[Q] Is it worth it? - Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

Hey Guys
I'm moving back to the big red in about a week and I've had my eye on the note since it was first anounced internationally. I really want to know is it worth the hefty $300? I really want to get it and finally have a great smartphone, but I'm afraid that I'll hate it, or have buyer's remorse within the first couple months after. What do you guys think?

That all depends on what your looking for. I personally think this is the best phone ever (as long as we can get this bad boy unlocked which is looking pretty good). For me it was about size, I love the size of this phone but I completely understand those who think it's too big (there just wrong but it's okay) and then there's the spen I personally haven't used it that much but if you like it then there really isn't any other option. So if you want one or both of those then I'd say get it, if not than maybe the s3 or the dna might be a better choice(be careful with the dna though with the battery and sd situation).

I completely agree with everything he said, it is ridiculous the battery life this thing gets I'm a power user and I still have battery left the end of the day which is just nuts not to mention the phone is awesome.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

IvanNCase said:
That all depends on what your looking for. I personally think this is the best phone ever (as long as we can get this bad boy unlocked which is looking pretty good). For me it was about size, I love the size of this phone but I completely understand those who think it's too big (there just wrong but it's okay) and then there's the spen I personally haven't used it that much but if you like it then there really isn't any other option. So if you want one or both of those then I'd say get it, if not than maybe the s3 or the dna might be a better choice(be careful with the dna though with the battery and sd situation).
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I actually love the size of that thing, aha. I want it for the fact that it's a beast when it comes to processing power and screen size. I also like that I can also expand the memory on it. I was thinking about the DNA, but I'm coming back from the EVO lte, and I actually hated what HTC did to ICS, and I also don't trust that small battery with a 1080p screen running all day. So would you say it's a go?

orfius christ said:
I actually love the size of that thing, aha. I want it for the fact that it's a beast when it comes to processing power and screen size. I also like that I can also expand the memory on it. I was thinking about the DNA, but I'm coming back from the EVO lte, and I actually hated what HTC did to ICS, and I also don't trust that small battery with a 1080p screen running all day. So would you say it's a go?
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If the size of the phone isn't a problem for you, then go for it. Keep in mind that Best Buy will match the price of Amazon, I got mine for $200.

I'm partial to the note but I will tell you the dna is a fast phone with a great cam and screen I have both. .. The dna however is going on ebay for Christmas money. . . It's all what you like and how much you want to spend... The battery isn't the downfall for me it is the memory but not everyone needs more then 10gb of memory
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app

totally agree with everyone. its the best phone i ever owned and ive had alot. you will not regret it.

Actually still debating this myself, I already have the phone but am deciding if it's worth keeping and selling my Galaxy nexus or returning and keeping the nexus. The note is faster, has much better battery life and radios, but $850 is $850. I have until like January 2nd o chose so I will see what happens.

You get 14 days to decide, which I feel is plenty. I definitely think it's worth the $300 coming from my Incredible.

flaring afro said:
You get 14 days to decide, which I feel is plenty. I definitely think it's worth the $300 coming from my Incredible.
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I bought off contract from Best buy I get 30 days to decide.

bose301s said:
I bought off contract from Best buy I get 30 days to decide.
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If you buy on contract, you only have 14 days to cancel an upgrade though. I've heard best buy or some other retailers give you more time to decide you want another phone, but you still have to keep a verizon smartphone contract after the 14 since that part is up to verizon. Since the OP said $300 I'm assuming he's buying it on contract.
Edit: To be clear that is what I've heard online, not from official sources. But I've heard people say Best Buy associates often make it seem you have the full 30 to completely back out when it's only to switch phones in the last 16.

I don't think the size of the phone is as gigantic and everyone makes it out to be. I have a size 29 waist and it fits fine in all of my pants even with the fairly bulky flip cover. The only issue I could think of is if you have small hands and mostly want to use it one-handed. I don't have any issue with this, and I found that typing one-handed isn't bad when you use the stock one-hand keyboard which shifts the keys toward one side of the screen.

