Contemplating this phone - Desire 626 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hey all, I've been looking around at the next phone I want to purchase. I'm torn between getting my Nexus 4 repaired for roughly $140, or picking the Desire 626 up off eBay for about $90-100. Just curious as to what your experiences are with the phone and if you'd recommend it, it's starting to be a tough choice for me since I love HTC's products haha. Thank you ahead of time for any feedback!

I had the moto X first gen for over a year and got a new phone momentarily because the screen cracked. The phone comes very near to zero storage and is a very bad experience compared to my Moto X and I'm assuming your nexus 4. Development is at zero and sometimes the phone is laggy. After digging through files and deleting stock files after updating to the play store versions. I now have space with EVERYONE OF MY FILES STORED ON MY SD CARD and I had to install Chaos Rings 3 using foldermount...now then do I gave a very decent phone experience... So TL;DR I'd repair the nexus 4 or get a different phone. Trust me, I love HTC's interface and this is my first phone from them but above still applies.
Edit: I used to play Chaos Rings 3 on HIGH settings, in order for it to run full speed I must play on low. Just thought I should add that. The processor isn't the fastest or fancy which you might already know.
Sent from my HTC Desire 626s using Tapatalk

Smash2Bash said:
I had the moto X first gen for over a year and got a new phone momentarily because the screen cracked. The phone comes very near to zero storage and is a very bad experience compared to my Moto X and I'm assuming your nexus 4. Development is at zero and sometimes the phone is laggy. After digging through files and deleting stock files after updating to the play store versions. I now have space with EVERYONE OF MY FILES STORED ON MY SD CARD and I had to install Chaos Rings 3 using foldermount...now then do I gave a very decent phone experience... So TL;DR I'd repair the nexus 4 or get a different phone. Trust me, I love HTC's interface and this is my first phone from them but above still applies.
Edit: I used to play Chaos Rings 3 on HIGH settings, in order for it to run full speed I must play on low. Just thought I should add that. The processor isn't the fastest or fancy which you might already know.
Sent from my HTC Desire 626s using Tapatalk
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I think I will just stick with repairing my Nexus 4 then. I do love HTC's UI as well, I like to use my girlfriend's M8 from time to time and I have an old HTC Desire Z that I tinker with here and there. I found some ports of some HTC stuff like the launcher and widgets so I might do that on AOSP. I did take a look at the development forum and it is kind of saddening to see no development which was another reason that I was leaning a bit more towards the Nexus, I'm constantly tinkering and trying out new things with my Moto G and I did for the 2 weeks I had my Nexus when it worked I do appreciate the feedback, I was tired of hearing all the YouTube reviews that the people were all used to high end phones and compared it to them instead of from a budget standpoint, so it's nice to have first-hand user feedback.

fireball0093 said:
I think I will just stick with repairing my Nexus 4 then. I do love HTC's UI as well, I like to use my girlfriend's M8 from time to time and I have an old HTC Desire Z that I tinker with here and there. I found some ports of some HTC stuff like the launcher and widgets so I might do that on AOSP. I did take a look at the development forum and it is kind of saddening to see no development which was another reason that I was leaning a bit more towards the Nexus, I'm constantly tinkering and trying out new things with my Moto G and I did for the 2 weeks I had my Nexus when it worked [emoji14] I do appreciate the feedback, I was tired of hearing all the YouTube reviews that the people were all used to high end phones and compared it to them instead of from a budget standpoint, so it's nice to have first-hand user feedback.
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No problem man, I'm glad it helped. FYI, I bring that phone back to Walmart and started using my Moto X. Listen of the day, stay with the old phones lol and yeah, I have the sense 7 launcher bookmarked somewhere on XDA so I may do that if I miss it enough but I normally use Google now launcher.
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I actually think that the HTC 626s is a great phone - for the price... For $80 (after rebate with MetroPCS), you get an excellent 4G LTE phone with a nice screen. The biggest drawback (in my opinion) is the lack of internal storage - and the lack of a development community (so far). Otherwise it's a lot of phone for $80!
If you are the type that installs hundreds of apps - or plays games on your phone, then it's not the right phone for you. If, on the other hand, you normally use a limited number of apps and don't play games, the 626s is hard to beat for the price. Also, with MetroPCS, you can get unlimited data, text and talk for as little as $30/month! The "unlimited" data is only 1GB @ 4G LTE speeds and the rest of the data at lower speeds, but if you need a lot of 4G LTE data, you can increase the amount of 4G LTE data as needed ($40/month for 2GB, etc). Hard to beat the price of the phone and the price of the service.
Just a few years ago, I paid $300 for an HTC Evo 4G (Virgin Mobile rebranded EVO 3D) - and it was MUCH less phone that the HTC 626s. It had such limited internal storage that you NEEDED an SD card just to install anything!
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jtrosky said:
I actually think that the HTC 626s is a great phone - for the price... For $80 (after rebate with MetroPCS), you get an excellent 4G LTE phone with a nice screen. The biggest drawback (in my opinion) is the lack of internal storage - and the lack of a development community (so far). Otherwise it's a lot of phone for $80!
If you are the type that installs hundreds of apps - or plays games on your phone, then it's not the right phone for you. If, on the other hand, you normally use a limited number of apps and don't play games, the 626s is hard to beat for the price. Also, with MetroPCS, you can get unlimited data, text and talk for as little as $30/month! The "unlimited" data is only 1GB @ 4G LTE speeds and the rest of the data at lower speeds, but if you need a lot of 4G LTE data, you can increase the amount of 4G LTE data as needed ($40/month for 2GB, etc). Hard to beat the price of the phone and the price of the service.
Just a few years ago, I paid $300 for an HTC Evo 4G (Virgin Mobile rebranded EVO 3D) - and it was MUCH less phone that the HTC 626s. It had such limited internal storage that you NEEDED an SD card just to install anything!
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I'm not one to game on my phone a lot at all unless it's something like Alphabear or Dots, which wouldn't be a problem there. I do install a decent bit of apps but I have an 8GB micro sd card laying around for my Nexus 4. I would also be using it on H2O Wireless, since AT&T's network is the best in my area and MetroPCS has no service whatsoever in my area and some of the surrounding ones here in PA, the downside of T-Mobile's network. With that being said, I am probably going to get my Nexus repaired because it's factory unlocked and it's the 16GB model which is plenty for me. That and I already know what to expect from it, the screen alone on it has spoiled me I do appreciate the feedback, thank you

