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Those who have switched to Android, what are your thoughts?
- Thread starter xxray
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I am hoping it does even better next gen. We need more of this vein in Android.
Agreed. I just saw what is purported to be the HTC U12. I'm intrigued. (All of my robot phones aside from the Essential were the HTC One series, 7, 8, 9, and 10.)
Six months later, I have zero regrets about moving away from Apple and purchasing my first Android phone (Note 8). So many nice things about Android and this particular phone.
Man am I facing a decision. I am selling my iPhone X and AirPods. Most likely getting close to $900 combined for them.
Unfortunately in the last 6 months I faced a layoff and financially I am really tight so I’m hoping to (most likely) switch to Android but make some money back. Gotta buy locally because I have to ship my phone soon.
My possible options:
Pixel 2 at Best Buy for $650
Note 8 unlocked on eBay $525
Essential Phone at Best Buy $500
Galaxy S8+ on eBay for $525
I also just thought about picking picking up an iPhone SE for $200 while weathering the storm. Got a new job so trying to catch up!
Thoughts?!?
Unfortunately in the last 6 months I faced a layoff and financially I am really tight so I’m hoping to (most likely) switch to Android but make some money back. Gotta buy locally because I have to ship my phone soon.
My possible options:
Pixel 2 at Best Buy for $650
Note 8 unlocked on eBay $525
Essential Phone at Best Buy $500
Galaxy S8+ on eBay for $525
I also just thought about picking picking up an iPhone SE for $200 while weathering the storm. Got a new job so trying to catch up!
Thoughts?!?
Note 8 or Pixel 2 is the best out of the 4. I personally would recommend the Note 8.
The S8+ is a good phone too, but since you can get the Note 8 at the same price, it shouldn't even be considered.
Do not buy from ebay and use Swappa. There is a much greater chance of getting a phone that is stolen from Ebay than Swappa. And the prices are near the same. And the Note 8 would be my vote. I got mine from Swappa second hand.
Just tried an S9+ I also have a nexus 6p. With the S9+ my finger kept going over the back of the camera. In addition for most apps there is a Samsung and google variant which is confusing. Additionally no more iMessage and WiFi calling on the iPads.
The screen was the best smartphone screen I’ve ever seen but that’s where the pros end for me.
Battery life dropped very fast as well.
After 24 hours I returned it.
I can understand iCloud features, but 24 hours is a poor indicator of battery life. Although my battery is holding up well so far, and I'm only in my first day.
It’s in menu right in the first page called brightness and display.
And you have it at the command center!
Razer from Amazon $699. (Using currently and a review in my sig)
I would recommend buy from someplace you can return it if it doesn’t work out.
Pixel 2 would be my next suggestion.
It isn’t a bad phone. Especially at that price. It got a bad rap as they really released it too early. Probably should have held on to it and worked out a few bugs first. If you’re used to iOS, though, it might be a tough transition. I’m having that issue right now. I have an angel on one shoulder telling me to go to Android and a devil on the other telling me to stay with Apple!
Yeah that always happens to me! I think I’m going to pick up the iPhone SE today. I’ve actually been itching for a smaller phone. $200. Can’t beat that!
The first two weeks of the switch are kinda tough, esp if you are as completely unfamiliar with Android as I was. After two weeks, I began to feel comfortable and enjoyed the freedom and customization of Android, not to mention the virtual home button and back button. Another mile-marker seemed to be about 2 months in, when I decided I liked my new phone much better than any of my old phones and don’t plausibly see myself returning to an iPhone any time soon, unless they change iOS significantly and offer some utterly compelling features at more reasonable pricing which I don’t see happening. Iphone X’s notch and sole use of Face ID/gestures does not appeal to me and iPhone 8’s design seems incredibly dated. I asked for/received a new 10.5 iPad Pro for my main Christmas gift yet don’t find myself using it much as I much prefer navigation and the other features on my Note 8. iOS just seems very boring and stale, IMO. And I have more browsing/software freezes/glitches with my iPad vs my Note 8. But you do have to be willing to give some time/mental energy to make the switch and adjust when you leave Apple’s walled garden. It requires some effort and patience.
I'm going from an iPhone 6s Plus to a Galaxy Note 4...
Reasons:
iPhone 6s Plus (Pros)
Smooth OS
Updates
Privacy
Face Time
3D Touch
iPhone 6s Plus (cons)
Keyboard
Lack of back button
Swiping gestures
Lack of customization
Difficult to highlight text
Earpiece is quiet
Can't install custom Apps
1080p screen
Camera
Galaxy Note 4 (Pros)
IR Blaster
Quad-HD Screen
Camera
Back/Menu buttons
More RAM
Customization
Wide Angle lenses on cameras
Headphone jack on top
Swappable battery
Upgradable storage
Heart rate sensor
UV sensor
Stress Sensor
SpO2 Sensor
Galaxy Note 4 (Cons)
No support from Samsung
No updates
Less secure
Touch Wiz
No 3D touch
That's my reason for switching to android, I feel that Android offers more features!
Reasons:
iPhone 6s Plus (Pros)
Smooth OS
Updates
Privacy
Face Time
3D Touch
iPhone 6s Plus (cons)
Keyboard
Lack of back button
Swiping gestures
Lack of customization
Difficult to highlight text
Earpiece is quiet
Can't install custom Apps
1080p screen
Camera
Galaxy Note 4 (Pros)
IR Blaster
Quad-HD Screen
Camera
Back/Menu buttons
More RAM
Customization
Wide Angle lenses on cameras
Headphone jack on top
Swappable battery
Upgradable storage
Heart rate sensor
UV sensor
Stress Sensor
SpO2 Sensor
Galaxy Note 4 (Cons)
No support from Samsung
No updates
Less secure
Touch Wiz
No 3D touch
That's my reason for switching to android, I feel that Android offers more features!
