whats the better phone... pros and cons? IM gonna ask this in the htc one forum as well
I own both right now. I'm done with HTC after this phone. Terrible battery life, mediocre RF performance, and to top it off, phone is JUST getting 4.2.2. At this rate, we won't see KLP on the One until next year. Samsung released the S4 with the newest version of Android. To top it off, they saddle it with a crappy camera.
The only pros to the One are the build quality (even then, mine has gaps on the side) and the stereo speakers
Pros to the S4:
- better battery life (lasts a day easily)
- expandable memory, removable battery
- more vivid screen (if you watch videos/movies on your phone, the S4 won't disappoint)
- superior RF performance
- larger dev community
- better button placement (power button on the top is stupid on the One)
- better future resale (I only bought the One because I picked one up for cheap. The S4s are still going for $500+ on CL. The One is at $350-400 here on CL)
- software updates (Samsung already released this phone with the newest version of Android and have already pledged KLP. Plus the 4.3 rom has already been leaked)
HTC is too hung up on appearances to make a fundamentally good phone. Skip the One, save yourself the headache, get the better Samsung. There's a reason why they are #1.
It was a very easy choice for me.
Pros to Samsung:
Better company support
Much larger developer network
Shipped with latest software
Removable battery :good:
Expandable memory :good:
Samsung's momentum coming off of 2 amazing phone platforms
Cons to Samsung:
Battery door could use some structural rigidity
I personally don't care for the hidden menu layout and CSC but that is probably not even considered when comparing the two.
Pro to HTC:
Better audio processing
Better speaker placement
Aesthetically prettier
Con to HTC:
HTC was supposed to implement the One series flagship support with the release of their OneX which was a turd. It didn't get it's JB update until literally every other phone released within it's generation and the generation prior got theirs.
Carrier specific status is never good, and harms the overall growth of user development.
I believe 4.2.2 was just released for the One, I stopped caring a while ago though
Non-Removable battery
Non-Expandable memory :good:
Severe LACK of momentum coming off the slew of carrier specific OneX, OneS, OneSV, OneV, OneX+, OneSV+, One___, and all other variants within said carriers which all made the firmwares non-interchangeable
HTC's history with sporadic issues. Rezound generation had touch response issues. One___ generation(including dna) had SIM connection issues rendering the device an expensive mp3 player until reboot.
Stock UI is completely personal choice and changeable so it's neither a con or a pro.
I was in your position a few weeks ago. The only thing the one has over the s4 is the loudspeaker. I don't care about that because wear headphones when I listen to music or watch movies. The one has retarded button placement. I think I'd feel lost without a menu button. I don't even thin the build is better at all. I don't think it's possible to get a better looking phone when you put the neo hybrid case on the s4.
Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4
Samsung's button placement is horrible. Htc's power button on top prevents from accidental wake ups. And considering right handed people are the majority, the volume rocker on the s4 is on the wrong side. It's going to take me forever to stop turning the screen off when I wasn't the volume louder!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
I should also mention that this guy on my Facebook has a One and the other day he uploaded a few pics of him at a beach and I couldn't believe how horrible they were. I had heard the camera wasn't very good but wow I never imagined it to be that lousy. On the other hand, the S4 camera is amazing, especially outside during the day.
Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4
mario182005 said:
Samsung's button placement is horrible. Htc's power button on top prevents from accidental wake ups. And considering right handed people are the majority, the volume rocker on the s4 is on the wrong side. It's going to take me forever to stop turning the screen off when I wasn't the volume louder!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why is it that pretty much every other phone on the market (LG, Motorola, Nokia) all have the power button on the right? HTC messed up on the fundamentals. Phone is too big for the button to be on the top
- sent from Galaxy S4
---------- Post added at 03:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:26 PM ----------
Chadly said:
I was in your position a few weeks ago. The only thing the one has over the s4 is the loudspeaker. I don't care about that because wear headphones when I listen to music or watch movies. The one has retarded button placement. I think I'd feel lost without a menu button. I don't even thin the build is better at all. I don't think it's possible to get a better looking phone when you put the neo hybrid case on the s4.
Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome looking case! I'll have to buy it when I'm sick of my S View cover
- sent from Galaxy S4
It's a matter of track record
At the end of the day, unless the One's superior speakers and build quality are the deciding factors for you, I recommend the GS4.
Both are flagship phones. Both are top of their class. Instead of comparing the phones, I compared the companies because this gave me a better indicator of reliability and continued support. At the end of the day, the physical differences between the HTC One and Samsung S4 are negligible and almost entirely down to personal preference. However, the difference between HTC and Samsung is major.
Dubbsy does a good job breaking down the differences in support in his comment so I won't rehash it all, but I do encourage you to take a look at it. HTC is in trouble. They have lost a lot of leadership recently, which means that they have to bring new leadership in. This always presents a problem for continuinity. This could be a very good thing for HTC going forward considering the lackluster success of their previous products. Furthermore, with the failure of the HTC First, HTC has now placed all of their eggs in one basket with the HTC One. This could in turn bode well for consumers because HTC cannot afford to abandon them. Time will tell, but until then, it is a gamble. In comparison, Samsung has a proven track record with the success of the GSIII.
Dubbsy said:
It was a very easy choice for me.
Pros to Samsung:
Better company support
Much larger developer network
Shipped with latest software
Removable battery :good:
Expandable memory :good:
Samsung's momentum coming off of 2 amazing phone platforms
Cons to Samsung:
Battery door could use some structural rigidity
I personally don't care for the hidden menu layout and CSC but that is probably not even considered when comparing the two.
Pro to HTC:
Better audio processing
Better speaker placement
Aesthetically prettier
Con to HTC:
HTC was supposed to implement the One series flagship support with the release of their OneX which was a turd. It didn't get it's JB update until literally every other phone released within it's generation and the generation prior got theirs.
Carrier specific status is never good, and harms the overall growth of user development.
I believe 4.2.2 was just released for the One, I stopped caring a while ago though
Non-Removable battery
Non-Expandable memory :good:
Severe LACK of momentum coming off the slew of carrier specific OneX, OneS, OneSV, OneV, OneX+, OneSV+, One___, and all other variants within said carriers which all made the firmwares non-interchangeable
HTC's history with sporadic issues. Rezound generation had touch response issues. One___ generation(including dna) had SIM connection issues rendering the device an expensive mp3 player until reboot.