Interesting - I'm in PA as well (about an hour outside of Philly) and the T-Mobile network has been AWESOME for me! I get 4G LTE speeds most of the time - and the phone automatically roams to other networks as needed. Actually been very happy with the service so far. Had Virgin Mobile before this and it was HORRIBLE!
MetroPCS also supports wifi calling too, so anytime I'm connected to wifi, it does the phone calls over wifi , which is pretty nice if you are somewhere where you don't get service.
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jtrosky said:
Interesting - I'm in PA as well (about an hour outside of Philly) and the T-Mobile network has been AWESOME for me! I get 4G LTE speeds most of the time - and the phone automatically roams to other networks as needed. Actually been very happy with the service so far. Had Virgin Mobile before this and it was HORRIBLE!
MetroPCS also supports wifi calling too, so anytime I'm connected to wifi, it does the phone calls over wifi , which is pretty nice if you are somewhere where you don't get service.
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I'm about an hour east of Grove City, around Clarion. It has a partner network here but someone I knew had it once and it was not the best for our area. AT&T has the best coverage for my particular location, followed by Sprint or else I would actually go to MetroPCS. I was doing a ton of prepaid carrier research the other day for when I get my phone repaired

Hey - I'm familiar with that area! Used to live in Emlenton, PA *many* years ago! It's wild how the different networks are so different in a relatively small area... Virgin Mobile (Sprint) is absolutely horrible around here!
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jtrosky said:
Hey - I'm familiar with that area! Used to live in Emlenton, PA *many* years ago! It's wild how the different networks are so different in a relatively small area... Virgin Mobile (Sprint) is absolutely horrible around here!
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Ah good old Emlenton, I'm very familiar with that town haha. Quick sad note about it, the old Mill burnt down Networks are interesting like that. The whole reason Sprint's network is really good is because of Interstate 80, they almost always have service along it and I have maybe one or two places without service. With AT&T though, the only place I didn't get service was in my house since it's partially underground which is why I'm switching back to it probably next month after my Boost Mobile month runs out. Verizon is just horrendous around here, I keep urging people to switch to a different provider

