Upgrade options this year

[j_grouchy]

My time to upgrade has rolled around and I was sort of holding out to see what my options were with the new Nexus and any other flagship devices.
Now that we have some new offerings, I'm trying to decide if I should hold out a bit longer or if we are set for the next few months. I really need to hold onto anything I get for the two year contract (which I think is usually 20 months before I qualify for the next upgrade).
So far, we have the following:

LG G3 - Seems a bit too big, but I'm not against it. Appears to be a solid offering.
Galaxy S5, Note 4 - Both sound like great options, but I have a Galaxy S3 and have noticed over the last year that it has slowed down a bit and battery life is abysmal.
One M8 (2014) - Also a solid offering, nice design. I'm a little worried that it's already six months old.

By all indications, the Moto X 2014 won't be available on Sprint and the Nexus 6 will be just WAY too big for me (unless they have a secret smaller device up their sleeves).

I'd like to be sure I'll be getting the Android L release as well.

So are there any other devices I should be looking out for and maybe hang on another couple of months?

 

[disney4life2005]

I usually don't buy a phone till is about 6 months old. First it's the time that my contract ends. Second it gives me the opportunity to see what kinks may be in that phone. I am now 6 months out of an upgrade and I've just started looking at all these new devices that are about to drop. I want a note4 but reliability and price 6 months from now will make a difference. I am sure it will get L, and the long term value of the Note series seems slightly better than the Galaxy series. I am on a LgG2 and maybe by then an LgG4 maybe the thing to get.... Tough choices but a great time to own a smartphone.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[j_grouchy]

So this little comparison pretty much sealed the deal for me. I will NOT even consider a Nexus 6. It's bigger than the freaking NOTE!

 

[Paisley]

What are you thinking of getting? Tough choices on Sprint.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[j_grouchy]

What are you thinking of getting? Tough choices on Sprint.

Posted via the Android Central App

I'm hoping the experia z3 compact...it sounds like just what I'm looking for.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Paisley]

I'm hoping the experia z3 compact...it sounds like just what I'm looking for.

Posted via the Android Central App

Good luck. . I hope for it as well, but as long as i've been with Sprint i'll tell you what our chances are.... next to none.

 

[j_grouchy]

Good luck. . I hope for it as well, but as long as i've been with Sprint i'll tell you what our chances are.... next to none.

I think the chances are better than you might think:

The Sony Xperia Z3 might arrive on Sprint's shelves later this year

According to Reuters, the soon-to-be-announced Sony flagman, the Xperia Z3, will be available from Sprint later this year. It appears that Sony and Softbank Corp, the Japan-based owner of Sprint, have negotiated and agreed upon such a deal this rumor holds water, it will be the first time the carrier offers a Sony-made device, as only T-Mobile, the fourth largest carrier, has offered certain Sony-branded smartphones until now.

Even if that is true, it doesn't necessarily mean the Compact is in the deal...but it would seem likely that if they offered one, they'd offer both.

 

[Paisley]

I think the chances are better than you might think:

The Sony Xperia Z3 might arrive on Sprint's shelves later this year

Even if that is true, it doesn't necessarily mean the Compact is in the deal...but it would seem likely that if they offered one, they'd offer both.

But they have carried no minis, no alpha, every carrier has more HTC, every carrier has more BB, etc. If Sony is desperate to get this into as many hands as possible, then maybe, but Sprint has never been one to focus on getting additional variants apart from the main flagships. But i pray to be pleasantly suprised. : ).

 

[ubigred]

Note 3 or 4

Sent from my SGNote 3

 

[coachpelkey]

I am in the same boat, not sure what to get. My SG III is about on its last legs.

I think I am getting an LG 3. Thoughts? I saw it on the bestbuy website for 49.99

I am tempted to wait until Black Friday and go from there....

 

[j_grouchy]

I am in the same boat, not sure what to get. My SG III is about on its last legs.

I think I am getting an LG 3. Thoughts? I saw it on the bestbuy website for 49.99

I am tempted to wait until Black Friday and go from there....

