nothin is confirm yet but just for kicks!
For all the verizon and sprint users! Would you still buy this phone, if no LTE or WIMAX?
Since they want to keep the Form-factor of the original SGS2
The poll excludes Tmobile and ATT user, since im sure theres 4g for them.
Yes
Sent from my HTC Hero CDMA using XDA Premium App
Definitely, I'd rather have HSDPA+ and good battery life than LTE and terrible battery life.
I would much rather have Verizon's LTE (if this phone comes out in time before they kill the unlimited data plans in the summer) but I will still buy the T-Mobile version with 21 Mbps HSPA+. However I refuse to buy AT&T (no unlimited data, no free tethering) or Sprint (service and speeds are terrible in my area and in buildings even in NYC).
Yeah. LTE is expensive and not available in my area.
Probably not, as I'm in an LTE area.
With VzW's aggressive LTE rollout plan, I think it's going to be problematical for them to sell high-end phones not capable of supporting it. Those phones will have a very short shelf life and fail miserably in VzW's largest markets.
i'll prefer 3G+4G it's more universal than WiMax technology
No LTE = no thank you. The Verizon version better have LTE, or I'm guaranteed to be waiting for HTC's flagship dual-core LTE product.
3G has always been enough for me, and I'm sure that once 4G starts to become a more natural and everyday thing, if I ever go back to 3G I'll be like "Damn this is slow". But as of now the 3G is enough for me and it has HSPA+ or whatever the **** is, which is not 4G, but a faster 3G, and AT&T has that.
Also, I have been on AT&T for not even a year yet(before then I had T-Mobile for a long while) but I was lucky enough to get onto it just a while before they stopped the unlimited data plan, and so now I am grandfathered into it. So anyone just now looking to join AT&T, I'd see why you don't want to, but for me it's great. (This part was kinda directed to the guy who said he wouldn't buy AT&T.)
Anyways my point is this is one of the fastest and thinnest and best smartphones so far and probably for the year. There are some other phones that can compete, but this definitely kills anything I've seen. Just look at that flash performance! Straight in the browser, watch a video, or whatever, no lag. I could really care less when it comes out, as I have to wait till June anyways for my 1 year upgrade(which I hope is not too expensive, since AT&T seemed to raise the price on that) but if it's not out by June that's okay with me too because I know it will come soon afterwards and I can be one of the first to get it!
But guys the S2 with LTE has a 1.5 Ghz Dual-Core processor. Reason for this is due to the addition of the LTE, so If you are not going to use LTE then wouldn't that mean you get 1.5 Ghz for your apps processing requirements ?
Wouldn't it be better to get the 1.5 Ghz version rather than 1.2 Ghz version ?
Refer: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/samsung-announces-galaxy-s-ii-lte-and-galaxy-s-ii-hd-lte-handset/
infaas said:
But guys the S2 with LTE has a 1.5 Ghz Dual-Core processor. Reason for this is due to the addition of the LTE, so If you are not going to use LTE then wouldn't that mean you get 1.5 Ghz for your apps processing requirements ?
Wouldn't it be better to get the 1.5 Ghz version rather than 1.2 Ghz version ?
Refer: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/samsung-announces-galaxy-s-ii-lte-and-galaxy-s-ii-hd-lte-handset/
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I don't think they'd be the same processor due to the higher data speed.
Disfected said:
I don't think they'd be the same processor due to the higher data speed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that's what I meant, so don't you think we will be able to use all the 1.5Ghz goodness .(Under the condition we are not using the LTE at the time). for our apps ?
Related
I was a G1 user forever... And I remember there being talk of making the G1 able to utilize the HSPA network... so does that mean it is possible for any phone utilize it? or.... ??? I am kinda confuised... maybe it can utilize it... but not be able to utilize the maximum HSPA+ speeds....
It's hardware. Don't you think every phone would have HSPA+?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
renocivik said:
I was a G1 user forever... And I remember there being talk of making the G1 able to utilize the HSPA network... so does that mean it is possible for any phone utilize it? or.... ??? I am kinda confuised... maybe it can utilize it... but not be able to utilize the maximum HSPA+ speeds....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, you heard right. pretty much all the newer tmo smart phones will be getting a boost, but they will not be getting the full speed unless they have the hardware. So, you will get the full 3G speed and depending on your reception, you might go a little faster. Almost like a speed boost. To take advantage of the full 4g or HSPA+ you will need the hardware.
