Epic 4G vs T-Mobile G2

[cr3amy]

I'm in LA, I have T-Mobile, and up till now I've been planning on switching to the Epic. I've already preordered it, but I haven't ported my number yet (I'll use the 30-day guarantee period to make sure I like it).

That said, the G2 was unveiled and should be around sometime in September, right?


Obviously the G2 also doesn't have a hardware keyboard . Reception for T-Mobile is great around here and HSPA will be here soon (if it's not already). I've heard great things about Sprint reception and Wimax will be here soon. I've heard HSPA should give better battery life, but also that HSPA gets crowded and speeds drop easily. Heard anything?

Any thoughts on the two phones and networks?

 

[Darth Pooh#CB]

I'm in LA, I have T-Mobile, and up till now I've been planning on switching to the Epic. I've already preordered it, but I haven't ported my number yet (I'll use the 30-day guarantee period to make sure I like it).

That said, the G2 was unveiled and should be around sometime in September, right?


Obviously the G2 also doesn't have a hardware keyboard . Reception for T-Mobile is great around here and HSPA will be here soon (if it's not already). I've heard great things about Sprint reception and Wimax will be here soon. I've heard HSPA should give better battery life, but also that HSPA gets crowded and speeds drop easily. Heard anything?

Any thoughts on the two phones and networks?

How do you know it won't have a hardware KB? If it's the rumored device that it is... it will have a KB very similar to the MT3GS.

 

[cr3amy]

Look at the teaser image. There's no way in hell that thing has a QWERTY

Isn't the G2 basically the MT3GHD (because My Touch 3G HD is a balls-bustingly stupid name)

 

[cr3amy]

Well let's assume there's a QWERTY onboard. Still... would there really be any reason to go for that over the Epic?

It's basically a network question... is Wimax on cdma gonna be better than HSPA+ and worldphone.

 

[Darth Pooh#CB]

It always boils down to which network works better for you at a budget you can live at. Phones come and go... all year long.

 

[cr3amy]

That's what I'm trying to figure out. Is what I heard true about HSPA+ getting better battery life but also getting crowded out easier?


And damn, Verizon is trying to remove the price barrier

 

[drizek]

That's what I'm trying to figure out. Is what I heard true about HSPA+ getting better battery life but also getting crowded out easier?


And damn, Verizon is trying to remove the price barrier

That vzw price is still double what it costs per phone on a sprint family plan(with 20% discount)



Sent From My Samsung Intercept

 

[cr3amy]

That vzw price is still double what it costs per phone on a sprint family plan(with 20% discount)

Those prices are for individuals, not Family. I am only buying for myself and didn't take into account family plans when I wrote that post...

As far as "everything" prices for individuals, I believe that new price matches Sprint and T-Mo.

 

[JERAVICIOUS]

It's very hard to tell if the g2 will be a candy bar touch screen only phone or physical keyboard device with the teaser pic. The g1 was a physical keyboard phone and I assuming the successor will be as well.

As for a Sept release I don't know about that. But comparing the two, epic and g2, they will be similar hardware wise; 1ghz, 512mb RAM, 800x480 resolution. When it comes down to it, software maybe the deciding factor. Whether you want to go with sense vs. Touchwiz, available apps such as media hubs, widgets, etc. We all know the epic has a super amoled screen with a fast gpu. If that's what you are looking for the the epic is for you.

Also, other features such as dnla, cameras, etc can decide things too. Service such as reception and 4g vs. Hspa+. I would test both out when they release and determine your decision from there. Good luck.

 

[whippingboy]

Actually, VZW at that price is cheaper for individuals... Sprints' truly everything w/ unlimited calling to ANY number (to match VZW) is $99+ the 4G phone $10 tax and you're at $110.

Sprint is GREAT for family plans- but now that VZW and ATT have created tiered plans and dropped unlimted calling from 99 to 69 sprint is no longer the "great deal" they once were- and the 4g tax actually really hurts them in some cases... in other cases, like to those that don't need truly unlimited calling to any number and want unlimited non tiered data and family plans- in any of those cases Sprint is still the most affordable.

 

[cr3amy]

Actually, VZW at that price is cheaper for individuals... Sprints' truly everything w/ unlimited calling to ANY number (to match VZW) is $99+ the 4G phone $10 tax and you're at $110.

True I guess. Also, don't forget it costs a mind-boggling $3 for visual voicemail (really?) on VZW

 

[lorcha]

Yeah, at this point, unless you are a heavy texter, Sprint and Verizon are within $5 either way, for individuals.

For share plans, Sprint just kills the competition if everyone has a smartphone. On the other hand, if only one line on the share plan has a smartphone, Sprint comes in last (the other carriers don't make you buy a data plan for lines with feature phones).

I haven't priced out T-Mo or AT&T because they have no coverage in my area.

 

[pmjohnson99]

I know it's hard to imagine, but I've had nothing but good experiences with Sprint's Customer service. My battery was losing charges pretty quickly...I guess I needed a new one. I went to my local Sprint store (Pasadena, Ca), told them the deal and they gave me a new one free. It's a small thing, but it's definately something that I think is important. I have gotten 3 phones (all my fault btw) replaced by them with no issues. Obviously your mileage will vary with the store...but my local Sprint Store rocks and makes me feel comfortable with the EPIC.

