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retta283

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Original poster
Jun 8, 2018
3,180
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I want to try out a Samsung Galaxy, and mess with Android a bit. I want something cheap so if I don't like it, not a huge loss. Looking at pre S7 phones. I know the Android is outdated, but I just want to learn the basics. And for collector reasons ;)

Anyone still using these older Galaxies? If so, share your experience/recommendations.
 

pika2000

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Jun 22, 2007
5,587
4,903
If you want to experience Android in a good way, I wouldn’t bother with the older Samsung. They don’t age well, especially anything older than the S8. You can buy a used Pixel 2 for less than $200, and it’s still being supported for updates.
 

retta283

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Original poster
Jun 8, 2018
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If you want to experience Android in a good way, I wouldn’t bother with the older Samsung. They don’t age well, especially anything older than the S8. You can buy a used Pixel 2 for less than $200, and it’s still being supported for updates.
I want to try TouchWiz, and most of these Galaxies can be found for less than $100. I've also heard a lot of bad things about Pixels, especially the regular sized models.
 

pika2000

Suspended
Jun 22, 2007
5,587
4,903
I want to try TouchWiz, and most of these Galaxies can be found for less than $100. I've also heard a lot of bad things about Pixels, especially the regular sized models.
Ah, so you want to try TouchWiz. Well, I guess the S7 is not too bad, but it won’t get updated to Samsung One UI. The S8 is the oldest Galaxy S that will receive the One UI, and it’s quite different than the Samsung experience 9 found in Oreo/older.
 

Infinite Vortex

macrumors 6502a
Mar 6, 2015
541
1,108
I would go with a recent Samsung A-series device if you want play and learn. Anything pretty much through to the A40 (so maybe wait for the A10 see A20e). Something that will run and operate OneUI decently. Personally I think there's sufficient good in Samsung's OneUI on top of Android Pie to buy something that will 1) have it and 2) run it decently.
 
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Puddled

macrumors 6502a
Jun 9, 2017
548
602
S6 user here.

This phone is is still awesome.
Battery life is a bit meh after nearly 4 years of use, but i still get more SOT from it than any other phone i had previously.

Not really arsed about OS updates anymore. Android is stable and any improvements these days is just changing the curtains.
 
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retta283

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Original poster
Jun 8, 2018
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Remember people I'm just looking for a testing device, trying to stay under $100.
[doublepost=1559077926][/doublepost]
S6 user here.

This phone is is still awesome.
Battery life is a bit meh after nearly 4 years of use, but i still get more SOT from it than any other phone i had previously.

Not really arsed about OS updates anymore. Android is stable and any improvements these days is just changing the curtains.
The S6 is probably the best looking Galaxy phone. Really slick. Maybe I'll look for a deal on one.
 

Zwhaler

macrumors 604
Jun 10, 2006
7,267
1,965
S6 edge+ here still going strong! This phone has been incredible. It's still really fast for my needs, though with occasional stutters if I try to press too many buttons one after another too quickly. Battery life isn't the best, since this phone came out when "thin is in" was the prevailing direction of the industry. Beginning with the S7, Samsung added thickness for superior battery capacity.
 

pika2000

Suspended
Jun 22, 2007
5,587
4,903
Remember people I'm just looking for a testing device, trying to stay under $100.
[doublepost=1559077926][/doublepost]
The S6 is probably the best looking Galaxy phone. Really slick. Maybe I'll look for a deal on one.
I don’t recommend the S6. It’s actually considered a downgrade from the S5 in the name of design change. It even lost IP68 protection which existed on the S5. It doesn’t even have an SD slot. I would really try getting at least an S7, or stretch your budget a bit to get the S8.
 
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nickchallis92

macrumors 6502a
Mar 4, 2012
906
469
London
I'd rang the S7 as up there with my all time great phones. Great camera and great battery life.

It seems a shame that Samsung cut it out of one-UI given that it is obviously powerful enough.


Edit: All time great list: Nokia N95, Galaxy S2, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S7
 

pacmania1982

macrumors 65816
Nov 19, 2006
1,204
575
Birmingham, UK
I have an S7 which I use for Gear VR and SIM CITY Buildit. Its running Android 8 and won't be upgraded any higher. It's not too bad, stutters a bit but the screen is nice and colors are vibrant.
 

Wide opeN

macrumors 68000
Aug 27, 2010
1,763
1,035
Georgia
My Galaxy S3 I had was a really nice phone.
[doublepost=1565487547][/doublepost]
I don’t recommend the S6. It’s actually considered a downgrade from the S5 in the name of design change. It even lost IP68 protection which existed on the S5. It doesn’t even have an SD slot. I would really try getting at least an S7, or stretch your budget a bit to get the S8.

What are S8's currently going for!?
 

Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,725
13,245
UK
We gave an S5 to my mother in law. It’s still running ok. Not too slow. It was even running some of my legacy apps like soul calibre.
 

1050792

Suspended
Oct 2, 2016
2,515
3,991
I still use my S3 for jogging because it's smaller. Hilarious. Smaller, unlike back then.
 
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