Phones Help pick - S5 vs G3

[macnewbbie]

Hi,
I used to be pretty sure what device i should get, but im now upgrading my s3 and im a bit lost in which device to get. I narrow it down to the S5 and the G3.
So if you don't feel like reading: S5 or G3(2gb version)? Which one you would recommend?

I wanted something with a good camera, good screen, comfortable enough to hold (they are actually about the same size) and good battery also, but if it lasts me from morning until i go to bed, im fine with it.


So here is where i stand on this two:

I used to be sure on the g3, however, there are somethings holding me back. The screen looks great, but if brightness is not on 100% or close, its not as good from i used in the store and 100% brightness affects battery and heating up. Also, the a lot of reports of excessive heating compared to the other phones don't inspire confidence since thats a problem i have with my s3 that heats up during regular tasks.
Other thing is the UI. It seems nice, but also a bit laggy sometimes and it might be due to all of those pixels or just not well optimized, but i read reports that it lags and i did noticed it at the store - not a lot, but it was there. They also didn't make much changes with lollipop design wise.
Camera is good with OIS and fast focusing, but does lack more controls.
If only they made the screen brighter and maybe even just 1080p,it wouldn't look as marketable as 2k but it would probably improve performance and make this decision easier lol

The s5. I wasn't so sure only because i thought about trying something different, but my s3 never gave much problems and so i can't complain about Samsung. I don't hate TW, it could use a redesign and optimization, but i don't hate completely and the new lollipop update doesn't seem bad.
It does have a good camera with good lighting, not much with low light. It has the ip certification, which is nice but im not ruling based on that and also not on the fingerprint scanner.
It does have a good display, 1080p which is enough, seems to have good battery and heating issues don't seem severe.

So they both have their up and down sides, which makes me confused on which one to pick.

Thanks!

 

[Fanaticalism]

Hi,
I used to be pretty sure what device i should get, but im now upgrading my s3 and im a bit lost in which device to get. I narrow it down to the S5 and the G3.
So if you don't feel like reading: S5 or G3(2gb version)? Which one you would recommend?

I wanted something with a good camera, good screen, comfortable enough to hold (they are actually about the same size) and good battery also, but if it lasts me from morning until i go to bed, im fine with it.


So here is where i stand on this two:

I used to be sure on the g3, however, there are somethings holding me back. The screen looks great, but if brightness is not on 100% or close, its not as good from i used in the store and 100% brightness affects battery and heating up. Also, the a lot of reports of excessive heating compared to the other phones don't inspire confidence since thats a problem i have with my s3 that heats up during regular tasks.
Other thing is the UI. It seems nice, but also a bit laggy sometimes and it might be due to all of those pixels or just not well optimized, but i read reports that it lags and i did noticed it at the store - not a lot, but it was there. They also didn't make much changes with lollipop design wise.
Camera is good with OIS and fast focusing, but does lack more controls.
If only they made the screen brighter and maybe even just 1080p,it wouldn't look as marketable as 2k but it would probably improve performance and make this decision easier lol

The s5. I wasn't so sure only because i thought about trying something different, but my s3 never gave much problems and so i can't complain about Samsung. I don't hate TW, it could use a redesign and optimization, but i don't hate completely and the new lollipop update doesn't seem bad.
It does have a good camera with good lighting, not much with low light. It has the ip certification, which is nice but im not ruling based on that and also not on the fingerprint scanner.
It does have a good display, 1080p which is enough, seems to have good battery and heating issues don't seem severe.

So they both have their up and down sides, which makes me confused on which one to pick.

Thanks!

IME, the G3 has even more stutters and bloat than the S5. Not to mention how thick their skin is (which is crazy considering we're comparing it to TW).

Personally, I like the x+1 but if you're on VZW take a look at the droid turbo.

 

[macnewbbie]

Thanks for the reply!
Im not from the US, but if i was i would probably go with the turbo. I was hoping they would release the maxx/turbo here but nothing, not for now.

The g3 is around 30$ cheaper than the s5, so im not taking that difference in consideration. The g3 does seem to have a heavy skin on top of a screen that needs more power and resorces and that is what worries me. That and the problems with overheating,dimmer display (some say its good outside, other don't and i can't the floor model outside lol) and some reports on the aux port not working well sometimes and i use the aux jack quite a bit.
But the screen with 100% brightness did seem nice and it had a nice build quality, even though its still plastic. But the s5 didn't feel bad in the hand either..

