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Posting this thread in the Note 4 section and the Droid Turbo section to get fair, balanced opinions.
I currently have the VZW Note 4, and I'm thoroughly unimpressed. The camera quality is lacking, the phone isn't fast, though I keep reading how zippy it should be. I have 5 apps installed that didn't come with the phone, and have disabled the bloatware apps. With that said, I'm thinking of moving to the Droid Turbo and wanted some opinions.
I've read the comparison articles, and I'm hoping the community can help me make the best decision based on which phone is likely to root and/or unlock bootloader first, ROM availability, and longevity of update life (will I receive further updates beyond Lolli).
bgnw said:
Posting this thread in the Note 4 section and the Droid Turbo section to get fair, balanced opinions.
I currently have the VZW Note 4, and I'm thoroughly unimpressed. The camera quality is lacking, the phone isn't fast, though I keep reading how zippy it should be. I have 5 apps installed that didn't come with the phone, and have disabled the bloatware apps. With that said, I'm thinking of moving to the Droid Turbo and wanted some opinions.
I've read the comparison articles, and I'm hoping the community can help me make the best decision based on which phone is likely to root and/or unlock bootloader first, ROM availability, and longevity of update life (will I receive further updates beyond Lolli).
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Click to collapse
I was faced with the same choice when it was time to upgrade, and I went for the DT 64gb version.
My brother went for the Note 4, so I know how enough to compare.
I would say, unless you don't like Samsung TouchWiz and prefer and leaner almost AOSP interface and/or prefer a smaller size, just say with the Note4. Also if battery life is your top concern, then DT is the way to go.
Both phones have same CPU/GPU, same memory, so if you find the Note4 slow (which is surprising!), then the Droid Turbo is not going to be any faster for you. Camera wise, the Note4's camera is superior with Optical stabilization and faster shutter.
As for the chance of root/unlock, I would say both phones have about the same chance. It's likely they will get rooted, but little chance of getting unlocked. I personally, came from a Galaxy S3 with CM11, so I miss many of the customizations CM11 allowed, but I'm starting to get used to it. The most annoying thing for me is not being able to see the unread email count with the default (active sync) email app.
The main reason that made me go with the DT instead of the Note4 is the size. I like to use my phone 1 handed and carry it in my front pocket. It would have been hard to do that with the Note4. (Plus the Developer edition was way backlogged)
neozen21 said:
I was faced with the same choice when it was time to upgrade, and I went for the DT 64gb version.
My brother went for the Note 4, so I know how enough to compare.
I would say, unless you don't like Samsung TouchWiz and prefer and leaner almost AOSP interface and/or prefer a smaller size, just say with the Note4. Also if battery life is your top concern, then DT is the way to go.
Both phones have same CPU/GPU, same memory, so if you find the Note4 slow (which is surprising!), then the Droid Turbo is not going to be any faster for you. Camera wise, the Note4's camera is superior with Optical stabilization and faster shutter.
As for the chance of root/unlock, I would say both phones have about the same chance. It's likely they will get rooted, but little chance of getting unlocked. I personally, came from a Galaxy S3 with CM11, so I miss many of the customizations CM11 allowed, but I'm starting to get used to it. The most annoying thing for me is not being able to see the unread email count with the default (active sync) email app.
The main reason that made me go with the DT instead of the Note4 is the size. I like to use my phone 1 handed and carry it in my front pocket. It would have been hard to do that with the Note4. (Plus the Developer edition was way backlogged)
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Click to collapse
I second just about everything that this guy says. Except that I'd say that the Note 4 is more likely to be unlocked/rooted on Verizon than the Droid Turbo is. The Note 4 is a cross-carrier device, so many many more people are using the Note 4 than the Droid Turbo. This means that many many more people are active in the dev community for the Note 4. Just look at the Verizon Note 4 forum here on XDA, it has WAY more activity than our Droid Turbo forum (and the Turbo forum acts as the Moto Maxx forum as well).
Hello,
I've order the 64Gb S6 deal from T-Mobile. I've been a lifetime Nexus user from the Nexus One. I've always stuck to pure Android and the phone I currently have is the Nexus 5. I've purchase every generation of Nexus phone except for the Nexus 6 because I didn't like the size. The S6 seems like a winner and I'm already use to a non-removable battery and no SD card. I'm not sure how I'll deal with TW(heard it's been toned down) vs stock Android. That really is my biggest worry and I've been researching a way to uninstall all the bloatware(T-Mobile) without rooting(Though I might do that with PingPong and deal with manual updates). I really wish they would have released a Google Play Edition. I am pretty excited about the class leading hardware, especially the camera. Others who have switched from stock Android to the S6, how do you feel? Loving it? Ready to switch back to a Nexus device? Let me know! Thanks!