Stock UI is completely personal choice and changeable so it's neither a con or a pro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wtf?
mario182005 said:
Samsung's button placement is horrible. Htc's power button on top prevents from accidental wake ups. And considering right handed people are the majority, the volume rocker on the s4 is on the wrong side. It's going to take me forever to stop turning the screen off when I wasn't the volume louder!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having the power button on top means I'm accidentally hitting it when i pull it out of my pocket and it is harder to reach when I really want to push it.
Having the power button on the right side means it is right there for my thumb to press. Always available and extremely easy to push. Having the volume rocker on the left side means my middle and pointer fingers have easy access to change the volume when I'm casually holding my phone.
You could train a dog to use these buttons, but you seriously can't remember that your volume rocker is on the left? Sounds like personal problem more than an issue with the phone in my opinion.
This is coming from someone who previously was using an HTC device to the S4. Buttons are better on the S 4 than HTC devices.
I can't help but agree on the button issues. The side buttons make sense on my right hand.. I can manipulate all three buttons without looking.. much better than my Rezound.
My rezound was my last HTC phone. I have no desire to move to a phone where I can't change the battery, or storage... and have to hope for software updates. If HTC changes in the future ..OK. but right now, they just aren't an attractive option.
Button placement making your choice of phones is pretty crazy IMO. I've had my buttons all sorts of ways and none of them ever bothered me to the point I looked in the mirror and said "you jackass if you only would have bought the one with the other button configuration your life would be soo much better." I think people who are accidentally pressing buttons need to retrain their meathooks to pull their phones out of wherever they happen to be residing at the time. I do miss the dedicated camera button from my old motorolas. But again, I'll live.
More rediculous reasons from my friend who is gettings a nokia windows phone next time because of his poor user experience with the HTC OneX he got over the GS3 because he didn't like samsung at all:
"they(samsung) are getting too much like apple"
"samsung people will blindly buy anything samsung puts out"
"feels cheap" <mind you his phone's sim card daily would stop working and to fix it he had to put a piece of tape on the back of it so the contacts would actually make reliable contact. And his 8month old was able to shift his screen up so that a line of light could be seen on the bottom side. Feeling cheap and actually being a POS are totally different. :good:
"every hipster has one(gs3 and gs4)"
"they are the apple in android's eye" <was being clever when I pointed out facts
"people need to accept change and understand that non-removable batteries and cloud storage are the future"
mario182005 said:
Samsung's button placement is horrible. Htc's power button on top prevents from accidental wake ups. And considering right handed people are the majority, the volume rocker on the s4 is on the wrong side. It's going to take me forever to stop turning the screen off when I wasn't the volume louder!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only if you do not use a case, which is a tad dangerous due to glass taking up most of the surface. All cases have recess areas for the buttons.
I have both and as soon as VZW gets the One I am going back to it. The S4 is a great phone with a ton of features but I seriously miss my One that I had on Sprint.
For me, the cons were better (front!) speakers, screen, and overall aesthetics. I will miss the battery life from the S4 most of all though. I had finally gotten used to the newest Sense UI too after years of going back and forth from TouchWiz and Sense devices.
Hours, days, and numerous reviews and arguments between the two as an ex-HTC"Fanboy" and absolutely despising Samsung... I have a Samsung Galaxy S4. Enough said. Lol. HTC got on my last nerve with the EVO LTE. I checked out the HTC One which was my 100% set choice when going in for a purchase until I picked it up and checked it out. Sure the OS is kind of cool and there's no lag but I don't want to cut my fingers on its horrible build or have a smaller screen after checking out the GS4 and Note II. HTC won't get my cash in the future unless they release another EVO.
I love my s4 and the only reason I would consider the one is because I prefer a smaller device and the stealth black one looks da** good. The removable battery and SD expansion won me over. I'm sure the one will have great battery life initially... But the inability to swap in a new battery in 9 or 10 months when the battery naturally starts to degrade made my decision a no brainer
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
Most HTC phones are returned due to dead pixels
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda premium
Related
Things I did not like about the GNex:
Crazy batter drain: 25 percent per hour during moderate usage. (maybe due to new battery)
No visual voice mail
Missed a lot of key presses – the screen is just not that sensitive (very annoying having re repress keys!)
Speaker quality is miserable. It’s all scratchy and distorted at higher volumes. And it’s not nearly as loud as the Photon.
It’s is not as responsive as the Photon: Photon seems faster with almost any task.
Screen is low contrast and looks muddy in white areas
Screen is unevenly illuminated
Photon camera is hands down better in terms of detail
Right side of images are soft (something wrong with the lens?)
The case is slippery – and it’s already so large that I do not want to add a case.
Lack of capacitive buttons is a real pain. For example, while the phone is importing contact from Google, you can not simply press the home button and do something else in the foreground. There is no button to press, so you are stuck there waiting needlessly.
Things I like about it:
High resolution screen can look fantastic & type looks extra clear
the screen has rich, awesome blacks
The camera is always focusing and shoot as soon as you press the button
It seems to charge very fast
Radios seem good: Speedtest yielded similar results to the Photon on both 3G and wifi.
--------------
As the GNEx is overall less responsive than the Photon, spkr phone is terrible, and battery life is poor, I am going to sell it and keep to Photon.
So yeah, I will be upgrading my other like to the Evo LTE in June and see how that goes…
And hopefully the next Motorola will keep the physical buttons, as the Evo LTE does.
Best,
ron
I moved on to a gnex. My screen has been responsive except when the browser is loading.
Battery life seems good once you train the battery. Have gotten about 2 hours of calls AND 4 hours (together) of surf time on wifi.
It is slippery sometimes. Back feels like it has traction sometimes. Does need feel as good in hand as photon, but is lighter and more bottom weighted.
For the speed of the device its mixed. Has same stock launcher hiccup as photon...but only with a LWP. Everything else is smooth for the most part.
Speakerphone is decent if you hold it right. Seems more naturally tuned than voice heavy. Not as loud though.
