The Official Android Thread Part XV: Time For Some Oreo!

[Supermassive]

I've had both my Z30 and iPhone 5s in back pockets as I enter the work truck many a time. Sometimes it was one, others it was the other and sometimes both. Never had the Z30 bend or crack the screen.
The iPhone has a slight bend right at the weak spot where the volume buttons are, but it's only on the one side.

Sounds about right.
The size and shape of the 5s gives it more rigidity that the 6 lacks. And yes, the weak spot on all iPhones is the volume buttons. So much so that Apple was rumoured to ditch them altogether, in favour of a touch strip. Obviously hasn't happened yet.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Front pocket or back pocket, though?
Anyone sitting down with their phone in their back pocket deserves what they get, jmo.
If Apple can put the touch sensor on the backside of the future iPhone, and reduce the forehead and chin sizes on the phone, this problem is solved.
I've completely and unintentionally torture-tested every Android/Samsung phone I've ever owned, and that plastic really gave a lot. The recent move to glass doesn't sit well with me. Wouldn't buy it.

I keep my phone in both pockets. Depends on the time of day, frankly. Zero issue at all. My front pockets are pretty damn stiff, too. Current jeans are 16oz jeans. So not the stiffest ever, but very stiff compared to 99% of the jeans out there.

 

[Supermassive]

I keep my phone in both pockets. Depends on the time of day, frankly. Zero issue at all. My front pockets are pretty damn stiff, too. Current jeans are 16oz jeans. So not the stiffest ever, but very stiff compared to 99% of the jeans out there.

I think my problem in the front pockets is when I bend over, the phone is caught between the bottom and top hems of the pocket. It torques the phone pretty hard. I've favored jeans with deeper pockets since, and avoided tiny pocketed jeans. At least that's been my issue.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I think my problem in the front pockets is when I bend over, the phone is caught between the bottom and top hems of the pocket. It torques the phone pretty hard. I've favored jeans with deeper pockets since, and avoided tiny pocketed jeans. At least that's been my issue.

Soso Jeans has a custom deep front pocket option for this very reason. I'm a Left Field NYC guy but Soso makes nice jeans for the price with some nice custom options and a bunch of fits.

 

[guinness]

Looking for recommendations on Android phones in the $300-400 range.

Long story short, about a month ago, my mom was getting upset with Verizon, giving her the run around on her employer discount, and in general the service too expensive for what it is, I talked her into moving over to Straight Talk (AT&T) and getting an unlocked Android phone...the reviews online for the ZTE Axon 7 were pretty good, and Best Buy was selling it for $350, along with a $50 GC.

The problem is, that the phone part of the phone apparently is *****, and it drops calls intermittently around the house...so in the meantime, she stuck her ST SIM into her old Verizon iPhone 5, and it works, sans 4G. I haven't gotten any texts complaining about the ST service since switching phones, so I am assuming that the signal penetration isn't the problem.

Problem I have with Android (even for myself down the road), is that with the death of Nexus, I don't know where to really turn, so many Chinese phones of questionable quality and update history...I thought about Oneplus prior to recommending the ZTE to her, but their waiting list BS from a year or so ago was a turn off to me, and Moto/Lenovo, while tempting, is still Lenovo, even though the X Pure and G Plus 4th gen have great prices ATM.

We both agree that phones aren't worth the high, unsubsidized prices ($650+), but QC seems to be an Achilles heel with Android IMO (the Nexus 6P too apparently, but I personally haven't had the battery shutdown issues).

I figured I could tell her to get a Oneplus 3T, but I'm worried if some issue also happens with that phone as well.

Half tempted to tell her to just stick with Apple and get an iPhone SE...while she was getting used to the size of the Axon, she's familiar with Apple, iOS gets updates, and she doesn't mind iTunes.

 

[Intoewsables]

As much as I like to ***** about the LG G4, the removable battery is such an awesome feature. I just bought a PowerBear 6500 mAh battery for $30 and it lasts FOREVER.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

As much as I like to ***** about the LG G4, the removable battery is such an awesome feature. I just bought a PowerBear 6500 mAh battery for $30 and it lasts FOREVER.

I don't understand the love for removable batteries. All it does is save the $20 or so in install fees (if you can't do it yourself). I mean, it would be nice to save on it, but certainly not a deal breaker. I paid $55 for a new battery installed on my iPhone a couple months ago and it's like new.

