (soft/hard brick, etc). And prior experience has thus far been that
without fail, every phone I've ever had under any kind of finance, contract, or payment plan, has always went sour, and I could never get any satisfaction from the carrier I was with, essentially forcing me to pay for a phone (
and service) I can't use, raise enough to be able to buy another phone, and look for the fastest way out. Because you'd best believe that I'd be taking my business elsewhere if they do that with me. If anything, said unlocked Note 3 was expensive as heck for me when I bought it, but it's spoiled me for basically being the first phone that's remained usable well after the two year window I initially gave it. And just the absolute lack of bloatware and ability to slap on custom ROMs and the like giving it a new lease on life. But anyways, back on topic.
Obviously, I would rather get new, or as near to new as possible. Considering that basically if it's going to be my daily driver,
it has to work. Also, given my ongoing grievances and gripes with eBay, I'm very reluctant to the idea of buying from there.
Would I ever consider a phone with a sealed battery again? that's a rough maybe... and it hinges both on the capacity of battery it has, and how easy it is to get a replacement and be able to slap a new one in. And honestly, it would have to be a pretty enormous battery (in terms of capacity) to begin with. Considering that for a time, I was desperate enough to consider an
Oukitel K10000 entirely because of the cavernous stock battery; the ruggedized nature of the build especially for that USD price is a bonus, too. I would have to see a drastic shift in capacity, and durability, if I could ever accept such a phone design without reservation. Especially for any high price (read: $200 and up).
Would I consider something that wasn't a high-end phone to begin with? Oh, sure, if the specs are still good enough to still run what I've got. While another user here did help me out by loaning me a second-hand
Moto E 2nd Gen, even compared to the
MXPE, it was hard not to be disappointed and be further resolute to try to get my Note 3 up and running again as soon as possible. Not only would it refuse to let me install or run Pokemon Go, it would just up and quit while playing Magikarp Jump; while I was using it.
