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eddiec312

macrumors 6502
Jul 19, 2008
361
7
Miami, FL
If you do decide to keep the s4 just install a Launcher i.e.(Nova, Apex, GO, ect.) and make it look like an iphone or whatever you want.
 

flybub

macrumors regular
Sep 17, 2011
182
43
I would lean towards the 5s. I had the s4 and while there were some things I definitely liked better on the s4 versus 5s, touchwiz and lag killed it for me ultimately moving me back to iphone.

I agree with previous post...if you want android I would definitely look to the note 3 (if the overall size of the phone doesnt bother you) or nexus 5 (not sure if available on VZW though?).

Unfortunately no nexus 5 on Verizon which is a real bummer. The Moto X is as close as we Verizoners will get to a nexus device
 

Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,725
13,245
UK
The S4.

I've owned both phones. I had the S4 for 4 months and then switched to the 5S. I only kept the 5S for 28 days. To be fair although, I'd owned and loved iphones in the past I had been using samsung galaxy phones for close to two years and I've come to rely on the extra functionality that android devices offer. I've now got the note 3.
 

biikman

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 11, 2008
101
0
Well if you return the s4, you'll be able to get the 5s subsidized for the same price as the s4 - $199 for the 16Gb version. You'll only be eating the restocking fee.

The s4's are all on sale now with the imminent release of the S5. Wound up paying 100 for the s4 after rebate. Would have to pay at least another 100 for the 16g iPhone, or 200 if I got the 32 gig.

----------

If you do decide to keep the s4 just install a Launcher i.e.(Nova, Apex, GO, ect.) and make it look like an iphone or whatever you want.

I did install nova launcher and it is pretty nice. Rooted it and trying to figure out titanium backup and decide of possibly removing some of the samsung/verizon bloatware will help smooth things up as little.
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
I did install nova launcher and it is pretty nice. Rooted it and trying to figure out titanium backup and decide of possibly removing some of the samsung/verizon bloatware will help smooth things up as little.

You could run a google edition rom.


I have the S4 GE (official version) and it's blazing fast, the difference is night and day in both speed and general performance. Uses half the amount of Ram the S4 Touchwiz version uses with same amount of apps open, and with ART kernel it launches apps faster then lightning.
 

biikman

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 11, 2008
101
0
You could run a google edition rom.


I have the S4 GE (official version) and it's blazing fast, the difference is night and day in both speed and general performance. Uses half the amount of Ram the S4 Touchwiz version uses with same amount of apps open, and with ART kernel it launches apps faster then lightning.

Would installing a custom rom trip knox and void the warranty? recall reading that if you install anything other than stock it could happen..don't know enough about it myself..still learning..
 

pedromcm.pm

macrumors 6502
Mar 23, 2014
483
0
Porto, Portugal
Newly purchased s4 on verizon 2 yr contract. Having second thoughts on keeping it, but it would cost the 199 subsidy and 35 restocking fee, which I have until the 25th to decide... Has anyone returned the s4 for the 5s and any regrets? Like the screen size of the s4 but can't really like the os.

Thanks,

If build quality is important, go with the iPhone.
If speed is important, go with the iPhone.
If looks are important, go with the iPhone.
If software quality and support are important, go with the iPhone.
If ecosystem is important, go with the iPhone.
If camera is important, go with the iPhone.

However, despite all of that:

Playing games, watching videos, reading and editing files, surf the web are all more enjoyable on a bigger screen, even if the phone itself loses on everything that I mentioned.

That's the sad situation.
 

penplotter

macrumors regular
Mar 23, 2014
173
0
5S, no question. Samsung's answer to the fear of having ZERO usable features, is... to plaster them all over the phones with gay abandon, hoping one or two will stick.

Sorry, couldn't resist such an obvious pun opportunity :p
 

penplotter

macrumors regular
Mar 23, 2014
173
0
If build quality is important, go with the iPhone.
If speed is important, go with the iPhone.
If looks are important, go with the iPhone.
If software quality and support are important, go with the iPhone.
If ecosystem is important, go with the iPhone.
If camera is important, go with the iPhone.

However, despite all of that:

Playing games, watching videos, reading and editing files, surf the web are all more enjoyable on a bigger screen, even if the phone itself loses on everything that I mentioned.

That's the sad situation.

You forgot to mention the amazing, impeccable "deal-breaker" apps:

# iLife

# iWork


You may also like to read this report about the sound quality output of the iPod Touch 5th gen (near enough to the iPhone 5/5S) from Ken Rockwell... it really astounded me:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/ipod-touch-5g/audio-quality.htm

Somehow, I can't see any Android handset vendor putting out hardware with SUCH an incredible level of quality, with respect to audio (or with respect to anything).
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
Would installing a custom rom trip knox and void the warranty? recall reading that if you install anything other than stock it could happen..don't know enough about it myself..still learning..

I believe there are ways around the S4's Knox unlike the Note 3.
 

Markyboy81

macrumors 6502a
Oct 30, 2011
514
0
You forgot to mention the amazing, impeccable "deal-breaker" apps:

# iLife

# iWork


You may also like to read this report about the sound quality output of the iPod Touch 5th gen (near enough to the iPhone 5/5S) from Ken Rockwell... it really astounded me:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/ipod-touch-5g/audio-quality.htm

Somehow, I can't see any Android handset vendor putting out hardware with SUCH an incredible level of quality, with respect to audio (or with respect to anything).

Does the iPhone 5s support the apt-x Bluetooth codec? Most galaxy phones do and it makes a difference listening wirelessly.
 

Switchback666

macrumors 68000
Nov 16, 2012
1,600
67
SXM
I was looking for a Note 3 but couldnt find one that supports my carrier data at good price, over a week without phone and purchased an iphone 5s.

Still in the hunt for that Note 3, but i would not pick the s4 over the 5s, nothing special.
 

mellofello

macrumors 65816
Feb 1, 2011
1,258
556
Note 3 oppo find 7, or htc 1, are the only 3 phones on the radar right now. Everything else is a also ran IMO. From day 1 I was unimpressed with s4, and when the note 3 released it was knocked down another couple rungs. It's not a bad phone but it is not exceptional in any way, save for a sharp screen, and decent camera.
 

Surface2Owner

macrumors member
Nov 18, 2013
48
1
My company gave me a new iPhone 5s last week. I chose the 5s over a S5 (which I would have to wait on) and a Note 3 since I was using a Galaxy Note for two plus years and wanted a change (and haven't used iOS in a while).

Although there are some nice features with iOS, and I actually prefer my original Galaxy Note over this new 5s. The screen size makes all the difference in the world. To me, "Retina" does not make a bit of difference on a phone so small. The battery life with LTE switched on is also very disappointing.

iOS is overall very smooth, but there are definitely things that I find extremely annoying like (1) how certain settings take an extra step to get to on the 5s; (2) the lack of any capacitive buttons (form over function); and (3) how you must use iTunes to load offline pics and songs from your laptop. There are other annoyances as well, but I don't want to get into a debate on this. Just my opinion.

There are some things, however, that I really do appreciate: (1) the camera is fantastic; (2) Touch ID works great; and (3) and it is much easier to cuddle with the wife while operating the phone (though awful typos result).

I will be getting a separate phone for personal use, which will definitely be a large screen variant of a Nokia or Android phone. The apps argument is not relevant to me. I have installed a grand total of nine additional apps, all of which, can be found in the other competing ecosystems.
 
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