I still have my iPhone 6S and was going to jump to the iPhone 8 later this year.

But I bought a cheap android Redmi Note 4 on my international travel earlier this year so I could put in a local SIM and thought it wasn't half bad. That got me thinking about maybe jumping onto the Android bandwagon and picking up a Samsung S8 when it comes out in a couple days.

The key con that I see with using a Samsung is that the Android version prob won't be updated as quickly as a Google Pixel (which won't come out until 2H of this year).

Thoughts on iPhone 8 vs S8 vs Pixel 2 vs etc.?

Big thing about moving from Apple to Android is how heavily invested you are in apps you've bought from the App Store. There is a lot more known about the Pixel 2 vs. the iPhone 8. There are still all kinds of rumors out there that the next iPhone will have the curved screen, taptic all over, etc. One of my co-workers has the current Pixel, and he uses Project Fi with it and loves it.

I'm also using Project Fi ($27.50 bill last month, $26.10 this month) and upgrading to the Pixel 2 when it comes out. I like Android much more than iOS, but cartman is right about apps. Make sure that the apps you use are available, or that something similar exists before making the move.

Didn't know about Project Fi, thanks.

Any thoughts on how good quality/security of Android vs Apple apps?

There is no comparison on the app stores. Apple is a lot stricter with what they allow in. With Android, it is the wild west. But as long as you stick to known apps from reputable repos, you'll be safe. Just have to be aware of crap like seeing a name that "looks" like the right app, but not actually being the app you were looking for.

Most of the apps that are in both the Apple App Store and an Android store use a cross platform technology (ie. Ionic, Unity, Appzillion, etc.) so that the look and feel of the app is the same on both platforms.

My old phone died recently and I ended up buying a OnePlus 3T. It's a good phone at a better price point than the Iphone/Samsung. I'm not a power user but the phone has been great so far. Might be worth looking into.

The OnePlus 3T Midnight Black was released last night and it looks absolutely beautiful. My OnePlus One, which I purchased shortly after release, is still holding strong, which speaks great for the company.

I haven't used ios in years but I've become interested in the iPhone SE. I've really been seeking a smaller phone that is fast and has a great battery.

Thanks for the input.

I've been reading the S8 and iPhone 8 may be priced around $1K. I guess they can command a premium but good to see there are other good ones reasonably priced.

Not quite on topic, but I was a big iPad user for a while. I've since moved on to a Kindle Fire because most of my interaction is watching video and using it as a TV while I'm on the PC. The ability to use off-the-shelf SD cards for storage is the killer app. I saved at least $400 and the Fire does everything I need (and the Fire itself has come a long way since a few years ago).

S8 is pretty impressive. $ isn't as bad as some had said.

Samsung Galaxy S8 announced: Release date, specs, features - Business Insider (http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-galaxy-s8-release-date-specs-features-2017-3)

Yeah, I was very impressed by the S8. I still want to hold out for the Pixel 2 (after getting Google's universe, I don't want to leave), but a great phone Samsung revealed today.

Amazon.com: LeEco - Le S3 unlocked smartphone 32GB, Gold (U.S. Warranty): Cell Phones & Accessories (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1G0Z04/ref=s9_acsd_al_bw_c_x_2_w)

If you need a bridge phone for either Tmo or Att you could do a lot worse than that. WiFi calling works on Tmo. Just need to install Google Now launcher on it. But for 200$ it feels really nice in your hand.

The OnePlus 3T Midnight Black was released last night and it looks absolutely beautiful.

I might have just pulled the trigger on one of these...

ps - yes, yes i did.

I'm actually quite surprised at the longevity of my Samsung Galaxy S6. Usually at the 1 to 1 1/2 year mark, I start to notice the phone getting laggy or the battery life really suffer, and I'm ready to pounce on the "Next Big Thing".

Not this time. I'm really happy with my current phone. It still feels zippy. And there's no horrible battery drain like in previous phones I've had.

I'm actually quite surprised at the longevity of my Samsung Galaxy S6. Usually at the 1 to 1 1/2 year mark, I start to notice the phone getting laggy or the battery life really suffer, and I'm ready to pounce on the "Next Big Thing".

Not this time. I'm really happy with my current phone. It still feels zippy. And there's no horrible battery drain like in previous phones I've had.

My Nexus 6 is the same way. I'm at 26 months with it and I feel like it's actually performing better with the last few Android updates than when I first got it.

Yeah, I was very impressed by the S8. I still want to hold out for the Pixel 2 (after getting Google's universe, I don't want to leave), but a great phone Samsung revealed today.


I agree about google's universe and don't want to leave myself, however I feel like the industry is just moving away from me. The phones keep getting bigger and bigger and I wanted something that can be more easily handled.

My brother and wife purchased iPhone 7s yesterday and I do think that 4.7" screen is almost perfect. I just wish there was an Android alternative that I could be as confident about.

I've used a Motorola Droid Turbo 2 for awhile & think it's great. Huge screen, allegedly unbreakable glass (certainly hasn't scratched for me, and I've got a very checkered history with phone screens!), very fast charging & long battery life. Pretty decent camera too, though I don't have much of a baseline for that.

Complaints I've seen about it are doesn't have a fingerprint scanner (I've never used one), and it might still be a Verizon exclusive, but I've always been Verizon.

I've had several Android phones, until my last one broke and I ended up with my wife's iPhone 6 as a hand-me down last summer. There are parts of it that are ok, but on the whole I really really miss Android. I'll be ready for a new phone in June and I really wish there was something like the iPhone SE but with Android on it, I think that would be perfect for me. Small, fast, good camera, good battery, reasonable price. That's what I want. Most of the Android phones seem to only check 3 or so of those boxes at a time.

I think Sony makes a smaller Android for power users. Xperia X compact is the model I think.

I think Sony makes a smaller Android for power users. Xperia X compact is the model I think.

Yeah, I had the Z3 Compact and loved it. Unfortunately that's the one that broke and led to me having my wife's old iPhone. It (the Z3) broke 3 times in the span of a year. After 2 repairs I couldn't bring myself to do a third. I've never broken a single other phone before even once. But aside from the constant breaking it was certainly an awesome phone. The battery was phenomenal.

I agree about google's universe and don't want to leave myself, however I feel like the industry is just moving away from me. The phones keep getting bigger and bigger and I wanted something that can be more easily handled.

My brother and wife purchased iPhone 7s yesterday and I do think that 4.7" screen is almost perfect. I just wish there was an Android alternative that I could be as confident about.

There is the 5inch Pixel. I assume the Pixel2 will also come in 5 and 6 in varieties as well.

My eyesight is going so I prefer larger screens.

Unlocked phone ideas?

Anyone else have a Sony Phone? Looking at an Xperia XA1 Ultra which is about $400 unlocked. Don't think I can really justify stepping up to the XZ Premium for $700 or to the one of the other models.

I know the OnePlus 5 is supposed to be pretty great as well.

Basically I just want something in the 4-500 range unlocked that has enough ram to be usable and at least a 1080p screen. Prefer 5.5 and larger screens.

Also Cricket at 5 lines for $100 each at 4GB(or add $15 to each line for 22GB semi throttled speed wise) is a pretty smoking deal if you have good ATT service in your area.

Thinking about getting a Moto Z play, 2nd gen. I have old verizon unlimited and right now the phone is $10/month. Not switching plans as we pay $120 for 2 lines of unlimited, unthrottled (for now) anything and I can tether for free.

My S5 is getting a little long in the tooth, and even with a new battery its not a lot better, but at least stays charged most of the day. I don't need a phone with the latest and greatest, which is why I'm looking at "midrange" phones.

All I do is internet, twitter, spotify, maps, fitness apps. Occasional ESPN/vids, but no games. My question, is it enough of an upgrade over my Galaxy S5 for $240? I don't really want to pay $800 for a new phone when I have no use for 75% of the features.

Moto play 2 will have a faster processor and better screen quality. Asus ZenFone AR is a highly underrated phone if you can find a deal on that. It will give you the 6gb RAM processor with excellent camera at a mid range phone price.

Go the Project Fi route with Google and get the Moto X4.

Motorola’s Moto X4 is Project Fi’s first Android One smartphone - The Verge (https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/20/16339476/motorola-moto-x4-project-fi-android-one-smartphone)

Go the Project Fi route with Google and get the Moto X4.

Motorola’s Moto X4 is Project Fi’s first Android One smartphone - The Verge (https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/20/16339476/motorola-moto-x4-project-fi-android-one-smartphone)

Might as well keep the same phone if your top speeds are 3g in most areas. If you only want to use your phone for calls and texting project fi is fine but for any streaming or apps its pretty awful. Verizon and AT&T renting out their older towers no longer being maintained while preparing for 5g just kind of leaves project fi customers in the dark ages. Sure it is cheap but so is straight talk and other similar type plans that people seem to run away from after short periods.

Might as well keep the same phone if your top speeds are 3g in most areas. If you only want to use your phone for calls and texting project fi is fine but for any streaming or apps its pretty awful. Verizon and AT&T renting out their older towers no longer being maintained while preparing for 5g just kind of leaves project fi customers in the dark ages. Sure it is cheap but so is straight talk and other similar type plans that people seem to run away from after short periods.

:lol:

I use my phone for streaming and apps on Project Fi with no problems at any times. I live 20 miles from BFE and get reception with great speed at all times. There's also the ease of jumping on WiFi if I want to and having it not count against my data. I've made zero changes to my usage habits and haven't paid more than $32 in any single month after the opening month's signup fees pushed it to $43. Most months are under $30 easily.

I grabbed a Nextbit Robin for $130. It still upgrades to 7.1. It's not a perfect phone but with 55$ a month "unlimited" Cricket I'm more than satisfied.
https://www.amazon.com/Nextbit-Robin-Factory-Unlocked-Smartphone/dp/B01D9LVCAI

Seriously cricket has 5 4GB lines for $100(Total) You can't beat that. AT&T.

I have an iPhone 6S and have been using it for work. With the new iPhone 8 out, I just ordered a 8 Plus subsidized by the company. I plan to get a new # so I can keep it separate from my personal.

I'm not bought into the face recognition for the X, I wished Apple had put a fingerprint sensor in the back as a just-in-case.

I'm seriously thinking about waiting till next year/iteration so I can get on the same 2 year cycle as the rest of the family and by then face recognition will have been proven (or not).

I am also waiting for Google Pixel 2 XL, I may decide to go Android for my personal phone. Waiting for early October for it to come out and check out the specs & reviews.

My GS5 has finally become unusable, so need an upgrade.

Very tempted by the Pixel 2 or 2 XL, with Samsung S8 as alternative.

Main considerations are camera and battery life, and prefer a slightly smaller phone than larger.

The better battery life on the Pixel 2s seems to be on the XL unfortunately for me, but the XL has had a number of reported issues that is putting me off a little along with the size.

Anybody have any experience/opinions on these models?

Ha I'm in the same boat with an S5. I just reset to factory settings and it's actually fast again but I'm also looking.

Ended up with an iPhone 8 plus.

Loving the bigger and crisper screen, and more memory but having a little buyers regret for not getting the iPhone X.

I guess Apple has me well trained.

Count me as another Google Fi user who hasn't seen any performance issues whatsoever unless I'm literally out in the mountains somewhere. The cheaper bills (~$50 per month for my 3-4 gig usage) have been incredible.

Edit: though I am a bit miffed that my Nexus 6p is starting to curve; it's not bad, but it's just enough to be noticeable.

Got a Pixel 2 just after Christmas. Consistently getting 30-40 hrs on a charge so far.

Considering defecting from iPhone. Not enough to have a clear idea, but Pixel 2 the most likely destination, I think.

I'm going on 2 years with my S7 Edge. I hope it stays alive. Best phone I've ever owned. From now on, I refuse to get a phone that doesn't have a micro SD slot. I carry around 17,000 songs which is still important to me since I like to own my music, not stream someone's else's content.

Considering jumping to android - have been debugging a lot on an S8 recently and am gobsmacked at its reluctance to lose charge in comparison to my ye-olde iPhone7 which tends to struggle if I go for an hour long run with Strava enabled .

I'm going on 2 years with my S7 Edge. I hope it stays alive. Best phone I've ever owned. From now on, I refuse to get a phone that doesn't have a micro SD slot. I carry around 17,000 songs which is still important to me since I like to own my music, not stream someone's else's content.

Have also managed to lose my iPod at the same time, so the answer my well be Pixel 2 with micro SD card for my music which I’d still run from PC/iTunes.

Phone is free to me through work, I’d have to pay for replacement iPod myself...

As long as my Audi will read the songs off the SD card that is the mix I need - thank you sir!

Have also managed to lose my iPod at the same time, so the answer my well be Pixel 2 with micro SD card for my music which I’d still run from PC/iTunes.

Phone is free to me through work, I’d have to pay for replacement iPod myself...

As long as my Audi will read the songs off the SD card that is the mix I need - thank you sir!

The pixel 2s don't have SD card slots.

Galaxy S8/8+/Note 8 may be the only big flagship that still has an SD card slot and a headphone jack.

The pixel 2s don't have SD card slots.

That would be a problem then... !

I assume Galaxy S9 will still have the microSD as well. I've considered upgrading in a few months, but my S7 edge is still going strong so no reason to take on another $30/month payment. Phone bill with 4 phones is high enough as it is...

