HTC 10 or Nexus Marlin?

[firebirder]

So I'm torn and looking for your opinions. I am curious if, as of right now, you would get the HTC 10 or wait for the next Nexus phone. I currently have Verizon and am impressed by what I've seen of the HTC 10. I'm just a little turned off they didn't make the unlocked version for VZW. I am trying to hold out for the Nexus (Marlin in my case) but it is getting harder and harder for me, just because I'm impatient. I also don't want to buy 2 phones in the next few months. What are you guys thoughts? Esp those of you with the HTC 10.

 

[jimbo1mcm]

Just ordered a 10 from Best Buy/ Verizon for $49 for a 2 year renewal. New Nexus won't be discounted. I think the 10 will have more features.

 

[jlp0209]

So I'm torn and looking for your opinions. I am curious if, as of right now, you would get the HTC 10 or wait for the next Nexus phone. I currently have Verizon and am impressed by what I've seen of the HTC 10. I'm just a little turned off they didn't make the unlocked version for VZW. I am trying to hold out for the Nexus (Marlin in my case) but it is getting harder and harder for me, just because I'm impatient. I also don't want to buy 2 phones in the next few months. What are you guys thoughts? Esp those of you with the HTC 10.

I would just buy the 10 to avoid any compatibility headaches. I got the 5X last year and it was a pain. Voice over LTE worked but Wifi calling did not. Verizon also didn't support the stock voice mail app of the phone. And I couldn't use the Verizon visual voice mail because it too was not supported on that phone. I had to physically dial into my voice mail every time to get a message. Not sure if that has since changed, maybe it has. I'm all for unlocked phones, but Verizon is a pain to deal with. I've been using the 10 for 3 days and love it.

 

[MartinMPL]

What have you got now? If you can hang on, wait for the Nexus in my opinion (I don't know about possible Verizon issues).

The HTC 10 and Sense don't bring that much more to the party software wise, and the 10 will receive updates slower if that's your bag. Hardware may be very similar, hopefully (in my opinion) with improvements to the screen (brighter in daylight mainly and the HTC 10 is Polarized the wrong way so you can't see it in vertical when wearing sunglasses).

If you are desperate for a phone now then the 10 most likely is perfectly adequate. You're probably looking at October/November for the Nexus.

 

[firebirder]

Right now I'm using the LG G3. It's a fine phone, but a couple months ago I did a factory reset on it and it has actually gotten worse (slower, worse battery). I'm sure it would last until the Nexus release, but I've got the itch for a new phone and I didn't think I could wait that long. I never thought about what jlp0209 said. I guess I just assumed since it was an unlocked phone, everything would work fine plus faster updates. I think at this point I'm leaning towards the 10, but please keep the comments coming!

 

[oldtimefighter]

At this point I would wait until Marlin is announced before making any decisions. There will be pluses and minuses compared to the HTC 10 (AMOLED display but probably no SD card slot). I like my unlocked HTC 10 but... Are updates big for you? The HTC 10 still hasn't seen the July security update so that is disappointing.

Personally, I can't do carrier phones so if had to be on Verizon would go with the new Nexus phone.

 

[CHILLYWILL_95831]

So I'm torn and looking for your opinions. I am curious if, as of right now, you would get the HTC 10 or wait for the next Nexus phone. I currently have Verizon and am impressed by what I've seen of the HTC 10. I'm just a little turned off they didn't make the unlocked version for VZW. I am trying to hold out for the Nexus (Marlin in my case) but it is getting harder and harder for me, just because I'm impatient. I also don't want to buy 2 phones in the next few months. What are you guys thoughts? Esp those of you with the HTC 10.

There's no way in the world I'd choose an HTC over a Nexus. If you were choosing between an HTC 10 and a Nexus 6p, the 6p would be the better purchase. So, there's no doubts that the next Nexus will easily trump an HTC 10. Aside from being a little quicker, there's not one thing the HTC 10 does better than the Nexus 6p. OK, the music sounds better through headphones on the 10. That's it.

