What phone should I get?

[JeffDenver]

Everyone phone has compromises unfortunately. There is no end all be all. All you can ask for is the best jack of all trades, master of none and for that you'll be looking at the M8, Moto X, S5, and Nexus 5.

Yep. That was my point. it is not just look and feel...there are lots of other variables still. The best phone depends on what you care about the most.

At this point I think the only area the M8 excels at right now is the case design. It still seems to have the best speakers too. It is not an awful phone, but it is definitely not worth the $600 or $700 retail price IMO.

 

[Almeuit]

They don't all have the power and features I need. I need a good camera...Moto X and M8 can't give me that. I need vanilla Android...The M8 and S5 can't give me that.

They are not all equally capable. You will be compromising no matter which one you pick.

He was talking to the OP of the thread since the OP created this and asked a question...

Also they are equally comparable depending on opinion... For most people any of those phones will be good.. Just depends on the person's needs. Just because your needs may be different doesn't mean you can tell him they aren't comparable.. It's opinions. No one can be wrong for their own opinion.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[JeffDenver]

The stereo speakers on the One+ One don't sound as good. I don't know about you, but I haven't been to the future to know how good the support will be. You seem to be basing this on the assumption that because it's CM and some another start up company that support is going to be good.

It will be open. CM is not going to lock it down with a lot of crap like HTC and Samsung do. It is guaranteed to have broad community support because nerds love this phone. It will get love regardless of what CM does with it. It is a Nexus in all but name.

What we do know is that HTC (and Samsung and Moto to be fair) have been getting updates out quickly for a little while now. HTC is also being fairly transparent about the whole process as well.

HTC made this same claim when the Rezound came out and completely screwed us over. We got One (1) major update, and that one was 6 months later than promised. I don't have a lot of faith in HTC when it comes to support.

Thats not to say they have not improved. Sense is less obnoxious than it used to be, Case design is great, they added a novel feature no one else had (Stereo), and they brought back SD. I give them credit for those things. It's not that the M8 is awful, it's just that their competition is THAT good now.

Why not wait for the S6 then? Or Note 5? Or Nexus 6 (or whatever any of these will be called)?

Nexus 6 and new Note will not be here till October at least and maybe later. S6 will not be here before 2015.

 

[JeffDenver]

Also they are equally comparable depending on opinion...

I don't see how they are comparable if they depend on opinion.

For most people any of those phones will be good.. Just depends on the person's needs. Just because your needs may be different doesn't mean you can tell him they aren't comparable.. It's opinions. No one can be wrong for their own opinion.

I agree. That is evidence they are not comparable. In order for them to be comparable, everyone's needs would have to be the same. You will be compromising on something no matter which one you pick. There is no Android phone that is clearly better in every area right now.

So the best phone will depend on what you care about most. They are not all equal.

 

[Almeuit]

I don't see how they are comparable if they depend on opinion.

Easy.. To some the S5,M8,etc. are on the same level so it doesn't matter which. I think they definitely are all on the same level and all are great phones.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

It will be open. CM is not going to lock it down with a lot of crap like HTC and Samsung do. It is guaranteed to have broad community support because nerds love this phone. It will get love regardless of what CM does with it. It is a Nexus in all but name.


HTC made this same claim when the Rezound came out and completely screwed us over. We got One (1) major update, and that one was 6 months later than promised. I don't have a lot of faith in HTC when it comes to support.

Thats not to say they have not improved. Sense is less obnoxious than it used to be, Case design is great, they added a novel feature no one else had (Stereo), and they brought back SD. I give them credit for those things. It's not that the M8 is awful, it's just that their competition is THAT good now.


Nexus 6 and new Note will not be here till October at least and maybe later. S6 will not be here before 2015.

I think you misunderstand just how much customization CM now does to Android. GPe devices are Nexus in all but name. Anything else is not, regardless of how the software looks. This is a CM device. CM is a custom version of Android just like what HTC and Samsung do, just without a change in appearance. You think that theme engine doesn't involve some deep changes to framework? Or the camera app?

The M7 launched with 4.1.2 and is now on 4.4.2 with a Sense 6 update being pushed through. That's pretty good for updates IMO. HTC also has the Advantage, which I've not had to use, but promises to replace a cracked screen once for free in the first 6 months of ownership. Of course the M8 has areas of weakness, just like any device. As has been said, it's a matter of what's most important for the person making the decision.

 

[A895]

Yep. That was my point. it is not just look and feel...there are lots of other variables still. The best phone depends on what you care about the most.

At this point I think the only area the M8 excels at right now is the case design. It still seems to have the best speakers too. It is not an awful phone, but it is definitely not worth the $600 or $700 retail price IMO.

It's $599 off contract. Seems worth it IMO considering it's one of the best phones of the last couple years but hey, opinions.

Sent from my XT907 using Mobile Nations mobile app

 

[JeffDenver]

Easy.. To some the S5,M8,etc. are on the same level so it doesn't matter which.