Related

HTC One X is now the same price as the Atrix HD

At&T has a new price point for HOX at $99.99 on contract so is the Atrix HD worth it still? Right now I am not sure since CM10 looks pretty good on the HOX.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/27/3192908/att-htc-one-x-price-drop-99-dollars-rumor
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
SnoMan88 said:
At&T has a new price point for HOX at $99.99 on contract so is the Atrix HD worth it still? Right now I am not sure since CM10 looks pretty good on the HOX.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/27/3192908/att-htc-one-x-price-drop-99-dollars-rumor
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
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I strongly considered the One X but the limited and non-expandable internal memory was completely a deal breaker for me. I have a bunch of music and movies on a 32GB card that I would have had to squeezed down to its 16GB internal memory. Why in this day and age would they do that? Might be a "cloud" thing. Since with the "cloud" you don't need large on-board memory. I don't buy that. I don't want to blow my very limited unlimited data plan, and not all of us have LTE coverage. While I have LTE at home (though with WiFi I've never needed to use it) my work still is on edge!
In addition I got the Atrix HD for $49 from Best Buy AND I signed up for their upgrade gift card (back in Feb) so I got a $50 gift card back instantly.
Thanks and I forgot about the expandable memory, and good deal with bestbuy now. Wish I could do something like that myself, but I want to hold onto this unlimited plan for as long as I can just to stick it to At&t. Now that I think about it the I hope that the tmobile version gets a microsd card slot like the Sprint Evo LTE. Outside of that I hope motorola unlocks the AHD's bootloader since stock doesn't seem like it is taking advantage of the S4 cpu.
I also hate how they shrunk down the internal memory from 32GB to 16GB in the US version, it was a deal breaker for me as well.
I have my family on a family plan so we have 4 lines.
I have another upgrade coming in a week and my family is happy with what they got. I was thinking about picking up an SGS2 Skyrocket or maybe even the new Sony that came out, but now that the HTC One X is cheaper I'll be getting that.
When I traded my Atrix 2 in they gave me $150 and I got the Atrix HD and I still have the $100 gift card, so I'll be getting the OneX free as well (at cost of being in contract)
Even though the Atrix HD had been disappointing because the lack of a dev community and the locked bootloader. I've grown to really appreciate the phone because it's engineering has been so solid for the hardware/software, that this phone has been running so well I see no need to change anything about it.
Eventually in a few months Dev will pick up on the Atrix HD, until Then I'll have the OneX sometime next week to play with.
One X vs AHD
Yes it appears on Sunday the price of the 1X is going to match the price of the AHD making it a challenging decision. However, since the HTC has been out for a couple of months, many of the bugs and hardware issues have reared their ugly head, at least on the AC forums. Of course, I do realize this a very small percentage of the total population of One X owners. Regardless, I'm not a fan of what HTC did to a perfectly good functioning multi-tasking in ICS which is where the AHD shines. And yes, the lack of microSD in the HTC is also annoying.
Has anyone in this forum had any regrets for investing in a mid-level phone like this? All the GS3 fans rave about it, but it too has its issues and I don't like the fact that the native email client does not allow pinch zooming emails. When I tested the AHD it seems it does and I also like the Smart Actions app too.
As a noob Andriod user, would you folks recommend the AHD due to the near stock Android experience? I don't want to waste an upgrade and need to make the best decision. Thanks.
Kedakari said:
I have my family on a family plan so we have 4 lines.
I have another upgrade coming in a week and my family is happy with what they got. I was thinking about picking up an SGS2 Skyrocket or maybe even the new Sony that came out, but now that the HTC One X is cheaper I'll be getting that.
When I traded my Atrix 2 in they gave me $150 and I got the Atrix HD and I still have the $100 gift card, so I'll be getting the OneX free as well (at cost of being in contract)
Even though the Atrix HD had been disappointing because the lack of a dev community and the locked bootloader. I've grown to really appreciate the phone because it's engineering has been so solid for the hardware/software, that this phone has been running so well I see no need to change anything about it.
Eventually in a few months Dev will pick up on the Atrix HD, until Then I'll have the OneX sometime next week to play with.
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nuance4u said:
Yes it appears on Sunday the price of the 1X is going to match the price of the AHD making it a challenging decision. However, since the HTC has been out for a couple of months, many of the bugs and hardware issues have reared their ugly head, at least on the AC forums. Of course, I do realize this a very small percentage of the total population of One X owners. Regardless, I'm not a fan of what HTC did to a perfectly good functioning multi-tasking in ICS which is where the AHD shines. And yes, the lack of microSD in the HTC is also annoying.
Has anyone in this forum had any regrets for investing in a mid-level phone like this? All the GS3 fans rave about it, but it too has its issues and I don't like the fact that the native email client does not allow pinch zooming emails. When I tested the AHD it seems it does and I also like the Smart Actions app too.
As a noob Andriod user, would you folks recommend the AHD due to the near stock Android experience? I don't want to waste an upgrade and need to make the best decision. Thanks.
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If I had the chance I'd get the SGS3
If I had to choose between the MAHD and the 1X, I'd probably stick with the MAHD. Even though the MAHD isnt really any fun to modify right now, that'll change soon or later.
It's really up to the person. If you already have doubts about the HTC One X's UI, then I'd stick with the MAHD
I love the ability to stack icons on your home screen to make folders, and the feature to swipe icons like your email or texts to get a preview without opening REALLY saves time and makes using ICS so much more productive.
As soon as we can unlock the boot loader, this phone will become a monster.
If we only had root access right now, I'd be able to edit the build.prop and have this phones hardware beat the 1x and SGS3 no sweat.