If you get it from verizon the holiday return policy is good till jan 15 for any purchases after nov 27
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium

bose301s said:
Actually still debating this myself, I already have the phone but am deciding if it's worth keeping and selling my Galaxy nexus or returning and keeping the nexus. The note is faster, has much better battery life and radios, but $850 is $850. I have until like January 2nd o chose so I will see what happens.
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Click to collapse
Hi,
Why so much. I thought it was 699 off contract plus tax?
Thanks,
Bryan

I paid $700 for mine (So I can keep my unlimited data) and I still think it is worth it at that price. For as much as I use, what I use it for, and the battery life is amazing, I couldn't imagine having any other phone. The size of the phone becomes a nonfactor once you adjust to it. I know I will have this phone for quite awhile and look forward to what the next Galaxy Note has in store for us down the road.

bigjonmoo73 said:
I paid $700 for mine (So I can keep my unlimited data) and I still think it is worth it at that price.
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I did the same thing for the same reason. I wanted the first note but that didn't come out on verizon and I'm glad it didn't. The extra GB of system memory really allows the note 2 to multi task. What blows me away is I can put the phone through the ringer and not have to charge it until I want to (when I go to bed).
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Related

[Q] Wife's Rezzie stolen -- Seeking suggestions for replacement

All --
My wife's Rezzie got stolen the other night, and we need to get another phone this weekend. Don't want to spend more than $199 (we'll utilize an upgrade). That limits us to:
Samsung S III
Moto Razr HD
LG Spectrum 2
Moto Razr M
And, of course, another Rezzie for $50. Low cost is a factor, but we don't want to get stuck with older technology, either. We do root our phones, which may rule out the Spectrum 2 -- I can't seem to find any root or dev support for the phone. The HTC DNA looks terrific, but is really big and will need a few weeks to be rooted.
Open to suggestions on which way we ought to go.
Much appreciated...
How about the incrediable 4g, they just now got root
mclass55 said:
How about the incrediable 4g, they just now got root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say the DNA if you want another HTC phone. Even though root isn't possible right now, patience will prevail with this phone. I'm not a fan of Motorola and usually feel the same about Samsung, but the s3 is just too damn sexy.
So my vote is DNA or S3.
BTW, have you tried using Plan B to find your wife's phone?
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
Realistically speaking, its never going to be a rooted phone since its your wife's's phone. I would say either the razr M because its DURABLE or the S3 due to its "wow" factor. But if your tight on money, why not another rezound?
If it was my girlfriend, I would let her play with the phones at the store and let her decide.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda app-developers app
I would go with the htc DNA, and I would either put plan b or avast antivirus with anti theft on it so I could retrieve my phone or at least render it useless to the losers that stole it.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda premium
richii0207 said:
Realistically speaking, its never going to be a rooted phone since its your wife's's phone. I would say either the razr M because its DURABLE or the S3 due to its "wow" factor. But if your tight on money, why not another rezound?
If it was my girlfriend, I would let her play with the phones at the store and let her decide.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know his wife or are you just making a sexist presumption about all women?
I would stick with a phone that has a removable battery and an SD card slot since it seems that makes all this rooting etc. easier and also because you can put in a 64gb card and have tons of music and podcasts on it. I had to replace my Rezzy without an upgrade option or insurance or warranty (cracked screen) and opted for buying a used Rez. I know I'll be happy with this for a few more years, but I don't have that need to always have the latest technology, especially when it's already so good on phones, and I would have lost my unlimited plan. I did play with the GS3 and it's pretty nice. I prefer an LCD screen though as I'm planning on keeping my phone for a while and I've read about the Super Amoled screen degrading over time.
So also depends on how long she might be keeping the phone and if you will be losing an unlimited plan as well.
feralicious said:
Do you know his wife or are you just making a sexist presumption about all women?
I would stick with a phone that has a removable battery and an SD card slot since it seems that makes all this rooting etc. easier and also because you can put in a 64gb card and have tons of music and podcasts on it. I had to replace my Rezzy without an upgrade option or insurance or warranty (cracked screen) and opted for buying a used Rez. I know I'll be happy with this for a few more years, but I don't have that need to always have the latest technology, especially when it's already so good on phones, and I would have lost my unlimited plan. I did play with the GS3 and it's pretty nice. I prefer an LCD screen though as I'm planning on keeping my phone for a while and I've read about the Super Amoled screen degrading over time.
So also depends on how long she might be keeping the phone and if you will be losing an unlimited plan as well.
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Click to collapse
Well for one, hes posting on these forums instead of his wife. I am talking based on a simple observation, never said "all" women. Plenty of wormen are on these forums but I am not here to argue.
anubis2k3 said:
I'd say the DNA if you want another HTC phone. Even though root isn't possible right now, patience will prevail with this phone. I'm not a fan of Motorola and usually feel the same about Samsung, but the s3 is just too damn sexy.
So my vote is DNA or S3.
BTW, have you tried using Plan B to find your wife's phone?
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The DNA has root.
Doesn't have S-Off.
As for new phones, removable batteries and sd card slots will be rare.
Also, put avast on your phones.
Went with a SGIII
Thanks all for the suggestions. We had to get a phone quickly, since we'd frozen my wife's line as soon as we realized the phone was stolen and not lost. Both of us needed our phones for business, and we were about to head out of town.
That took the DNA off the table right there. It wouldn't be available until after we left, and VZW insists on shipping Web orders directly to our house. No one by our names there to sign for it until next week (we have a house sitter). Plus the DNA is just too big.
Also looked at the Razr M (screen too small) and the Razr HD (screen the same size as the Rezzie, but phone much larger). The SGIII is only marginally larger, but the screen is much bigger -- easier for our middle aged eyes.
The local store had the Rezzie in stock, but they wanted $200 for it. Online, it's $50, but the same delivery problem would be there that we'd have for the DNA. Not worth that much money for a year-old phone.
No devs support the Spectrum 2. Plus it's huge. No go.
In terms of features and newest technology for the price, that left us with the SGIII. So far so good. It has its quirks, and we swapped out the launcher immediately. But the initial overall impression is good.