Those "some" have the same opinions. For them, the phones are comparable. But they are not everyone.

 

[JeffDenver]

It's $599 off contract. Seems worth it IMO considering it's one of the best phones of the last couple years but hey, opinions.

The 32 gig version is going for $650 retail on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/HTC-One-M8-Gu...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU3648222

HTC's own site has it for $750 (holy crap) - https://shop.us.htc.com/detail/5896

 

[Almeuit]

Those "some" have the same opinions. For them, the phones are comparable. But they are not everyone.

Yes I know that's what I've been saying.. For some they are comparable so you can't tell someone they are wrong if they disagree with you about them not being comparable...

.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

The 32 gig version is going for $650 retail on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/HTC-One-M8-Gu...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU3648242

HTC's own site has it for $750 (holy crap) - https://shop.us.htc.com/detail/5896

Wow, HTC is selling it for significantly more than Verizon. $600 off contract straight from Verizon (you linked to the Verizon version). AT&T is $640 off contract. The Dev Edition straight from HTC is $700.

 

[A895]

The 32 gig version is going for $650 retail on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/HTC-One-M8-Gu...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU3648243

HTC's own site has it for $750 (holy crap) - https://shop.us.htc.com/detail/5896

Both examples you showed are not from the carrier so the prices will be different. If you go to the Verizon site:
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...on.com/smartphones/htc-one-m9/&token=M3q1E26x

Sent from my XT907 using Mobile Nations mobile app

 

[JeffDenver]

I think you misunderstand just how much customization CM now does to Android.

CM has been goo about getting updates out on their ROM in the past far in advance of other vendors. And I think it is a given that AOSP ROMs should work flawlessly on this phone. I have far more faith in CM than HTC.

The M7 launched with 4.1.2 and is now on 4.4.2 with a Sense 6 update being pushed through.

We'll see if it gets 4.4.3. Now that the M8 is out. HTC has a history of forgetting about a flagship phone once the next flagship comes out.

 

[JeffDenver]

Both examples you showed are not from the carrier so the prices will be different. If you go to the Verizon site:
Set Your Location

Verizon does not show you the retail price on that site, only the contract price. Even if they did, I doubt it would be less than what is on Amazon.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

CM has been goo about getting updates out on their ROM in the past far in advance of other vendors. And I think it is a given that AOSP ROMs should work flawlessly on this phone. I have far more faith in CM than HTC.


We'll see if it gets 4.4.3. Now that the M8 is out. HTC has a history of forgetting about a flagship phone once the next flagship comes out.

Really? So CM had a stable (oh wait, they won't call their software stable anymore) build of 4.4.2 out before HTC (or Moto or Samsung)? All three of those companies had updates out and certified by carriers before we saw a version of CM that had anywhere close to the same stability level. I.E. functioning BT across the board.

Getting a nightly build out for a device does not constitute being "far in advance of other vendors". If that's the case then guess what, those vendors have "nightly" builds before CM that are never ever released to the public because they are too buggy and unstable.

The M8 is out, and yet HTC is releasing Sense 6 for the M7. Isn't the DNA on VZW getting updates as well, even though the M7 was released afterwards?

 

[A895]

Verizon does not show you the retail price on that site, only the contract price. Even if they did, I doubt it would be less than what is on Amazon.

Verizon does show you the retail price which is $599.

Sent from my XT907 using Mobile Nations mobile app

 

[JeffDenver]

Verizon does show you the retail price which is $599.

Not on the link you posted. I don't see any option to actually buy it for that price...it just says $599 in their breakdown.

I tried to dig through their site more to find one at that price and could not see it anywhere. I didn't see an option to even buy it retail.

 

[dpham00]

HTC made this same claim when the Rezound came out and completely screwed us over. We got One (1) major update, and that one was 6 months later than promised. I don't have a lot of faith in HTC when it comes to support.

Thats not to say they have not improved. Sense is less obnoxious than it used to be, Case design is great, they added a novel feature no one else had (Stereo), and they brought back SD. I give them credit for those things. It's not that the M8 is awful, it's just that their competition is THAT good now.

The rezound came out in November 2011 and is still on ics. Jelly bean was released I think around July 2012 . with that said, the rezound is probably an exception as it was a Verizon specific device. The one x or m7 aren't that bad in terms of updates.

dpham00, Android Central Moderator
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3

 

[Almeuit]

Not on the link you posted. I don't see any option to actually buy it for that price...it just says $599 in their breakdown.

I tried to dig through their site more to find one at that price and could not see it anywhere. I didn't see an option to even buy it retail.

It does show on his link.. See below.


Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[dpham00]

Not on the link you posted. I don't see any option to actually buy it for that price...it just says $599 in their breakdown.

I tried to dig through their site more to find one at that price and could not see it anywhere. I didn't see an option to even buy it retail.

If you are buying full retail from Verizon then use the iconic portal thread linked to in my signature.

dpham00, Android Central Moderator
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3