So if I understand correctly, an important part of the decision about which device to purchase should be the developer element? In another thread in this forum that has to do with someone that exchanged their GS3 for the AHD, a guy who's a big GS3 proponent stated he feels its unlikely the AHD will get a JB update since Moto moves very slowly with updates even though Google owns Moto Mobility. And since the boot loader is locked on this phone, there won't be any development yet.
From my perspective, the choice needs to weigh all the elements of the phone, how many issues people are experiencing and that it's well balanced in all areas. A new consumer review vid was just posted in the AHD forum on AC and it's well done. He points out all the strong points and the weak ones on the AHD, too. And as we know, the big sticking points on this phone are the camera and battery though from what I see in the XDA forum, most have found using Juice Defender and/or the Smart Actions battery saver help resolve the battery problem.
I like the new garnet red color for the ATT GS3 and with the credits I got at Amazon, it would reduce the price to nearly $100 (though I could get the AHD for $25 But money aside, I just want the best phone that will be reliable and do everything it should without any problems.
Kedakari said:
If I had the chance I'd get the SGS3
If I had to choose between the MAHD and the 1X, I'd probably stick with the MAHD. Even though the MAHD isnt really any fun to modify right now, that'll change soon or later.
It's really up to the person. If you already have doubts about the HTC One X's UI, then I'd stick with the MAHD
I love the ability to stack icons on your home screen to make folders, and the feature to swipe icons like your email or texts to get a preview without opening REALLY saves time and makes using ICS so much more productive.
As soon as we can unlock the boot loader, this phone will become a monster.
If we only had root access right now, I'd be able to edit the build.prop and have this phones hardware beat the 1x and SGS3 no sweat.
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Click to collapse
nuance4u said:
So if I understand correctly, an important part of the decision about which device to purchase should be the developer element? In another thread in this forum that has to do with someone that exchanged their GS3 for the AHD, a guy who's a big GS3 proponent stated he feels its unlikely the AHD will get a JB update since Moto moves very slowly with updates even though Google owns Moto Mobility. And since the boot loader is locked on this phone, there won't be any development yet.
From my perspective, the choice needs to weigh all the elements of the phone, how many issues people are experiencing and that it's well balanced in all areas. A new consumer review vid was just posted in the AHD forum on AC and it's well done. He points out all the strong points and the weak ones on the AHD, too. And as we know, the big sticking points on this phone are the camera and battery though from what I see in the XDA forum, most have found using Juice Defender and/or the Smart Actions battery saver help resolve the battery problem.
I like the new garnet red color for the ATT GS3 and with the credits I got at Amazon, it would reduce the price to nearly $100 (though I could get the AHD for $25 But money aside, I just want the best phone that will be reliable and do everything it should without any problems.
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That doesn't actually have to be an important element in your decision if rooting, flashing Roms etc. isn't your strong point or desire in Android phones. Since this phone is still new development will be very slow for who knows how long!
I came from the GS3 which I owned for at least 3 weeks. I loved the phone, everything it was hyped for came with it. It was quick and snappy right out of the box, but so is the AHD. From owning the GS3 for that amount of time; easing into the AHD was not bad at all. It was still quick and snappy out of the box had no complaints thus far for speed/multitasking, phone as of now is unable to be rooted so what you get is what you get. As far as JB update...well I'm not too sure on that criteria, I came from both the Atrix and Atrix 2, now both phones still don't have ICS i believe don't ..quote me on that lol but both phones are capable to experience ICS thru ports via ROMs. So they still get a little taste of how it is, I personally believe if we don't "Officially receive JB" eventually we could possibly see ported ROMs of JB (BL unlocked hopefully) in the near future. Aside of the BL being locked some members are at work of producing a root method for our phones and once that gets done..boy our phones are just half way there lol.
Haven't had any problems with the battery thus far since I have activated Batt. Extender App thru Smart Actions immediately out of the box, also installed Juice Defender and I can say it does make a huge difference so your not missing out on the battery too much.
I too loved the look of the GS3 in Red and was considering exchanging colors as opposed to getting the AHD, but I came from the White GS3 and i suffered from the deadly "Paint Crack" defect on the back cover!! I figured damn well I don't like the blue color and it did have a problem as well with the back cover...so I assumed the red just might have a defect lying there somewhere hahah.
I purchased the GS3 at Radio Shack for $150 thru upgrade which came to $207 after taxes so if you do plan on ordering the device through Amazon your getting quite a good deal, cheaper than any other person had problem gotten the device for lol.
All in all the AHD is a very reliable phone as well as the GS3! Both phones are capable of doing the same daily routines i.e texting, calling, browsing, etc.(Root/Rom aside) You can't go wrong with either device they are both great and I recommend both, it totally comes down to personal prefrence! If you were to ask me IMO I would get the AHD it's price point is unbeatable and for what comes out of the box you definitely can't go wrong, you won't be disappointed! Hope I was able to be of some help!
SnoMan88 said:
Thanks and I forgot about the expandable memory, and good deal with bestbuy now. Wish I could do something like that myself, but I want to hold onto this unlimited plan for as long as I can just to stick it to At&t. Now that I think about it the I hope that the tmobile version gets a microsd card slot like the Sprint Evo LTE. Outside of that I hope motorola unlocks the AHD's bootloader since stock doesn't seem like it is taking advantage of the S4 cpu.
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Your unlimited plan will last as long as you want. Just don't downgrade data plans, because then you lose it. I kept mine. Actually did a cross upgrade (one of the phones on plan was due for upgrade but not the one that I wanted to upgrade). They switched my unlimited plan to a LTE unlimited plan, without any question, or argument.