bootloader

Is the bootloader still being worked on? It seems like everyone has given up, so I was just wondering if there's any recent positive news on it.
Nope Samsung and Verizon have been doing their homework lately. It'll be pretty hard from now on with Samsung devices if they really got this bootloader situation down.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4
I'll be bummed if they don't find a way in the 2 years I have this phone, but hey I'll get over it when my next device is going to be a Nexus. I'll never buy locked down ever again. But hey, at least we have Safestap! It's great we at least have SOME options to mess around even with this bootloader crap
That is true! very grateful for safe strap, honestly. I just can't believe how hard it is to crack this damn boot loader! I might go pick up a nexus, or even a failphone 5. I love Samsung, but not so much after this.
T Greezy said:
That is true! very grateful for safe strap, honestly. I just can't believe how hard it is to crack this damn boot loader! I might go pick up a nexus, or even a failphone 5. I love Samsung, but not so much after this.
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Click to collapse
You're going to complain about Samsung devices being locked down and go buy an iPhone?
Nexus 5 is the way to go for real freedom (without have to spend tons of money on 'dev' editions). Only problem is you won't be on Verizon's network with a Nexus phone that's for sure. Oh and I heard the HTC One's bootloader just got cracked? If that's true you might want to do that if you want to stay on Verizon.
I'm thinking about getting a one. I just dont know about the battery life. Wish it had expandable memory. I was just gonna get an iphone 4s for a month until I do my research on something else.
T Greezy said:
I'm thinking about getting a one. I just dont know about the battery life. Wish it had expandable memory. I was just gonna get an iphone 4s for a month until I do my research on something else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Battery life is not bad... it should get you through a day of moderate use, but with heavy use you'll probably need a second charge... keep in mind that the Verizon version of the One removed the power saving mode thing for no good reason so technically the Verizon One will have worse battery life than others... but of course with custom roms you should be able to fix that.
Another thing to keep in mind is if you're in weak signal area the One won't be that great as the metal body makes reception not as good as the S4 or other plastic body phones. Also the GPS is better on the S4.
It is very hard to believe that the booloader will not be unlocked anytime soon on this phone. I love it so much!!!:thumbdown:
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Get G2 now or wait for a newer phone?

