Time for a new cell phone

My Galaxy S5 active is dying. It was a great phone, god bless it, but after three years its starting to have a flickering display, a broken charger port, and a host of other issues. Given how I beat the crap out it, I'm pretty impressed.

My last few phones were (in descending chronological order):
galaxy S3
iphone 5S (for less than a month. I tried. I really did)
Moto Droid X

I really enjoy the droid platform, and most of my "stuff" is google based anyway. I have tried iPhone. I don't like it, but could be sold on giving it another shot. Does anyone have the new google phone? Like? Dislike?

AT&T for now. Was with Verizon but I jumped on AT&T with the rest of the family and it was so much cheaper that way. Family isn't overly happy with AT&T, so I might be able to convince them to switch to something since none of us is under contract.

So, S7? Iphone? Google phone? Thoughts?

I have been semi happy with my iphones but the new ones seem to last about 3-4 years before they get a little funky. I'm not totally committed to them and would like to try the pixel next.

I usually get 2-3 years from a phone before I either wear it out or have a desire for some new feature.

Doesn't look like AT&T has the pixel yet.

Following with interest.

My Note 2 is on it's last legs. It's been a great 4-5 years, but it's so slow now it isn't even funny.

I'd love to wait until Samsung comes out with the S8 xl, but that's going to be a long time. I'm not sure my Note will survive. I'm eyeing the Google Pixel XL with interest, but I don't know anything about it.

I think I'm headed to the AT&T store today to play with some phones. I'll report back.

Just upgraded my 2 year old S5 to an S7. The upgraded camera alone is worth it, no more press the button and "hold still in low light.................................................click".

I just went from a Galaxy S4 Mini to an S7 Edge. I would stick with the standard S7 due to how you beat up phones. I tend to treat mine better than most people. I looked into the Pixel, but it did not work with Sprint. I also read they tend to "freeze" sometimes

I've gone iPhone 4, 4s, 6, 6+s

It may not be the most creative or cutting edge but I like the interface and I'm used to it so sticking with it for now.

Been totally satisfied w/ the S5 Android and the previous Moto X. Verizon actually called me w/ an offer for 2 extra gig/ mo. plus a S7 Edge for the same money I was paying for the S5 w/ 2 gig. The Edge seems too thin and slippery as is so I ordered a holster to bulk it up and lens shield. Not crazy about the holster so it sits not activated till I find another. A co-worker had the Edge but returned it for the S7, but he's picky, like whack picky. I think I'll grow into the Edge but still likin' the S5.

Have you tried LG at all? I preferred my G4 but it died from battery circuit issues. The G5 is nice, and has accessories that can be swapped in(after purchase) like a full on camera. Not much of a footprint difference from my old Note 3. My only real complaint was lack of root on the Sprint version, but AdGuard solved most of that problem.

Wait 2 months, there is cool stuff in the pipe.

I was not told what and wont say who but there is goodness on the way.

I was told sometime in Feb.

I prefer to own my handsets outright and use on prepaid services.
I have been extremely happy with the value of my Moto X Pure 2015. 32gb storage and 3gb ram.
Paid $299 last year.

If I was replacing it now I would go with a Moto G+ 4th gen. 64gb storage and 4gb ram for $299. There is also a lesser version (not +) with 16gb and 2gb ram for $199 direct from moto website with choices of custom colors.

Best buy has the Moto G 4th in the stores too if you want to feel and hold.

All these accept SD card up to 128

When bought directly from Motorola, zero bloatware!

Compatible with ATT and VZ (actually all US carriers) so can easily facilitate your desire to switch back and forth

Link

curtis73 wrote: I usually get 2-3 years from a phone before I either wear it out or have a desire for some new feature. Doesn't look like AT&T has the pixel yet.

Pixel works with all carriers. Buy an unlocked and unpolluted version and just add it to your plan.

I looked at the Pixel while deciding, the S7 seemed to have better features everywhere including display, except for like a 10% faster processor, meh. It also didn't have a MicroSD card slot, I liked being able to move my 32gb card from the S5 to the S7 in 5 seconds.

I've owned 3 consecutive Google phones, currently have the Nexus 5x. Don't know much about Pixel, but I find these to be a tremendous value. Paid 350 on black Friday a year ago.

With mine, you cannot swap battery or add SD card, so that's a negative.

I also find Cricket to be tremendous value. ATT network, just cheaper. Top speed is throttled a bit but still far faster than I need. And most of the time I have wifi anyway. Cricket multi line (Family) savings is significant over the major carriers.

