OK, I think a lot of you are here from a note or note 2, am I wrong?
I came from a Tmobile note 2. When i saw the original note 2, i was hooked on the big screen phones. People don't seem to understand the no bezel thing. A 7 inch phone and 7 inch tablet are two completely different sizes, all because of the lack of bezel. And I will keep buying bigger phones until they don't fit in my pocket anymore.
Now, onto the specifics of the phone. Yes, I think it is a tiny bit slower that the note 2, but still, in some benchmarks it did even better than the note 2. And my test is, can i download using torrents (which suck the processor and ram) and still listen to skip free music, browse the web and navigate the phone. This champ can.
The screen is awesome. it just hits you its so bright. I would have loved a 1080 but hey...
Battery life is great. Ive got a few extra off brands until the oem's come out (if they ever do) but Ive said this before, If i have a 3,200 and a smaller phone has a 2,000-2,500. When the screens are on, we are evenly matched. But the screen is not always on. So when its off, we are both running the same radios and processors, but i have a bigger battery. People don't realize this.
I don't know about you early adopters, but i just paid 515 US, no tax for mine. I think that's pretty good.
Oh, the stares. I was one of the Note 1 early adopters. I loved all the attention and envy that poured in on all sides, call me shallow, but i loved it. Its been diminishing for a long time now, becayse the note 2 was basically around the same size and it came to all the carriers. The feeling is back in full force now. That's what you get for going up an inch.
The functionality of having a pocket-able big screen phone is amazing. It's a small pocket-able tablet, that also handles my calls and texts. You basically give up one handed use at this point, even though i have big hands, but you gain in every area; typing, watching videos, gaming, surfing, any app....
I'm curious how unpopular this phone actually is.... There is basically zero devs here. And correct me if I'm wrong, but it's been out for a month...
On a similar note, the lack of the Samsung battery/charger anywhere on the web is pissing me off. I like having the ability to keep batteries charges externally so my phone doesn't have to be tethered to an outlet. You just swap out the batteries and your back at 100%.
Discuss.
mottyengel said:
OK, I think a lot of you are here from a note or note 2, am I wrong?
I came from a Tmobile note 2. When i saw the original note 2, i was hooked on the big screen phones. People don't seem to understand the no bezel thing. A 7 inch phone and 7 inch tablet are two completely different sizes, all because of the lack of bezel. And I will keep buying bigger phones until they don't fit in my pocket anymore.
Now, onto the specifics of the phone. Yes, I think it is a tiny bit slower that the note 2, but still, in some benchmarks it did even better than the note 2. And my test is, can i download using torrents (which suck the processor and ram) and still listen to skip free music, browse the web and navigate the phone. This champ can.
The screen is awesome. it just hits you its so bright. I would have loved a 1080 but hey...
Battery life is great. Ive got a few extra off brands until the oem's come out (if they ever do) but Ive said this before, If i have a 3,200 and a smaller phone has a 2,000-2,500. When the screens are on, we are evenly matched. But the screen is not always on. So when its off, we are both running the same radios and processors, but i have a bigger battery. People don't realize this.
I don't know about you early adopters, but i just paid 515 US, no tax for mine. I think that's pretty good.
Oh, the stares. I was one of the Note 1 early adopters. I loved all the attention and envy that poured in on all sides, call me shallow, but i loved it. Its been diminishing for a long time now, becayse the note 2 was basically around the same size and it came to all the carriers. The feeling is back in full force now. That's what you get for going up an inch.
The functionality of having a pocket-able big screen phone is amazing. It's a small pocket-able tablet, that also handles my calls and texts. You basically give up one handed use at this point, even though i have big hands, but you gain in every area; typing, watching videos, gaming, surfing, any app....
I'm curious how unpopular this phone actually is.... There is basically zero devs here. And correct me if I'm wrong, but it's been out for a month...
On a similar note, the lack of the Samsung battery/charger anywhere on the web is pissing me off. I like having the ability to keep batteries charges externally so my phone doesn't have to be tethered to an outlet. You just swap out the batteries and your back at 100%.
Discuss.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came from the original Note so I can see and feel a big leap in performance. I guess if you came from a Note 2 then you might not notice any difference or maybe expect so much improvement that you think it's slower. Size wise I am very happy with it, friends and family actually didn't even notice that I'm using a Mega. You can only see the big difference if you set them next to each other, most of the time they see my phone from afar and think it's the Note. If strangers ask, I'll just tell them it's a mini tablet that can make calls rather than a huge smartphone.
Development is slow because they are waiting for a kernel to be developed by Philz and/or Chainfire. It's just been 2 weeks since its been available so I won't worry much about developer support. Right now I've just got root and deleted/uninstalled a lot of bloatware and disabled almost all features so my phone runs very fast. Also, using Foldermount I am able to install apps exceeding the internal storage capacity.
I got 2 extra batteries from eBay which are 3500 mah and I'm okay with the battery life so I'm just using one. As for popularity, I think it will be like the original Note where people started to like it when they saw it being used by others since just looking at the specs of it on paper is not as appealing as holding it in your hand and seeing that huge display for videos and games. Lots of other manufacturers are releasing phones over 6 inches and I'm sure it will be the norm next year.
gx3k said:
I came from the original Note so I can see and feel a big leap in performance. I guess if you came from a Note 2 then you might not notice any difference or maybe expect so much improvement that you think it's slower. Size wise I am very happy with it, friends and family actually didn't even notice that I'm using a Mega. You can only see the big difference if you set them next to each other, most of the time they see my phone from afar and think it's the Note. If strangers ask, I'll just tell them it's a mini tablet that can make calls rather than a huge smartphone.
Development is slow because they are waiting for a kernel to be developed by Philz and/or Chainfire. It's just been 2 weeks since its been available so I won't worry much about developer support. Right now I've just got root and deleted/uninstalled a lot of bloatware and disabled almost all features so my phone runs very fast. Also, using Foldermount I am able to install apps exceeding the internal storage capacity.
I got 2 extra batteries from eBay which are 3500 mah and I'm okay with the battery life so I'm just using one. As for popularity, I think it will be like the original Note where people started to like it when they saw it being used by others since just looking at the specs of it on paper is not as appealing as holding it in your hand and seeing that huge display for videos and games. Lots of other manufacturers are releasing phones over 6 inches and I'm sure it will be the norm next year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't realize it had only been two weeks. But yeah, same with me i guess. Rooted, got rid of the bloatware, uninstalled some apps. And now i can use the multi wondow manager.
mottyengel said:
People don't seem to understand the no bezel thing. A 7 inch phone and 7 inch tablet are two completely different sizes, all because of the lack of bezel. And I will keep buying bigger phones until they don't fit in my pocket anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm absolutely with you on that one mate. I'm actually hoping the go for the full 7" screen at some point.
I'm currently rocking the Note 2... I have bought a Mega 6.3" for the mrs and I'm waiting to see what the Note 3 will bring. However I think the Note 3 will be around 6" so the largest top spec device is going to be the Xperia X Ultra for some time, so thats what Im planning on going for (despite the limitations of non removable battery an no flash)... I'd love a 6.5 or 7" Note with small bezels, removable battery etc but I just cant see it being an option this year..
I do predict though that next year we will see some genuine top notch 7" convergence devices. Even with the new Xperia X Ultra if they had trimmed the top and bottom bezels they could have almost fitted a 7" screen into the same footprint. It would have to be "marginally" wider of course. Exciting times ahead I think. I know the tech industry moves fast, but its not moving fast enough for me lol
Bold move by Sony though. At least they are genuinely trying, even if they haven't quite hit it on the head yet.
baileyjr said:
I'm absolutely with you on that one mate. I'm actually hoping the go for the full 7" screen at some point.
I'm currently rocking the Note 2... I have bought a Mega 6.3" for the mrs and I'm waiting to see what the Note 3 will bring. However I think the Note 3 will be around 6" so the largest top spec device is going to be the Xperia X Ultra for some time, so thats what Im planning on going for (despite the limitations of non removable battery an no flash)... I'd love a 6.5 or 7" Note with small bezels, removable battery etc but I just cant see it being an option this year..
I do predict though that next year we will see some genuine top notch 7" convergence devices. Even with the new Xperia X Ultra if they had trimmed the top and bottom bezels they could have almost fitted a 7" screen into the same footprint. It would have to be "marginally" wider of course. Exciting times ahead I think. I know the tech industry moves fast, but its not moving fast enough for me lol
Bold move by Sony though. At least they are genuinely trying, even if they haven't quite hit it on the head yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear what you're saying, and I love the large screens, but that Xperia Ultra looks TOO damn big. I think they crossed the line with that one. I think that 6" is perfect for me, but i'm willing to do the Mega 6.3 because Samsung made it so thin and it looks stylish. But the Xperia Ultra kinda looks like a small brick. lol
This would be an ideal device for me if it only had apt-x support. Samsung build quality, large battery, great display, no Exynos(!!).
I have wireless speaker system at home and I use HS3000 headset a lot when I am commuting.
The difference in sound compared to standard Bluetooth A2DP is noticeable.
dante-fu said:
This would be an ideal device for me if it only had apt-x support. Samsung build quality, large battery, great display, no Exynos(!!).
I have wireless speaker system at home and I use HS3000 headset a lot when I am commuting.