Is the SD card slot still important? I believe most apps won't work off them and most of the new phones seem to have a ton of space.

The headphone jack is a bigger deal to me.

I use it for music storage. I've got about 125 GB filled so far.

I don't really need the newest and brightest device, but the Galaxy Note 7 exploding debacle really sucks. If you want a note, your options are either the 999$ note 8 or the 2 year old Note 5. No option in the 4-500$ range.

Any current thoughts on phones? I have an iphone6 plus that is starting to have touch screen issues (apparently not uncommon). Until then, it held up pretty well over the years without much in the way of problems. I've looked around at options but nothing really seems that appealing at the available price points. For myself, I'm mostly looking for phones with a lot of space (256GB), like Ksyrup I tend to store a decent bit of music on it, as well as pics / videos, but I'd be interested in hearing others' experiences with phones that don't fit that spec too.

..also listening...

Not that it's phone model specific but Google Play music for 9.99 with YouTube Red(no ads, ability to play vid in the background, like for audio stuff) included is a pretty good deal. Google music manager is great for syncing your catalog to the cloud in case certain albums are unavailable to stream.

Dola-def get something that supports turbo charging (most Android's, iPhone 8+), nice to be able to go from 0% to nearly full in about 45mins or so.

I picked up a Galaxy 9 a couple of months back ... because, well 'Android' ... its meh and has taken ages to setup to something which is anywhere near as usable as my old iPhone .... and the voicemail still sucks at present :(

(I swear Samsung must have invested in Apple the design for this device is moronic - it has a massive side button the only purpose of which is to summon an annoying Siri-alike, its taken me ages to work out how to disable it as I was constantly accidentally pressing it while holding the phone ... and for some reason you can't give that button a new purpose, just disable it ffs)

I still have my S7 edge - afraid to switch to something I won't like as much. I have little use for cameras and it seems like all of the new phones are touting these great camera improvements or gimmicks. Couldn't care less.

Really happy witht the Pixel2, better than the Samsungs I've had in the past

Just this week I replaced my 5 year old Q10 with a KeyOne. Yep, still rocking the Blackberry! Keyone is on Android, looking forward to these apps of which people speak. No more m.uber.com! I'm obviously not a technoguy. But I do love the physical keyboard, as well as a smaller phone (relatively speaking as all of them are big now).

I like my Huawei Mate it's very affordable, very fast processor, very good camera (dual lens) and video quality but not in low light it's average in that regards. I can play a lot of games, I haven't experienced any lag time. Love watching movies and tv shows with it. Sounds is pretty good. Battery life is good 3340 mAh. The screen is big, the bezels are small, the picture is clear and sharp and the colors are crisp.

For the price this phone offered the best feature overall.

Anyone excited about the new iPhones?

iPhone XR, XS, XS Max US pricing 64GB 128GB
iPhone XR $749 $799
iPhone XS $999 N/A
iPhone XS Max $1,099 N/A

I may skip this S year and wait for next year.

I normally replace every 2 years, but nothing had me jumping to replace my 7 plus. The prices certainly don't help.

Turbo charging is a pretty substantial quality of life upgrade, but yeah, otherwise meh

I am awaiting the LG v40. I admit, this is the first time I considered moving to the iPhone, but three cameras on the back of the v40 has me very intrigued. I love the v5 camera, and the tech that's come since should blow that out of the water.

I need to upgrade my S7 Edge because battery is starting to go and everything runs so slowly now, but I haven't decided what to switch to. I do not use the camera for anything but taking pictures of things at the grocery store to make sure they are what my wife wants, so I don't care about cameras at all. Just needs to have a micro card expansion slot for my music and great screen. Might just end up with another Galaxy if I can hold off long enough for the newest model early next year. Not sure.

I was a longtime Note owner, but switched to the S7 Edge after the Note 7 battery disaster. I planned on jumping back to the Note with the 9, but it just doesn't seem to be much of an improvement so I'm holding out for the S10+. It looks like the S10 will be the biggest leap in tech Samsung has had in quite some time.

I'll probably just hope my current phone holds up until March.

Picked up an LG G6 a couple months ago, and not finding much to be envious of. Phones have definitely plateaued a bit. Not sure what the next 'killer' mod will be.

Good to know!

iPhone XS drop test: This phone would not crack - CNET (https://www.cnet.com/news/iphone-xs-drop-test-no-crack/)
I've done my fair share of drop tests in my time at CNET, and I've never come out of one without a broken phone. Until now. The iPhone XS didn't crack.
:
Based on how similar the iPhone XS looks to its predecessor, the iPhone X, I was expecting it to crack on the first drop or two. Clearly, I was wrong.

After four falls from up to 5 feet onto the concrete sidewalk, this iPhone XS came out almost intact. It has a few tiny dents and scrapes on the frame and the side of the camera, but the glass is nearly flawless.

Does that mean that the iPhone XS glass is stronger? That's a tough call to make, given the nature of our tests. But I can tell you it fared significantly better than last year's iPhone X, which ended up with cracks on both sides and tiny pieces of glass falling off the edges after only two drops from hip height.

I have an s6 and the battery is pretty much crap now. Also am tired of paying 150 dollars for two lines. Been thinking about cricket wireless for the price, but the 8mbs kind of scare me, even though I don't really stream that much

I have an s6 and the battery is pretty much crap now. Also am tired of paying 150 dollars for two lines. Been thinking about cricket wireless for the price, but the 8mbs kind of scare me, even though I don't really stream that much

I have T-mobile. Its about $40 per line so somewhat reasonable. I also have like a $10 credit for Netflix so its free for me.

T-mobile is okay in cities but spotty elsewhere. If you travel overseas, can't beat it for the free 2G or 3G and text messaging. Not great but a heck of a lot better than the others for basic use.

I've had t mobile before and didn't have a problem. All of the major carriers end up having the 40 dollars per line and then like another 25 per line to actually use the plan with your phone so they all end up around 140 anyways

I've had t mobile before and didn't have a problem. All of the major carriers end up having the 40 dollars per line and then like another 25 per line to actually use the plan with your phone so they all end up around 140 anyways

Not sure I understand your comment about "$25 per line to actually use the plan". When we had 3 on the family plan, it was straight up $120.

There was not anything extra. Haven't checked recently though.

I bit the bullet...ordered an iPhone XSMax (256GB) and an Apple Watch 4 (44mm sport band). The phone should arrive tomorrow, the watch later this week. I'm looking forward to seeing how it changes the way I use these things, with regards to the watch. My guess is, it will somewhat dramatically.

I bit the bullet...ordered an iPhone XSMax (256GB) and an Apple Watch 4 (44mm sport band). The phone should arrive tomorrow, the watch later this week. I'm looking forward to seeing how it changes the way I use these things, with regards to the watch. My guess is, it will somewhat dramatically.

I was a little tempted by the Apple Watch but held off because I wanted better battery life. Let us know how it works out for you.

I need to upgrade my S7 Edge because battery is starting to go and everything runs so slowly now, but I haven't decided what to switch to. I do not use the camera for anything but taking pictures of things at the grocery store to make sure they are what my wife wants, so I don't care about cameras at all. Just needs to have a micro card expansion slot for my music and great screen. Might just end up with another Galaxy if I can hold off long enough for the newest model early next year. Not sure.

The next Galaxy is supposed to be quite a decent jump, so it may make sense to wait. I think that's when Samsung is introducing foldable OLED displays (probably won't be in the regular Galaxy 10 though, but you never know). And Samsung is well known for making the best screens.

Google is supposed to release the Pixel3 next month (with the absurd notch on the 3XL).

Samsung is still the only flagship that has a headphone jack though (I find it important still). And I think it's the only flagship that still has a microSD. slot. If you need something really quickly, the Note 9 is supposed to be very good.

I believe Motorola's have headphone jacks too, but maybe I'm a version or two behind. I still really like the Droid Turbo models, though the charging port gets messed up & battery life starts to weaken eventually.

The next Galaxy is supposed to be quite a decent jump, so it may make sense to wait. I think that's when Samsung is introducing foldable OLED displays (probably won't be in the regular Galaxy 10 though, but you never know). And Samsung is well known for making the best screens.

Google is supposed to release the Pixel3 next month (with the absurd notch on the 3XL).

Samsung is still the only flagship that has a headphone jack though (I find it important still). And I think it's the only flagship that still has a microSD. slot. If you need something really quickly, the Note 9 is supposed to be very good.


The foldable phone was originally supposed to ship as the Galaxy X in January but was pushed back again.

My Galaxy S5 is refusing to detect a charge cable tonight and I don't know if something is wrong with the phone or with the cable. Rragh.

The next Galaxy is supposed to be quite a decent jump, so it may make sense to wait. I think that's when Samsung is introducing foldable OLED displays (probably won't be in the regular Galaxy 10 though, but you never know). And Samsung is well known for making the best screens.

Google is supposed to release the Pixel3 next month (with the absurd notch on the 3XL).

Samsung is still the only flagship that has a headphone jack though (I find it important still). And I think it's the only flagship that still has a microSD. slot. If you need something really quickly, the Note 9 is supposed to be very good.

I'll probably hold off until March (I assume that's the timeframe) for the Galaxy S10. I have no interest in the Note - too big, and I would never use the stylus. The fact that I've kept the same phone for 3 years means Samsung did something right, so I'll probably stick with them.

This should be pretty cool.

Unless Samsung is trolling us, a folding Galaxy phone is finally coming this week | PCWorld (https://www.pcworld.com/article/3318620/android/samsung-folding-phone-tease.html)
After four years, dozens of rumors, several patents, and one profile pic change, Samsung appears to finally be on the verge of showing off its first folding Galaxy phone. And man are we ready for it.

Ahead of its annual Developer Conference on Wednesday, Samsung provided the most concrete evidence that it will be showing off its new folding phone this week. Samsung Mobile updated its Facebook and Twitter profile pics with a folding Samsung logo, which can really only mean one thing: at long last, we’re finally going to get a look at Samsung’s vision of the foldable future.

Any current thoughts on phones? I have an iphone6 plus that is starting to have touch screen issues (apparently not uncommon). Until then, it held up pretty well over the years without much in the way of problems. I've looked around at options but nothing really seems that appealing at the available price points. For myself, I'm mostly looking for phones with a lot of space (256GB), like Ksyrup I tend to store a decent bit of music on it, as well as pics / videos, but I'd be interested in hearing others' experiences with phones that don't fit that spec too.

To put a bow on this, I ended up getting a used iPhone 8 Plus. I am happy with the purchase. It’s basically the same as the old phone, except more storage space, much better battery life and much more responsive (switching apps, starting up).

My wife went in for a new iPhone last week (XR) and I started asking some questions while we were there. Next thing I knew I was walking out with a Huawei P20 Pro for no extra money at all (locked in for 2 years, though, but realistically I need to stick with this provider anyways). I'm really happy with it, even if it does mean that there is probably someone in China living with my identity now. This world is big enough for two of me! :P

My S7 Edge continues to have performance issues, so I decided to bite the bullet and get an S9+ now and potentially upgrade in about 18 months when you'd expect Samsung to release their 2020 model (S11?) early in the year.

Samsung has a nice deal where the S9+ 64GB is $275 off, so I'm getting it for $639 on AT&T's 24 monthly payment, upgrade-after-12-months plan. That was too good a deal to pass up. I can barely get Google Maps to work on my phone - it takes like 5 minutes to to fire up - and everything else is laggy as hell. If the phone is locked when a call comes in, the phone app won't appear in time for me to answer the call before the rings end.

So here I sit with my very first cell phone-an Iphone7 in my hands right now-yep until now didn't really want or felt I needed one. So my friends tell me about all the cool things I can do with it, tips on using it/how to take care of it, and what free apps I need right now. Games too of course. :)

So here I sit with my very first cell phone-an Iphone7 in my hands right now-yep until now didn't really want or felt I needed one. So my friends tell me about all the cool things I can do with it, tips on using it/how to take care of it, and what free apps I need right now. Games too of course. :)


Bumping for those who might have not seen this in their turkey-induced comas :) Still looking for all this kind of thing, and any tips on how to take photos/post them on Facebook or here would be welcome, thanks.

My first thought was "didn't know this was a thing" and second thought was "oh yeah". I know MS stock is doing relatively well but I'm struggling to remember any recent innovations from them.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/18/microsoft-ending-windows-10-mobile-says-switch-to-iphone-or-android.html
Microsoft says anyone who still uses its Windows 10 mobile platform — once called Windows Phone — should switch over to an iPhone or an Android phone. A change to the Windows 10 Mobile support page was first spotted by Thurrott, a site that covers Microsoft.

Microsoft said that on Dec. 10, 2019, it will stop sending “new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free assisted support options, or technical content updates from Microsoft for free.” In other words, there aren’t going to be any more updates, and only a few phone models will even be supported until that final date.

“With the Windows 10 Mobile OS end of support, we recommend that customers move to a supported Android or iOS device,” Microsoft said. “Microsoft’s mission statement to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, compels us to support our Mobile apps on those platforms and devices.”

I am intrigued by the folding phone but won't pay an outrageous price to be an early adopter.

With Apple's lower-than-expected sales for its new phones, it will be interesting to see how well this super-premium phone does in Asia (where Samsung is dominant) and the implications.

