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Morphineus
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Posts: 24883
Location: Sweden
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 Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 11:46 Post subject: New Android phone, need suggestions! |
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So my phone went kaput and I'm going to take over my fiancee's Experia since I don't really care about phones and she wanted a newer one...
But she has trouble choosing one. We both have the same aversion towards these dumb phones getting bigger and bigger so that limits the models we saw in the stores.
What we ended up looking at was the Experia's Z1 and Z3 (compact) and the Samsung S5 (mini).
The features we are going for are:
Not bigger than 4,5" (We won't budge on that)
Android
A Great camera (not that nonsense front camera, we don't care about that.)
And a price range of 300'ish € (400€ would be the real end of the line not even a euro higher, so more in the range of the mid 300's).
Reading up on phones have been a pain in the ass. Not much professional reviews out there that touch the camera other than megapixels.
Our experience with those 2/3 models in the store: Samsung was very responsive (compared to every phone that was in the shop, LG was absolute shite on that part), eventho it had a 8mp camera it performed better than the Experia Z's which had 20'ish mp but seemed to struggle at the zooming and auto focusing... also the white balance seemed a bit blue'ish. So I'm not sure if it was it being the case of the test model being worn down or if it's normal for those devices.
Anyone with some knowledge on the camera parts that could give his opinion or suggest maybe other models/brands we might over look.
I know it's asking a lot and we are rather specific in our needs, but both her and me: we go with phones for a few years before we change. 
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Morphineus
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Posts: 24883
Location: Sweden
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 12:54 Post subject: |
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Hmm should read up on those, haven't got a clue about them.
On the whole camera comparison of that S5 and the Z3... I feel quite stupid after someone pointed me to an article. I really don't know a thing about camera's it seems 
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Morphineus
VIP Member
Posts: 24883
Location: Sweden
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 13:21 Post subject: |
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| Mortibus wrote: | | camera is pretty decent, then again i think all mobile camera's are crap if you compare them to a real thing |
True they are, we're just getting by like this for when we get a decent camera. But atm budget constraints (read: me not having a job ), keeps us from doing some traveling so the need for one is a bit less.  |
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 13:47 Post subject: |
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my lg nexus 4 stock beat the hell out any samsung bloatware in terms of responsive. camera is a bit shit, but i take photos with a 450d anyway, so is not really fair to compare.
Last edited by frogster on Tue, 6th Jan 2015 13:49; edited 1 time in total
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 13:49 Post subject: |
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some quick pics that were taken with an older model, i assume it's they use same lens  Spoiler: | |
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 14:09 Post subject: |
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how about a oneplus one? a friend of mine got his a few weeks ago, looked kinda decent. and its easy to get invites for purchase
and maybe ur fiance wants to test something new? i would recommend windows phones. have a closer look at the lumia 535, u can get that for only ~110 euros. and what you get for that amount of money is awesome, a friend of mine got hers two weeks ago and is astonished (told her to get that one cause she dont wanted to spend much money). i'm on a lumia 920 since almost two years (had a lumia 800 before,a friend of mine still using it and its working like day1, but ofc its only wp 7.8 due to kernel restrictions) and was able to get some closer friends to get windows phones too. everyone is excited and since 8.1 theres nothing missing at all
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 14:13 Post subject: |
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LG G3 is great and their custom android skin is awesome. I haven't even rooted it to install a different ROM.
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 14:22 Post subject: |
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LG G3 has an oversaturated and oversharpened picture as an attempt to make the 1440p screen look better than a 1080p screen. Stay away from it.
Samsung makes crap Android skins. Really, really crap. I wouldn't use a Galaxy S5 even if it was a free gift.
If you care for camera, get a Z3.
If you don't care for the camera, consider a HTC One.
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Morphineus
VIP Member
Posts: 24883
Location: Sweden
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 14:38 Post subject: |
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| Janz wrote: | | how about a oneplus one? |
That's actually the one I would go for for myself. I want it as barebone as it can get, she's a bit different and want to try it out first (I'd just send it back if it's not to my liking ). Which is where the 1+ one kinda fails at.