 

[Power Man]

I don't understand the love for removable batteries. All it does is save the $20 or so in install fees (if you can't do it yourself). I mean, it would be nice to save on it, but certainly not a deal breaker. I paid $55 for a new battery installed on my iPhone a couple months ago and it's like new.

That seems to be very convenient when you're on the go

 

[Power Man]

Looking for recommendations on Android phones in the $300-400 range.

Long story short, about a month ago, my mom was getting upset with Verizon, giving her the run around on her employer discount, and in general the service too expensive for what it is, I talked her into moving over to Straight Talk (AT&T) and getting an unlocked Android phone...the reviews online for the ZTE Axon 7 were pretty good, and Best Buy was selling it for $350, along with a $50 GC.

The problem is, that the phone part of the phone apparently is *****, and it drops calls intermittently around the house...so in the meantime, she stuck her ST SIM into her old Verizon iPhone 5, and it works, sans 4G. I haven't gotten any texts complaining about the ST service since switching phones, so I am assuming that the signal penetration isn't the problem.

Problem I have with Android (even for myself down the road), is that with the death of Nexus, I don't know where to really turn, so many Chinese phones of questionable quality and update history...I thought about Oneplus prior to recommending the ZTE to her, but their waiting list BS from a year or so ago was a turn off to me, and Moto/Lenovo, while tempting, is still Lenovo, even though the X Pure and G Plus 4th gen have great prices ATM.

We both agree that phones aren't worth the high, unsubsidized prices ($650+), but QC seems to be an Achilles heel with Android IMO (the Nexus 6P too apparently, but I personally haven't had the battery shutdown issues).

I figured I could tell her to get a Oneplus 3T, but I'm worried if some issue also happens with that phone as well.

Half tempted to tell her to just stick with Apple and get an iPhone SE...while she was getting used to the size of the Axon, she's familiar with Apple, iOS gets updates, and she doesn't mind iTunes.

Bought my mom the Honor 5X a few monts ago, 150 bucks, and it's really good

So I'm pretty sure you can get great phones for 400 bucks tbh

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

That seems to be very convenient when you're on the go

It took 40 minutes. Yeah...crazy.

 

[Intoewsables]

I don't understand the love for removable batteries. All it does is save the $20 or so in install fees (if you can't do it yourself). I mean, it would be nice to save on it, but certainly not a deal breaker. I paid $55 for a new battery installed on my iPhone a couple months ago and it's like new.

When I had to get the battery replaced in my iPhone 2 years ago, it was something like $80-85 (CAD). That's nearly 3x the cost, and it's not like I was getting a battery with twice the original capacity either.

If I wanted to buy a regular old battery for the G4 off of eBay, I can find one for like $10-15. That would give me the option to carry a spare battery around in my backpack in case I had a long day at school and couldn't charge it, or whatever. And again, this is insanely cheaper than taking it to the Apple Store and having them pull apart my phone to replace it.

Seeing how phones are seemingly getting thinner and thinner and batteries are getting smaller as a result, it seems like a no brainer to allow users to pop in a spare battery for when they want to use their phone for more than a couple hours, or even just to have the ability to easily replace their faulty battery.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

When I had to get the battery replaced in my iPhone 2 years ago, it was something like $80-85 (CAD). That's nearly 3x the cost, and it's not like I was getting a battery with twice the original capacity either.

If I wanted to buy a regular old battery for the G4 off of eBay, I can find one for like $10-15. That would give me the option to carry a spare battery around in my backpack in case I had a long day at school and couldn't charge it, or whatever. And again, this is insanely cheaper than taking it to the Apple Store and having them pull apart my phone to replace it.

Seeing how phones are seemingly getting thinner and thinner and batteries are getting smaller as a result, it seems like a no brainer to allow users to pop in a spare battery for when they want to use their phone for more than a couple hours, or even just to have the ability to easily replace their faulty battery.

Well, the better the battery, the higher the cost regardless of what phone you have. The debate lies with ease of changing it. Of the $55 (US) I spent, $30 of it went towards the battery itself. I understand wanting to save that extra $25 (and 40 minutes I guess ), but I've now had my 6 for 2.5 years and it was the first time I needed it on that phone. Probably the last as well.

 

[Power Man]

It took 40 minutes. Yeah...crazy.

So when you are outside and run out of juice, you open your unibody phone everytime to replace the battery?

With an LG, you just remove the back and replace the battery

Not even 1 minute


Crazy....

