Database Develop

Any Note3/Note4 people switch the N6? If so, reply within....

I am a long time Verizon customer, and after a horrible customer service issue yesterday......I am looking to switch to AT&T.
I've been on the Note 3 since October of 2013 and absolutely love the device. Since Vzw is so behind releasing devices, if I switch to AT&T I am open to two devices I am interested in.......the Note Edge and the N6. Anyone of you come from a Note to the N6, that has owned/used the N6 long enough to give me some feedback, pros/cons? I am reading a lot of negative when comparing the cameras......but am aware the N6 is vastly improved from previous. One thing I really am most concerned about is screen clarity. Just hoped for anyones direct feedback that came from a Note and is live with their N6.
Concerns:
Screen clarity,colors, overall brilliance. Samsung has been superior IMO for the last few years. My Galaxy S Fascinate, my S3, now my N3......all in my opinion had the best appearance than any comparable phone on the market at the time of their release. It is one of the biggest deciding factors I've base my devices around for the last several years. I don't want to go backwards if the N6 is noticeably less.
No external memory slot. Even though I've had an issue with the last 3 Samsung devices involving the SD card, its still nice to have that storage available, especially when storing ROM's and backup data.
No removable battery. Again going back to flashing ROM's, I'm used to devices with removable batteries.....which is critical in some cases needing to do a battery pull. Perhaps you Nexus fans can reassure me this is a non-issue.....
TIA

LXative said:
I am a long time Verizon customer, and after a horrible customer service issue yesterday......I am looking to switch to AT&T.
I've been on the Note 3 since October of 2013 and absolutely love the device. Since Vzw is so behind releasing devices, if I switch to AT&T I am open to two devices I am interested in.......the Note Edge and the N6. Anyone of you come from a Note to the N6, that has owned/used the N6 long enough to give me some feedback, pros/cons? I am reading a lot of negative when comparing the cameras......but am aware the N6 is vastly improved from previous. One thing I really am most concerned about is screen clarity. Just hoped for anyones direct feedback that came from a Note and is live with their N6.
TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the note 4 and gave it to my wife when the nexus came out. To be honest I regret it Note is way better display. Camera yes improved but Note is better then N6.

I had the Note 3 for a year. It was absolutely my favorite device I had owned yet. The Note series is great, one can't deny. I loved the large powerful device. I was so close to buying the Note 4, until I found out the Nexus 6 was coming with a 6" display. It was a no-brainer for me. I rarely ever used the spen so that wasn't a factor. I couldn't stand the idea of a rear facing speaker so the forward facing speakers on the N6 was a big plus. Power wise, well they are both power houses so no factor. Touchwiz vs pure Android, well for me pure Android was a big plus. Design of the N6 is very appealing to me. I don't have a preference, nor could I tell you the difference in the displays, They both look good to me. I can say from the Note 3 to the N6, the screen quality is at least as good. I have zero complaints with the camera. I mean it's a phone; if I want professional photos then I would use a camera. I guess in the end it's user preference but you asked for opinions/experiences so I thought I'd share mine. I don't regret nor even think about my decision to go with the N6. It's what I wanted.

Huge discussion here...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/note-4-vs-nexus-6-t2906800

NICEGYPT said:
I have the note 4 and gave it to my wife when the nexus came out. To be honest I regret it Note is way better display. Camera yes improved but Note is better then N6.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
b.huss2 said:
I had the Note 3 for a year. It was absolutely my favorite device I had owned yet. The Note series is great, one can't deny. I loved the large powerful device. I was so close to buying the Note 4, until I found out the Nexus 6 was coming with a 6" display. It was a no-brainer for me. I rarely ever used the spen so that wasn't a factor. I couldn't stand the idea of a rear facing speaker so the forward facing speakers on the N6 was a big plus. Power wise, well they are both power houses so no factor. Touchwiz vs pure Android, well for me pure Android was a big plus. Design of the N6 is very appealing to me. I don't have a preference, nor could I tell you the difference in the displays, They both look good to me. I can say from the Note 3 to the N6, the screen quality is at least as good. I have zero complaints with the camera. I mean it's a phone; if I want professional photos then I would use a camera. I guess in the end it's user preference but you asked for opinions/experiences so I thought I'd share mine. I don't regret nor even think about my decision to go with the N6. It's what I wanted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good feedback. The first reply definitely was a pretty clear opinion, but I'm happy to see a counter for the N6 with yours. I'm definitely going to go hands-on in a store tonight, but for those of you who have the N6 I feel can give better feedback since you are more adapted already.
Getting ready to add two more concerns to my OP .........keep the replies coming. :good:

The N4 screen is brighter and cooler than the Nexus, but doesn't really offer any clarity benefit to me. It would be a better performer in direct sunlight though. I had both in hand for a couple weeks and in the end the Nexus was the right device for me. I prefer a stock android build and noticed many of the Samsung additions I either ignored or turned off. Your best bet is to think about the things that are important to you and then get some time in store with both to gain an understanding of how each devices handles those things. To me it came down to the fact that touchwiz just felt heavy (although it has come a very long way) and i wasn't really utilizing the S-pen the way i thought I would. I also like the ability to have access to factory images and the strong developer support within the Nexus community.
You cant go wrong with either though. I didn't dislike the Note, I just like the Nexus more

Tikerz said:
Huge discussion here...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/note-4-vs-nexus-6-t2906800
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A ton of info surely in there, but that was pre-release for both devs. Surely there are hands-on replies in the current end, but that is a lot of sifting. I'll keep browsing it in daytime if I can't get what info I am content with here though, thanks. :good:

LXative said:
Thanks.
Good feedback. The first reply definitely was a pretty clear opinion, but I'm happy to see a counter for the N6 with yours. I'm definitely going to go hands-on in a store tonight, but for those of you who have the N6 I feel can give better feedback since you are more adapted already.
Getting ready to add two more concerns to my OP .........keep the replies coming. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no concern about the storage. I am on the cloud for years now. All my pic and music on the drive and good music. once I feel the storage are full which I never seen it I clear my storage.
Battery on the note 4 is better. You can get almost 5 to 5 and half hours SOT. On the other hand nexus will get about 4 hours SOT.

I haven't owned a Note, but I've played with a few. Most recently, I handled a Note Edge for a bit over the weekend. It is definitely a nice device. Did it have a bunch of features that made it a clear winner over the Nexus? No. The edge display, although a nice touch, felt rather gimmicky and overall not very useful. I also had problems with Touchwiz not responding properly to the stylus input. Maybe someone broke the stylus, but from what I've heard and seen about Touchwiz, my first impression was that it was bugging out. The rear-facing mono speaker sucks in comparison. Also I didn't notice anything special about the display.
In fact, I love the warmer color temperature of the Nexus 6. I'm surrounded by overly-cool LCD displays and fluorescent lighting in my office. The warmer colors of the Nexus 6 were a welcomed sight. Let's not forget that natural colors are actually warmer than your standard LCD display, and it's my opinion that the Nexus 6's display produces more true-to-life color than any of my LCDs, and the overly blue tint to Samsung devices.
There's no doubt that some may find the extra features of the Spen and Touchwiz interface a "better" experience, and some go ape**** over the changeable battery and SD slot, but are those few features worth the higher premium of a Samsung? No, not in my opinion.