I heard there isn't a HUGE difference as of yet between the normal HSPA and HSPA+ hardware in terms of speed. I was in LA two months ago and I was getting 4.5 megs down with my Nexus One which isn't HSPA+.
Maybe later on down the line when HSPA+ is full rolled out across the country and they bump the speeds up even more then at that point having the HSPA+ hardware will make a difference but I don't see that happening for a while.
In the meantime, here's to hoping we all get covered by the network soon!
i live in So Cal with normal 3g now. a few months ago when i had mt3g, I Went to an area where they had to new network. it was MUCH faster. and this was with mt3g
"The Vibrant will have HSPA+ when the Froyo update comes out. T-mobile Is dropping it this month. So really soon." was searching for that same question of the vibrant getting some sort of update that would allow the hardware to decode the data packages, its the same thing like the g1. when the towers updated to hspa+ from regular hspa it was only a software upgrade what makes anyone think that these new powerful phone wont be able to get a software upgrade also? so the answer is more to yes than no. and to "It's hardware. Don't you think every phone would have HSPA+?" why dont you think about that for a little. g1 did it so can this & yes the original galaxy s has hspa+ hardware but i think it was disabled in the us version until we would need it since it would use more power just being left on without it being used. also rumor is that the hummingbird chip is running at 1.2 gighertz in the i9000 so i overclocked my virbrant at 1.2 gighertz & its running with no problems! also we might need those extra 200 hertz to keep things running normal if we get the hspa+ upgrade im pretty sure it will need it.
Well as many EVO users know there is a distinct possibility (probability) that Sprint will be getting out of the WiMax game at some point in the next couple of years and joining the LTE bandwagon. Of course, it's a simple switch to make on their end as it only requires a firmware update, however on the phone's end it is not quite that simple.
Has anyone heard anything about the possibility of the 3D having a dual mode chip? I would like to hang on to this next phone for a while and I'm hoping we won't be saddled with only 2.5 ghz spectrum wimax (the spectrum is also something I'm curious about with the former nextel bands' uncertain future).
Can you explain why Wimax is so bad.
toxicfumes22 said:
Can you explain why Wimax is so bad.
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Well it's spectrum isn't effective at structure penetration. Built up cities like NY have a lot of problems with getting signal on one block, then losing it the next "sort of thing". LTE's lower frequency would eliminate some of that issue.
I'm not saying it's bad, and I'm avoiding saying anything about LTE being faster because we need to give it time, once enough people load down the network, itll be a wrap.
Also, Sprint/Clearwire were testing a new format that utilized LTE/WiMax combined with a real world data throughput of somewhere around 70-80Mbs. Why would you not want that?
toxicfumes22 said:
Can you explain why Wimax is so bad.
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Click to collapse
That's a very blunt way of phrasing the question but I'll do my best:
WiMax in and of itself is not necessarily "bad", but to sum it up, Clearwire (who Sprint has partnered with in its 4G endeavors) is pretty well tanking, and I believe that LTE is the superior standard if you base it solely on tech specs. Add to this the fact that LTE has become the de-facto standard via its adoption by ATT & VZW.
Other complicating factors are the fact that Sprint's 2.5 Ghz spectrum has well-known issues with building penetration, the fact that the 800Mhz former nextel spectrum would be a good candidate for rolling out LTE and having better service, the fact that LTE (supposedly) lends itself better to carrier control (ie not in favor of net neutrality) and probably some others, and the fact that sprint has itself said it is investigating the possibility of going LTE, it doesnt even really matter if WiMax is "bad" because it's probably going to happen one way or another.
Wimax 2 might hold promise but I honestly am already over my head here and I'm saying I don't want to be stuck with a phone that overtly clashes with Sprint's 4G vision of the future.
nappydj said:
Well it's spectrum isn't effective at structure penetration. Built up cities like NY have a lot of problems with getting signal on one block, then losing it the next "sort of thing". LTE's lower frequency would eliminate some of that issue.