 

[Shanghaichica]

I had a G3 for 3 days before I returned it and got the S5.

The main issues I had with the G3 were:

Screen sharpening
Phone heated up
Poor battery life
Videos stuttering on playback from SD card.

In addition to this I'd been a galaxy user for 2 years so found it hard to adjust to a new device. Also I felt like the G3 was at best a side step from the note 3 I was using at the time, although in many ways I found it to be a step back.

The S5 has some clear advantages over the note 3.

 

[aeboi]

Since the price is around the same where you live then the S5 would probably be the better choice. The OIS and laser focus are nice but you'd probably get about an hour more from the S5's battery with heavy usage since it's pushing less pixels.

I didn't experience stuttering of videos but I'm using a fast card if that makes any difference. I have both phones and I don't think you could go wrong with either.

But looks alone I think the S5 is hideous

 

[JaySoul]

I have the G3 and have had it for quite a few months now.

If I'm honest, unless the Lollipop update does a spectacular job, I'd avoid the G3.

There is a lot to love but after a few months, I find daily annoyances extremely frustrating (just look at my recent post in the G3 thread).

I'm probably going to sell mine soon and pick up a Nexus 6, depending on reviews.

 

[macnewbbie]

I actually don't dislike the s5 looks completely. Its not an award winning phone in terms of design, but i don't dislike it. I do think lg did a bit of a better job there and also htc.

I didn't dislike the screen sharpening from what i had seen in the store, but that isn't really a proper way of telling it since i didn't even read big texts on the g3 floor model, so maybe that's why i didn't mind the sharpening.
The heating issues are something that makes me not sure about the g3 (that and the dim screen) because my s3 back and screen heats up just using internet apps and its a bit uncomfortable, so i wanted to avoid that a bit and something that doesn't heat up as much, even though they all do.


The main thing on the g3 is actually the ois, the two tone led flash because read it gives more accurate flash color and i guess the laser focus that does focus fast. The s5 has digital stabilization and even that turns off if i would try to play with 4k, but for the video i shoot, i guess it's fine. But the g3 does seem a bit better in low light, probably with the help of ois.

But in bright light the s5 camera does give a bit better images. Also, i don't really like what i have seen from their lollipop update to be honest and was expecting a redesign =/

Also, with the s5 i get an extra year of warranty included in the price than the g3. That's probably something to consider

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I have the G3 and have had it for quite a few months now.

If I'm honest, unless the Lollipop update does a spectacular job, I'd avoid the G3.

There is a lot to love but after a few months, I find daily annoyances extremely frustrating (just look at my recent post in the G3 thread).

I'm probably going to sell mine soon and pick up a Nexus 6, depending on reviews.

Just read your message on that thread and you mention all the problems that i was worried of having. Although some seem software related, they still need the software to fix them(hopefully lg fixes it), but the aux jack i don't know if its actual software or hardware issue. But it seems like rolling the dice and hoping to not have many problems =/

 

[JaySoul]

I actually don't dislike the s5 looks completely. Its not an award winning phone in terms of design, but i don't dislike it. I do think lg did a bit of a better job there and also htc.

I didn't dislike the screen sharpening from what i had seen in the store, but that isn't really a proper way of telling it since i didn't even read big texts on the g3 floor model, so maybe that's why i didn't mind the sharpening.
The heating issues are something that makes me not sure about the g3 (that and the dim screen) because my s3 back and screen heats up just using internet apps and its a bit uncomfortable, so i wanted to avoid that a bit and something that doesn't heat up as much, even though they all do.


The main thing on the g3 is actually the ois, the two tone led flash because read it gives more accurate flash color and i guess the laser focus that does focus fast. The s5 has digital stabilization and even that turns off if i would try to play with 4k, but for the video i shoot, i guess it's fine. But the g3 does seem a bit better in low light, probably with the help of ois.

But in bright light the s5 camera does give a bit better images. Also, i don't really like what i have seen from their lollipop update to be honest and was expecting a redesign =/

Also, with the s5 i get an extra year of warranty included in the price than the g3. That's probably something to consider

----------



Just read your message on that thread and you mention all the problems that i was worried of having. Although some seem software related, they still need the software to fix them(hopefully lg fixes it), but the aux jack i don't know if its actual software or hardware issue. But it seems like rolling the dice and hoping to not have many problems =/

I use the Aux Jack every day, so this has been a particularly annoying problem for me!!