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[jlp0209]

The issue here isn't why the Nexus phones trump carrier branded phones. That wasn't and isn't my point. Of course I'd take the next unlocked Nexus phone over the HTC 10 based purely on specs and software updates. The issue is which one will work better on Verizon. What good is a 465 megapixel camera with Super Duper 8K AMOLED screen if you can't check your voice mail. Or use wifi calling when you need it. Or some other feature that Verizon has but gimps on unlocked phones used on its network. If the next Nexus phone works without a hitch on Verizon go for it, heck I'd even consider selling my 10 for it. We won't know anything about features supported / not supported until it gets released and tested on Verizon's network.

 

[CHILLYWILL_95831]

The issue here isn't why the Nexus phones trump carrier branded phones. That wasn't and isn't my point. Of course I'd take the next unlocked Nexus phone over the HTC 10 based purely on specs and software updates. The issue is which one will work better on Verizon. What good is a 465 megapixel camera with Super Duper 8K AMOLED screen if you can't check your voice mail. Or use wifi calling when you need it. Or some other feature that Verizon has but gimps on unlocked phones used on its network. If the next Nexus phone works without a hitch on Verizon go for it, heck I'd even consider selling my 10 for it. We won't know anything about features supported / not supported until it gets released and tested on Verizon's network.

I didn't realize that a phone like the nexus which can work on any network has a different set of standards for Verizon. Can't I just take my Nexus 6p to Verizon and activate it if I wanted to? Google has its own VM which should operate separately from the carrier. I'm sorry, but Verizon has some of the worst customer service I've seen and if they can't just activate an unlocked phone to their service, then why stick with them as a carrier? I ask that because carrier branded phones that only work on certain networks are phasing out, if not already phased out. Most carriers are doing away with two year contracts and they're required to unlock your phone if it's bought and paid for. So, if Verizon gives you ”gimpy” service on an unlocked phone, then I'd think they'd be shooting themselves in the foot. Not only do they offer the least bang for the buck of any carriers, but then the service is crippled for unlocked phones. What am i missing here?

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[firebirder]

I would have considered the 6p, but it seemed pointless to get a nexus when a new one is right around the corner, plus, anything bigger than the G3 is slightly too big for me (due to work). However, I understand what jlp0209 was saying, and I don't think he intended it as it was taken. I'm sure some features don't work as well on VZW with an unlocked phone as they should, or maybe they need an update to work properly. But don't think this is a VZW problem, I've seen forum posts about AT&T as well (with the unlocked S7 or S7edge, not sure which now). That's an unlocked phone and of course AT&T is a GSM carrier, but they still had/have issues with some of the AT&T features (think it was VoLTE or Wifi calling, something). So again, not a issue specific to VZW. I simply have VZW because their service is the best where I am and who I travel to frequently.

As for carrier branded phones, I wish I agreed with you CHILLYWILL_95831, and I could be wrong, but I don't see these going away. That's what keeps them in business. Granted two-year contract as going away, but I don't see any carrier selling unlocked phones for monthly payments, which is what allows most people to purchase new phones.

And how do they offer the least "bang for the buck"? Not arguing just asking. I know when I looked to switch to AT&T, they were more expensive the VZW. I know Sprint and others have made strides to be more reliable, but they always seem to be playing catch up.

 

[jlp0209]

I didn't realize that a phone like the nexus which can work on any network has a different set of standards for Verizon. Can't I just take my Nexus 6p to Verizon and activate it if I wanted to? Google has its own VM which should operate separately from the carrier. I'm sorry, but Verizon has some of the worst customer service I've seen and if they can't just activate an unlocked phone to their service, then why stick with them as a carrier? I ask that because carrier branded phones that only work on certain networks are phasing out, if not already phased out. Most carriers are doing away with two year contracts and they're required to unlock your phone if it's bought and paid for. So, if Verizon gives you ”gimpy” service on an unlocked phone, then I'd think they'd be shooting themselves in the foot. Not only do they offer the least bang for the buck of any carriers, but then the service is crippled for unlocked phones. What am i missing here?