The difference in sound compared to standard Bluetooth A2DP is noticeable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought it has apt X support as mentioned in the Engadget review
Anyway, we use Sonos so it's not a requirement for us.
Techngro said:
I hear what you're saying, and I love the large screens, but that Xperia Ultra looks TOO damn big. I think they crossed the line with that one. I think that 6" is perfect for me, but i'm willing to do the Mega 6.3 because Samsung made it so thin and it looks stylish. But the Xperia Ultra kinda looks like a small brick. lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree and I'd have been happier with the mega form factor. Lets hope they see fit to outfit it with top specs at a later point.
baileyjr said:
I agree and I'd have been happier with the mega form factor. Lets hope they see fit to outfit it with top specs at a later point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a video of the Xperia ZU pocket test. I don't think you can walk comfortably with that in your pocket let alone sit or put it in your shirt pocket unlike the Mega. Even the ads for it never show it being put in the pocket, just in bags. The difference in screen size is just 0.1 inch (2.54 mm) which is almost negligible and for that small increase you get a phone that is 2.78 square inches bigger than the Mega plus onscreen buttons that take up to 10 mm of the screen. Also, on screen buttons can be a hassle specially when playing games because they are more prone to tapping.
Xperia Z
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
HTC One
Mega 6.3
Off screen buttons + bigger actual usable screen = better gaming experience
The price of the Xperia ZU is also questionable at the moment.
You can buy 2 Galaxy Mega 6.3s with over £110 left over with the pre-order price tag.
So how's the Mega like in low light? If you're using it in the bedroom at night with lamps turned off? Is it as bad as the Note 10.1 where light bleeds from the edges and blacks are grey?
GT-N7100 via Tapatalk 2
The pocket size is not really an issue for me. I wear loose bottoms most of the time at home/gym and don't even put my current phone (note 2) in my pocket while in the car or at work.
I admit the ultra certainly has its shortcomings, and without dismissing the mega 6.3 (I bought one for the mrs and she loves it), there really is noting else with real top end specs with the same real estate.
Give me a mega 6.3 with a 1080p screen and a snapgragon 800 and I'd be all over it. It just doesn't exist yet. While nobody can really say they really "need" all that extra horsepower I "want" it and thats enough for me to pay a premium. The device itself will only cost me £49 upfront on my current contract which is up for renewal.
Tubgirl said:
So how's the Mega like in low light? If you're using it in the bedroom at night with lamps turned off? Is it as bad as the Note 10.1 where light bleeds from the edges and blacks are grey?
GT-N7100 via Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using it right now in bed with the lights off and I can't see any light bleed on the screen. The blacks will not be as deep as AMOLED but it's very good. I actually like the fact that it's brighter than my original Note under sunlight and darker at night time which is great for the eyes.
---------- Post added at 11:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:50 PM ----------
baileyjr said:
The pocket size is not really an issue for me. I wear loose bottoms most of the time at home/gym and don't even put my current phone (note 2) in my pocket while in the car or at work.
I admit the ultra certainly has its shortcomings, and without dismissing the mega 6.3 (I bought one for the mrs and she loves it), there really is noting else with real top end specs with the same real estate.
Give me a mega 6.3 with a 1080p screen and a snapgragon 800 and I'd be all over it. It just doesn't exist yet. While nobody can really say they really "need" all that extra horsepower I "want" it and thats enough for me to pay a premium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure the Mega you wish for will be available next year. As for now, I'll enjoy the first gen Mega since I usually change my phone every year. Paying over double the price of the Mega for something which is not over double the advantage is not for me.
^^^^^^^^^ Logically your right of course, but been as my contract is up and its a case of having the mega 6.3 free of charge or paying £49 upfront for the Ultra Im not going to sweat it.. If i had to double down in cold hard cash and buy outright it would be a completely different senario.
baileyjr said:
^^^^^^^^^ Logically your right of course, but been as my contract is up and its a case of having the mega 6.3 free of charge or paying £49 upfront for the Ultra Im not going to sweat it.. If i had to double down in cold hard cash and buy outright it would be a completely different senario.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much do you pay each month and how long is the contact? Are they already offering the Xperia Z Ultra? What network is this?
gx3k said:
I'm using it right now in bed with the lights off and I can't see any light bleed on the screen. The blacks will not be as deep as AMOLED but it's very good. I actually like the fact that it's brighter than my original Note under sunlight and darker at night time which is great for the eyes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks... so what you're saying is that at night in bed you can actually make the Mega less bright than the Note2? If that's the case then it's great.
Brgds... /Tubgirl
gx3k said:
How much do you pay each month and how long is the contact? Are they already offering the Xperia Z Ultra? What network is this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im with 3 mobile uk. I pay £36 a month for 2000min 5000texts and unlimited data including teathering. Its a 2 year contract. Its been announced they will carry it in Sept. Upfront prices have been rumoured but not confirmed yet. The plan price will stay the same it always does its just the upfront cost that will vary. The £49 upfront sounds about right.
At the end of my contract I usually cancel and take another contract out with the same carrier through quidco the cash back site and get about 100 cash back
Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Tubgirl said:
Thanks... so what you're saying is that at night in bed you can actually make the Mega less bright than the Note2? If that's the case then it's great.
Brgds... /Tubgirl
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I need an app to get the original Note's brightness down to acceptable levels at night which I don't need with the Mega.
---------- Post added at 10:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 AM ----------
baileyjr said:
Im with 3 mobile uk. I pay £36 a month for 2000min 5000texts and unlimited data including teathering. Its a 2 year contract. Its been announced they will carry it in Sept. Upfront prices have been rumoured but not confirmed yet. The plan price will stay the same it always does its just the upfront cost that will vary. The £49 upfront sounds about right.
At the end of my contract I usually cancel and take another contract out with the same carrier through quidco the cash back site and get about 100 cash back
Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see. So the £49 up front is not official, being the most expensive phablet/smartphone at the moment I expect the upfront cost to be higher.
£36 x 24 months + £49 upfront = £913 is not bad if you use most of the included minutes, texts, and data.
I just use an Ovivo SIM which give me 150 minutes, 250 texts, and 500MB data every month for FREE so I just look at the actual cost of the phone.
^^^^^^^^^ The upfront cost is going to be same as a 32gb or 64gb iphone 5.
The ebay link posted on the previous page is inflated. You can order for Expansys for £639 http://www.androidorigin.com/sony-x...se-date-set-to-september-13-priced-at-639-99/
By comparison the 32gig iphone 5 is £599 and the 64gb is £699. But yeah using that rational the xperia Z Ultra upfront cost should be about £150... Three charge £129 upfront for the 32gig iphone.
Theres not that much difference in their price plans...The basic ones (with devices) start about £30, and the unlimited one is £36. I have been known to download torrents and teather my laptop to the phone so its nice just not to have to worry about worrying out of date etc
How's the loudspeaker compared to the Note2? Let's say if you're showing a YouTube clip to someone... which one is louder?
Brgds...
Tubgirl said:
How's the loudspeaker compared to the Note2? Let's say if you're showing a YouTube clip to someone... which one is louder?
Brgds...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a Note 2 to compare it with but I don't have to put the volume to max when showing youtube videos to others with my Mega 6.3.
Related
Anyone crazy like me & would like a bigger "SCREEN" in the next G.Note 2?
Soooo.... After owning the phone for a few days and as crazy as it sounds the phone is becoming very "normal" sized to me . Now i think alot of people mis-judge this phone from Youtube comparison vids and such. I said in another post out of the 5 people i let hold it have either said wow its so light and thin or its a very nice device. I am no giant either i am about 6 foot tall lean build.
But back on topic. Now getting used to the extra real estate has been easy for me and been a pleasure to use on the go. So i was looking at my Note last night and thinking man they could prob easily expand a extra 1/4 to 1/2" if they either dropped the touch buttons at the bottom being the next generation note would run on ICS out of the box or maybe even Jelly Bean hopefully and use on screen home/back etc buttons. There is a good 1/4" worth of space up top if they removed that butt ugly At&t logo. And a good 1/2" towards the bottom.
So basically the phone wouldn't get bigger but the actual display would. I know i am on board for that. What do you guys think?
I've said for a long time that I'd like a tablet that I could make phone calls from. That is the only way I would pay for cell service for a tablet when I can just pop a wifi from my phone. I would love a full size 7-10" tablet that I simply had to use a BT or wired earpiece with since I use the phone part of my phone the absolute least of all primary features. I have a feeling that may fall into that catogory also.
Chief Geek said:
I've said for a long time that I'd like a tablet that I could make phone calls from. That is the only way I would pay for cell service for a tablet when I can just pop a wifi from my phone. I would love a full size 7-10" tablet that I simply had to use a BT or wired earpiece with since I use the phone part of my phone the absolute least of all primary features. I have a feeling that may fall into that catogory also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you seen the new & upcoming ASUS Padfone smartphone/tablet? That seems right up your alley! Not sure when or if if will be coming to the US market anytime soon.