boufa said:
Your unlimited plan will last as long as you want. Just don't downgrade data plans, because then you lose it. I kept mine. Actually did a cross upgrade (one of the phones on plan was due for upgrade but not the one that I wanted to upgrade). They switched my unlimited plan to a LTE unlimited plan, without any question, or argument.
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Did you do this through at&t or a third party like best buy or Walmart? The reason I ask is when I went to a third party for an upgrade in the fall last year they said I would have to drop to a tiered plan. I went through At&t then to keep it, just wish I could get these reduced deals through places like amazon and RadioShack.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Chcl8.. Yes, you were of some help. Went back to the ATT store today and one of the reps is very knowledgeable and also owns a rooted Atrix that he's running Linux on too. I left the store thinking the GS3 might be the better decision due to not knowing if the AHD will ever get the JB update. And to me, that's BIG deal. I've never rooted or flashed a ROM due to owning an iPhone for so many years, though it's something I'd like to learn at some point. But I don't want to do anything that would void the warranty.
He said that after a few weeks I probably wouldn't notice the blue cast on the screen, though to me, it's pretty obvious now. And the points you are making about the hair line cracking in the plastic on the back of the GS3 was interesting and also made me think. But having a removable battery is nice just the same. I'm really torn right now and can't decide. And since I'll be getting the phone from ATT, getting the AHD will also include the car dock and car charger which is nice. I do prefer how Moto has skinned ICS as compared to TW though but the camera really isn't great at all. UGH!
Chcl8bananamagk said:
That doesn't actually have to be an important element in your decision if rooting, flashing Roms etc. isn't your strong point or desire in Android phones. Since this phone is still new development will be very slow for who knows how long!
I came from the GS3 which I owned for at least 3 weeks. I loved the phone, everything it was hyped for came with it. It was quick and snappy right out of the box, but so is the AHD. From owning the GS3 for that amount of time; easing into the AHD was not bad at all. It was still quick and snappy out of the box had no complaints thus far for speed/multitasking, phone as of now is unable to be rooted so what you get is what you get. As far as JB update...well I'm not too sure on that criteria, I came from both the Atrix and Atrix 2, now both phones still don't have ICS i believe don't ..quote me on that lol but both phones are capable to experience ICS thru ports via ROMs. So they still get a little taste of how it is, I personally believe if we don't "Officially receive JB" eventually we could possibly see ported ROMs of JB (BL unlocked hopefully) in the near future. Aside of the BL being locked some members are at work of producing a root method for our phones and once that gets done..boy our phones are just half way there lol.
Haven't had any problems with the battery thus far since I have activated Batt. Extender App thru Smart Actions immediately out of the box, also installed Juice Defender and I can say it does make a huge difference so your not missing out on the battery too much.
I too loved the look of the GS3 in Red and was considering exchanging colors as opposed to getting the AHD, but I came from the White GS3 and i suffered from the deadly "Paint Crack" defect on the back cover!! I figured damn well I don't like the blue color and it did have a problem as well with the back cover...so I assumed the red just might have a defect lying there somewhere hahah.
I purchased the GS3 at Radio Shack for $150 thru upgrade which came to $207 after taxes so if you do plan on ordering the device through Amazon your getting quite a good deal, cheaper than any other person had problem gotten the device for lol.
All in all the AHD is a very reliable phone as well as the GS3! Both phones are capable of doing the same daily routines i.e texting, calling, browsing, etc.(Root/Rom aside) You can't go wrong with either device they are both great and I recommend both, it totally comes down to personal prefrence! If you were to ask me IMO I would get the AHD it's price point is unbeatable and for what comes out of the box you definitely can't go wrong, you won't be disappointed! Hope I was able to be of some help!
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nuance4u said:
I left the store thinking the GS3 might be the better decision due to not knowing if the AHD will ever get the JB update. And to me, that's BIG deal. I've never rooted or flashed a ROM due to owning an iPhone for so many years, though it's something I'd like to learn at some point. But I don't want to do anything that would void the warranty.
He said that after a few weeks I probably wouldn't notice the blue cast on the screen, though to me, it's pretty obvious now. And the points you are making about the hair line cracking in the plastic on the back of the GS3 was interesting and also made me think. But having a removable battery is nice just the same.
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I think it'll get it, it'll just be a long time before it comes out. I'd bet the next version of Android will be out before this phone gets JB. If you guys ever get root though you'll likely be able to get it before the official update drops via leak on the Moto servers like what has recently come out for the Atrix 2. As for the hairline cracking, if you go ripping the cover off like a madman you can expect that. but if you get it started a little, and then use your thumbnail to run along the bezel of the phone to get it off the rest of the way you won't have an issue.
Kedakari said:
If I had the chance I'd get the SGS3
If I had to choose between the MAHD and the 1X, I'd probably stick with the MAHD. Even though the MAHD isnt really any fun to modify right now, that'll change soon or later.
It's really up to the person. If you already have doubts about the HTC One X's UI, then I'd stick with the MAHD
I love the ability to stack icons on your home screen to make folders, and the feature to swipe icons like your email or texts to get a preview without opening REALLY saves time and makes using ICS so much more productive.
As soon as we can unlock the boot loader, this phone will become a monster.
If we only had root access right now, I'd be able to edit the build.prop and have this phones hardware beat the 1x and SGS3 no sweat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really interested in seeing what you have planned now that root has been released! Have you had a chance to work with the Atrix HD yet?