It's funny...I actually bought my Galaxy S3 a few days before Black Friday when Radio Shack had a special offer on it.

Physically it's in excellent condition. Been in a case with a screen protector almost 100% of the time. It's just very laggy now and it has some issues that a good solid factory refresh could probably correct. I'm just anxious to get something a bit more powerful. The camera on this GS3 is a royal PITA and the KitKat update led to some issues with the GPS that are pretty frustrating.

I'm seeing there's confirmation that Softbank will carry the Xperia Z3...so I'm hoping that's good news for Sprint, too. If so, it'll probably be between that or the Note 4. If they (Sprint) bring in the Galaxy S5 Plus, I may even go for that one.

 

[coachpelkey]

Thanks for the information.
I am probably going to get the G3 soon, and trade in my sgIII for the 49.00 gift card.
It will be ok for now I think. I have been reading how to get rid of the lag.

 

[buffdaddy72]

I was torn between the G3, Note 4 and the Nexus 6. While I think the specs on the Nexus 6 are great, 6 inches is way to much. The G3 is a great phone (have a G2 and love it) but the Note offers so much more as far as features and specs that it won me over. Guess it just comes down to whether you can deal with Touchwiz or not.

 

[Android Wags]

So all said and done it sounds like there is not an obvious choice... I had been looking at the Nexus 6 but now that I have realized the size it is out. I have been on HTC so I was thinking the M8 but HTC seems due for a new model soon. The LG G3 came recommended by a tech at the store when I went in to look but I did not look into the Note 4 at the time.

Anyone have any better info on the Xperia Z3 coming to Sprint? Seems like the autumn release would be upon us if the article posted above was accurate.

 

[j_grouchy]

So all said and done it sounds like there is not an obvious choice... I had been looking at the Nexus 6 but now that I have realized the size it is out. I have been on HTC so I was thinking the M8 but HTC seems due for a new model soon. The LG G3 came recommended by a tech at the store when I went in to look but I did not look into the Note 4 at the time.

Anyone have any better info on the Xperia Z3 coming to Sprint? Seems like the autumn release would be upon us if the article posted above was accurate.

I got tired of waiting on the Z3 based only on rumors and possibilities...so I got the LG G3 for a penny through Amazon. I really like it. It's a bit bigger than the Galaxy S3 and is a bit more difficult to use one-handed, but I'm getting used to it. I'm currently using the stock launcher...mostly just to see if I can get used to it. I've used Nova for a few years now, so I keep wanting to swipe up the screen to open the app tray and swiped down anywhere on the screen to pull down notifications (I can only pull them down from the top of the screen)...so I may switch back to the Nova Launcher. Otherwise I'm very happy with it. Already the Galaxy S3 seems small.

I must say, though, that I am glad I didn't get the Nexus 6. I think this G3 is at the very upper-most limit on screen size that I am okay with. Any larger and I'd probably already have dropped it twenty times in the two days I've had it.

Now I'm just looking forward to the Lollipop update. Hopefully Sprint pushes that out before the end of the year.

 

[cjones]

Now I'm just looking forward to the Lollipop update. Hopefully Sprint pushes that out before the end of the year.

Good luck with that. I know they are getting better at updates but I am doubtful Sprint will get it out before the end of the year. If they get the 5.0 update out before Feb, I would be surprised.

 

[bujin]

I'm sort of struggling with this as well. I usually get bored every year or so, but can't really find anything that seems worth upgrading from my 1st Gen Moto X.

 

[ubigred]

I'm sort of struggling with this as well. I usually get bored every year or so, but can't really find anything that seems worth upgrading from my 1st Gen Moto X.

Note 4.

Sent from my SM-N910P

 

[ubigred]

Good luck with that. I know they are getting better at updates but I am doubtful Sprint will get it out before the end of the year. If they get the 5.0 update out before Feb, I would be surprised.

Crickets on that front

Sent from my SM-N910P

 

[bujin]

Note 4.

Sent from my SM-N910P

I ended up going to the Nexus 6 and really like it. Unless some new tech comes along that's a game changer, I'm mentally preparing to keep this one for 2 years.