Think iPhones are expensive? Samsung official says foldable Galaxy phone will cost twice as much – BGR (https://bgr.com/2019/01/18/galaxy-f-price-vs-galaxy-s10-foldable-phone-to-cost-twice-as-much/)
Samsung is expected to unveil its first ever foldable Galaxy phone soon… for real this time. Samsung will give the phone a proper announcement this time around, and it’ll reveal all the details that it withheld from the press during its developer conference in early November, including an actual release date and pricing. The Galaxy F, or whatever Samsung ends up calling it, will be announced on February 20th, during Samsung’s San Francisco media event. Previous reports already said as much, but a Samsung exec confirmed it to Korean media, tackling the matter of pricing in the process.
:
An unnamed Samsung official who talked to a Korean publication said that “the folder phone will be released at twice the price of a premium phone, so a strong user case is needed” (via Phone Arena). “Premium phone” describes handsets like the Galaxy S9, Galaxy Note 9, iPhone XS, so we should definitely expect a sky-high price tag.

Apparently, that strong user case means a unique form factor that allows the user to run three apps at the same time on a more prominent display, or turn it into a tablet-sized device ready for entertainment and media consumption.

Previous reports did say the Galaxy F will sell for $1,500 to $2,000, and that’s because the phone will contain a bunch of expensive technology not available on other devices. However, some other regular smartphones might be just as pricey as the Galaxy F. A report a few days ago claimed that the 5G Galaxy S10 would be twice as expensive as the cheapest Galaxy S10 version.

I have an XS Max and it's easily the best phone I have ever owned. Not even close (and I've had 5-6 different iPhone models prior to this). This is the first phone that's actually something I feel like I could hold on to for 2 or 3 years without worrying too much about what's coming out next. The screen size is perfect, the hand size is perfect, and face id is hugely improved from the X. The price is ridiculous, but it's so much more than a phone to me that it makes sense.

Not sure if foldable phones are a fad but I want one.

Apple better get off their butts, no 5G and no foldable phone this year. With poor Apple sales with prices around $1,000 - $1,500, it will be interesting to see if these new phones, priced far higher, will do well.

Huawei’s Mate X foldable phone is a thinner 5G rival to the Galaxy Fold - The Verge (https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/24/18238269/huawei-foldable-phone-mate-x-price-release-date-specs-mwc-2019)
Samsung’s Galaxy Fold announcement isn’t even a week old yet, and we already have a competitor that is thinner, has a bigger screen, and folds flatter. Say hello to the Huawei Mate X. Launching this very moment at MWC 2019, the Mate X has an 8-inch wraparound OLED display, a folded thickness of a mere 11mm, and a formidable spec sheet highlighted by 5G, a 4,500mAh battery, and Huawei’s in-house Kirin 980 processor.

The single OLED display of the Mate X actually serves triple duty. When the device is folded, you essentially have a dual-screen smartphone, with the second display on the rear allowing you to shoot selfies with the main camera or to share what’s on your primary display with a person on the other side. Open up the Mate X, and you get an almost square (but not quite) tablet that has minimal bezels on three sides.

Prices.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/24/tech/huawei-foldable-phone/index.html
The price tag for Huawei's foldable 5G-enabled phone, the Mate X, is downright astronomical.

The Chinese phone maker launched its new, foldable device on the eve of the Mobile World Congress, a huge gathering of the mobile industry in Barcelona. The Mate X is set to compete with Samsung's recently announced Galaxy Fold, which is priced at about $1,960 before taxes.
The cheapest version of the Mate X goes for $2,600, including taxes.

Oh good. Hope it keeps the greedy bastards in-line and discourages $1,000+ pricing on phones.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/05/tech/samsung-profit-warning-smartphones/index.html
The South Korean technology giant said Friday that it expects operating profit for the first quarter to plunge by 60% compared to the same period year ago.
:
The global market for smartphones shrank more than 4% in 2018 and could contract again this year, according to market research firm IDC.

China, the world's biggest market for the devices, has been particularly weak. Apple (AAPL) stunned global markets in January when it said iPhone sales would come in lower than expected.

A range of factors are hurting the industry, including increasingly saturated markets, consumers replacing their phones less often and frustration over rising prices.

I dunked my iPhone in the toilet. Bought a new iPhone. I have the recovery email and phone number but these bumblefucks are saying 2 weeks til i can reset my iTunes password. Seriously...

I dunked my iPhone in the toilet. Bought a new iPhone. I have the recovery email and phone number but these bumblefucks are saying 2 weeks til i can reset my iTunes password. Seriously...

Rice didn't work?

Shockingly it sounds like the foldable phones are having trouble with displays breaking. It's a cool idea, but I'll let other people be the guinea pigs on that one for the first few iterations. ;)

Yeah the Samsung is a fiasco already.

I can't remember my password. I don't want to keep trying wrong. Having access to my recovery email and phone number and still waiting 2 weeks is insane. Rice didn't do anything. If there was a genius bar nearby I'd be up in there

Who actually asked for foldable phones. Especially at 2500ish.

Who actually asked for foldable phones. Especially at 2500ish.

This. To me these things feel like the phone version of 3D TV's.

Seems like a lot of tech in that while the first iteration looks like something I'd never want, and certainly not at the early adopter price that a lot of new tech costs, but I'm curious where it takes us in the years to come.


I do like the idea in theory of when the phone is folded here is a smaller screen up front to use when on the go, but hey also this phone opens up into a tablet. The first version, though, when folded just looks very unpleasant to use.

Seems like a lot of tech in that while the first iteration looks like something I'd never want, and certainly not at the early adopter price that a lot of new tech costs, but I'm curious where it takes us in the years to come.


I do like the idea in theory of when the phone is folded here is a smaller screen up front to use when on the go, but hey also this phone opens up into a tablet. The first version, though, when folded just looks very unpleasant to use.

100% agree

I was intrigued by the idea of a folding phone, but the design Samsung showed off didn't impress me at all. I ended up going with the S10+ and even though it's not the massive leap it was hyped to be it's still a significant upgrade of my S7 Edge and I love it.

Im still on my S6 and its been great.
My first Samsung.


Its starting to wear out and needs to be replaced.
Really struggling with what to replace it with.

I recently got the newer Samsung Galaxy, but got the S10e, and really like it so far. I had an iPhone 6 16gb for the last 4 years that really wore out its welcome. Decided to try Android again.


I like the S10e, though. The cheaper price compared to the S10s was only a small benefit and reason why, though. I don't like the curved edge screen. Don't like the distortion at the edges when doing full screen video and feel it is more likely to break with a fall due to the edged screen. I prefer the slightly "smaller" (smaller in quotes because even small phones are huge these days). The S10e screen is still very large and mostly screen on the front with very small bezels that I like. It has the same cameras as the bigger brothers minus the telescopic lens, but the same widescreen lens and sensors for the regular camera. Same processor. SLIGHTLY smaller battery but still get good battery life. It has the same internals as the bigger brothers except for a select couple things, which is rare when companies gimp their smaller or cheaper models with cheaper internals. I did get the 256gb storage model, though, because that one has the bump in RAM versus the standard 128gb model. I just like have that much storage, though, so I never have to think about storage for the life of the phone. Coming from a 16gb iPhone for 4 years its a breath of fresh air to not have to micro manage my fucking storage.



Honestly, the only things it doesn't have is the higher resolution screen and the under screen fingerprint sensor. It has the capacitive (sp?) fingerprint in the power button, but for an "older" tech finger print sensor it is insanely fast and accurate. I almost prefer it to the newer, less accurate, and potentially more fiddly in screen finger print. It just works.


The screen resolution is noticeable if you go into your providers store and look at them side by side. The regular S10 looks crisper and just overall nicer. But once you are removed from the side by side I have never once thought my S10e's screen was anything but great. It's just a very nice fucking screen. The regular S10 is just a step above "very nice fucking screen."

iPhone XR is really responsive with a great battery life.

Seems like a lot of tech in that while the first iteration looks like something I'd never want, and certainly not at the early adopter price that a lot of new tech costs, but I'm curious where it takes us in the years to come.

I do like the idea in theory of when the phone is folded here is a smaller screen up front to use when on the go, but hey also this phone opens up into a tablet. The first version, though, when folded just looks very unpleasant to use.

Yup, not good to be early adopter.

Samsung Fold Disaster Adds to 60% Q1 Profit Drop for Nightmare 2019 (https://www.ccn.com/samsungs-nightmare-fold-scandal-60-drop-in-profits)
Following a shock 60 percent drop in profits by Samsung Electronics as reported by FT, woes for the South Korean technology giant continued as the Samsung Galaxy Fold, a $2,000 device released to the market this month, demonstrated serious problems in a scandal that’s been dubbed #peelgate.
:
Bottom line, according to Joanna Stern, a personal technology columnist for The WSJ who reviewed the Galaxy Fold, the device was not ready to be released to the public just yet.

“It was then that I made a call, too: There’s no point in me writing a straightforward review of a product that’s so clearly not ready. I wasn’t going to recommend the phone—but now I’m concerned that it is even coming to market. At the very least, Samsung owes its customers more explanation. Are we beta-testing a prototype here?” asked Stern

Im still on my S6 and its been great.
My first Samsung.


Its starting to wear out and needs to be replaced.
Really struggling with what to replace it with.

I'd recommend looking at the S9. There are some great deals now that the S10 is out. And the S10 doesn't offer enough more to justify that price.

I bought an S9 last fall and it's been great. My only regret is not getting the plus sized version. If you've got bigger hands, the bigger screens help a lot with texting.

Who actually asked for foldable phones. Especially at 2500ish.

Price is insane but I do think they'd be cool to use. My issue with phones are the big ones are a pain to lug around in your pockets while the small ones are a pain in the ass to use. This would solve both the problems.

But this feels like a technology that's going to take a few more years to smooth out and get the price down.

Looking like The Galaxy Fold is completely cancelled now.

Pretty much decided not to upgrade our iPhones this year and wait till 2020 model with 5G and no-Lightning (and hopefully no fugly notch).

Kids and wife have a 7x, I'm on 8 Plus.

I'm the one that likes getting the newer stuff but rest of family are pretty content with their 3+ year old phones. I'm glad there are now cheaper-but-solid versions of the premium phones and hope that trend continues.

I bought a Redmi (Xiaomi) Note 7 overseas as my "beater" phone. Not sure I like MIUI overlay but can't beat it for $150.

I've been using a Huawei P20 Pro for the last year and it has been great. I'm 100% sure that the Chinese government knows everything about me now, but also about 50% sure they already did, and like 80% sure I don't care either way.

I am more and more less of an iPhone fanboy but this looks interesting. It'll probably cost $$$$ whereas Samsung's version will by then cost only $$

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2019/09/17/apple-iphone-fold-iphone-11-pro-max-upgrade-new-iphone/#60f228073927
Spotted by the eagle-eyed folks at Patently Apple, Apple has published a flurry of new information about its so-called iPhone Fold with the US Patent and Trademark Office. And it’s unlike any iPhone you’ve ever seen.

Dropping its typically coy approach to future products, Apple has applied en masse for patents for a folding ‘electronic device’ which cover the technology behind the flexible display, control circuitry, hinge and new pressure sensors.

I don't understand the iPhone 11 popularity. If our family were to upgrade our iPhones, it would be next year.

Tons of sources now say that iPhone 11 preorders are crushing it – BGR (https://bgr.com/2019/09/17/iphone-11-preorders-vs-iphone-xs-sales-improved-significantly/)
An insider familiar with Apple’s supply chain said in a note to clients earlier this week that iPhone 11 preorders were off to a good start, just as we noted that most iPhone 11 Pro versions were sold out, as were several of the new iPhone 11 color options. It took Apple less than three days to run out of stock of some models, offering delivery estimates of up to three weeks for some of them. But Ming-Chi Kuo isn’t the only analyst who observed a significant sales improvement during the preorder period.
:
:
Kuo revised his iPhone 11 shipping estimates to between 70 million and 75 million units in 2019, up from his earlier 65 million to 70 million forecast.

As Reuters explains, several Wall Street analysts also said on Monday that iPhone 11 sales have gotten off to a better start than their predecessors.

Chinese e-commerce site JD.com revealed on Saturday that day one preorders jumped 480% compared to the same time last year, with the top three most popular versions being the Midnight Green iPhone 11 Pro, and the Black and Purple iPhone 11.

Alibaba’s Tmall platform registered iPhone 11 sales 335% higher on day one compared to iPhone XR presales last year, Chinese media outlet Yicai said.

I didn’t think I had that fear of holes thing but the triple camera on the back of the Pro is semi terrifying.

Sounds like a bunch of typical Apple propaganda IMO. I doubt you will see huge lines tomorrow waiting on the new iphone. Apple has a history of having less than expected demand available so they can make customers wait and talk about how these new phones are so popular they are on backorder. Nothing seems different this year than the past 3-4 years. Apple launch days have steadily decreased in importance.

I don't know, if there's one country's media I trust, it's China.

I don't understand the iPhone 11 popularity. If our family were to upgrade our iPhones, it would be next year.

