HTC one vs note 2 vs S4

[beaglebaby]

Hi All,
I have an old HTC Evo 4g and am due for an upgrade. I have researched and narrowed my choices down to these 3 phones. I really cannot decide, as I like/dislike features on each. I am looking for anyone with hands on experience. The issues I am looking for more info on are regarding 1) battery life, 2) smoothness when going through screens and apps, and 3) speed on web browsing. Is this last one more the carrier than the phone? I use the basics - phone calls, some texting, and a few games. Like to tinker to some degree, but don't want an encyclopedia of instructions to get around on the phone. Any input would be helpful. Thanks!

 

[Habiib]

In my experience, the HTC One offers faster performance in most aspects. This includes camera, web browser, Sense UI, music player, text messaging, Google app suite, and the stock mail client. The S4 seemed more responsive than the Note 2.

As for battery, The Note 2 will last longer per charge compared to the others (it and the S4 have fast swap batteries). The Note 2 and S4 also charge faster.

As for ease of use, I found all 3 to be more than capable of performing basic task. As for expanded functionality, the S4 and Note 2 offers the most, with the S4 having a slight advantage. One example is changing the color profile of the display. Many of the system settings are readily accessible on the Samsung devices, where as on the One, you have to execute a few more steps to get to them.

Again this is just my experience, hope it helps some.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[beaglebaby]

Yes - thanks! How user friendly is Sense in comparison to TW? I have played around with each several times in the store, but it is hard to get a good feel of the phone with the anti-theft device attached and everyone else's tinkering with it. I have read a couple of battery comparisons, which pretty much says the S4 and One are on par with each other, but then have read on some forums where some users are having a problem with the One's battery life, so still trying to sort out some of the details.

 

[jonathan2677]

Again owning both I like sense so much more than touch wiz, it's a non problem for me because I use launchers for customization reasons, still have a hotspot for blink feed, but again my one is so much smoother than the s4 both running launchers and same apps, batt is close but it's gonna be preference and a never ending thread of people attacking each other on wich is better wich will get out of control and end up getting this closed but for now pop some popcorn sit back and enjoy a early fourth of july

sent from my favorite phone of the year HTC one, don't mean it has to be yours

 

[tohio]

Hi All,
I have an old HTC Evo 4g and am due for an upgrade. I have researched and narrowed my choices down to these 3 phones. I really cannot decide, as I like/dislike features on each. I am looking for anyone with hands on experience. The issues I am looking for more info on are regarding 1) battery life, 2) smoothness when going through screens and apps, and 3) speed on web browsing. Is this last one more the carrier than the phone? I use the basics - phone calls, some texting, and a few games. Like to tinker to some degree, but don't want an encyclopedia of instructions to get around on the phone. Any input would be helpful. Thanks!

Take a look at these threads:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/htc-one/286026-phone-has-better-battery-life-s4-htc-one.html
http://forums.androidcentral.com/htc-one/283858-build-quality.html
http://forums.androidcentral.com/htc-one/286500-help-htc-one-galaxy-s4.html

 

[return_0]

1. Battery life
Tests have reported that battery life is about equal between S4 and One (S4 has a bigger battery but also a bigger screen and more battery-draining bloatware). Note 2 has better reported battery life.

2. Smoothness
No contest, One. Even after updates, many S4 owners still report lag. Same with the Note 2.

3. Browsing speed
This depends on your WiFi/cellular connection.

Overall, I'd say HTC One, and most people will probably also say One considering you posted this in the One forum.

Sent from my pure Google Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[beaglebaby]

Thanks! Thought I had looked through most of the threads. I seem to prefer most of what the One has to offer, but I LOVE the larger screens on Samsung. Hard choice. Too bad the One doesn't come in a larger version. I do see where they will probably be going with a smaller mini version tho ????!.

 

[return_0]

Thanks! Thought I had looked through most of the threads. I seem to prefer most of what the One has to offer, but I LOVE the larger screens on Samsung. Hard choice. Too bad the One doesn't come in a larger version. I do see where they will probably be going with a smaller mini version tho ????!.

There are rumors that a One XL will be released soon.

Sent from my pure Google Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[carlostmac1]

I have used all 3 phones and i would say that they come in this order: HTC One, Note 2, S4.
I was on the Note 2 first after i got my iphone 5 stolen and i was extremely happy with its speed and performance, but it was simply too big for me and honestly i never used the s pen. It has amazing battery life and i easily finished a day without charging the phone. Then i moved onto the HTC One and was very pleased with it. It was extremely smoothe and had the cleaner, more minimalist UI out of the 3 phones. The only thing i hated was that you can only wake the phone with the power button which i was afraid it would pose a problem if that ever breaks. I have found an alternative through auto screen on, but does not work too well with the One. Also the One is def the best music experience i've ever had on a phone and even better when its player through speakers. I'm currently using s4 just to see how it is and see what all the hypes about.So far it's been the worst one. I'm on my 2nd day and already very disappointed with the experience. i'm a heavy user so the only thing thats attracting me to the phone right now is the ability to replace the battery. My experience has been terrible, the phone is laggy and restarts itself several times a day. I'm a heavy texter and the keys would be late to respond when i'm sending out a barrage of texts. Sure people say that i should shut down some of my features, but then i would buy a s4 if i can't use it at its full capacity? I'm in the process of selling this phone. Thank god for samsung doing a great job in marketing which allows me to charge a premium on the phone even when it doesnt deserve it. But if u want to go the samsung route i would suggest for you to wait for the note 3.
Hopefully my post helps!

