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0000757

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 16, 2011
3,893
850
Looks like I'm going back to the evil ones. Yes, I'm getting a Samsung Galaxy.

My Moto X decided it wanted to try out diving classes in the pool but didn't tell me it was going to...looks like it doesn't know how to swim. Death by drowning. :(

Anyways, time came for a replacement and I was given two choices - either another Moto X in white, or a SAMSUNG GXYS432 BLK, which I can only assume means Samsung Galaxy S4 32GB in Black (Or potentially a mini, which I'd also be OK with).

Overall it was the better decision - better battery, better screen resolution/ppi, and better camera. Sure there's TouchWiz, but I can just install a Google Play ROM and be fresh off the gate.

So, Apple fans with Samsung phones, how's life with your feet in both waters?
 

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
Looks like I'm going back to the evil ones. Yes, I'm getting a Samsung Galaxy.

My Moto X decided it wanted to try out diving classes in the pool but didn't tell me it was going to...looks like it doesn't know how to swim. Death by drowning. :(

Anyways, time came for a replacement and I was given two choices - either another Moto X in white, or a SAMSUNG GXYS432 BLK, which I can only assume means Samsung Galaxy S4 32GB in Black (Or potentially a mini, which I'd also be OK with).

Overall it was the better decision - better battery, better screen resolution/ppi, and better camera. Sure there's TouchWiz, but I can just install a Google Play ROM and be fresh off the gate.

So, Apple fans with Samsung phones, how's life with your feet in both waters?
And with the iPhone 6 just around the corner!!! How selfish of your Moto X. ;)

As for the S4, maybe try out Touchwiz for a day or two. Some people like it. Never know unless you try? Besides, not like there isn't a ton of ROMs for the S4 you'll be able to flash whenever you want. Personally, I think I'd do the GPe ROM since it was designed for the phone by Samsung. (If I was gonna ROM it, that is.)

Good luck. Here's hoping you have a good experience with the S4.
 

0000757

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 16, 2011
3,893
850
And with the iPhone 6 just around the corner!!! How selfish of your Moto X. ;)

As for the S4, maybe try out Touchwiz for a day or two. Some people like it. Never know unless you try? Besides, not like there isn't a ton of ROMs for the S4 you'll be able to flash whenever you want. Personally, I think I'd do the GPe ROM since it was designed for the phone by Samsung. (If I was gonna ROM it, that is.)

Good luck. Here's hoping you have a good experience with the S4.

I hope I have a good one.

I personally have had a bias against Samsung and several of their products I've had, I've had bad experiences. Hopefully the device will be good, I will say I did consider my previous experiences before, but there are things that I do like about it.
 

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
I hope I have a good one.

I personally have had a bias against Samsung and several of their products I've had, I've had bad experiences. Hopefully the device will be good, I will say I did consider my previous experiences before, but there are things that I do like about it.
I owned the S3 and really, really liked the phone. But this was before the considerable amount of bloat Samsung added to the follow on S phones. Doubt I would buy another Samsung phone now, but the specs are impressive on Samsung devices though, I gotta say.
 

DanGoh

macrumors 6502
Apr 6, 2014
366
506
I'm considering joining you on the dark side. The water resistance, longer lasting removable battery is really appealing to me.

The only thing keeping me from going for it is the audio quality from the headphone out. I hear it's not as good as any iPhone.
 

Jibbajabba

macrumors 65816
Aug 13, 2011
1,024
5
I'm considering joining you on the dark side. The water resistance, longer lasting removable battery is really appealing to me.

The only thing keeping me from going for it is the audio quality from the headphone out. I hear it's not as good as any iPhone.

Take your favorite headset to the shop and test it. Sound quality is subjective and a lot of times depended on the headset, not the audio port :)
 

JaySoul

macrumors 68030
Jan 30, 2008
2,629
2,865
Lol the audio quality on the Galaxy S range is perfectly good, trust me - I'm in the music industry.

If you're talking about headphones, I noticed the difference between the Moto G and the S4/iPhone audio quality but not the top range phones nowadays.
 