I switched from Note 3 to Nexus 6. Enjoyed the Note 3 a lot, but there where some things I disliked a lot.
1) these capacitive buttons are horrible. When using mhl adapter with TV you have no buttons on TV. They take a lot of space. Display buttons extend the display when watching videos or looking at pictures.
2) touchwiz. great - these features like multi window. I used them twice because they really are cool, but never again.
3) I liked the spen a lot. But after switching to Evernote I simply stopped using it.
4) Samsung & updates. *shakehead* when Samsung releases 5.0 for Note 4, Google releases 5.1. Let's not talk about when update will come to Note 3 which is one year old. Yes - I know. There is a beta from India you can flash but if you NEED your phone, will you flash a beta? It is simply horrible, that a one year old device is not treated the same in regards of updates as the current flagship. Everybody who pays 700€ for his Note 4 today has to keep in mind, that his phone will be treated as "old" in just one year. And it is even worse with the updates for tablets.
the hardware Samsung makes is the best on the market, but I want to keep my phone longer then one year.
I have my Nexus 6 now and am quite happy with it.
Greetings,
Elmar

I bought the Note 4 at T-Mobile the day it came out and I returned it after 2 weeks.
At first, it was great. Loved all the S Pen features. But then, I started noticing lag and stuttering thanks to TouchWiz. I rooted and debloated it, but it still had lag that I wasn't comfortable with. Other people are saying they don't notice it, but I returned it and bought the N6 when it came out. And I haven't looked back.

I've had 2 of every note for my wife and I on at. If you absolutely need to flash and tinker go with the n6 its a great device. Otherwise I would stick with the note if you don't mind stock touchwiz. There is almost no Dev support on the 3 due to locked bootloaders and I don't think the 4 will be any better. All you can flash on the 3 is variants of stock and only with safe strap installed. Hashcode who developed safestrap no longer supports it so for the 4 there would need to be a new Dev working on things if that method will even work.
Tldr if you need to flash and mod go n6 if not go note 4. You have even less of a chance at Dev support on the edge. But they are all great devices!!
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

The Note 3 is what I have had experience with as I have owned it since it came out last year. I haven't gotten the chance to play with the Note 4 but what I can say is that the Note series never disappoints.
As far as the carrier goes I really wouldn't recommend going with AT&T or Verizon because if you are looking to root your phone and flash roms it will be a hassle to do because of the locked bootloader. I recommend you go on the T-Mobile network instead.
I say the Nexus 6 and Note 4 are great devices they both have the same snapdragon 805 chip among other things so the difference would be whether you want touchwiz or not.

DON'T FORGET if you can afford it, T-Mobile unlocked devices will work on att so there is that option. Also Verizon offer developer versions of the notes that aren't locked but are full price up front.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

I had the note 3 and 4 on vzw, got the note 4 on release day and had it till I got my n6 3 weeks ago. I loved my note devices but I noticed some lag on them over time not bad by any means but more like hiccups. Always put on Nova launcher bc I hated touchwiz. Screen was brighter on note 4 but I don't mind the n6 screen. Camera at night isn't as good but in daylight the n6 focuses faster than the note 4. For what I like the n6 is the phone for me.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

I own a T Mobile Note 4 and using on AT&T network. It works great with no issues.
I ordered a Nexus 6 with Friday delivery so can't fairly compare yet.
A few Note 4 things.
1. FireKat custom rom has made all the difference. It is stock TW tweaked to perfection. No lag and battery last 5 to 6 hours of SOT.
2. Screen on Note 4 is incredible.
3. We did get CM12 on Note 4.

I had a Note 3 until may of this year when I got my G3 which I still have. The Nexus is leaps and bounds past the Note.

TheAmazingDave said:
I haven't owned a Note, but I've played with a few. Most recently, I handled a Note Edge for a bit over the weekend. It is definitely a nice device. Did it have a bunch of features that made it a clear winner over the Nexus? No. The edge display, although a nice touch, felt rather gimmicky and overall not very useful. I also had problems with Touchwiz not responding properly to the stylus input. Maybe someone broke the stylus, but from what I've heard and seen about Touchwiz, my first impression was that it was bugging out. The rear-facing mono speaker sucks in comparison. Also I didn't notice anything special about the display.
In fact, I love the warmer color temperature of the Nexus 6. I'm surrounded by overly-cool LCD displays and fluorescent lighting in my office. The warmer colors of the Nexus 6 were a welcomed sight. Let's not forget that natural colors are actually warmer than your standard LCD display, and it's my opinion that the Nexus 6's display produces more true-to-life color than any of my LCDs, and the overly blue tint to Samsung devices.
There's no doubt that some may find the extra features of the Spen and Touchwiz interface a "better" experience, and some go ape**** over the changeable battery and SD slot, but are those few features worth the higher premium of a Samsung? No, not in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The brilliance of the colors on the Galaxy phones is actually my preference. I am a hobby/amateur photographer, so I always have tons of my favorite pictures on my phone. Being you can actually control the tones/contrast settings.......that is all user interface, your preference. I've never noticed any blue tinting to any of my last several Samsung devices, interesting to hear that from another perspective. Thanks for posting up your experience, these are the kinds of posts I am looking for. :good:
theguardian99 said:
I switched from Note 3 to Nexus 6. Enjoyed the Note 3 a lot, but there where some things I disliked a lot.
1) these capacitive buttons are horrible. When using mhl adapter with TV you have no buttons on TV. They take a lot of space. Display buttons extend the display when watching videos or looking at pictures.
2) touchwiz. great - these features like multi window. I used them twice because they really are cool, but never again.
3) I liked the spen a lot. But after switching to Evernote I simply stopped using it.
4) Samsung & updates. *shakehead* when Samsung releases 5.0 for Note 4, Google releases 5.1. Let's not talk about when update will come to Note 3 which is one year old. Yes - I know. There is a beta from India you can flash but if you NEED your phone, will you flash a beta? It is simply horrible, that a one year old device is not treated the same in regards of updates as the current flagship. Everybody who pays 700€ for his Note 4 today has to keep in mind, that his phone will be treated as "old" in just one year. And it is even worse with the updates for tablets.
the hardware Samsung makes is the best on the market, but I want to keep my phone longer then one year.
I have my Nexus 6 now and am quite happy with it.
Greetings,
Elmar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Outstanding, this is a direct comparison for me.....since I'd be making the same change. And actually your 4 points directly relate to myself and my own preferences/experiences too. Thank you. :good:
XxKINGxX2580 said:
I bought the Note 4 at T-Mobile the day it came out and I returned it after 2 weeks.
At first, it was great. Loved all the S Pen features. But then, I started noticing lag and stuttering thanks to TouchWiz. I rooted and debloated it, but it still had lag that I wasn't comfortable with. Other people are saying they don't notice it, but I returned it and bought the N6 when it came out. And I haven't looked back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had a few hangups here and there, and started out swearing I'd remain stock/OTA only (like a lot of us on here do). After about 3-4 months, and the lack of updates (thanks Verizon), I rooted. Of course limited due to being locked down, but the experience even without AOSP based ROM's was much better than stock. And I've always used APEX Launcher to avoid TouchJizz. Glad to see the N6 answered your concerns though, definitely adds to the +++ side for me.
powdered_donuts said:
I've had 2 of every note for my wife and I on at. If you absolutely need to flash and tinker go with the n6 its a great device. Otherwise I would stick with the note if you don't mind stock touchwiz. There is almost no Dev support on the 3 due to locked bootloaders and I don't think the 4 will be any better. All you can flash on the 3 is variants of stock and only with safe strap installed. Hashcode who developed safestrap no longer supports it so for the 4 there would need to be a new Dev working on things if that method will even work.
Tldr if you need to flash and mod go n6 if not go note 4. You have even less of a chance at Dev support on the edge. But they are all great devices!!
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like exploring different ROM's for sure. I really can't understand why carriers lock their devices down and offer little or no different customizations. It'd be a different story if they would see what changes the dev's make (that we want) and give OTA options of the same. Even as simple as a toggle for flashlight.......
jae2014 said:
The Note 3 is what I have had experience with as I have owned it since it came out last year. I haven't gotten the chance to play with the Note 4 but what I can say is that the Note series never disappoints.
As far as the carrier goes I really wouldn't recommend going with AT&T or Verizon because if you are looking to root your phone and flash roms it will be a hassle to do because of the locked bootloader. I recommend you go on the T-Mobile network instead.
I say the Nexus 6 and Note 4 are great devices they both have the same snapdragon 805 chip among other things so the difference would be whether you want touchwiz or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would be all over T-Mobile if they had service where I work. But T-Mobile has no data where I live OR work......so unfortunately it is not an option for me. I am limited to Verizon towers and AT&T towers only.
powdered_donuts said:
DON'T FORGET if you can afford it, T-Mobile unlocked devices will work on att so there is that option. Also Verizon offer developer versions of the notes that aren't locked but are full price up front.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If my own ignorance to this option of T-mob device compatibility on AT&T networks, I would have purchased my last device from them. Verizon has stuck it to me hard with my Note 3 and their customer service, and being I paid outright for this Note 3......its going to be hard for me to justify dropping that cheese on another device outright. Definitely will keep that in mind though, maybe even if I decide to shop Swappa. :good:
nismo591 said:
I had the note 3 and 4 on vzw, got the note 4 on release day and had it till I got my n6 3 weeks ago. I loved my note devices but I noticed some lag on them over time not bad by any means but more like hiccups. Always put on Nova launcher bc I hated touchwiz. Screen was brighter on note 4 but I don't mind the n6 screen. Camera at night isn't as good but in daylight the n6 focuses faster than the note 4. For what I like the n6 is the phone for me.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good:
martinezma99 said:
I own a T Mobile Note 4 and using on AT&T network. It works great with no issues.
I ordered a Nexus 6 with Friday delivery so can't fairly compare yet.
A few Note 4 things.
1. FireKat custom rom has made all the difference. It is stock TW tweaked to perfection. No lag and battery last 5 to 6 hours of SOT.
2. Screen on Note 4 is incredible.
3. We did get CM12 on Note 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should have bought the dev edition Note 3, but then again there is hardly any support on the Verizon end........so I'm actually glad I didn't. Still something to think about if I do shop Swappa.
Pilz said:
I had a Note 3 until may of this year when I got my G3 which I still have. The Nexus is leaps and bounds past the Note.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you be specific as to what is so dramatic in the differences? If you have time, and don't mind? I'd love to hear what your experience has been. :good:

LXative said:
Can you be specific as to what is so dramatic in the differences? If you have time, and don't mind? I'd love to hear what your experience has been. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note 3 was a good phone when I didn't know any better about Android when I bought it. The phone seemed fast compared to my S3 but it WS extremely limited in terms of modding which is what I hated. TW was always laggy for me (more noticeable when I used my Nexus 7 then used my Note 3). After a while it for extremely annoying to me that my Nexus 7 with its 1.7ghz process and 2gn or ram was faster than my 2.3ghz 3gb of ram Note 3. I was rooted running Nova launcher on it until I accidentally updated to kitkat. I lost root in the update and I decided that I would upgrade he phone when something better came along because the TW nonsense was not for me. I liked the dual window and the S pen was cool at first but then it became a gimmick. The physical home button started to click weird after 7 months and it was not ideal to use and felt primitive compared to the onscreen buttons of my Nexus 7 (2013)
I had mentioned modding earlier which is important to me especially with TW because there was a good amount of lag comparatively speaking. Others may have found the Note to EB fast, but have then use a Nexus or AOSP device and then use the Samsung. Its sad because it was nice despite its shortcomings. The camera focus was horrible in my Note, but when it did focus after much frustration it would take nice pictures. Now let's talk ergonomics, the Note is extremely boxy for a 5.7in phone. I like big phablets however the Note 3 was terrible to hold even with a minimal case. Then there was the camera which protrudes a good amount just like the S5, and Note 4 making a slim case a bad idea if you want to protect the camera lens.
My wife has the S5 and whenever I use it it's awful just like I recall my Note was. My wife used to love Samsung too, but she now likes the way Nexus devices are or any phones with on screen buttons and minimal bloat. (She's not s technology snob at all either) her phone lags and stutters even with the bloat disabled as much as possible. Back on topic with the Note 3 now, I decided that the physical buttons, non ergonomic design, bad camera focus, laggy software, slow updates, bloat galore and general lack of easy development/mods was too much. I then bought a G3 at the end of May last year and instantly loved it. LG's UI was nowhere near as heavy as Samsung's and the G3 became my favorite non Nexus devices. In fact I still use my G3 even thought I love my Nexus. I wasn't going to wait for the Nexus 6 or whatever I thought it would be called to come out because I was done with the Notes shortcomings. The best decision I ever made was to get rid of my Samsung phone. I like the Nexus and G3 and will get the G4 and Nexus phone next year unless LG screws up their nice design.
In the end it was more than one thing for me and I hopes this helps you. I don't hate Samsung, I just don't like their phones the way that I used to. I still have an awesome Samsung TV and LG TV in my house and a Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus (i7 mode) but I won't but another Samsung phone the way they are now.

I had the Note 3 for several month and before that a Note 2 for a good while - both on Verizon. Having grown tired of Verizon locking down their devices and Samsung pressing on with Knox, I decided to move on from both ... grabbed a Nexus 6 with T-Mobile back in the beginning of December. I admit I wasn't sure if I could deviate from the Note as I grew accustom to the Note series and all the great things it has to offer - screen, camera, having the SPen, Multi Window, Pen Window, etc. But, as I started to think about it, I realized I almost never used the SPen and Multi Window/Pen Window were very rarely used as well. After almost 2 full weeks with the Nexus 6 I can say without a shadow of a doubt I do not miss my Note 3 AT ALL! About the only thing I miss is the battery life - the Nexus 6, in my use/experience, has not even come close to what I achieved with the Note 3! (I'm not really worried about this as I'm sure the kinks will be worked out by Google/Moto to get better results).
Comparison of the (in my opinion) major factors:
- Screen: Turning off Adaptive Brightness on the Nexus 6 makes a HUGE difference (and is a must IMO) and , in my most humble opinion, puts it on par with the Note 3 display. However, the Note 3 still wins this contest ... The N6 screen gets plenty bright and visibility outdoors hasn't been an issue, but overall I think the N3 has a slight edge. Also, the feel of the screen is different on the N6. The N6 glass seems "stickier" (for a lack of a better word) ... My fingers slid across the glass easier on the N3 and it's definitely better at managing finger prints!
- UI: Hands down goes to the N6!! Absolutely no comparison! While I'm not a TouchWiz hater (I actually think it compliments the Note series well) I was never a huge fan. Yes, it has some useful features, but a vast majority I found to be gimmicky and never used them. All they did was clutter the settings menu and app draw. And there is no denying TW lags ... now it was never significant in my experience, but definitely noticeable! Now, 5.0 on the Nexus 6 absolutely beautiful and straight out flies! Multitasking it so fluid that it makes up for Multi Window - switch between apps using the recent key (or whatever they're calling it in 5.0) is smooth with quick transitions. Google added nice features (ambient display, battery saver, priority notifications - to name a few) that are, well useful! Granted other OEMs have used similar features them in the past, but they're baked in very nice in 5.0 ... not intrusive and easy to ignore).
- Battery: As I stated above, I had better results from my Note 3. The N6 gets me through the day, but if I was a heavy user I'd find myself needing to charge mid day for sure
- Sound: Nexus 6 is better in every category! Dual front facing speakers!! Nuff said LOL! Headphone jack output is better and louder in-call volume.
Feel-in-hand/Build: While slightly taller,wider and heavier the Nexus 6, after a few days of use, feels better in hand. I admit, the additional width took some getting used to (the height wasn't an issue for me), even though it's only slight difference in width, it's definitely a difference you'll notice. But like any new device, it becomes a none-issue after a few days. The curved back on the N6 makes the feel-in-hand great, but certainly makes things annoying if you're trying to use the device while it's laying flat on a hard surface. Although the same could be said for the Note 3 and it's protruding rear camera (never did understand that design!)
The build on the Nexus 6 is stellar!! Just a solid piece of machinery LOL There's no give to this thing at all! The N3 always felts kinda cheap to me ... it'd creek a little bit when holding it in a certain spot, the plastic didn't feel premium and it developed hair-line cracks in the plastic outer band around the SPen although it was never dropped/abused.
Camera: (DISCLAIMER: I AM IN NO WAY A PHOTOGRAPHER ... I ENJOY TAKING PICTURES, BUT TRUTH BE TOLD I DON'T KNOW MAY ASS FROM LEFT FIELD!!!) I may be the only one to say this, but I was never a fan of the Note 3 camera (I still feel the Note 2 camera was superior). I always had a tough time getting decent shots. However, towards the end of my run with the device I turned off the image stabilization feature (I think that's what it was called) and had MUCH better success! The Nexus 6, IMO, takes really good photos. Like any smartphone camera, it does better in the right conditions. But, with HDR on, I am finding the pics to be more than ample for my needs.
Depending on your wants and needs, I don't think you can go wrong with either device. In the end it all comes down to personal preference. At this point in my life, I wanted the latest, pure, unskinned Android OS, fast updates and a root/hack friendly environment (with great developer support). If those aren't appealing to you, than the Note 4 is probably the next best choice. I say go play with both a few time at a local store before making a decision ....