 

[whitecollar]

Thanks! Thought I had looked through most of the threads. I seem to prefer most of what the One has to offer, but I LOVE the larger screens on Samsung. Hard choice. Too bad the One doesn't come in a larger version. I do see where they will probably be going with a smaller mini version tho ????!.

I do love my Note 2 and the big screen is the major reason.

 

[AdamsHouseCat]

I do love my Note 2 and the big screen is the major reason.

I chose the ONE and I am very pleased with it. (I am sure I would have been pleased with the S4 as well) I also considered the Note2, but I think we are now far too close to the next iteration to go there.

If you decide on the ONE or S4, I would go ahead with it. Otherwise wait for the next release, and compare the Note3 and the HTC (whatever they call their phablet) , and also look at the LG Optimus Pro.

 

[AdamsHouseCat]

Thanks! Thought I had looked through most of the threads. I seem to prefer most of what the One has to offer, but I LOVE the larger screens on Samsung. Hard choice. Too bad the One doesn't come in a larger version. I do see where they will probably be going with a smaller mini version tho ????!.

Here are some numbers I found at laptopmag.com concerning screen brightness:

GS3 213 Lux
GS4 258 Lux
Smartphone Average 299 Lux
HTC one 463 Lux
Iphone5 525 Lux

 

[madlaw1071]

In my experience, the HTC One offers faster performance in most aspects. This includes camera, web browser, Sense UI, music player, text messaging, Google app suite, and the stock mail client. The S4 seemed more responsive than the Note 2.

As for battery, The Note 2 will last longer per charge compared to the others (it and the S4 have fast swap batteries). The Note 2 and S4 also charge faster.

As for ease of use, I found all 3 to be more than capable of performing basic task. As for expanded functionality, the S4 and Note 2 offers the most, with the S4 having a slight advantage. One example is changing the color profile of the display. Many of the system settings are readily accessible on the Samsung devices, where as on the One, you have to execute a few more steps to get to them.

Again this is just my experience, hope it helps some.

Posted via Android Central App

This is a fair assessment. OP The Note 2 really belongs in a different category as it is a phablet. As between the One and the S4, best way to decide is to spend time in the store with each device. I have both devices and like each for different reasons. I greatly prefer the S4's larger more colorful display to the One's LCD precision. The One is slightly smoother but not enough not to recommend the S4. The S4 has a better button set up, the One has amazing speakers. I could go on. Try them both!

 

[chrjt74001]

After owning both I easily picked the one .. the lag on the s4 was terrible. I found the touch-wiz-crap bloatware with the s4 was way too gimmicky. The eye scroll eye tracking and smart pause did not work .. total joke.. maybe because I was coming from a iPhone 4s, the plasticy feel/lightness felt cheap compared to the one .. beats audio front speakers/internal EQ, smoothness of OS, are all amazing on the one.. although I must add the s4 takes very nice photo's.. but all of this is my subjective opinion.. so s4 owners please put your guns away and don't take shots at me.. and as of the note 2, I have heard nothing but great things about it.. just a little to big for me..

Sent from my HTC One using AC Forums mobile app

 

[Noel Eiffe]

I just took this path:

1. Got an HTC One / 64gb on AT&T. Returned it after 3 days, for largely personal idiosyncratic reasons. Screen was beautiful in bright light; sound was awesome. Couldn't get along with Sense 5 and subjectively didn't like its handfeel. I do wonder a little if I gave it enough time, but I found this phone very disappointing despite a clear "reviewer consensus" and many happy owners here on AC.

2. Got an S4 / 32gb next. Like this device form factor a lot more, and though the HTC screen and sound are superior, I found I get along with device better day to day. It's a great device. Have run into a lot of bugs with it though...hangs with lock screen player apps, e.g., and was rebooting the device 5-7 times a day due to hangs. And, everytime I got in the car, e.g., I had to turn GPS services off and then on again. I think lots of these little nits are minor sw glitches and will get revved soon, but it did occasionally prove to be a downer at times. Still, it's an utterly awesome device and I like it. But yeah, "lag" was real sometimes though never enough for me to make it a reason to reject the device.

3. Got a Note 2. It's huge, and you have to be willing to do huge. But this is what I'm keeping as my daily driver. Most of the nice features on the S4 are on this device, the big screen is absolutely great, the SPen is interesting though I don't know how much really I'll use it, and battery life is 2-3x the S4's doing pretty much the same stuff day to day in my real world conditions. Most important, after 2 weeks, none of the natty issues with GPS or app hangs, and despite the fact that a few friends keep making jokes, it's a great device.

Your mileage may and probably will vary, and it is odd to me that I found the One's size and shape an issue, but somehow am completely willing to do huge with the Note, but subjectively for me, having used these 3 devices very recently, that's what's working for me. I have wondered if after this path, I'd change my view on the One, and maybe I would. But for the moment, the Note2 seems to be meeting my needs best.

It's great to have such capable choices. I do believe that all 3 of these phones are superb devices worthy of consideration.

- Noel