Battery/LTE: Every phone has its tradeoffs

I am reading a lot of bemoaning with regards to what is considered poor battery life on the Nexus 4 based on comparisons made by Anandtech's review, and I feel that people are forgetting the golden rule of smartphones. That rule being that every phone has at least one 'fatal flaw' that you have to accept when you finally purchase that device. I feel like this thread will put things into perspective for those who just want to have it all. Reality is what it is, I'm not saying you should settle and give in to sub-ideal phones, but hey if you need a phone you need a phone, ideals and wishes won't make phone calls or grab your emails for you.
Let's start with the iPhone 5. Firstly, it's iOS and all its annoying ecosystem that surely every Android enthusiast has distaste for in some way or another. I'm pretty sure that rules it out alone and causes us think "Well who cares how long the battery lasts if I hate using the thing. Pass." It does have great battery life on LTE, quality construction, more accessories than you can shake a stick at, etc etc, but it's still iOS. No LTE in my area either but hey not the phone's fault.
Onto the HTC One X, which is a good phone in many regards but still has those 'fatal flaws.' It costs $465.50 (6 months after launch) unlocked which isn't too heinous but it isn't pentaband GSM keeping you from 3G/HSPA+ on T-mobile or whatever random 1700 band International carriers there are in the world. Also has frequent wifi antenna problems for many. It only sports 1 GB of ram. It is not pure Android, HTC Sense is hated by many, can be replaced with a custom rom, which is very good. Curious how the HTC one X (1800 mah) did better than the S3 (2100 mah).
Motorola Razr M. I rather like the physical feel of this phone, but with 4.0 ICS, nowhere to buy it unlocked, 1 GB of ram, and less dev support than these other phones I wouldn't consider it strongly.
Next the Motorola Razr i. Only has 4.0.4 ICS, 1 GB of ram, $498.50 unlocked also with no 1700 band support. Screen is probably not in the HTC One X leagues either.
Skipping a few brings me to the Motorola Photon Q. Obviously this thing is only for QWERTY lovers, of which I am not. Hey it probably kicks ass though if that's your thing. Oh but wait, you can only get it from carriers which means you'll be signing a contract. Wuh-oh no dice, that ain't nice.
LG Optimus G... Locked bootloader. (I held one and went "eww" but that's a personal thing), A year after ICS was released, Jellybean has been out for months, and yet LG releases this 'flagship' phone with ICS, tsk tsk. No 1700 band, 545.50 Unlocked. Only one of the versions has a micro-sd slot too, bizarro.
Galaxy S3! Personally the T-999 T-mobile Galaxy S3 is my personal choice over the Nexus 4. BUT Problems?!!? For me it was price at $550, the build quality of the phone, and the physical big home button. I've read too many reports of them cracking on their own (while in Otterbox Defender cases or whatever other big boxy tank armor people buy) because of the crappy plastic used and also overheating during usage or charging. A phone's screen shouldn't break on it's own sitting on your desk. Those issues are rather personal so really the problem is price for a 6 month old phone.
Anyway enough of this, there are many things which aren't negatives to some and other things that definitely are negatives that I haven't included, such as motorola camera quality or something along those lines.
Honestly, where can you buy a 299 or 349 dollar unlocked smartphone with the latest hardware (except that 5" panel on the HTC DNA), latest Android OS which is also vanilla, predictably tons of dev support, and isn't a plastic pile of junk? Although the Nexus is lacking LTE, enough storage for many, less than best battery life, and whatever other gripes there are out there. Also the benchmarks are meh, personally I could care less how fast it runs a benchmark. There gets to be a point where speed no longer matters, sort of like the difference between 100 FPS and 400 FPS when playing a video game or watching a movie. I mean if the phone can load apps faster than the Optimus G by .001 seconds who really cares? It's about real world usage to me, not benchmark scores. That's me though and I realize that isn't everyone's opinion.
So anyway if someone wants more storage and awesome battery but doesn't care about being forced into a contract, they won't mind getting a Razr Maxx HD. But if another person wants to avoid contracts, have the freedom to use their phone internationally even, with the latest operating system the Nexus 4 is the best bet because of the price with the S3 tailing behind it due to custom roms.
Someone could assign a point value to every category and rate phones across the board, but the amount of points per category, or rather the importance of certain traits over others, is totally independent for each person out there shopping for a device.
Long story short here, every phone has its drawbacks and issues, it's a question of which has the least amount of flaws when weighing the needs/desires of the consumer.
The Nexus 4 does the best job of fitting my needs, but it isn't perfect. I doubt any phone ever will be, but that's beside the point. The point is what is here and now available to chose from. The point is that battery benchmark graph that I can't link due to lack of posts. I would have never bought a Nexus 4 like I did if the price wasn't so good. If it were 600 dollars I would have passed and held out for custom roms to keep me afloat on the latest version of Android.
(If you're pissed I made a thread about this don't reply telling me that. Just let it sink to the bottom of the forum to rot and die.)
Thanks and happy phone hunting.
The optimus g has basically the same hardware specs and gets great battery life. Is it wrong to expect the n4 to get somewhere in the same ballpark? N4 appears to have just average battery life which is odd. I still plan on getting it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I wish I could want an iPhone because honestly I'm tired of rooting and tweaking and iPhone gets great battery no matter what you do.
But I love stock android and honestly I feel like I am chasing a dream. First android phone was epic touch 4g then I rooted awesome battery and ICS skins. Then ICS came out battery life was crap and issues. Ran that way for months. Then jellybean waiting for Samsung kernel horrible performance. Sprint data slow as crap. Then got a gal nex no 4g now slower 3g. LTE is a mile away and it is slow.
Then nexus 4 announced no sprint version leaving sprint for T-Mobile now trying to buy four nexus 4's for the family must wait again.
So at this point if battery life sucks so be it I'm stuck chasing a dream.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Fataldesain said:
I wish I could want an iPhone because honestly I'm tired of rooting and tweaking and iPhone gets great battery no matter what you do.
But I love stock android and honestly I feel like I am chasing a dream. First android phone was epic touch 4g then I rooted awesome battery and ICS skins. Then ICS came out battery life was crap and issues. Ran that way for months. Then jellybean waiting for Samsung kernel horrible performance. Sprint data slow as crap. Then got a gal nex no 4g now slower 3g. LTE is a mile away and it is slow.
Then nexus 4 announced no sprint version leaving sprint for T-Mobile now trying to buy four nexus 4's for the family must wait again.
So at this point if battery life sucks so be it I'm stuck chasing a dream.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me, the iPhone sucks without jailbreak. Especially when you are used to Android (even Stock Android) you will miss so many options. You will miss the tweaking (just because iOS sucks already). And btw, the iPhone is small as sh**.. so no wonder it's battery will last longer. How ever, browsing/writing textes is a pain in the ass on the iPhone.
Had the iPhone 3G (omfg) and the 4S.... glad I could sell them on ebay to some brainfart.
And btw: Once you get to jailbreaking your iPhone it's all problems and annoying work.
Battery is a pretty big one for me, as well as storage.. lte not so much, waiting a while to decide but I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a note 2 little more expensive but I can prolly get the woman to let me spend my own money on it :good:
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
Don't really need 4G.
See, the problem with the iPhone is, that it's an Apple product.
Apple-Hate aside, what people must realize, if they are in an area that offers 4G connectivity, it will also offer FULL 3G connection. The hypothetical max of HSPA+ is 42mb/s which if you're lucky, you can get close to. Also, TheVerge got 5Mb/s in a Metropolitan area, which is more than sufficient. I leech off StarBucks wifi, getting 450 KB/S and can watch HD video and anything I realistically need.
Please tell me someone, who uses 100% of their 4G.
Yeah once your used to android its hard to leave but my thing is since the iPhone 4 apple has had a smooth working phone with great battery. I have used about 10 android phones and honestly the iPhone 4 runs better than most and it is three years old.
Now things are getting better because the specs are crazy in all these phones. But sometimes I envy the apple sheep because they think they have the best and are satisfied with it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Nexus 4 vs ATT Optimus G