Robster3

macrumors 68000
Dec 13, 2012
1,987
0
Looks like I'm going back to the evil ones. Yes, I'm getting a Samsung Galaxy.

My Moto X decided it wanted to try out diving classes in the pool but didn't tell me it was going to...looks like it doesn't know how to swim. Death by drowning. :(

Anyways, time came for a replacement and I was given two choices - either another Moto X in white, or a SAMSUNG GXYS432 BLK, which I can only assume means Samsung Galaxy S4 32GB in Black (Or potentially a mini, which I'd also be OK with).

Overall it was the better decision - better battery, better screen resolution/ppi, and better camera. Sure there's TouchWiz, but I can just install a Google Play ROM and be fresh off the gate.

So, Apple fans with Samsung phones, how's life with your feet in both waters?

It was like being dropped 50 miles out to see without a life jacket, A fricken nightmare, Samsung S5 biggest overpriced POS phone of the year:) sold it after a month for a nice $220 loss.

Don't do it, i would rather have my old Nokia back:)

http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_3310-192.php
 

ucfgrad93

macrumors Core
Aug 17, 2007
19,579
10,875
Colorado
I've been thinking about switching to the S5. The only thing keeping me from doing it is the lack of on board storage. 16GB just doesn't cut it.
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,081
19,081
US
I've been thinking about switching to the S5. The only thing keeping me from doing it is the lack of on board storage. 16GB just doesn't cut it.
It does have an SD card though to use for storage. Unless you are filling it up with apps. Then the only 16GB makes a big difference.
 

Dontazemebro

macrumors 68020
Jul 23, 2010
2,173
0
I dunno, somewhere in West Texas
So, Apple fans with Samsung phones, how's life with your feet in both waters?

It's great

bc39fd77b95c22fff332e8bf38ff78b52c88da48826447d3e7d37579740f2cf7.jpg



Although, as a past owner of the aforementioned Galaxy S4. The phone was a big disappointment. For me, it was a laggy mess that didn't live up to the hype but YMMV. Lag in scrolling menus, lag in touch input, lag in dialer/contacts. I would avoid the S4 in all seriousness. Just my 2 pennies.
 
Last edited:

0000757

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 16, 2011
3,893
850
I guess I'll have to wait and see (if UPS ever decides to deliver my package...I'm on vacation with a friend and I'm afraid maybe they gave me the wrong address...)
 

GoCubsGo

macrumors Nehalem
Feb 19, 2005
35,742
155
Samsung Galaxy S4 is a fantastic phone. I hardly consider Samsung the dark side. I did not experience lag issues with the S4. Was that common for many?
 

Switchback666

macrumors 68000
Nov 16, 2012
1,600
67
SXM
I'm considering joining you on the dark side. The water resistance, longer lasting removable battery is really appealing to me.

The only thing keeping me from going for it is the audio quality from the headphone out. I hear it's not as good as any iPhone.


Mate when I had the Note 3 headphone out was not great but with a tweak increased the volume output and the quality was better so maybe you can research something similar for the S5
 

Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,725
13,245
UK
Samsung Galaxy S4 is a fantastic phone. I hardly consider Samsung the dark side. I did not experience lag issues with the S4. Was that common for many?

I didn't have any lag when I had the S4 either. Anyhow I'm partial to samsung devices so you won't get any complaints from me.
 

0000757

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 16, 2011
3,893
850
unless you have T-Mobile, you wont be able to put a rom on it as the bootloader is locked.