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Yeah, Verizon is really strict and AT&T isn't much better from what I hear, but I have no recent 1st hand experience with AT&T. The phones will "work" but certain features will not work. Here's my experience with the 5X and Verizon. When the 5X released last year it was a PAIN. You had to have an active Verizon account / sim to pop into the phone. New service could not be started on the 5X. Even with an active account the Verizon system would not recognize my 5X. I could not use the My Verizon app or go online to make changes to my account unless I had another active Verizon branded phone on my account (dual wielded an iPhone, problem solved). I was in my local Verizon store for an hour and a half, they couldn't override the system. We called into tech support from the store, they white-listed the phone. Still nothing changed. For some reason the stock Google voice mail app did not work with the 5X on Verizon. Nor did visual voice mail- basic or premium. Voice mails would come in as jumbled text messages until I activated visual voice mail- but I still couldn't use it, I had to manually call my voice mail each time I got a message. Wifi calling also was not supported. At the time there was no update from Verizon on compatibility so I returned the phone to Google after a couple weeks.

Hopefully Verizon is quicker now with updates and support for unlocked phones, but even so, I wouldn't bet on the new Nexus phone(s) working perfectly on Verizon on Day 1. It's ridiculous that these carriers get away with all this nonsense. Verizon happens to work the best for me so I put up with it. Price-wise I'm not paying any more than I did when I was month to month, aside from the additional monthly cost of the phone which I will pay off in full as soon as I am past the return period and decide to keep the phone (I plan on keeping it). My device access fee is still the same. Verizon is cheaper for me than AT&T.

Sadly the carriers are not shooting themselves in the feet. Average Joe doesn't care, walks in and buys a carrier branded GS7/Edge/HTC/iPhone. The enthusiasts who actually pay attention are in the minority. I'm not exactly suffering with my 10, haha. No compatibility headache at all and I have no intention of leaving Verizon any time soon, so I really don't need an unlocked phone.

@Firebirder, if you don't need a phone now, I would wait until the Nexus comes out so you can make an informed decision and don't regret jumping for the 10.

P.S., music doesn't just sound better on the 10 w/ headphones, it blows everything else away. In my humble opinion. Especially if you have nice headphones and listen to lossless audio. The phone's DAC, audio calibration for each ear separately (high, mid, low all adjusted individually, for each ear), ability to store multiple profiles for different headphones...the combination + end result of all this is just sick for a cell phone. Check it out at a store if you can and compare to other phones.

 

[CHILLYWILL_95831]

I would have considered the 6p, but it seemed pointless to get a nexus when a new one is right around the corner, plus, anything bigger than the G3 is slightly too big for me (due to work). However, I understand what jlp0209 was saying, and I don't think he intended it as it was taken. I'm sure some features don't work as well on VZW with an unlocked phone as they should, or maybe they need an update to work properly. But don't think this is a VZW problem, I've seen forum posts about AT&T as well (with the unlocked S7 or S7edge, not sure which now). That's an unlocked phone and of course AT&T is a GSM carrier, but they still had/have issues with some of the AT&T features (think it was VoLTE or Wifi calling, something). So again, not a issue specific to VZW. I simply have VZW because their service is the best where I am and who I travel to frequently.

As for carrier branded phones, I wish I agreed with you CHILLYWILL_95831, and I could be wrong, but I don't see these going away. That's what keeps them in business. Granted two-year contract as going away, but I don't see any carrier selling unlocked phones for monthly payments, which is what allows most people to purchase new phones.

And how do they offer the least "bang for the buck"? Not arguing just asking. I know when I looked to switch to AT&T, they were more expensive the VZW. I know Sprint and others have made strides to be more reliable, but they always seem to be playing catch up.

I think my biggest issue with VZW is when I visit a local store and absolutely noone on the sales floor knows anything about any phones that aren't Sammy or Apple. And, if you're not looking for either of those or a Droid, then you're on your own until you exit the store. This is just my experience. I've not had their service in nearly 12 years, but when I did they definitely did excessive billing against my account. My gf had VZW for years and switched to T-Mobile and has not looked back. She bought an iPhone 6s plus on account with T-Mobile with exactly the same service and pays $30/month less than what she was paying with VZW which was service only. She travels the world and having T-Mobile is a major bonus over VZW there too. In fact, that's the main reason she switched. As you know, you can't use VZW service outside the states unless you plan to pay through the nose. Lastly, she's discovered that the minor blips in T-Mobile service around her home compared to VZW are little to none and definitely not worth the extra $50/month VZW “superior service” premium.