 

[macnewbbie]

I use the Aux Jack every day, so this has been a particularly annoying problem for me!!

Do you think its a software issue or hardware? I use it quite a bit two, i barely use the speaker on my phone and just headphones or audio jack in my car, so it would be annoying for me also.

I ended up placing a order for the s5 moments ago. I think the g3 is a good phone in terms of design, the screen is good but could use some more brightness(for me at least) and some of the issues other mentioned, i would always be fearful that those would happen. Maybe in the next G generation or the one after that i will give lg a try.
Also, i do get an extra year of warranty with the s5 and that also has its value.

 

[JaySoul]

Do you think its a software issue or hardware? I use it quite a bit two, i barely use the speaker on my phone and just headphones or audio jack in my car, so it would be annoying for me also.

I ended up placing a order for the s5 moments ago. I think the g3 is a good phone in terms of design, the screen is good but could use some more brightness(for me at least) and some of the issues other mentioned, i would always be fearful that those would happen. Maybe in the next G generation or the one after that i will give lg a try.
Also, i do get an extra year of warranty with the s5 and that also has its value.

Think you made the right decision, my friend. As a daily driver, the S5 will bug you far less than the G3.

Enjoy and don't look back!

 

[macnewbbie]

Thank you! And thank you to everybody that gave their opinion to help me out.
I think i will be fine with the s5 and i just want something that won't give me much issues and hopefully the s5 won't.
It was tough picking one because both have good specs,some outrank others, so it wasn't easy and i read a lot of threads where opinions were biased and would just suggest something other than the samsung just because they don't like Samsung and not because it was a better or worse phone and same with Samsung fans against other phones that were not the s5. But i think i got a very unbiased opinions here, so thank you!

 

[MRU]

Enjoy your phone


My only gripes with the S5 was it felt bigger than many other 5.1" devices, noticeably bigger than the S4 for example.

Wasn't too upset about the build other than 1 thing... That annoying port cover over the charging port, I would seriously recommend getting the wireless charging back plate.

Finally my only software gripe was that whilst the phone is very smooth performer overall the multitasking - reloading of older apps when multitasking, but certainly wasn't a deal breaker in daily use, just a noticeable peev after using other devices with better memory management.

The camera is fabulous on it and lollipop is looking good on the preview builds, addressing the outdated look of messages and dialer/contacts.

I avoided getting the G3 because of the numerous problems people here and elsewhere had with the device and I am not a fan of LG's emotion UI.

 

[macnewbbie]

Enjoy your phone


My only gripes with the S5 was it felt bigger than many other 5.1" devices, noticeably bigger than the S4 for example.

Wasn't too upset about the build other than 1 thing... That annoying port cover over the charging port, I would seriously recommend getting the wireless charging back plate.

Finally my only software gripe was that whilst the phone is very smooth performer overall the multitasking - reloading of older apps when multitasking, but certainly wasn't a deal breaker in daily use, just a noticeable peev after using other devices with better memory management.

The camera is fabulous on it and lollipop is looking good on the preview builds, addressing the outdated look of messages and dialer/contacts.

I avoided getting the G3 because of the numerous problems people here and elsewhere had with the device and I am not a fan of LG's emotion UI.

It's funny, even though i went with the s5, i also think its a bit bigger than what i has to be. One of the big things of the s4 if im not mistaken was that they increased screen size without increase the size that much. Now, considering the g3 dimension for a 5.5, the s5 with its 5.1 does seem a bit bigger. They should have also made some kind of curve or more curved edges for a more comfortable hold, but i think i will get used to it.

The lollipop video does seem to bring some improvements, even with speed/lag. But i think we will need to wait to actually try it out to take more conclusion.
The camera does seem good, but I do wish the camera had more controls,like the m8 has, but maybe with lollipop we will get that since it allows for better controls and even raw files, or maybe the google camera will be updated with those features.

It was a dificult decision to make and to pick one of these two, but i think(and hope lol) that i picked well.

 

[nviz22]

Good choice. I ended up ditching my LG G3 for the S5 again. I am down to giving Samsung one more chance not to screw me over w/ the S5 or I'll get a refund for the device. I think it's a lot better because the screen is better, has more features, more efficient UI, more future proof than the G3, and has more functionality.