The following comes per suggestion of member meyerweb.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S3, it's now out of contract, so I've been looking at available "high-end" phones to replace it. And I'm wondering if it's really worth it.
Oh, yes, most the newer phones have higher res screens. Some much higher. They all have faster processors, and some (but not most) have more RAM, and some (but not all) have more storage. On the other hand, some have no SD card support, and others have no removeable battery, both of which are steps backward in my opinion.
My S3 has KitKat 4.4.2, and it works just fine. Newer phones might have 4.4.3, and a very few 4.4.4, but let's be honest, the differences are less than minor. An S5, or a G3, will do things faster than my phone, but I don't really spend a lot of time sitting around waiting for my phone to open an email or display a text message. And loading web pages is limited by the connection far more than the device.
Will a new phone really do anything my current phone won't? I don't much care about health apps, or fingerprint and heart rate sensors. I don't watch movies on my phone (seriously, on a 5 inch or smaller screen?), and I'm not a big gamer. I could even load a "stock Android" ROM if I wanted to, but I'm happy with my rooted, modified and enhanced touchwiz skin.
It's true that today's flagships will get upgraded to Android L, and my S3 won't, but if that's the only real advantage it would seem to make more sense to wait for an Android L equipped device in the first place.
The only flagship device that really seem to do MORE than my antique, as opposed to doing things faster, is the Galaxy Note, but I'm not sure I can deal with a device that large. Going to go check it out tomorrow, if I can find one that doesn't have a huge anti-theft device glued to the back.
I don't expect to see much change from one generation to the next, but the the S5 is two generations newer than my phone, and the Moto X, Sony Z3, and a few others arguably 2.5 generations newer. What benefit will I really get?
I have a Samsung Galaxy S3, it's now out of contract, so I've been looking at available "high-end" phones to replace it. And I'm wondering if it's really worth it.
Oh, yes, most the newer phones have higher res screens. Some much higher. They all have faster processors, and some (but not most) have more RAM, and some (but not all) have more storage. On the other hand, some have no SD card support, and others have no removeable battery, both of which are steps backward in my opinion.
My S3 has KitKat 4.4.2, and it works just fine. Newer phones might have 4.4.3, and a very few 4.4.4, but let's be honest, the differences are less than minor. An S5, or a G3, will do things faster than my phone, but I don't really spend a lot of time sitting around waiting for my phone to open an email or display a text message. And loading web pages is limited by the connection far more than the device.
Will a new phone really do anything my current phone won't? I don't much care about health apps, or fingerprint and heart rate sensors. I don't watch movies on my phone (seriously, on a 5 inch or smaller screen?), and I'm not a big gamer. I could even load a "stock Android" ROM if I wanted to, but I'm happy with my rooted, modified and enhanced touchwiz skin.
It's true that today's flagships will get upgraded to Android L, and my S3 won't, but if that's the only real advantage it would seem to make more sense to wait for an Android L equipped device in the first place.
The only flagship device that really seem to do MORE than my antique, as opposed to doing things faster, is the Galaxy Note, but I'm not sure I can deal with a device that large. Going to go check it out tomorrow, if I can find one that doesn't have a huge anti-theft device glued to the back.
I don't expect to see much change from one generation to the next, but the the S5 is two generations newer than my phone, and the Moto X, Sony Z3, and a few others arguably 2.5 generations newer. What benefit will I really get?