Need Advice/Input on new phone

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phoenix99

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As much as i love my galaxy S2 with extended battery it's time for me to get something new.

i'm on prepaid so will be looking to buy a phone cash. question 1+2:

1.anywhere better/cheaper than orange store to buy a phone?
2. should i wait for end January to buy?

my options are:

Xperia z1 (R7000)
htc one (R6800)
nexus5 (R6400)
LG G2 (R5900)

not interested in iphone, samsung or nokia.

My main concerns are:
battery life...worried about the htc and the nexus with the 2300mah batteries
screen quality and size for watching videos
don't really use camera that much so not a factor

Opinions? bias or not i would like to hear your choice and why

Thanks for your help!
 
While the Nexus 5 is a great phone, the main draw for it in other markets is the low price ($400 I believe) and it isn't nearly as cheap here due to various reasons. At this price competition I personally feel it is a little out of its weight group against phones like the Z1 or HTC. LG I have a bit of a sour thing for due to having one of their older phones which eventually ended up with a 5 min battery life (literally) so I can't say much there

I would say the big question is Z1 or the HTC. The Sony is a much bigger phone physically so that might be a problem for you, but it is a beast regardless. I'm getting one myself (purple) but I've always been a Sony fanboy.... The HTC One is a great phone though, you really can't go wrong with either of the two, it just depends on how much processing power you need.


Battery life: Z1 has a larger battery, but will also likely have a larger drain than the HTC due to larger screen size and more oomph so there shouldn't be TOO much of a difference I think, maybe slightly in the favor of the Sony.
Screen: Z1 has a much larger screen and it looks :love:.
Camera: While not a big factor, the Sony has one of the best cameras available currently. HTC once again good but not AS good.

Be sure to check them both out on GSMArena to read up a little more if you haven't already
 
I'd also it's really between the HTC One and the Xperia Z1.

If you want something that will look a bit professional that goes well with your suit, get the One. Anything else, get the Z1.
 
HTC One is getting a bit old now. The chipset in particularly is aging, and it was never that fast to begin with. Same goes for Z1, but also the screen isn't up there in the same class as HTC or Samsung. Out of your choices I'd go with the Nexus 5.
 
Whatever you decide on now well disappoint you coming the new year releases. I am also in the market for a new phone and to me the Nexus 5 is the only phone I am interested in. But the downside of Orange is that it only stocks the 16GB version and it doesn't have a SD slot. To get the 32GB, you have to order from overseas.
 
cerebus said:
HTC One is getting a bit old now. The chipset in particularly is aging, and it was never that fast to begin with. Same goes for Z1, but also the screen isn't up there in the same class as HTC or Samsung. Out of your choices I'd go with the Nexus 5.
Click to expand...


Wait... How is the Z1 an aging handset? The thing puts out numbers on the same level as the Note 3. I think perhaps you are confused between the plain Z and the new Z1.
 
cerebus said:
HTC One is getting a bit old now. The chipset in particularly is aging, and it was never that fast to begin with. Same goes for Z1, but also the screen isn't up there in the same class as HTC or Samsung. Out of your choices I'd go with the Nexus 5.
Click to expand...

I'd have to go with this.
 
I've read that the battery life on the nexus 5 is quite terrible. Any truth to this?
 
phoenix99 said:
I've read that the battery life on the nexus 5 is quite terrible. Any truth to this?
Click to expand...

It is not the best in the world, but it is on your list. I think that is why people recommend it above the other phones.

EDIT: If you want to eliminate it from the list because of battery life, then the LG G2 us probably your best bet
 
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cerebus said:
HTC One is getting a bit old now. The chipset in particularly is aging, and it was never that fast to begin with. Same goes for Z1, but also the screen isn't up there in the same class as HTC or Samsung. Out of your choices I'd go with the Nexus 5.
Click to expand...

Please sober up before posting in the morning. Your drunk is showing.
 
Debeer165 said:
Wait... How is the Z1 an aging handset? The thing puts out numbers on the same level as the Note 3. I think perhaps you are confused between the plain Z and the new Z1.
Click to expand...

You know something you're right. I actually wasn't aware they'd refreshed the Z. And looks like they improved the screen quite a lot as well. No need to jump down my throat though chev. Was an honest mistake. Still can't stand those stupid Xperia flaps.
 
