Samsung Note 4 or iPhone 6 Plus? Foot in Each Camp...

[MRU]

That's not just a Samsung issue though. And even when a manufacturer takes care of the lastest updates, you still got to wait on the carriers if it's a branded device.

True, but when you haven't got a carrier handset and your still left in limbo it's annoying. Especially when Samsung were touting lollipop themselves as far back as October last. We were promised December, then January, then Feb and now we're mid March and the vast vast majority of Note 4's are still on 4.4.4

When you consider original lollipop framework was delivered to third party manufacturers as far back as July / August it's getting pretty ridiculous.

But yes this is a greater android issue in general, and one of the reasons I like having an iOS device as well.

 

[spinedoc77]

What do you mean more primitive and has limitations?

Multi window, stylus and digitizer, widgets, google voice integration, guest mode, removable memory, friendly network unlock, just to name a few.

 

[nviz22]

There was talk of android wear coming to iOS.

The thing to remember though is that the grass isn't always greener - it's often the same grass just a slightly different shade.

Basically weigh up the things that irk you on the note 4 against the things you like and aren't available on the iPhone, then look at the things that would irk you on an iPhone against all its benefits and decide which you would prefer to live with.

Both are great devices in reality. But neither is perfect.

Looks like Android wins. Also the 6+ is still too expensive even for a new 16 GB. $700 after 5 months? Ouch. I would have to pay $50 out of pocket, which I don't even think is worth it.

 

[nickchallis92]

Why don't apple swallow their pride and put a back button on the iPhone? Yeah it wont work as well as it does on Android because iOS can't properly multitask but it would still be a better solution than putting a back button at the furthest point from your hand

 

[Tsepz]

Multi window, stylus and digitizer, widgets, google voice integration, guest mode, removable memory, friendly network unlock, just to name a few.

+1

My iPad feels primitive and limited, not only due to it lacking the above but RAM as well, I can have Chrome, Opera Mini, Atlas Browser and a bunch of other apps going in my Note 4 without a single reload, yet the iPad I'll have just Safari with 5 tabs running and in no time some of them are reloading, just pathetic.

I can't take the iPhone 6 Plus seriously as a phablet, due to it lacking so much.

 

[roadbloc]

I'd probably get the Note. More freedom to do as you wish within the OS. Also, these things in action are surprisingly smooth. The iPhone hardware is nice but the OS lets it down big time.

 

[JackieInCo]

+1

My iPad feels primitive and limited, not only due to it lacking the above but RAM as well, I can have Chrome, Opera Mini, Atlas Browser and a bunch of other apps going in my Note 4 without a single reload, yet the iPad I'll have just Safari with 5 tabs running and in no time some of them are reloading, just pathetic.

I can't take the iPhone 6 Plus seriously as a phablet, due to it lacking so much.

This is so true and disappointing. Tonight I was trying to watch a video on a website that someone posted. Each time I tried to watch it, it gave me the error that Safari encountered an error and had to reload. I gave up after three tries and went to my Note 4 and watched it all the way through after only one try. I had about 7 tabs open on Safari.

I still enjoy using the 6+ but it's so limited on what I can do and the above shows that perfectly.

 

[MRU]

+1

My iPad feels primitive and limited, not only due to it lacking the above but RAM as well, I can have Chrome, Opera Mini, Atlas Browser and a bunch of other apps going in my Note 4 without a single reload, yet the iPad I'll have just Safari with 5 tabs running and in no time some of them are reloading, just pathetic.

I can't take the iPhone 6 Plus seriously as a phablet, due to it lacking so much.

Other than browser tabs the Note 4 and iPhone 6+ refresh backgrounded apps just as much as each other. Safari seems to over aggressively keep ram in check compared to Android, however i have found instances where despite Safari refreshing a tab on IOS - when I switch to another app it will be ready and in memory, whereas on my android device whilst chrome may not refreshed to browser tab when I switch back to the same app backgrounded it will refresh content. So it's just the way both operating systems handle memory management and allocate it to tasks at hand. Neither is perfect, and it's more of a case of what you do dictating your user experience. I don't really use many tabs in a mobile browser (indeed I'd say browser is one of my least used apps as the sites I go to have their own apps) and therefore the way a device handles apps in the background is what defines my user experience, and in this regard I find both the Note 4 and the iPhone 6+ are pretty much alike when switching back and forth between the apps I utilise daily. Sometimes the Note 4 refreshes app content before the iPhone 6+ and sometimes vice versa, but over the course of a days usage it ends up being even Stevens, despite the memory differential between devices.