What do you guys think? Should I get the G2 now or wait until a new phone comes out such as the S5? I know if I keep waiting newer and better devices will keep appearing, but I want to get the best of the best for a 2 year contract and don't want to be disappointed with a phone that has any big flaws.
As far as I know, the G2 has a few flaws I might be bothered with such as games not playing with good fps, the phone getting hot while playing games, video recording quality issues, lag issues in the web browser, and also unsure if LG will be supporting this phone with timely updates. All of these issues I've heard on this forum.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda app-developers app
Well if the S5 is coming in Feb/March/Aprilish like people are saying, thats already 4-6 months into your contract, if it even really comes out. Maybe they will wait until June like previous models, then you are at like 8 months into your contract. Will it have issues? Probably- basically all phones have issues. Are the G2 issues big enough for you to not be happy? Maybe try the phone for 14 days? I have noticed some lag in browsing with chrome. I need to test other browsers to see if there is a better one. I hope LG updates their phone as it's been very well received for the most part.
Phones are outdated so fast these days. I would recommend picking up a G2 for the trial period and see how you like it. There is no harm in that and it may surprise you. If it doesn't, return the phone and keep your upgrade. :good:
Really depends on how bad your current phone is. Current top phones that are in market are LG G2, Note 3, Nexus 5 (not in any particular order). Newer phones that are rumored are S5 and HTC M8, and probably a release date around March or April. If you can wait that long then wait. I jumped from Galaxy Nexus (Vzw), in September to LG G2, simply because it was great looking phone with specs and got for $140 on 2 year contract and I am glad I made that decision, this phone is awesome. Two things I wanted in new phone battery life and speed and this phone does just that.
Yea. I agree with posts above. The newest and best phones are constantly being released so it won't be long for an even better phone to come out. Even if you wait until the s5 comes out an even better phone will be released shortly after. I personally think that the lg g2 is a great phone and I could not be happier with it. This is my first android phone and there is definitely a lot to like about android and the lg g2
Sent from my LG-VS980 using Tapatalk
Some of the issues may be big enough for me, unless there are solutions to them such as software updates from LG. Mainly lag and gaming fps/heat issues. But I understand no phone is perfect. I can't get the nexus 5 because I'm on Verizon and I don't know if I want to switch because of the service and plan I have with them.
If I do a 14 day trial do I get a full refund of my money if I don't like it or do I have to pat anything? I remember one time one of my family members got a phone with Verizon and soon after returned and we had to pay for the use of service or something.
Also I currently have an HTC Rezound.
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I think at this point in the year all of the carriers/manufacturers have their respective big guns out for the holiday shoppers. I really don't expect any other" must haves" to come until sometime first quarter of 2014, so wysiwyg for now.
For me, the time was now, in fact it's been exactly 2yrs; got the og razr the first day, 11/11/11, and moved up to the g2 yesterday (after a lot of research). What did it for me was the Verizon promo that ended yesterday. Got the phone for free and kept my unlimited data? win:win.
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk
sdsubball23 said:
What do you guys think? Should I get the G2 now or wait until a new phone comes out such as the S5? I know if I keep waiting newer and better devices will keep appearing, but I want to get the best of the best for a 2 year contract and don't want to be disappointed with a phone that has any big flaws.
As far as I know, the G2 has a few flaws I might be bothered with such as games not playing with good fps, the phone getting hot while playing games, video recording quality issues, lag issues in the web browser, and also unsure if LG will be supporting this phone with timely updates. All of these issues I've heard on this forum.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go now and start enjoying. Better phones will always come out. That said I find it hard to believe (phablets aside) any phone in the near future will offer the performance to battery life of the G2. Sure a faster CPU may come out next year, or a phone may have a nicer build/body (HTC), but all around I doubt the Galaxy S5 or new HTC will offer anything of real significance over the G2.
crawlgsx said:
Go now and start enjoying. Better phones will always come out. That said I find it hard to believe (phablets aside) any phone in the near future will offer the performance to battery life of the G2. Sure a faster CPU may come out next year, or a phone may have a nicer build/body (HTC), but all around I doubt the Galaxy S5 or new HTC will offer anything of real significance over the G2.
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The whole heat issue I think many people misunderstand especially if coming from a lower power phone.
These SoC chips have better GPU than average laptop integrated graphics, high clockspeeds and no room for a heatsink.
It is pushing 2 million pixels to the screen, per rendered frame. Of course its gonna heat up.....as long as it is within SoC thermal limits it is of no concern
I have the G2 and notice none of this game lag or heat issue at all i dunno where you heard this?
I can assure you no phone has better integrated gpu than a laptop.
sdsubball23 said:
If I do a 14 day trial do I get a full refund of my money if I don't like it or do I have to pat anything? I remember one time one of my family members got a phone with Verizon and soon after returned and we had to pay for the use of service or something.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know how it works on Verizon, but with Sprint any phone you purchase has a period of 14 days where you can return it for a full refund. Sometimes companies may charge an activation fee of like 20-35 bucks. All carriers have a sort of "trial period" where you can return the phone, but they may each bit a little different. You could try calling your nearest Verizon store and ask them, or maybe try chatting with support online, or just calling Verizon's customer service number online.
The gaming lag may be isolated to a specific model, or maybe a user made certain tweaks, etc. Also could be app related and require the app developer to make a tweak for a phone, etc. There are so many factors its hard to say, but personal hands on experience is always best.
Totes go for the G2
sdsubball23 said:
What do you guys think? Should I get the G2 now or wait until a new phone comes out such as the S5? I know if I keep waiting newer and better devices will keep appearing, but I want to get the best of the best for a 2 year contract and don't want to be disappointed with a phone that has any big flaws.
