Official 2017-19: Which Smartphone Should I Get?
Aug 10, 2017, 12:19 am
#76
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The removal of the headphone jack isn't solely about thickness. It's also about removing anything non-Apple (force people into lightning connectors) or moving towards "sealing" the phone as much as possible (waterproofing).
Aug 10, 2017, 2:03 am
#77
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,057
So I have had the phone now for a good few months and used it in Spain and the US. The speeds seem absolutely fine wherever I have been and as most places seem to have free wifi I am really finding it less of an issue than it used to be to access "stuff". If you were a gamer, video watcher, I can see why it might be an issue but for just getting emails and looking at porn (kidding!) I find it just fine!
The model I have has 3GB RAM and was an Amazon UK special.
My gripe is that there does not seem to be any software updates for it in the period I have had it - now that might be a blessing in disguise as it runs just fine and if it ain't broke then don't fix it, but I do wonder if it will be able to support later versions of Android and whether Lenovo will port it to this model. I do not want to go down the rooting road ever again, those days are long gone for me now.
The model I have has 3GB RAM and was an Amazon UK special.
My gripe is that there does not seem to be any software updates for it in the period I have had it - now that might be a blessing in disguise as it runs just fine and if it ain't broke then don't fix it, but I do wonder if it will be able to support later versions of Android and whether Lenovo will port it to this model. I do not want to go down the rooting road ever again, those days are long gone for me now.
As for updates... yeah, Lenovo isn't too great about updates. I suspect we'll get 8.0 quite late and not get 9.0 ever. Considering a lot of sub $/€150 phones are still shipping with Android 6, I can't complain too loudly. Nor can I complain about almost-stock Android vs. the weird choices some other manufacturers have made.
I go down the rooting road anyway, so I'm happy that it's at least an option, which it isn't on so many other cheap Android phones. My Nexus 7 tablet is now over 4 years old and although 6.0.1 was fine, running 7 with LineageOS was worth the hassle.
My gripe is that despite having a display that's exactly the same size and resolution as my Pixel, Motorola's chosen to display less information on the screen even when you set the fonts to small--the home screen is 4 icons across, conversation threads in Gmail and Hangouts take up more space, etc. It's like Lenovo forgot they were putting an HD screen on here and set everything up for 1280x720. At least it's nice for watching movies on airplanes.
Aug 11, 2017, 1:59 pm
#78
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It may not be too great for gaming, but it's actually quite good for video--the screen is 1920x1080 and has decent color. I've watched a fair bit of Netflix on mine.
As for updates... yeah, Lenovo isn't too great about updates. I suspect we'll get 8.0 quite late and not get 9.0 ever. Considering a lot of sub $/€150 phones are still shipping with Android 6, I can't complain too loudly. Nor can I complain about almost-stock Android vs. the weird choices some other manufacturers have made.
I go down the rooting road anyway, so I'm happy that it's at least an option, which it isn't on so many other cheap Android phones. My Nexus 7 tablet is now over 4 years old and although 6.0.1 was fine, running 7 with LineageOS was worth the hassle.
My gripe is that despite having a display that's exactly the same size and resolution as my Pixel, Motorola's chosen to display less information on the screen even when you set the fonts to small--the home screen is 4 icons across, conversation threads in Gmail and Hangouts take up more space, etc. It's like Lenovo forgot they were putting an HD screen on here and set everything up for 1280x720. At least it's nice for watching movies on airplanes.
As for updates... yeah, Lenovo isn't too great about updates. I suspect we'll get 8.0 quite late and not get 9.0 ever. Considering a lot of sub $/€150 phones are still shipping with Android 6, I can't complain too loudly. Nor can I complain about almost-stock Android vs. the weird choices some other manufacturers have made.
I go down the rooting road anyway, so I'm happy that it's at least an option, which it isn't on so many other cheap Android phones. My Nexus 7 tablet is now over 4 years old and although 6.0.1 was fine, running 7 with LineageOS was worth the hassle.
My gripe is that despite having a display that's exactly the same size and resolution as my Pixel, Motorola's chosen to display less information on the screen even when you set the fonts to small--the home screen is 4 icons across, conversation threads in Gmail and Hangouts take up more space, etc. It's like Lenovo forgot they were putting an HD screen on here and set everything up for 1280x720. At least it's nice for watching movies on airplanes.
Aug 23, 2017, 12:11 pm
#79
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T-Mobile's website no longer lists the gold Galaxy S7, so I called in. They had it for $432. ^ The black was still $480, but I was able to get them to give me a $48 account credit as a one-time price match.
It'll be nice to have some "fresh" Galaxy S7's (battery life has significantly degraded) until next year.