Yes, all of the rumors seem to indicate that Apple is going to try for something crazy next year. Some suggesting using micro-LED screens (I think that's a year or two too early at least). Some suggesting full screen models with the camera under the screen (Samsung is also working on this). And others suggesting finally getting USB-C next year (or just completely wireless charging, which would be a terrible idea).

All the while, I'm just looking forward to mid-October because the Pixel 4xl looks pretty awesome.

The duo looks pretty interesting to me. Would have to consider it assuming its reasonably priced next year.

Microsoft Doubles Down With Dual Screen Surface Neo and Surface Duo - Design Milk (https://design-milk.com/microsoft-doubles-down-with-dual-screen-surface-neo-and-surface-duo/)
The Surface Duo is also a dual screen mobile device, but one scaled down to fit into the pocket. Unlike the still very-much-in-beta, dual screen phones from the likes of Samsung, the Surface Duo merges two 5.6-inch screens with a visible, but handsomely executed with a hardware hinge. Unfolded, the two screens convert into an 8.3 inch tablet form factor, all without the concerns of a delicate seam. The Duo also operates on Windows 10X and Android, with Surface Pen compatibility baked in.

https://design-milk.com/images/2019/10/SurfaceDuo-7-1000x563-810x456.jpg

My son's iPhone 7 died so he got a Samsung S10e. He pretty happy with it and first of the family to get an Android (besides my cheap Redmi for international travels).

I've got an 8 Plus and waiting to see the next iPhone to see if it has USB-C charging and 5G. If they don't have those features for the cheaper iPhone version, I think I'll go Android also.

I just don't see myself spending $900+ on cell phones.

Anyone planning on getting a new phone this year and what are you looking forward to?

I just don't see myself spending $900+ on cell phones.

I don't get it either. Thankfully, I've always been behind on cell phone technology so I've never gotten used to one of the 'flagship devices'.

My son's iPhone 7 died so he got a Samsung S10e. He pretty happy with it and first of the family to get an Android (besides my cheap Redmi for international travels).

I've got an 8 Plus and waiting to see the next iPhone to see if it has USB-C charging and 5G. If they don't have those features for the cheaper iPhone version, I think I'll go Android also.

I just don't see myself spending $900+ on cell phones.

Anyone planning on getting a new phone this year and what are you looking forward to?

Just make the move to Android. The water is warm. :)

I've had an S9 for the past 2 years. It works great but I almost immediately regretted not getting the plus version.

No real need to upgrade but I've been looking at those Note devices.

I have to say the forthcoming iPhone 9 is pretty underwhelming. Cheap and guess it fits it purpose in better competing on the low-end but sheesh, who wants to be carrying around a phone that looks so 2017.

I have to say the forthcoming iPhone 9 is pretty underwhelming. Cheap and guess it fits it purpose in better competing on the low-end but sheesh, who wants to be carrying around a phone that looks so 2017.

Eh? It's $400. With an A14 processor. I bet it'll sell like hotcakes. And I'm generally not a big Apple fan.

And there are quite a few folks who still have their iPhone 8s, so I don't think it's that big a deal.

Eh? It's $400. With an A14 processor. I bet it'll sell like hotcakes. And I'm generally not a big Apple fan.

And there are quite a few folks who still have their iPhone 8s, so I don't think it's that big a deal.

I've got an 8 plus and am self-conscious whipping it out because it looks so archaic.

I've got an 8 plus and am self-conscious whipping it out because it looks so archaic.

You are joking, right?
If you are self conscious because you have taken care of a tool you use and it still works and you are mature and disciplined enough to not be peer pressured into throwing money away to impress others, then you are so royally fucked it doesnt matter what phone you carry.

I mean people made fun of the Pixel 4 (XL) because of its forehead because it looked like it was from 2018. I love my phone and don't care what others think of it.

You are joking, right?
If you are self conscious because you have taken care of a tool you use and it still works and you are mature and disciplined enough to not be peer pressured into throwing money away to impress others, then you are so royally fucked it doesnt matter what phone you carry.

True, have to admit it. Everyone has their vices. I'm not trying to keep up with the Jones in cars or house but I would like a somewhat modern looking work tool.

Especially since even cheap $200 android phones have minimal bezel.

Looks like the iPhone 9 has gotten pretty good reviews and the smart bet is that it'll do well.

Still not for me, I'll wait for the lower end iPhone 12 with almost full bezel, smaller notch, 5G and hopefully USB-C (but this last one has been disputed recently).

My son has broken away from the Apple ecosystem gone to Android. We are using whatsapp for our cross platform messaging now so by Nov the new Pixel and likely lower end S20 model will be in the mix for me.

I'm not a fan of Apple's ecosystem but that new SE looks like really good bang for the buck. My plan is up this fall and if I decide to upgrade I'll have to give it serious consideration.


Also under consideration is just sticking with my Huawei P20 Pro for another year or two. It has no issues running anything I have wanted to and the battery is still fantastic. Only reasons I am considering moving on are that I cracked the screen in the bottom corner, and the whole Huawei thing.

Why is the upgrade to the IPhone X more expensive than the one for the IPhone 11?

Seeing this bumped (sorry miami_fan, I can't answer your question) I had forgotten about my post from late-April.


My plan to keep the Huawei for the foreseeable future went out he window on the weekend when my phone slid off the couch and destroyed the screen. It actually broke in an interesting way, first some bands of weird colours appeared down the right side, and then a black 'spot' appeared, and that spot slowly grew over the course of several hours to envelope the entirety of the display. Haven't seen that one before.


Anyways, that meant I had to start looking for something. The SE was a contender but as I perused the Android landscape I started to think I might try to wait for the Pixel 4a that is supposed to come out later this month. But then I poked around on the upgrade device page from my carrier and saw that the Pixel 3a was being heavily discounted (not surprisingly) and so I pulled the trigger on that.


It has to ship out to me so I'm not sure when I'll actually get it, hopefully sometime this week. I'll report back here with my thoughts when I do receive it.

Everyone I know that has it really likes the 3a. I have the 4XL and it's been my favorite phone (though I wish the battery was a bit bigger, it'll easily get me through a day with plenty of screen on time).

Life back.
Get a MasterCard.
Pay for cell phone bill with MasterCard on autostart.
Free warranty or replacement for damage 1 time per line per year.

Life back.
Get a MasterCard.
Pay for cell phone bill with MasterCard on autostart.
Free warranty or replacement for damage 1 time per line per year.


Wow I did not know this was a thing. Cool tip! Unfortunately my mastercard doesn't have this coverage, but some of them up here do. Will be something to consider next time I'm choosing a card.

More info on the Duo.

Surface Duo full specs leaked — and there are some fascinating details | Laptop Mag (https://www.laptopmag.com/news/surface-duo-full-specs-leaked-and-there-are-some-fascinating-details)
According to Windows Central, citing unnamed sources, the Surface Duo will ship with a Snapdragon 855 SoC, 6GB of RAM and either 64GB or 256GB of storage. There will be a single 11-megapixel sensor above the right display for selfies and world-facing photos and videos.

The two 5.6-inch displays are supposedly OLED and have a pixel density of 401ppi (pixels per inch). Those pixels will test the 3,460mAh battery, which is smaller than the 4,000mAh battery in the single-screen Samsung Galaxy S20.

We hope Microsoft worked some magic with power efficiency so the Surface Duo can last through an entire day. if it doesn't, you can at least charge it back up using its USB-C fast-charging port. Test units don't support wireless charging or NFC, but that could change when the production versions roll off the floor.

The Surface Duo will ship with Android 10 but will be updated to Android 11 soon after. As expected, it will come with a suite of pre-installed windows apps that will work across both panels.

I bought a decent Pixel phone for my wife for Christmas from a reputable online electronics store. Everything was great up until July 1st when the phone just wouldn't boot any more. Since then the process to get it fixed or replaced under the 1 year warranty with Google has been less than ideal.

I haven't had an issue with a cell phone before and this was the first time I bought an unlocked phone. My question for the board - is the process of getting an unlocked phone replaced uniquely this convoluted or would I more of less be experiencing the same thing if I had purchased it directly from the cell phone carrier?


July 1st - phone won't boot. Read online that it is a common issue with the phone that can't be fixed. Talked to Google Support who confirmed that it needs to be physically examined by a technician. However, they suggested I double check with the retailer first to confirm whether the retailer can provide any expedited warranty service. Inquiry sent to retailer.

July 3rd - retailer confirms there is nothing special they can do and that it needs to be handled through Google. Google suggests I mail the phone to one of their local repair affiliates for service.

July 4th - left phone at UPS pickup location to be sent to Google's local repair affiliate

July 6th - phone is picked up by UPS

July 7th - phone is received by Google's local repair affiliate

July 8th - local repair affiliate says they think the motherboard has likely gone bad (or something else major) and that it likely makes more sense to replace the phone rather than repair it which they said I will need to do directly with Google.

July 9th - I speak to Google and they seem confused by the fact that their local repair affiliate did nothing with the phone. They request that I mail it to them directly for repair. I put in a formal request with Google to have the phone repaired or replaced.

July 11th- phone is received back from the local repair store

July 13th - Google ships out the suggested packaging materials to send in the phonee

July 14th - Packaging materials received from Google. Phone packaged up and left in FedEx drop box. ETA on when we are expected to hear something next from Google is expected to be up to 10 business days.

I haven't had much satisfaction with carriers myself, but I wonder if a carrier would allow you trade your phone for a functional one easier.

(FWIW, I have a Pixel as well - a 4XL - and I've heard people have various different experiences with Google when dealing with an issue. Sorry to hear you are having a bad experience)

Life back.
Get a MasterCard.
Pay for cell phone bill with MasterCard on autostart.
Free warranty or replacement for damage 1 time per line per year.

Credit cards have all sorts of NAC (No Added Charge) insurance and non-insurance benefits. My old company underwrites the MC program and I handled the regulatory/operational legal pieces the past 5 years before I left the company. Extraordinarily complicated regulatory hoops to jump through to be able to do these types of programs.

Aaaaaaaaand here we go. Google stating that the phone's issue is due to "liquid damage" which would void the warranty. There definitely has been no liquid damage and nothing was mentioned about such damage when the phone was sent to their local repair partner. I will fight it but I don't see myself buying Google products again.

Whaaaaaat?

The Pixel 4 is advertised as IP68 water resistant guaranteed at 3meters for 30 minutes

I was excited about the Duo but not at a $1,400 price point.

An "engineering marvel" re: look and feel, and form factor at about 5min pt. The bezels are too think for my tastes. Will wait for next iteration.

Still mulling Surface Duo? Check out Dave Lee's hands-on overview. | Windows Central (https://www.windowscentral.com/still-mulling-surface-duo-check-out-dave-lees-hands-overview)
https://youtu.be/9mRxyH0RWuQ

Whaaaaaat?

The Pixel 4 is advertised as IP68 water resistant guaranteed at 3meters for 30 minutes

Well it isn't.

Dropped mine in our pool a week ago, fell to a depth of about a foot (one of the steps) and was underwater for no more than 30 seconds (at most), worked for two hours then died.

All attempts at reviving it failed.

I really liked the phone but damn, don't advertise what you aren't.

Rumors has Pixel 4a 5G with a 6.1 or 6.2 screen at $499. I am seriously considering moving to Android this year (son has already migrated to Samsung S10, wife and daughter will likely get iPhone 12 later this year) and was reading up on Google Fi.

We have T-Mobile 4 for $25 each. We were on the $40 unlimited plan but downgraded with a recent deal (we lost Netflix and think the international data piece). Google Fi is $20 plus $10/GB.

I am intrigued by Google Fi but don't really see a reason to leave T-Mobile if/when I change over later this year.

Does anyone here do Google Fi and why?

With T-Mobile buying out Sprint and taking over their network we switched over from Verizon and got 3 new phones and $40 off what we were paying Verizon. New iphones for the wife and kid and I got the Note 20 ultra.

Maybe they're better now, but Tmobile and Sprint were terrible when I had both before. Their 100/4 lines bundle is what I pay for Cricket(on ATT) but I do think having (probably) a higher priority would be better on Tmo. Sometimes Cricket crawls and it's obviously intentional.

Somebody check me on something (not quite phones but close enough that I think this thread makes sense).

Got a new tablet at the local at&t store a couple wknds ago.
Got home, it kept saying something about "sim card not activated" or to that effect, impact being that I couldn't connect to wireless service.

Finally got around to calling customer service to inquire further, and discovered that the sim card in the tablet was assigned to another customer / account. (They've shipped me a new sim card which arrived today).

The "check me" part is this: there's literally NO way that could happen if this tablet was indeed truly factory new, right? I mean, this pretty much HAS to be a returned item ... right?

Seems to be a logical conclusion to me.

Maybe they're better now, but Tmobile and Sprint were terrible when I had both before. Their 100/4 lines bundle is what I pay for Cricket(on ATT) but I do think having (probably) a higher priority would be better on Tmo. Sometimes Cricket crawls and it's obviously intentional.

No one is really all that great in Washington, to be honest. Post merger coverage in the state is: Verizon 70%, ATT 68%, TMobile 62%.

So far the signal is more or less the same where we live with just a slight drop in signal in our basement, but T-Mobile has much better Wifi calling support so no big deal there. I had either 1 bar or no signal at work and I'm quarantined and can't test it for myself, but people with TMobile seem have decent signal.