Another important feature for me is awesome blacks. Photon had black crush and made the xda start up page look orange. Back to a more normal contrast scale on the gnex. The photon was still easier to read in sunlight and both have that blue tinted screen which is either the glare reduction or oleo phobic quality. Mind you the 2nd gnex I am on has the purple tint issue.
Radios seem on par and this thevgnex stays connected to my wife's car it seems. Photon does support more profiles though.
NFC....have you seen what you can do with tags??????
One more thing I love about Sammy devices is their haptic feedback.
Things I miss are the alarm features, stopwatch, web top, HDMI support with no adapter, the kickstand, fb integration, and the rounded edges.
Over all though the gnex is still a great phone as is the photon. I kept mine because of it
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
just as a quick fyi, photon doesnt have physical buttons it has capacitive buttons, the gnexus has onscreen buttons
For what its worth..... I went to sprint and played with a gnex....... it was OK but the external speaker wasn't very loud and it wasn't any faster than my photon. For me it isn't enough of a difference for me to upgrade from my photon with cm9. I really do want a phone with nfc chip and a baro sensor tho.
Sent from my CM9'd Motorola Photon using Tapatalk
OK - just tried the HTC One X. It is indeed impressive - much more so than the Gnex.
The screen is pretty fantastic, it feels smaller and more sturdy than the Gnex too.
A much better phone IMO.
ronnienyc said:
OK - just tried the HTC One X. It is indeed impressive - much more so than the Gnex.
The screen is pretty fantastic, it feels smaller and more sturdy than the Gnex too.
A much better phone IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But can't use a extended battery.... that's a deal breaker for me.
Sent from my CM9'd Motorola Photon using Tapatalk
It is said that the battery life is very good.
ronnienyc said:
It is said that the battery life is very good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it would have to be out of this world fantastic for me to even consider it.
i spend my free time riding a dualsport motorcycle at times way farther into the Everglades than i should be and have to turn on GPS for hours at a time. i use a 3500ma battery daily and carry the stocker as a backup. a replaceable battery is a must for me.
to be honest as well i'm tired of having half ass broken phones. unlocked bootloader but no 4g etc. as soon as my area gets LTE i'm getting what ever Nexus phone is available at that time. hopefully it's a motorola made one but if not it's no big deal.
DualSportDad said:
it would have to be out of this world fantastic for me to even consider it.
i spend my free time riding a dualsport motorcycle at times way farther into the Everglades than i should be and have to turn on GPS for hours at a time. i use a 3500ma battery daily and carry the stocker as a backup. a replaceable battery is a must for me.
to be honest as well i'm tired of having half ass broken phones. unlocked bootloader but no 4g etc. as soon as my area gets LTE i'm getting what ever Nexus phone is available at that time. hopefully it's a motorola made one but if not it's no big deal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
Only thing worse than getting a boner in public places is not having a memory expansion slot on my smartphone as I like to keep my media in excess. So that was the deal breaker for me.
Sent not from your device!
The battery as mediocre with my gnex when I first got it too. After two weeks the battery has improved greatly. When using only stock I prefer the gnex.
If you own the photon skip the gnex, but if its between both and all else is equal then go with the gnex. Price wise, the photon can't be beat though. Wish I still had it, I would have spent my money on a tablet instead!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
HTC would have to show me something very exclusive for me to buy another phone from them Samsung needs to step they radio game up
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Or Google could just have Motorola build the next nexus phone. We'd get the best hardware, vanilla android and a unlocked boot loader.
Sent from my CM9'd Motorola Photon using Tapatalk
snoopy1e11 said:
HTC would have to show me something very exclusive for me to buy another phone from them Samsung needs to step they radio game up
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The HTC one isn't enough? I like your standards!!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
was tempted to pick up gnex but i might wait now, thanks for perspective
I sold GN, to a man, that sold it to me, after he tried HTC OneX, he wants GN back and gave OneX away. I am staying with Photon for now. ;-)
Not relevant
Ok people. Doing reviews on devices other than the Photon 4g, should be kept in respective device forums. Unless I'm missing something, I didn't see the MP4G mentioned once.
I put a sticky up just for posts like these. "What Phone should I buy"
Also, for "some", try and keep the sexual innuendo's to a minimum... "boner", and don't let it progress farther.
Wondering what everyone's opinion is on which one to get or which one is better, price included etc...
I can imagine that the screen on that thing will be beautiful. Though the small battery concerns me. I have never had good luck with HTC's customization and battery life. How important is the S Pen to you?
I'd have to mess with it but I've had smart phones for years with out a problem but the s pen would probably come in handy
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
jackholl92 said:
I'd have to mess with it but I've had smart phones for years with out a problem but the s pen would probably come in handy
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, the S Pen and the multi-window feature is the entire reason I am purchasing the phone (It isn't time for my "upgrade" yet). Spec wise it is really kind of a wait and see. I personally like the black and red, but I am not a fan of the glossy black. I prefer the look of the brushed "metal" of the galaxy series.
Has HTC cooked up any compelling software features?
I'm almost positive I'm getting the Note 2, but the HTC DNA is definitely intriguing. I sorta made this pros and cons for myself, it may be helpful to you or others though.
HTC DNA
Pros
Nice build quality from HTC
Very sharp screen with around 440ppi
Aesthetically pleasing (personal opinion of course)
SD Slot (possibly)
S4 Pro
Great camera normally by HTC
Cons
First generation of 1080p screen may have unexpected problems
Battery is on the small side
No multi-window or S-Pen (my 2 main reasons for going for the Note 2)
Non-removable battery (personally I like just having the option to have a spare on hand)
Galaxy Note 2
Pros
Larger screen
S-Pen
Multi-window
Allshare (not sure if HTC has something like this or not)
Removable Battery and SD Card Slot
Exynos 4412
Light weight for such a large phone
Home Button (definitely personal preference, but I like it)
Cons
Home button Verizon branding (can fix however with these,http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-ALUMINUM-HOME-Button-Keyboard-Sticker-f-Samsung-Galaxy-Note-2-II-N7100-Slv-/121002308301?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item1c2c4cb2cd
My brain won't let me think of any other since I've already bought 3 cases and the Allshare Cast Dongle for the Note 2.