Vcolassi said:
Have you seen the new & upcoming ASUS Padfone smartphone/tablet? That seems right up your alley! Not sure when or if if will be coming to the US market anytime soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea there's been rumors of such devices for years and the only thing I've seen come to fruitition is generic no name devices from hong kong. Companies like to keep the dividing line drawn in the sand to keep it two different markets, but it's only a matter of time before the lynch pin breaks by one company doing it then the rest will follow to avoid losing buisness to the one that gives the consumers what they want. I love the idea of one device to do everything, and android is the ideal platform to do it with (for me atleast) as I already use it for so many things from multiple emails, work, play, travel, even as a TV remote for my GTV. So yea, that would be right up my alley, I just need someone to offer it up at a decent price and a decent data package. If T-Mobile can do unlimited everything for $50/month, why can't someone offer this up for unlimited everything $100/month, I'd gladly fork over the cash, even if it did come with a BS datacap w/ data throttle (not fees).
I am for a bigger screen.
I'm also for a thicker phone if that meant a bigger battery. ie 5000 Mah battery to power my device.
To answer the OP, yes and no. While I usually grab the phone by the edges there are times when I grip the area where the AT&T logo is, so having an otherwise non-functional edge can be useful. That said, if they lengthened the screen a little more to take up some of the logo + button areas I wouldn't complain because...
I came from the Advantage, which has a 5" screen but a 4:3 aspect ratio. That made it wider and shorter than the Note. The 16:9 aspect ratio of the Note makes it much more useable as a phone AND for web browsing (narrower so easier to hold as a phone, longer for more screen room in landscape mode). So I definintely wouldn't want the Note's body any wider than it is - and I don't think I would want it any longer either. A longer screen would be fine.
Chief Geek said:
I've said for a long time that I'd like a tablet that I could make phone calls from. That is the only way I would pay for cell service for a tablet when I can just pop a wifi from my phone. I would love a full size 7-10" tablet that I simply had to use a BT or wired earpiece with since I use the phone part of my phone the absolute least of all primary features. I have a feeling that may fall into that catogory also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Galaxy Tab 7.7 international (6800) version has a regular dialer/phone receiver. It's really awkward to use it like a normal phone, though. Combine it with something like Samsung's HM5000 Bluetooth "pen" receiver, and you have something.
The Verizon version of the 7.7 doesn't have voice calling enabled, though I suppose you could get away with using GrooveIP and Google Voice over LTE.
Vcolassi said:
Have you seen the new & upcoming ASUS Padfone smartphone/tablet? That seems right up your alley! Not sure when or if if will be coming to the US market anytime soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup I need that padfone
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
I think the maximum size for a phone would be 6 inches screen size. I hope the Note 2 increases the screen size to that
5.7" should be perfect to me.
bigger screen with a bigger battery, same size though. I wouldn't care if they did a non-removable battery if they give it like a 5000 mAh battery. oh man. that would be so sweet
I would like a biggger screen in the same form factor because this phone is almost unusable with 1 hand as it is.
burhanistan said:
My Galaxy Tab 7.7 international (6800) version has a regular dialer/phone receiver. It's really awkward to use it like a normal phone, though. Combine it with something like Samsung's HM5000 Bluetooth "pen" receiver, and you have something.
The Verizon version of the 7.7 doesn't have voice calling enabled, though I suppose you could get away with using GrooveIP and Google Voice over LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasnt aware that the international version had this enabled. This is very appealing. In a year or so I may look into the this or the aforementioned device as an alternative as the new price of these are around the price of a full blown cell/wifi tablet or close to it. Thanks for the tip.
sailador said:
I think the maximum size for a phone would be 6 inches screen size. I hope the Note 2 increases the screen size to that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree...........
a bigger screen size with basically the same device and bigger battery is what i would love to see as well i think that would be my perfect Note
Id like to see a 5.5" edge to edge display and a physical home button for the US version on the next NOTE.
-On another NOTE, Samsung goes 5.3"
swipe pad replaces the need for physical button
When i first got my hd2,i thought this is the best n max for a phone, then came my s2, now note, yes bigger is better, when you like to do all things on a single device, provided the battery is good enough for non stop 24hrs performance, yes you can surely do away with the edges because even on my s2 i hardly use home button, Coz i use swipe pad,i even turn off the phone with swipe pad,by placing screen off on the pad
I agree with the OP. If the next Note has a 5.5" - 6.0" screen AND dual front-facing speakers (like the BlackBerry PlayBook), it would be the perfect device.
I'm fine with the current size- more realestate is always cool, but any bigger and it becomes too hard to pocket it quickly...
Sent from my SGH-I717M using XDA
If battery technology would ever catch up to the battery demands of today's devices then i would like to see a 6" edge to edge screen.
I know I'm posting this in the AT&T Note forums, so the responses might be a bit biased, but here goes anyways. I was very interested in the Note from the first time I heard about it. Today I finally got around to going to an AT&T store and comparing a few phones. I was very impressed by the Note's screen, but I found it to be just slightly too big. It almost seemed like it would be perfect if it were 5.0 inches, not 5.3. Anyways, I was also very impressed by two other phones: the LG Nitro HD and the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket. I've compiled a list of pros, cons, and prices, focusing directly on comparisons between the three phones. Pros are "+" and cons are "-".
Samsung Galaxy Note ($299)
+ Dat screen! Beautiful large Super Amoled display
+ Great battery life
+ Good development support
- Slightly awkward to type with
- Pen not as accurate as I hoped (perhaps problem with it being a worn out display unit)
- Phone was just too big for my hands.
Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket ($199)
+ Much nicer screen than expected, I was worried the low resolution would be a negative but it was hard to tell to my naked eye
+ Great development support
- Slightly too small
- HD Version coming soon
LG Nitro HD ($99)
+ Very nice sharp, colorful 720P IPS screen
+ $200 cheaper than the Galaxy Note
- Slightly too small
- Poor battery life
- Poor development
I dismissed the HTC One XL because it lacked a removable battery and SD card slot, but I might reconsider it because it seems like it would fit the screen size I'm looking for. I've just been waiting for so long before I was eligible for an upgrade, and the waiting is getting annoying. Is the Samsung Galaxy Note worth the extra cost and getting over the awkwardness? I was convinced I would fall in love with it when I finally got to use it, but that wasn't really the case, so I'm a bit hesitant. Let me know what you think.
Put it this way I paid 650 full price, so I'd say yes lol. Deff worth the extra "upgrade" price compared to those others you listed.
I had the skyrocket, it was a great device, but still prefer the galaxy note. So yes its worth the extra money. The battery life is longer, the screen is just goregous, you can definately notice the difference in screen quality from the 2 especially after using the skyrocket for a few months. My s-pen is accurate as long as i dont have it leaned too far sideways. also got use to the screen size in a day or 2, i can actually 1 hand text with ics keyboard
Wait for the HTC one x if you can. Sounds like that screen size will fit you perfect
I got the note and I m waiting got the one x
Personally, price for me wasn't even a thought. Not that I'm rolling in money... actually the note broke the bank for me. But this is something I use all day every single day. With something like that I don't consider price. It's more a matter of which phone you will enjoy the most and which will be most useful to you.
I am torn as well. I owned the skyrocker prior...the nitro is on sale for 49.99 and you can get the skyrocket refurbs for that price.. .hell the vivid refurb is a penny.
I have a ton of obligations i could put the money towards if I take the note back
I really like it but is it worth it....decissions decissions
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA App
100 bucks extra over the lifetime of the phone comes to $4.16 a month. But for me, it was worth 100 just to play with it in the last month. Love this phone!
jpeg42 said:
100 bucks extra over the lifetime of the phone comes to $4.16 a month. But for me, it was worth 100 just to play with it in the last month. Love this phone!
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Click to collapse
I thought I was slow to upgrade. Don't remember the last phone I kept active for two years. Lol.
Disclaimer: This is not advice. It is just something that fell from between my ears.
Thats the other thing i keep telling myself....i have more upgrades coming up lol
biglittlegato said:
I thought I was slow to upgrade. Don't remember the last phone I kept active for two years. Lol.
Disclaimer: This is not advice. It is just something that fell from between my ears.
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Click to collapse
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA App
One word yes!
Sent from the TermiNOTEr! ;-)
Similar to what JPEG is alluding to, the answer to "Is $100 worth it?" is heavily dependent on how you evaluate the situation. I use my phone so frequently and for so many things that $100 is well worth the increased productivity and avoided frustration. Those other phones may be cheaper up front but the cost of the frustration and decreased satisfaction from a cheaper phone every time you use it for the next two years is far larger than the $100 you pay. This is a top shelf phone with a top shelf price.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
Is the Samsung Galaxy Note worth the extra price?
Absolutely to me
Is it worth it.....Hell yeah..... Besides all the great functions other memebers have listed, the ease of quickly pulling up the S note app has gotten me 2 really sexy ladies numbers....LOL.... I love this phone
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA Premium App
I got the phone for $150, but I think it'd definitely be worth full price as well. The screen is amazing and you adjust to the large size in just a few days.
tdude51 said:
Samsung Galaxy Note ($299)
+ Dat screen! Beautiful large Super Amoled display
+ Great battery life
+ Good development support
- Slightly awkward to type with
- Pen not as accurate as I hoped (perhaps problem with it being a worn out display unit)
- Phone was just too big for my hands.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Note worth the extra cost and getting over the awkwardness? I was convinced I would fall in love with it when I finally got to use it, but that wasn't really the case, so I'm a bit hesitant. Let me know what you think.
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Click to collapse
I don't work for AT&T - and your money is your money so I can't tell you how to spend it. But I can address your cons from my perspective.