 

[Ffosse]

I've never really been a Samsung fan, probably because of an egregiously bad experience with the S4 and Touchwiz.

But I think the Note 4 is perhaps the best device out there and would choose it over an iPhone 6 Plus any day of the week. I can't believe Apple just put 1GB RAM on there.

 

[spinedoc77]

Other than browser tabs the Note 4 and iPhone 6+ refresh backgrounded apps just as much as each other. Safari seems to over aggressively keep ram in check compared to Android, however i have found instances where despite Safari refreshing a tab on IOS - when I switch to another app it will be ready and in memory, whereas on my android device whilst chrome may not refreshed to browser tab when I switch back to the same app backgrounded it will refresh content. So it's just the way both operating systems handle memory management and allocate it to tasks at hand. Neither is perfect, and it's more of a case of what you do dictating your user experience. I don't really use many tabs in a mobile browser (indeed I'd say browser is one of my least used apps as the sites I go to have their own apps) and therefore the way a device handles apps in the background is what defines my user experience, and in this regard I find both the Note 4 and the iPhone 6+ are pretty much alike when switching back and forth between the apps I utilise daily. Sometimes the Note 4 refreshes app content before the iPhone 6+ and sometimes vice versa, but over the course of a days usage it ends up being even Stevens, despite the memory differential between devices.

My Note 4 doesn't refresh that way at all. I liked the iPhone 6+ a lot, but the difference in memory management with web browsing and apps was huge. Just the amount of tabs or apps I could have open on the Note 4 is awesome.

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+1

My iPad feels primitive and limited, not only due to it lacking the above but RAM as well, I can have Chrome, Opera Mini, Atlas Browser and a bunch of other apps going in my Note 4 without a single reload, yet the iPad I'll have just Safari with 5 tabs running and in no time some of them are reloading, just pathetic.

I can't take the iPhone 6 Plus seriously as a phablet, due to it lacking so much.

IMO the iPhone 6+ doesn't deserve the moniker "phablet", it's just a larger iPhone. Similar to how the iPad doesn't really deserve to be called a tablet, it's just a big iPhone. There aren't any features which are really tablet and/or phablet specific like Samsung has.

 

[MRU]

My Note 4 doesn't refresh that way at all. I liked the iPhone 6+ a lot, but the difference in memory management with web browsing and apps was huge. Just the amount of tabs or apps I could have open on the Note 4 is awesome.

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IMO the iPhone 6+ doesn't deserve the moniker "phablet", it's just a larger iPhone. Similar to how the iPad doesn't really deserve to be called a tablet, it's just a big iPhone. There aren't any features which are really tablet and/or phablet specific like Samsung has.

OK I'll prove it....

I'll do a side by side app opening from background test between the two and you will see definitively that it's the Note 4 that has to refresh content whereas the iPhone 6+ can keep all the apps in memory. Most of these apps are Google apps. Both devices connected to same WiFi network.

I'm running stock Touchwiz 5.0.1 & IOS 8.2

The Note 4 despite having 3x the memory...

Notice too how apps like Tapatalk and Newstand show more content on the iPhone than the Note 4.


Video uploading to YouTube now. Will post link once it's active.

Video active now....

http://youtu.be/qQ6gKHZVGpk

 

[jamezr]

My Note 4 doesn't refresh that way at all. I liked the iPhone 6+ a lot, but the difference in memory management with web browsing and apps was huge. Just the amount of tabs or apps I could have open on the Note 4 is awesome.

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IMO the iPhone 6+ doesn't deserve the moniker "phablet", it's just a larger iPhone. Similar to how the iPad doesn't really deserve to be called a tablet, it's just a big iPhone. There aren't any features which are really tablet and/or phablet specific like Samsung has.

I would have to agree with both of your points. My N4 does not refresh apps nearly as much as my 6+ does. I can hit the back button and get back to the previous data. On my 6+ it will refresh and lose the data.
The 6+ is just a bigger version of the 6. It is not a true phablet IMHO.