Also I'm a avid Google Now, Ok Google user.
My last couple phones were stock android (one plus one, nexus, moto x) and I'll tell you, I don't miss them. The s6 is that good. Battery could be better, but I'm hoping rooting helps (I'm on day one of a custom ROM so we'll see). I also use the "OK google" phrase a lot, so you'll be disappointed to know it doesn't work on the s6 for some reason unless you're using google now or google launcher.
I was in the same boat as you. I went from a 32gb Nexus 5 on AT&T to 64gb Galaxy S6 T-Mo. I'm not a big save my entire music collection on my phone guy, I prefer streaming services. 32gb Nexus was fine for me and battery life sucked. I love the GS6, super fast, I find the battery life more than acceptable, I'm rooted via Ping Pong and actually don't mind Touchwiz this time around. Hated it on my GS2 Skyrocket and GS4. I just rooted and plan to update with Flashfire to keep Knox intact
I was worried about keeping KNOX intact too. I used to install custom ROMs back in the day but as Android has gotten better I haven't done it on recent phones. I just wanted to be able to uninstall bloatware so that's why I'm thinking about rooting. I love the fact that the T-Mobile version has no carrier branding and now I can't wait till this thing gets here. Other than software do you know how different the T-Mo version is from the international version?
N6 64GB to S6 64GB. No remorse whatsoever. Especially with a Tab S also, having things like SideSync is great.
wicked11 said:
I was worried about keeping KNOX intact too. I used to install custom ROMs back in the day but as Android has gotten better I haven't done it on recent phones. I just wanted to be able to uninstall bloatware so that's why I'm thinking about rooting. I love the fact that the T-Mobile version has no carrier branding and now I can't wait till this thing gets here. Other than software do you know how different the T-Mo version is from the international version?
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Click to collapse
Not any major differences. If anything T-Mo variant has a few extra features like voLTE and WiFi Calling enabled by default. I went with the JUMP option when I switched to T-Mo so I only have to pay off half the device to upgrade. I see no reason to get international version over T-Mo variant. If it were AT&T or International I'd go international all day. My girlfriend has the AT&T variant as she is still on a family plan with big corporate discount. With Flashfire the locked AT&T bootloader isn't crippling but more of an inconvenience
I went from the Nexus 5 to OnePlus One (CM12) and now to the S6. I love the S6. I use the Google Now launcher instead of TW and it doesn't feel all the much different to me. I like the added gestures TW brings (such as palm swipe for a screenshot).
For the bloatware, I simply disable it in the applications menu. When you disable them, the app also disappears from the app drawer.
I was Team Nexus for a while and had a GNex, Nexus 4, 5, and 6. I switched to the S6 because the N6 was too big for my taste and the S6 hardware was just so damn nice (body, camera).
Do I miss stock Android? Hell yes. There's very little (if anything) that TW does better. However, after a few hours of research and tweaking, I've got my S6 looking and feeling as close to a Nexus as possible. I recommend Nova Launcher, Moonshine icon pack, and Hifont to help with that. Also I rooted (before PingPong was available, unfortunately) and used TiBu to freeze all the bloatware I don't need. I'm pretty happy, but I'd be even happier if someone could get this Material Design theme ported to the T-Mobile variant!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s6/themes-apps/wip-material-design-theme-s6e-t3108155
For what it's worth, my S6 (with no mods other than frozen bloatware) is as snappy as my Nexus 6 running stock 5.1 with Faux kernel.
ping pong root. You basically root the stock rom, knox is NOT tripped. So its good as long as yuou only want to make small changes to your rom (like getting rid of bloat completely and not just disabling it).
Thats what i did and it worked AMAZINGLY well.
frettfreak said:
ping pong root. You basically root the stock rom, knox is NOT tripped. So its good as long as yuou only want to make small changes to your rom (like getting rid of bloat completely and not just disabling it).
Thats what i did and it worked AMAZINGLY well.
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Yeah, I think that's my plan. From all the review of current TW I don't think I'll mind so much. I just want to be rid of all the bloat I won't use. The phone feels amazing and I'm waiting for a glass screen protect now before I start using it. How do you guys feel about the recent new of possibly 2 new nexus phones coming out?
wicked11 said:
Yeah, I think that's my plan. From all the review of current TW I don't think I'll mind so much. I just want to be rid of all the bloat I won't use. The phone feels amazing and I'm waiting for a glass screen protect now before I start using it. How do you guys feel about the recent new of possibly 2 new nexus phones coming out?