I agree that it seems slightly awkward to type with... or it did. I tried a bunch of keyboards and settled on Smart Keyboard Pro. I'm now just as fast on the Note as I was in the iPhone 4S. Spend a little time and you'll find the right fit for you and the screen (which may not be the same keyboard you used to use).
Pen accuracy - it'll improve as you adjust to the device. My first couple days with the phone I thought the pen was a gimmick. Now I've come to find it's a great tool and I take a ton of notes with it.
In the store the phone felt stupid big to me. And like you I felt it was just too big for my hand size. Reality is (and many here will tell you) - you adjust to the size and it takes on an almost normal feel. I think your hands are accustomed to the size of your current phone and so anything larger feels, well larger and out of place. Sure no matter what (unless you have Shaq hands) the far side of the screen is going to take an adjustment to reach, but the act of holding and interacting with the device will normalize in a short period of time. For me it was about a week and it stopped feeling awkward. Now after about 2 and half other phones just feel (and look) foolishly tiny.
The short period of time (even if it was an hour or two) in the store with the phone is (for me) - not enough to really get used to the Note or determine how you're going to feel about it. Its a fabulous device that's worth getting to know. Take the 30 days and if you don't like it pay the restocking fee. But I know for me - there's very little chance mine's going back to AT&T to get put back on the shelf.
Now, for one other recommendation: If you get the white - get a case or order the black back from Samsung fulfillment. The white back is slick as snot. I put the black one on and the grip is excellent.
netsyd said:
I don't work for AT&T - and your money is your money so I can't tell you how to spend it. But I can address your cons from my perspective.
I agree that it seems slightly awkward to type with... or it did. I tried a bunch of keyboards and settled on Smart Keyboard Pro. I'm now just as fast on the Note as I was in the iPhone 4S. Spend a little time and you'll find the right fit for you and the screen (which may not be the same keyboard you used to use).
Pen accuracy - it'll improve as you adjust to the device. My first couple days with the phone I thought the pen was a gimmick. Now I've come to find it's a great tool and I take a ton of notes with it.
In the store the phone felt stupid big to me. And like you I felt it was just too big for my hand size. Reality is (and many here will tell you) - you adjust to the size and it takes on an almost normal feel. I think your hands are accustomed to the size of your current phone and so anything larger feels, well larger and out of place. Sure no matter what (unless you have Shaq hands) the far side of the screen is going to take an adjustment to reach, but the act of holding and interacting with the device will normalize in a short period of time. For me it was about a week and it stopped feeling awkward. Now after about 2 and half other phones just feel (and look) foolishly tiny.
The short period of time (even if it was an hour or two) in the store with the phone is (for me) - not enough to really get used to the Note or determine how you're going to feel about it. Its a fabulous device that's worth getting to know. Take the 30 days and if you don't like it pay the restocking fee. But I know for me - there's very little chance mine's going back to AT&T to get put back on the shelf.
Now, for one other recommendation: If you get the white - get a case or order the black back from Samsung fulfillment. The white back is slick as snot. I put the black one on and the grip is excellent.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for your advice! I'm glad to know that it just takes a little bit of getting used to. I'm very excited about this device, I was just surprised once I finally got my hands on it. I don't really have much to lose with the 30 day return window so I think I'm going to go for it. The development seems to be getting better every day, and I love tweaking my devices and getting the most out of them. I also am in big need of a new device for watching movies, listening to music and playing games (mostly on emulators). I think I will really enjoy doing that with the Note.
I was struggling with the same problem as the OP, just wasn't sure which to go with. I ended up deciding, mostly because I'm signing a 3 year contract, that I would go with the device with the best hardware, being the Note. I was worried about the size possibly making it awkward, but what I've found after owning it for just about a month now is that It's actually perfect.. My hands aren't small, but they're not huge either, and I can use it one handed for 90% of what I use it for, but I love tilting it on it's side and typing with two hands. I owned an HTC Touch Diamond prior to this, it has a stylus as well, and I found I'd always use the stylus for some of the smaller icons, well on the Note I hardly ever have to use the Stylus, just use it for editing photos really. The stylus is hardly noticable, if you use it great, if not then hey it's just an extra.
I think you'll get used to the size very quickly, and once you do, you'll have a super hard time going back to any other phone. I still have my Diamond Touch, use it as an alarm clock hah, and I get SO frustrated trying to manage it's tiny screen, and I remember when I first got it thinking it was perfectly sized haha... Oh how times change.
Imo phones like the Note are the future. I have a samsung laptop as well, 17" beast that I carry around a lot, and they make an awesome pair. It's kind of funny too, as they're both Samsung units, the stock back piece for the Note matches the edges of my laptop. Very esthetic combo. (RF711 laptop if anyone cares. )
( Also I type roughly 100wpm on a regular keyboard, so texting on phones has always been super tedious for me. When I tilt the Note on it's side and use the larger keyboard I can type faster then I ever have on a phone before. It's actually amazing I love it hah. )
I think the note has ruined me!!!! I've been using it for 7 days short of a month now and I have to say I loooooove it!!
I was skeptical of leaving IOS for android. I've played with android b4 setting up my GF's rooted nook color as a tablet
and its really buggy at times, I kept thinking to myself hmmm if the phones are this buggy then I'm gunna hate it!!!
But I took the plunge and haven't looked back since its very smooth and very few bugs. the size was giant to me
at first, but It has really become normal to me now. I pick up my old 3gs and I'm feel like its a tiny little toy!!!! LOL
So I say yes it is worth the price!!! I'm a photographer and I love showing off my photos on this phone!!!
I dont have a note so I cant speak on that front, but I can tell you the LG Nitro is what I would NOT go with. Played around on it a handful of times and every time it was slow and somewhat unresponsive.
If HTC one x is going to be unavailable for your network then go for Note. I moved 4s to nexus galaxy to Note and must say would not swap this device for any othrr device. Of course when One X is available that's a different story.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
I need more excuses to get this phone.. I mainly want it because of the screen size, the S-Pen also looks like (although sort of gimmicky) and the processor/RAM combo.
What do you use the phone most for? What are you most impressed/disappointed with?
Thanks!
So I would stop carrying (and losing) small rite in the rain notebooks around.
I had the DNA. Great phone in its own right. Went to the AT&T store to play with the Note 2 before it came out on Verizon. The only advantage the DNA had was the 1080p screen and it wasn't even that noticeable.. you would really have to try hard to notice the difference.
The larger screen, larger battery, and the better accessory/dev support made it almost a no-brainier to switch. I don't have a large music collection or listen to it much but I know the SD card was a just plus for this phone too vs the DNA.
The S-pen is cool I guess but it really is kind of a gimmick in my mind. Its fun to doodle on sometimes though.
Haloman800 said:
I need more excuses to get this phone.. I mainly want it because of the screen size, the S-Pen also looks like (although sort of gimmicky) and the processor/RAM combo.
What do you use the phone most for? What are you most impressed/disappointed with?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The s pen, to me, is not a gimmick. I use it for taking notes at work, games, and many other things. The screen and size as you mentioned are good but the antenna is was better than the s3. This phone is screaming fast. The battery is amazing.
I am most impressed with the factions of the s pen. I never thought I would use it as much as I do.
I'm seriously not dissapointed about anything with this phone.
Sent from my SCH-I605
I bought it for the screen size, battery, and spen...best smart phone ever hands down....GN2>GS3>DNA
droidstyle said:
I bought it for the screen size, battery, and spen...best smart phone ever hands down....GN2>GS3>DNA
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Click to collapse
That sums it up. Battery was a huge factor for me. I wanted something that would last me through an entire busy day, without having to have a backup battery. The screen is awesome, and the s-pen is finding more and more use everyday.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
Mostly the screen size, but if it had a bad battery or processor I would have gone with the DNA.
I will be getting this phone because it has a purpose. I'm not just getting a great phone, I'm getting a phone that I can draw with. I'm getting a phone I can multitask with. I'm getting a phone I can be productive with.
This is why I prefer the Note 2 over the DNA. The DNA looks sleeker and performs a little better, plus the size is more suited to me. But there's just something... lacking about it. It doesn't have a purpose. It's really a phone designed to be a phone (albeit a good one). Samsung had something more in mind with the Note 2. It's packed with features which, overall, aim towards making you more efficient at getting things done on the go. The DNA is not like that. It was inspired by Ferraris, says HTC, and that's basically what it is. It's a Ferrari, where the Note 2 is more like a pickup. The DNA looks good and performs well, where the Note 2 is just about getting stuff done.
I don't know about you guys, but I like getting stuff done. Note 2, I choose you!
If you call the note 2 a pickup then its a pickup and the motor as a couple of turbos and a shot of nitrous.
I wanted my S3, just more so, and this is it I also noticed once I had a larger phone I was using it more as my de facto tablet when it wasn't handy to have my ipad around. Also, I loved using Android more and more but no android tablet was nearly as good as the phones. Add in an actual digitizer and things really took off.
When the phone was announced I didn't think I'd bother, I thought the screen would be worse and the locked bootloader sucked. The 2nd part is true, but everything else is better than I imagined.
The s-pen is much more than a gimmick. I love it! The "air view" feature is really mouse hover-over functionality.
You can access drop-down menus on websites, get info on all kinds of things You hover the cursor over, not just within Samsung apps but I even just noticed it works in Titanium Backup.
I setup remote desktop to control my PC from anywhere and the s-pen is perfect for this, feels just like using the mouse in the way it behaves and the button works to right-click!