I just returned my ATT branded Optimus G after I got my Nexus 4 and I have to say, I'm kinda missing the OG.
Two things right off the batt are of course 25 meg LTE speeds and plenty of storage.
The Form factor of the N4 is nicer to hold as is JB but the OG had some really nice SW tweaks that made it kinda like JB.
No Google Now of course.
The OG also had a louder external speaker as well as the ear speaker was louder too.
This is my first experience will Stock Google, so I do like the clean setup, but I knew no LTE and 16 gigs of storage was going to be an issue.
The OG was very slippery to hold, yes the N4 is too but it has the tapered edges. The cases for the OG were crap and nothing really out there too.
I'm not taking any LG phone into consideration, not now, and not in the future, even if they become the leader in phone market. Those retards want to charge us the nexus 4 in non-play store countries in europe 500~600 euros... around 640$ to 770$.
bothfly said:
I just returned my ATT branded Optimus G after I got my Nexus 4 and I have to say, I'm kinda missing the OG.
Two things right off the batt are of course 25 meg LTE speeds and plenty of storage.
The Form factor of the N4 is nicer to hold as is JB but the OG had some really nice SW tweaks that made it kinda like JB.
No Google Now of course.
The OG also had a louder external speaker as well as the ear speaker was louder too.
This is my first experience will Stock Google, so I do like the clean setup, but I knew no LTE and 16 gigs of storage was going to be an issue.
The OG was very slippery to hold, yes the N4 is too but it has the tapered edges. The cases for the OG were crap and nothing really out there too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's amusing you said that. I was in an AT&T store last night getting a Micro SIM for my Nexus 4 and I played with the LGOG and thought, "I could never deal with this skin," and was a little put off by it.
Keep in mind, too, that people on T-Mobile and other international HSPA+ networks have comparable 15-25Mbps speeds without the LTE.
Edit - By the way, the folks at the AT&T store had NO CLUE to do with my request just to give me a Micro SIM card. One guy was like, "BUT THE PHONE MIGHT NOT BE CONFIGURED TO WORK WITH OUR NETWORK" and I had to reassure them that, yes indeed, I knew what the hell I was doing.
Ajfink said:
It's amusing you said that. I was in an AT&T store last night getting a Micro SIM for my Nexus 4 and I played with the LGOG and thought, "I could never deal with this skin," and was a little put off by it.
Keep in mind, too, that people on T-Mobile and other international HSPA+ networks have comparable 15-25Mbps speeds without the LTE.
Edit - By the way, the folks at the AT&T store had NO CLUE to do with my request just to give me a Micro SIM card. One guy was like, "BUT THE PHONE MIGHT NOT BE CONFIGURED TO WORK WITH OUR NETWORK" and I had to reassure them that, yes indeed, I knew what the hell I was doing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those Sales Associates usually know nothing about phones. Except for this one guy at Target, he was pretty well educated.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Nexus 4 Vs. LG Optimus G (AT&T & Sprint) Chart
Please continue discussion there.
Thanks
Closed

