Switch to G5 from note 4? - LG G5 Questions & Answers

Note 4 is getting kind of old and G5 seems like the only feasible upgrade since it has sd card slot, ir blaster, unlocked bootloader (H850), removable battery. You think it is worth the upgrade? Seems like these types of phones will not be made again in favor of boring iphone clones (I don't really care how the phone looks since i always put a case on it anyways, even metal and glass will scratch if dropped). If I wanted an iphone clone, I would just buy an iphone. I don't want to the v20 because of locked bootloader and the US996 variant doesn't support all the ATT bands I need.
Note 4 Pros:
- Camera lens doesn't crack like g5 (not sure if overplayed though), no bootloop issues (again I think over exaggerated compared to g4 which I had) but does have emmc issues.
- Larger screen (I can live without, g4 screen was big enough and g5 is similar)
- AMOLED (can be a con also)
- S pen, I hardly ever use it honestly.
- build quality is probably better
- micro usb (g5 has type c which means more cable adapters but is the future honestly)
G5 Pros:
- Faster and newer cpu
- 1GB more of ram
- Supports Andriod 7
- Better camera (plus wide angle camera)
- Better IR Blaster (able to learn codes)
- More LTE band support
Can I expect the same longevity out of the g5 compared to note 4? I have had my note 4 in a case with tempered glass, few drops no issues. Replaced battery once and still going strong. I like to root but run stock rom.
I would get the h850 variant, seems there are actually variants of the h850, how can you tell if it is Europe h850 vs some other? Thanks for any feedback.

+1
I'm actualy thinking the same thing. N4 to G5. My phone before the N4 was a nexus 4 and I've grew to hate the touchwiz interface in favour of a cleaner android experience. How's the G5 regarding this?

I am not going to sugarcoat anything for y'all. Depends. How much you spending? I know it various for place to place. I am waiting for Note 8 myself. I'd say the G5 is the best bang for your buck flagship right now. But be careful this phone has issues.
Bad*
Notorious GPS issues-
Screen ghosting-
Build quality crap-
Few others-
Good*
Great price-
Good Specs-
Great camera-
Pretty good development-
Few others-
If money is not an issue for you wait and go with note 8. If it is then maybe g5 or OnePlus. Don't waste your money on galaxy S8 or G6 overpriced no true upgrade.
Only issue I've had is screen ghosting. If you do buy g5 get a newer issue manufacturer, less issues.

I will be buying used. I paid $200 for note 4 tmobile version a year ago and see the prices of G5 near $300 h850 at least. Harder to find of course. I use ATT towers (cricket and h20 mainly) so looking to get the international version since it has unlocked bootloader. I may be able to get away with tmobile g5 version but I don't like they stripped away the fm radio and added some other things/took other things away. I miss the good ole days of google play edition phones. Andriod 7.0 has almost matched samsung touchwiz now in terms of features with multi-window apps, etc. Back in the day samsung and lg software had a lot more features but now the difference is almost zero with of course andriod vanilla being much smoother.
My note 4 had gps issues, very weak antenna and I had to adjust it a few times. Fails to lock sometimes though, only negative I have to say. Also there are some others note 4 people starting to have memory and motherboard issues so pretty much no different than g5. Do the g5 camera lens really fracture easy, if so best way to protect it? I run a dual layer case on my note 4, hard plastic outer shell with tpu inner and tempered glass on front. The case is really thin, not otterbox thick.
I plan on using the g5 for the next 3 years or so until they start phasing out lte compatible bands and forcing upgrades. I can probably get like $125 for note 4 so g5 would only be like $150-$175.
To answer other guys question about touchwiz vs sense, sense seems less bloated at least it did when I had the g4. I think samsung has optimized touchwiz a lot over the years and is probably pretty fast on the s8 but then again they don't have to add so many custom features like multi-window/etc since andriod 7.0 comes with it now standard.
How do you tell if the phone is newer manufactured and what is the cut-off date to avoid ghosting issues on the g5?