Your Samsung account also gives you Allshare Play which will stream music and video from your computer at home without lag (tried using RDP for this but very laggy)
..and after setting up and messing with all that stuff for hours today and also using multi-view to simultaneously watch YouTube and browse XDA, still 49% battery left!
This thing is a beast. I'm coming from a HTC Thunderbolt though so that may explain my enthusiasm
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
I got it for the "my phone is bigger and can beat up your phone" status. haha
Just got the phone today, all I can say is Wow. It's pretty much just a bigger, better version of every other Android phone I've ever owned. it only froze up twice (my fault both times) and everything is just amazing, the screen, the battery (I was coming from a Razr MAXX so this was a concern), I can even see the potential for the S-Pen. This phone is a beast, I have absolutely no compaints.
I had always liked the Note original because of the size. In addition, I can't seem to own a phone for more than a year. I was fast approaching that. But the fact there was multiview, the S-pen, screen size, and processing power trumped my Galaxy Nexus.
nosit1 said:
I had always liked the Note original because of the size. In addition, I can't seem to own a phone for more than a year. I was fast approaching that. But the fact there was multiview, the S-pen, screen size, and processing power trumped my Galaxy Nexus.
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Click to collapse
Same here. I am a vzw user and droooled over the note. So when I heard this was coming out, I was interested but not sold. I was however sold when I saw how powerful this thing was, and how it is very close to the s3. However, because I do like a new phone every so often, to appease the wife (and because I have to pay retail due to my grandfathered unlimited data plan) I need an AT LEAST 1 year phone, 1.5-2 would be splended. I love bigger screens, dont mind the weight, since my phone is usually docked, and I dont talk for hours on end. The pen, Im not sold on because its real sensitive and seems like a burden but may use it more often if I can get it resolved.
Now hopefully we can unlock the bootloader, and I am yet again, gambling with the fact that I hope updates and custom roms will keep this thing afloat for a while, I know the hardware will keep up.
#1 reason: Battery size. (Life)
#2 reason: The main raw stats; quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM.
I was basically sick of my iPhone and it's little screen and locked OS. I will say it was reliable but too vanilla. I chose the Note 2 because it was faster, bigger screen, expandable memory and customizable. I've had I for about 2 weeks now and though it was a bit of culture shock for the first few days I can tell ya t is an outstanding device...stock. I 've been lurking in the dev forums watching the progress of the root for my VZW n2. Probably gonna root this thing and get even more satisfaction out it.
When I first laid my eyes on the original Note I knew I wanted this style of phone. I was was a big stylus user back in the windows mobile days and the idea of having a precision pointing device was a dream come true within Android. And the people that tell you otherwise are the same folks that prefer a game pad over a mouse and keyboard in a first person shooter; the s-pen is more accurate than my fat fingers. Combine that with the huge beautiful display, speed and Samsung's software enhancements over stock Android it's a winner.
My next option would have been the DNA but that device is just a phone. I want more than a phone with a pretty face.
I was satified with my GS3 until i walked into a Verizon store this week & saw the Note 2 & GS3 sitting side by side & i was like !! Long story short the GS3 is going back this week & the Note 2 is on the way. Plus the battery life is way better on the Note 2.
I haven't decided to buy just yet. I'm waiting to see what happens with the bootloader, and what effect porting cyanogenmod to this device will have on the SPen.
I've been using my Droid X for almost 2 and a half years, and I'm ready to upgrade. Reasons are the specs, the screen size, and the stylus.
I'm not sure I understand all of the comments from people who say the stylus is a gimmick; that's like saying a Wacom tablet is a gimmick. Some of the features that Samsung has built into the device that use the stylus might be gimmicky, but the stylus itself is quite useful for those of us who want a precision pointing device for drawing, note taking, etc.
Hi, I am the proud owner of the Z mobile also the z tablet. I do ponder though if even I as a complete technophile would find use for the Ultra?
I used to own the Samsung galaxy S111 also the Note. I was very pleased with the S3 but soon sold the Note as every time I sat in the car the phone would dig into my groin! Its most appealing strength was its large size yet the large size was also its most challenging aspect to live with.
I am used to just picking up my mobile and putting it in my pocket and living an average sort of life. To that end I just cant see how I would live with the Ultra. lets face it, its truly massive and does come very close to the 7" tablet range?
Worries are. Flex. This is so thin it just has to flex and being so thin that glass on BOTH sides must be paper thin? I have not read yet of screen breakages on the Ultra but ponder how this is going to enjoy life in a pocket? All that screen real estate it does sort of ask for trouble? Buying some sort of cover would make the device even larger.
I am not worried about being seen holding this to my ear as I already have the SBH52 on order so would be able to use that as the phone device when paired with the Ultra. My main concern is where the heck to keep it while on the move and just how strong are those sheets of glass?
What are your thoughts? I want one but an hedging my bets on this so far.
Many thanks and kind regards.
If you were annoyed by a note inside your pocket, you'll be mad with zu inside your pocket.
Zu is reallythin, but no flex at all. Hard, rock solid structure.
How hard is the glass? I don't know since I haven't cracked it yet.
Sent from my C6802 using xda app-developers app
Ryland Johnson said:
Hi, I am the proud owner of the Z mobile also the z tablet. I do ponder though if even I as a complete technophile would find use for the Ultra?
I used to own the Samsung galaxy S111 also the Note. I was very pleased with the S3 but soon sold the Note as every time I sat in the car the phone would dig into my groin! Its most appealing strength was its large size yet the large size was also its most challenging aspect to live with.
I am used to just picking up my mobile and putting it in my pocket and living an average sort of life. To that end I just cant see how I would live with the Ultra. lets face it, its truly massive and does come very close to the 7" tablet range?
Worries are. Flex. This is so thin it just has to flex and being so thin that glass on BOTH sides must be paper thin? I have not read yet of screen breakages on the Ultra but ponder how this is going to enjoy life in a pocket? All that screen real estate it does sort of ask for trouble? Buying some sort of cover would make the device even larger.
I am not worried about being seen holding this to my ear as I already have the SBH52 on order so would be able to use that as the phone device when paired with the Ultra. My main concern is where the heck to keep it while on the move and just how strong are those sheets of glass?
What are your thoughts? I want one but an hedging my bets on this so far.
Many thanks and kind regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will also add that my Z Ultra is rock solid. One of the most sturdy pieces of tech I have owned. Despite it being a thin, it is built like a tank it feels.
As for size, it would probably drive you mad. This is not simply a phone one puts in there pocket and lives an average life with
Sent from my C6802 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
The body of the phone has an aluminum frame. So, those thin sheets of glass are mounted on a metal skeleton. Don't worry about flexing.
I feel compelled to point out that though the sides are aluminum, the skeleton itself (which is invisible from outside, of course) is glass-fiber polyamide, which is basically a reinforced nylon, and it is very strong. It's even used in cars to replace parts previously made of metal. Very impressive engineering in the 2013 Xperias, if you ask me.
I've noticed a bit of flex.. I wouldn't sit on it with it in my back pocket..
Many thanks to all those who kindly replied. If I may ask though? How do you carry the Ultra around with you? Common sense says back pockets are out due to sitting on it or even worse, being stolen. Front pockets would need to be very large indeed.
I ALWAYS use a screen protector and purchase a case for my mobile devices. The case is going to add even more size to the Ultra. My SXZ just goes with me in my front pockets without any concerns at all. I do understand this is not the same size phone though.:fingers-crossed:
I am puzzled. I want the Ultra, I don't want the new Note 3, not because the Note 3 is a poor device its just the looks, aesthetics again. Samsung, to me, look and feel cheap even though they are brilliant devices. The new Sony range look and feel like a device at this price should.
I am also very concerned that being this thin the strength in the Ultra, will in no small part, come from the glass itself regardless of the sandwich interior materials?
BTW Aluminium at that grade and thickness is used on the Ultra to make it look premium, as another poster mentioned the body is made from a hybrid mixture of carbonates. Again though with the tiny dimensions we are debating here even that fact may not be sufficient to ensure overall strength? I really don't know and its could be a very expensive learning curve
Its a dilemma for me?
Again, many thanks.
Well, if you REALLY want the Ultra, but you also want extremely good battery life, then look no further. I present to you - a 15000 mAh external battery
It's actually not that stupid. You told us that you need battery when you're out flying and stuff, but you're seated when you fly, so why not just plug this beast of a thing into the Ultra when the battery drops? And when you're done with it, put in back in your bag It's only $50 on Amazon (original price is $140)
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Ryland Johnson said:
Many thanks to all those who kindly replied. If I may ask though? How do you carry the Ultra around with you? Common sense says back pockets are out due to sitting on it or even worse, being stolen. Front pockets would need to be very large indeed.
I ALWAYS use a screen protector and purchase a case for my mobile devices. The case is going to add even more size to the Ultra. My SXZ just goes with me in my front pockets without any concerns at all. I do understand this is not the same size phone though.:fingers-crossed:
I am puzzled. I want the Ultra, I don't want the new Note 3, not because the Note 3 is a poor device its just the looks, aesthetics again. Samsung, to me, look and feel cheap even though they are brilliant devices. The new Sony range look and feel like a device at this price should.
I am also very concerned that being this thin the strength in the Ultra, will in no small part, come from the glass itself regardless of the sandwich interior materials?