I'm not saying it's bad, and I'm avoiding saying anything about LTE being faster because we need to give it time, once enough people load down the network, itll be a wrap.
Also, Sprint/Clearwire were testing a new format that utilized LTE/WiMax combined with a real world data throughput of somewhere around 70-80Mbs. Why would you not want that?
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Just to clarify, I believe Wimax actually isn't the problem, if it were deployed on a lower spectrum it would have comparable signal penetration.
IF sprint switches to lte (hope not) then it won't be soon enough to worry about with the evo 3d, you will undoubtably upgrade your phone in that time, unless you can withhold the temptation to buy quadcore superphones next year
Project leapfrog is in the works for sprint. Meaning, they're coonverting to LTE by 2013. Which, in theory, means the Evo 3D will NOT have LTE capabilities because it'll be most likely another year or two before you start seeing LTE on Sprints network.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Wimax is more efficient than LTE, it's the spectrum they are using that is hurting them. I doubt it will be but the Evo was the first 4G phone out so it would make sense. Even if it's unused when the phone is released.
The Evo is ready for Wimax2 (real 4G) and I don't think the standard hasn't even been finalized yet.
Can anyone explain why Sprint is expanding it's Wimax offering if they are going to be changing it in 2 years?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704004004576271523786624948.html
Interesting read sort of gives some insight about what Sprint may be angling for. If the problem with Wimax is the frequency that sprint is using, perhaps their acquiring new frequencies fixes the problem?
lte
Sprint was already testing lte in phoenix . They also dont need to aquire any new frequency as they are getting rid of the iden - nextel really soon and will probably use that as wimax or lte if they choose it . Iden was in the 700 mhz range and will give a much better coverage
I somewhat doubt they'd do 700mhz WiMax. The reason I say that is because WiMax is an IEEE standard, specifically 802.16m, and they specified profiles at 2.3ghz, 2.5ghz, and 3.5ghz.
Clear isn't there just to provide services to sprint, Clear is there to be a broadband provider. That said, they're going to be working with devices that follow the IEEE spec.
It's possible they'd do 700mhz, but unlikely.
Rakeesh_j said:
I somewhat doubt they'd do 700mhz WiMax. The reason I say that is because WiMax is an IEEE standard, specifically 802.16m, and they specified profiles at 2.3ghz, 2.5ghz, and 3.5ghz.
Clear isn't there just to provide services to sprint, Clear is there to be a broadband provider. That said, they're going to be working with devices that follow the IEEE spec.
It's possible they'd do 700mhz, but unlikely.
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Sprint doesn't have anything in the 700MHz area last I checked. They didn't win the auction when it was held.
sprint has 806 MHz to 824 MHz and 851 MHz to 869 MHz bands. http://www.accedian.com/blog/news/sprint-vacated-iden-spectrum/
"There is no uniform global licensed spectrum for WiMAX, however the WiMAX Forum has published three licensed spectrum profiles: 2.3 GHz, 2.5 GHz and 3.5 GHz, in an effort to drive standardisation and decrease cost." -per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX
Regardless of what they own you are right in that Spring/Clearwire cant just wake up and decide to deploy WiMax on a lower Freq that they own b/c at this point in time its flat out not provisioned for it. However I have no clue as to how hard/easy it would be to get such a provision so anything is possible.
The thing with LTE is its provisioned across all freq bands defined for UMTS, which typically consist of 800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 1900MHz. per http://www.pixaware.com/LTE and WiMAX Comparison-TejasBhandare.pdf
I personally speculate that they will go the dual route b/c WiMax has its advantages over LTE in its own areas.
I understand that but I know that clear does what sprint says since they own more than 50% . Sprint will do something with the band width that nextel was using and it looks like the test in phoenix was good. I would not think they would go dual but its only software its easy to go from wimax to lte and so forth but I think it would send the wrong message if they did it . Should be interesting whatever they do . But I bet they use the nextel bandwidth to implement lte
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
you said LTE is being adopted by att and verizon...its actually ONLY being taken by verizon. att is hspa+, just like tmobile. and hspa+24 is faster than LTE actually, and that will be rolling out in less than a year. so LTE isnt the best.