Tried S6, thinking of returning it for Nexus 6

Good morning all,
I purchased my next new device over the weekend- white 32gb Galaxy S6. I absolutely love the phone. It is beautiful on the outside, and MOST of what is inside it, I love as well. My issue is with battery life. Now I know there have already been tons of reports of bad battery life leading up to the actual release. I had written these off as people who didn't know how to properly manage battery life. I knew battery life wouldn't be as good as what I am used to, but I never thought it would be as bad as it is. I am having to leave all the usuals turned of (wifi, bluetooth, location, ect.). No biggie. I am also having to go as far as using the app that turns off pixels in the display to conserve battery life. Even with this, I am getting less than 4 hours of screen on time. Just browsing the net, I can watch my percentage drop rather quickly.
This brings me to the reason for my post. I had originally wanted the Nexus 6. I had been waiting for it to drop on Big Red, so I didn't have to shave down a SIM card, or go through the hassle of explaining to Verizon, "Yes you will allow me to use this device on your network, even though you do not currently offer it." Well right around the time I was ready to make the N6 purchase, I found myself in Best Buy and saw they had a display of the new S6. I went over to check it out, fully thinking I am going to think this device is a joke. Well it wasn't a joke, and that is how I ended up with it.
All this being said, should I go ahead and pick up the N6, or wait for the next flagship to launch? The main thing that has me unsure at the moment is the outdated 32 bit Snapdragon 805 chipset. Now I know this is still a very capable chip, but am I being dumb for blowing $650 on a phone that is already one generation behind in the processor world? I always buy my phone at full retail to avoid losing my unlimited data with Big Red.
Am I making a mistake or should I get it and never look back, while enjoying the pure Android bliss?

How do you figure that 805 is "outdated" or "one generation behind"? 805 is the CURRENT STATE OF THE ART and won't be passed until you start to see the 820 come to market. No, 810 is not a new generation, its just a stopgap to satisfy everybody too dumb to realize that 64bit doesn't do anything useful for a cellphone. Its actually a crappy chip that sucks up way too much power.
The 820 is *actually* the next generation of mobile chip, which improves performance and power consumption compared to the 805.

jonmike13 said:
Good morning all,
I purchased my next new device over the weekend- white 32gb Galaxy S6. I absolutely love the phone. It is beautiful on the outside, and MOST of what is inside it, I love as well. My issue is with battery life. Now I know there have already been tons of reports of bad battery life leading up to the actual release. I had written these off as people who didn't know how to properly manage battery life. I knew battery life wouldn't be as good as what I am used to, but I never thought it would be as bad as it is. I am having to leave all the usuals turned of (wifi, bluetooth, location, ect.). No biggie. I am also having to go as far as using the app that turns off pixels in the display to conserve battery life. Even with this, I am getting less than 4 hours of screen on time. Just browsing the net, I can watch my percentage drop rather quickly.
This brings me to the reason for my post. I had originally wanted the Nexus 6. I had been waiting for it to drop on Big Red, so I didn't have to shave down a SIM card, or go through the hassle of explaining to Verizon, "Yes you will allow me to use this device on your network, even though you do not currently offer it." Well right around the time I was ready to make the N6 purchase, I found myself in Best Buy and saw they had a display of the new S6. I went over to check it out, fully thinking I am going to think this device is a joke. Well it wasn't a joke, and that is how I ended up with it.
All this being said, should I go ahead and pick up the N6, or wait for the next flagship to launch? The main thing that has me unsure at the moment is the outdated 32 bit Snapdragon 805 chipset. Now I know this is still a very capable chip, but am I being dumb for blowing $650 on a phone that is already one generation behind in the processor world? I always buy my phone at full retail to avoid losing my unlimited data with Big Red.
Am I making a mistake or should I get it and never look back, while enjoying the pure Android bliss?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both are very good phones but very different. The Galaxy has the best screen and a good cpu and the Nexus has better speakers and no bloatware. If you like to tinker the nexus is the one for you and if you don`t the S6 is your phone. Mind that KNOX registers the rooting process and it may void warranty dependent on where you live.
The Nexus is overall a great phone with good batterylife (user dependable) a good screen, good speakers and its very snappy and fluid. You can`t go wrong with either phones but it all depends on how you use the phone and what you want to do with it.

gee2012 said:
Both are very good phones but very different. The Galaxy has the best screen and a good cpu and the Nexus has better speakers and no bloatware. If you like to tinker the nexus is the one for you and if you don`t the S6 is your phone. Mind that KNOX registers the rooting process and it may void warranty dependent on where you live.
The Nexus is overall a great phone with a good screen, good speakers and its very snappy and fluid. You can`t go wrong with either phones but it all depends on how you use the phone and what you want to do with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. You can't go wrong with most phones these days it just depends on what you want. Other than the camera, ignore the specs and ask yourself do you want a larger phone with pure android? Or do you want a smaller one with TouchWiz? Also, considering you're on Verizon, the S6 bootloader most likely won't be unlocked and root will be a challenge.
With that being said, I switched from the Note 4 to the Nexus 6. The Note screen and camera were much better than the Nexus 6, but I prefer stock Android and being able to unlock the bootloader and root. After waiting months hoping for someone to obtain root I finally gave up and switched and don't plan on going back.

I appreciate all the responses guys. I am coming from a Note 3 and I have always liked the larger phones, and in turn I am used to bigger batteries and longer battery life. I did not know that the Snapdragon 810 wasn't a new generation chip. I appreciate the clarification on that. I definitely prefer what the Nexus 6 has to offer, but I guess I was worried it would be outdated much quicker than the S6. I was lured into the S6 by their in-house chipset that seems to be crushing everything it is put up against in benchmark testing, and the fact that the build quality and design seems to be on par with an iPhone. I kind of thought of it as an iPhone running android because of how much the design has changed over the previous S5.

im sort of in the same boat.. im coming from a GS4 so anything will be an upgrade for me. my phone is pissing me off and im dealing with a stuck power button issue so the phone randomly shuts off and wont turn back on. was debating GS6 vs N6 but knowing on verizon i cant root or unlock the bootloader i think im going N6

jonmike13 said:
I appreciate all the responses guys. I am coming from a Note 3 and I have always liked the larger phones, and in turn I am used to bigger batteries and longer battery life. I did not know that the Snapdragon 810 wasn't a new generation chip. I appreciate the clarification on that. I definitely prefer what the Nexus 6 has to offer, but I guess I was worried it would be outdated much quicker than the S6. I was lured into the S6 by their in-house chipset that seems to be crushing everything it is put up against in benchmark testing, and the fact that the build quality and design seems to be on par with an iPhone. I kind of thought of it as an iPhone running android because of how much the design has changed over the previous S5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One thing of note is that most oems are aware when a benchmark is being run and have background processes (for lack of a proper term) kick in to falsely boost the results. If you google the idea, you will find tons of results from Samsung, HTC, and I'm sure many others.
Cant really go off benchmarks, even though I still run them on any new phone I am considering purchasing lol

pokedroid said:
One thing of note is that most oems are aware when a benchmark is being run and have background processes (for lack of a proper term) kick in to falsely boost the results. If you google the idea, you will find tons of results from Samsung, HTC, and I'm sure many others.
Cant really go off benchmarks, even though I still run them on any new phone I am considering purchasing lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good bit of information to keep in mind. I did not know that.