I will be going to check out the HTC DNA for sure when it arrives in store either way though.
jackholl92 said:
Wondering what everyone's opinion is on which one to get or which one is better, price included etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would def choose note 2 over dlx anyway bc bigger screen size s pen although i could care less and removable battery
clemson91 said:
I'm almost positive I'm getting the Note 2, but the HTC DNA is definitely intriguing. I sorta made this pros and cons for myself, it may be helpful to you or others though.
HTC DNA
Pros
Nice build quality from HTC
Very sharp screen with around 440ppi
Aesthetically pleasing (personal opinion of course)
SD Slot (possibly)
S4 Pro
Great camera normally by HTC
Cons
First generation of 1080p screen may have unexpected problems
Battery is on the small side
No multi-window or S-Pen (my 2 main reasons for going for the Note 2)
Non-removable battery (personally I like just having the option to have a spare on hand)
Galaxy Note 2
Pros
Larger screen
S-Pen
Multi-window
Allshare (not sure if HTC has something like this or not)
Removable Battery and SD Card Slot
Exynos 4412
Light weight for such a large phone
Home Button (definitely personal preference, but I like it)
Cons
My brain won't let me think of any since I've already bought 3 cases and the Allshare Cast Dongle for the Note 2.
I will be going to check out the HTC DNA for sure when it arrives in store either way though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the list of Cons for Galaxy Note 2 (Verizon)
Locked bootloader (unless someone can crack it or another leak happens)
The Logo on the home button (it may not bother some, but due to the volume of posts I figured it should be mentioned)
SFBPro said:
On the list of Cons for Galaxy Note 2 (Verizon)
Locked bootloader (unless someone can crack it or another leak happens)
The Logo on the home button (it may not bother some, but due to the volume of posts I figured it should be mentioned)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh well I had thought of the locked bootloader, but then thought the HTC DNA's would be locked as well so they sorta cancelled each other out. The home button is a good point since those who don't like would need to get those cover up stickers.
clemson91 said:
Oh well I had thought of the locked bootloader, but then thought the HTC DNA's would be locked as well so they sorta cancelled each other out. The home button is a good point since those who don't like would need to get those cover up stickers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While the bootloader may be shipped locked on the DNA, at least you could "unlock" it via HTC Dev. I for one am going to try the sugar water method to get rid of the logo.
clemson91 said:
I'm almost positive I'm getting the Note 2, but the HTC DNA is definitely intriguing. I sorta made this pros and cons for myself, it may be helpful to you or others though.
HTC DNA
Pros
Nice build quality from HTC
Very sharp screen with around 440ppi
Aesthetically pleasing (personal opinion of course)
SD Slot (possibly)
S4 Pro
Great camera normally by HTC
Cons
First generation of 1080p screen may have unexpected problems
Battery is on the small side
No multi-window or S-Pen (my 2 main reasons for going for the Note 2)
Non-removable battery (personally I like just having the option to have a spare on hand)
Galaxy Note 2
Pros
Larger screen
S-Pen
Multi-window
Allshare (not sure if HTC has something like this or not)
Removable Battery and SD Card Slot
Exynos 4412
Light weight for such a large phone
Home Button (definitely personal preference, but I like it)
Cons
Home button Verizon branding (can fix however with these,http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-ALUMI...308301?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item1c2c4cb2cd
My brain won't let me think of any other since I've already bought 3 cases and the Allshare Cast Dongle for the Note 2.
I will be going to check out the HTC DNA for sure when it arrives in store either way though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks that definitely helps I've definitely called Verizon twice to pre-order then I just hung up lol
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Both seem like great devices. I personally don't really care about the s pen, I probably won't use it much. But I do like the multi-window and large battery of the Note 2.
It's the battery that did it for me. I was really excited when I heard rumors that HTC was going to make a note competitor but then when I saw that the battery was only around 2000mah and non-removable that ruined it for me. Plus I kind of see the lower resolution as a plus, I've always gone with the highest resolution I could for computers but when the pixels are as small as they are on this I don't know how much better 1080p can really be but I do know it will be a lot more taxing on the GPU so the note 2 should have better graphics performance.
IvanNCase said:
It's the battery that did it for me. I was really excited when I heard rumors that HTC was going to make a note competitor but then when I saw that the battery was only around 2000mah and non-removable that ruined it for me. Plus I kind of see the lower resolution as a plus, I've always gone with the highest resolution I could for computers but when the pixels are as small as they are on this I don't know how much better 1080p can really be but I do know it will be a lot more taxing on the GPU so the note 2 should have better graphics performance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes a lot of sense lol has anyone messed with the Note 2 yet?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
jackholl92 said:
That makes a lot of sense lol has anyone messed with the Note 2 yet?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the t mobile note 2 for a couple days and the only con I have is the physical home button. I really wish it was capacitive. It's kind of a pain to actually click the button when you're holding the phone with one hand because it messes up the balance of the phone in your hand making it feel like it's about to fall.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
I love the phones HTC makes. However reading the 12 page review of the N2 on GSMArena the other really dived into all the extra bits samsung and put into the Galaxy phones and then the note widgets as well. I can see them being very useful.
I like using Google Voice actions in the car, but never in a crowded area, with the S Pen a few swipes and boom a text is sent.
r0n0c said:
I love the phones HTC makes. However reading the 12 page review of the N2 on GSMArena the other really dived into all the extra bits samsung and put into the Galaxy phones and then the note widgets as well. I can see them being very useful.
I like using Google Voice actions in the car, but never in a crowded area, with the S Pen a few swipes and boom a text is sent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
SFBPro said:
While the bootloader may be shipped locked on the DNA, at least you could "unlock" it via HTC Dev. I for one am going to try the sugar water method to get rid of the logo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And chances are that someone may stumble upon an unlocked bootloader for the Note 2, so how is it any different? There is also no confirmation that it can be unlocked via HTC Dev.
The lack of SD card and too small nonremovable battery leaves out the DNA.
Oh I just thought of probably the biggest reason I'm going for the Note 2 now, and I'll wait for another 1080p device later, nothing will really take advantage of all those pixels, everything is just now starting to work well a 720p. Hopefully more 1080p phones come out over the next year, and then the Note 3 comes with a 1080p screen, so by then more apps will be taking advantage of all those pixels.
