Note 5 vs iPhone 6s

[chezm]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Can someone explain to me the draw of "pure Android"? I understood why you would buy a Nexus when they were $400 or cheaper. But when you are paying flagship prices, I don't get it. But I'm sure someone else could explain reasons other than bloatware and fast updates.

I kept hearing about how incredible stock Android was so my first one was Nexus 5. For its price and what it offered, it was a nice bare bones version of Android compared to my previous galaxy S3 which touchwiz bogged down a lot. Anyway, after a few months I realized while testing other oem devices how many good features they offered ontop of Android...so I went with the S6 and have no interest of vanilla Android these days. Sure you get the updates fast, but I'd still take all the things my S6 offers over say the 6P.

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[Almeuit]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

I kept hearing about how incredible stock Android was so my first one was Nexus 5. For its price and what it offered, it was a nice bare bones version of Android compared to my previous galaxy S3 which touchwiz bogged down a lot. Anyway, after a few months I realized while testing other oem devices how many good features they offered ontop of Android...so I went with the S6 and have no interest of vanilla Android these days. Sure you get the updates fast, but I'd still take all the things my S6 offers over say the 6P.

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I am the opposite. The Samsung addons are nice but definitely not a must have for me as most other phones have something you can add if you truly want/need that feature. I have a Moto X Pure Edition (I really want one of the new Nexus phones as well) but I am excited to know I will get updates quick. Also, at least for my case, I am glad I don't have a carrier device anymore since I have heard that T-Mobile is wanting to have their account app running all the time. Luckily the de-bloat tool I think snags it but it is nice not having to worry about that (again for my needs).

I am going to stay with stock android phones for awhile now since I would like to get the latest and greatest from Google without having to wait forever. If I truly think about it the minor stuff Samsung adds really isn't needed for me. Not saying it is bad but it definitely isn't adding enough where it will sway my phone purchase decision.

 

[Kelly Kearns]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Can someone explain to me the draw of "pure Android"? I understood why you would buy a Nexus when they were $400 or cheaper. But when you are paying flagship prices, I don't get it. But I'm sure someone else could explain reasons other than bloatware and fast updates.

Not tied to a carrier to update, which is a big thing.

No bloat, big thing.

Unlocked, pretty big thing.

Very customizable.

 

[kj11]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Not tied to a carrier to update, which is a big thing.

No bloat, big thing.

Unlocked, pretty big thing.

Very customizable.

Your list of big things is 100% your opinion. None of those are big things for me, at all. I used to think updates were cool, so I was one of the first kids on the block to get kit kat, maybe it was, on my Note 3. Turns out the update ruined that phone with horrible battery life and a weak cell signal that made it virtually impossible to even send a text or make a call. So when lollipop came out for my G3 I waited and watched the threads roll in as the early upgraders, a.k.a. beta testers, reported problem after problem. An update came out a few months later, and once the beta testers reported great results, I upgraded and had zero problems. Worth the wait. Getting early upgrades and beta testing software no longer sounds appealing to me, but thank you for doing it.

Most so called "bloat" can be disabled in less than 5 minutes, some can even be uninstalled. "No bloatware" is an antiquated argument used by Nexus apologists to justify their purchase of mid range inferior hardware. It's just like their old, tired take on touchwiz. These opinions are formed on phones like the galaxy S3, then regurgitated and forced down your throat in the comments section of every Note 5 article on this site.

Unlocked... Eh. I've been a Verizon customer for over 10 years. I couldn't care less if my phone does or doesn't work with T mobile, or Sprint, or whoever. Just my guess, but I don't think the average wireless customer is switching between carriers on a regular basis.

Is it really that much more customizable than any other Android phone?

Overall the pure Android argument is pretty underwhelming and uninspired, especially when you consider how much better the Note 5 is than the MXPE, or any Nexus offering.

 

[Kelly Kearns]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Except when updates are security patches and your phone doesn't get it. That is a big thing.