BTW Aluminium at that grade and thickness is used on the Ultra to make it look premium, as another poster mentioned the body is made from a hybrid mixture of carbonates. Again though with the tiny dimensions we are debating here even that fact may not be sufficient to ensure overall strength? I really don't know and its could be a very expensive learning curve
Its a dilemma for me?
Again, many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Last time I put my phone in back pocket was ages ago. An old siemens, monochrome, shockproof. So I sat on it and duh the lcd broke. Do remember that lcd panels back in those days has a large gap with the outer screen. So don't put your phone in back pocket, no matter how thick they are.
Back on track, I carry my zu in my front pocket with a flip case. Fits because it's thin, but the length of the phone needs deep pocket indeed.
Sent from my C6802 using xda app-developers app
Hi,
Spent hours and hours researching the Ultra and the Note 3. Though I truly love the design of the Z range Not even I can find an excuse for purchasing what is in effect a tablet with a phone? I like my Z phone and the Z 10.1 tablet. for me though the Ultra is just that tad OTT regarding size for an every day user friendly mobile phone.
I am rather shocked and surprised to write that I have the Samsung galaxy Note 3 on order complete in a package with that awful gear watch. I write awful gear watch BUT I have not even set eyes on one yet. From what I have seen of it on Youtube it looks bloomin awful and may well end up gathering dust in a draw? Package deal though and a very good price.
Reasons I went with the Note 3 and not the ultra. Size, The specification of the Note does appear to leave the Ultra wanting in fact the only two positives I managed to write on the numerous lists I wrote where the Ultra has a bigger screen and is water and dust resistant. IN all other areas the Note, on paper, leaves the Ultra behind. I am shocked by this but compare both specifications side by side and the Ultra is basically a tablet spec with a phone.
Just like to thank you again for your input and say I am still very proud to own the Sony Xperia Z tablet and have found my time with the Xperia Z phone a great experience. Cant really believe I am returning the Samsung path, I hatted all that plastic. At least with the Note there are going to be a myriad of changeable back plates and some of them made by third party brands will be in metal.
I think the thing that made the choice was the phone. The Ultra doesn't even come with a flash and the picture capabilities are very poor according to reports. The Note comes with Android 4.3 out of the box, has 3GB RAM and 32GB memory not to mention the pen functions, and myriad of other built in technology such as Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature, humidity, gesture, even a larger battery! Add to that the Note has 4k video and an IR port.......The Ultra does appear rather dull? I would still have bought the Ultra though had it not been so near a 7" tablet. Pleased I shall be using a new device but sad its not a Sony.
Kindest regards.
While I do hope you enjoy your Note 3 and hope you don't experience buyer's remorse, I have to disagree about the Note 3's spec advantage re: the Z Ultra. The only advantages it has are an additional GB of RAM and and extra 16 GB storage. I do concede that these are advantages, and have no interest in trying to spin the facts to argue against you, but let's be honest: 2 GB of RAM is PLENTY for Android at this point in time. I run a custom ROM on my Nexus 4 that shows the RAM bar in the recent apps screen and I routinely have 15+ apps open at once, usually with 200 MB or more of RAM left. So, an extra gigabyte of RAM is better, but when you still have headroom with 2 GB of RAM, it's not a difference you're going to feel. Like, at all. So this is an advantage in terms of future-proofing but will not result in any better performance at this point in time.
The extra 16 GB of storage is nice as well, but in my opinion, this would not have been a decisive advantage even a year or two ago, let alone now that cloud storage has evolved so much. I am not one of these people who advocates storing everything in the cloud (at least not yet), and do appreciate lots of local storage, but since the Xperia ZU has 16 + 64 GB, the question of storage is one of second or third-tier importance. I guess if I were an economist, I would say that the Note 3 does have an advantage in terms of RAM and storage, but given the amount of RAM and storage the ZU already has, the marginal utility of more is very low. It's just not really going to result in a significantly better experience. The Z Ultra, however, has very tangible advantages over the Note 3, including a much larger display, total waterproofing up to 1.5 meters + dust resistance, thinner, and it's much better-looking and probably better-built.
This is all my opinion, of course, and YMMV. But subjectively, today was my first day out in the real world with the Z Ultra (I took it with me to university) and OH MAN, it was awesome. It slides right in my pocket, no problem, and once I lit up that huge, beautiful display (between classes, of course!), I just smiled and knew that I'd made the right choice buying this phone.
Ryland Johnson said:
Hi,
Spent hours and hours researching the Ultra and the Note 3. Though I truly love the design of the Z range Not even I can find an excuse for purchasing what is in effect a tablet with a phone? I like my Z phone and the Z 10.1 tablet. for me though the Ultra is just that tad OTT regarding size for an every day user friendly mobile phone.
I am rather shocked and surprised to write that I have the Samsung galaxy Note 3 on order complete in a package with that awful gear watch. I write awful gear watch BUT I have not even set eyes on one yet. From what I have seen of it on Youtube it looks bloomin awful and may well end up gathering dust in a draw? Package deal though and a very good price.
Reasons I went with the Note 3 and not the ultra. Size, The specification of the Note does appear to leave the Ultra wanting in fact the only two positives I managed to write on the numerous lists I wrote where the Ultra has a bigger screen and is water and dust resistant. IN all other areas the Note, on paper, leaves the Ultra behind. I am shocked by this but compare both specifications side by side and the Ultra is basically a tablet spec with a phone.
Just like to thank you again for your input and say I am still very proud to own the Sony Xperia Z tablet and have found my time with the Xperia Z phone a great experience. Cant really believe I am returning the Samsung path, I hatted all that plastic. At least with the Note there are going to be a myriad of changeable back plates and some of them made by third party brands will be in metal.
I think the thing that made the choice was the phone. The Ultra doesn't even come with a flash and the picture capabilities are very poor according to reports. The Note comes with Android 4.3 out of the box, has 3GB RAM and 32GB memory not to mention the pen functions, and myriad of other built in technology such as Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature, humidity, gesture, even a larger battery! Add to that the Note has 4k video and an IR port.......The Ultra does appear rather dull? I would still have bought the Ultra though had it not been so near a 7" tablet. Pleased I shall be using a new device but sad its not a Sony.
Kindest regards.
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Welcome to Samsung's world...
I am a current Samsung Galaxy Note 1 owner and I'm happy to say that it has served me well.. I was happy with it.. I would agree to you that Note3 is better on paper.. specswise... a dash of flash here...a sprinkle of RAM there.. a spoon of 32gb memory there.. and add 4k recording on top..
To be honest, I was disappointed with Samsung's market strategy.. I bought the Note not just for practicality and purpose but also for bragging rights.. "big screen! muwaha!" And then a few months later, they released the Mega.. then the S4... With even bigger screens..
I'm like "wtf Samsung? I thought the Note was your phablet line??" And then the Note became just some other big phone and not Samsung's star of the show.. At least with Sony, they released another star of the show without stepping over the ZU.. take note of the Z1.. We have the Z1 but it specialized on another field (photography). They did not release *and hopefully WILL NOT release* another phablet which is not from the Ultra family and would end up stepping over the ZU..
Simply with this, I am moving to Sony.. For sure by Q1 of 2014, you guys will see a Samsung Mega 2, Galaxy S5 etc... etc.. which will leave the Note in the backstage yet again...
"Sent from my refrigerator"
awesome device..
Ryland Johnson said:
Hi, I am the proud owner of the Z mobile also the z tablet. I do ponder though if even I as a complete technophile would find use for the Ultra?
I used to own the Samsung galaxy S111 also the Note. I was very pleased with the S3 but soon sold the Note as every time I sat in the car the phone would dig into my groin! Its most appealing strength was its large size yet the large size was also its most challenging aspect to live with.
I am used to just picking up my mobile and putting it in my pocket and living an average sort of life. To that end I just cant see how I would live with the Ultra. lets face it, its truly massive and does come very close to the 7" tablet range?
Worries are. Flex. This is so thin it just has to flex and being so thin that glass on BOTH sides must be paper thin? I have not read yet of screen breakages on the Ultra but ponder how this is going to enjoy life in a pocket? All that screen real estate it does sort of ask for trouble? Buying some sort of cover would make the device even larger.
I am not worried about being seen holding this to my ear as I already have the SBH52 on order so would be able to use that as the phone device when paired with the Ultra. My main concern is where the heck to keep it while on the move and just how strong are those sheets of glass?
What are your thoughts? I want one but an hedging my bets on this so far.
Many thanks and kind regards.