I was saying that lte was better than wimax . They tested it in phoenix and got over 70 mbps . But some say wimax 2 is coming and such . It is never ending just like fios and cable . It will always be a search for speed . But right now you can google sprint and lte test in phoenix . may be the way they are going
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darkraiderfan said:
you said LTE is being adopted by att and verizon...its actually ONLY being taken by verizon. att is hspa+, just like tmobile. and hspa+24 is faster than LTE actually, and that will be rolling out in less than a year. so LTE isnt the best.
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Yea but by the time they roll that out, they will probably be working on upgrades to lte. It will be a never ending battle. Someone is always gonna have the upper hand for half a year.
darkraiderfan said:
you said LTE is being adopted by att and verizon...its actually ONLY being taken by verizon. att is hspa+, just like tmobile. and hspa+24 is faster than LTE actually, and that will be rolling out in less than a year. so LTE isnt the best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/technology/4g-lte.jsp
http://www.appleinsider.com/article..._accelerated_plans_for_4g_lte_deployment.html
nubsors said:
Can anyone explain why Sprint is expanding it's Wimax offering if they are going to be changing it in 2 years?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704004004576271523786624948.html
Interesting read sort of gives some insight about what Sprint may be angling for. If the problem with Wimax is the frequency that sprint is using, perhaps their acquiring new frequencies fixes the problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint isn't doing anything. They don't have a 4g network. They lease it from clear (they are majority owners).
i agree with what others have said, the problem with clear's wimax network is the 2.5Ghz spectrum it runs on.
Wimax is open source, it's theoretically cheaper to build than LTE, but i haven't heard of clear expanding the coverage fast as verizon and tmobile.
Here's to all of you The EVO 3D might have compatability woe Wimax R2 or the 802e/m which will destroy LTE in speed and No Sprint will not switch over its to much money
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
nappydj said:
Well it's spectrum isn't effective at structure penetration. Built up cities like NY have a lot of problems with getting signal on one block, then losing it the next "sort of thing". LTE's lower frequency would eliminate some of that issue.
I'm not saying it's bad, and I'm avoiding saying anything about LTE being faster because we need to give it time, once enough people load down the network, itll be a wrap.
Also, Sprint/Clearwire were testing a new format that utilized LTE/WiMax combined with a real world data throughput of somewhere around 70-80Mbs. Why would you not want that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have LTE, yea and it is as flaky if not more or less than wimax, trust me I was just browsing the 3d forums to see when it will be released or so and the rumors.
AT home I get constant dropouts in LTE, hell I cant even get a constant signal, and walk 100 meters out in the open and I get great LTE coverage. While I have a laptop with built in wimax module and I got free thirty days and I get a constant connection and great coverage. I have never lost connection.
LTE is faster but seriously after 3mb down it all becomes pointless unless you are using your phone for home internet and need a lot of traffic, for a phone a connection at 2-3mb constant is plenty fast.
My wimax module gets me 3-5mb consistently at my house, I have never seen it go below.
Title says it all . Just thought I would set a poll to see where everyone is headed now that the specs have leaked and there are hands on videos surfacing the web.
omg, another post about this?? (although I did vote 'no')
How can I vote using XDA app?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy SII - please forgive if any typos
Menu > Browser
That will take you to the thread you are looking at, but in the browser.
Sent from my Galaxy S II (i777)
I hate to admit it as I was very much against switching, but I will be trying the new phone. 4 of my friends are also getting it and we geek out a good bit with our phones so I'm gonna test the waters. Luckily I know that if it's not exactly as I want it to be, I'll now have another 30 days to go back and get my beloved GSII.
No LTE in my city so why change?
No. Really don't see a reason to.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
That phone is too dang big for my dainty hands!
tboooe said:
That phone is too dang big for my dainty hands!
Click to expand...
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This is funny reading it on a note!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Just a heads up to everyone. AT&T Direct Corp stores will have the Skyrocket on sale for $149.99 starting Sunday. This price is good only at their stores, dealers will be the standard $249.99 pricing on a 2yr contract. Verified by 3 sources (2 prev managers I worked with) and 1 random local store.
