Official 2017-19: Which Smartphone Should I Get?
Feb 3, 2019, 9:02 am
#211
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Feb 3, 2019, 9:15 am
#212
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Anyway, perhaps the mods could re-title this thread to include 2019, or should we start another thread?
I will be first the the queue for a Samsung Galaxy S10... assuming it's as good as it looks
I will be first the the queue for a Samsung Galaxy S10... assuming it's as good as it looks
Feb 4, 2019, 8:32 am
#213
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Feb 4, 2019, 8:40 am
#214
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I have bought used iphones 2-3 years after release as the initial cost didn’t seem to be worth it. I’ve been looking for reasonably priced Iphone 8 for a few months, but most seemed to be about $400.
I ended up getting a 128gb XR last week. With a trade in of my old iphone 6, and a bonus on an airline shopping mall referral, it will cost $550 plus tax. I generally am real careful with my phones, so I’d figure 4-6 years out of this one.
It was by far, the easiest phone setup I’ve ever had. I just had to have my old phone or ipad next to it to begin setup.
I ended up getting a 128gb XR last week. With a trade in of my old iphone 6, and a bonus on an airline shopping mall referral, it will cost $550 plus tax. I generally am real careful with my phones, so I’d figure 4-6 years out of this one.
It was by far, the easiest phone setup I’ve ever had. I just had to have my old phone or ipad next to it to begin setup.
Feb 4, 2019, 12:38 pm
#215
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Back on topic. I am really liking my Pixel 3 XL. I know it is 2018 release, but still loving the camera on it. My wife has the XS Max and she thinks my camera takes much better low light pics... and that's where it really counts. As all the newer phones could get great pictures in good light these days anyway.
Feb 4, 2019, 12:49 pm
#216
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I think the edited title is kind of strange (2017-19...). In 2017, I am sure someone would have recommended some older phones came out 2016 or even 2015 for the value. So in 2019, would someone really need to read older posts regarding iPhone 6s or Galaxy S6? I think it is better doing it like the original post of this thread... reference a link to the previous thread and start fresh every year?
Back on topic. I am really liking my Pixel 3 XL. I know it is 2018 release, but still loving the camera on it. My wife has the XS Max and she thinks my camera takes much better low light pics... and that's where it really counts. As all the newer phones could get great pictures in good light these days anyway.
Back on topic. I am really liking my Pixel 3 XL. I know it is 2018 release, but still loving the camera on it. My wife has the XS Max and she thinks my camera takes much better low light pics... and that's where it really counts. As all the newer phones could get great pictures in good light these days anyway.
No doubt Apple will copy that for their new models later this year.
Feb 4, 2019, 2:21 pm
#217
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Feb 5, 2019, 7:14 am
#218
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That's my experience going from a Samsung Galaxy S6 to a Galaxy S9. A bit more involved going from one OS to another, but same brand phone SHOULD be that simple, aside from deprecated or no longer available apps.
Feb 5, 2019, 10:48 am
#219
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NetworkTechnology:GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
2G bands:GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bands:HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
Global 4G bands:LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 38(2600), 40(2300)
Global CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 China,
LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 34(2000), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
Or if anyone else can decipher it then that would be nice!
This is the phone
Feb 5, 2019, 12:50 pm
#220
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I am about to, but have you deciphered what 4G bands it supports? It shows this for the DE/FR/IT version (I formatted this so I could read it better, but still am not sure what it is telling me):
NetworkTechnology:GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
2G bands:GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bands:HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
Global 4G bands:LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 38(2600), 40(2300)
Global CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 China,
LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 34(2000), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
Or if anyone else can decipher it then that would be nice!
This is the phone https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...qh_dp_hza?th=1
NetworkTechnology:GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
2G bands:GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bands:HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
Global 4G bands:LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 38(2600), 40(2300)
Global CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 China,
LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 34(2000), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
Or if anyone else can decipher it then that would be nice!