Safestrap is what I plan on doing. Someone's ported over the Google Play Edition ROM so I might install that. I also found a nice ROM that has the GS5 theme (which honestly I do like) so I might also try that instead.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Well, after having the phone for 24 hours, here's what I have to say:

TouchWiz REALLY does cause the system to lag. Sure there are some cool features included but there are times when my phone will lag or even crash and the most random times, with TouchWiz to blame. My Moto X, which is statistically a less powerful phone, didn't lag or crash as much. It's still minimal, but it's more frequent than I'm used to and it can be a little annoying. On top of that, TouchWiz is pretty ugly in my opinion, at least on the Galaxy S4. I've tried to get away from it as much as possible. Might use a GS5 TouchWiz based ROM or just go on to Stock soon. Other than TouchWiz, I actually really like the phone. Even though it's full plastic it's not that bad to hold, the camera and display are AMAZING, and it's comfortable to hold in one hand even though it's 5 inches. I'm impressed. I like it.
 

flybub

macrumors regular
Sep 17, 2011
182
43
I go back and forth between the Moto X and Galaxy s4 and for the most part use the Moto X. I was really upset Samsung and Verizon locked the bootloader because the s4 would be a great phone with an unlocked bootloader and the ability to load custom roms. Granted Safestrap has been a big help but I don't like giving up 1/2 of my on board storage when it's low to begin with thanks to the heavily skinned touchwiz. A gpe s4 is a different device all together and runs circles around the touchwiz version, just my opinion though. There are plenty out there who like what touchwiz brings to the table.
 

DanGoh

macrumors 6502
Apr 6, 2014
366
506
Safestrap is what I plan on doing. Someone's ported over the Google Play Edition ROM so I might install that. I also found a nice ROM that has the GS5 theme (which honestly I do like) so I might also try that instead.



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



Well, after having the phone for 24 hours, here's what I have to say:



TouchWiz REALLY does cause the system to lag. Sure there are some cool features included but there are times when my phone will lag or even crash and the most random times, with TouchWiz to blame. My Moto X, which is statistically a less powerful phone, didn't lag or crash as much. It's still minimal, but it's more frequent than I'm used to and it can be a little annoying. On top of that, TouchWiz is pretty ugly in my opinion, at least on the Galaxy S4. I've tried to get away from it as much as possible. Might use a GS5 TouchWiz based ROM or just go on to Stock soon. Other than TouchWiz, I actually really like the phone. Even though it's full plastic it's not that bad to hold, the camera and display are AMAZING, and it's comfortable to hold in one hand even though it's 5 inches. I'm impressed. I like it.

Can stock Android be installed on it now? Or do you have to wait until the Google releases the GPE S5? Installing Stock is the only reason I'd get one.


Also: update us on the battery life a couple of days.
 

0000757

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 16, 2011
3,893
850
Can stock Android be installed on it now? Or do you have to wait until the Google releases the GPE S5? Installing Stock is the only reason I'd get one.


Also: update us on the battery life a couple of days.

I'm on the S4, so a GPE ROM is already available.

As far as battery, current I don't have realistic usage cause i've been playing and modding it, but I'm impressed with how long it's lasting. Lasting longer than my iPhone and Moto X, not by a large amount, but a noticeable one.
 

Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,725
13,245
UK
I don't get this anti touch wiz thing at all. I've used the original note, S4, Note 3 and S5.

The original note was horrible, it was unstable and was always crashing and had a lot of lag. However the S4, note 3 and S5 ate virtually flawless. They are stable, they very rarely crash and there is no lag. Just because an app takes a millisecond longer to open than on another phone that doesn't equate to lag for me. Even the iPhone isn't perfect. It freezes and crashes from time to time.

Also I'm willing to put up with a lot more from a Samsung device, than another device because of the trade off in terms of features. Hence why I got another samsung device and and after the original note. The spring board crashes and reboots on the iPhone 5S on the other hand drove me up the wall.

We will see what the iPhone 6 has to offer. I might get it but it can't be my daily driver.
 

0000757

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 16, 2011
3,893
850
Update:

I've had the device for some time now. I've rooted, unrooted, flashed stock, rooted again, and done everything in between. Here's what I have to say.

I'm very impressed. My last Samsung experience was less than enjoyable, but I will say the S4 has proven itself to be quite handsome. Sure TouchWiz is laggy sometimes (and I don't like some of the design elements - I want the S5's touchwiz!) but the phone makes for more than up with it.

The battery also is INSANE. It charges quickly and lasts forever. I was on it non-stop today and I didn't get a low battery warning until 6 hours later.
 
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