Mr Joegernaut said:
I will be buying used. I paid $200 for note 4 tmobile version a year ago and see the prices of G5 near $300 h850 at least. Harder to find of course. I use ATT towers (cricket and h20 mainly) so looking to get the international version since it has unlocked bootloader. I may be able to get away with tmobile g5 version but I don't like they stripped away the fm radio and added some other things/took other things away. I miss the good ole days of google play edition phones. Andriod 7.0 has almost matched samsung touchwiz now in terms of features with multi-window apps, etc. Back in the day samsung and lg software had a lot more features but now the difference is almost zero with of course andriod vanilla being much smoother.
My note 4 had gps issues, very weak antenna and I had to adjust it a few times. Fails to lock sometimes though, only negative I have to say. Also there are some others note 4 people starting to have memory and motherboard issues so pretty much no different than g5. Do the g5 camera lens really fracture easy, if so best way to protect it? I run a dual layer case on my note 4, hard plastic outer shell with tpu inner and tempered glass on front. The case is really thin, not otterbox thick.
I plan on using the g5 for the next 3 years or so until they start phasing out lte compatible bands and forcing upgrades. I can probably get like $125 for note 4 so g5 would only be like $150-$175.
To answer other guys question about touchwiz vs sense, sense seems less bloated at least it did when I had the g4. I think samsung has optimized touchwiz a lot over the years and is probably pretty fast on the s8 but then again they don't have to add so many custom features like multi-window/etc since andriod 7.0 comes with it now standard.
How do you tell if the phone is newer manufactured and what is the cut-off date to avoid ghosting issues on the g5?
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Get a good case aka outter box, bulky but that thing can take a beating. I've dropped mine a million times and device looks new.
Ghosting issues seem like a guaranteed to happen. There's filter apps that help with it. The newer built issues seem to have less of the other issues GPS and few others. Well because your buying it used might not have original box. But it says it on the box far as manufacturing date. You could also ask the seller, they may know.

Consider LG V20.

Csetoue said:
Consider LG V20.
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I would of mention that op says he's not interested because of locked bootloader.

Related

Should I settle for the V10, or wait for the LG G5?

The V10 is an awesome device. I've been going through all reviews (Youtube & Forums alike), and I'm pretty much okay with it more than any flagship currently on the market. However, the October release of the V10 is kind of awkward and untimely considering (rumors) that they plan to announce the LG G5 in the first quarter of 2016. As a keen tech-savvy consumer / power user, I am aware that flagships grow exponentially every year offering the same premium price (i.e. S6 is an improvement of the Note 4, and probably the S7 will be an improvement of the Note 5). So it is highly likely that the LG G5 will be an improved version of the V10, and the V11 will be obviously a step up higher than the G5.
While I am not in a hurry to buy a new phone, despite my very crappy/laggy cheap Lenovo A536, I am still occasionally tempted to get the V10 (especially when my current phone freezes to eternity). On the other hand, it keeps me from doing that as I am anticipating LG's announcement at CES 2016 in a month or two from now, which will be readily available on the market by March or April, offering it at an introductory price that would be the same with the V10 right now.
Also, another thing that keeps me from getting the V10 is the massive size of it, when the G5 will very likely inherit its features with a 5.5-inch display and slightly better specs + ergonomics.
Well if there's no hurry then there's no harm in waiting to see what is out there. New phones are always coming out
Sent from my LG-H900 using Tapatalk
If you have a barely usable phone now - get a new phone soon as possible.
As for waiting for the next best thing ... what are you going to do in March when that edition comes out and they announce they'll be another phone coming.
The differences in the phones is somewhat minimal.
Go to the stores, spend time with each model you like and get the one that feels right. Its far more productive to have a useful tool than it is to have a tool that doesn't work. Waiting for the 'bigger-better-deal' in the next 3 to 4 months is keeping you from being productive today.
This is just my opinion. Good luck in your choice.
I voted no, wait for the G5. Or go a different route.
I'm actively trying to trade out of my v10. I like aspects of the phone, but if and until certain software changes are made there are better options out there now.
I love having a SD card and removable battery, but the fingerprint scanner sucks. The DPI on this phone is ridiculous. I mean, when the phone is in landscape you can't even see all the options in the sound menu.
I'm on Verizon, so I can't (yet, if ever) root and fix these issues myself. If that changes, my opinion would. Just a few tweaks could fix this phone. The outlook is dim, however, and as it stands currently I can't recommend it.
I got the v10 for the free stuff. My mom is enjoying her free tablet from T-Mobile and I love having the 200gb sd card, extra battery and charging cradle. It has its issue but honestly it is a very solid phone that works well overall. It's not bleeding edge but that has its advantages of being more stable overall. I agree with the other posters, if your phone is on its last legs like my note 2 was get the v10 you'll enjoy it, if your current phone is chugging along fine just wait for the next model.
So it REALLY depends on what you want to do with the device.
If you're interested in having the "latest and greatest" or are doing thing that might require a device that has the highest possible components, then I'd wait. If you're looking for a REALLY good device, then I'd go with the V10.
Coming from the Note III, I LOVE my V10. It's a great device
I wouldn't consider going to the V10 settling!
There will always be a latest and greatest. Once the G5 comes around, there will be rumors of a newer device. If you don't know what you want yet, and your current phone is at its end, buy a used nexus 6 or g4 for cheap until you make up your mind.
Sent from my LG-H901 using Tapatalk
Yep.. If you feel like you are settling you shouldn't get it.
Depends on what you want. G5 might have a better camera, but probably a smaller display, no 2nd screen, no HiFi DAC/amp, etc. Unless it comes with an OLED screen, maintains microSD & battery swap, and immensely better camera - I probably won't care.
blackhemi4x4 said:
I wouldn't consider going to the V10 settling!
There will always be a latest and greatest. Once the G5 comes around, there will be rumors of a newer device. If you don't know what you want yet, and your current phone is at its end, buy a used nexus 6 or g4 for cheap until you make up your mind.
Sent from my LG-H901 using Tapatalk
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Thanks! One of the things I also need is the Dual-SIM feature. While I know that some have the H961 available, I still do not see it on my trusted seller's offerings yet. I really need that Dual-SIM as I live in Asia. I currently have an unlimited data sim separate from my daily calling and texting sim card. I do understand though that LG G5 will offer that as well but a month after the official model is released, same was with the LG G4.
Nitemare3219 said:
Depends on what you want. G5 might have a better camera, but probably a smaller display, no 2nd screen, no HiFi DAC/amp, etc. Unless it comes with an OLED screen, maintains microSD & battery swap, and immensely better camera - I probably won't care.
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Rumors say that it will have a 5.6-inch QHD display? Either way, 5.5-inch is enough for my needs, and a .1 inch difference from a V10 is negligible to me. Wouldn't care much about the 2nd screen.
I'm waiting for the G5 personally. Its only a few months around the corner most likely.
I would trade V10 with G5 IF the G5 have front facing speaker,sd card, removable battery and a camera that even better than G4 and V10 (since i got no. 3 in photograph contest while most people using a DSLR camera )
So far i really like my V10 right now, so far a really great device imo and i would stay with V10 if G5 doesnt meet my requirement
LG 5 rumors suggest the battery won't be removable so that may be a deal breaker for some. The rumored specs don't seem much superior over the v10
Oh really thats a bummer, i heard it use SD 820 chip i dont know if it worth a trade
But removable battery kinda a huge deal for me

