Upgrade time!

medicnick83

medicnick83

Paramedic
Joined
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Messages
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CBD, Cape Town
Okay!

So I'm due for a upgrade, but now I want to ask here for some opinions and discussions etc on the options available to me.
First off, I'm on a SMART S (I believe) package with Vodacom and pay R469 per month - I want to bring that down.
So my options are either R399 for the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact or Samsung Galaxy A5 for R349.
I'm currently using a Samsung Galaxy S4 which is still in very good condition.
Data is not really a concern with me because I use a MiFi with Afrihost and have about 2GB a month to play with and when I don't have that on me, I'm normally within wireless access or have a access point (colleagues or friends) to access.

I use my camera on my phone alot for Tweeting etc (see below for my Twitter account)
For once, I'm not rushing to do the upgrade!

I would like to hear some opinions of people regarding the phones in question.
With my S4, I've only done 1x screen replacement - for me, this is a very important feature but I don't believe Sony have this facility.

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/co...mpact,Samsung Galaxy S4/phones/8944,8744,7597

GO!
 
It obvious, xperia Z3, Sony never disappoint when it comz to camera,
 
Until vodacom increase their contract pricing... again.

Always amazing to see how excited people get when they are about to tie themselves down to a SP. hehe.

(of course then there is the moanage afterwards)
 
medicnick83 said:
Okay!

So I'm due for a upgrade, but now I want to ask here for some opinions and discussions etc on the options available to me.
First off, I'm on a SMART S (I believe) package with Vodacom and pay R469 per month - I want to bring that down.
So my options are either R399 for the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact or Samsung Galaxy A5 for R349.
I'm currently using a Samsung Galaxy S4 which is still in very good condition.
Data is not really a concern with me because I use a MiFi with Afrihost and have about 2GB a month to play with and when I don't have that on me, I'm normally within wireless access or have a access point (colleagues or friends) to access.

I use my camera on my phone alot for Tweeting etc (see below for my Twitter account)
For once, I'm not rushing to do the upgrade!

I would like to hear some opinions of people regarding the phones in question.
With my S4, I've only done 1x screen replacement - for me, this is a very important feature but I don't believe Sony have this facility.

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/co...mpact,Samsung Galaxy S4/phones/8944,8744,7597

GO!
Click to expand...
I have had my A5 for just over a month now...

Under normal use... wifi all day... few calls here and there. Lots of time on tapatalk, fb and twitter I get 2 full days out of the battery.

The camera is sufficient. I see no need for any more than 8 megapixels anyway.

No heat issues like the S4 had.

I am coming from a Note2 and I can botice no downgrade between that and the A5.

If anything the A5 size is better in your hand... also the build quality is much better than the Note 2.

Except for the home key which has a slight gap all around, everything else is awesome.
 
boxerulez said:
I have had my A5 for just over a month now...

Under normal use... wifi all day... few calls here and there. Lots of time on tapatalk, fb and twitter I get 2 full days out of the battery.

The camera is sufficient. I see no need for any more than 8 megapixels anyway.

No heat issues like the S4 had.

I am coming from a Note2 and I can botice no downgrade between that and the A5.

If anything the A5 size is better in your hand... also the build quality is much better than the Note 2.

Except for the home key which has a slight gap all around, everything else is awesome.
Click to expand...

The camera on the Z3 is better and the battery life has doubled for me.

I really loved my A5 but the Z3c is the better of the two in terms of specs :). The A5 is thinner though
 
The thing that upsets me most is that there are NO deal out there that offer you 100+ minutes as well as 1Gig+ data with the option of topping up voice and data at "reasonable" prices... Looking to get a Note 4 but stuck as to which way to go. Not tied down to any service provider, don't mind signing up for a contract that much... but jeez... All the deals out there are sh*t... Any solutions? Trying to concoct something with MTN and Axxess or AFrihost... but don't even know if it's worth investigating...
 
PanQuarius said:
The thing that upsets me most is that there are NO deal out there that offer you 100+ minutes as well as 1Gig+ data with the option of topping up voice and data at "reasonable" prices... Looking to get a Note 4 but stuck as to which way to go. Not tied down to any service provider, don't mind signing up for a contract that much... but jeez... All the deals out there are sh*t... Any solutions? Trying to concoct something with MTN and Axxess or AFrihost... but don't even know if it's worth investigating...
Click to expand...

I would say your best bet might be a MTN Choice package that comes with bundled voice and a Axxess or Afrihost bundle for data or a MTN Anytime contract with inclusive airtime and a Axxess or Afrihost bundle for data.

Voice on contract seems so much more expensive than prepaid but I guess contract has the perk of getting a phone for a better price.
 
Doesn't seem like much of an upgrade to me tbh?

Even worse the screen & a few other areas is a downgrade...you'd effectively sign up for 2 more years of the same thing (better & worse depending on area). Stuff like no wifi ac would also be a concern to me.

I'd postpone and hope S6 prices drop....no way I'm doing a 2 year upgrade cycle that ends with a side-grade.

I'm actually in a similar spot...sitting on a S4. Don't really see a clear upgrade path right now aside from S6 and that is still not quite worthwhile given my low cell usage (I'd want to buy cash so flexible timeframe).
 
I'm fully agreement with you Havoc.
My S4 is in great condition, works like a charm, no issues at all.
I have been deciding about this upgrade for days, each time I want to do it (online) something tells me not too and then I don't.
Few months back, I had 4 contracts, I now have 3 - in 10 days, I will have 2.
This contract I want to keep running (long term goals) the other one ends same time next year though.
Nothing feels like I'm scoring here.
 