If I went apple, I'd be tempted to get an iphone SE for half the cost of a 7. It's not like websites will turn you away.

on a side note. Co-worker had AT&T contact him this past year and tell him he HAS to get a new phone. Seems they were turning off the stuff that allowed his old flip phone to still work on the network

I just picked up an S7 Active a couple weeks ago and it seems pretty great so far. The battery life is crazy good and I love that's it's waterproof and I don't need a case for it I take my phone off the charging pad (another cool feature) at like 7am and I'll still have 20-30% battery when I get home at 6:30-7. That's after streaming Pandora all day and occasional Web surfing.

I just got an S7 because they dropped the price down to almost nothing for the holiday season. So far so good with it. i like the camera and the overall feel of quality. I had a note 4 before. This is smaller and easier to use. I think I'll be happy with it.

Huckleberry wrote:

curtis73 wrote: I usually get 2-3 years from a phone before I either wear it out or have a desire for some new feature. Doesn't look like AT&T has the pixel yet.

Pixel works with all carriers. Buy an unlocked and unpolluted version and just add it to your plan.

Even Version's goofy proprietary software/chip/signal thingy?

I am not interested in anything Samsung. I don't want my phone to be banned from airplanes. I also has a bad experience with a Samsung dishwasher that was a POS. That company is not getting any more of my money.

I'm into a note5. I didn't have the ability to go to another nexus phone after I smashed my n5 a year and a half ago. I still prefer unfettled android, but this phone isn't terrible. I'll be looking into a new handset soonish. The pixel appeals.

I just bought an unlocked Moto G4 Play. Does everything I need it to do. Almost pure Android, removable battery, SD slot, compatible with all networks (I'm on TMobile). Hard to beat for $100 brand spanking new.

OHSCrifle wrote: I've owned 3 consecutive Google phones, currently have the Nexus 5x. Don't know much about Pixel, but I find these to be a tremendous value. Paid 350 on black Friday a year ago.

Unfortunately Pixels aren't quite the value that the Nexii were and it appears that Google has decided to compete with Apple and Samsung on the pricing front.

Personally I'm a big fan of owning an unlocked phone outright myself. I currently have an iPhone 6+ I use for personal stuff and a Nexus 5 for work-related use. I'm getting a tad fed up with the fruity devices myself as they somehow seem to have forgotten a lot about their "just works" mantra. Between that and the recent price increases I don't think I'll buy Apple soon.

Here's what I would be looking at if I were in the market for a phone (which I was until I managed to fix the dodgy power button on my Nexus 5, at least temporarily):

• Nexus 6P
• Oneplus 3/3T - I did have an original Oneplus One which had it's faults, but according to friends of mine who own later Oneplus phones, they've sorted out the issues I encountered with my One.
• Various Moto devices. They seem to be rather good value for money, kinda like the Google devices used to be. Plus they tend to have pretty pure Android on them which is a bonus in my book
• Potentially a Samsung S6 Edge if I can find a refurb one for an acceptable price. They have good hardware and aren't as big as the S7/S7 Edge. Plus you can get custom ROMs for them...

One advantage of using a Nexus 5X, 6P or a Pixel is that you can go on Google Fi, which is probably one of the best value cell services in the US right now. That would be the alternative to my current carrier (T-Mobile).

One thing about T-Mobile - they've been building out their LTE network capacity in the 700MHz band (band 12). There aren't that many band 12 capable devices that can do Voice over LTE, so choose new phones carefully if you're on T-Mobile and need to make use of this new-ish band. That's actually the reason the Samsung S6 made it onto my list.

I also prefer to buy outright. When you get a new phone through AT&T they split up the retail cost over the next 24 or 30 months at which point you are eligible for an upgrade. I prefer to buy outright at a discount, skip the contracts, and upgrade whenever I want. Its cheaper in the long run and doesn't come with the leash and collar.

I got my S5 Active from a website (the name escapes me) and was very happy. I think AT&T was charging $599 and I got it for $400.

I would consider swapping companies, but with 7 of us and 8 devices we each only pay about $39/mo for unlimited everything (I think data gets throttled back after 20gb, but we've never hit that high. I might use 5gb, my sister and brother-in-law use about 5 combined, and mom and dad both have old flip phones. The nephews' ipads are limited to 2gb data, then wifi only)

Truth is, I was very happy with Verizon, but the $$$$ was a big downer.

So, I looked at a few phones today. LG is nice. My best friend has one so I'm familiar with it. G20? X20? DOes that sound right? Something 20. The new S7s are very nice, but I would really need to go with the Active. The edge is sexy, but both the edge and regular S7 are glass the entire way around front and back. Who the berk thought that was a good idea? One time at the shop whacking that glass with a board and its toast.

I need to find someone with a Pixel to play with it.

LGs are pretty good (both the Nexus 5 and 5X mentioned above are LGs). You probably looked at a V20. The G4 and G5 are also worth considering.