As far as I know, the G2 has a few flaws I might be bothered with such as games not playing with good fps, the phone getting hot while playing games, video recording quality issues, lag issues in the web browser, and also unsure if LG will be supporting this phone with timely updates. All of these issues I've heard on this forum.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take the plunge!! It's a future proofed phone man. I buy and sell phones where I am on craigslist and so have used about 80 different kinds this year. My favourites up till the G2 were the HTC One, Moto X and Optimus G. However upon using the G2 i experienced a fluidity and power I've yet to see matched. I mean sure every phone has is caveats but if theres one thing I know its that galaxy devices are known for there fair share of Lag. You can fix the G2's problems with some tweaks/roms/ settings changes. I've yet to have an overheating device when i play dead trigger 2 and nova 3 but not all devices are the same right, theres a ton of disimilarities even within the same model. If you got the cash go for it or the Nexus 5
I say now. What else do you need in a smartphone? The screen is fantastic, the battery is better than any standard device, the processor will handle anything for a very long time, and the camera is in the top tier.
What else do we need?
Since you are on Verizon, did you see the deal few days ago on G2? It was Free with 2 year contract.
The G2 is bleeding edge right now. There will always be another device "down the road" so you might as well have the best while you can.
sdsubball23 said:
Some of the issues may be big enough for me, unless there are solutions to them such as software updates from LG. Mainly lag and gaming fps/heat issues. But I understand no phone is perfect. I can't get the nexus 5 because I'm on Verizon and I don't know if I want to switch because of the service and plan I have with them.
If I do a 14 day trial do I get a full refund of my money if I don't like it or do I have to pat anything? I remember one time one of my family members got a phone with Verizon and soon after returned and we had to pay for the use of service or something.
Also I currently have an HTC Rezound.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
I have had not a single problem with my G2 when gaming in fact it is the best phone I've used for gaming by far. As for heat issues there is none. For some people they say it's get so hot that it burns them but for 99% of people it is barely hot to the touch. I guess it depends on your heat tolerance.
craighwk said:
I say now. What else do you need in a smartphone? The screen is fantastic, the battery is better than any standard device, the processor will handle anything for a very long time, and the camera is in the top tier.
What else do we need?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. I don't need a high end phone but I decided to go with the LG G2 because I think it's a very capable well-rounded device. Since I am also locked into a 2 year contract, I'd expect my phone to last at least for the next 2 years and I think it won't be a problem with the LG G2. Some of the mid-range phones I got previously felt dated 6 months later.
There will always be another phone on the horizon. But the G2 and other newer phones will likely have the same 800 processor as the upcoming ones and none of the "big three" out right now would ever be classified as bad phones. Get one now if you need it, or get one later if you want to wait.
I was in the same boat. I was thinking about waiting for the S5 as well, I had been due for an upgrade since June of 2012. I really had an itch to get a new phone so I took the plunge and got the G2. Some places say the S5 will come out in January, what if it comes out in the summer? It's a roll of the dice. One thing that made the decision easier was that this device has the latest hardware. ..
I'm happy with it so far, love the knock on feature, battery and customization.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk
Thanks for the advice guys. I'm still indecisive and the other issue I'm struggling with is that I don't really need another smartphone cuz the rezound I have has been working good for me. It's just I'd rather have a faster and smoother phone with better battery life and the latest specs. My rezound lags and the battery is terrible, but it's a great phone.
I was aware of the Verizon deal, but didn't go for the deal. One problem for me money-wise is that even if the phone were to be free, I'd have to pay tax on the full price of the phone because I live in California.
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For anyone wondering if they should get a phone, or wait, just buy the phone you want, not because it's the fastest or newest. There will always be new phones announced, and there will always be rumors. If you keep waiting, you'll never upgrade until you have to. That's what happened to me. I was a long time Motorola user, since the first Droid, but I waited and waited, and waited for the first Moto/Google phone, and was severely disappointed. The only good thing that happened because of all the waiting was I got a G2. Glad I pulled the trigger, and I won't be looking back.
garywojdan81 said:
I think at this point in the year all of the carriers/manufacturers have their respective big guns out for the holiday shoppers. I really don't expect any other" must haves" to come until sometime first quarter of 2014, so wysiwyg for now.
For me, the time was now, in fact it's been exactly 2yrs; got the og razr the first day, 11/11/11, and moved up to the g2 yesterday (after a lot of research). What did it for me was the Verizon promo that ended yesterday. Got the phone for free and kept my unlimited data? win:win.
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
How the hell did you keep your unlimited data? My wife wants a G2 now that shes used mine, but can't upgrade because we're grandfathered in. I had to buy mine off ebay for close to full price.
bullet2300 said:
I don't know how it works on Verizon, but with Sprint any phone you purchase has a period of 14 days where you can return it for a full refund. Sometimes companies may charge an activation fee of like 20-35 bucks. All carriers have a sort of "trial period" where you can return the phone, but they may each bit a little different. You could try calling your nearest Verizon store and ask them, or maybe try chatting with support online, or just calling Verizon's customer service number online.
The gaming lag may be isolated to a specific model, or maybe a user made certain tweaks, etc. Also could be app related and require the app developer to make a tweak for a phone, etc. There are so many factors its hard to say, but personal hands on experience is always best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe Verizon charges a restocking fee of like $35, but that might be just the 3rd party stores, because I went through Verizon when I exchanged and they didn't charge me an activation fee or a restocking fee. This was through online and over the phone btw.