All 3 of us were due for new phones and the difference between what we have with TMobile and Verizon while paying for 3 phones is about $100 a month.

iPhone 12 info and pricing.

5G is a plus. At one time rumors said notch was going to be smaller but more recent rumors said still the same. Still the damn lightning connector.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mfqatNzRctrLkUc2LnKbXf-650-80.jpeg.webp

Pixel 5 and 4a 5G will be released Sept 25. There was speculation that Apple would announce the iPhone 12 on Sep 15 but that seemingly has been pushed back to tbd.

I'm targeting the 4a 5G for $499 (6.2") or the iPhone 12 max (6.1") for $749. Bigger is better for me (eyes are going bad) but the iPhone Pro 12 max (6.7") going to be $1,000+ and I won't spend that money. My company does help subsidize phones with a 2 year commitment so there's that.

We know that the Google Pixel 5 release date is this fall, and a new leak suggests that it’s coming at the end of September.

An internal document spotted by Teckcheck (via GSMArena) from telecoms carrier Vodafone has the Pixel 5 tipped to arrive in German stores on September 25. That would suggest that a launch event could be imminent and that the release of Google’s next flagship phone is merely a couple of weeks away.

The document also has the Pixel 4a 5G pegged to be released on the same day.

So, is anyone excited about this year's crop of smart phones?

I haven't read much that I'm excited about other than 5G on iPhones (LIDAR looks cool but not worth the premium to me) and lower priced-but-pretty-good Google-Samsung models.

FWIW, checked a couple sites and my 8 plus has trade-in value. $200 from Best Buy, T-Mobile $161, Google $154, and $350 from Samsung,

The 2020 line of Pixel phones are out. The 5, 4a, and 4a 5G.

Leaning towards the 4a 5G as it's got a bigger screen and is at $499. The 5 is at $699 which is overpriced IMO. Waiting for the iPhone 12 announcements & pricing and then the BF sales where I'm guessing pixel prices will drop by at least $50-$100.

Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 4a 5G vs Pixel 4a: Which should you buy? - Android Authority (https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-5-vs-pixel-4a-5g-vs-pixel-4a-1163131/)
We finally have eyes on Google’s entire 2020 smartphone lineup with the launch of the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G. Google forewent the traditional flagship this year, with the two joining the Pixel 4a to dominate the mid-range category. So while these aren’t as powerful as phones like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, you don’t have to worry about thousand dollar price tags either. But which Pixel is the one for you? We take a quick look at the Pixel 5 vs Pixel 4a 5G vs Pixel 4a!

The wife and I bought new 4a's 3 weeks ago. No complaints.

My wife absolutely loves her 3a. A Pixel might be my next phone when I give up my Note.

I have the 4XL. I really like it. The 5 looks good, but as I always counsel people, wait until Black Friday - I got my 4XL for $200 less a mere 1.5 months after it was announced.

I'll probably stay in the iPhone ecosystem but might finally look to upgrade my 7 Plus whenever the 6.7" 12 comes out.

T-Mobile is offering $415 for my 8 Plus when preordering the 12. But this is over 30 month credits.

I don't plan to leave T-Mobile anytime soon so $800 - $415 = $385 for a new 12. Add another approx $50 for 128GB version.

Can't compare T-Mobile Pixel deals yet as there is no info up yet. Don't know what's taking so long.

T-Mobile is offering $415 for my 8 Plus when preordering the 12. But this is over 30 month credits.

I don't plan to leave T-Mobile anytime soon so $800 - $415 = $385 for a new 12. Add another approx $50 for 128GB version.

Can't compare T-Mobile Pixel deals yet as there is no info up yet. Don't know what's taking so long.

Apparently and extra $200 trade in if you have been with T-Mobile for 5+ years. I still want to know what the Pixel deals are but Apple is making it feasible to get an iPhone 12.

I think I want a 12 mini but I need to physically play with one before I decide.

Just an article about how 5G networks are very limited and the benefits of them are over-promised currently.



Ignore phone companies about 5G


By Shira Ovide

There might not be smartphones in billions of pockets today if the phone companies had their way.

Now they’re again standing in the way of progress.
This week’s unveiling of new iPhone models started the typical selling season for smartphones. What’s different in 2020 is Americans are getting pitched hard on buying a new phone to get access to the next generation of cellular networks, known as 5G.

The message is: 5G = Good! Fast! Get it now!

Reality: It is not that good or that fast at the moment and most people in the United States don’t need to get it now.


Americans should be angry about marketing blather winning over clarity about 5G. I fear people will waste their money on half-baked technology and grow disillusioned by 5G’s potential to improve lives.

My message for U.S. phone companies: Communicate more effectively about 5G or go away.

I’ve seen these problems before. In the pre-iPhone age, we had years of clunky mobile devices, and phone providers like AT&T deserved a lot of the blame.

Phone companies dictated almost everything about flip phones and early smartphones, including their features, look and speed. People had to put up with crummy software from the phone company to surf the web or download songs and ringtones. (Remember ringtones?!) It stank.

One of the secrets to the iPhone’s success is Apple simply said no to all of that. Apple’s chief executive at the time, Steve Jobs, gave wireless phone companies an ultimatum: Stay out of every decision about the iPhone or lose a shot at selling a potential blockbuster.

Apple got its way, the iPhone was eventually a success and phone companies got rich from it alongside Apple.

Phone companies did eventually play an important role in making smartphones affordable, useful and available across the globe. But a lesson from that crucial beginning was that phone companies needed to be taken down a peg before a new technology could catch on.

I’m getting bad 2000s vibes from what’s happening now with smartphones.

My colleague Brian X. Chen has written about 5G marketing hot air. This wireless standard should, in theory, allow us to download videos or buy stuff on our phones in a snap. At some point the fast wireless speeds might make it easier for cars without drivers to safely navigate city streets and for more surgeons to operate on patients remotely.


But in the United States right now, 5G is not available in many places nor is it a significant improvement in zippiness — if it’s faster at all — for most people. Phone companies are not being clear about that, mostly.

If you’ve decided to buy a new smartphone, it makes sense to buy one that works on 5G cell networks. Most Americans, however, should not buy a new phone just for 5G. (People in other countries: This may not apply to you.)

Given Apple’s history, I was disappointed that Apple this week echoed the confusion about 5G at its unveiling of new iPhones. Jobs’s successor, Tim Cook, let the boss of Verizon hype 5G. Cook said that 5G is “super fast.” It is! If you stand under just the right light pole on that one block in Chicago.

These 5G cellular networks will get better soon. I worry, though, that in the meantime Americans will grow cynical about the networks’ potential. And if they do, it will mostly be the phone companies’ fault.

Not to mention the covid that comes with it.

Based on what I've experienced, I don't think there's any reason to rush out to get a 5G right now. I get definite speed increases in some areas while others are no different than 4G.

Just for some distraction from the continuous drama & anxiety of the past 2.5 days ... I'm looking forward to reading reviews of the iPhone 12 Pro Max (and Mini for wife & daughter) which will be announce on Fri so assuming the NDA will expire then.

It's down to iPhone or Pixel. I know Samsung S20 FE (vs Pixel 5) is a pretty good mid-range phone but don't want to wait on updates & patches. High up on my priority list is large screen (eyes getting bad).

At this time, I am leaning against the Pixel 5 $700 (price doesn't justify it unless prices drop $200 or so) and my default is currently Pixel 4a 5G $500 for the low-end. I could see myself getting an iPhone 12 Pro Max (large screen!) because TMobile has good trade in for my current iPhone 8 Plus and also a loyalty $200 bonus (but not sure I qualify) which would bring it down to approx $600 vs 4a 5G $500. It'll be a no brainer then since Pro Max has a much larger screen and has a better trade-in value.

Still don't know how much a 4a 5G will cost. For some reason, TMobile doesn't have it up yet.

Reviews are in for the iPhone 12 Pro Max and it's pretty good, especially camera at night.

I checked with T-Mobile. I'll be getting a $415 trade in for my 8 Plus and also another $200 as a loyalty bonus for being a customer longer than 5+ years. This means a Pro Max will cost me $1,100 - $415 - $200 or $485.

Pretty good deal for T-Mobile customers.

Received my iPhone 12 Pro Max yesterday and transferred my 8 Plus stuff over. Enjoying the larger screen and pics are better.

I think I like the rounded feel of the 8 Plus better than the flat edges though. Dimension wise, it's a tad larger but feels a bigger because of the camera bump.

No excitement on 2021 cell phone models?

I'm good with my 12 Pro Max for at least another year.

Eh, iPhone 13 doesn't seem all that great. Bigger batteries are good but still with darn lightning vs USB-C.

Disappointed with this year. But 14 rumors include titanium, notch gone, USB-C. If true, pretty big upgrades IMO but that's another 12 months of the hype.

I'm still on my iPhone 7 sooo...

Suggest you get a new iPhone. I have an old 6 that I don't use anymore and there's no good trade in values. I think there are still some for the 7.

I remember the days when I wanted a new desktop every 2-3 years because the software would get ahead of the hardware. Now the hardware lasts a long time with only like once-in-a-while RAM upgrades, SSD vs HDD, and ... a new video card if you are a gamer. My desktop is an i7-6700 and from 2015-2016 and still runs fine for me.

Other than for cameras, think the smart phones are there now. I wish they would focus on making them lighter.

I'm still on my iPhone 7 sooo...


I have a 6.

First bold sections describes me exactly. For my vacation in Asia, had my iPhone, Garmin watch, and a laptop. Cable management and adaptors was a major hassle.

I've got an iPhone 12 and will wait for the USB-C before upgrading again. I hope Garmin also gets with the program.

European regulators are channeling their inner Marie Kondo to confront the scourge of cable clutter. One major inconvenience may be over at last.
Most the time, you don't want the government getting involved in tech product design, for obvious reasons. Apple's products are cool because of a design icon named Jony Ive — a bunch of DC bureaucrats could never match his output.

But Apple's also guilty of manufacturing an infuriating number of charging cables that work only for its own devices. Lord help you if you're an iPhone user who loves her Kindle and wears a Garmin watch. That's three cables you're packing for a weekend trip. Four if you bring your laptop. It's been this way for decades, and no one likes it.

All of that could change soon.

This week, the European Union took an unusual step to reduce cable clutter and waste by requiring Apple and other smartphone makers to support a single common charging standard for mobile devices as early as the fall of 2024.


FWIW, thinking ahead for my next trip, I asked my wife for below international adaptor for Father's Day. The key was the USB-C 65W PD so I don't need to also bring along my laptop brick.

Access denied (https://zendure.com/products/passport-iii-all-in-one-65w-adapter-for-home-travel?variant=39715084075082)

Apple iPhone 14 (and other goodies) announcement in Sept.

I've got an iPhone 12 and am good for another 1-2 years at least (going to wait until they replaced the damn lightning charger). I'm only excited (?) thinking about the potential stock run up.

Anyone excited about any new cell phones this year?

I picked up a galaxy fold 4 over the weekend and its finally the perfect phone for me. I've been a long time Note user as I've wanted a phone/tablet hybrid and this phone nails that. The fold had interested me for a while but the first 3 all had some problems but after reading reviews on the 4 I decided to make the jump.

T-Mobile gave me $1000 rebate plus $315 trade in toward it so it ended up being way cheaper than the Note 20 ultra I was using.

I'm still using an iPhone X and... I remain unmoved about why I need to buy an upgrade. I am not a heavy camera user, and am more or less content.

I guess I'm the type of user they had in mind when they sabotaged their own batteries, etc - that may be what it takes to move me to upgrade.

iPhone 12 Pro Max here. I'm at the stage where I think smartphone cameras are pretty good enough and don't feel the urge to upgrade every other/year. I certainly don't need more speed either (but don't play games on my phone). But iPhones do retain & have a pretty good trade-in value.

Supposedly a smaller 3 nanometer chip in next year's iPhone 15. And supposedly a USB-C port. I would love it if iPhones lost weight & thickness.

We just updated our Galaxy S8's for S22 Ultra's yesterday (3 of us, the other 2 got the Plus). Verizon gave me an $800 credit per phone for the old phones (low tier, mid tier and high tier all the same) on our account so each of us picked different phones. Could have gotten the base S22 for free basically, but took the top model with the updated storage for the upcharge. So we got $4000 in credit. Merry Christmas.

Not in the market for a new iPhone this year, but the SOS feature is very appealing to me as I hike remote trails.

Have to wait on detailed reviews, but this may replace the Garmin inReach and like.

With the iPhone 14 models, Apple is introducing a new Emergency SOS via satellite feature that is designed to allow emergency messages to be sent even when cellular and WiFi connections are unavailable.

I found this funny and also somewhat reassuring that the feature "works".


The iPhone 14’s new Crash Detection feature, which is supposed to alert authorities when it detects you’ve been in a car accident, has an unexpected side effect: it dials 911 on rollercoasters. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the feature has had law enforcement sent to amusement parks on numerous occasions after mistaking a thrill ride’s twists, turns, and hard braking for a real emergency.

Apple rolled out Crash Detection with its new iPhone 14, Watch Series 8, SE, and Ultra last month, equipping the devices with a gyroscopic sensor and high-g accelerometer trained on the impact experienced with simulated car crashes. If the sensors detect that you’ve been in an accident, your iPhone will display an alert and call emergency services if you don’t dismiss it within 20 seconds.