Kadin said:
Just a heads up to everyone. AT&T Direct Corp stores will have the Skyrocket on sale for $149.99 starting Sunday. This price is good only at their stores, dealers will be the standard $249.99 pricing on a 2yr contract. Verified by 3 sources (2 prev managers I worked with) and 1 random local store.
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Thanks for this, though it seems odd that they would have a sale on a new release like that.
Dranakin said:
Thanks for this, though it seems odd that they would have a sale on a new release like that.
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Agreed. They used the verbiage, 'initial launch window' which leads me to believe they're doing this to lure people directly into their stores initially. Not sure how long but it definitely won't be the permanent price. If I can get any more solid info or source material, I'll update - but no promises.
Is that in all markets, or just LTE markets?
Sent from my Galaxy S II (i777)
quarlow said:
Is that in all markets, or just LTE markets?
Sent from my Galaxy S II (i777)
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The last rep I talked with said nationwide. The info I got from my local stores and contacts are all close by and not in a current or soon-to-be LTE market.
I am suprised that after the official specs came out that everyone is still going to switch......I wasn't going to anyway, but now I feel even better about my decision.....well bon voyage fellas....and good luck with your new phone.
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tboooe said:
That phone is too dang big for my dainty hands!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's my issues with it.
1. I just got the sga2 and the size of it is perfect. When I hold it in my right hand I can very easily swipe down the notifications or if I am typing with it is my ritgh hand and using my thumb I can do it easily and fairly accurately. With a bigger screen I don't know it will fit as nicely, in fact I am pretty sure it wont. I have the bionic and it drives me crazy because it so big and the thunderbolt is the same way.
2. Rom development learning curve. When the lye came out for Verizon there was a tremendous amount of issues ans bugs with data switching from 4g to 3g and half the time you were left without any data. It will not be as easy for the devs to make Roms or even port them because for some it will be a new concept. Right now we have a few great roms to choose from. When the sga2 is out it will be a while until there is a any Roms. If anything I will wait until the last couple of days of my return period which is about 22 days from now, to see the progress of development, before I think of switching. Like I said the screen size is an issue for me. If it doesn't fit as nice as this phone then I definitely wont switch.
3. Battery life- even though the skyrkt has a bigger battery the battery life will be significantly less than what we got. All lte devices have shirty battery life, bionic, thunderbolt etc. I know this because I own them and as you can see which phone I favor because I am writing this post frlm it. The sga2 is by far the best phone out there, tried them all. Any deviation from this phone could possibly make it no longer "the perfect phone". I have not tried the phone yet so at this point I am just assuming, or speculating.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
jgrimberg1979 said:
That's my issues with it.
1. I just got the sga2 and the size of it is perfect. When I hold it in my right hand I can very easily swipe down the notifications or if I am typing with it is my ritgh hand and using my thumb I can do it easily and fairly accurately. With a bigger screen I don't know it will fit as nicely, in fact I am pretty sure it wont. I have the bionic and it drives me crazy because it so big and the thunderbolt is the same way.
2. Rom development learning curve. When the lye came out for Verizon there was a tremendous amount of issues ans bugs with data switching from 4g to 3g and half the time you were left without any data. It will not be as easy for the devs to make Roms or even port them because for some it will be a new concept. Right now we have a few great roms to choose from. When the sga2 is out it will be a while until there is a any Roms. If anything I will wait until the last couple of days of my return period which is about 22 days from now, to see the progress of development, before I think of switching. Like I said the screen size is an issue for me. If it doesn't fit as nice as this phone then I definitely wont switch.
3. Battery life- even though the skyrkt has a bigger battery the battery life will be significantly less than what we got. All lte devices have shirty battery life, bionic, thunderbolt etc. I know this because I own them and as you can see which phone I favor because I am writing this post frlm it. The sga2 is by far the best phone out there, tried them all. Any deviation from this phone could possibly make it no longer "the perfect phone". I have not tried the phone yet so at this point I am just assuming, or speculating.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Comparing Verizon's LTE phones to att lte phones is that both are different in terms the phones. To my understanding that Verizon's phones has 2 radios one for their cdma aka 3G network and the other for lte where Att will only have one except their lte is going to be more then likely a different band but since lte is gsm, should not need another radio. So trying to compare verizon's lte to 3g switch off is not going to be the same as att lte which from what I have been reading about will be running on 700 and 1700 mhz bands which is probably why att will not have as many problems as verizon since att currently uses for their Hspa *3G* and Hspa+ *4G as marketed* runs off 850 and 1900 mhz bands, so building an lte radio to run quad band should not be an issue and then running a quad band for 2G should not be an issue in the same radio where Verizon's 3G network as they call it is cdma and their lte network should be running off of 700 mhz and 1700 mhz as well as falls back to cdma. The issue I can see happening with att is the 3G/4G/LTE back to Edge aka 2G will cause dropped calls and slow data or no data, like it does from hspa/hspa+ back to Edge. My sgs2 has been proven otherwise but it still can happen because the handoff is not perfect.