Bloat, you disable what the carrier allows you to disable. Also you get what features the carrier allows you to get.

It is very much more customizable than any other android phone.

I haven't had one update ruin my Samsung phone yet. Now if you have a problem when it is downloading, that is a different issues.

As I'm not a Nexus apologist and am a Samsung user, the no bloat argument isn't an antiquated argument at all. Samsung isn't the only phone made. Right now, for who knows how long, bloat can be disabled on Samsung.. I doubt that will last. I do know there are features of M that each carrier will also remove from their phones, they always do.

You might stick with Verizon, but everyone doesn't. Having an unlocked phone is also necessary if you travel out of the country, which some of us do. Having an unlocked phone means you can also sell it easier and for more money. Again, you might not sell your old phones, but many do.

So as someone that isn't a Nexus apologist, someone that sticks with Samsung, I still say no bloat, no carrier dependent updates and carriers not messing with Android features, is a bug thing.

So since someone asked what the draw was to pure android devices and I answered, right after I said pure android wouldn't be my daily driver and I would stick with my Note.. Not sure about the tongue lashing you just gave me.

You might not care that you are dependent on a carrier for updates, but many people do care. I wasn't starting a debate, I was answering a question.

As far as my big things being my opinion, those are generally the reasons people stick with or switch to pure Android.

 

[Almeuit]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Your list of big things is 100% your opinion..

Isn't everything on the forums an opinion? She was responding to someone asking "What are the benefits to Pure Android?" -- so she said what the advantages are (in her opinion).

 

[Golfdriver97]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Can someone explain to me the draw of "pure Android"?

Pure Android in the form of a Nexus:
1. Instant updates the moment they are released.
2. Ability to flash developer previews.
3. Unlockable bootloaders; fastboot OEM unlock, done.
4. Hard to brick.
5. Widely supported for Custom Recoveries/ROMs.

 

[LeoRex]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Your list of big things is 100% your opinion. None of those are big things for me, at all.

Never make the mistake of thinking that everyone else's experiences match your own.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Pure Android in the form of a Nexus:
1. Instant updates the moment they are released.
2. Ability to flash developer previews.
3. Unlockable bootloaders; fastboot OEM unlock, done.
4. Hard to brick.
5. Widely supported for Custom Recoveries/ROMs.

Number one isn't entirely accurate. I don't know what 2, 3, 4, and 5 are about.

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[Kelly Kearns]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Number one isn't entirely accurate. I don't know what 2, 3, 4, and 5 are about.

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I and many others would love to have instant updates.

2-5 have to do with how you can customize pure android and you can't with OEM phones, especially where Samsung is concerned. They are locking their phones down like Ft. Knox these days. In fact, Ft. Knox is probably easier to break into than Samsung Knox.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

I and many others would love to have instant updates.

2-5 have to do with how you can customize pure android and you can't with OEM phones. Especially where Samsung is concerned, as they are locking their phones down like Ft. Knox these days. In fact, Ft. Knox is probably easier to break into than Samsung Knox.

Nexus devices get updates first, but they aren't instant for everyone. As I recall those updates still go out in waves. As for the customization of ROMs that you are referring to, I can see how the Nexus the could be attractive. But, I have never rooted a device or put on a custom ROM. So, having that ability doesn't benefit me personally, but I understand how it would for someone who does that.

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[Golfdriver97]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Number one isn't entirely accurate.

Yes it is. Once the code is released, I can flash the latest update manually.

 

[Kelly Kearns]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Nexus devices get updates first, but they aren't instant for everyone. As I recall those updates still go out in waves. As for the customization of ROMs that you are referring to, I can see how the Nexus the could be attractive. But, I have never rooted a device or put on a custom ROM. So, having that ability doesn't benefit me personally, but I understand how it would for someone who does that.

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You can get it the minute it comes out if you want.