If it is true that the DNA/DLX only has a 2000mAh battery (or thereabouts) then that would be a huge con IMO. People complain about battery life all the time, even when they're getting better than average battery life. You're taking a device with a larger screen than a SGS3, plus has twice the CPU cores, and putting the same sized battery in it. For battery life comparisons, I would guess that the DNA will have worse battery life than the SGS3.
While the Note 2 has a HUGE screen and quad core, it also has a huge battery to go with it, and from what I've read, it gets battery life comparable to the SGS3, maybe slightly better, depending on usage. Add in the S-Pen, and you have two major selling points IMO. But, there are always going to be fans of HTC, and Samsung haters. One thing to note is that if both are unlocked, the DNA/DLX is more likely to get AOSP going due to the Snapdragon processor, at least at this point. If Samsung lives up to their word and releases the Exynos sources as requested, that could change.
Got my DNA roughly a week ago and have been comparing it with some of the newest phones that colleagues and co-workers have. I knew I'd be impressed with the device after reading the specs and reviews of this beast when compared to the s3, but I really never expected out to be this amazing.
The screen is large, yet the phone is comfortable in the hand. The contour and taper of the rear polycarbonate is among the most, of not the most, comfortable phone I've picked up. A lot easier to handle than Samsung's s3 and note 2. The only real downside is that the back absorbs skin oils very easily and van be a core to clean. I just got through cleaning mine out and it looks as awesome as the day I got it though I know that will change by tomorrow night.
Comparing it to the s3, the note 2, the optimus g, and the evo 4g lte, I was delightfully surprised to see that the only things it was lacking in comparison to its competitors were things that didn't bother me at all, namely battery and sd slot. I was also mildly disappointed with the camera clarity when compared to the optimus g, but my eyes are better than most and other people I showed the comparison couldn't see the same lack of crispness, so I'll not list that as a downfall. The DNA blew everything that wasn't the optimus g away in the benchmark tests, we decided on and really brought to light the superiority of the HTC device over its Samsung rivals. Audio quality was really no contest with the dna's beats audio. Surfing and other everyday routines were personal preference for the most part with some of us absolutely hating the sense ui. I personally prefer sense to any other android ui at the moment. In terms of feel and ergonomics, the almost universal consensus was in favor of the DNA.
At the moment, my phone is the envy of the workplace with some co-workers still running devices as old as the iPhone 3gs. The unlocked SIM slot makes it one of the only stock international capable phones in the store (we sell phones where I work) and is the only 1080p phone in the store.
As amazing as the phone is though, there are definitely some issues with it. Compatibility issues with the phone run rampant and can get very irritating. Battery life, while more than sufficient for typical use, needs to be watched like a hawk over periods of extended use. Pre-installed Verizon apps feel cluttering on grid. SIM card slot is not very easily accessible. The SIM card comes pre-installed and did cause issues upon arrival. And probably most annoyingly of all, the cover for the usb port is just horrible. It falls apart way too easily even worth mild, careful use. Running my finger along the edges of the phone, I can feel a very deliberate bulge where the "door hinge" is at on an otherwise flat surface. It is incredibly annoying to someone like me where the look and feel of the device is just as important as its functionality.
All in all though, this droid has very much impressed me, which I think it's a big thing considering how much I thought I knew I was getting coming in. It's exceeded my expectations in ways I've never even thought of and will likely continue to do so for quite some time now.
On an unrelated note, I was actually somewhat disappointed in the widely respected diztronic case for the DNA. It came in a few days later than expected (ended up having to wait over the weekend), it blocked of the notification light (though I already knew this going in), it made the power button harder to press (the complete opposite of what I'd heard), and it leaves an imprint of their logo on the back of your phone when you take it off (though I've had good luck getting it out thus far). I'll definitely only be keeping it on at work when I'm selling people on phone cases lol.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda app-developers app
Nice thoughts, largely agree, particularly about the case though I just took it off and enjoy the bare phone in my hand.
I keep my phone of at home and at this point only use it to not look like an assy salesman when I try to sell people on cases. Not to say cases are horrible, they're just horrible for this phone. I'd probably put an impact resistant case on something as squishy as an s3 and would definitely use out to cover up the twilight sparkles of the optimus g and the nexus 7. To me, the look and feel of the phone matters just as much as its functionality. With the DNA, it just looks and feels perfect as is. Not too much on any modern Verizon phone right now. Only one that comes close is the wp8x imo.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda app-developers app
I am due for an upgrade this coming Wednesday and right off the bat I was thinking "I'm getting the new SGS4!"
Well, first off, let me explain that I'm coming from an international imported galaxy nexus gsm. The developer support on this device is amazing!
After seeing the S4 in person the other day I then also wandered off and looked at the HTC One - seems like a nice device, mostly the build quality.
I think the One has great build quality, or at least the materials are nice to the touch for me personally. The SGS4 is great but I hate how it just fits the moniker of "It's made by Fisher Price". Then, lastly I remembered the ol' Optimus G series. Yes, it's plastic like the SGS4 but it does have a nice back glass piece.
I think I am now heavily considering the Optimus G because of price $50 and it seems to have nearly the same chipset/performance as the SGS4/One.
One thing I'm concerned about is the notification LED on this device. How does it work for alerts? Is it multi-colored? Is it just on the side around the power button, or is there a seperate LED on the front plate? With a custom rom like CM or AOKP can you change the behaviour?
Battery life seems to be slightly better than my GNex, but if it outlasts this I'll be happy with that.
The Optimus G has a really nice build quality but you will probably want to get a case for it if you are prone to dropping things. The thing about is the fact that it is somewhat slippery because of its glass body design, but that is what also makes it feel like a substantial and premium device in the hand.
The led light is only located around the power button on the right side of the phone and it is hard to tell if you have a notification based off of that because it is not in your peripheral vision when you are looking at your phone. But even thought the LG OG does not have a removable back and battery the AT&T version still has a micro sd card slot so you are able to increase your storage compared to GSIV which has both.
In the point of feeling in the hand the quality also affects durability. The GS4 has a plastic casing which makes it more durable but cheap feeling. The HTC One feels very nice in the hand with its Aluminium uni-body design but may be prone to denting. But these qualities may be negligible depending on if you decide to use a case or not.
