Phones Owners of HTC One and SGS4, help me

[Sensamic]

Ok guys.

This is the deal. I was going to wait for the Nexus 5 later this year to replace my SGS3, which I'm satisfied with at the moment. No real hurries, until I got the chance today of getting a new phone for a very low price.

My contract doesn't end until next year, but a family member is coming to my carrier and was going to get a new phone for 0$, until I saw the opportunity of giving her my SGS3 and using her new contract to buy a better phone using my money.

So I can get the HTC One or SGS4 for 199$. Very very nice price for me. The new Nexus could cost 350$ for the 16GB model, or maybe the price will be higher this time, who knows.

There's two problems with the Nexus phone: only 16GB (don't know if they will include a 32GB model, but I don't really count on it) and the Play Store doesn't ship to were I live (so I would have to buy through eBay probably or another online retailer for an even higher price: 500$? More? Would it be worth it?).

So considering this two points I'm starting to think buying the HTC or Samsung may be a better option, certainly much cheaper.

I could also wait for the Note 3, which rumors say will have: 3GB RAM, a super battery (much better than both the HTC and SGS4), Snapdragon 800 (vs 600 on both other phones), etc.

Problem is it will be too big for my taste. The Note 2 already is too much, but who knows? Maybe I'll like it in the end. The Note series also gets updates after the SGS3/4.

So what do you guys recommend considering I'm jumping from the SGS3? Should I wait for the Nexus and pay more? Will it be that much better than those two (Nexus 4 wasn't that better than my SGS3)?

Right now it's between the One and SGS4. I've heard good things and bad things from both, but which has more pros than cons?

Nexus phones do tend to have worse battery life and camera performance.

Appreciate every advice from owners of both devices.

I probably won't change phone for another year after this. Maybe Nexus 6...

EDIT: by the way, which is easier to change to the Google edition ROM? I hear the ROM works better on the HTC than on the SGS4.

 

[T5BRICK]

I've got the HTC One and I've installed the Android 4.2.2 Google Edition ROM. I'll be updating to Android 4.3 today or tomorrow.

The most difficult part was simply unlocking my phone in order to install a different bootloader. Once that was done, flashing different ROMs really is simple.

Anyway, the next Nexus may be an awesome phone, but there are awesome phones available now. Get the HTC One or the Samsung GS4.

I'd go here for more info on flashing ROMs and such.

 

[Dontazemebro]

I would stay put honestly. I have the S4 but if you're coming from an S3 we're too close to the slate of snapdragon 800 devices to drop. Why hurry yourself into a device that's almost ran the gamut of its lifespan?

 

[0dev]

I got the S4, it's an amazing phone. Even on the stock TouchWiz ROM it's great, I've actually really grown to like TW and I use the features Samsung has added. If you want AOSP you can of course easily install a Google Edition ROM.

Of course you get a replaceable battery and micro SD which you don't from the HTC, the camera is better, the screen is a bit bigger and IMO the AMOLED is better than LCD (but that is really personal preference). The phone is super fast and I have very few complaints. I did a big write up about it here if you want more info.

If you have any specific questions feel free to ask me, but really as far as I'm concerned it's no question, go for the S4.

----------

I would stay put honestly. I have the S4 but if you're coming from an S3 we're too close to the slate of snapdragon 800 devices to drop. Why hurry yourself into a device that's almost ran the gamut of its lifespan?

The S4 came out like two months ago, it's far from "almost ran the gamut of its lifespan." Pretty sure the Snapdragon 800 variant is only destined for South Korea anyway and even in benchmarks is only a minor performance boost.

Seriously, there's no need to wait for the 800, if you do you might as well wait next year, then wait the year after, because there's always something new around the corner. It's broken logic.

 

[Dontazemebro]

I know I was being somewhat facetious but technology moves fast and with the galaxy Note 3, Sony Honami, HTC T6 (which is HTC's variant of the note) and the new Nexus all just around the horizon, it would probably be sweeter to just wait.

 

[Fernandez21]

Well, how much do you like your S3? If you really like it, get the S4. If you want something different, get the One. I personally am not a fan of Samsung designs so I got the One. I've also heard that getting it switch to a GE is easier on the One, and those that did are even getting official ota updates to 4.3 from google.

Also, how long is that family member willing to wait? If you make them wait too long they may switch on you before you get the chance of getting a new phone. And if your on at&t, take a look at the LG OG Pro, it had the same specs as the One or S4, but has a much bigger battery and a 5.5" screen and feels much smaller than the Note.

 

[iPhonemaster5S]

Get the HTC One its simply amazing. I've got it and have no complaints, if you like your s3 and prefer touchwiz then I would suggest the s4.

 

[MRU]

Nexus phones do tend to have worse battery life and camera performance.

If Camera Peformance is genuinely an important factor here and your talking wanting more than just good for your social media shots, then put simply don't go for the HTC One.