I've noticed that my S4 is feeling sluggish lately though...seriously considering doing a factory reset or something.

If you do go for the postpone option just look carefully at the plan you're on. Taking a wild guess you're likely on month 22 of you're contract so you probably can't downgrade it yet...but point is if you plan to coast & postpone for multiple months then check if you can't downgrade.

e.g. You pay R500 for 24 months for plan + handset...after that it switches to month-to-month...for R500...for *just* the handset (they recovered the cost of the handset already). Meaning you lose out if you don't make a move of some sort...either a viable upgrade or a different contract option. Cell companies latest trick to counter that mentality is the upgrade at month 22. That way the counter resets & you're locked into another 2 years...without the option to coast on a lower end plan that doesn't include a device subsidy.
 
Load the latest omega ROM for the S4.
http://omegadroid.co/samsung-galaxy-s4-i9500/
Lolipop will be released soon too, its out for the i9505 already.

Been running mine over a year with Omega, no issues, better battery, performance. and no bloat.
Keeping the phone come my upgrade, as it is still working perfectly..

HavocXphere said:
I've noticed that my S4 is feeling sluggish lately though...seriously considering doing a factory reset or something.

If you do go for the postpone option just look carefully at the plan you're on. Taking a wild guess you're likely on month 22 of you're contract so you probably can't downgrade it yet...but point is if you plan to coast & postpone for multiple months then check if you can't downgrade.

e.g. You pay R500 for 24 months for plan + handset...after that it switches to month-to-month...for R500...for *just* the handset (they recovered the cost of the handset already). Meaning you lose out if you don't make a move of some sort...either a viable upgrade or a different contract option. Cell companies latest trick to counter that mentality is the upgrade at month 22. That way the counter resets & you're locked into another 2 years...without the option to coast on a lower end plan that doesn't include a device subsidy.
Click to expand...
 
In the same boat. Have an S4 and still very happy but upgrade is coming in 2 months time. Most options seems to be way too expensive and if i wish to continue at same price range i will have to settle for a downgrade almost. Best optiins options thus far are the Hauwei Mate 7 at R379 and LG G3 at similar price. The Mate seems to be too large and i will miss the usb connectivity which the Mate does not support. I have read some mixed reviews on the LG from many praising it to some owners complaining about several niggles.
 
LinuxMan said:
Load the latest omega ROM for the S4.
Click to expand...
Not to be funny here...but I don't do cellphone roms.

I'll quite happily roll with archlinux for a couple months...so its neither tech aversion nor lack of skill...but somehow cell roms just rub me the wrong way. I just want a nice phone that does what I need it to (without apple walled garden please...archlinux should have made that obvious).

Frankly my expectations i.t.o. cell are pretty low tbh...its a Phone/whatsapp/FB/skype machine for me...the heavy lifting stuff I'll do on a laptop.
 
Understandable.

I tried many ROMS, most of which had many bugs and problems.
Once I found the Omega ROM, no problems at all.
It is based on the Samsung stock rom. Just with no bloat.

I'm still very happy with the S4 and will keep it for a while.
Come time to renew, I won't get a phone just pay for minutes, data.
HavocXphere said:
Not to be funny here...but I don't do cellphone roms.

I'll quite happily roll with archlinux for a couple months...so its neither tech aversion nor lack of skill...but somehow cell roms just rub me the wrong way. I just want a nice phone that does what I need it to (without apple walled garden please...archlinux should have made that obvious).

Frankly my expectations i.t.o. cell are pretty low tbh...its a Phone/whatsapp/FB/skype machine for me...the heavy lifting stuff I'll do on a laptop.
Click to expand...
 
cavedog said:
I would say your best bet might be a MTN Choice package that comes with bundled voice and a Axxess or Afrihost bundle for data or a MTN Anytime contract with inclusive airtime and a Axxess or Afrihost bundle for data.

Voice on contract seems so much more expensive than prepaid but I guess contract has the perk of getting a phone for a better price.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought that's what I'd do... Sitting with a Note 2 currently and kinda want a big phone phone again. Contemplating waiting to see what the Note 5 looks like but have a feeling it'll be a closed phoned like the S6 and I dont like the idea of no SD-card, battery swops etc... Decisions, decisions...
 
I've been down a similar road recently. Instead of staying on contract I opted for a cash purchase of a G3 dual sim from zeekonline.co.za . One sim card for data (telkom prepaid data), the other for voice(vodacom prepaid). How can you go wrong like that :)

Of course this means you should have the cash up front for the phone but it beats having to fork out R500 a month and still pay a premium for call and data rates!


medicnick83 said:
Okay!

So I'm due for a upgrade, but now I want to ask here for some opinions and discussions etc on the options available to me.
First off, I'm on a SMART S (I believe) package with Vodacom and pay R469 per month - I want to bring that down.
So my options are either R399 for the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact or Samsung Galaxy A5 for R349.
I'm currently using a Samsung Galaxy S4 which is still in very good condition.
Data is not really a concern with me because I use a MiFi with Afrihost and have about 2GB a month to play with and when I don't have that on me, I'm normally within wireless access or have a access point (colleagues or friends) to access.

I use my camera on my phone alot for Tweeting etc (see below for my Twitter account)
For once, I'm not rushing to do the upgrade!

I would like to hear some opinions of people regarding the phones in question.
With my S4, I've only done 1x screen replacement - for me, this is a very important feature but I don't believe Sony have this facility.

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/co...mpact,Samsung Galaxy S4/phones/8944,8744,7597

GO!
Click to expand...
 
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