AT&T 64GB Model to Sprint

Will it be possible to purchase the 64GB model from AT&T and transfer it to Sprint? This is a deal breaker for me so if it's not possible then I'll have to get the Galaxy S4... I wish I could get the Xperia Z, but unfortunately Sprint doesn't carry Sony phones
tkoreaper said:
Will it be possible to purchase the 64GB model from AT&T and transfer it to Sprint? This is a deal breaker for me so if it's not possible then I'll have to get the Galaxy S4... I wish I could get the Xperia Z, but unfortunately Sprint doesn't carry Sony phones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More than likely, not. While the Sprint version is a World Phone and has a Micro SIM slot, AT&T's model doesn't support CDMA. Pretty sure this is right, can someone back this up?
eXplicit815 said:
More than likely, not. While the Sprint version is a World Phone and has a Micro SIM slot, AT&T's model doesn't support CDMA. Pretty sure this is right, can someone back this up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to what I've read there are a few different SKUs of the ONE. The Sprint version is a "World Phone" but it seems it may only have 900/1800 GSM for European ROaming and not 850/1900 needed for US roaming.
The AT&T version will not have the CDMA basebands enabled so you would have to buy a sprint ONE to use on sprint.
It does suck a little I know, but with all the cloud options now, and you get 25gb of Dropbox with Sense 5, that is the way things will continue to be IMO.
Edit: After a little searching I found that a few reviewers are claiming that the Sprint Version is GSM 850/900/1800/1900 capable but only HSPA14.4 Data.
On s4gru.com they claim the FCC paperwork shows only 900/1800 (European Bands) GSM capable.
Also USB OTG! Something like this may be a good investment if you need lots of storage space (once it comes out). Or any other USB dongle + flash drive.
I know OTG is an option but it defeats the purpose of the "stylish" device. I also don't always have the luxury of having good enough service to stream music and such. My job takes me all over the USA and to some really remote areas.
I wanted to try something different this time around, but it looks like I'll be settling for a GALAXY S 4 since there really isn't any other options. I'd love a Nexus device, but they don't have LTE which is my main means of Internet when I'm home... it's light years faster than anything else around me and, with tethering, it's free.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
tkoreaper said:
I know OTG is an option but it defeats the purpose of the "stylish" device. I also don't always have the luxury of having good enough service to stream music and such. My job takes me all over the USA and to some really remote areas.
I wanted to try something different this time around, but it looks like I'll be settling for a GALAXY S 4 since there really isn't any other options. I'd love a Nexus device, but they don't have LTE which is my main means of Internet when I'm home... it's light years faster than anything else around me and, with tethering, it's free.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, to each his own, in terms of storage. I don't ever see the necessity of having more than 27-ish gb of free space on my phone, since I don't listen to 10,000 mp3s all the time and can keep my high def movies on a flash drive, xfer them over, and then watch them. OTG doesn't defeat the purpose of a stylish device for me, since it won't be plugged in 100% of the time. And even if it was, I'd still prefer the aluminum One to the S4 anyday.
Good luck with your S4.
tkoreaper said:
I know OTG is an option but it defeats the purpose of the "stylish" device. I also don't always have the luxury of having good enough service to stream music and such. My job takes me all over the USA and to some really remote areas.
I wanted to try something different this time around, but it looks like I'll be settling for a GALAXY S 4 since there really isn't any other options. I'd love a Nexus device, but they don't have LTE which is my main means of Internet when I'm home... it's light years faster than anything else around me and, with tethering, it's free.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Galaxy nexus is lte
Sent from my PG86100 using xda app-developers app
Galaxy Nexus is a bit dated. I want something with up-to-date hardware.
As for the Aluminum vs Plastic ordeal it makes no difference to me as I'll be putting a case on it. The aluminum, although nice in both feel and looks, is a lot less durable in my opinion. I love my aluminum element case for my S3 so it looks as good, and more protected, those those other aluminum phones.
I'm not set on any particular device just yet so I'm going to keep considering it. I want a phone that will have great development and I'm sure either phone will be developed just as much as the other. All the talk about the lack of devs going to the S4 is just for the Exynos version I believe.
I'm open to more input from you guys as to which phone to choose. I've stayed far away from HTC devices as they've been cumbersome and difficult to root/flash for me when I've attempted to do it for friends and family, but that could just me... I have to admit the process on all my Samsung devices have been extremely easy and that's one of the things I like.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
tkoreaper said:
Will it be possible to purchase the 64GB model from AT&T and transfer it to Sprint? This is a deal breaker for me so if it's not possible then I'll have to get the Galaxy S4... I wish I could get the Xperia Z, but unfortunately Sprint doesn't carry Sony phones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plain and simple no. Sprint wont accept SKU's IMEIs' MEID's not factory registered to our system
eXplicit815 said:
More than likely, not. While the Sprint version is a World Phone and has a Micro SIM slot, AT&T's model doesn't support CDMA. Pretty sure this is right, can someone back this up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. Even if they did allow u to bring the phone on fir whatever reason... It wouldn't fully work if at all being that the freq are totally different and a SIM isn't going to fix that dilemma...
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

Thinking about purchasing a HTC One...

I have owned a iPhone 3G, Samsung Galaxy, Dell Streak, Dell Venue, Samsung Glide, HTC One X, HTC Inspire, iPhone 4, and a Nokia Lumia 900. All of these phones were on the AT&T network and required SIM cards.
Currently, I am looking at purchasing a HTC One on the Sprint network and was wondering if there are any pros/cons that I should know of, not only on this device, but on the network itself.
Any advice, input, or suggestions are welcome.
Thank you.
I'm using it on att. but, about htc one, I think camera sux except for low light, most lcds have stuck pixels but as pixels are really small not that niticable except for tests. Aluminum can get uncomfortable to hold while gaming due to heat generation. Comparing to Samsung gs4, htc is better in everything except camera.
My experience on htc one: made 7 exchange requests and used each of them for at least a week before giving up.
My experience in general sense: smartphone user since college senior, 2006. (i.e. my membership date.)
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Go GSM. Sprint isn't very good in my experience. Plus, on Sprint, you either have LTE or "3G". HSPA on GSM networks is so much faster than the 3G here, it's ridiculous. It's even faster than most of the LTE I get! The ATT one has a logo, though, so you might want to go t-mobile/ international /dev/Google play edition.
CDMA phones generally don't get as much love. That's just a thumb rule, but there are people out there who are completely converting their devices to Google play edition. So go GSM.
If you're patient though, you'll wait until HTC follows up on the One with their One+ in fall/winter. One def leaves some things to be desired like camera quality, QC, triband LTE and battery life/optimization.
Sprint network has always been spotty where i live (joplin mo) especially after the tornado a few years back. BUT they must have put some new towers in or something because now i get 4g everywhere and i am really impressed with it.
As for the phone? camera is weak for such a high end device. its not that its really bad its just not really that good.... my wifes s3 takes 10x better photos which is a let down. Battery has been good for me running viperrom. although charging does take forever! chargring at night is a must! no 30 min power naps for this phone. but everything else about the phone is great i really am glad i traded my iphone5 for it. why are u jumping from att to sprint?

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