Would you rather get LTE duo core S3? or HSPA Plus Quad Core S3?

[aneftp]

Got chance to get a brand new in the box brand new in the box Quad Core HSPA plus S3 ($450).

I've got about 6 hours to decide. I already have the ATT LTE S3. In my part of Florida, LTE ATT speeds are amazing and rock solid reception.

But opportunity came up for me to get a Quad Core S3 international version. My brother's friend just got back from Asia and he's got one to unload to me if I wanted it for only $450. I think he gets a few phones for heavy discounts since he's in the industry. I know brand new they usually got for $550-600 on amazon.

Yeah, I know advantages of using the $10 unlimited data plan on ATT. But I really only pay $22.70 (after 24% corp discount) for my LTE data plan (5GB and than throttled). You do not get discount for $10 data plan.

What would you get? The duo core LTE version or Quad Core HSPA version. Price difference is only $50 for me.

I already own the LTE S3 version and can probably resell it for at least $400 easily, maybe $450 also.

 

[dukeblue91]

Got chance to get a brand new in the box brand new in the box Quad Core HSPA plus S3 ($450).

I've got about 6 hours to decide. I already have the ATT LTE S3. In my part of Florida, LTE ATT speeds are amazing and rock solid reception.

But opportunity came up for me to get a Quad Core S3 international version. My brother's friend just got back from Asia and he's got one to unload to me if I wanted it for only $450. I think he gets a few phones for heavy discounts since he's in the industry. I know brand new they usually got for $550-600 on amazon.

Yeah, I know advantages of using the $10 unlimited data plan on ATT. But I really only pay $22.70 (after 24% corp discount) for my LTE data plan (5GB and than throttled). You do not get discount for $10 data plan.

What would you get? The duo core LTE version or Quad Core HSPA version. Price difference is only $50 for me.

I already own the LTE S3 version and can probably resell it for at least $400 easily, maybe $450 also.

I don't think you really gain much of anything with the quad core version from what I have seen.
You also loose the warrantee through At&t whatever that is worth.
If you already have the GS3 I really see no point.

 

[aneftp]

I don't think you really gain much of anything with the quad core version from what I have seen.
You also loose the warrantee through At&t whatever that is worth.
If you already have the GS3 I really see no point.

Yeah, those are my thoughts also. Because LTE speeds are like 15-30 mpbs easily in the Orlando area with ATT. It may be frustrating going back to even HSPA plus. And ATT has very strong LTE coverage in Orlando.

Warranty. That is a good point.

 

[Wrathwitch]

I own the LTE version, however, upon reflection maybe I should have gone with the international one.

1) They are going to get JB sooner, AND have already had a few updates (such as a brightness slider quick access in the notification bar).

2) LTE falls shy of my geo area. If I go downtown I can use it. Maybe when Telus expands the Ottawa area I may change my tune, but so far I am running on their 4G network which is plenty fast enough so far. Yeah Telus differentiates between what they call 4G and LTE.

3) It really seems that Samsung etc cares much more about the international users than it does for North American users, or at the very least the international community doesn't seem to be so much at the mercy of their carriers!

 

[cynics]

I heard that 2gb of ram really helps multitasking and keeps background apps from refreshing as often. You guys have any comparison to the 1gb intl version?

 

[aneftp]

I heard that 2gb of ram really helps multitasking and keeps background apps from refreshing as often. You guys have any comparison to the 1gb intl version?

Forgot about the 2GB RAM.

I think USA support for S3 will be much better than previously since all USA models run the same exact hardware so likely Samsung will update to JB much faster (pending cellular company approval).

Like there are already T-Mobile s3 USA leaks for Jellybean already

 

[dukeblue91]

Snip/
3) It really seems that Samsung etc cares much more about the international users than it does for North American users, or at the very least the international community doesn't seem to be so much at the mercy of their carriers!

I think you are onto something here as the same holds true for HTC.
I think that The North American carriers are a Pita to work with for the manufacturers and have so many restrictions and also add a bunch of unnecessary crap on the phones.

it also looks to me that many places outside from here don't have such a high amount of subsidies like here.

I can't even ponder what it be like having to deal with At&t as a vendor.

 

[matttye]

I'd probably wait til October and get the LTE, quad core, 2GB RAM, galaxy note 2!

 

[Dmunjal]

I'd probably wait til October and get the LTE, quad core, 2GB RAM, galaxy note 2!

HSPA+ is October. LTE for the US market is end of year.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

it also looks to me that many places outside from here don't have such a high amount of subsidies like here.

The vast majority of smart phones in Australia are carrier subsidised with 12 or 24 month commitments.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Doesn't make sense to give up solid LTE signal and a extra gig of Ram for a couple days of lunch money.

 

[aneftp]

Doesn't make sense to give up solid LTE signal and a extra gig of Ram for a couple days of lunch money.

OP here. I passed on the quad core S3. Kept the lte duo core S3. I've got solid lte coverage in Orlando area with att. I am in suburbs 20 miles from downtown and still have 5 bars full lte signal. I also have Verizon and in my opinion my Verizon lte iPad in Orlando while solid isn't up to par with my att lte experience

 

[Jhowland]

The vast majority of smart phones in Australia are carrier subsidised with 12 or 24 month commitments.

The thing I love here is that we get more credit and data for a bit less money then north America. And we don't have to pay $200 up front.

 

[aneftp]

The thing I love here is that we get more credit and data for a bit less money then north America. And we don't have to pay $200 up front.

We usually are not comparing apples to apples with USA plans vs. Europe/Asia/Australia etc plans when it comes to subsidies.

60-70% of people in the USA are on what we call "family" plans. I know "family" plans either do not exist or there are very little savings with family plans in other parts of the world.

But the USA carrier subsidies each line in the family plan the same exact amount even though the second, third, fourth, and fifth line generate far less revenue than the primary line.

So in the USA, people who only have one line really get ripped off with Post-paid 24 month contract carriers like ATT and Verizon. Those people pay close to $100 a month for their plan and still end up haviing to pay $199/299 for a subsidized iPhone.

But like me. I've got 3 iphone data plans and a feature phone. And my total cost is $175 a month for 4 lines (all with subsidies) with plenty of data and texts. So family plans are far more economical for subsidies to the consumer than individual plans in the USA.

 

[Jhowland]

We usually are not comparing apples to apples with USA plans vs. Europe/Asia/Australia etc plans when it comes to subsidies.

60-70% of people in the USA are on what we call "family" plans. I know "family" plans either do not exist or there are very little savings with family plans in other parts of the world.

But the USA carrier subsidies each line in the family plan the same exact amount even though the second, third, fourth, and fifth line generate far less revenue than the primary line.

So in the USA, people who only have one line really get ripped off with Post-paid 24 month contract carriers like ATT and Verizon. Those people pay close to $100 a month for their plan and still end up haviing to pay $199/299 for a subsidized iPhone.

But like me. I've got 3 iphone data plans and a feature phone. And my total cost is $175 a month for 4 lines (all with subsidies) with plenty of data and texts. So family plans are far more economical for subsidies to the consumer than individual plans in the USA.

I was comparing the individual plans in the US to the individual plans elsewhere (Australia). I knew family plans existed but WOW I really didn't realize that you got that much better of a deal on them (or that that many people are on them)

On topic, I think you made the right choice with the phone

 

[Wide opeN]

LTE; as AT&T is robbing spectrum from their HSPA+.