Is the G5 a good upgrade?

Hi, I'm now on a Galaxy Note 3 and would like to upgrade to the G5, since it has the specs I'm looking for.
However, I felt like asking you guys if there's any better option I should consider, or any defects that are not worth risking for (bootloping?)
Thanks a lot in advance
totalnoob34 said:
Hi, I'm now on a Galaxy Note 3 and would like to upgrade to the G5, since it has the specs I'm looking for.
However, I felt like asking you guys if there's any better option I should consider, or any defects that are not worth risking for (bootloping?)
Thanks a lot in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The price and specs are great. The rom/root community is okay size. Build quality is trash. Don't buy this phone. With a little more money you could buy the One Plus 3T or One Plus 5. Better specs, build quality, rom/root, etc.
My next phone is Note 8 or One plus 3T or 5. I am not trying to bash phone. Just giving you an honest opinion. Look through the threads you will see tons of people with GPS, Backlight Bleed, bootloop issues, etc. I love LG, but will be my last LG phone for a long time.
Sent from my LG-H830 using XDA Labs
I'm looking to get the H850 for my mom since it is only $300CAD if I get my friend to bring it back from Hong Kong. Can't find any another phone in that price range that would be better than the LG G5 H850...
Hardware and price are amazing, especially the model RS988 that covers the most weirdest bands that are available in areas like Canada. Unfortunately, the root/bootloader on the rest of models are bringing tons of problems, if its rootable/unlockable at all. Custom firmware choice is very poor, and they are raw even after 1 year of release. What it means is that you basically can't use NFC on most of custom roms (if not all). The stock firmware on the other hand is very well made and stable. I'm using it with Magisk without issues. So far the only problem is stock kernel doesn't seem to be energy efficient, so battery flies away in a day or two of use. However, battery is replaceable, what is offered in not that many flagship phones nowadays.
I can't agree about bad quality of build. I would say its very good comparing to what else you can meet nowadays.
Other than that, it's one of the best phones available for 250$ on B&H (Titan) if not the only good one.
Yeah not sure about other countries, but in Canada it's hard to beat the LG G5. OnePlus 3T/5 are $600/$650CAD+tax respectively and the G5 can be found for $330-370 all in. Even 2016 mid-range phones like the Axon 7 and Honor 8 are $400-$500+tax.
Build quality isn't up to par with other flagships, but it's not terrible IMO. At least it's better than most mid-range phones.
It is a lottery phone.
damiloveu said:
It is a lottery phone.
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I would have to agree with this statement.
Build quality is pretty bad guys sorry. I've had plenty of low/Mid/High end of phones. I've never seen this many issues as this one. When I see GPS and backlight bleed threads filled with countless complaints. Yeah that's bad build quality.
Damiloveu statement pretty much sums it up right it's a lottery phone. 50/50 hit or miss, be for warned potential new g5 buyers. GREAT phone if no issues. And if it does have problems many headaches await you.
Sent from my LG-H830 using XDA Labs
dimon222 said:
Hardware and price are amazing, especially the model RS988 that covers the most weirdest bands that are available in areas like Canada. Unfortunately, the root/bootloader on the rest of models are bringing tons of problems, if its rootable/unlockable at all. Custom firmware choice is very poor, and they are raw even after 1 year of release. What it means is that you basically can't use NFC on most of custom roms (if not all). The stock firmware on the other hand is very well made and stable. I'm using it with Magisk without issues. So far the only problem is stock kernel doesn't seem to be energy efficient, so battery flies away in a day or two of use. However, battery is replaceable, what is offered in not that many flagship phones nowadays.
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I would install Fulmics on the LG G5 if I can get it for my mom, so the RS988 is out of the question for me. I just cannot buy phones if I cannot install custom ROMs on it. I hate being at the mercy of manufacturers for software updates.
I'm so confused as to why manufacturers cannot just sell one or two variant of the same phone. Making dozens of variants seems so stupid.
coming from P9.
Maybe my most complain bout this device is the GPS as i always use gps for ingress, second is battery and the rest is the design and build quality though I dont have the screen retentention issues yet.
Thanks a lot, everybody. I think I'll get this phone, it features literally *every* feature I need on a device.
cheeze.keyk said:
coming from P9.
Maybe my most complain bout this device is the GPS as i always use gps for ingress, second is battery and the rest is the design and build quality though I dont have the screen retentention issues yet.
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I got a used AT&T H820 and it had the GPS issue, especially worse when cloudy and rainy. However, I returned the AT&T one and got an unlocked RS988 and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
totalnoob34 said:
Hi, I'm now on a Galaxy Note 3 and would like to upgrade to the G5, since it has the specs I'm looking for.