dansan382 said:
im sort of in the same boat.. im coming from a GS4 so anything will be an upgrade for me. my phone is pissing me off and im dealing with a stuck power button issue so the phone randomly shuts off and wont turn back on. was debating GS6 vs N6 but knowing on verizon i cant root or unlock the bootloader i think im going N6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure how your current battery life is, but this S6 has been far from what I expected. I am using that app to disable pixels, which causes the screen to look bad. This makes me think, what is the point in buying this awesome phone if you have to disable most of its great features in order to get it to last all day. Since you are on Verizon, you will be happy to know that they have the Nexus 6 for $599 as opposed to $649 through the Google Play store. That is if you are okay with having the blue color, since Verizon does not offer the white one.

jonmike13 said:
I am not sure how your current battery life is, but this S6 has been far from what I expected. I am using that app to disable pixels, which causes the screen to look bad. This makes me think, what is the point in buying this awesome phone if you have to disable most of its great features in order to get it to last all day. Since you are on Verizon, you will be happy to know that they have the Nexus 6 for $599 as opposed to $649 through the Google Play store. That is if you are okay with having the blue color, since Verizon does not offer the white one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my battery life on my GS4 is not great at all, actually its pretty bad. Im running cm11 roms and this stuff is buggy as heck so thats not helping either. I wasn't impressed with the GS6 when I played with it in the verizon store, just didnt blow me away. plus i hate touchwiz.
I will be buying my nexus 6 from motorola, as I want white. I just really dont like that blue/purpleish tint to the MB version. I really wish they offered black but sadly that isn't happening. I'll probably just get a cool dbrand wrap as well.
for those who have ordered from motorola, from the time you placed the order how long did it take to arrive at your door? Im debating if I should mail it to my house or my job as I know they will need a signature and nobody will be home.

I've always had galaxy devices but looked to nexus this time. The only thing that i dislike the phone is no ext sdcard. Once i got over that. I love the n6 and will not go to a galaxy device again. The knox thing made my life hell with the s4. The s5 was a bit easier to deal with roit and all but tw lag was unbearable especially compared to my friends n5. Battery is great on the n6 granted it's bigger than the previous phones i had. Took me awhile to get used to the bigger phone. On 5.1 stock rooted encrypted and the performance is more than satisfying
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

slicknsxy said:
I've always had galaxy devices but looked to nexus this time. The only thing that i dislike the phone is no ext sdcard. Once i got over that. I love the n6 and will not go to a galaxy device again. The knox thing made my life hell with the s4. The s5 was a bit easier to deal with roit and all but tw lag was unbearable especially compared to my friends n5. Battery is great on the n6 granted it's bigger than the previous phones i had. Took me awhile to get used to the bigger phone. On 5.1 stock rooted encrypted and the performance is more than satisfying
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for your feedback. ive had this GS4 since launch date and thankfully I was able to unlock the bootloader before they plugged that hole up. I dont mind not having an SD card as I had a Galaxy Nexus before the GS4. I also have never swapped batteries so i dont mind losing the removable battery especially since the nexus battery is huge. Also turbo charger and wireless charging is a nice thing to have. I'd probably use it just like you have, root it and unlock the bootloader. I just want stock android without having to use custom roms.

dansan382 said:
thanks for your feedback. ive had this GS4 since launch date and thankfully I was able to unlock the bootloader before they plugged that hole up. I dont mind not having an SD card as I had a Galaxy Nexus before the GS4. I also have never swapped batteries so i dont mind losing the removable battery especially since the nexus battery is huge. Also turbo charger and wireless charging is a nice thing to have. I'd probably use it just like you have, root it and unlock the bootloader. I just want stock android without having to use custom roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The turbo charger is great. I only use it once in awhile most of the time I'm wireless charging. With my galaxy phones i ended up making it look and run like a nexus device as much as i could. My friend convinced me that i should just get the n6 and try it. So much nicer and easier when it comes to updates too. Definitely don't regret the n6. And I'm very pleased with 5.1
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Just to chime in, I also came from the Note 3. I was in a real pickle as I didn't want to have a phone without a sd card but root was more important as it's beginning to look you'll catch a unicorn before anything Samsung gets rooted on Verizon...:silly: Anyway, rooting this device was the easiest I've ever done and I just bought a Meenova adapter and still use my sd card with that when I need it. I look at it as you have to give to get, if you want root on Big Red you may have to give up something and what I gave up wasn't all that bad in the end for the freedom I now have. Just some thoughts from me.
P.S. - Plus I don't want to have to give up my signature....

Curious if anyone has gone the other way switching from N6 to S6. I am considering it, but I don't want to rush into it. I know the pros and cons of each, but I'm just wondering if anyone switched from N6 to S6 and has a good experience.

theycallmerayj said:
Curious if anyone has gone the other way switching from N6 to S6. I am considering it, but I don't want to rush into it. I know the pros and cons of each, but I'm just wondering if anyone switched from N6 to S6 and has a good experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously I cannot help with going from the N6 to the S6, but I will try to report back once I get the N6 and let you know how the two devices compare and if there was anything I preferred on the S6.

All I can say is, an an att retail employee, I still think the N6 is the best overall phone right now. Camera isn't terribly important to me, screen quality, screen size, battery life, and customization is what I look for and N6 wins in all 4 categories. The N6 still has a QHD screen and the size is great for gaming or netflix/YouTube. Just my two cents, I'm either going to get the m9 (half off purchase program for wireless employees with free upgrade every year... No contract) due to bootloader situation, purchase a N6 for my personal device or wait for one-plus-two. S6 is nice, but mostly hype, IMHO.

theycallmerayj said:
Curious if anyone has gone the other way switching from N6 to S6. I am considering it, but I don't want to rush into it. I know the pros and cons of each, but I'm just wondering if anyone switched from N6 to S6 and has a good experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did for one week then went back to my N6. The S6 is very nice. The N6 is a much better software experience IF you favor stock android. That's what it came down to for me.

Thanks for this thread you guys! Exactly why I love xda! Currently have the Nexus 5 after owning the Galaxy S1, S2 and S4. Couldn't be more happy with the Nexus 5 but battery life is pretty terrible for me on that device. I sneak around the Nexus 6 as I would like the bigger screen, better battery and better speaker but after seeing the Galaxy S6 I was also torn towards that a bit. This thread is really helpful for me and so far I think Nexus 6 is the way to go.

adl said:
Thanks for this thread you guys! Exactly why I love xda! Currently have the Nexus 5 after owning the Galaxy S1, S2 and S4. Couldn't be more happy with the Nexus 5 but battery life is pretty terrible for me on that device. I sneak around the Nexus 6 as I would like the bigger screen, better battery and better speaker but after seeing the Galaxy S6 I was also torn towards that a bit. This thread is really helpful for me and so far I think Nexus 6 is the way to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go for it and don't look back! Now I am stuck paying a $35 restock fee on this S6, but I think it will be worth it.

[Q] as of today

would you buy the nexus 6 again today over other phones?

Yes but not direct from Motorola
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

Probably not.
bambam126 said:
would you buy the nexus 6 again today over other phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I perhaps would try the LG G4. Prior to switching I had the LG G3 and it was a pretty great phone. Considering you only needed root and the exposed framework to do many cool features. Thought that it was a great concept for moving forward with devices. No longer waiting for that special ROM to come. It was truly a no hassle phone.
I'd go with the Sammy S6 edge except it is very small on screen size. But my number one concern with any phone is support for Android Auto, cause when I'm mobile, I am and want to be hands free mobile. But in my humble opinion, the Nexus is much more of a dedicated ROM, Framework, and Governor type phone which requires constant attention and tweaking by the user to get the most out of.

