Verizon Galaxy Nexus or S4--new to Android, have dilemma, please share thoughts/opinions

[Aquila]

http://forums.androidcentral.com/verizon/227608-instruction-how-keep-unlimited-data-verizon.html

There are three options to keep unlimited data:
1. Buy the device outright and activate it
2. Use the methods described in the link above to buy a subsidized phone and keep unlimited
3. Buy the device on Verizon's finance plan: you pay a down payment, similar to the subsidized price, then pay the rest of the amount of the retail price over 24 months + a $2/month finance charge.

 

[dss2000]

If I wasn't able to be near a charger most of the day, battery life (with the stock battery) might be a deal breaker,.

I've resorted to using extended batteries and having battery only chargers at work and at home to charge and carry spare batteries that I swap out (advantage of removable batteries). Also if you use in car and especially if use GPS you should get a car charger that can output 2.1 mA and use a charge only USB cable to keep it charged.

I too was in a similar situation having to prematurely give up my Verizon GNex. I was hoping to hold out til September for the Galaxy Note 3 and don't want to lose my grandfathered unlimited data (don't let anyone tell you to give it up, future apps will consume more data, you will eventually run up on limits, son's who only used 1GB / month on iPhone 3S went to 10GB/mo when they went to the iPhone 5 due to Hulu which was too slow and unusable on the 3S). Decided to go the eBay route to get another GNex to hold me over until Note 3 comes out. Galaxy S4 too expensive to buy outright, not worth doing the separate account new phone route since getting a Note 3.

 

[jova33]

If you're into modifying and tweaking your phone, you could unlock the bootloader and install a custom kernel. Also turn down the brightness. It'll save you about 10% battery. Not a lot, but for me, that was enough to make it through a workday on one charge. Using OEM 2100 mAh battery.

Sent from my wireless telephonic device.

 

[KWKSLVR]

I don't have any performance issues with Cyanogenmod. YMMV. I had some hiccups but it turned out to be a crap ton of partial wake locks. I use the Hyperion 3800 mAh battery. NFC works and it'll hangout on standby for seemingly days (at least on Wifi in a solid coverage area). If battery life is truly sucking then I suspect that the user has a ton of crap syncing on a set time and a lot of battery draining stuff turned on like haptic feedback.

If you have unlimited data and you don't use much, then I don't see the point in keeping it. If you actually use it, then save up and buy what you want and keep the unlimited data. Saving for a phone should be like saving for Christmas. It comes every year yet people are surprised come November.

As far a phone selection, get what you like but realize that the GNex is aging. It's quickly approaching the 18 month mark and who knows how support will be beyond that point. That said, with Google's new API's, chasing a new version number of Android is kinda pointless.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[andrew VanSickle]

I don't know if u r still think of upgrading or what ever but I have a Samsung galaxy nexus 32g rooted running cm10.1 (jb 4.2.2) very stable very fast works great I love it!!!!! And will sell it for 150!! So I can upgrade to s4 as I do not have unlimited data but I have 3 upgrades

 

[dhhoffm]

Already made a purchase, but I appreciate the offer. Curious if you heard that Verizon will be getting the HTC One this summer. I decided not to upgrade and went the GNex route (which has been great, btw), but I think I'd chose the One over the S4.