However, I felt like asking you guys if there's any better option I should consider, or any defects that are not worth risking for (bootloping?)
Thanks a lot in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you need a hot swappable battery, the G5 is great.
If you game a lot, and want the ability to do so without remaining plugged in and burning up your phone, then the G5 is perfect for you.
As far as performance, no issues whatsoever.
Battery life is average, but with the ability to swap out new batteries and charge dead ones outside the phone in a charging port, you honestly don't have battery downtime. It's just always up.
That's the biggest advantage of this phone.
If you're looking for a better deal, you don't need unlimited battery life, or you're looking for a rich featureset, I would look elsewhere.
The gps is absolute wank and I don't have the time or inclination to do a hardware fix. I did a quick comparison with my friend who owns an OP3 indoors; his had gps lock with 15 seconds but mine was still searching after several minutes. In fact, I have almost missed turnings when driving a few times because of this POS. I never replace my phone until it has had 18 months usage but for the G5, I will make an exception.
I have LG G5 since April 2016 after my Note 3 : no root or anything, LG updates regulary.
I never have problems with it.
-No bootloop, no GPS bugs, a better reception with the same carrier...
-Camera is really good, especially the large wide-angle.
-Battery life: a day with a little use (waze to go work -one hour/day) wifi on, "always on display" always activate, some internet at evening : Facebook, Twitter, insta, mails...
-IR for soundbar, tv is really good !!
But no SPen ? So I will get the Note 8, really great for work, with the camera options easier than LG suit.
And finally, i prefer Samsung environment, even if G5 is really a good phone.
Envoyé de mon LG-H850 en utilisant Tapatalk
It's not worth the broken GPS sensors which are a known hardware defect. They'll fix it for you, but it's never the root of the problem so it will come back. I've sent mine in 3 times, GPS works for a couple days, then ceases to work again. Terrible quality control, by far the worst phone I've owned. My Galaxy S4 was better.
totalnoob34 said:
Hi, I'm now on a Galaxy Note 3 and would like to upgrade to the G5, since it has the specs I'm looking for.
However, I felt like asking you guys if there's any better option I should consider, or any defects that are not worth risking for (bootloping?)
Thanks a lot in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, looks like i'm not the only one who migrate from Galaxy Note 3. let me tell you my short little story
I upgraded since my Note 3 were exynos version which didnt support 4g band. i was looking for cheap second hand devices with LTE support :laugh: ( dont judge me, bussines is low here in indonesia i cant afford phone more than 250$ - on indonesia currency and prices of course)
so i search all available markets, online and offline. some guys recomended 3 phone. LG G5 h860, xperia z5, and HTC m9 ( all cost about 200-250$ here, second handed) so i spent about 3 days on google comparing all 3 phone. i kick z5 out from my list since i had a bad experience with sony devices ( heat issue, poor audio quality, you name it) so it just m9 or g5. m9 is a good phone, its the cheapest one, had official support for lineage and SlimOS. solid built, and dual speaker. the drawback were its photo quality, its much worse than my note 3 even with 20mp camera. but at that time i cant find g5, the only available one were g5 SE version which is downgrade one ( 3gb ram and qualcom 625) and it cost about 299$!! hell no, so i pick the m9. but as i said before, i'm not really satisfied. the main advantages comparing my old note were: better sound, better network 4g, better official OS ( Lollipop vs nougat) and custom, and fast charging. but thats the only option i got that time. after several months some guys here sold his g5 h860 on low prices, i dont need to think twice so today my g5 finally arrived. still looks good for a second hand devices, the ony issue were the screen ghosting when the devices getting hot. but it would dissapear after some minutes, i can live with that. BUT, comparing to my m9 the battery drains faster, no root option, no custom recovery or rom. so for answering your question, IF i moved from note 3 directly to G5 i would be really happy as it has more advantages. but since i got my hand on m9 first i still feel little dissapointed . i cant stop comaring 3 of them. note 3 has bigger display and spen support, m9 has the best custom rom suppot and great battery, while g5 has the most awesome camera and screen resolution :cyclops: .
alldine345 said:
well, looks like i'm not the only one who migrate from Galaxy Note 3. let me tell you my short little story
I upgraded since my Note 3 were exynos version which didnt support 4g band. i was looking for cheap second hand devices with LTE support :laugh: ( dont judge me, bussines is low here in indonesia i cant afford phone more than 250$ - on indonesia currency and prices of course)