 

[MRU]

I would have to agree with both of your points. My N4 does not refresh apps nearly as much as my 6+ does.

In daily use I find them about the same - these are the main apps I run on my device and as you can see, the Note 4 has to reload content more than the iPhone for me.

Everyone's usage is different, but for me you can see clearly here the Note 4 certainly doesn't come across as a device with 3x the memory of the iPhone 6+

 

[jamezr]

In daily use I find them about the same - these are the main apps I run on my device and as you can see, the Note 4 has to reload content more than the iPhone for me.

Everyone's usage is different, but for me you can see clearly here the Note 4 certainly doesn't come across as a device with 3x the memory of the iPhone 6+

Its funny....what you were saying about one person gushing about a particular phone. I think you could fit that description about the 6+.
I have both phones. In my useage the 6+ refreshes data a lot more than the N4 does. It offers no phablet features other than being a large phone.

 

[617aircav]

This is a personal issue. Nothing wrong with either. I picked up a note 4 on Craigslist last week and may replace my 6s with it. Reason is I ported my number to google voice and Google voice ( found a way to spend as little as $1 on month on cell phone bill) is completely integrated into android.

 

[MRU]

Its funny....what you were saying about one person gushing about a particular phone. I think you could fit that description about the 6+.
I have both phones. In my useage the 6+ refreshes data a lot more than the N4 does. It offers no phablet features other than being a large phone.

I'm not gushing, I have posted clear evidence of the 6+ and my Note 4 performing for me, rather than just claiming it so - I'm showing it so....

Indeed if I had to only choose one phone tomorrow it would be neither the 6+ or the Note 4. I'd keep my Moto X, however this is a thread that is directly about the 6+ and Note 4 and therefore my comparison is entirely valid and on point.

I don't disagree that your experience may be different than me, I've acknowledged that everyone's usage is different. But I have actually posted evidence to support what I am saying rather than just argue the toss.

Like I say the Moto X 2014 is actually my favourite device of the ones I currently have, that is until I get my hands on an Emerald Green Galaxy 6 Edge And whatever Moto replaces the X with later in the year (though I hope they keep the size of the X the same this time round as it's the most comfortable device I own to hold).

 

[jamezr]

I'm not gushing, I have posted clear evidence of the 6+ and my Note 4 performing for me, rather than just claiming it so - I'm showing it so....

Indeed if I had to only choose one phone tomorrow it would be neither the 6+ or the Note 4. I'd keep my Moto X, however this is a thread that is directly about the 6+ and Note 4 and therefore my comparison is entirely valid and on point.

I don't disagree that your experience may be different than me, I've acknowledged that everyone's usage is different. But I have actually posted evidence to support what I am saying rather than just argue the toss.

Like I say the Moto X 2014 is actually my favourite device of the ones I currently have, that is until I get my hands on a Galaxy 6 Edge.

The thing about online videos is....there are so many that if you look you can find one that fits exactly what you want it to be. Because someone will post a vid that shows one thing is faster or this or that than any other device. All you have to do it look hard enough.
There are videos that show the N4 is so much faster than the 6+ while loading apps because of the memory management or lack of memory.
It just depends on what you are looking for.

 

[spinedoc77]

OK I'll prove it....

I'll do a side by side app opening from background test between the two and you will see definitively that it's the Note 4 that has to refresh content whereas the iPhone 6+ can keep all the apps in memory. Most of these apps are Google apps. Both devices connected to same WiFi network.

I'm running stock Touchwiz 5.0.1 & IOS 8.2

The Note 4 despite having 3x the memory...

Notice too how apps like Tapatalk and Newstand show more content on the iPhone than the Note 4.


Video uploading to YouTube now. Will post link once it's active.

Video active now....

http://youtu.be/qQ6gKHZVGpk
YouTube: video

I'm not sure what the difference is, I'm on 4.4. My calendar doesn't reload like that for example.

Other apps, reload yes/no:
Calendar: No
Contacts: No
YouTube: No
Chrome: No
Play books: No
touchwiz email: No
Gallery: No
Google now: No
Google music: No

I'm not sure at all why the discrepancy, especially how long you had to wait until Google music to open. All the apps listed above instantly opened with no reloading. Maybe because I'm on KK 4.4, I'm not sure.