Regardless I like my LG OG because it's a nice device and custom rom development is starting to pickup so that I am not bound to the stock software.
What do use your phone for?
polarzombies said:
The Optimus G has a really nice build quality but you will probably want to get a case for it if you are prone to dropping things. The thing about is the fact that it is somewhat slippery because of its glass body design, but that is what also makes it feel like a substantial and premium device in the hand.
The led light is only located around the power button on the right side of the phone and it is hard to tell if you have a notification based off of that because it is not in your peripheral vision when you are looking at your phone. But even thought the LG OG does not have a removable back and battery the AT&T version still has a micro sd card slot so you are able to increase your storage compared to GSIV which has both.
In the point of feeling in the hand the quality also affects durability. The GS4 has a plastic casing which makes it more durable but cheap feeling. The HTC One feels very nice in the hand with its Aluminium uni-body design but may be prone to denting. But these qualities may be negligible depending on if you decide to use a case or not.
Regardless I like my LG OG because it's a nice device and custom rom development is starting to pickup so that I am not bound to the stock software.
What do use your phone for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For what its worth, I just switched back to my Optimus G from Note 2 (same build quality and materials). I missed the Optimus G quality and sturdy feel in the hand. I wont be getting S4 or HTC One, the Optimus G will be fine for me until I see what the Nexus 5 or the next Optimus G 2 looks look.
And what about using a custom ROM like CM or AOKP, can you change the behaviour of the LED light?
For what it's worth you can probably also get the Lgog for like 50$ and the others will most likely be 200$ and it will probably be identical performance.
That's a pretty big factor for me especially since I'll end up on a custom rom no matter what I pick. May as well get the better quality materials cheaper if you aren't losing a lot of performance. (From what I've seen the newer phones aren't a 150$ upgrade anyway)
Regarding LED...
Just think of it as a red light bulb with low brightness.
It is really not noticeable unless you are seeing it from an angle facing the power button directly. There is no color change like GS3.
Honestly LED is kinda useless in OG.
But I hate LED notification on GS3 oh well
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda premium
I don't think an OG is worth switching to from a GNex. You have much more active ROM development, and updates to Android as soon as they're available. It took AT&T six months to update the OG to Jelly Bean, and the 4.1.2 version we got is probably the end of that road. And because the dev community is relatively modestly sized, your alternatives are much narrower. On the bright side, LG's stock UI is very nice.
The AT&T OG also has a card slot for up to 64GB, so that might be a factor for you. The Sprint version does not.
The Gnex is just suffering from a lot of lag with 4.2.2 now. Doing some minor tasks it's OK.. but try taking a picture, sharing it via Facebook, or SMS, then browsing the web.. etc.. it starts to show it's age quick compared to these other devices with twice the ram about faster CPU's. I will hang on to the GNex I'm sure but the $50 price tag is a huge bonus seeing as how it's nearly identical performance to the One and the SGS4.
I will end up on an AOSP based rom because I'm a vanilla android lover.
If you need a notification light, the LG Optimus G is not the device for you. It's nearly useless on this device. The rest of the phone is great. I'm waiting on a new Nexus phone or similar before even considering an upgrade.
Well if your on T-Mobile goodluck on getting the LTE work as for weeks and weeks. I've been trying to get the LTE to work for this phone. I'm thinking about switching to the Nexus 4 instead.
MZille said:
I don't think an OG is worth switching to from a GNex. You have much more active ROM development, and updates to Android as soon as they're available. It took AT&T six months to update the OG to Jelly Bean, and the 4.1.2 version we got is probably the end of that road. And because the dev community is relatively modestly sized, your alternatives are much narrower. On the bright side, LG's stock UI is very nice.
The AT&T OG also has a card slot for up to 64GB, so that might be a factor for you. The Sprint version does not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The most honest feedback you'll ever get up there ^
I think the media aspect is partly to blame. This phone is powerful, but people don't care about specs. If it doesn’t have a serious advertising campaign then no one cares. Since this didn't get much commercial attention the dev community is smaller than a lot other phones. If that matters to you then yeah stay with your phone. Also we don't really have much accessories (the actually look good) to work with. If you could careless about all of that and performance is your thing then yes get the LGOG. Bottom line, this is a great phone that didn't get proper attention. -PhonePhan
Oh the aesthetics, u will def. want a case for reasons alrdy mentioned so that kind of negates the feel n admiring it's build quality somewhat.
The GS4 u may want a case as well so can cancel out its poor feel.
Point is, so many talk bout looks and feel etc in reviews and in person but wouldn't most people want a case for protection?
Sony Xperia Z appeals to me if I was in the market right now. GS4 may be 150 more now but that is easily canceled out when you consider resale value. What I loved about my iPhones before switching to android
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda app-developers app
Please use this thread to discuss devices other than and any comparisons with other devices on or about the GS 5 in this thread and any other off-topic issues that are not needing a new thread.
Post with respect, this is a helpful community, hope we all learn from this stuff in here.
How likely is it for the T-Mobile s5 to have a locked bootloader like att and verizon s4?
(I'm worried because the Xperia Z1s from T-Mobile wasn't unlockable even though sony devices usually are... So are locked bootloaders T-Mobile's new policy?)
Anyone think there will be a chance for a GPE? It seems like the M8 will be getting one according to the HTC gallery description in the Play Store. If so, I would prefer the S5 GPE over the M8 version.
The migration begins soon
Been mostly a lurker on the S2 forums, but I've placed my order and now the long wait for Christmas morning.
Ha ha
Christmas morning in April huh?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I'm coming from a Note2... I love the device, but honestly its slightly larger then I'd like for 1 hand holding. I'm not looking forward to adjusting to a smaller screen. lol
Metro Pcs Gs5 with a T-Mobile sim? or visa versa?
hey do any of you guys know if the metro pics GS5 can be used wit a T-Mobile sim or does it need to be unlocked? I know that metro uses T-Mobile towers now I'm wondering if it will be the same model
Backordered?
Just ordered GS5 from t-mobile and got an email saying back ordered, anybody else order one and receive the email? I wonder if its just because its not available.
Yeah
All of them show up as backordered.