so i search all available markets, online and offline. some guys recomended 3 phone. LG G5 h860, xperia z5, and HTC m9 ( all cost about 200-250$ here, second handed) so i spent about 3 days on google comparing all 3 phone. i kick z5 out from my list since i had a bad experience with sony devices ( heat issue, poor audio quality, you name it) so it just m9 or g5. m9 is a good phone, its the cheapest one, had official support for lineage and SlimOS. solid built, and dual speaker. the drawback were its photo quality, its much worse than my note 3 even with 20mp camera. but at that time i cant find g5, the only available one were g5 SE version which is downgrade one ( 3gb ram and qualcom 625) and it cost about 299$!! hell no, so i pick the m9. but as i said before, i'm not really satisfied. the main advantages comparing my old note were: better sound, better network 4g, better official OS ( Lollipop vs nougat) and custom, and fast charging. but thats the only option i got that time. after several months some guys here sold his g5 h860 on low prices, i dont need to think twice so today my g5 finally arrived. still looks good for a second hand devices, the ony issue were the screen ghosting when the devices getting hot. but it would dissapear after some minutes, i can live with that. BUT, comparing to my m9 the battery drains faster, no root option, no custom recovery or rom. so for answering your question, IF i moved from note 3 directly to G5 i would be really happy as it has more advantages. but since i got my hand on m9 first i still feel little dissapointed . i cant stop comaring 3 of them. note 3 has bigger display and spen support, m9 has the best custom rom suppot and great battery, while g5 has the most awesome camera and screen resolution :cyclops: .
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Click to collapse
Ok, first off, thanks a lot for the detailed feedback. I actually appreciate it when people put a little effort in helping others online.
I ultimately settled for a G5, since a replaceable battery is more important to me than a bigger one, and also because I could really use those extra 0.3" on the screen. Moreover, you were unlucky in getting an h860 variant, because the european h850 has some decent support over here.
Lastly, I am not getting another HTC device again, I had an HTC Desire S. Let me tell you something about that phone: you could *not* remove the battery with the device on, risking a total brick. Yup, you heard me right. A flimsy plastic clip was all that kept your precious phone from mayhem and destruction. The best part is that it was a hardware defect, obviously ineligible for warranty replacement, and I don't recall HTC ever acknowledging the issue, let alone provide the user with some kind of compensation. Also, HTC always was a pain in the ass to customize, and the HTCdev program is a joke.
Nonetheless, thanks a lot for the feedback man. Have a good one
totalnoob34 said:
Ok, first off, thanks a lot for the detailed feedback. I actually appreciate it when people put a little effort in helping others online.
I ultimately settled for a G5, since a replaceable battery is more important to me than a bigger one, and also because I could really use those extra 0.3" on the screen. Moreover, you were unlucky in getting an h860 variant, because the european h850 has some decent support over here.
Lastly, I am not getting another HTC device again, I had an HTC Desire S. Let me tell you something about that phone: you could *not* remove the battery with the device on, risking a total brick. Yup, you heard me right. A flimsy plastic clip was all that kept your precious phone from mayhem and destruction. The best part is that it was a hardware defect, obviously ineligible for warranty replacement, and I don't recall HTC ever acknowledging the issue, let alone provide the user with some kind of compensation. Also, HTC always was a pain in the ass to customize, and the HTCdev program is a joke.
Nonetheless, thanks a lot for the feedback man. Have a good one
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yeep, my biggest regret were i didnt read much about lg g5, infact i read too many about it so i skip the most important things. from what i gather around the web, g5 has 2 version. G5 and g5 SE. the g5 has snap820, 4gb ram and single sim, while g5 SE had snap 625, 3GB ram and dualsim. i use 2 simcard one for main use and another for data connection. and h860 has both advantages from 2 g5 version, snap 820/4gb ram and Dualsim support. i didnt bother to check on XDA for root method as i though it just the same as samsung or HTC, even with many varian usually all of them has the same exploit. i never though i would be so wrong on my life . and for the HTC part, well what can i say, here in indonesia we didnt have official HTC service centre so if we had a malfunction devices we just need to fix it on our own . same goes to LG G5 since the only one that they sold here were g5 SE, some friend of mine already bought g5 from singapore last year and when his screen broke he sent it to LG centre but they refuse it, they said the only accept g5 SE. so i'm totally aware when i bought those devices, i cant rely on warranty or official services. and its not the first time, usually lot of devices which sold here were downgraded version comparing to international one. like
note 3 on international version they had snap801 and lte support while official one the had stupid exynoss and 3g only. same goes with Note 5 snapdragon inter vs exynoss local, and also xiaomi devices, huawei, and many other brands which i dont remember anymore. thats why, many people here usually bought new/second hand devices from another country because they want to feel the real experience while also acknowledge they cant bring it to official service centre when it broke later.
Hell no.

