Advice Needed Which Android phone?

[Captain Jack]

Hello,

Might not be the best forum to post this on but as this is tech and we are all tech-heads here, why not...

Basically, I need a new phone. My current one, HTC One X, is getting on a bit (relatively speaking) and ... well, I just want a new toy really!

Now, before this turns into an iOS vs Android vs Windows debate, let's be clear. I am absolutely not interested in neither iOS nor Windows phones. The reasons are simple. iOS is like a Sky HD box - does what it says on the tin but no room to tinker with it (yes, yes, I know about Jailbreaks). And Windows - I've never used and have no desire to. So that leaves Android, which is akin to an Enigma2 receiver in terms of tinker-ability and something I am very familiar with. Apologies if this sounds rude but I am really tired of iOS fanboys preaching me a device/OS that I have no interest in.

So, back on topic. What recent phone is good? I have essentially narrowed it down to HTC One M8, Sony Xperia Z2, Nexus 5 and LG G3. I know there's Samsung but I have an S3 mini as a work phone and I really don't like the TouchWiz interface. I know the likes of S5 and Note 4 are formidable devices, hardware wise, but I just don't get on with them.

I am currently erring towards the One M8, simply because it seems like a natural successor to the One X and it has a pretty decent build quality. I've heard stories of the Z2's screens cracking just from being in the pocket but not sure how true/prevalent this is. I do like the looks and the water/dustproof-ness. I don't really know that much about the LG and the Nexus, other than the Nexus will have a vanilla OS on it, which I prefer. All have similar hardware and performance but there are pros and cons for each... including the price.

Any advice/experience?
CJ

 

[RimaNTSS]

After my HTC Desire was stolen 4 month ago, I immediately got Nexus5, can not tell any bad things about it. Not possible to put memory card. Battery should be charged each day. Works very fast. 4G also very fast. Do not have expirience with other ones but this is really good.

 

[Journey]

HTC ONE M8 would be my reccomendation, best phone i ever owned and always had Android since its conception

 

[battenfan]

I wanna buy a new Android too. I'm thinking Xiaomi Mi4 but I would really like one that's aptx compatible. Not that I have headphones yet. So a Moto X or a Nexus maybe. I might wait until the first 64 bit phone sees the daylight.

 

[2cvbloke]

Personally I'd go with the Galaxy S5 or the Galaxy Alpha, but that's just me...

My Galaxy S3 (not the reduced-cost & reduced feature Mini) has been a great phone these past couple of years, the only issues I've had is since upgrading Android to 4.3, the battery life plummeted, but that's a common issue that the OS caused, so not the phone's fault...

 

[Captain Jack]

HTC ONE M8 would be my reccomendation, best phone i ever owned and always had Android since its conception

@Journey, have you had any issues with the WiFi connections on it? Read about a few issues with that.

@2cvbloke I know the S5 is a good phone but it's just not for me, I am afraid.

 

[battenfan]

Oh yeah, I forgot about Opo http://oneplus.net/ It's nice too but not for me as it has no aptx and I don't feel like begging for an invite.

 

[Journey]

@Journey, have you had any issues with the WiFi connections on it? Read about a few issues with that.

@2cvbloke I know the S5 is a good phone but it's just not for me, I am afraid.

I have had no issues at all with the phone features including the wifi, i have had issues with text messages not sending just sitting in the inbox with a timer but this has been down to the cell carrier (EE)

I had a Samsung Galaxy S3 prior to this one which i loved, but this HTC ONE M8 is a totally different level, it's fast beyond belief and great for running multiple apps at the same time

I also installed my erm 'old version' of dishpointer pro and it installed without the need for rooting or anything else

Very pleased, recommend it highly

 

[remlap]

I know the Nexus 6 is due from Motorola soon.

 

[A nonymous]

Its dependent on Network with some. My daughter has an EE Kestrel 4G phone and to be honest for the price its not a bad bit of kit. Currently under £100.

Vodafone also do the Smart 4 Turbo which again is 4G selling at Argos for £65, I would get one but i'm not a big fan of Vodafone. Argos have some good deals on at the moment on SIM free and PAYG phones.

Nano

 

[Captain Jack]

Thanks all. Plunged for the M8 in the end. Hope it lives up to expectations!

 

[Journey]

Thanks all. Plunged for the M8 in the end. Hope it lives up to expectations!

Good choice CJ!! you will love it

Which color did you opt for ?

 

[Captain Jack]

Went for a silver one. Partially because it was one of the cheaper ones available (2nd hand - eBay) and partially because it's not painted, so won't chip as such. Either way, it will be in a protective case, so won't matter too much.

Now - anyone want to buy my barely used iPhone 5s to recover my costs?

 

[Clown man]

I personally......would really love to have a Apple iPhone 5s to replace my iphone 4........but can't afford one at the mo.. :-( .....

....what does a "M8" ..do that a iphone can't ....?......

 

[Captain Jack]

....what does a "M8" ..do that a iphone can't ....?......

This is a very big question and should probably be asked as "what can an Android OS do that iOS can't". There is no simple answer to this as it's usually quite personal and many Internet wars have broken out debating this. Let's just say they do more or less the same thing but in different ways. They are also aimed at slightly different markets. iPhones do what they say on the tin - it works but it's closed source and, unless you Jailbreak it, is limited to doing things the "Apple way" (think a closed source receiver OS, such as Sky's, Humax or any non-Enigma2 receiver). Android is open-source and is highly customisable (a la Enigma2 receiver!). Different people prefer different things, so I'll leave it at that.

 

[Archived-1]

I am due for an upgrade in 10 days time, I am also an android user, I will take a look at the suggested options .

 

[2cvbloke]

I am due for an upgrade in 10 days time, I am also an android user, I will take a look at the suggested options .

Sooner than me, I've got to wait 44 days for my next upgrade date...

Not sure what I'll go for though, or even if I will go for an upgrade, but we shall see...

 

[Captain Jack]

I "upgraded" from a £34 per month plan to a £10 one and buying the phone outright. Works out far cheaper long term.

 

[2cvbloke]

I "upgraded" from a £34 per month plan to a £10 one and buying the phone outright. Works out far cheaper long term.

Yeah, but you have to have the money to buy the phone outright initially, and some of the nicer phones on offer these days are pretty 'spensive...

 

[Captain Jack]

You can sometimes get a pretty decent deal on the second hand market - have to look around though. I find local Facebook groups to be useful for this. Even if you buy a phone using a credit card, you can put the money you save monthly towards the phone and it would be paid off much sooner than the contract expire date.