I love my N6 but I wish the camera was faster. The camera on the G4 is the only thing I covet
Sent from my Benzo'd Google N6 on VZ

Yes, I was not at all impressed with the m9. I must admit the s6 did impress me however only 5 inches and no front facing speakers makes me not want it. I must admit I am anxiously waiting for the note 5 and what ever the next Nexus device is going to be at the end of the year. If the next Nexus is smaller than 5.5 inches I will definitely consider the Note 5.
I am still very happy with my Nexus 6

I tend not to buy phones that are 6 months old. If it was 3 months ago, then yes.
There is nothing now that I feel would be any better either though. I'd probably be waiting until Autumn unless I had a desperate requirement

Yes, mostly because root is more and more elusive. There's so much less to worry about with a Nexus device: no need for exploits nor bootloader codes, no worries about bricking, and no lack of dev support.
That said, there are areas I would like to see improvement. Between Google and all the dev support, we don't have to wait long to see and implement them.

Coming from a S4 to this phone is like night and day. Boot loader, root, general flashing all much easier with a great forum to provide support.... whats not to love?? If none of those things matter to you then any phone would do but if you like to live a little on the edge and try new stuff.... this type of phone is a good choice.

Yes. Tired of waiting for ROMs and bootloader hacks and root access for other phones. Google gives you access to everything right out the box.

I would buy my Nexus 6 today in a heartbeat. Even though it's now an "older" device, there are many points that I love and haven't really seen in other devices. Top 5 reasons:
1. Aftermarket/community support
2. Build materials and quality (I like the plastic back with the metal frame. Might not be as "pretty" but the back is less likely to show abrasions and won't dent)
3. Lollipop/"Pure" Android (no bloat, cutting-edge software, timely updates)
4. The amazing hardware package (although we all agree the camera could be better on a device in this class)
a. awesome processors
b. lots o' RAM
c. fantastic radios (cell, GPS, BT, WiFi)
d. wonderful front stereo speakers
e. dat screen, doh
f. etc...
5. Size and shape

As others have said, I cannot go without an rooted and unlocked device. My heart would sink if i had an unmodable phone. The dev and community support is great. Other phones may have nice features here and there or higher benchmarks but if it cannot rooted and unlocked I'll pass. The manufacturers may have a their own idea of how a phone should be setup, but I don't prefer it. I want to tweak it to my liking, especially since this is primarily what in use to communicate with the world.
Just as in the plethora of ROMs available here: some are stock+ while others have a ton of features. I, fortunately, have the ability to choose which user-interface best pleases my needs.
If all phones were unlocked and rootable I would have to rethink my answer.

I would absolutely buy it again.

I did just purchase mine. Had the s6 and had to return it because of display issues and the battery life was terrible. At the store they gave me a replacement with the same display issue (pink tint on bottom 1/3 of the display, very noticable next to the display model). Looked at the g flex 2 and m9 and decided I wanted to go with this. I had been saying I was gonna get a nexus anyway but the s6's hardware was very appealing. I am not disappointed with my decision at all. I did think the battery life would be a little better on this and it does get uncomfortably toasty at times but I do love this phone.

Definitely would buy again.
1) Unlockable bootloader with so little hassle
2) Dev community
At the same time I have been putting up with a slow camera ;(
Edit: good solution for camera just found: open camera (in the GPS: Dev mark Harman)

glenny buster said:
I did just purchase mine. Had the s6 and had to return it because of display issues and the battery life was terrible. At the store they gave me a replacement with the same display issue (pink tint on bottom 1/3 of the display, very noticable next to the display model). Looked at the g flex 2 and m9 and decided I wanted to go with this. I had been saying I was gonna get a nexus anyway but the s6's hardware was very appealing. I am not disappointed with my decision at all. I did think the battery life would be a little better on this and it does get uncomfortably toasty at times but I do love this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out the disabling services thread in general http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/disabling-google-play-services-guide-t2999821/page22 post 220 talks about disabling receivers, it refers to the google play update receivers they start with system.update. I disabled those 3 and battery life has been pretty good (along with other stuff I don't use... Fit, Kids, and such). Of course you need to be rooted to do this, I am using My Android Tools (I got the paid version but there is also a free version I think) to disable stuff. Just pay close attention to the thread and don't try to experiment.... at a minimum, you will want to have a nandroid backup before you start just incase you disable something by mistake.

in tech, its all about timing. there are 810 phones i can get today.. though i think i might be happier with the 805 than the 810, but the chips in the s6 look pretty good... i might even wait for the 6s-plus to come out if i were shopping today (if the 6 plus had 2 gigs of ram i would have gotten a 6 plus)... the phone i wanted more than anything was the droid turbo when deciding (was between nexus 6, moto x, m8 and droid turbo... so lots of moto). after seeing all the development for the nexus, i dont think i would go to another phone... but an lg nexus with ips display might be nice (dont need 4k, 1080 is fine... want a 4200 mAh battery).
and i have a feeling we are still unlocking new potential with the phone, porting moto features, getting cm implementation ironed out... lollipop is still in growing pains...

I just bought mine a couple weeks ago so I'd say yes. I was just tired of lack of root and delayed updates on the Note 4.

Beyond the Nexus 5

My first Nexus device was the Nexus 4. I loved the quick updates but the battery life was pathetic and it seemed to age quite quickly. I then moved to a Samsung Galaxy S4 but got annoyed over the slow updates around November 2014, I purchased the Nexus 5 and I have been really happy with it. Battery life still isn't that great (although much better than the Nexus 4) but the quick updates are amazing. It's also aged really well and still running reasonably ok. I wasn't keen on the Nexus 6 as this is far too big but I am now starting to think of what phone I should get to replace the Nexus 5.
What phones are you all considering? The obvious choice seems to be to wait for the next Nexus phone but I'm not sure if they'd keep in line with the Nexus 5 or 6 (they might do both). Plus, it'd be quite a few months away so in the meantime I was thinking of the LG G4 as LG seem to be quite good with updates.
Thoughts and suggestions?

N6 is too large for me, and I won't buy any phone from Chinese company, so I will try my best to keep my N5 working
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

DummyPLUG said:
N6 is too large for me, and I won't buy any phone from Chinese company, so I will try my best to keep my N5 working
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chinese companies are really stepping up their game recently from what i have been reading.

fwayfarer said:
Chinese companies are really stepping up their game recently from what i have been reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still didn't change their bad behave, you will never believe the cost down of their product. Company like sharp and HTC will tight control everything use in their product down to rev., sometime it may down to specific batch and have a quite large margin for the design. For average user you won't notice anything, but if you take a look at the circuit you may wonder by their miracle.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

I do not agree. It is my opinion that HTC is not the same, and does not have the same quality that they did years ago. It is also my opinion that Samsung devices have seriously gone down in quality.
For power users like us, we desire top of the line devices. We expect them to perform to a standard that the average user does not.
For the average user who just needs to check email and receive MMS picture messages of their grandkids, cheap Chinese phones can't be beat. If you want more, then yeah you have to pay more and buy from a bigger named company.

I´m also happy with my Nexus 5 and this device is still one of the best around, in terms of performance.
If I were you, I would wait a few months for the next Nexus device to be released. Who knows, maybe Google will release a Nexus 5 ( 2015 ) or a slightly smaller Nexus 6 ( 2015 ) ?

Its nice to have a new phone every now and again, but I would wait a while to see what happens with the next Nexus phone; it might just make you fall in love with the Nexus family again.

I think they will make a smaller Nexus phone this year. I'd like a 5.5 or 5.2in device with thin bezels.

I just wish it would be small enough (5") and has a better camera hardware (Nexus 5's is quite a bit lacking).