G6 vs previous phone

(Not sure whether this belongs here or in the "real life review" section somewhere; mods, please move it if you think best.)
Ten days ago my wife and I moved from our venerable Nexus 5 phones to new G6 US997 carrier-unlocked phones. After living with them for a while, here are my impressions.
Things that are better on the G6:
- The display. Blacker black, more saturated color. The tall display ratio doesn't bother me, and the benefit is that we're getting a 5.7" screen in a phone only 2mm wider than the 5" Nexus 5.
- Battery life. My train ride to work would routinely take my battery down below 65% from a full charge; the G6 is usually comfortably above 90% after the same ride.
- Audio. Wasn't even expecting this, but the G6's audio sounds better.
- Build quality. The N5 is utilitarian compared to the slick G6.
- Camera. Much, MUCH better, and the camera app is better too.
- Fingerprint sensor.
Things I miss about the Nexus 5:
- A notification LED. I never realized how much I had come to rely on it.
- The developer community. There were about six times as many ROMs available for the N5 as there are for the G6. Right now a lot of ROMs seem to be in a holding pattern waiting for Oreo to drop. I realize the G6 is a relatively new phone, and the N5 community was old and well established. But I think that's affected by the next point:
- Unified hardware platform across carriers. The N5 had just two versions, an international and a US version, and they differed only in the radio bands. The G6 has all sorts of different versions, most not unlockable unless you get a carrier-unlocked US997 or an H870. I think this is going to curtail the developer community from attaining the N5's level.
- Relative ease of developer modes. Compared to the N5, it's a lot harder to get to the point where you can flash things on the G6.
I've already tried a few different configurations to see what I like best. I flashed Fulmics ROM for a while to try it out, but switched back to rooted stock rom today because it just seemed faster and more stable. Gave the LG stock launcher a fair try, but I'm back to using Nova now. I'll probably stay with this configuration until I see a stable Oreo ROM with LG camera support emerge.
I like the phone, I just wish it were a little bit more developer-friendly.
I absolutely agree with you. The g6 has amazing hardware but everything else does not follow. I'm coming from a op3t and a nexus 6p before that so I do know what SILKY SMOOTH fast performance is, and the g6 is just isnt as smooth. I'm personally waiting till november for the oreo update hoping it will very much improve the g6, otherwise I will never ever even entertain the idea of getting another non google (stock-ish) phone again !
Both the wife and I also came directly from Nexus 5s. The Nexus 5s started to slow down and mine would not charge on the wireless pads anymore. We got Unlocked T-Mobile phones, which came with an unlocking app. We are both on T-mobile so it doesn't really matter anyway. Very happy with the phones and T-mobile is pretty much keeping up with the security patches.
patruns said:
Both the wife and I also came directly from Nexus 5s. The Nexus 5s started to slow down and mine would not charge on the wireless pads anymore. We got Unlocked T-Mobile phones, which came with an unlocking app. We are both on T-mobile so it doesn't really matter anyway. Very happy with the phones and T-mobile is pretty much keeping up with the security patches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mo had a killer buy-one-get-one deal for $500 plus the tax and fees on the second phone, but I passed on that and bought carrier-unlocked from B&H instead. Cost more, but I can root them.
NOTilyass said:
I absolutely agree with you. The g6 has amazing hardware but everything else does not follow. I'm coming from a op3t and a nexus 6p before that so I do know what SILKY SMOOTH fast performance is, and the g6 is just isnt as smooth. I'm personally waiting till november for the oreo update hoping it will very much improve the g6, otherwise I will never ever even entertain the idea of getting another non google (stock-ish) phone again !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would absolutely have bought a Pixel if it came with wireless charging.
I'm considering making this jump too (Nexus 5 to G6). I really appreciate this review!
Is there any reason you didn't go with the pixel 2? I'm currently trying to decide between the G6 and the Pixel 2-- especially due to that missing headphone jack on the new pixel!
penguinyaro said:
I'm considering making this jump too (Nexus 5 to G6). I really appreciate this review!
Is there any reason you didn't go with the pixel 2? I'm currently trying to decide between the G6 and the Pixel 2-- especially due to that missing headphone jack on the new pixel!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wireless charging. That's a must-have for me. The headphone jack would probably have been a deal-breaker too, but the real reason was that the G6 has wireless charging.
You're going to chafe a little bit coming from the N5. I haven't installed any AOSP-based G6 ROMs yet, only the stock-based ones, and they're a little bit limiting compared to the wide range of choices you had available on the N5. But the G6 hardware is really, really nice, and the ROM support is coming along. It'll be interesting to see what happens when Oreo drops.
penguinyaro said:
I'm considering making this jump too (Nexus 5 to G6). I really appreciate this review!
Is there any reason you didn't go with the pixel 2? I'm currently trying to decide between the G6 and the Pixel 2-- especially due to that missing headphone jack on the new pixel!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for me pixel 2 is a get go if u want all rounder better experience in android. my previous phone is nexus 6p and oneplus 3, now I using g6 with some sacrifice laggy software.
why I still prefer g6:
1. wide angle camera
2. flat screen!! curved screen hard to find a perfect tg glass
3. my version is dual sim, because I often travel. my primary sim number used for many security access. so I need a convenient phone that can disable enable my primary sim.
4. the overall design so elegant
imam88 said:
for me pixel 2 is a get go if u want all rounder better experience in android. my previous phone is nexus 6p and oneplus 3, now I using g6 with some sacrifice laggy software.
why I still prefer g6:
1. wide angle camera
2. flat screen!! curved screen hard to find a perfect tg glass
3. my version is dual sim, because I often travel. my primary sim number used for many security access. so I need a convenient phone that can disable enable my primary sim.
4. the overall design so elegant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My previous phone was a Nexus 6P.
I sold it about six weeks ago and bought the LG G6.
I had to pay an extra $25 (sold the 6P for $425) I also bought the extended warranty through SquareTrade for $99.
The warranty was a wash since the 6P was going out of warranty and I would have had to buy SquareTrade for it.
I got the unlocked US997 from B&H.
Anyway. It smokes the 6P on all fronts except stereo speakers.
I never listened to the speakers anyway.
The flat screen is awesome. I will never buy a phone with a curved screen.