Shattered my S4 Screen

basically as the title says... I dropped my phone and shattered the screen at the top and bottom corners... it's still operable at the moment but it'll get worse over time. I have an upgrade available on my account that I can use or I could enter the Verizon edge program... I really don't know what i should do. it's obvious the edge program is only useful if I upgrade every ~12 months and I have a tendency to switch phones quite often but with a newborn son I may lose interest in upgrading/getting new phones so much... I'm mostly looking at the HTC M8 only because ive had the galaxy for a while and im ready for something other than touchwiz. use upgrade, pay 250 and sign another 2 year contract or enter Verizon edge program and pay nothing now and be able to upgrade again in a year... opinions?
Go m8 for the unlockable boot loader. Imo
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
TTLayland said:
Go m8 for the unlockable boot loader. Imo
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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any opinion on edge vs upgrade on 2 year contract? I was fortunate enough to keep my bootloader unlocked on my s4 too but it's still restricted development.
There's a ton of ROMs for an MDK s4. With all the unified AOSP ROMs now and the TW patches that allow for almost any Int'l ROMs I don't think there's ever been as many options as now. Just saying that's all. The M8 is cool too though
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Powell730 said:
any opinion on edge vs upgrade on 2 year contract? I was fortunate enough to keep my bootloader unlocked on my s4 too but it's still restricted development.
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Edge is a huge waste of money. Over 2 years you spend approximately $1,100 more than you would by just using your one subsidized upgrade and buying/selling your phones off contract. I can find a breakdown I did with somebody else on here to explain the BS that is Edge.
Sent from my HTC6600LVW using Tapatalk
lol I'd just order a new glass off Amazon for $20.00 but that's just me.
I've done it like 3 times on the S4 and 5-6 times on the S3.
I'm the IT guy for my company so I fix a lot of phones.
It takes patience but there are really good youtube videos out there showing how it's done.
I've got it down to about 45 minutes now.
If you have the skill, you can get new screen and digitizer for $150. That's what I did. There a lot of Youtube videos that shows how.
Yeah I thought about replacing it myself, I know I can... I think I'm just using it as an excuse to change phones ?
I do have the gpe ROM installed, actually love it. I'm just really intrigued by the build quality of the m8.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
Powell730 said:
Yeah I thought about replacing it myself, I know I can... I think I'm just using it as an excuse to change phones ?
I do have the gpe ROM installed, actually love it. I'm just really intrigued by the build quality of the m8.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
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The new crop of phones are only incremental upgrades over the S4.
I'd say, fix your phone. Wait. Get something later toward the end of the year maybe.
For me, it's all full price anyway.
I have unlimited that I'm not giving it up until they take it.
I am about to replace a Galaxy S4's outer glass, just as many others have. The replacement parts are very cheap and atop of that you can take the phone from beat to mint if you put the time in. The outer trim (chrome) is what I want to replace as well but thats a tad more difficult I imagine. Anyway my advice on screen removal is to use a piece of clear tape on the cracked glass before using the heat gun. This will make removal easier and helps to prevent scratches or broken LCD/Digitizer.
last 2 that broke in my house I made profit fixing
I broke mine don't know how but I got a used one off of craigslist its easy to talk people down in price, I just swapped my mobo iin to that and put the new phones mobo in the broken one and sold the broken but still working one for 200 made a 50 dollar profit.
did the same when my sons friend broke my sons s4..
Powell730 said:
basically as the title says... I dropped my phone and shattered the screen at the top and bottom corners... it's still operable at the moment but it'll get worse over time. I have an upgrade available on my account that I can use or I could enter the Verizon edge program... I really don't know what i should do. it's obvious the edge program is only useful if I upgrade every ~12 months and I have a tendency to switch phones quite often but with a newborn son I may lose interest in upgrading/getting new phones so much... I'm mostly looking at the HTC M8 only because ive had the galaxy for a while and im ready for something other than touchwiz. use upgrade, pay 250 and sign another 2 year contract or enter Verizon edge program and pay nothing now and be able to upgrade again in a year... opinions?
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What ever phone you get, use a downloaded interface... such as Nova Prime. Yeah, it'll cost a few bucks to get into it, but you buy it once and then you use it on every phone you have after that. Why?
A> You learn one interface really really well. This means that over the years you become more comfortable and familiar with it.
B> It is heavily customizable so if you get tired of it, just change the way it looks. This can be kind of daunting if you want to completely customize it the moment you install it, but you don't have to. For me, the most important things were being able to change font sizes, icon sizes and icon spacing. This means I can see more of my background and less of my icons in the way. I make the screen fit me, not the other way around.
C> Once you have it set the way you love it, you wind up upgrading to a new phone... no big deal, you pop in your micro sd card or copy over a directory and you can restore your backed up launcher settings to the new phone. Pretty easy. Then the new phone looks and works much like the old phone did.
D> The customizations on something like Nova Launcher Prime are sick. You can change all the effects and it runs really smooth on my phones over the years. There are other really great launchers out there. I've tried a bunch of them, but nowhere near all of the big ones... so try something different. I stopped trying them when I got Nova Launcher Prime on a "Deal of the day" and I don't regret it.
I've tried using the stock launcher on the last three phones I've had and in 10 minutes I'm downloading Nova and putting it back on when I upgrade. Stock launchers have gotten better, but they are far behind the best custom launchers out there.
Thumbstarrepair.com fixed my wife's S4 for $50. Does it the correct way using LOCA and not cheap tape.
DieselDawg

