what's after Bionic?

[sprtent]

TIA for any inputs or insights to help me choose my next phone. Been using my Bionic since October and I like it alot, especially wifi tethering from time to time since I have unlimitted data. So if from now til the end of this year I want to update to the greatest and latest, what would my next phone be? I'm qualified for discount price. Thanks.

Must have: 4G LTE, Verizon, Wifi Tethering cabability, view flash-based videos

 

[BasPilot]

My honest opinions so far are that of the Nexus line. I'm not sure what yet, because I am honestly trying to get through a full 2 years with one phone. I think it would be fun. But, with better updating and google themselves running the nexus line, I might go that way.

Also, I would probably try to stay with something that has swapable batteries. I never realized how much I'd do that until my wife bought me an extra batt.

 

[WebOS Refugee]

I'm planning to wait a while to see if Verizon rolls out voice-over-LTE. That'd save at least one radio in the device, improving battery life, etc. Last estimate I heard was more like 2014, though, so you and I might both end up with one more "interim" phone before that generational change.

 

[anon(469638)]

I would say get the GN. But it's so late in the year that I would suggest waiting until after this summer.

When Google unleashes the next version of Android the Nexus will get it first of course. Then a few months later you'll see new phones with it released as well.

Thus the endless cycle.

There's never a perfect time to upgrade or a perfect device. Its almost either, or.

Get a new device with current OS

Or

Play the Waiting Game.

 

[sprtent]

Yeah I feel like i'm wasting the opportunity for a discount price if I don't... but then there isn't seem to be anything with a extremely important update .... so it's never a perfect time.

I suppose I can wait for any phone to come out but don't get it right away, cuz I need to know if that phone can be rooted and tethered before I will get it.

 

[KillerG]

Yeah I feel like i'm wasting the opportunity for a discount price if I don't... but then there isn't seem to be anything with a extremely important update .... so it's never a perfect time.

I suppose I can wait for any phone to come out but don't get it right away, cuz I need to know if that phone can be rooted and tethered before I will get it.

I think all of Verizon's high end phones will have what you want. My suggestion is to wait it out and see what else is coming out, because it seems we're getting a mid-range HTC device soon (Incredible 4GLTE) and we still have no idea if we'll be getting a Galaxy S III. The best phones on Verizon right now are the Razr Maxx and Galaxy Nexus, both being a few months old. My suggestion is to see what will be coming by the end of the summer. I'm thinking a new Motorola device should be coming soon with a shiny new Intel CPU. I'm interested in seeing that since Intel was boasting better performance than everyone else with less power consumption. If they achieve that with a good, solid Motorola device, they'll have a winner.

 

[Ry]

If you wait, you'll keep waiting. There's always a better phone coming out.

Look at what's available when you're ready to buy. Make your choice then.

 

[drudometkin]

I have two upgrades on my plan and im not upgrading until next year. The phone runs fine so why change it.

 

[Arelunde]

I wonder if people will be holding onto their devices longer now. It seems as though major hardware upgrades aren't as frequent and that software developments are slowing. More tweaking of existing OS's. Witness the year-long (plus) wait for ICS, especially for those with a Bionic purchased last summer.

 

[Ry]

I wonder if people will be holding onto their devices longer now. It seems as though major hardware upgrades aren't as frequent and that software developments are slowing. More tweaking of existing OS's. Witness the year-long (plus) wait for ICS, especially for those with a Bionic purchased last summer.

Um. ICS hasn't been available for a year yet.

 

[doogald]

Um. ICS hasn't been available for a year yet.

Neither has the Bionic.

 

[Ry]

Neither has the Bionic.

So what year-long (plus) wait am I looking at?

 

[KillerG]

Neither has the Bionic.

It was announced at CES last year. We all waited until September. It's been more than a year since it was *announced.* I guess that's the idea. But in general we're going to have each manufacturer put out devices before/during the summer and then at the end of the year we'll see the Nexus along with a small amount of slightly better devices that the ones we saw before/during the summer. The cycle then repeats. That's how I see it, but Motorola has yet to announce a device yet. They're trying to get it all working with Intel's CPU right now.

 

[pel1kan]

I agree with KillerG's first post. I like my bionic and as far as what's out there, the BIONIC has dual core, LTE, only shortcoming is the display and no official ICS (but that's coming, and a second party launcher pretty much obviates any intense need for that.) I'm no expert, but I think the next "big things" will be when we see LTE friendly quad core devices, and VoLTE.
Another part of the equation for me is moto hardware. I'm comfortable with it, I get the root methods and system tweaks, and they tend to be built like tanks.
So... maybe the Razr HD when it comes out this summer, I don't see anything truly revolutionary beyond that until the VoLTE - quad core - LTE - HD res destination phones that are at least a year or more away at this point.

 

[KillerG]

I agree with KillerG's first post. I like my bionic and as far as what's out there, the BIONIC has dual core, LTE, only shortcoming is the display and no official ICS (but that's coming, and a second party launcher pretty much obviates any intense need for that.) I'm no expert, but I think the next "big things" will be when we see LTE friendly quad core devices, and VoLTE.
Another part of the equation for me is moto hardware. I'm comfortable with it, I get the root methods and system tweaks, and they tend to be built like tanks.
So... maybe the Razr HD when it comes out this summer, I don't see anything truly revolutionary beyond that until the VoLTE - quad core - LTE - HD res destination phones that are at least a year or more away at this point.

I'm still waiting on my octo-core