Which would you choose, s9 plus or Oneplus 6?

I can get both for around the same price range, and I actually like the notch, so that does not bother me. If I do go ahead and buy the s9 plus it will be the US variant meaning no custom ROMs or nothing while the oneplus 6 will definitely have all of that and more. But the s9 plus will probably have a better camera as it does every year. What do you guys think? In a dilemma of sorts right now....
note 9 incoming
You're going to get skewed results by posting this in the S9+ forum...
I have had the last few OnePlus devices and decided to move back to the S9+. The build quality is a huge reason but also on the S9 I find I can just leave it alone and use it and be happy, with the OnePlus there were always stupid little inconsistencies that led me to messing with different ROMs and kernels trying to fix it, the camera was absolutely trash on all of them so far, not just hardware but software too. I felt like I was fighting against both the 3 and 5 rather than just enjoying the experience like I am the S9.
+1Bump
Anyone else?
I was prepared to get the OP6 until I saw a few design changes. The first was going from metal to glass. I much prefer metal as it's sturdier.
The real deciding factor was the notch, however. I hate this notch fad. Petty? Maybe, but it's an ugly distraction of a design feature to me. So it was the S9+ for me. So far I'm quite happy with it.
LG G7 or LG V40.
LG for life.
i had a oneplus 3t and a oneplus 5. both of them were underdeveloped and had bugs similar to what you would see with a custom ROM. i like the fact that oneplus lets you unlock and root without consequence, but i need a good stock ROM to default to, and a little OIS wouldn't hurt. OOS is buggy as hell and it exemplifies the oneplus name. when they say they are adding new features i pucker a bit. when sammy says they added new features, i get all squirmy with glee.
i actually don't like samsung a lot, but they do have the best product out there.
I'd say the Oneplus 6, but rumors say it will include the same camera/sensor as the 5T. If you value mobile photography at all, the S9 is the (far) better option.
To be brutally honest here if you can get a Oneplus phone for around the same price as a Galaxy s phone of the same year. That Onplus is Wayyyyy overpriced and therefore not worth it. The only way for the Onplus to compete with a premium tier phone is with a considerable mark down. At least 200$ less or else it`s not worth it.
Right now on craigslist, I can buy a sealed s9 plus for 600 and s9 for 500
They teasers were commenting on the camera being better, don't think they will use the same sensor.
If you get the Exynos version you'd also be getting the faster CPU