Thinking about upgrading but never had an LG phone, thoughts?

I have pretty much had note phones since they launched and was all set to get a note 5 when I saw they removed the SD and battery stuff so now I am on the hunt for something else and saw the V10. Does LG try to block rooting phones or anything like Samsung had for security knox? Any major issues or anything come up with this phone or LG? I am a bit set on just getting one since it's one of the few phones that still have some of the features I want but I've never dealt with LG before
I came from the Note series and I'm very happy. Rooting is easy, no knox type security.
Sent from my LG-H901 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
Warrior1975 said:
I came from the Note series and I'm very happy. Rooting is easy, no knox type security.
Sent from my LG-H901 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
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Thanks, at first I was worried about giving up the s-pen before my brain reminded me I hadn't used the thing in four months so the more I look at this phone the more sure I am about grabbing one after work. Since you had a note does this screen seem smaller or did you not even notice the switch?
RiffyDivine said:
Thanks, at first I was worried about giving up the s-pen before my brain reminded me I hadn't used the thing in four months so the more I look at this phone the more sure I am about grabbing one after work. Since you had a note does this screen seem smaller or did you not even notice the switch?
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i believe the screen is the same size, but you have the on-screen navbar rather than the off-screen physical buttons of the Note.
ive been a huge Note fan but i too am considering this device. i saw it in the Tmo store and was immediately drawn to it. i see some users with car bluetooth issues tho, so that's making me hesitate just a tad. but we'll see, maybe we'll both end up getting it. with a plethora of storage and the promo giveaways they are drawing some of us in haha.
YrrchSebor said:
i believe the screen is the same size, but you have the on-screen navbar rather than the off-screen physical buttons of the Note.
ive been a huge Note fan but i too am considering this device. i saw it in the Tmo store and was immediately drawn to it. i see some users with car bluetooth issues tho, so that's making me hesitate just a tad. but we'll see, maybe we'll both end up getting it. with a plethora of storage and the promo giveaways they are drawing some of us in haha.
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Yeah not gonna lie, I saw the free battery, charger and SD card till the 15th and thought well maybe I should just jump on it. The bluetooth issues seem odd since it's user an older BT and not the new one like the note 5 has but my car is behind the times because I love it far to much so all I got is an aux port which from how the headset line is setup is gonna sound pretty good maybe even not need to edit the volume settings to make it louder like I did with the note 4.
I just really can't accept a phone without a removable battery and an SD slot on it. I know it's not for everyone but when you have had one for years you find it very hard to go without and after poking around on google it seems my choices are slim.
RiffyDivine said:
Yeah not gonna lie, I saw the free battery, charger and SD card till the 15th and thought well maybe I should just jump on it. The bluetooth issues seem odd since it's user an older BT and not the new one like the note 5 has but my car is behind the times because I love it far to much so all I got is an aux port which from how the headset line is setup is gonna sound pretty good maybe even not need to edit the volume settings to make it louder like I did with the note 4.
I just really can't accept a phone without a removable battery and an SD slot on it. I know it's not for everyone but when you have had one for years you find it very hard to go without and after poking around on google it seems my choices are slim.
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ah, i forgot about good ol' line out. but i dunno, i may get one and just test out everything within my return period.
yeah, non-removable battery makes me nervous, but even tho i had spare batteries for the Notes, i never needed them! but not being able to store everything i want, without an OTG drive, is an inconvenience for sure. keep us posted on what you end up doing..
Edit: by the way, i think LG holds promise. they made the Nexus 4, which a friend of mine used for over 3 years! and i had the Optimus G briefly, buying from a friend to help him with financial problems, and it seemed very solid and was maybe the most powerful phone at the time.
I'm. In the same boat as you guys, needed the storage and battery. As far as the spen, you have the screen capture (which is mostly where I needed to use the spen), where you can write on it with your finger. Not as nice as the spen, but if you want to use a stylus, you have that option.
Sent from my LG-H901 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
YrrchSebor said:
ah, i forgot about good ol' line out. but i dunno, i may get one and just test out everything within my return period.