When it calls law enforcement, it will play an audio message that alerts authorities you’ve been in a crash, and also provides them with your location. (An Apple Watch with Crash Detection can only notify authorities if you have your iPhone with you, or if it’s connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi.)

At this point, I'm going to wait until Apple switches to a universal charger even though I've been eligible for an upgrade from Verizon for literally years

I really need a 14 pro. My 12 is really lagging and the battery sucks. I think it’s going to die soon.

I really need a 14 pro. My 12 is really lagging and the battery sucks. I think it’s going to die soon.

Lagging playing games? or normal stuff?

My battery health is about 85% of orig. That still works for me. Maybe consider getting a replacement battery? I've heard like $50 or so.

My battery is at 84% and I’ve been experiencing random screen blackouts. I wish it would just break altogether so I can turn it into insurance. It’s super hot on one corner, which is expected I guess since I’m non stop running GPS apps on it.

Random screen blackouts shouldn't be happening so maybe some weird app you have.

And yeah, battery will definitely suck because of non-stop GPS apps.

Pixel 7 is out.

PSA. There's some pretty good trade in value deals. Below is one from Google but know BB is competitive with gift certificates.

https://slickdeals.net/f/16102324-get-128gb-pixel-7-or-pixel-7-pro-for-0-with-a-qualifying-iphone-samsung-pixel-or-other-eligible-phone-trade-in-599-at-google-store?src=recombee_interspersed&prop=rcmid-d718cbae8914e0c46097d8544287ec88

I'm not in the market this year (waiting on iPhone USB-C !) but son is considering upgrading his Samsung.

iPhone battery replacement will cost more in March.

iPhone batteries are getting more expensive — here's when the price goes up | Tom's Guide (https://www.tomsguide.com/news/iphone-batteries-are-getting-more-expensive-heres-when-the-price-goes-up)
If you have an old iPhone and are looking to replace the battery you could be in for a shock, as Apple has announced a price increase for the new year. Come March 1, 2023, those with certain Apple devices will be charged an increased rate for battery replacements.

“The current out-of-warranty battery service fee will apply until the end of February 2023. Effective March 1, 2023, the out-of-warranty battery service fee will be increased by $20 [£20/AU$36] for all iPhone models prior to iPhone 14,” Apple explains on its iPhone battery replacement and repair page(opens in new tab).

Looking forward when this "really, really" quick charging technology eventually migrates to other brands.

I want lighter & slimmer smartphones in the 6+ inch range with 1.5 day long battery life. I'm guessing that won't happen anytime soon.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/28/realme-gt3-chinese-firm-claims-smartphone-can-charge-in-9-minutes.html
Chinese smartphone maker Realme wants stand out in a crowded space of mid-tier devices. So on Tuesday, it launched a smartphone it claims can be fully charged in 9 minutes and 30 seconds.

The company took the wraps off of its GT3 smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the largest mobile trade show in the world. It’s looking to grow its business outside of China, and joins a flurry of Chinese vendors looking to target overseas markets.

The GT3 starts at $649, putting it in an extremely competitive segment where Realme will compete with Chinese rivals like Xiaomi and Oppo, which offer low-cost devices with high specs.

I have the latest OnePlus phone (basically an OPPO) and it is crazy how fast the charging is. And we don't get the full wattage from the wall in the states either so it's a tad slower than it could be.

Sent from my CPH2451 using Tapatalk

I do believe Apple was right in delaying rolling out 5G for a couple years when competitors were advertising theirs. Other than in some select areas, when I see the T-Mobile 5G indicator, I really don’t notice much difference.

But there are some stuff that are real benefits such as fast charging, USB-C etc that Apple is not as competitive. I believe Apple is gaining market share but can’t help believe it’s because of the ecosystem & branding, and not the actual iPhone itself.

Sure hope their VR/AR stuff is their next big thing and is successful. Ready for a real paradigm shift with smartphones and wearables.

I have a specific use case but thought to share a FYI about using Tello & parking a second phone#.

I have a cheaper Android phone I use when travelling overseas. I take my iPhone overseas but pretty much leave it at the hotel room/safe and get a local SIM card at the airport. I used the Android so I don't have to worry about my phone being swiped when I'm doing touristy stuff or leaving it in a Grab/Uber. The Android doesn't have any private stuff or banking apps but stuff like Google Maps, Translate, currency exchange etc.

For the Android, I've use GoogleFi and got a second phone# with it. And the monthly price of $25 is pretty good. But I continue to pay that even if I'm not travelling.

GoogleFi lets you park your phone# (e.g. when I'm not travelling) for up to 3 months. But I wanted to find a way to park my phone & second phone# for longer and at a cheaper cost.

After some research, I ended up getting a low cost pay-as-you-go with Tello. Their cheapest configuration was $5/month but I got the $6 for minimal minutes & data. The transfer of my second phone# from GoogleFi to Tello was painless.

So not as cheap as NumberBarn and like but it gives me basic functionality if I did decide to use my Android in the US, and it lets me keep my second phone# (which I'm now close to memorizing).

In summation - I use Tello for my specific use case for parking a second phone#, but if you need a really cheap pay-as-you-go plan, consider Tello.

I think I'm out on Apple this next go-round, but we'll see.

I think I'm out on Apple this next go-round, but we'll see.

Family's iPhones are 2.5 years so we were thinking about upgrading on this next cycle (and only if there's the damn USB-C plug). Wife & daughter really like their iPhone 12 mini (for the size) and since there won't be a 15 mini, may choose to keep theirs.

If I upgrade this year, it'll prob be to the cheaper and non-Pro Max version. Or just get a battery swap and keep it for another year. Also have to see the deals that T-Mobile is giving on trade-ins in Nov-Dec.

I have T-mobile. Just one data point but it did seem that T-mobile was doing a good job with spam but past year or two, there's been more slipping through.

I just ignore (and block) the calls if I don't recognize them as I figure any legit ones will leave a message. For text message, I just block them. Also, Gmail does a decent job in sending stuff to the spam folder automatically but still not perfect.

FCC orders phone companies to block scam text messages | Ars Technica (https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/03/fcc-orders-phone-companies-to-block-scam-text-messages/)
The Federal Communications Commission today finalized rules requiring mobile carriers to block robotext messages that are likely to be illegal. The FCC described the rules as the agency's "first regulations specifically targeting the increasing problem of scam text messages sent to consumers."

Carriers will be required to block text messages that come from "invalid, unallocated, or unused numbers." Carriers must also block texts from "numbers that the subscriber to the number has self-identified as never sending text messages, and numbers that government agencies and other well-known entities identify as not used for texting," the FCC said.
I think this is related to selling my contact info to 3rd parties when I use them for a legit site but then get an uptick in spam later.

The FCC said it's further proposing to close the "lead generator loophole" that "allows companies to use a single consumer consent to deliver robocalls and text messages from multiple—perhaps thousands—of marketers on subjects that may not be what the consumer had in mind."

All in all, a great move. The question is can the carriers execute well. But yeah, I think the solution is the carriers enforcing rules and eliminating spam.

Pixel 7 is out.

PSA. There's some pretty good trade in value deals. Below is one from Google but know BB is competitive with gift certificates.

bubble2 (https://slickdeals.net/f/16102324-get-128gb-pixel-7-or-pixel-7-pro-for-0-with-a-qualifying-iphone-samsung-pixel-or-other-eligible-phone-trade-in-599-at-google-store?src=recombee_interspersed&prop=rcmid-d718cbae8914e0c46097d8544287ec88)

I'm not in the market this year (waiting on iPhone USB-C !) but son is considering upgrading his Samsung.
The wife and I went over to Xfinity today. We had been kicking it around for awhile and had decided not to, but then Tmobile decided to raise the price of our plan $30 bucks for no reason, and that gave us a reason to switch. We traded in our phones, which I went from a S21+ to a S23+ (no real change). My wife went from a Pixel4 to a Pixel 7. She has had it 2 hours and is ready to throw it in the river. They have changed the interface so much that she can't figure out how to do anything with it. Why do companies do that? I have yet to find one those big interface upgrades in the last ten years to be an improvement.

I was giving serious consideration to trading in my Galaxy 21 Ultra for a 23 Ultra with the $800 trade-in deal everyone is offering but I decided to try to get 1 more year out of this battery. But a brand new phone would have been like $11 a month. Nothing wrong with the phone except I definitely notice the battery is starting to go.

I got $650 for my S23+. Another motivation to switch.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

About 5 years ago (on my S7), I did a battery replacement for like $100 at one of the local repair shops and it felt like a new phone for another year or year and a half. I'm considering doing it with my S10 now.

Kids, don't Pokemon Go. It's murder on the battery.

SI

The wife and I went over to Xfinity today. We had been kicking it around for awhile and had decided not to, but then Tmobile decided to raise the price of our plan $30 bucks for no reason, and that gave us a reason to switch. We traded in our phones, which I went from a S21+ to a S23+ (no real change). My wife went from a Pixel4 to a Pixel 7. She has had it 2 hours and is ready to throw it in the river. They have changed the interface so much that she can't figure out how to do anything with it. Why do companies do that? I have yet to find one those big interface upgrades in the last ten years to be an improvement.

Made me look. We're still at the T-Mobile family plan of 4 for $80 for the basic plan. What plan were you guys on? I did a look-see around BF and did not see any plans that could beat what we had, but did not check Xfinity.

My cheap Android is a Redmi (bought it at an airport in Asia, asked for cheapest one). Its still functional for what I need but Android support has been dropped. I hate the Miu interface and was thinking of maybe getting a Pixel for the vanilla experience. But will have to be a great deal.

Made me look. We're still at the T-Mobile family plan of 4 for $80 for the basic plan. What plan were you guys on? I did a look-see around BF and did not see any plans that could beat what we had, but did not check Xfinity.

My cheap Android is a Redmi (bought it at an airport in Asia, asked for cheapest one). Its still functional for what I need but Android support has been dropped. I hate the Miu interface and was thinking of maybe getting a Pixel for the vanilla experience. But will have to be a great deal.
I don't really remember the orginal plan, but we were paying $90 for two phones and it jumped to $125. Now ours is $80 a month with the mid-tier Xfinity plan.

I thought below article was interesting. I have to do more research here.

If there is GPS functionality (and basic text, email), I would consider one for my multi-day hikes. The old Motorola Razor flip phone was about 3.5 ounces. My iPhone 12 Pro Max is 8 ounces. I only get consistent T-Mobile at mountain peaks anyway and don't really need the majority of the smartphone stuff.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/29/dumb-phones-are-on-the-rise-in-the-us-as-gen-z-limits-screen-time.html
Dumb phones may be falling out of fashion on a global scale, but it’s a different story in the U.S.

Companies like HMD Global, the maker of Nokia phones, continue to sell millions of mobile devices similar to those used in the early 2000s. This includes what’s known as “feature phones” — traditional flip or slide phones that have additional features like GPS or a hotspot.

“I think you can see it with certain Gen Z populations — they’re tired of the screens,” said Jose Briones, dumb phone influencer and moderator of the subreddit, “r/dumbphones.” “They don’t know what is going on with mental health and they’re trying to make cutbacks.”

Smart of Apple to diversify. And to diversify into a growth market with vast, untapped potential market.

I've read in some Android phones the SOC is sometimes different for India (assume because of costs & local pricing). I can see Apple doing this for the local market. My 2+ year old A14 Bionic is still running everything I need now and for the foreseeable future.

https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3216055/made-india-iphones-surge-apple-moves-production-away-china
India-made iPhones surged in volume and value last year, as Apple moved to shift some production away from China in a bid to diversify its supply chain.
:
As a result, Apple last year accounted for 25 per cent of the value of India’s total smartphone shipments, up from 12 per cent in 2021, according to Counterpoint.

China produces up to 85 per cent of iPhones globally, but is at risk of losing its dominance as Apple takes steps to shift more of its manufacturing supply chain outside China.
In 2020, the Indian government launched a US$6.65 billion plan that offered global smartphone makers incentives to relocate their manufacturing to the country.

Apple contract manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group is reportedly planning to invest about US$700 million on a new plant in India to boost local production

I've played with the Samsung version and the crease bugs me. You can still see the crease but can see how you get use to it after a while.

Unsure if this will take off without (or until) an Apple version. I guess one can justify this as a smartphone + tablet and do away with a traditional tablet. But with the $1,800 price tag (and depreciation factor after 2 years), I'd rather buy a $600 smartphone + laptop/desktop.

Google Pixel Fold Leaks in Full - Thurrott.com (https://www.thurrott.com/mobile/android/282167/google-pixel-fold-leaks-in-full)
With just two and a half weeks to go until its formal announcement, the Google Pixel Fold has fully leaked, with a complete look at its specifications and, sadly, some rather large display bezels.
:
The first is from Jon Prosser, who confirmed the $1799 price tag and May 30 availability, but added that this configuration includes 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage and will come in Chalk and Obsidian colors. A 512 GB configuration will cost $1919 and will only be made available in Obsidian, he said. And that Pixel Watch perk? It’s only for those who preorder the device from Google.