I'd go with the G2. The screen takes up most of the size of the phone, no wasting of space. Camera is really good too... Value for money, its the best too

I had the Xperia Z and the battery life was amazing. The screen was clear too but in sunlight there were little "dots" that would shine - I can confirm its the same on the Z1 (used a friends one). Camera is very good but when compared to the Z, the detail was less (don't know why or how) but was a lot less over-saturated so a big improvement.

Never actually used the One so I can't comment. Not my favourite brand after using the Wildfire:D

Then the Nexus is what I'd put second on my list. The pure Google experience is really nice (I'm using a Nexus 7) compared to the other ones. Though there are some nice features on the themed ones by Samsung, Sony, etc. Specs are great too and size-wise its better than the Z1 so I'd only go with the Sony if you need water-resistance. Only thing making this below the G2 is that its overpriced. It should be cheaper.

The G2 and the Nexus are pretty much the same phones. The LG has a slightly bigger screen, better cameras and a better battery. The only reason you should get the Nexus instead is for the updates and stock android... If you can live without it, get the G2;)
 
cerebus said:
You know something you're right. I actually wasn't aware they'd refreshed the Z. And looks like they improved the screen quite a lot as well. No need to jump down my throat though chev. Was an honest mistake. Still can't stand those stupid Xperia flaps.
Click to expand...

No worries, we all have things slip by us now and then.

Camera is very good but when compared to the Z, the detail was less (don't know why or how) but was a lot less over-saturated so a big improvement.
Click to expand...
Was the test done before or after the update? I know the latest firmware had a significant patch for the camera to improve performance.

The big question is how willing the OP is to spend a little extra for X or Y features. The G2 is basically a slightly stronger Nexus but with LG bloatware sadly, so 500 bucks for unskinned OS?
 
Debeer165 said:
No worries, we all have things slip by us now and then.


Was the test done before or after the update? I know the latest firmware had a significant patch for the camera to improve performance.

The big question is how willing the OP is to spend a little extra for X or Y features. The G2 is basically a slightly stronger Nexus but with LG bloatware sadly, so 500 bucks for unskinned OS?
Click to expand...

My Z was on the latest software version and the Z1 was a few days old - When was the update released?. My Z was over-saturated and the Z1 was much better. What we did to compare the two was put the two on "Normal Mode" stood in the same place and took a photo of a brick wall and a pot plant about 10-20m away. We zoomed in and the texture on the concrete between the bricks and the brick itself was better on the Z. The colour on the Z was much darker though and didn't look like the natural colour. The detail between the grey bricks on the floor was also quite a bit better on the Z - looked slightly hazy on the Z1 but clear on the Z but again colour wasn't good.

Rooting is free:D Get rid of the bloatware with a custom ROM:p. My sister has a L5 II and an employee has the L9 and both don't have much bloatware actually, they are quite clean but with the odd extra app here and there.

What OP should do is try find somewhere to play with the G2 and see if the bloatware is excessive. If it is, maybe consider rooting and installing a custom ROM. If rooting isn't an option and bloatware is excessive, get the Nexus.
 
ahoudet said:
My Z was on the latest software version and the Z1 was a few days old - When was the update released?. My Z was over-saturated and the Z1 was much better. What we did to compare the two was put the two on "Normal Mode" stood in the same place and took a photo of a brick wall and a pot plant about 10-20m away. We zoomed in and the texture on the concrete between the bricks and the brick itself was better on the Z. The colour on the Z was much darker though and didn't look like the natural colour. The detail between the grey bricks on the floor was also quite a bit better on the Z - looked slightly hazy on the Z1 but clear on the Z but again colour wasn't good.
Click to expand...

Was actually referring to the Z1, they released an update shortly after the phone itself I came out internationally, mid October I believe. Specifically addressed the detail issue the camera had though. http://blog.gsmarena.com/sony-xperia-z1-camera-improves-vastly-after-recent-update/
 
Debeer165 said:
Was actually referring to the Z1, they released an update shortly after the phone itself I came out internationally, mid October I believe. Specifically addressed the detail issue the camera had though. http://blog.gsmarena.com/sony-xperia-z1-camera-improves-vastly-after-recent-update/
Click to expand...

I got that - Just stating mine was on the latest update and with the Z1 being that new and a technologically advanced friend, that one would be updated as well.:) I'll forward it to him and make sure he has the update and will confirm

Just made sure now - He's never updated the phone and it says latest is installed:)
 
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Just wanted to elaborate as my original message did actually seem a little vague when I reread it.
 
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