yeah, non-removable battery makes me nervous, but even tho i had spare batteries for the Notes, i never needed them! but not being able to store everything i want, without an OTG drive, is an inconvenience for sure. keep us posted on what you end up doing..
Edit: by the way, i think LG holds promise. they made the Nexus 4, which a friend of mine used for over 3 years! and i had the Optimus G briefly, buying from a friend to help him with financial problems, and it seemed very solid and was maybe the most powerful phone at the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I called the shop and will pick one up tonight, I forgot that we can return it in 14 days without any issues so I will just take it for a test drive and see. I keep hearing mixed reviews the more I read of them today.
RiffyDivine said:
I called the shop and will pick one up tonight, I forgot that we can return it in 14 days without any issues so I will just take it for a test drive and see. I keep hearing mixed reviews the more I read of them today.
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ah cool, no restocking fee? i may do the same and will report back.
YrrchSebor said:
ah cool, no restocking fee? i may do the same and will report back.
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Click to collapse
Not if it's within 14 days at least from a real tmobile store. I did it with another phone a few upgrades back and didn't have an issue, just say the phone isn't for you or you can't get signal like on the old phone.
Isn't there a $50 restocking fee? That's what I was always told.
Sent from my LG-H901 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
Warrior1975 said:
Isn't there a $50 restocking fee? That's what I was always told.
Sent from my LG-H901 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
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Yeah I keep reading that and it's the only reason I haven't gone to try T-mobile with this phone (would be coming from AT&T). If I find service isn't what I hope for I don't want to pay that $50 restocking fee.
RiffyDivine said:
I called the shop and will pick one up tonight, I forgot that we can return it in 14 days without any issues so I will just take it for a test drive and see. I keep hearing mixed reviews the more I read of them today.
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i ended up picking one up myself, and i honestly don't think you'll be disappointed. it's way cool! feature-rich yet seems to maintain a light and snappy feel. and i'm glad to say bluetooth music works fine, it even auto-connects when i start the car, just takes maybe 10-15 seconds longer than my previous Notes.
cliffr39 said:
Yeah I keep reading that and it's the only reason I haven't gone to try T-mobile with this phone (would be coming from AT&T). If I find service isn't what I hope for I don't want to pay that $50 restocking fee.
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They are charging me a restocking fee for returning the Note5. Got the 64 GB one with the wireless charger so I had to pay $215 up front. This phone costs $49 up front (doing jump and monthly installment). Actually saved me money for a phone I enjoy more.
Sent from my LG-H901 using Tapatalk
I was nervous when I jumped from my note 5 a week ago, at first i was more interested in jumping to the galaxy s6 edge plus.for me I always felt the note or edge series can do no wrong, but it felt like the whole time I was being cheated, never understood why til I seen the LG v10 I felt that way. LG is doing the whole more for less thing and I feel more justified paying $600 for a device
Warrior1975 said:
Isn't there a $50 restocking fee? That's what I was always told.
Sent from my LG-H901 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
There is the fee but honestly if I keep the phone for a week and change I think it's fair. Better 50 and find another phone or 600 for a phone you aren't happy with. Kinda pissed the clerk at the store off when I told him that logic, forgot how much the people in tmobile stores rub me the wrong way till last night. Almost an hour to upgrade my phone, none of that was waiting it was all the sales stick after I said I just want the V10 and nothing else I even said I will pay full price for it right now if you will shut up.
psn1819 said:
I was nervous when I jumped from my note 5 a week ago, at first i was more interested in jumping to the galaxy s6 edge plus.for me I always felt the note or edge series can do no wrong, but it felt like the whole time I was being cheated, never understood why til I seen the LG v10 I felt that way. LG is doing the whole more for less thing and I feel more justified paying $600 for a device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just started playing with it today it feels nicer then my note 4 and a bit quicker but could be I haven't brainraped this phone yet. But from feel and look alone I do think it seems a fair price for what I got and the free stuff LG is also a nice bonus. I hope development on this phone picks up to the same levels as the note did. Damn it samsung why did you have to take away my SD and battery.

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