Prosser also provided more information about the device’s specifications, which include 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, like the Pixel 7 Pro, a 5.8-inch Full HD+ OLED outer display with a resolution of 2092 × 1080 (408 ppi), and a 7.6-inch internal OLED folding display with a 6:5 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2208 × 1840 (380 ppi). Both displays run at 120 Hz and the folding display is protected by plastic.

https://thurrott.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/pixel-fold-display-leak.jpg

I've considered switching to a fold at some point. The last tablet I bought was trash and a waste of $300, and it was supposed to be one of the good ones. It was slow as hell and pretty much useless, so it's been in a drawer since the week after I bought it. So if I'm going to watch more stuff on my phone, this makes sense to me because I'll never buy another tablet again.

I've considered switching to a fold at some point. The last tablet I bought was trash and a waste of $300, and it was supposed to be one of the good ones. It was slow as hell and pretty much useless, so it's been in a drawer since the week after I bought it. So if I'm going to watch more stuff on my phone, this makes sense to me because I'll never buy another tablet again.

I bought a S6 Lite because it was supposed to be pretty good for the price $270. It was slow as molasses.

Sold it on eBay for $120 and bought an iPad. So instead of sitting in your drawer, eBay it.

Just a prediction ... when you get older, you'll want a tablet for the bigger screen.

I don't understand the appeal of a fold phone. And I'm pretty happy with my basic model iPad.

I'm already older, so that's why I got it. But honestly, I never really used my previous tablets all that much and thought that upgrading would increase my use. Instead, it sucked and I've just dealt with using my phone and laptop. Aside from airplanes and vacations, I don't really watch TV or anything while I'm out of the house, so I don't have as much of a need.

And Kodos, that's the appeal (to me, anyway) - phone/tablet in one, making it easier on the eyes to read/watch.

I was giving serious consideration to trading in my Galaxy 21 Ultra for a 23 Ultra with the $800 trade-in deal everyone is offering but I decided to try to get 1 more year out of this battery. But a brand new phone would have been like $11 a month. Nothing wrong with the phone except I definitely notice the battery is starting to go.

Fast forward a month, and I'm REALLY giving serious consideration to doing the trade-in for $800 credit towards an S23+ or Ultra. I'm not sure my battery is going to make it to next February when I expect the S24 to come out. Today, I'm already down to 47% and I used it for 2 short calls and a bit of reading, although I've mostly been busy with work so not a ton of use.

The issue is you have to agree to a 36 month contract and the $800 is spread out over 36 months. My current phone is about 26 months old and needing to be replaced. So I'm concerned the same thing is going to happen, but I'll be stuck owing a decent amount on the new phone to pay it off (just eat it and lose the remaining monthly credits) or have to deal with it for a full 3 years.

Still, a new phone for under $15 a month for a couple of years is tempting...

Fast forward a month, and I'm REALLY giving serious consideration to doing the trade-in for $800 credit towards an S23+ or Ultra. I'm not sure my battery is going to make it to next February when I expect the S24 to come out. Today, I'm already down to 47% and I used it for 2 short calls and a bit of reading, although I've mostly been busy with work so not a ton of use.

The issue is you have to agree to a 36 month contract and the $800 is spread out over 36 months. My current phone is about 26 months old and needing to be replaced. So I'm concerned the same thing is going to happen, but I'll be stuck owing a decent amount on the new phone to pay it off (just eat it and lose the remaining monthly credits) or have to deal with it for a full 3 years.

Still, a new phone for under $15 a month for a couple of years is tempting...
I love my S23+.

I've been using the fold for several months and I love it. It is the perfect phone for me, but I see how it's not for everyone.

I've been using the fold for several months and I love it. It is the perfect phone for me, but I see how it's not for everyone.

I'm not sure I could get over the crease. Has it bugged you?

I sound weird listening to myself speak on VM greetings but I can see this doing well. Can't think of any practical applications but there's probably some.

Amid a new wave of artificial intelligence, Apple iPhones will soon be able to speak in their users’ voices, the tech company announced on Tuesday.

The new iPhone feature, Personal Voice, will give users randomized text prompts to generate 15 minutes of audio. Another feature, Live Speech, will allow users to save commonly used phrases for the device to speak during phone calls and in-person conversations.

Apple is winning the war!

Google has bigger problems than iMessage making Android users switch to iPhone (https://bgr.com/tech/google-has-bigger-problems-than-imessage-making-android-users-switch-to-iphone/)
More people switch from Android to iPhone than the other way around, and that’s how it has always been. Apple’s iMessage has been seen as a key product that can convince consumers to move from an Android handset to an iPhone. And Google’s relentless, fruitless, and slightly cringey campaign to shame Apple into supporting RCS in the iPhone’s Messages app supports that idea.

But new research shows that Google still has bigger problems to fix. iMessage is the least of Google’s problems, as Android switchers have more important reasons for switching to iPhone.

https://bgr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/android-to-iphone-switch-reasons-cirp-imessage.jpg?quality=82

I would not have thought cheaper pricing was a reason. The article goes into it ...

Concerns over pricing were surprising because iPhones are expensive. But Apple does sell older handsets that are cheaper and yet still outperform the newest Android devices. Add the promo deals that Apple offers and the carrier deals that often deliver free iPhone upgrades, and the cost will make sense.

I'm typically not a first adopter and still worried about the "crease". But heck, if this reduces form factor and weight, I'm all for it. (But will prob wait on the Apple version)

Motorola Razr+ (2023) hands-on preview | CNN Underscored (https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/electronics/motorola-razr-plus-2023)

At first glance, the Razr+ looks a lot like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4. It’s a foldable phone that flips open to reveal a large display on the inside. But the key differentiator between the Razr+ and the Flip 4 is immediately noticeable once you wake the front screen of the phone.

Almost the entire front of the Razr’s housing (when folded) is covered in a display.
https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/three-razr-front-screen.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_720,w_720,c_fill/f_webp

I'll never use an Apple product and there will always be competitors, so it doesn't really matter to me if Apple is winning or not. And I guess I don't use phones like most people, because I have no idea what's wrong with texting on an Android.

I have to use an iPhone for work and absolutely hate it. I really don't get why people like them at all.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

And I guess I don't use phones like most people, because I have no idea what's wrong with texting on an Android.

Group texting used to be a shitshow on Android, but I think it got better like 3-4 years ago.

I'm not sure I could get over the crease. Has it bugged you?

For me, it's only really noticeable when direct sunlight hits it. If video is playing you can't really see it at all.

My wife was pretty skeptical that I'd actually use it as a tablet and she thought the crease would be a big deal. She's admitted she was wrong on both. I use it in tablet mode probably 50% of the time, if not more, and her opinion is the crease isn't anywhere near as bad as she thought it would be when she saw in the store.

Group texting used to be a shitshow on Android, but I think it got better like 3-4 years ago.

I've used Textra for years, so I don't know (or remember) what the standard Android texting app is like. And actually, I've never experienced the whole "left on read" thing and I'm totally OK with that.

For me, it's only really noticeable when direct sunlight hits it. If video is playing you can't really see it at all.

My wife was pretty skeptical that I'd actually use it as a tablet and she thought the crease would be a big deal. She's admitted she was wrong on both. I use it in tablet mode probably 50% of the time, if not more, and her opinion is the crease isn't anywhere near as bad as she thought it would be when she saw in the store.

Thanks for your feedback.

re: group texting. Son moved to Android so we now use WhatsApp for our cross platform messaging. The article said iMessage was a big draw but I really don't see why. Maybe there's some special functionality with iMessage, but for basic chats, group chats & video calls ... there are more than enough options.

I went from Blackberry to iPhone and am comfortable in the ecosystem. And real or not, the perception is Android store is a shitshow and Apple is doing a better job at apps, security & support. T-Mobile also has pretty good upgrade deals during BF. I have a 12 Pro Max and fair chance I'll upgrade this year if the BF deals are good. Otherwise, I'll just buy a new battery and wait for next year.

And actually, I've never experienced the whole "left on read" thing and I'm totally OK with that.

Same. I think you have to explicitly enable send/read receipt, and that seems like an obvious stressor to avoid.

Love that Amazon is trying to get into the game. More competition the better. T-Mobile and their simplified & lower priced, no surprises plans was what motivated us to switch from AT&T years ago. Maybe Amazon will be the next player to really lower prices even more.

FWIW, I still don't get how Amazon makes money on Prime. Quick shipping, streaming etc. for $140 a year is a great deal.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/02/amazon-considers-adding-prime-wireless-service-report.html
Amazon is in talks with several wireless carriers about launching a mobile service for Prime members, according to a report from Bloomberg.

The news sent shares of telecom stocks lower Friday. Verizon fell more than 4% in early trading, while T-Mobile slid over 8%. AT&T’s stock was down more than 4%. Dish shares surged more than 23%.

The e-retailer is negotiating with Verizon, T-Mobile and Dish about the possibility of reselling their mobile services to its Prime members at low cost or potentially free, Bloomberg reported. The discussions have been going on for six to eight weeks and have also included AT&T, but it could be several more months before a plan materializes, according to the report.

Anyone looking to get an iPhone 15 this year? Shouldn't be a problem with the early production ...

I've read the Pro versions will cost more. I'll just have to see how good the T-Mobile deals are for 12 Pro Max trade in but thinking about the 6.7" 15 Plus.

Chinese site IT Home reports that the Apple supply chain has started preparing for iPhone 15 parts production. Earlier reports had indicated that mass production would begin in late June and today's report suggests that the first batch of products will be ready by July.

The report states that 'Apple has issued a stocking order for the iPhone 15,' likely to avoid the disruptions which resulted in long wait times for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max last year.
Some of the new stuff below.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will likely be powered by a new 3nm chip and could feature a a titanium frame. The highest-end model is also likely to have a periscope telephoto camera to enable 5-6x optical zoom. Whether these changes would be enough to help the phones outshine the current best phones of 2023 remains to be seen.

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are expected to get the iPhone 14 Pro's 48MP main camera, dynamic island, and A16 Bionic chip, but will likely stick with 60Hz displays.

The series could also feature a new programable Action button as well as a USB-C port. If the past is any indication, the lineup will be revealed in September.

My son is breaking away from the Iphone. I'm not sure whether he is getting a Samsung or Pixel.

I read the below and thought it was a great idea. Some sort of phone "docking station" that had the necessary ports (HDMI, USB, bluetooth) connected to an external monitor w/keyboard & mouse.

I know why Apple wouldn't want this (it would eat into their PC sales) but if Google Pixel can show there's enough demand ...

The torrent of Pixel 8-related leaks continues to pour out ahead of its tentative July-August launch. Previously, we learned about its display specs, its Tensor G3 SoC and its ability to function as an IR thermometer. Prolific leaker @Za_Raczke (H/T Android Authority) has now shed light on yet another interesting Pixel 8 feature.

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will be the first of their kind with the ability to output display over USB-C via the DisplayPort Alt Mode, allowing users to connect it to an external monitor and use it as a desktop replacement (of sorts). Thanks to existing solutions from Samsung, Motorola and Nokia, plenty of Android apps already work well with large screens, so app support shouldn't be much of an issue.

I understand Apple being #1 in Japan but don't get Pixel at #2.

Another article said Apple had approx. 48% share. Below quote says Pixel has 9% share, so quite a gap between #1 and #2.

I'd think if they weren't happy with homegrown Sharp/Sony, they'd naturally gravitate towards Samsung. Wonder what the Pixel appeal is.

Google's now the number 2 smartphone brand, at least in one country (https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-number-2-smartphone-brand-one-country-3343306/)
Counterpoint Research reports that Pixel phones are seeing massive growth in the Japanese market in Q1 2023. In fact, the brand is now the number two smartphone maker in the country after Apple, accounting for 9% of the market in the quarter. This represents 67% growth compared to a year ago.

The tracking firm noted that Google’s performance puts it ahead of homegrown rivals like Sharp and even Sony in the country. That’s no mean feat in a market that’s previously embraced its local brands.

I understand Apple being #1 in Japan but don't get Pixel at #2.

Another article said Apple had approx. 48% share. Below quote says Pixel has 9% share, so quite a gap between #1 and #2.

I'd think if they weren't happy with homegrown Sharp/Sony, they'd naturally gravitate towards Samsung. Wonder what the Pixel appeal is.

Google's now the number 2 smartphone brand, at least in one country (https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-number-2-smartphone-brand-one-country-3343306/)
Cameras? Windows integration? Really good prices?

I’m going to guess Samsung covers all of that, especially the camera

I’m going to guess Samsung covers all of that, especially the camera
I'm not a phone expert, but my understanding the Pixel camera is supposed to very good. Like a selling point good.

Yes, what the Pixel lacks in camera sensor/hardware it makes up with their superior software and processing. Add that to a very vanilla Android experience and you have a phone that is a very appealing to some people.

Here is a site whose metrics are frequently used -- https://www.dxomark.com/smartphones/

I just got a Moto Razr+ and I have to say it's pretty sweet. The outer screen is a game changer. It's actually useable as a mini phone as opposed to the earlier flip phones that were glorified pagers. I'm literally surfing fofc on the outer screen and typing this reply without opening the phone.

2 big news over past couple days (okay, just rumors really) for the Sept iPhone reveal.

iPhone 15 will come in Barbie pink. Also, supposedly "stacked battery" which will significantly increase battery life.