I'll let her try some Windows phones next time, Android was pretty much because she's used to it and the store where we were only had Apple and Android phones. Was a bit surprised by that since I wanted to doodle around on a win phone since I've never did that before.
On the whole LG thing being great: they might be for some. But every model I tried at the store was slow as fuck (and very noticeable compared to all the other brands I tried). First impressions are really hard to shake off when they are like that.
If I ever go for a phone myself, I'll still give them a chance and try it out. I'm not really tied on brands and know full well every brand can make a bad product. |
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 15:35 Post subject: |
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i also reparied dozens of samsung's, sony's, htc's that crapped out, sim card slot not detecing sim cards, speakers that just go out of order, mic's, camera's, screens, you name it
samsung is on the top of the list 
nexus 5 are least troublesome, he either has some kernel problems which causing this crashes or it's just some app or two that causing it
Last edited by Mortibus on Tue, 6th Jan 2015 15:43; edited 2 times in total
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 15:42 Post subject: |
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as i said, happens on two nexus 5 phones. both in official rom and up2date
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 15:43 Post subject: |
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yeah had 2 s4 's recently with dead mobo's, with original software
went through bunch of lg phone since 2010 and none of them had major issues that couldn't be resolved with software, heck my first lg p500 still works 100%, i use it as mp3 player with 128gb sd card
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 16:20 Post subject: |
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stay away from windows phones combined with shit windows store.
just stay away.
phones may be good, but you get a smartphone for apps.
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sausje
Banned
Posts: 17716
Location: Limboland, Netherlands
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 16:26 Post subject: |
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| KillerCrocker wrote: | not bigger than 4.5 ? what is this 2008 ?
I just got lg g3 and its pretty cool phone. 5.5 but smaller than all other 5.5 |
Not everyone needs a big phone to make up for other small parts they have 
@Morphineus
Shouldn't the HTC One Mini 2 or Sony Xperia Z3 compact around what she is looking for?
I think those are no brainers over anything Samsung has to offer in those ranges.
Proud member of Frustrated Association of International Losers Failing Against the Gifted and Superior (F.A.I.L.F.A.G.S)
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 16:41 Post subject: |
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| frogster wrote: | stay away from windows phones combined with shit windows store.
just stay away.
phones may be good, but you get a smartphone for apps. |
dafuq are u talking about? what is missing on the wp store? sure it hasnt 1000000 zillion games, but who needs that? you must be one of those who never had a windows phone but just hatin cause is ms, right?
btw every phone which has wp 8.1 (so every wp8 phone, think htc users dont have it officially but can use the dev preview option) will get win10. its gonna be an awesome ecosystem with the desktop win10
Last edited by Janz on Tue, 6th Jan 2015 16:42; edited 1 time in total
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 16:42 Post subject: |
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 16:47 Post subject: |
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Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, 1500SEK.
It's cheap, small, has an OK camera etc. Basically, it's a good phone for that price. It doesn't have the best of specs but it gets the job done. ^_^
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Morphineus
VIP Member
Posts: 24883
Location: Sweden
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 16:55 Post subject: |
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| KillerCrocker wrote: | | not bigger than 4.5 ? what is this 2008 ? |
Well we are a bit older so we went from giant phones to small phones and now the idiots are making them bigger again! 
4.5" is great to do everything a phone needs to do. Also the perfect size to reach everything comfortably with one hand contrary to some of the 'phablets' (that's the new buzzword for them right?) out there that could use a third hand.
Anywho, I usually roll my eyes when I see people with giant phones whom have trouble putting it in their pocket. The idea just feels idiotic to me, bit like those retards at touristic places or sporting events that use their tablet that is bigger than their head to take pictures.
Put the device down and actually look with your eyes to see the wonders of the world now ant then would be my message to those monkeys... but eh.