This is the phone https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...qh_dp_hza?th=1
For 3G (HSPA), you've got all five common bands, so that phone will work fine on 3G nearly anywhere in the world. Europe, Africa, Australia and most of Asia use mainly I and VIII, (900 and 2100), T-Mo US uses mainly IV (1700 AWS) and AT&T uses mainly II (1900). Mix in a little Band V (850) and you're very well covered in Latin America as well.
For 4G (LTE), Europe uses mainly bands 3/7/20. EDIT: You have all of them, so you're good.
I'm too lazy to look up whether it'll work on Verizon and Sprint's CDMA, but you don't really care--neither of those carriers has HSPA, so without LTE you're looking at painfully slow data.
Last edited by der_saeufer; Feb 6, 2019 at 5:50 am Reason: fix a typo
Feb 5, 2019, 2:01 pm
#221
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Based off your listed location, you probably care mainly about North America and Europe, so...
For 3G (HSPA), you've got all five common bands, so that phone will work fine on 3G nearly anywhere in the world. Europe, Africa, Australia and most of Asia use mainly I and VIII, (900 and 2100), T-Mo US uses mainly IV (1700 AWS) and AT&T uses mainly II (1900). Mix in a little Band V (850) and you're very well covered in Latin America as well.
For 4G (LTE), Europe uses mainly bands 3/7/20. That phone is missing 20, so your coverage may not be as good in some areas, but you'll still get 3G if you find an oddball spot where the only LTE is 20. Not all carriers even use 20, so your mileage will vary. For North America, that phone is basically useless on LTE. No 2, 12, 17 for AT&T, no 2, 4, 12 for T-Mo, no 13 for VZW or 26 for Sprint.
I'm too lazy to look up whether it'll work on Verizon and Sprint's CDMA, but you don't really care--neither of those carriers has HSPA, so without LTE you're looking at painfully slow data.
For 3G (HSPA), you've got all five common bands, so that phone will work fine on 3G nearly anywhere in the world. Europe, Africa, Australia and most of Asia use mainly I and VIII, (900 and 2100), T-Mo US uses mainly IV (1700 AWS) and AT&T uses mainly II (1900). Mix in a little Band V (850) and you're very well covered in Latin America as well.
For 4G (LTE), Europe uses mainly bands 3/7/20. That phone is missing 20, so your coverage may not be as good in some areas, but you'll still get 3G if you find an oddball spot where the only LTE is 20. Not all carriers even use 20, so your mileage will vary. For North America, that phone is basically useless on LTE. No 2, 12, 17 for AT&T, no 2, 4, 12 for T-Mo, no 13 for VZW or 26 for Sprint.
I'm too lazy to look up whether it'll work on Verizon and Sprint's CDMA, but you don't really care--neither of those carriers has HSPA, so without LTE you're looking at painfully slow data.
Feb 5, 2019, 2:48 pm
#222
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Thanks for that. So I am with three in the UK, and they use Band 3 (1800MHz), and Band 20 (800MHz). And here is my confusion so I am open to a bit of learning here for sure, in the list of frequencies it says " Global 4G bands:LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 38(2600), 40(2300)" and I can see both band 3 and 20 in there so is there some reason they don't apply? Thanks again.
On mi.com it shows
GSM B2/3/5/8
WCDMA B1/2/5/8
FDD-LTE B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20
TD-LTE B38/40
Feb 5, 2019, 3:52 pm
#223
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I don't know about this particular phone, but I never trust the Spec description posted on Amazon on an item. I usually just go directly to the manufacturer site to get the info. I think this is the phone?
On mi.com it shows
GSM B2/3/5/8
WCDMA B1/2/5/8
FDD-LTE B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20
TD-LTE B38/40
On mi.com it shows
GSM B2/3/5/8
WCDMA B1/2/5/8
FDD-LTE B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20
TD-LTE B38/40
Feb 6, 2019, 5:52 am
#224
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Thanks for that. So I am with three in the UK, and they use Band 3 (1800MHz), and Band 20 (800MHz). And here is my confusion so I am open to a bit of learning here for sure, in the list of frequencies it says " Global 4G bands:LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 38(2600), 40(2300)" and I can see both band 3 and 20 in there so is there some reason they don't apply? Thanks again.