I'm going for the pink and increased battery life is great.

I just got a Moto Razr+ and I have to say it's pretty sweet. The outer screen is a game changer. It's actually useable as a mini phone as opposed to the earlier flip phones that were glorified pagers. I'm literally surfing fofc on the outer screen and typing this reply without opening the phone.

Found this article on a durability test, see the video. I was squirming at times as he was scratching things up!

Motorola Razr Plus durability test comes to unprecedented end - NotebookCheck.net News (https://www.notebookcheck.net/Motorola-Razr-Plus-durability-test-comes-to-unprecedented-end.735648.0.html)

Looks pretty neat. I like my iPhone but admit to being a little jealous. But I do have a Android beater phone, so maybe in 2 years time I can buy one of these for $300.

Galaxy > Motorola

Galaxy Z Flip5 trounces Razr 40 Ultra in fold test, surpasses Samsung's official claims - GSMArena.com news (https://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_z_flip5_trounces_razr_40_ultra_in_fold_test_surpasses_samsungs_official_claims-news-59493.php)
Galaxy Z Flip5 trounces Razr 40 Ultra in fold test, surpasses Samsung's official claims
Several days later and after over 400,000 folds, the Great Folding Test Vol. II is finally over. YouTube channel Mrkeybrd showed a multi-day livestream during which the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 went head to head with the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra (aka Razr+).

The Galaxy Z Flip5 was the last phone standing, after an impressive 401,156 folds. There were some issues along the way, around half way through (223K folds) the hinge lost its ability to maintain half-closed angles. Still, the phone kept chugging along until the 400K mark.
For comparison, the Moto Razr 40 Ultra failed much earlier – it died at just 126,266 cycles.

I'm interested in a foldable mainly because I have no use for tablets. My last Android tablet was terrible from the moment I bought it. But I'm old, my eyes suck and I could use the bigger screen. So a foldable makes sense.

I'm holding off on the Fold 5 because it really didn't add much to the 4. But I am very interested in the One Plus Open which is supposed to come to the US later this year. It's based on the Oppo Find N2 which is not available here. I'll see what the price point is and what the reviews are before deciding to jump in or wait for another yearly update on what's out there.

Anyone excited about the Apple event & iPhone 15 launch on Sep 12?

Estimated prices are for base 128GB are:

iPhone 15 - 128GB ... $799
iPhone 15 Plus - 128GB ... $899
iPhone 15 Pro - 128GB ... $1,099
iPhone 15 Pro Max - 128GB ... $1,199


I'll have to see how good the T-Mobile deals are but targeting iPhone 15 Plus or 15 Pro (have to read reviews on the camera). Or I may just buy a new battery for my iPhone 12 Pro Max, currently at 86%.

Not at all.

I'm waiting for the OnePlus launch of the Open, which is their folding phone. It's apparently based on its parent's Oppo Find which is available most places except the US. Not sure I'm going to get it, but if the reviews are good, I might bypass the Fold for the Open (especially if they price it a couple hundred less in the US to get some traction).

My XR is still chugging along fine, so no. I either upgrade when my phone looks like it's starting to poop out or when my wife thinks that my phone has been eligible for upgrade for too many years.

Welp, iPhone 15 has been announced. A pleasant surprise on pricing ...

For base models ...

iPhone 15 - 128GB ... $799
iPhone 15 Plus - 128GB ... $899
iPhone 15 Pro - 128GB ... $999 was predicted at $1,099
iPhone 15 Pro Max - 256GB ... $1,199

Maybe 15 Pro, primarily for camera and 3x zoom. Apple says my iPhone 12 Pro Max is worth $450 to them so a delta of $550.

T-Mobile trade-in, upgrade plans expected this Fri. From what I've read so far, the best plans are going to be for upper tier T-Mobile plans (I have the very basic family plan). So may not get a great deal.

So who knows ...

My XR is still chugging along fine, so no. I either upgrade when my phone looks like it's starting to poop out or when my wife thinks that my phone has been eligible for upgrade for too many years.

Same. These are very first world problems.

T-Mobile trade-in, upgrade plans expected this Fri. From what I've read so far, the best plans are going to be for upper tier T-Mobile plans (I have the very basic family plan). So may not get a great deal.


Pretty much this. T-Mobile deals are great for higher tier plans but not so much for me. I have the low-end Essentials 4 x $120 plan and Apple gives me a much better trade in than T-Mobile ($450 vs $250).

I'll wait till BF but doubt there'll be better deals for the lower tier plans.

FWIW in researching T-Mobile deals, I'm disappointed that T-Mobile is no longer the "simple plans". There's so many variations pricing/plans available. I like they're the Big 3 but hate they followed the other 2 in pricing/plans mess.

iPhone 15s are out there now. Checking out the non-professional reviews and found a drop test between 14 Pro vs 15 Pro. Caution - the drops made me wince quite a bit.

Not as scientific as I would like, the drop angles weren't well controlled. But basically 14 Pro >>> 15 Pro in the drop tests. The 15 Pro titanium & thinner bezels don't protect as well as the 14 Pro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qOLjKzc-kQ&t=595s


I'm suspicious these guy bought AppleCare and will be exchanging the damaged phones. Waiting for camera comparison reviews.

T-Mobile Tuesdays is a nice perk.

Had a Little Caeser's large pepperoni pizza for $3 (normally $6). Our default is Mellow Mushroom pizzas but decided to try it out.

Not fantastic but definitely better than frozen pizza at the same price.

I’m going to guess Samsung covers all of that, especially the camera

Samsung is Korean and that WW2 rival stuff still has a major impact in both countries.

Living in Asia, it is a bit easier to access the offbeat brands. My last phone? The Poco M3. Poco is an offshoot of Xiaomi and it hit all the things I look for in a phone. Weird name. Check. Big Battery. Check. Questionable quality? Double Check.

If you research the M3, you will find there are scores of reported issues around deadbooting. The phone will just start randomly going in a reboot cycle until the battery runs out. I can confirm this is the #truth! But yet I soldiered on and still used it. Because eventually I could safeboot the thing and get it to run normally.

Starting last week, the notifications have stopped working. I have no idea why. No matter what settings I tweak. So I said No MAS . Time for a new phone.

Did I learn from my mistake and pick a more reliable name brand? Of course not! God help me , I just ordered the Oukitel WP22, a phone which came out this year but somehow has a low end processor that was made 4 years ago, but my god, the battery. 10000 mAH! And it apparently has the loudest speaker in the smartphone market. I'm sold! It is due to arrive next week. I am excited to see how this baby hums

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CTkAAOSwDK1kQJoj/s-l1600.jpg

Literally LOL at that post. Thank you! :D

$29.99


But wait!

There’s more


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Living in Asia, it is a bit easier to access the offbeat brands. My last phone? The Poco M3. Poco is an offshoot of Xiaomi and it hit all the things I look for in a phone. Weird name. Check. Big Battery. Check. Questionable quality? Double Check.

Years ago, I decided to get a throwaway smartphone for international travel (e.g. something I can use to take pics as a tourist without worrying about it being stolen). I think I was in Hong Kong or Bangkok airport where I got a Redmi for like $150.

It worked well enough. Nothing great. I was in Asia earlier this year and was tempted to buy the budget Huawei brand just so I could bring it back into the US and see if it works okay.

So what is your fascination on these offbeat (and questionable quality) brands?

For those that have parents using iPhones, this may be helpful. Google on "Assistive Access" for details.

Available with iOS 17. Wife thinks this will work great with her parents.

https://i0.wp.com/9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/apple-accessibility.jpg?w=720&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1

That does look helpful, both the large icons and the pared-down interface. My Dad has a lot of trouble with electronics at this point. But he uses Android devices.

I really think I'm going to take the plunge on the OnePlus Open foldable phone. Pre-order page is up and the launch is October 19th.

If you subscribe, you get a $50 bonus coupon and with a pre-order on October 19th, an additional $200 off, up to $1000 trade-in credit for any phone (haven't seen a trade-in value chart yet), free limited edition ear buds, and 0% 24 month financing. Rumor is a price of $1800, so that's $1450 before the trade-in. If I can get $300+ for my Galaxy 21 Ultra, that brings it down below $1200 which is an acceptable price point for me for a foldable.

http://www.oneplus.com/us/launch/open#

Marques gave the OP Open positive marks

https://youtu.be/jD9n01Mck0Q?si=uMM5120lqgGJeD2J

I have an OP 11 btw

I like that guy. He's got an easy going demeanor.

Well he's been doing it a long time. He's an OG YouTuber that started making tech videos when he was like 12.

https://youtu.be/9gk_rl3y_SU?si=NEoBwsQUaoCvMxyd

I've read several very positive reviews of the OnePlus Open, and a few say it's the best foldable out there at this point. I still have not pulled the trigger though. The main reason - and I suspect I'm not alone among US people - is the lack of a carrier deal. This phone is only available from OP, Amazon and Best Buy in the US.

What that means is there's no good trade-in deals. I've had AT&T for 20 years - I don't need an unlocked phone. What I appreciate is that if I wanted to trade in my Galaxy S21 Ultra for a Fold5, they would give me $1000 for it and a 30-month payment plan to make the price less than $25 a month. OP is offering a $200 "any phone" trade in and pretty crappy offers for actual phones. Like, I have some old OLD phones in a desk drawer and they'd give me $200 off the Open, bringing the cost to $1500. They also have some minor incentives that might bring it down another $50-75. But the trade in they are offering for my Galaxy is another $190. So maybe I could get the phone for around $1200-1250, at best, and they offer a 24 month no interest payment plan. That ain't gonna cut it.

We'll see if one of the retailers ups the ante around Black Friday. Maybe that would give me enough reason to jump. But I'm not paying $1500ish out of pocket, nor am I paying twice as much a month than I could for a Fold5.

Also, one other thing that interests me about some of the complaints. Nearly every one complained about lack of wireless charging. I don't get it. I've had wireless charging with Galaxy for years - including a free charging pad - and I used it once. What is the deal? I charge my phone at night, plugged in. With the charging pad I plug it in the same spot I would plug my phone in and put the phone on the pad. BFD! In the car, my charging pad heats my phone up way too much so I just, again, easily use a wired charger. I have no use for wireless charging, but I'm curious why so many people think it's a big deal. I feel like wireless charging is the same "big deal to everyone else except me" thing as using your phone to pay at a store. I have never even considered such a thing. It's already easy enough to hold a card up to the terminal for 2 seconds, and I'm never not going to have my wallet on me. So why bother?

I also had an easy time dropping the wireless charging that was included with my Pixel, and then Galaxy. It helps when OP's fast charging is the best in the biz.

Still subject to change, but I decided not to go for the OP Open even though I've seen nothing but good reviews for it, many saying it's the best foldable available in the US. Two reasons - one, the lack of carrier tie-ins means I'll have to pay around $1400 for it, and two, I'm not sure how good the warranty service will be in the event something happens to it and I'm not spending over $300 for OPs insurance.

So then the wife and I discussed trading our phones in for good value to get the last model Galaxy S23 (me) and iPhone 14 (her). Except Apple apparently does this assholish thing where they discontinue the most popular version of their last model phone when the new model comes out (14 Pro). That's the model my wife wants. AT&T has it but her phone isn't allowed to trade in for it. But it's worth $700 if she'll move to the 15 Pro. Well, we've heard bad things about the 15 about overheating and the new titanium build being really fragile. And I'm not upgrading her phone to have her bitch about problems with it, especially since I already hate Apple products.

So, we decided to just ride with our phones for now. I'll see what the S24 looks like in a couple months (although I saw rumors they were taking a step back on processor), or of my phone lasts long enough, maybe see next summer/fall what a new Fold or Open looks like.

I haven't gone this long (3 years) since trading in a phone but it also feels like, outside of foldables, most phones are reaching the limit of upgrades and it's just incremental stuff that's maybe not worth it. Like buying a new version of OOTP every year. Soaybe I can go 3-5 years with one model if the battery doesn't crap out.

Well, we've heard bad things about the 15 about overheating and the new titanium build being really fragile. And I'm not upgrading her phone to have her bitch about problems with it, especially since I already hate Apple products.
The overheating has pretty much been resolved. Or at least the majority of cases.

The 15 titanium is more "fragile" than the 14 but unless your wife tends to drop her phone and goes without a case, that shouldn't be an issue either.

With that said, unless she wants the best iPhone cameras, maybe just wait for the 16.

I haven't gone this long (3 years) since trading in a phone but it also feels like, outside of foldables, most phones are reaching the limit of upgrades and it's just incrental stuff that'saybr not worth it.
3-4 years is about my cadence. Currently have an iPhone 12 Pro Max and want a 15 Pro Max. Don't need it, just want it primarily for the 48 mega-pixel camera & video. I would get the 14 Pro Max but like you say, Apple doesn't have it. So, trying to rationalize the needs vs wants.

T-Mobile isn't helping because we've got the low tier Essentials family plan (4 for $120+taxes) and Apple gives a better trade-in than T-Mobile.

I'm secretly hoping that Verizon or AT&T will give a 4 for $120 deal and fantastic trade-in for new subscribers. That's deal doesn't exist yet.

iPhones are the best!

iPhone survives 16,000-foot fall after door plug blows off Alaska Air flight 1282