/rant |
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Morphineus
VIP Member
Posts: 24883
Location: Sweden
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 17:01 Post subject: |
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@Saus
Indeed, we were thinking of those models and the Samsung. With that article about all the compact/mini phones that went deeper into camera explanation it seems the Z3 will most likely be the one she'll go for.
Still keeping other options open so that we can test them when go to Helsingborg in two weeks for a baptism. We'll be visiting the mall there before and they have a few phone/electronic stores.
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 17:44 Post subject: |
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| Prefetian wrote: | Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, 1500SEK.
It's cheap, small, has an OK camera etc. Basically, it's a good phone for that price. It doesn't have the best of specs but it gets the job done. ^_^ |
s4 mini is overpriced crap, avoid, it is literally s2 with new case but worse screen quality
| Janz wrote: | | frogster wrote: | stay away from windows phones combined with shit windows store.
just stay away.
phones may be good, but you get a smartphone for apps. |
dafuq are u talking about? what is missing on the wp store? sure it hasnt 1000000 zillion games, but who needs that? you must be one of those who never had a windows phone but just hatin cause is ms, right?
btw every phone which has wp 8.1 (so every wp8 phone, think htc users dont have it officially but can use the dev preview option) will get win10. its gonna be an awesome ecosystem with the desktop win10 |
windows phone, well yeah when they will give ability to copy my own music by just drag n drop i'll think about even trying one
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 18:23 Post subject: |
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@mortibus: that was a limitation of the old windows phone 7.5 (7.8 ) era where you needed zune. with wp8 the device shows up in the explorer and you can dragndrop any files onto it
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 18:41 Post subject: |
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No, call recorder. <--- illegal as long as the other person doesnt know and agrees
No, MP3 download from other website. <--- havent tried it, why should i download mp3s with my phone? but should be possible since the file explorer was added
No, use of mobile camera as a webcam. <- dafuq? for what? connection handy to pc and use the camera as webcam? who needs that? use skype on the device ffs
No, proper file manager of browsing memory card. <-- wrong, there are plenty of file managers available now
No, VLC media player (or No, good free video player that can play video along with subtitle). <-- wrong, vlc is available as beta and other good players too
No, Option for viewing offline html page. <-- ok true, but who needs offline html pages?
that article is about wp8, not 8.1. just look at the date
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Slizza
Posts: 2345
Location: Bulgaria
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 18:46 Post subject: |
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Z3 compact is a solid choice as is the z1. Both make the s5 mini pointless.
Corsair 750D :: 750W DPS-G:: Asus x370 PRO :: R7 1800X ::16gb DDR4 :: GTX 1070::525gb SSD::Coolermaster 240MM AIO::
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 18:59 Post subject: |
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| Janz wrote: | No, call recorder. <--- illegal as long as the other person doesnt know and agrees
No, MP3 download from other website. <--- havent tried it, why should i download mp3s with my phone? but should be possible since the file explorer was added
No, use of mobile camera as a webcam. <- dafuq? for what? connection handy to pc and use the camera as webcam? who needs that? use skype on the device ffs
No, proper file manager of browsing memory card. <-- wrong, there are plenty of file managers available now
No, VLC media player (or No, good free video player that can play video along with subtitle). <-- wrong, vlc is available as beta and other good players too
No, Option for viewing offline html page. <-- ok true, but who needs offline html pages?
that article is about wp8, not 8.1. just look at the date |
in other words nothing was really fixed, i can just download my music from drive, yandex and what not or just copy/pasta from pc and use variety of mp3 and other media players which are past beta 2 years ago, having windows phone is like living in prison with comfort
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sausje
Banned
Posts: 17716
Location: Limboland, Netherlands
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| Posted: Tue, 6th Jan 2015 19:14 Post subject: |
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| Janz wrote: | | No, call recorder. <--- illegal as long as the other person doesnt know and agrees |
Not true everywhere FYI, as long as you are the second person in the conversation (or part of the conversation), you are allowed to record without the other person knowing here
Proud member of Frustrated Association of International Losers Failing Against the Gifted and Superior (F.A.I.L.F.A.G.S)
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