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Hi Mr Ryland..This is DR Sudeep here..i did find some of our tastes being in common and thought of sharing some of them ..i m a proud owner of the z ,z tablet as you do and the new awesome z ultra..infact i really enjoyed some of your comments and debate with one of those reviewers of the website i dont remember about the xperia z and think exactly the way and hold opinions exactly the way you do..funny many things in common..infact before i bought the z ultra i exactly had the same things and queries in mind as you do now and now being the proud owner of z ultra ..thought of sharing some things..as your reservations stand here u are spot on in many of ur fears i guess if u wanna leap to ultra as i did feel the same way when i first laid my hands on this awesome device..its huge for sure ..make no mistake about that..but its own of those devices u really forgive even being such huge coz the design is so freakingly awesome the device is so thin yet feels so sturdy and strong with that alluminium framed finish ..not once did i feel that i was holding a glass sandwiched phone coz it feels so strong in hand no creaking noise what so ever ..its huge yet its pocketable..and did i mention the awesome water resistance..its in a league of very few masterpieces in the world that try to balance opposite things and yet do it with a plomb and authority..what i mean is ..its huge but pocketable and pleasant to hold in hand the screen which is out of this world can be the reason alone to buy this jewel and carry this burden in pocket infact i no more feel it a burden in pocket ..i sttarted enjoying the glares and the attention i was getting in public places,,,touch response is frealkingly silky smooth ..i have never seen a faster device in my life than this..i thot z was fierce fast bfre i got this in hand and boy it flies it literally flies yet to notice a single hang or stutter..i will end up by saying this...all your reservations are true ...but it is one of those few devices out there which you will be joyful and proud of and will be willing to compromise for all the great things it does and its a guarantee,,,hope ieven though i sounded a little fan boy i was helpful to you and i can afford doing that holding this awesome device,,..regards..please come up with any queries or opinions of yours as i would be glad if im being helpful to you in anyway..thanks..cheers mate
deepu4puppy said:
Hi Mr Ryland..This is DR Sudeep here..i did find some of our tastes being in common and thought of sharing some of them ..i m a proud owner of the z ,z tablet as you do and the new awesome z ultra..infact i really enjoyed some of your comments and debate with one of those reviewers of the website i dont remember about the xperia z and think exactly the way and hold opinions exactly the way you do..funny many things in common..infact before i bought the z ultra i exactly had the same things and queries in mind as you do now and now being the proud owner of z ultra ..thought of sharing some things..as your reservations stand here u are spot on in many of ur fears i guess if u wanna leap to ultra as i did feel the same way when i first laid my hands on this awesome device..its huge for sure ..make no mistake about that..but its own of those devices u really forgive even being such huge coz the design is so freakingly awesome the device is so thin yet feels so sturdy and strong with that alluminium framed finish ..not once did i feel that i was holding a glass sandwiched phone coz it feels so strong in hand no creaking noise what so ever ..its huge yet its pocketable..and did i mention the awesome water resistance..its in a league of very few masterpieces in the world that try to balance opposite things and yet do it with a plomb and authority..what i mean is ..its huge but pocketable and pleasant to hold in hand the screen which is out of this world can be the reason alone to buy this jewel and carry this burden in pocket infact i no more feel it a burden in pocket ..i sttarted enjoying the glares and the attention i was getting in public places,,,touch response is frealkingly silky smooth ..i have never seen a faster device in my life than this..i thot z was fierce fast bfre i got this in hand and boy it flies it literally flies yet to notice a single hang or stutter..i will end up by saying this...all your reservations are true ...but it is one of those few devices out there which you will be joyful and proud of and will be willing to compromise for all the great things it does and its a guarantee,,,hope ieven though i sounded a little fan boy i was helpful to you and i can afford doing that holding this awesome device,,..regards..please come up with any queries or opinions of yours as i would be glad if im being helpful to you in anyway..thanks..cheers mate
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Hi Mr Sudeep, Thanks for the reply.
Yes I have been banned from "Trusted reviews" as I clearly upset the editor who was and still is anti Sony. I have zero idea how that sight can be called 'Trusted reviews', they are any thing but 'trusted'. The best the editor could do when I defended the Xperia Z against his puerile (and technically incorrect) attacks on the device was to accuse me of "Working for Sony". Odd that I do no such thing and came from owning HTC and Samsung and am again going to purchase Samsung with the note 3 rather than the Sony Xperia Z Ultra. If I had not been banned by him I would delight in informing him that its rather odd for a supposed Sony employer to purchase Samsung! A 'professional reviewer' must be objective and let the customer decide. The editor of Trusted reviews is anything but professional and certainly not objective thus cannot be trusted.
Regarding brands. I purchase what fits my needs and uses at the time of purchase. I have owned Apple, HTC, Nokia, Samsung, Sony, Siemens, Motorola, Ericson, Philips and my first mobile going back to 1988 was an NEC the size of a house brick with a full size hand set and separate battery pack. If I had to carry a fan boy label it would have been for Nokia until they went Windows! They are still, in my opinion, the best maker of MOBILE PHONES. The signal strength they pull has been second to non
I have every confidence the Ultra is a superb piece of kit. To be honest if they keep dropping in price I may well buy one of those to. At present though and being a technophile I want to try the Note 3 with the Gear watch. Again at present I find the spec sheet of the Note more in line with what I want. One of my big concerns regarding mobiles that one cannot replace the battery oneself is what exactly do we do when the battery goes bump with our Xperia Z mobiles? I do not know the cost of a replacement battery via Sony but it is not going to be the same as the purchase price of a battery bought for a phone with a customer removable battery at about 15-20.00€
I understand to enjoy the freedom of the Sony range with regard to water resistance the body has to be sealed and accept that, non the less there will come a day when a heavy bill will come to replace that battery.
THE big problem for me is the size of the Ultra. its screen size is both its strongest point also its weakest. It is so near a tablet it is not really as portable as a lesser size 'mobile' phone. I love the design of the Sony range plus that quality feel...Samsung...well there Samsung and though produce some brilliant kit they have never felt a premium brand and cannot until they stop with the plastics. I mean the Note 3 with that awful attempt to make the back look like leather, even plastic false stitching, dear Lord where on earth did they come up with that and why?
I will say this, if the Note 3 didn't come with the massive selection of replacement covers made by Samsung and other brands, I would not have bought the Note 3. Don't set me of about the Note 3's plastic 'metal' sides. who do they think they are kidding?
I have gone with the Note though as regardless of what the previous poster has kindly written the spec sheet is far superior than the Ultra.
I cant say they are apples and oranges more like peaches and pears:laugh:
I do know one thing, providing you can find a way to carry the Ultra around with you it will be a magic piece of kit to own. Superbly made and designed. Its flaws though such as the camera and lack of flash etc just make it more like a very decent tablet. I want one!:crying:
Kind regards.
capitansid said:
Welcome to Samsung's world...
I am a current Samsung Galaxy Note 1 owner and I'm happy to say that it has served me well.. I was happy with it.. I would agree to you that Note3 is better on paper.. specswise... a dash of flash here...a sprinkle of RAM there.. a spoon of 32gb memory there.. and add 4k recording on top..
To be honest, I was disappointed with Samsung's market strategy.. I bought the Note not just for practicality and purpose but also for bragging rights.. "big screen! muwaha!" And then a few months later, they released the Mega.. then the S4... With even bigger screens..
I'm like "wtf Samsung? I thought the Note was your phablet line??" And then the Note became just some other big phone and not Samsung's star of the show.. At least with Sony, they released another star of the show without stepping over the ZU.. take note of the Z1.. We have the Z1 but it specialized on another field (photography). They did not release *and hopefully WILL NOT release* another phablet which is not from the Ultra family and would end up stepping over the ZU..
Simply with this, I am moving to Sony.. For sure by Q1 of 2014, you guys will see a Samsung Mega 2, Galaxy S5 etc... etc.. which will leave the Note in the backstage yet again...
"Sent from my refrigerator"
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Hi, thanks for the reply, I appreciate your thoughts and time.
If you log into GSMArena.com you can view side by side both the Ultra and the Note3 and the specs are more than a tad different. I must make it clear I am a great fan of these Xperia devices, I own two of them already and enjoy them both with zero regrets.
I must confess I am a little confused by your comment "To be honest, I was disappointed with Samsung's market strategy.. I bought the Note not just for practicality and purpose but also for bragging rights.. "big screen! muwaha!" And then a few months later, they released the Mega.. then the S4... With even bigger screens.. " To the best of my knowledge I purchased my Note 1 in 2011. The Galaxy S4 only came out this year same as the Mega? If I understand you correctly I don't think Samsung can be accused of introducing new models soon after their latest effort.
NOW, if I HAD to pick a fight it could be with Sony...Only bought my Z in April at launch yet less than six months latter the Zi is taking the crown with reviewers already saying the new Z1 is what the 'old' Z should have been
I support progress and am pleased this field of technology keeps pushing the boundaries. The one major criticism I have is that battery technology is lagging way behind to the point that tis new tech we are seeing today is more or less academic in many ways as the devices don't have the battery power to run said device for longer than a few hours in some cases.
I agree with you that a new Samsung Note 4 will soon appear but then so will the stunning new Ultra 2 with flash and 32-64Gb plus 4Gb RAM, maybe even a larger screen and thinner body etc. Its called progress and all brands thankfully work this way.
Regards.
Oh sorry forgot to say that I did not buy the Note the time it went out.. I bought the note last June 2012 wherein the Note 2 was due to be released..
I dont feel bad that the Note 2 went out a few months after I bought the Note 1. I just feel bad that they released an entirely different line of phablet which is the Galaxy Mega.. So what's the specialty of the Note now? Just the stylus? Not the big screen anymore? Samsung shouldve stuck with the idea wherein the Note is their only phablet product...
"Sent from my refrigerator"
I may have missed something, but I'm not sure the Mega series is going to be a continuing line of devices going forward. I think Samsung just uses their manufacturing advantages to spit out devices in every conceivable size and shape to see what people like and what they don't. Not many manufacturers have the capital to do this, but if you do, it's probably not a bad strategy.