That is how their system handles backorder
TheArtiszan said:
Ha ha
Christmas morning in April huh?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Christmas eve now! Mine is in the Twin Cities and will be delivered tomorrow!
I have an S5 being delivered today, but I kinda sorta want to try something new and go with the HTC One M8, but a year to a year and half of something new may be regrettable.... blah
nm
nm
hmm think I may Jump from LG G2 thanks to T-mobiles destructive kitkat recovery lockdown.
G2 is a mess after update GS5 here I come
Just upgraded from an s2 and man I'm sure glad I did this phone is so much faster!
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using Tapatalk
sikaros said:
Just upgraded from an s2 and man I'm sure glad I did this phone is so much faster!
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bet it is
I purchased a couple hours ago pretty happy with it so.
Signal . Wifi , data strength & call quality is stronger then LG G2 which is a good sign.
Hopefully battery life provides positive results....I will give it a couple charge cycles.
If all is well I will be rooting this bad boy next week & building some goodies.
Anyway good to be holding a Samsung device again.
Can anyone explain the decision to stick with 2 GB ram - same as it was going back to the SIII? The Note 3 had 3, and I realize its a faster processor- but S3 and 4 already are snappy enough which handling whatever you do on screen, its the background processes and heavy multitasking with lots of apps working where the phone starts to hang and start to feel sluggish.
~ sent from my tin can attached to a string ~
I bought the Samsung GS5 and HTC One M8. Now I have to return one. Help me decide which one!
I purchased both phones to use simultaneously for a couple weeks. I was confident that at the end of the two weeks, I’d have a clear answer about which phone was best for me – but I’m still torn.
I do think I have my mind made up about which phone is better in specific categories, and maybe some things people don’t think about when writing reviews.
Camera image quality on good shots: GS5.
Outside M8:
Outside GS5:
Auto settings. I upscaled the M8 image to 16MP. I think IMGUR might automatically downscale. My overall impression is that the M8 takes in too much light. It’s difficult to avoid, even when playing with exposure settings. Once you zoom, the GS5 16MP really comes into play. You can be the judge on which images are better, and by how much.
Camera consistency: M8. 50% my shots with the S5 end up a bit blurry. 75% of my M8 shots are in focus. That’s with still imagery.
Which is more important? Overall quality on excellent shots, or consistency?
Handfeel:
The S5 is easier to hold, especially when laying down in bed. The S5 is lighter and weighted in a way that feels like my hand is simply connected to the device. It doesn’t put strain on my wrist or make me feel concerned about dropping it at all. My confidence level holding the device without a case is extremely high. On the other hand, the S5 has a filmy/slimy feeling that makes it feel dirty. It always feels like the back of the S5 was rubbed on a slice of pizza. I feel confident holding it, but I don’t enjoy it. It’s very uninspiring.
The M8 feels amazing in the hand. I consistently want to pick it up for no other reason than to hold it. It has a nice cool temperature that is very welcoming. I don’t think the M8 is more slippery than the S5. I think it’s how the device is weighted. It’s harder to hold because it feels screen side heavy. When I’m holding it in bed, I always feel like the device is going to slip out of my hand and fall on my face. Not because the case is more slippery, but because of the weight. I am constantly reinforcing my grip on the phone out of fear of dropping it. It’s a strange mix of wanting to pick it up, and being afraid to pick it up.
I did use a GS4 and a Galaxy Nexus prior to that. I wonder how much of this is because I simply feel comfortable with Samsung devices? From a practical standpoint I feel the S5 is the better phone here. From an emotional standpoint I like how the HTC makes me feel.
Turning the device on and off:
The S5 can be turned on with the home button or power button. I’ve found hitting the home button is easier than double tapping. I’ve been able to use the fingerprint scanner with about 80% accuracy with one hand and my thumb. Accessing the camera from the lockscreen produces a second or two of lag.
The M8 is double tap or the top power button. The power button is my least favorite option, it’s recessed and actually fairly difficult to push. Double tap works when you hold the device, but not as well when the device is laying on a surface. For example, if I’m playing music and want to change a song, double tap doesn’t recognize my input 50% of the time. I have to keep double tapping or eventually pick the device up or hit the power button to turn the screen on.
On a positive side with the M8, tilting the device to the side and hitting the volume up key does instantly bring the M8 camera on. And it’s fast. Very handy.
Turning the devices off, there’s always a moment when reaching up to the power button on the M8 that I’m consciously concerned about dropping the device. Side power buttons are better.
Buttons:
Am I the only one that thinks it makes sense to have the back button on the right side like Samsung does it? I use the back button with my thumb 95% more than the current apps button. I don’t enjoy reaching across the screen on the M8. I also tend to prefer the Samsung home button, even though it’s an additional point of failure. I like being able to click a button to turn the screen on or go home. The tactile feel helps very much. I’m often hunting around on the M8 for the onscreen buttons, because the “HTC” bezel throws me off. What a waste of space.
Screen:
The S5 auto brightness is darker than the M8. With AB off, it’s easier to read text on the S5. With it on, it’s generally easier to read text on the M8. S5 is more vibrant with pictures, but the M8 has better contrast. I love the extra screen real estate due to the lack of screen buttons on the S5.
Touchwiz vs Sense: No preference.
How long will I keep the device:
I feel that the M8 will be gone in a year, because the M9 will have a better camera that make it a worthwhile upgrade. I can see myself holding onto the S5 for two years, it really is maxed out with specs and just works. On the other hand, the uninspiring nature of the S5 will probably make me want to ditch it in 2015.
crazeco said:
I bought the Samsung GS5 and HTC One M8. Now I have to return one. Help me decide which one!
I purchased both phones to use simultaneously for a couple weeks. I was confident that at the end of the two weeks, I’d have a clear answer about which phone was best for me – but I’m still torn.
I do think I have my mind made up about which phone is better in specific categories, and maybe some things people don’t think about when writing reviews.
Camera image quality on good shots: GS5.
Outside M8: [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Pk8jEUw.jpg[/IMG]
Outside GS5:
Auto settings. I upscaled the M8 image to 16MP. I think IMGUR might automatically downscale. My overall impression is that the M8 takes in too much light. It’s difficult to avoid, even when playing with exposure settings. Once you zoom, the GS5 16MP really comes into play. You can be the judge on which images are better, and by how much.