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Really TW isnt that bad on the s6 now. I can deal with it. and honestly until this phone i have been a "gotta get a glass screen protector before i buy the phone" kinda guy. i have had this one without one and i havent scratch the screen once (have had it in my pocket with screws and nail on accident too a few times). I may end up ordering one, but i HATE the fact that the screen is curved on the sides and the protector doesnt go to the edge. IMO, just looks janky.
the 2 nexus phones is super interesting. I am REALLY hoping that the smaller LG made nexus is real cause i MIGHT be all over that. I had the g3 before this and really liked it. I did what they did with the g4, and as long as the new nexus takes the camera from the g4, that might be my next jump upgrade when it comes out. lol Not interested in a phone bigger than 5.5" anymore. After having the g3 for 6 months, and now going back to the smaller s6, i think this screen size is my sweet spot for sure.
id10terrordfw said:
N6 64GB to S6 64GB. No remorse whatsoever. Especially with a Tab S also, having things like SideSync is great.
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Click to collapse
Same experience for moving from a Nexus 6 to a S6.
Your making the right move op. I am not missing the stock experience at all as we already have Root / twrp / (tw for now, 920 T/F) ROM's / kernels / themes here. I've been busy flashing and finding largely positive results; devs are cool / smart peeps here. Much more stable options here imo.
Even just rooting and casually dialing back touchwiz to your liking is easy with titanium.
Moreover, the S6 hardware is largely unmatched to date. Backing up a 4.3gb .zip in twrp took 192/secs; octa 64bit rocks even on little stuff like that. Its not perfect, but its arguably THE superior android flagship right now.
Hey guys,
I bought at ATT S6 off contract (I have cricket) and my front camera had a ton of blue dots... well since I don't have ATT I need to mail my phone back to Samsung.
I moved back to my verizon S5 and I am surprised that it feels overall faster than my s6. My s6 lags sooo much. I didn't realize how much my s6 lagged until I moved back.
Does anyone else S6 lag so much that it makes the S5 feel fast? Is it because my verizon phone is still running Android 4..4.4?
Thanks for reading
No, it's just you.
I tested my note 4 next to my s6 and my s6 was at least 2x as fast loading apps. So yea it's just you.
Maybe I got a lemon. I did just factory reset and it seems to have helped it. Sometimes the Google search voice would take 5 seconds to initiatize.
What drugs are you on???
I have both and the S6 is much faster.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
Lol I'm not on any drugs. I swear my s6 would lag while opening apps, Google searches, the keyboard would lag, etc. I thought it was in my head but after moving on to s5 while waiting for my s6 to get replaced I noticed how bad it was. Hopefully the factory reset fixed it.
Did you change the animation speeds on the s5 and not the s6? That would be the only reason I could think of as to why the s5 would feel less laggy.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
https://youtu.be/L0ZFvlaWmXA
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using XDA Free mobile app
It must be a faulty unit. I own two S5s. One at&t and one Verizon. They're okay and the ip67 cert is great but my S6 blows it out of the water in performance and after freezing up useless services with titanium backup the battery life is actually better for me than the s5 its crazy.
sk8trix said:
It must be a faulty unit. I own two S5s. One at&t and one Verizon. They're okay and the ip67 cert is great but my S6 blows it out of the water in performance and after freezing up useless services with titanium backup the battery life is actually better for me than the s5 its crazy.
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Click to collapse
Yea, even going from my Note 4 with the Snapdragon 805 to the Exynos in my S6, the S6 obliterates it in every test I've done between the two. On top of the that all the tests show the Snapdragon 810 throttles like a mofo on phones and this Exynos has zero issues.
Ok, i agree with him. My S6 does freeze and lag and stuff. I thought titanium backup requires root to freeze ? but if you said a factory reset helped maybe i will give that a try.
My Nexus 5 with custom kernel/ROM feels snappier.
I have a nexus 9, but a friend of mine is willing to swap her Samsung tab s2.
I really like the bigger screen and super amoled display, but its not a nexus.... And is a Samsung. So is it worth? Please help.
tahsin95 said:
I have a nexus 9, but a friend of mine is willing to swap her Samsung tab s2.
I really like the bigger screen and super amoled display, but its not a nexus.... And is a Samsung. So is it worth? Please help.