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[bigmatt503]

Wifi calling might be important to some, I've been on Verizon with a Nexus since the 6 and I guess I don't miss what I never had..

 

[bigmatt503]

I didn't realize that a phone like the nexus which can work on any network has a different set of standards for Verizon. Can't I just take my Nexus 6p to Verizon and activate it if I wanted to? Google has its own VM which should operate separately from the carrier. I'm sorry, but Verizon has some of the worst customer service I've seen and if they can't just activate an unlocked phone to their service, then why stick with them as a carrier? I ask that because carrier branded phones that only work on certain networks are phasing out, if not already phased out. Most carriers are doing away with two year contracts and they're required to unlock your phone if it's bought and paid for. So, if Verizon gives you ”gimpy” service on an unlocked phone, then I'd think they'd be shooting themselves in the foot. Not only do they offer the least bang for the buck of any carriers, but then the service is crippled for unlocked phones. What am i missing here?

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The nexus 6p works great on Verizon

 

[radgatt]

I may end up with the next Nexus and use it on Verizon. I currently have the HTC 10 and I like it but I feel like I will like the Nexus better.

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[CHILLYWILL_95831]

I may end up with the next Nexus and use it on Verizon. I currently have the HTC 10 and I like it but I feel like I will like the Nexus better.

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You would absolutely like the nexus better for many reasons. And, I'm talking about the nexus 6p. LOL! I have both and the HTC can't supplant my Nexus. I still gravitate toward my Nexus regardless of the HTC being about 8 months newer.

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[CHILLYWILL_95831]

.P.S., music doesn't just sound better on the 10 w/ headphones, it blows everything else away. In my humble opinion. Especially if you have nice headphones and listen to lossless audio. The phone's DAC, audio calibration for each ear separately (high, mid, low all adjusted individually, for each ear), ability to store multiple profiles for different headphones...the combination + end result of all this is just sick for a cell phone. Check it out at a store if you can and compare to other phones.

I agree with you when listening on headphones that are wired. I purchased the Sennheiser momentum 2.0 wireless headphones which are highly regarded and I can honestly say that I can't hear a difference while listening wirelessly to FLAC audio through either phone, HTC or Nexus. But when i plug in the wire to the HTC, it'll make your head explode! I just wish that the Bluetooth streaming wouldn't keep dropping while listening on the HTC. That's how I choose to listen most of the time as I really don't like wires. And, thankfully, the momentums are nearly as good wireless as wired. With the wires, you can get a quite a bit more volume. But regardless, I'm not able to max out volume whether wired or not. In any event, the 10 loses out because it can't stream any more than about 4 songs before my connection fails, while I can listen on the 6p all day long with not a single hiccup. The connections, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, kinda bum me out with the HTC 10.

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[radgatt]

I agree with you when listening on headphones that are wired. I purchased the Sennheiser momentum 2.0 wireless headphones which are highly regarded and I can honestly say that I can't hear a difference while listening wirelessly to FLAC audio through either phone, HTC or Nexus. But when i plug in the wire to the HTC, it'll make your head explode! I just wish that the Bluetooth streaming wouldn't keep dropping while listening on the HTC. That's how I choose to listen most of the time as I really don't like wires. And, thankfully, the momentums are nearly as good wireless as wired. With the wires, you can get a quite a bit more volume. But regardless, I'm not able to max out volume whether wired or not. In any event, the 10 loses out because it can't stream any more than about 4 songs before my connection fails, while I can listen on the 6p all day long with not a single hiccup. The connections, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, kinda bum me out with the HTC 10.

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I have the momentum in ear headphones for the 10 and they sound amazing. Wired audio will sound better than wireless audio most if not all of the time.

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[icu]

FYI I'm a VZW LG G3 user looking to trade up and the HTC 10 is one I've had my eye on. While I would say it's smart to see what the Nexi have to offer if the 6P appeals to you it's $100 off right now which is pretty good. $399 is a very nice price for it. I'm personally going to wait to see what's next, but as long as 6P users aren't complaining about VZW it's something to consider.

 

[jimbo1mcm]

I liked everything about the 6P except people were telling me my calls sounded muffled or like I was in a barrel. Dumped it and got an HTC 10. Couldn't be happier.