Save your money for next nexus. If rumors are true we will get 5.2" lg nexus phone. Im hoping for 2k display with quantum technology, type-c usb (because google hinted that in some video), fixed snapdragon 810 or 808 which is in lg g4, 3000mah battery, 13 or 16mp camera with lg's new ois, 3-4gb of ram (more likely it will be 3).
Sent from Pure Nexus 5

alen1901 said:
Save your money for next nexus. If rumors are true we will get 5.2" lg nexus phone. Im hoping for 2k display with quantum technology, type-c usb (because google hinted that in some video), fixed snapdragon 810 or 808 which is in lg g4, 3000mah battery, 13 or 16mp camera with lg's new ois, 3-4gb of ram (more likely it will be 3).
Sent from Pure Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok you convinced me, patience is a virtue after all I'm sure the next Nexus would be awesome, I really don't like the direction they went with the Nexus 6 but rumours say that this was originally part of the Android Silver program (or whatever it was called) and it was only switched back to a Nexus phone last minute. Anyway, fingers crossed that the next Nexus is as awesome (or more so) than the Nexus 5 and equally good value for money.

I preordered an LG G4 yesterday, I have just cancelled the order. I love my Nexus 5! I may be tempted to buy a Nexus 5 (2015) if the rumours are true though

biggyt said:
I preordered an LG G4 yesterday, I have just cancelled the order. I love my Nexus 5! I may be tempted to buy a Nexus 5 (2015) if the rumours are true though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the next Nexus is released in October then I think we're due for some major rumour/leaks about now. The feature at the top of my wishlist for the phone is a very large battery with some serious battery optimisation. Together creating a phone that exceptional run time far more than anything else on the market.

The speculations for each new nexus are always over blown and never live up to the hype. That said I've owned then all. After the nexus 6 (too big), I an looking for alternatives. I am fully planning to get a g4. I'm kind of tired of nexus cameras and battery life. If it wasn't for those 2 things (that and the memory leak that more ram should help) I could probably make it another year with my nexus 5.

frigidazzi said:
The speculations for each new nexus are always over blown and never live up to the hype. That said I've owned then all. After the nexus 6 (too big), I an looking for alternatives. I am fully planning to get a g4. I'm kind of tired of nexus cameras and battery life. If it wasn't for those 2 things (that and the memory leak that more ram should help) I could probably make it another year with my nexus 5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was my thinking with the LG G4 because the line of phones has stood the test of time. The LG G2 was released over a year and a half ago but it's still holding up well and LG are still supporting it with Lollipop (although it takes a while for the update to reach the phone). Something tells me the LG G4 could easily be supported for 2 years if not more. However, although the battery is around 3000mAh, it doesn't have amazing battery life. Much better than the Nexus 5 and would easily take most through the whole day but I'm really thinking that a phone that can easily take most people through 48 hours is a new standard that should be strived by manufacturers.

The s6 is tempting for me. I'd be gutted if nexus realesed a beast though. Can't beat pure android.

I owned a Nexus 6 for a couple months. I never liked the size and couldn't get used to it. I also hated the shape of the phone. It was not stable laying a desk. Surprisingly, I use my phone one handed while it lays on a desk a lot to send texts. That weird curved back wobbles and spins if you try to use it one handed like that. I also don't understand why people want such a high resolution phone. It just hurts performance and in a 5 inch package more than 1080p seems pointless.
I have switched back to my Nexus 5 and sold the 6 and am so much happier. I know now that I never want a phone larger than the Nexus 5. I am also on Sprint which makes buying a non-carrier phone virtually impossible. Basically I am stuck hoping the Nexus 5 refresh is small or keeping an eye on something like the Galaxy S6/HTC M9 AOSP custom rom scene which I really don't want to mess around with.

frigidazzi said:
The speculations for each new nexus are always over blown and never live up to the hype. That said I've owned then all. After the nexus 6 (too big), I an looking for alternatives. I am fully planning to get a g4. I'm kind of tired of nexus cameras and battery life. If it wasn't for those 2 things (that and the memory leak that more ram should help) I could probably make it another year with my nexus 5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus 5 has a really great camera, just compare it to nexus 4 camera. Its still 8mpx and that much better. Now imagine 13mpx with lg's new ois and camera API that allows you to use camera sensor in full glory. I would really like 16mpx camera on a phone like galaxy s6 has, but remember, its a phone, it has a camera to quickly capture moments when your "professional" camera is not near you. But i agree about battery, it should be better on stock factory image then it is, and they always put smaller battery in there. Maybe because it would kill oem's flagship phone that way.
Evo_Shift said:
..I also don't understand why people want such a high resolution phone. It just hurts performance and in a 5 inch package more than 1080p seems pointless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We are not in dinosaur era where big screens were massive battery hoggers. Today you can easily get 2k display which uses the same amount of energy like 1080p screen (not on full brightness ofcourse). Also hardware is so good that it can easily push 2k without any performance drops (qualcomm wouldnt make 2k support in their cpu if it cant keep it up, especially for flagship devices, because if their processor fails to complete oem's tasks, oem will not buy from them anymore). Also, you noticed google is going colors in lollipop, why wouldnt you take advantage of that with a great 2k display and enjoy even more. I rather have better screen than 15min more battery.
Sent from Pure Nexus 5

alen1901 said:
Nexus 5 has a really great camera, just compare it to nexus 4 camera. Its still 8mpx and that much better. Now imagine 13mpx with lg's new ois and camera API that allows you to use camera sensor in full glory. I would really like 16mpx camera on a phone like galaxy s6 has, but remember, its a phone, it has a camera to quickly capture moments when your "professional" camera is not near you. But i agree about battery, it should be better on stock factory image then it is, and they always put smaller battery in there. Maybe because it would kill oem's flagship phone that way.
We are not in dinosaur era where big screens were massive battery hoggers. Today you can easily get 2k display which uses the same amount of energy like 1080p screen (not on full brightness ofcourse). Also hardware is so good that it can easily push 2k without any performance drops (qualcomm wouldnt make 2k support in their cpu if it cant keep it up, especially for flagship devices, because if their processor fails to complete oem's tasks, oem will not buy from them anymore). Also, you noticed google is going colors in lollipop, why wouldnt you take advantage of that with a great 2k display and enjoy even more. I rather have better screen than 15min more battery.
Sent from Pure Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I generally agree with you, except that I don't have any other cameras. I'm not a professIonal. I'm only going to shoot in auto, but that doesn't mean I don't want them to look as good as possible . I think large percentage of us these days fit into that category.

frigidazzi said:
I generally agree with you, except that I don't have any other cameras. I'm not a professIonal. I'm only going to shoot in auto, but that doesn't mean I don't want them to look as good as possible . I think large percentage of us these days fit into that category.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too dont have a camera, but really phones cant substitute real camera. The only devices which are close are lg g4 and galaxy s6, but these devices are flagships, i dont think you will see that kind of camera on nexus phone because.. Well, its a nexus. If they make it a budget phone again, im sure you wont get that great camera. But maybe google surprises us.
Sent from Pure Nexus 5

Nexus 6 or Note 4?

Hey guys,
I just sent my note 7 back and I need a "new" phone. :crying: I am using the G5 atm but I am not a fan of it and will return it.
So now I am on the fence between these two phones. I just need a good, reliable one to tide me over till the s8 comes out.
Which one should I get? I could get either one new for like 300.
I am leaning towards the Nexus 6 since the Note 4 isn't being updated anymore.
The only thing that bothers me is the lack of an Sd slot but I can live without that.
What do you think? Nexus 6 or Note 4?
Thank you for your help

If you're familiar with the Note 7, going with the Note 4 might be best, since you're likely used to using the S-Pen. However, as you note there isn't any more support for it, even though I'm sure custom ROMs can take up some of the slack.
Is the S-Pen more important than the Nexus 6 receiving an update to Android 7.1 in the near future?