P.S., the T MOBILE store off of Venice/Exposition on the westside is pretty good too. Fairly knowledgeable about their devices.

 

[cr3amy]

I know it's hard to imagine, but I've had nothing but good experiences with Sprint's Customer service. My battery was losing charges pretty quickly...I guess I needed a new one. I went to my local Sprint store (Pasadena, Ca), told them the deal and they gave me a new one free. It's a small thing, but it's definately something that I think is important. I have gotten 3 phones (all my fault btw) replaced by them with no issues. Obviously your mileage will vary with the store...but my local Sprint Store rocks and makes me feel comfortable with the EPIC.

P.S., the T MOBILE store off of Venice/Exposition on the westside is pretty good too. Fairly knowledgeable about their devices.

Oh dude, that's right by that In N Out on Venice.

Good to know there's a good store in Pasadena. I live in WeHo and work in Westwood, so hopefully one of the Sprint Stores around there will give me service on par with yours.

 

[pmjohnson99]

Oh dude, that's right by that In N Out on Venice.

Good to know there's a good store in Pasadena. I live in WeHo and work in Westwood, so hopefully one of the Sprint Stores around there will give me service on par with yours.

I use to have a better corporate store in Pasadena, but they closed it down. It was smaller and never crowded. But the main store on Colorado is pretty good.

And just in case...I think the Verizon Store in Marina Del Rey on Washington/Lincoln is great because they have functioning demos of ALL the Verizon phones.

 

[BearFace712]

Sprint's simply everything plan w/ 4G is more expensive than the unlimited plan Verizon is testing out right now but really for all intents and purposes Sprint's everything data plan has "unlimited" minutes too. Free nights and weekends plus unlimited mobile to ANY mobile and 450 mins to landlines all for $70 ($80 with 4G fee). And with Sprint you get free roaming on Verizon if you are ever outside of their coverage. So unless you use a lot of minutes calling people with landlines odds are you will never go over the allotted minutes.

As for the Epic vs G2 it comes down to what everyone has already said. Its all about your personal preference. Do you like Sense or Touchwiz drastically more than the other? Does Sprint or Tmo have better service in the place you are most often? After taking those things into account I don't think you can go wrong with either phone.

But I still think Sprint is a better deal than Verizon's test price even with the 4G fee added on (and you KNOW Verizon is going to up their data fees when LTE finally rolls out).

 

[cr3amy]

I mean, I know how to decide on a phone. But nobody has been able to shed some light on how Wimax and HSPA+ will differ in *real world* terms.

- Battery life
- How congestion affects the two different services
- Hell... even building penetration
- Real world up & download speeds


All of this will pretty much be a moot point if the G2 doesn't have a keyboard or if I fall in love with my Epic when I get it.

 

[BearFace712]

Its hard to say really. The G2 will be Tmo first HSPA+ phone so it will be interesting to see what battery life is like. Some people have complained about the EVO's battery life and others have said it last them all day. Along those line reviews have said the EPIC gets about the same or a little better battery life than the EVO so I think battery life will depend on a whole host of things and the type of data connection will only play a small role in that.

From what I have seen the avg speeds of WiMax and HSPA+ at this early stage of development are about the same and I have no clue what building penetration is like with HSPA+ but I have heard some complaints about WiMax because of the high spectrum.

I don't have a clue about congestion though.

 

[cr3amy]

Its hard to say really. The G2 will be Tmo first HSPA+ phone so it will be interesting to see what battery life is like. Some people have complained about the EVO's battery life and others have said it last them all day. Along those line reviews have said the EPIC gets about the same or a little better battery life than the EVO so I think battery life will depend on a whole host of things and the type of data connection will only play a small role in that.

From what I have seen the avg speeds of WiMax and HSPA+ at this early stage of development are about the same and I have no clue what building penetration is like with HSPA+ but I have heard some complaints about WiMax because of the high spectrum.

I don't have a clue about congestion though.

Here we go, that's what I'm talkin 'bout. Well, in a previous thread, someone mentioned that HSPA+ uses less battery (as would be expected since Wimax seems more complicated than 3G and HSPA+ is basically just 3G). He also said that HSPA+ gets congested and speeds suck after only 6 devices, but I couldn't confirm that anywhere on the internet.

Interesting to hear about the Wimax building penetration complaints. Makes sense if it's at such a high frequency. Hopefully if they do Wimax 2 or LTE, Sprint will use those lower bands that just came into their possession.

 

[whippingboy]

Wimax is terrible within buildings unless they place it inside. At E3 they put it in the LA convention center from what I heard (sprint was a sponsor) that area has some spotty 4g in general outdoors in the city - in the parking lot I was up and down w/ the bars just by leaning my body! Yet I had signal on the fwy for a few miles...made little sense- I would guess the tall buildings caused interferrence?

If HSPA+ is just like 3G- then by far it's better. But in general- I dropped calls all day long on Tmobile in and around the SF valley/southbay- but that was 3 years ago- so who knows? I think the only way to truly find out would be to pass on the Epic at launch- and then get the G2- and the epic and try them both for 30 days...

Question is- can you wait that long and are you crazy like that? (I am- but I simply cannot wait...but man do I miss the Tmobile customer service on the phone- best in class IMHO.)