Its a great phone, arguably better peformance than the S4 speedwise in day to day use, but Camera Peformance is sub-par. HTC are likewise taking a long tie rolling out updates to USA handsets, so unless you are willing to either flash GE Rom and do a conversion (which if your getting an AT&T model is surprisingly quite easy) to the Google Edition version - its worth factoring slow updates into the equation.


Other than those two big elements the HTC one is a fab phone, great battery life and like I say very nippy Peformance wise.

The S4 on the other hand is a safer bet as you are coming from the S3. If you want to do a GE conversion, then you can't actually do a lock stock and barrel conversion like the HTC One. You will have to keep flashing updates as new roms rather than via OTA updates.

Camera performance is stellar on the S4. Battery life is equally comparable between handsets.

The only downside is that if you are hankering for a change, it may not really be much of one coming from an S3.


As for Nexus, you could potentially be waiting till November/December before it arrives or is announced, so if you are going to wait - then you could almost make an argument to wait 3-4,extra months and get the HTC (2) Next or the S5 as the cycle will undoubtably begin again in March or April.....

 

[maxosx]

I currently have all the phones you've mentioned. Of the lot I enjoy my Galaxy S4 the best.

I've owned the Galaxy S, S2, S3 & S4. Previously I rooted each one because I didn't care for TouchWiz but that's changed with this latest version. I'm very impressed with the significant improvements in many areas. TouchWiz is now very fast smooth and useful.

I bought mine on release day and thus far it's been completely trouble free. I have a large number of friends who have also migrated from iPhones to the S4, it's an amazing enjoyable phone.

 

[jimbo1mcm]

Go for the Galaxy S4. Try it for 2 weeks. Bet you keep it.

 

[Sensamic]

Thanks for all the input guys.

I probably have to decide this month or next one tops. My family member doesn't want to wait longer, so there's no way she would wait until December or so.

If I don't like the One or SGS4 maybe I could sell it when the next Nexus arrives. Like I said before, Google Play Store doesn't ship to where I live so it would be a pain in the *** trying to get one. Ebay or another online retailer will sell them for higher price, so that makes me consider the One or SGS4 even more since it would cost 199$ instead of 450$ or so that the Nexus will cost on other places.

Right now I'm happy with my SGS3 and I didn't plan on buying any new phone for now, but since I got this opportunity maybe I should take it. Better that than not being able to change phones until next year maybe.

 

[MRU]

Thanks for all the input guys.

I probably have to decide this month or next one tops. My family member doesn't want to wait longer, so there's no way she would wait until December or so.

If I don't like the One or SGS4 maybe I could sell it when the next Nexus arrives. Like I said before, Google Play Store doesn't ship to where I live so it would be a pain in the *** trying to get one. Ebay or another online retailer will sell them for higher price, so that makes me consider the One or SGS4 even more since it would cost 199$ instead of 450$ or so that the Nexus will cost on other places.

Right now I'm happy with my SGS3 and I didn't plan on buying any new phone for now, but since I got this opportunity maybe I should take it. Better that than not being able to change phones until next year maybe.

Whatever you choose to get, enjoy

 

[Fireblade]

If you like your S3, than try out the S4.
There is so much improved compared to the S3, I think you will love it.

 

[2298754]

If I don't like the One or SGS4 maybe I could sell it when the next Nexus arrives. Like I said before, Google Play Store doesn't ship to where I live so it would be a pain in the *** trying to get one. Ebay or another online retailer will sell them for higher price, so that makes me consider the One or SGS4 even more since it would cost 199$ instead of 450$ or so that the Nexus will cost on other places.

Then don't get the One. Resale value is worse than the S4 by a good amount. I've been trying to sell mine on CL for $450. No one wants it.

Best offer I've gotten is $400, that's it. I can sell my GS4 for $525 all day long.

 

[MRU]

Then don't get the One. Resale value is worse than the S4 by a good amount. I've been trying to sell mine on CL for $450. No one wants it.

Best offer I've gotten is $400, that's it. I can sell my GS4 for $525 all day long.

Not many people want to buy imaginary phones ....

especially ones that can't be captured in a photo

Mahalo.

 

[siurpeeman]

op, if i were you i'd just let your family member enjoy the new phone with the new contract. wait out until you're upgrade eligible and get next year's flagship model. maybe then, you'll have a clearer idea of what you want.

 

[Sensamic]

op, if i were you i'd just let your family member enjoy the new phone with the new contract. wait out until you're upgrade eligible and get next year's flagship model. maybe then, you'll have a clearer idea of what you want.

Yeah. I really don't need a new phone now, but the opportunity is really tempting: a new flagship phone for just 199$.

I could change phone now and next year again with my upgrade.

Right now I'm leaning more towards the HTC One because I would like to try something new.

Today the One Max has been leaked and it looks interesting also.

I could use her upgrade to get a phablet and try that out.

I'm almost certain at this point that getting the next Nexus is almost impossible for me.