There are two versions of the Note 4, the Exynos one and the Snapdragon one. There are no custom roms for the Exynos.
Sent from my Nexus 6 running Nougat using Tapatalk

@istperson: True about Exynos, and I admit forgetting that. However he should answer, at least for himself, the question I asked above. If the S-Pen is more important than updates, he'll want a Note 4. Otherwise he'll want a Nexus 6.

I have to say the N6 is a great phone in my opinion. It's fast and the stock ROM is pure android. You get nougat too if that's important to you. Plenty of ROMS to play around with. I'm running pure nexus 6.0.1. from August and it's damn near perfect. The screen is large and the dual front speakers sound good. Quickcharge is great if you use it alot. Wireless charging is pretty much crap. Lack of SD card sucks. It's heavy and huge. For gaming it's great and battery life is good (not great). It can be had on Swappa for around $175 if you want to save some money. I've long been a gadget geek and part of that is me swapping phones often. I've had many different ones, but I can't seem to find something that justifies giving up the N6. I really want to buy a new phone but the N6 is so good, I can't seem to find something that is worth spending more money on.

N6 hands down....come get ya some Nougat!

Nexus 6 hand down, the repair shop I help manage have been getting the n6 for less than 200. I got our sales guy to get one, and now he and I have convinced over 10 people to buy them this month nexus 6s to people in the last month. We are getting 4 more in to sell as well lol People see my phone and they love it!

Thanks for all your replies, guys! I seriously appreciate all the input. I am going to get the Nexus 6 used first, and my colleague will let me borrow his old Note 4. I will update back later on which device I decided for permanently

So I just got the Nexus 6 and the Note 4. I was immediately more impressed by the N6. It's so huge and looks so amazing. I also just downloaded Nougat. I feel like the Nexus charges faster than the Note. I am gonna pop a sim card in and use both phones for the next week.

rivethead23 said:
I have to say the N6 is a great phone in my opinion. It's fast and the stock ROM is pure android. You get nougat too if that's important to you. Plenty of ROMS to play around with. I'm running pure nexus 6.0.1. from August and it's damn near perfect. The screen is large and the dual front speakers sound good. Quickcharge is great if you use it alot. Wireless charging is pretty much crap. Lack of SD card sucks. It's heavy and huge. For gaming it's great and battery life is good (not great). It can be had on Swappa for around $175 if you want to save some money. I've long been a gadget geek and part of that is me swapping phones often. I've had many different ones, but I can't seem to find something that justifies giving up the N6. I really want to buy a new phone but the N6 is so good, I can't seem to find something that is worth spending more money on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use a 3 coil wireless charger and have had no issues. Yes it charges slower, it also keeps the USB port from getting banged up that much faster.

So I am ending my project prematurely. The Note 4 is hella laggy and just pure **** software wise. I bet it would run flawlessly if Samsung supported it but I don't have the nerve to deal with this overheating, laggy mess.
The Nexus 6 is really nice, the only thing that bothers me is the awful front camera, the kinda average battery life and the below average rear camera.
I really like Nougat and I think the Nexus 6 runs flawlessly. I wish Google would extend the OS updates. It's marvelous. I love the huge screen. I regret not getting this phone earlier lol. It feels so good having the latest Android.

I had both, Nexus 6 HANDS DOWN!
I just switched from the Note 4 (snapdragon) to Nexus 6.
First off, 2 years ago i was deciding between these two devices and I chose the note 4 because I didn't want to give up the s pen or and the LED notification light. However as android evolved from kitkat to marshmallow, I ran into major problems with rooting. Note 4 ran best on kitkat. Once I went lolipop I had to disable SecurityLogAgent via systemapp remover in order to salvage my root otherwise knox would bootloop. I also found that once I went MM, I ran into some pretty big problems such as mmc read fail errors, boot loops, screen not waking up, the list goes on. I bought a few new batteries as well to rule out that possibility. Now some of these could have been hardware related as I did wipe out on my bike quite a few times with the phone in my pocket (otterbox commuter case), but from what I've been reading, I wasn't the only note 4 user with these issues. I honestly believe the knox bootloader and knox software deliberately screws up your device if you root. It got to the point where I smashed my note 4. My note 4 wouldn't even wake up and activate my alarm clock, to wake me up! unreliable! No matter what I tried, even running it on bone stock, the same problems kept happening. I did not bother downgrading back to loli, or kitkat because I wanted to keep the latest security updates.
Performance & First Impressions
I got the Nexus 6 as a temporary phone since I was considering going Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra. Yet once I held the Nexus 6, and analyzed how it is bone stock, I instantly fell in love with the device. I like the slight bulk at the back of the phone which adds a good feel in my hand. I don't like thin phones. They are very slippery. A plus to Motorola for this ergonomic design. Good weight and a great feel.
Not only are the direct OTA updates from google so CLEAN, but you get the latest of the latest! Android 7 Nougat is bloody amazing!!! holy %#$#$^%! You can't get any cleaner stock rom than the google OTA releases. Literally half a page of apps installed in your app drawer.
The true beauty of this device is how easy it is to root/modify/customize. Once you unlock the bootloader, you're good to go. No knox or any 3rd party app screwing with your stuff.
Both are snapdragon 805 but the Nexus is clocked way higher. The Nexus also has a better screen. Larger, higher PPI and I think it's brighter too. Front facing stereo speakers are quite nice. The little speaker on the back of the note 4 is no comparison. Games run better on the Nexus 6 due to a higher clocked CPU.
With root, you can activate the hidden LED notification light behind the top speaker. You cant get it to blink though, but I'm okay with a solid light.
So what does the Note 4 have over the Nexus 6?
Note 4 battery life is definitely better. Note 4 camera is also better. Nexus 6 has zero image stabilization. The Note 4 also has external storage (micro SD slot) where the Nexus 6 relies on 32gb (or 64gb model) internal storage only plus whatever space you have on your google drive. Note 4 has removable back, easier to replace the battery although it isn't too hard to do on the Nexus 6.
Repairing
I've taken my Note 4 apart at least 3 times and boy what an annoying task it is. You see, samsung designs their phones in ways where if the user attempts to open them, you risk severely damaging your samsung phone. The older samsung models didn't have this problem. For the note 4, you risk tearing a a few ribbons and your antenna if you don't pry the screen from the bezel properly and very carefully. You have to know where these ribbons are prior to opening the Note 4. Note 4 screen replacement is also very annoying and you need new adhesive to re-seat the screen properly after disassembly. So basically, You really don't want to take your Note 4 apart unless you really have to.
The Nexus 6 however, is super easy. The back is just a sticker held by adhesive. Once that comes off it's just like the older phone designs. After few screws you have easy access to the battery, and very easy screen replacement. The only ribbon you have to worry about when prying off the back sticker is the one connected to the battery. You have to be in pretty deep to hit it though in my opinion.
Conclusion
When I was choosing between these two devices two years ago, I should have gone with the Nexus 6 instead, period. I plan to use a custom kernel with CPU governor in attempts to de-clock the CPU for certain profiles in order to gain more battery life. Nexus 6 battery life is quite bad within heavy usage. Other than that, the Nexus 6 is the best power-user phablet you could possibly own as of this day.

@d4ndr0id: A few screws? Try 22 of them.

Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
@d4ndr01d: A few screws? Try 22 of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I laughed when I read that, especially that 4 screws got stripped when I was taking them out. Luckily a t4 bit was able to get them out easily. I haven't really had any problems with Samsung screws getting stripped when I repair them at work.

I have both phones, both with root access/unlocked bootloaders. I switch between the two frequently mainly because the Note 4 has better cameras and wifi calling (Verizon) and the Nexus has no wifi calling (for Verizon). I live in an area with very low signal and drop calls often.
But with that said, I use the N6 most mainly because it "feels" faster to me. The Note 4 is a fantastic phone though and I would be perfectly fine using it, especially now that it has an unlocked bootloader.