When my wife gets home in a couple of hours I'll use her iPhone to post up a video of my Note 4 and how it opens these apps up. Clearly I'm seeing something completely different than you and I'm not sure why. Seeing how slow Google music opened up it almost seems like you have a virus or some bloatware is bogging the system down.

 

[MRU]

Yep no bloatware as I'm on an unbranded unlocked retail handset. It could be Samsungs lollipop 5.0.1 at fault perhaps; but yeah my Note 3 (previous note device) had less issues reloading . The S5 I had did, but my Alpha didn't .

All my devices were unbranded unlocked European handsets.

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The thing about online videos is....there are so many that if you look you can find one that fits exactly what you want it to be. Because someone will post a vid that shows one thing is faster or this or that than any other device. All you have to do it look hard enough.
There are videos that show the N4 is so much faster than the 6+ while loading apps because of the memory management or lack of memory.
It just depends on what you are looking for.

But this is MY video recorded earlier. I want looking for anything to prove anything. I was just demonstrating exactly what I am seeing right now in use.

 

[jamezr]

Yep no bloatware as I'm on an unbranded unlocked retail handset. It could be Samsungs lollipop 5.0.1 at fault perhaps; but yeah my Note 3 (previous note device) had less issues reloading . The S5 I had did, but my Alpha didn't .

All my devices were unbranded unlocked European handsets.

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But this is MY video recorded earlier. I want looking for anything to prove anything. I was just demonstrating exactly what I am seeing right now in use.

That is not what the rest of us are experiencing.

 

[spinedoc77]

OK I'll prove it....

I'll do a side by side app opening from background test between the two and you will see definitively that it's the Note 4 that has to refresh content whereas the iPhone 6+ can keep all the apps in memory. Most of these apps are Google apps. Both devices connected to same WiFi network.

I'm running stock Touchwiz 5.0.1 & IOS 8.2

The Note 4 despite having 3x the memory...

Notice too how apps like Tapatalk and Newstand show more content on the iPhone than the Note 4.


Video uploading to YouTube now. Will post link once it's active.

Video active now....

http://youtu.be/qQ6gKHZVGpk
YouTube: video

Here is a very crappy video, sorry have no other camera so had to use my tablet camera. I can take a better video later on if required. I don't see those apps reloading at all on my Note 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhwtZMWtSko&feature=youtu.be

 

[MRU]

Here is a very crappy video, sorry have no other camera so had to use my tablet camera. I can take a better video later on if required. I don't see those apps reloading at all on my Note 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhwtZMWtSko&feature=youtu.be

Perhaps then lollipop 5.0.1 is to blame ? Maybe that's why they have seemingly halted it's rollout ? I mean everything else on this device is fast, but yeah the reloading is annoying.

Out of interest what's your memory usage like after opening them all can you post an image ?

I notice number of apps shown as active is less than the 9 backgrounded, so maybe lollipop is being too aggressive in killing my apps despite having 500mb supposedly free / left ?

Even when I go back into multitasking and refresh all of them and then go back into memory / taskmanager it's not showing them all as active which surely they should be?

 

[spinedoc77]

Perhaps then lollipop 5.0.1 is to blame ? Maybe that's why they have seemingly halted it's rollout ? I mean everything else on this device is fast, but yeah the reloading is annoying.

Out of interest what's your memory usage like after opening them all can you post an image ?

Image

I notice number of apps shown as active is less than the 9 backgrounded, so maybe lollipop is being too aggressive in killing my apps ?

I wonder if it's a difference in ART vs Dalvik runtimes, I'm on KK 4.4.4 official AT&T, I haven't done any modifications, no Root, no Xposed modules, and I haven't debloated it, ie Knox and other bloatware is still running.

 

[MRU]

^ what's your memory usage when you click on show cached files. (As that's always higher and the one that's more accurate to taskmanager reading)

For example ... memory with cached services..

Without

Massive difference.

So your on dalvik I take it then ? I'm wondering if it would be worth downgrading my firmware back to 4.4.4 or just put up with this until they release the next update ....

 

[spinedoc77]

Not sure if this is what you are looking for, I"m a bit of a noob in settings. I hit the show cached processes tab.