I am not sure if battery life is going to take a serious hit as I do not have lte in my area at the moment with att but what would have been nice to test the skyrocket compared to the og sgs2 if both were running the same cpu, that would be the true test. A good test would be the T-mobile sgs2 versus the skyrocket, that would be a way to see if the battery life takes a hit since both phones are similar in specs.
HTH,
Charlie
I had a snapdragon in my Sony Xperia. It was a good starter phone. I am very happy with my Galaxy S II. No need yo upgrade to something less.
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dmnall said:
Comparing Verizon's LTE phones to att lte phones is that both are different in terms the phones. To my understanding that Verizon's phones has 2 radios one for their cdma aka 3G network and the other for lte where Att will only have one except their lte is going to be more then likely a different band but since lte is gsm, should not need another radio. So trying to compare verizon's lte to 3g switch off is not going to be the same as att lte which from what I have been reading about will be running on 700 and 1700 mhz bands which is probably why att will not have as many problems as verizon since att currently uses for their Hspa *3G* and Hspa+ *4G as marketed* runs off 850 and 1900 mhz bands, so building an lte radio to run quad band should not be an issue and then running a quad band for 2G should not be an issue in the same radio where Verizon's 3G network as they call it is cdma and their lte network should be running off of 700 mhz and 1700 mhz as well as falls back to cdma. The issue I can see happening with att is the 3G/4G/LTE back to Edge aka 2G will cause dropped calls and slow data or no data, like it does from hspa/hspa+ back to Edge. My sgs2 has been proven otherwise but it still can happen because the handoff is not perfect.
I am not sure if battery life is going to take a serious hit as I do not have lte in my area at the moment with att but what would have been nice to test the skyrocket compared to the og sgs2 if both were running the same cpu, that would be the true test. A good test would be the T-mobile sgs2 versus the skyrocket, that would be a way to see if the battery life takes a hit since both phones are similar in specs.
HTH,
Charlie
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Click to collapse
I did not know that about the radios. Good to know
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I think skyrocket is running a Qualcomm SoC, not good choice compared to Exynos.
I have an i9100 right now and run data on the non-smartphone unlimited plan. I've only had the i9100 since October, but I'm thinking of eBay'ing it and getting the S3.
My question is, would I be better served to wait for the AT&T version so I could get LTE or just get the i9300, live with slower non-wifi speeds and enjoy a new, unlocked, unfettered phone?
AT&T prevented the One X from unlocking their bootloader; to me, that already says enough.
mfratella said:
I have an i9100 right now and run data on the non-smartphone unlimited plan. I've only had the i9100 since October, but I'm thinking of eBay'ing it and getting the S3.
My question is, would I be better served to wait for the AT&T version so I could get LTE or just get the i9300, live with slower non-wifi speeds and enjoy a new, unlocked, unfettered phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LTE is awesome, i have the skyrocket and Galaxy Note LTE versions. and they are super fast on the network, but i am bypassing the LTE and going the international SGS3 because i know that At&t is going to butcher this device stateside. not that it wont be fast.....but i want something un tainted by them......at least till the NOTE2 comes out, then i will all over that LTE phone....lol
mfratella said:
I have an i9100 right now and run data on the non-smartphone unlimited plan. I've only had the i9100 since October, but I'm thinking of eBay'ing it and getting the S3.
My question is, would I be better served to wait for the AT&T version so I could get LTE or just get the i9300, live with slower non-wifi speeds and enjoy a new, unlocked, unfettered phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LTE is great! But you need to weigh it against the cost of having it.