Edited to add: Argh. CSR ordered me certified pre-owned phones!
Last edited by pseudoswede; Aug 23, 2017 at 12:19 pm
Aug 23, 2017, 4:35 pm
#80
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My Jump on Demand expires in September.
T-Mobile's website no longer lists the gold Galaxy S7, so I called in. They had it for $432. ^ The black was still $480, but I was able to get them to give me a $48 account credit as a one-time price match.
It'll be nice to have some "fresh" Galaxy S7's (battery life has significantly degraded) until next year.
Edited to add: Argh. CSR ordered me certified pre-owned phones!
T-Mobile's website no longer lists the gold Galaxy S7, so I called in. They had it for $432. ^ The black was still $480, but I was able to get them to give me a $48 account credit as a one-time price match.
It'll be nice to have some "fresh" Galaxy S7's (battery life has significantly degraded) until next year.
Edited to add: Argh. CSR ordered me certified pre-owned phones!
Aug 23, 2017, 9:16 pm
#81
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Aug 23, 2017, 10:45 pm
#82
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If there was ever a reason to have Twitter, it is so that you don't have to talk to the phone reps. I've called T-Mobile twice in the past 3 years. The rest of the time, from billing questions to phone upgrades I use twitter. Delta and United are easier to deal with via Twitter as well.
Aug 24, 2017, 1:13 am
#83
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If there was ever a reason to have Twitter, it is so that you don't have to talk to the phone reps. I've called T-Mobile twice in the past 3 years. The rest of the time, from billing questions to phone upgrades I use twitter. Delta and United are easier to deal with via Twitter as well.
Aug 24, 2017, 1:07 pm
#86
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Aug 25, 2017, 2:22 am
#87
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: ISB
Posts: 747
I'm good with my S8+ for now, even though the dual-camera on the Note 8 is very tempting, I'll hold off till November or December and see if there are any sales on, so I can pick one up then.
Congratulations on yours though, what colour did you order? Seeing as the US isn't getting Maple Gold or that really nice Deepsea Blue.
Aug 25, 2017, 4:53 am
#88
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Exclusively OMNI/PR, for Reasons
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For anyone that was previously a (temporary) Note 7 owner, Samsung is making the switch from your consolation device to the Note 8 a bit more palatable. You can get up to $425 off your preorder of the Note 8.
Here's the link.
EDIT: Verizon appears to be offering a 50% discount ($480) on the purchase of a new Note 8 for erstwhile Note 7 owners, with trade-in of their consolation phone. I can't find a link, but the CSR I spoke with this morning confirmed it. If you have a balance due on the purchase of your consolation phone, though, you still have to pay that off (unsurprisingly).
Here's the link.
EDIT: Verizon appears to be offering a 50% discount ($480) on the purchase of a new Note 8 for erstwhile Note 7 owners, with trade-in of their consolation phone. I can't find a link, but the CSR I spoke with this morning confirmed it. If you have a balance due on the purchase of your consolation phone, though, you still have to pay that off (unsurprisingly).
Last edited by Dodge DeBoulet; Aug 25, 2017 at 7:56 am Reason: VZW Promotion
Aug 25, 2017, 6:09 am
#89
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Seriously though, I'm tempted... but there are three devices I'll decide between once they are out.
1. Pixel XL 2 to replace my current Pixel XL with FI
2. iPhone 8 - If it is as cool as they say I may return to the lemming side
3. Note 8, Very cool device, but I have zero use for the stylus as I was born with 10 of them permanently attached to my hands.
Depending on how compelling the new new Pixel and iPhone are, I may end up either keeping my Pixel XL for another year, or jumping to the Note 8. The only thing keeping me from the Note8 is their crappy software and lack of updates. I'm wearing my Samsung Gear S3 right now which was essentially neutered with the introduction of Android Oreo. I'm running the nice new production version of Android 8.0 on my Pixel Now half the functions won't work because Samsung is taking their sweet time updating their software.
Aug 25, 2017, 8:00 am
#90
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I like the Pixel 2 as well, and by my nature it would usually be my top choice, but my Fi experience was unimpressive (primarily due to the fact that both Sprint and T-Mo coverage are awful here) and there is no wifi calling or VoLTE on AT&T without an AT&T branded device. I could move to Verizon, but I have 8 lines for my business in various points in their contracts and momentum keeps me with AT&T.
I find the stylus handy upon occasion, mostly when I need to jot down a quick note. Note's screen-off notes are super handy in those situations.
I really don't like iOS.
I find the stylus handy upon occasion, mostly when I need to jot down a quick note. Note's screen-off notes are super handy in those situations.
I really don't like iOS.