 

[aleshemsky83]

I don't even understand why you would not have a removable battery. Maybe a safety issue with some batteries?

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

So when you are outside and run out of juice, you open your unibody phone everytime to replace the battery?

With an LG, you just remove the back and replace the battery

Not even 1 minute


Crazy....

Portable chargers have been around for a long time and are cheaper than batteries.

Crazy

 

[Kestrel]

Portable chargers have been around for a long time and are cheaper than batteries.

Crazy

Batteries are a lot smaller and easier to carry than power banks.

Insane.

I've got power banks, and I've got a phone without a removable battery - I am capable of changing the battery myself, but I find it's always preferable to open up a phone as infrequently as you can. If I had the choice between two similar phones, I would always choose the one with a removable battery.

 

[Power Man]

Portable chargers have been around for a long time and are cheaper than batteries.

Crazy

Lol at those big ass chargers

LG batteries go easily in any pocket

Crasy

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Batteries are a lot smaller and easier to carry than power banks.

Insane.

I've got power banks, and I've got a phone without a removable battery - I am capable of changing the battery myself, but I find it's always preferable to open up a phone as infrequently as you can. If I had the choice between two similar phones, I would always choose the one with a removable battery.

I used to buy extra batteries for my S3, S4, and Note 4. I used it often at first but then I just didn't because I figured out how to use my phone better, now going from a Note 7 to a Iphone 7+ I can say I have never ever run into a situation where I was like well damn, I wish I had an extra battery and I am a heavy phone user (texting, reading sites, apps, other crap A LOT).

Even if I am running low on battery, I usually have my messenger bag with a plug with me and can plug my phone in anywhere to charge.

I don't understand people that claim the lack of removable battery is a deal breaker, if that's the only reason you steer clear of a good brand, then well, it's gonna suck when in a year or two all phones are fixed back.

 

[Kestrel]

I used to buy extra batteries for my S3, S4, and Note 4. I used it often at first but then I just didn't because I figured out how to use my phone better, now going from a Note 7 to a Iphone 7+ I can say I have never ever run into a situation where I was like well damn, I wish I had an extra battery and I am a heavy phone user (texting, reading sites, apps, other crap A LOT).

Even if I am running low on battery, I usually have my messenger bag with a plug with me and can plug my phone in anywhere to charge.

I don't understand people that claim the lack of removable battery is a deal breaker, if that's the only reason you steer clear of a good brand, then well, it's gonna suck when in a year or two all phones are fixed back.

It's not a deal breaker for me... but it's a nice thing to have a removable battery. Not all of us are using our phones where there's a plug in to be had though. If you're at a school or an airport, fine - there's a way to charge it. Some of us are spending the better part of a day, or days, away from outlets at times.

 

[M.C.G. 31]

They're slowly rolling out RCS in Canada, huh? Group chats, hi-res photo and video, etc. for all platforms? I might consider Android again after that's rolled out -- and if they ever fix that "Android System" battery drain bug.

I mean, it'd be waaaay down the line when my phone starts crapping the bed now, and maybe by then Apple will start making really great products again rather than just "good" ones like they have under Cook and less software bugs.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Lol at those big ass chargers

LG batteries go easily in any pocket

Crasy

LOL...big ass chargers. Yeah...those things are HUGE.

On top of that, they can charge phones 5 times and you can use them on a tablet too.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

They're slowly rolling out RCS in Canada, huh? Group chats, hi-res photo and video, etc. for all platforms? I might consider Android again after that's rolled out -- and if they ever fix that "Android System" battery drain bug.

I mean, it'd be waaaay down the line when my phone starts crapping the bed now, and maybe by then Apple will start making really great products again rather than just "good" ones like they have under Cook and less software bugs.

It will be years before RCS is even a thing.

 

[M.C.G. 31]

It will be years before RCS is even a thing.

Yeah, but they're already rolling it out here in Canada on Rogers and Fido and all the other carriers have agreed to roll it out sometime in the near future too.

America is where it'll probably be a long, drawn out release.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Yeah, but they're already rolling it out here in Canada on Rogers and Fido and all the other carriers have agreed to roll it out sometime in the near future too.

America is where it'll probably be a long, drawn out release.

Hey, I'm rooting for it to happen, too. I'd love to have more of a reason to switch from Apple (if the 8 and next phones aren't good).

 

[Mrb1p]

Got an issue with my G5, it will not play videos anymore.

Nor will it record any videos.

This seems to stem from the V20 update.

Any ideas?