In no short order, to obtain LTE on AT&T, you must:
Give up the incredible Exynos quad.
Deal with ATT bloat.
Deal with ATT hard-branding.
Deal with ATT redesign (likely losing the physical home button).
Deal with ATT kernels/firmware and potentially locked down components.
Have less dev support (international versions always attract more devs-- myself included).
Be locked into using only ATT (or paying for a SIM unlock code).
Deal with (usually much) slower official OS updates and patches.
Know that you're "in the system" at ATT because they have your IMEI.
Deal with having no idea when the device is actually going to be released.
I'm sure I missed some.
So, how badly do you really want a faster cell connection?
Hopefully that helps you.
thebobp said:
AT&T prevented the One X from unlocking their bootloader; to me, that already says enough.
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Couldn't agree more.
Plexicle said:
LTE is great! But you need to weigh it against the cost of having it.
In no short order, to obtain LTE on AT&T, you must:
Give up the incredible Exynos quad.
Deal with ATT bloat.
Deal with ATT hard-branding.
Deal with ATT redesign (likely losing the physical home button).
Deal with ATT kernels/firmware and potentially locked down components.
Have less dev support (international versions always attract more devs-- myself included).
Be locked into using only ATT (or paying for a SIM unlock code).
Deal with (usually much) slower official OS updates and patches.
Know that you're "in the system" at ATT because they have your IMEI.
Deal with having no idea when the device is actually going to be released.
I'm sure I missed some.
So, how badly do you really want a faster cell connection?
Hopefully that helps you.
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Great points, makes me feel even better about importing the S3 esp since this will be my first time doing so.
Also, a few have mentioned you can downgrade your data plan to medianet and save $ since the Int. S3's IMEI won't be in the ATT database & it's not considered a "smart" phone.
I will be happy to have the "home" button back since using my ATT Note that lacks it.
MoJoePin said:
Great points, makes me feel even better about importing the S3 esp since this will be my first time doing so.
Also, a few have mentioned you can downgrade your data plan to medianet and save $ since the Int. S3's IMEI won't be in the ATT database & it's not considered a "smart" phone.
I will be happy to have the "home" button back since using my ATT Note that lacks it.
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If you go with that media net plan do you still get 3G speed - Hspa speed ? Or what ?
Sent from my GALAXY.
manny05 said:
If you go with that media net plan do you still get 3G speed - Hspa speed ? Or what ?
Sent from my GALAXY.
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Yes, and yes HSPA+ which is being called 4G but is not LTE. Have LTE on my Note and while it's fast it sucks the life out of a battery. Will not give up quad core just to be on a LTE Bloated devices.
I usually get 1 or 2 down and right around 1 up which is more than fast enought to stream videos, internet works great, etc. Not that it matters to me anyways because my LTE connection speed is zero, there is no LTE in my area and it appears it is still several years away. Makes it a no brainer really... lol
Once you go LTE its kinda hard to go back to HSPA+
if you have wifi constantly its a no brainer.
Able to surf the web and stream HD videos on the road is very satisfying.
that's why Im so torn if i should get the unlock or wait for the LTE version.
shinshoryuken said:
Once you go LTE its kinda hard to go back to HSPA+
if you have wifi constantly its a no brainer.
Able to surf the web and stream HD videos on the road is very satisfying.
that's why Im so torn if i should get the unlock or wait for the LTE version.
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I can Stream HD video on my HSPA+
bbgt2 said:
Yes, and yes HSPA+ which is being called 4G but is not LTE.
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Also, if you want to go there, LTE is not true 4G either.
shinshoryuken said:
Once you go LTE its kinda hard to go back to HSPA+
if you have wifi constantly its a no brainer.
Able to surf the web and stream HD videos on the road is very satisfying.
that's why Im so torn if i should get the unlock or wait for the LTE version.
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Click to collapse
I disagree, personally. I had my Note LTE for a few months that I just sold last week and have since been using the HSPA+ Atrix until the S3 is released. The LTE was great, mind you, and sometimes I had speeds up to ~50 down. Honestly though, the HSPA+ speeds I'm getting now are noticeably slower, but only when I'm actually downloading something. Really, that's usually only podcasts and app updates anymore, and the speed difference in the end usually nets to an extra ~10-15 seconds of waiting. I have zero issues streaming HD video and music to my phone with HSPA+, so the LTE would literally do nothing for me in that case (except for perhaps consuming more battery).