The customization isn't just for ROMs, the Nexus can use apps that a branded phone might not can use. I can easily replace "My Files" with many different apps that might not be compatible with a Samsung.

Rooting is not important to me right now, since I can disable bloat with Package Disabler, before that, rooting was important because carrier's were going nuts with bloat. AT&T was horrible. My Note 4 had about 10 different AT&T apps that I don't even use, many of them required subscription. If I want those apps, I can download them, I don't want them on my phone.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

You can get it the minute it comes out if you want.

The customization isn't just for ROMs, the Nexus can use apps that a branded phone might not can use. I can easily replace "My Files" with many different apps that might not be compatible with a Samsung.

Rooting is not important to me right now, since I can disable bloat with Package Disabler, before that, rooting was important because carrier's were going nuts with bloat. AT&T was horrible. My Note 4 had about 10 different AT&T apps that I don't even use, many of them required subscription. If I want those apps, I can download them, I don't want them on my phone.

This is interesting. So there are apps that a Nexus device can use, but a Samsung device can't?. How is this possible? And I haven't a clue as to what a package disabler is, could you give me some more info on it?

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[chezm]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Very customizable.

Android in general is 'very customizable', Nexus or vanilla Android don't offer more customizable options.

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[Kelly Kearns]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

This is interesting. So there are apps that a Nexus device can use, but a Samsung device can't?. How is this possible? And I haven't a clue as to what a package disabler is, could you give me some more info on it?

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Yes there are apps that aren't compatible with some devices.

Package Disabler Pro is a newer app that is only for Samsung and it will let you disable anything. It gives you the same access to disable that rooting does. I'm surprised that Samsung hasnt had this app removed from the Play Store. You can even disable system apps, so you can mess up your phone with it.

 

[Kelly Kearns]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

Android in general is 'very customizable', Nexus or vanilla Android don't offer more customizable options.

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My Nexus is much more customizable than my Note 5 or any of my previous Samsungs.

 

[chezm]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

My Nexus is much more customizable than my Note 5 or any of my previous Samsungs.

How so? Please explain. And don't consider removing bloatware to be a customizable options, I'm talking about how your Nexus allows you to do more things than your Note 5.

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[Kelly Kearns]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

How so? Please explain. And don't consider removing bloatware to be a customizable options, I'm talking about how your Nexus allows you to do more things than your Note 5.

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Well first thing is rooting.

And I will consider removing bloatware customizable, thank you very much. It is something on my phone I can't remove and if I can root, even removing it doesn't give me the space back.

I also have Marshmallow on my Nexus.

Now, this isn't going to turn into a phone wars thing no matter how much some of you try.

I'm a Samsung person all the way, only phones I buy, but I can see past that and realize there are options that pure android offers that OEMS don't. This is not a personal thing about phone owners.

I'll stick with my Samsung for my daily use and my Nexus as one to play with and use sometimes.

I am a self-professed Samsung girl, but that doesn't mean I won't admit the limitations.

 

[albion01]

Re: Aggravated with iOS /Android back and forth

This is interesting. So there are apps that a Nexus device can use, but a Samsung device can't?. How is this possible? And I haven't a clue as to what a package disabler is, could you give me some more info on it?

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The primary difference between the two, aside from what phone arena will tell you, is that Nexus phones are not subjected to the tyranny of carrier and manufacture updates. As it stands, everyone but Nexus owners have to guess whether and when their phone will get an update. Some wait and wait and wait and never see an update. Nexus phones, for good or bad, will always have the updates when they're released. In the case of the recent Stagefright exploit this is a big deal. Most phones are still vulnerable because the manufacturer/carrier just doesn't think it's cost effective to fix phones older then 6 months.

As for configuration, it's a tit for tat thing. No one is forced to stay with anything on Android. If you don't like the OS, unlock, root and install CyanogenMod. If you don't like the Launcher, install a new launcher. Samsung does have some cool features, but personally I don't like Samsung's launcher so I run the Google Now Launcher.