I switched from a 6s to a Note 8.
I am actually contemplating selling my Note 8 and either moving back to iPhone due to ease of use and Apple Music and the Watch.
My other option is to go to the s9 with the Gear s3. I do miss Apple a bit and some of the apps I was using. The android devices I can seem to find more apps which are usually free and I enjoy that part of android.
It's funny because before all of my iPhones I had the Samsung s3 or whatever.
I do however prefer the look of the Gear s3 Watch though over the Apple Watch.... not 100% yet of my next move.
Anyone have suggestions it'll be helpful.
I am actually contemplating selling my Note 8 and either moving back to iPhone due to ease of use and Apple Music and the Watch.
My other option is to go to the s9 with the Gear s3. I do miss Apple a bit and some of the apps I was using. The android devices I can seem to find more apps which are usually free and I enjoy that part of android.
It's funny because before all of my iPhones I had the Samsung s3 or whatever.
I do however prefer the look of the Gear s3 Watch though over the Apple Watch.... not 100% yet of my next move.
Anyone have suggestions it'll be helpful.
I really agree with what GrumpyMom said. I think iOS might be better for you.
Currently I am using the Note 8 which I love. However, it is not perfect and I do miss iMessage. However, I do not have many long iOS group chats - thank goodness!(if you are in one, it is extremely annoying to the other iOS users for you to turn the whole group green and they will need to use another app lol; people will be annoyed even though its not big deal) iOS is good but feels suffocating for me because it is extremely locked down. Apple will never (in the near future) share iMessage with Android. If they do, I can imagine losing a few users. I do not miss it that much because I use Facebook Messenger along with SMS and Messenger is JUST as powerful and more b/c you can do group video chatting. I just wish they integrate Messenger as the main Message platform for Android. Android's default SMS is not too bad, on Samsung, it has some feature that are useful (scheduling message, quick response, sending files, pinning frequent contacts on top).
My phone history:
I started with iPhone 4, then I went to note 2, then I went through iphone 5,6, and 7 (all plus version, if they didn't have the plus version, I would've never switched away from the note 2) and now the Note 8. I always loved the stylus n the note and I loved the phablet experience. I love to draw and doodle so the pen is perfect for me and I do miss it on the iPhone.
I wish Samsung would release a iPad mini size note phone lol since my perfect trio would be: smart watch number sync (I just recently got one Samsung S2- this was super cheap!) which I can use on the go and make phone calls on; a phablet size 7" note phone which replace both tablet and phone and possibly a microsoft surface (maybe not since Note 8 is basically a mini computer almost!) . that would be my ultimate workflow for convenience and functionality w/o too many unnecessary electronic devices. I feel like Apple would never make a phone with a built in stylus so that would not work for me. I tried the Apple pencil (which I now need to sell) and the iPad pro combination but the combo was so heavy carry around and not very portable. Also the Apple pencil is very stupid compared to the bult in S Pen and you need to charge the pencil and the pencil does not work on the phone.
Right now I am loving Note 8. I think at this time, I will not go back to Apple anymore because that feeling of being locked down is very unpleasant for me and they will never come out with a built in stylus phone.
The Note 8 / Surface Pro combo, along with a Gear S3 is what I have and it is "the kit" as far as I'm concerned. I have no need for "another" tablet. I've done a couple of long haul flights in the last couple of weeks and love the combo. I use the pen for OneNote on both devices.
I have zero of those problems on the Note 8. The battery life is quite good, and its very good at conserving when you need to. On a group business trip this week, I accidentally left my Note 8 in the restaurant when I left, and one of my colleagues picked it up for me. I didn't get it back until breakfast the next morning, as we were about to spend a whole day on a site seeing trip in Paris. It has about 30% left after going 24 hours since a charge, and I was able to make it through the day taking a ton of pictures and when I put it on the charger at around 5pm, it still had about 9% left. I simply turned down the display brightness a bit, and frequently used the battery tuning sidebar app to close background apps. Photo quality is great, as reported in many reviews. I don't see any issues with the UI that cause me concern. The positives far out way anything there.
Ditto.
If you are without a job, I'd go with the cheapest option... which in your list is the SE. My wife has one and loves it.
I had a 6s+, Apple Watch, and Apple Music. When I got my Note 8, I also got a Gear S3 (LTE) and quickly switched to Spotify. I like this watch/music combo better than Apples. If you continue to try to use the Apple Watch, I'd guess you will be frustrated. The UI and rotating dial on the Gear S3 are such a better way to interact with the watch, and Spotify lets you download or stream from the watch to BT earbuds.
But it's a Samsung. With Touchwiz.
I'm not saying the phone can't take good photos (even if I don't like Samsung's post-processing), I'm saying that based on past research with no information since to counter it, the base Android operating system (since it was designed to run on everything from a potato to a flagship) compresses images before uploading to social media.
https://www.xda-developers.com/a-look-into-instagrams-compression-quality/
As for the battery life, I can't comment because I've never owned (nor ever will) a Note. You'd think it would be stellar with 3500mah capacity, but even my Nexus 6P would fall short of a single day of usage, with a comparable battery and stock Android.
While it is getting better, Android as a whole is still a very disjointed experience. Right now, I can download a multitude of applications that fill a need of mine, yet their GUI is still using the Holo design language. That's what I'm referring to. iOS does have "old" looking apps still, but the problem is nowhere near as bad as on Android.
Google has a promotion going for 200 off if you finance the pixel 2 phone. Think it ends March 31st.