Camera consistency: M8. 50% my shots with the S5 end up a bit blurry. 75% of my M8 shots are in focus. That’s with still imagery.
Which is more important? Overall quality on excellent shots, or consistency?
Handfeel:
The S5 is easier to hold, especially when laying down in bed. The S5 is lighter and weighted in a way that feels like my hand is simply connected to the device. It doesn’t put strain on my wrist or make me feel concerned about dropping it at all. My confidence level holding the device without a case is extremely high. On the other hand, the S5 has a filmy/slimy feeling that makes it feel dirty. It always feels like the back of the S5 was rubbed on a slice of pizza. I feel confident holding it, but I don’t enjoy it. It’s very uninspiring.
The M8 feels amazing in the hand. I consistently want to pick it up for no other reason than to hold it. It has a nice cool temperature that is very welcoming. I don’t think the M8 is more slippery than the S5. I think it’s how the device is weighted. It’s harder to hold because it feels screen side heavy. When I’m holding it in bed, I always feel like the device is going to slip out of my hand and fall on my face. Not because the case is more slippery, but because of the weight. I am constantly reinforcing my grip on the phone out of fear of dropping it. It’s a strange mix of wanting to pick it up, and being afraid to pick it up.
I did use a GS4 and a Galaxy Nexus prior to that. I wonder how much of this is because I simply feel comfortable with Samsung devices? From a practical standpoint I feel the S5 is the better phone here. From an emotional standpoint I like how the HTC makes me feel.
Turning the device on and off:
The S5 can be turned on with the home button or power button. I’ve found hitting the home button is easier than double tapping. I’ve been able to use the fingerprint scanner with about 80% accuracy with one hand and my thumb. Accessing the camera from the lockscreen produces a second or two of lag.
The M8 is double tap or the top power button. The power button is my least favorite option, it’s recessed and actually fairly difficult to push. Double tap works when you hold the device, but not as well when the device is laying on a surface. For example, if I’m playing music and want to change a song, double tap doesn’t recognize my input 50% of the time. I have to keep double tapping or eventually pick the device up or hit the power button to turn the screen on.
On a positive side with the M8, tilting the device to the side and hitting the volume up key does instantly bring the M8 camera on. And it’s fast. Very handy.
Turning the devices off, there’s always a moment when reaching up to the power button on the M8 that I’m consciously concerned about dropping the device. Side power buttons are better.
Buttons:
Am I the only one that thinks it makes sense to have the back button on the right side like Samsung does it? I use the back button with my thumb 95% more than the current apps button. I don’t enjoy reaching across the screen on the M8. I also tend to prefer the Samsung home button, even though it’s an additional point of failure. I like being able to click a button to turn the screen on or go home. The tactile feel helps very much. I’m often hunting around on the M8 for the onscreen buttons, because the “HTC” bezel throws me off. What a waste of space.
Screen:
The S5 auto brightness is darker than the M8. With AB off, it’s easier to read text on the S5. With it on, it’s generally easier to read text on the M8. S5 is more vibrant with pictures, but the M8 has better contrast. I love the extra screen real estate due to the lack of screen buttons on the S5.
Touchwiz vs Sense: No preference.
How long will I keep the device:
I feel that the M8 will be gone in a year, because the M9 will have a better camera that make it a worthwhile upgrade. I can see myself holding onto the S5 for two years, it really is maxed out with specs and just works. On the other hand, the uninspiring nature of the S5 will probably make me want to ditch it in 2015.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude first of all thanks a lot for a very informative post, really appreciate it.
I'm interested yo know your input about the performance of both devices. If you don't mind, can u give a detailed opinion about the performance like you did about the rest on your post above? Thanks! Want to see how the S5 does compared to the M8.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
barondebxl said:
Dude first of all thanks a lot for a very informative post, really appreciate it.
I'm interested yo know your input about the performance of both devices. If you don't mind, can u give a detailed opinion about the performance like you did about the rest on your post above? Thanks! Want to see how the S5 does compared to the M8.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I addressed some of this in the above, I made the following post in the HTC forum and thought this might answer your question on "performance":
I used the M8 and S5 side by side for over a week. I really wanted to keep the M8, but I couldn't.
Basic inputs:
It actually takes longer to use the M8 for basic inputs, turning the device on, and turning it off. The Samsung turns on a bit faster with just pushing the home button. Fingerprint scanner unlocks more quickly. Side power button is far superior.
Double tap on the M8 is NOT perfect. Neither is holding the device in landscape and hitting the volume key to activate the camera (doesn't work on the first try about 30%). Double tap takes you to the first lock screen. Then you have to slide the icon of what you want to use and input your pin. This can be mitigated by utilizing swipes instead of double tap. It's still not faster.
Buttons:
I often found myself constantly hunting for the onscreen buttons on the M8. The empty HTC bezel throws you off. It's very hard to have muscle memory when you have a big empty row where you think the buttons are. It also takes a moment for the buttons to simply appear. S5 doesn't have this issue due to the hardware home button.
Screen Off:
However often we turn the screen on, a lot of us are also turning it off. It takes longer to turn the screen off on the M8 than it does the S5. Every time I turned the M8 off with one hand it required maneuvering the device in a way that made me fear dropping it because the power button is on top and the device is long. I generally used my other hand to hit the power button just for that reason. That's not necessary on the S5.
Screen on with Music:
I LOVE the M8 speakers. I love playing music on this device around the house, while I'm in the shower, etc. If I am playing music on the M8 and have the device on the counter, and I want to change a song, it's not designed to register a doubletap when laying flat. With the S5, I hit the home button and it brings the screen up. It takes significantly longer to either find a way to hit the top power button or repeatedly tap the screen until it registers on the M8.
Speed:
In day to day use, after disabling bloat on the S5, the devices are equally as snappy. In fact, the S5 is more accessible for the reasons mentioned above. That's all that matters, because all of us here are capable of tinkering and optimizing.
Everyone wants to talk about microseconds worth of lag, what about basic functions, like turning the screen off. It's little things like that, things I do often, which should be taken into consideration when you talk about how long you have to wait for things between devices. If we are going to argue about tenths of a second, these things matter.