With data caps, it's even less of an issue. You wouldn't want to be downloading any large files over the cell network in either case, so you'll end up on WiFi for that stuff whether you're LTE-equipped or not.
Furthermore, the LTE radios right now are so power-hungry that I wasn't very comfortable using it on my Note. You actually use a lot less power with your WiFi radio ON.
Put that all together and weigh it against the benefits of importing the international variant. For me personally, that's the "no-brainer."
To me its not for a couple reason, 1.) We dont have LTE where I live 2.) Only time I use data is to send picture/video messages otherwise I'm always wireless. Also agree with everyone else on the ATT front, they really do ugly the thing up. I'd also rather have a quad-core than LTE. I'm a hardware over network guy.
thebobp said:
Also, if you want to go there, LTE is not true 4G either.
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OK
Hspa+ is 3.5G
LTE is 3.99g
All good now?
bbgt2 said:
OK
Hspa+ is 3.5G
LTE is 3.99g
All good now?
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Err, it's hardly 3.99G when 4G mandates 1Gbps and LTE can still fall into the "single digit Mbps".
Well were I live LTE is about 8mbs up/down on AT&T and H+ is 3-5mbs down and 1 up so no big deal for me. That non RGB 720p screen is, but I am still thinking about it.
I was on ATT before with 3G before, but not LTE and I haven't looked at their plan for a while. Can someone explain to me:
When you sign up for their LTE plan, do you get 3G also or no?
If no, can you also buy 3G and how much more is it?
If you can't have 3G free with LTE I think its not so good, especially if you are not living in a well coverage area, which 3G still has a wider coverage.
eksasol said:
I was on ATT before with 3G before, but not LTE and I haven't looked at their plan for a while. Can someone explain to me:
When you sign up for their LTE plan, do you get 3G also or no?
If no, can you also buy 3G?
If you can't have 3G free with LTE I think its not so good, especially if you are not living in a well coverage area, which 3G still has a wider coverage.
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your phone will toggle between 4gLTE -4G-3g-and Edge. but 85 percent of the time my Note is on LTE.
if your area has LTE why would WANT to buy 3g as well......lol
the2rrell said:
your phone will toggle between 4gLTE -4G-3g-and Edge. but 85 percent of the time my Note is on LTE.
if your area has LTE why would WANT to buy 3g as well......lol
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Thats my point, what if you have an LTE phone and your area don't have LTE, or you go out of town to an area without LTE, and you have no 3G plan. You'll be stuck with 2G.
I am trying to decide which version to get. I currently use my iphone4 to check mail, stocks, news, facebook, internet radio, play some games, etc. I usually update all my apps when I am at home on wifi since 3g is slower. I never use it as a hotspot. My 3g service is unlimited but LTE will not be so. So the dilemma...
1) I can get the 3g version now. My bill will be about the same price. It has 1gb of ram.
2) I can wait a few weeks and get the LTE version here in Korea which will have 2gb of ram. My bill will definitely increase, I will lose unlimited data. I never had LTE so not sure if its worth it but I don't watch videos on my phone so I can't see why I need it. In my eyes the 2gb of ram is what is better.
Is LTE going to change my world for what I do? Worth the extra money? Is 1gb vs 2gb going to be very noticeable also?
What would you do in my shoes? Don't just think about the whole ohhh you got quad core with LTE and DMB (that I'll never watch)!
1)How much is money important to you? How much do you use your phone for surfing the web? The question whether you need LTE is for only you to decide...no one else can help you since it depends on how the individual uses the phone. If you feel that 3G is holding you back, then by all means LTE is the way to go. If you are happy with 3G then there is nothing that LTE will really give you but bigger bills. Honestly from what you have said, I don't think you need LTE.
2)No. Right now, 2GB RAM has no significant advantage over 1GB RAM and that will be true for at least another year.
In my opinion from a random internet stranger, there is no need to get the LTE version at all.