AntiLazarus said:
I may have missed something, but I'm not sure the Mega series is going to be a continuing line of devices going forward. I think Samsung just uses their manufacturing advantages to spit out devices in every conceivable size and shape to see what people like and what they don't. Not many manufacturers have the capital to do this, but if you do, it's probably not a bad strategy.
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I think the thing we technophiles need to accept and understand is exactly what you wrote. Not all customers are looking at the top of the market with the latest and newest devices. To that end the Mega, to me, is very odd BUT it is selling well to those who desire a large device without the latest technology.
Part of the deciding factors for me with the Ultra was its poor camera, zero flash, identity crisis, lol and for a device this size it should have had a much larger battery and 3Gb RAM not 2GB. I do love the Ultra, its massive and stylish with real character and quality but I cant justify purchasing the Ultra on looks alone. When we explore what this new Note 3 does it really is a technophiles dream on steroids! The other clincher for me was the awful looking, probably useless gear watch that is coming with my Note 3 for only 120.00€ Now that deal was just to good to pass.
If the Ultra continues to drop in price I may well in future months go completely bonkers and treat myself, pennies permitting. I am still happy with my Xperia Z phone and absolutely love the Xperia 10.1 tablet, that is the king of tablets at present for me, its choice and subjective of course.
Kind regards
Now hold on just a minute, lol. I don't agree with the notion that the ZU has a bad camera. I think one thing we techies are often guilty of, since we keep up with all the bleeding-edge developments in the industry, is assuming that a particular piece of technology or feature is more widespread and standard than it really is. The ZU 's camera, in my opinion, is fairly decent. Since smartphone cameras are the latest big hole everyone is rushing to plug, we assume that if it isn't 120 megapixels with oversampling, or using some kind of unique sensor technology, or some such thing, that it must "suck," but in reality it's a fairly good sensor when placed in proper context. I like to think of it as an "honest" smartphone camera, one that knows it is a smartphone camera and is happy with its role. Such cameras are meant for convenience, and not high-end imaging. Even Apple is "only" using 8 megapixels on their flagship.
As for RAM, no offense, but you're being totally unrealistic and unfair by saying that the ZU "should have" had 3 GB of RAM. Why? You can barely fill 2 right now. The Note 3 is the ONLY phone with 3 GB of RAM. If Samsung had released it with 2 GB, you wouldn't have written that part of your post. Saying that a device "should have" had more RAM than anything else on the market to be usable is just unfair. It's exactly like saying the Note 3 should have had a 64 bit CPU because the new iPhone has one. As I've already pointed out, that 3 GB will not improve your experience AT ALL. Plus, the battery is actually pretty good. In my opinion, the NOTE 3's screen is just too small, and Samsung's AMOLED displays are not up to the quality of Sony's Triluminos panels, but it wouldn't be fair for me to insinuate that the NOTE 3 is less advanced, even though it really does fall short from a certain point of view.
Sent from my C6833 using xda app-developers app
AntiLazarus said:
Now hold on just a minute, lol. I don't agree with the notion that the ZU has a bad camera. I think one thing we techies are often guilty of, since we keep up with all the bleeding-edge developments in the industry, is assuming that a particular piece of technology or feature is more widespread and standard than it really is. The ZU 's camera, in my opinion, is fairly decent. Since smartphone cameras are the latest big hole everyone is rushing to plug, we assume that if it isn't 120 megapixels with oversampling, or using some kind of unique sensor technology, or some such thing, that it must "suck," but in reality it's a fairly good sensor when placed in proper context. I like to think of it as an "honest" smartphone camera, one that knows it is a smartphone camera and is happy with its role. Such cameras are meant for convenience, and not high-end imaging. Even Apple is "only" using 8 megapixels on their flagship.
As for RAM, no offense, but you're being totally unrealistic and unfair by saying that the ZU "should have" had 3 GB of RAM. Why? You can barely fill 2 right now. The Note 3 is the ONLY phone with 3 GB of RAM. If Samsung had released it with 2 GB, you wouldn't have written that part of your post. Saying that a device "should have" had more RAM than anything else on the market to be usable is just unfair. It's exactly like saying the Note 3 should have had a 64 bit CPU because the new iPhone has one. As I've already pointed out, that 3 GB will not improve your experience AT ALL. Plus, the battery is actually pretty good. In my opinion, the NOTE 3's screen is just too small, and Samsung's AMOLED displays are not up to the quality of Sony's Triluminos panels, but it wouldn't be fair for me to insinuate that the NOTE 3 is less advanced, even though it really does fall short from a certain point of view.
Sent from my C6833 using xda app-developers app
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Hi, thanks for the reply. from the benchmark tests I have seen so far that 3Gb of RAM does add to the performance. The extra RAM is also needed, so I am told, to ensure the new Pen system works at optimum level? I am writing in the dark here as I have not yet received the Note 3.
ALL of what I write is second hand information taken from the web etc.
With regard to the camera. Can you explain why on earth Sony did not use a flash?
I changed from Samsung to Sony because of the screen and to be honest I like the screen on My Sony Xperia Z. I had the Samsung galaxy S3 and the screen on that distorted the colours. I do agree with several reports that the Z screen does look at tad washed out so we have the two extremes. Sony has soon rectified that with the introduction of the Z1.
I don't want to keep listing the advantages of the Note 3 over the Ultra as I truly love the Ultra. Did you know the Note 3 is the first mobile phone to make use of USB 3? Its incredible what Samsung have placed in the note 3.
Size. I have said it before and will say it again, this is choice. You say the note 3 screen is too small and I say the Ultra screen is too large. Thank heavens we have the choice.
I am now going to give you a real laugh. Way back in 2011 I was one of the first people in this country to own the Note 1. I sold it very quickly as it was just too big to be travel friendly. Here I am now 3 years later with the Note 3 on order? I have now come to accept large screen mobiles and no doubt in a few years there may be many mobiles the size of the Ultra? At 5.7" I don't think we can refer to the Note 3 as a small screen?
Lets see how sales go on both devices.
Oh, another point that's a shame is the value of my Sony Z just after 6 months of ownership. I cant give it away. Samsung appear to do better in the used market despite them being so common. I think a Sony body with Samsung technology would be a winner. We could call it a Sonsung!:laugh:
I hope I don't regret purchasing the Note 3. On paper it even makes your morning coffee. If only Samsung could be banned from using plastics! That 'plastic leather' back is hideous and will have to go!
Thanks for the reply,
Kind regards.
I know this is a Xperia Z Ultra forum, but with the Nexus 6 being around the corner, and heavily rumored to being a 5.9in phone I was wondering if anyone was going to make the switch? Since there isn't an announced true successor to the Ultra I find myself compelled to head back to the Nexus experience. I am a little bummed the phone isn't bigger, but I think I can do without half an inch of screen. What are everyone's thoughts on the Nexus 6?
Couldn't and WOULDN'T!
I was actually tempted to THINK about the possibility of making such a (IMHO) foolish thing too! But then I realized I could never give up my 6.44" screen! Sure it's going to be a killer device...faster, qHD, more memory, stock Android, the works. But I then realized this is all I'll ever need in a device anyway and it's as close to vanilla Android right out of the box.
So I actually ordered another XZU (not the GPe) from Expansys! They dropped the price again to a new record low of $314.99. I live in Indiana so I get it the next day for the fee of standard shipping and pay no tax. This puppy is STILL A BEAST and at $314.99 it'd be crazy to throw money at another device that'll be most likely obsolete in 2 to 3 weeks anyway. At the current rate manufacturers are releasing devices how can any device remain current more than a month???
When, if ever, they were to announce a true successor to this beast that's when I'd seriously think about upgrading. For right now...for the time being...this is still a perfect solution. People are snapping these up as fast as they get them in stock.
The kicker for me is my wife wants the older one! When the one I ordered gets here Wednesday afternoon I'll be rooting that bad boy by Wednesday night. I bought a lot of the Sony accessories anyway, so I'd most likely go with the closest thing to an XZU update as possible if and when that ever happens in the future.
Of course that's just my .02¢.
http://www.expansys-usa.com/sony-xperia-z-ultra-c6833-unlocked-lte-16gb-black-251963/
TheFamilyMan said:
I was actually tempted to THINK about the possibility of making such a (IMHO) foolish thing too! But then I realized I could never give up my 6.44" screen! Sure it's going to be a killer device...faster, qHD, more memory, stock Android, the works. But I then realized this is all I'll ever need in a device anyway and it's as close to vanilla Android right out of the box.
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well said........
I'm afraid that I'm in the opposite camp.
While I love my Ultra when I'm using it, the sheer size means that it's a pain when I'm carrying it around (whether it's in trousers or coat pocket). Even finding somewhere in my cars to put it is a challenge.
So I've just agreed to buy a Nexus 6 - picking it up this evening. I'll hold on to the Ultra until I'm sure that the N6 meets my needs, but I think that I'm willing to give up that small amount of screen real estate for the convenience of having a smaller phone to carry around.
I hate Apple products with a vengeance, and would never own one, but I will admit that they often get it right on ergonomics, and the iPhone 6 Plus (which is about the same size as the Nexus 6) seems to hit the sweet spot as far as the size/screen convenience/functionality balance goes.
Plus the Nexus has better speakers than the Ultra (I make most of my calls on speakerphone and the Ultra is pretty poor in this respect) and supports Qi charging, which is nice.