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Click to collapse
I'm not an average user, I keep my devices clean, debloated and I'm meticulous about battery management. The nexus 9 is a nice device, with great front facing stereo speakers and timely updates.. But for me it was a nightmare to use due to the slow downs, reloading, refreshing and Chrome was downright unusable. I tried my best to manage the RAM ( 1.5 GB) but it was impossible
Within a month I wanted to smash it against the wall
So I sold it and I got a 9.7 Tab s2 and couldn't be happier. Fast, smooth, even better battery life than the N9 and I dint have to worry about stuff closing down cause RAM is depleted.
Better multitasking, split view, great integration with my Note 5 and my smart Samsung TV. I barely touch my laptop anymore
I'm wondering if it's worth rooting, I have the Tab S2 T710 and am debating rooting. We don't have stable CM or a AOSP due to the Exynos and only option is to optimize TW with root as all I can see. Anyone have feedback as to why they rooted or have not?, I'm really on the fence on this one and generally don't have a problem with a stock Tab...
B3L13V3 said:
I'm wondering if it's worth rooting, I have the Tab S2 T710 and am debating rooting. We don't have stable CM or a AOSP due to the Exynos and only option is to optimize TW with root as all I can see. Anyone have feedback as to why they rooted or have not?, I'm really on the fence on this one and generally don't have a problem with a stock Tab...
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Click to collapse
I don't think rooting your tablet has anything to do with getting a custom rom/boot loader. Since I'm using the stock Samsung with no custom rom and have rooted it just for Adblock.
B3L13V3 said:
I'm wondering if it's worth rooting, I have the Tab S2 T710 and am debating rooting. We don't have stable CM or a AOSP due to the Exynos and only option is to optimize TW with root as all I can see. Anyone have feedback as to why they rooted or have not?, I'm really on the fence on this one and generally don't have a problem with a stock Tab...
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Click to collapse
laureanop said:
I'm not an average user, I keep my devices clean, debloated and I'm meticulous about battery management. The nexus 9 is a nice device, with great front facing stereo speakers and timely updates.. But for me it was a nightmare to use due to the slow downs, reloading, refreshing and Chrome was downright unusable. I tried my best to manage the RAM ( 1.5 GB) but it was impossible
Within a month I wanted to smash it against the wall
So I sold it and I got a 9.7 Tab s2 and couldn't be happier. Fast, smooth, even better battery life than the N9 and I dint have to worry about stuff closing down cause RAM is depleted.
Better multitasking, split view, great integration with my Note 5 and my smart Samsung TV. I barely touch my laptop anymore
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Click to collapse
The only problem the nexus 9 has is the 2Gb of ram and 16gb of storage which is absolutely retarded otherwise it would literally be the best device on the market.
While I would have preferred a new Note 8, the tab 2 is a good tablet.
tahsin95 said:
The only problem the nexus 9 has is the 2Gb of ram and 16gb of storage which is absolutely retarded otherwise it would literally be the best device on the market.
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I have to disagree with you on that. I own 2 Nexus 7 2013 with 2gb of RAM and 16 GB ROM and they run like a dream. It's that damned Tegra chipset that steals 500 MB from the system plus yes for a tablet with a 64 bit system 2 GB of RAM was too little. I owned the 32 GB version so storage wasn't an issue.
G'day guys, I haven't owned a Samsung device in years and whilst I am quite impressed with my Note 8 out of the box the itch to make some mods is starting to creep in. I've owned, rooted and used custom ROMs on several Nexus devices and even a Note 2 back in the day but can't remember much about the Samsung method.
I'm using the Exynos version
I'd be interested in root and non root mods
My main gripes with the Note 8 are:
- The wired audio output is terrible, my modded Nexus 6 thrashes it so badly that I keep my Nexus 6 at work for all of audio needs.
- The single bottom speaker sucks
I use my phone to pay for everything, I don't want to go back to carrying a wallet so I'd rather not have to worry about that not working like i occasionally would when my N6 was my daily driver.
Is there any suggestions you'd make for mods or useful tweaks? What do you love about your Note?
My skill level with this stuff is about middle of the road, I'm not a noob with rooting but I'm not an expert either.
Any advice or input for someone getting back into the root / mods world after a year out would be appreciated.
Thanks fellas, much obliged.
-A
One thing, if you root your note 8, samsung pay will be gone forever, also secure folder, as for useful mods without root, I use system UI tuner, one handed mode+, fluid gestrures, and samfix