Samsung s9 plus vs xiaomi mi8

Hi guys! Does it worth to move from mi8 to s9+ exynos version?
Any plus and cons?
Thank you in advance!
The power of Mi8 be with you
johnnyman25 said:
Hi guys! Does it worth to move from mi8 to s9+ exynos version?
Any plus and cons?
Thank you in advance!
The power of Mi8 be with you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came from the Oneplus 6 which was better than the Mi 8 and the S9+ is better than the OP6, so you figure.
The performance isn't too different ( even though the Exynos9810 is actually stronger than the SD845 in raw performance ) but the screen difference is as plain as day ( you don't even need to hold the phones next to each other to see that the screen of the S9+ kicks ass both in looks and quality ) .
Pros:
-certified water resistance
-MicroSD suppot
-a great screen
-great hardware
-a headphone jack
-fully working Pie-based custom roms
Cons:
-stock roms are lackluster
-if you crack the screen, be ready to cough up a decent amount of money ( you can pretty much get a Whitestone Dome type curved tempered glass on Aliexpress for 4$ and the cases are cheap as well --- if you actually crack a screen, you can't say protection wasn't available )
-?
I used to switch phones every couple of months because I'd find a flaw and get annoyed with it but the only annoying thing with the S9+ is that I still can't find a flaw.
So yeah, the phone is definitely worth it if you plan to unlock the bootloader and use custom roms.
The Marionette said:
I came from the Oneplus 6 which was better than the Mi 8 and the S9+ is better than the OP6, so you figure.
The performance isn't too different ( even though the Exynos9810 is actually stronger than the SD845 in raw performance ) but the screen difference is as plain as day ( you don't even need to hold the phones next to each other to see that the screen of the S9+ kicks ass both in looks and quality ) .
Pros:
-certified water resistance
-MicroSD suppot
-a great screen
-great hardware
-a headphone jack
-fully working Pie-based custom roms
Cons:
-stock roms are lackluster
-if you crack the screen, be ready to cough up a decent amount of money ( you can pretty much get a Whitestone Dome type curved tempered glass on Aliexpress for 4$ and the cases are cheap as well --- if you actually crack a screen, you can't say protection wasn't available )
-?
I used to switch phones every couple of months because I'd find a flaw and get annoyed with it but the only annoying thing with the S9+ is that I still can't find a flaw.
So yeah, the phone is definitely worth it if you plan to unlock the bootloader and use custom roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for ur answer.
I was between oneplus 6t or s9+.
S9+ better than op6?
I don't plan to unlock and root.
I'm tired all these years rooting devices are and play with custom roms.
Is the stock rom of s9+ lag free?
How is battery life?
The deal is to give my mi8 6/64 plus 150 euros for s9+ that is 10 days old.
The power of Mi8 be with you
johnnyman25 said:
Thank you very much for ur answer.
I was between oneplus 6t or s9+.
S9+ better than op6?
I don't plan to unlock and root.
I'm tired all these years rooting devices are and play with custom roms.
Is the stock rom of s9+ lag free?
The deal is to give my mi8 6/64 plus 150 euros for s9+ that is 10 days old.
The power of Mi8 be with you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stock rom isn't bad but it isn't pure Android, it's heavily skinned and Samsung was confirmed to be slowing down phones with updates.
Honestly, I'd only recommend getting an S9/+ if you plan to use custom roms on it because it's more or less "excellent hardware marred by software".
And to be honest, OP phones aren't worth the money now that the S9+ price has dropped to the one of the OP6T.
The OP6 wasn't necessarily bad, I changed it primarily because I wanted a 1440p screen, but since most people aren't bothered with 1080p screens, you might not be either.
If you ask me, it's a waste not to unlock the bootloader, but if you really don't want custom roms, Oneplus devices should satisfy you because OxygenOS is probably the best stock rom.
Other than the software ( which is solved by flashing a custom rom ) the S9+ is the best choice overall.
Probably i will stay with mi8.. I don't use wireless charging, don't care about ip rating..
The screen on mi8 is allrdy very good as all the others.
Most important thing is headphone jack and it's quality. S9+ has the best speaker system i have ever seen. With dolby it is way ahead of its game... I tried iphone 7plus for a week and boy i couldnt handle the no headphone jack... It is just cancer to me. Cant use headphones while charging(especially gaming). So i learned a lesson from this, i will never buy a phone without jack. I dont have the kind of budget to buy high quality bluetooth earbuds. Also akg buds are the best i have seen that it comes inside the box. I had razer hammerhead pro v2, akg is way better than that. I also love tuning my sound with v4a so im into sound quality more.
S9+ will rock with custom roms no matter what. I also hate notches... It is like a blank space that i cant use the screen fully.
Best things to look for before getting a phone,
Your preferences
Headphone jack
Software compatibilty and development support
Performance
Overall quality
Phone's own headphones
Overall user experiences and reviews
What you expect from a phone
Notch(it may really annoy you, so go to a store and get your hands on a demo device/i got my hands on s9+ before buying it\)
So before you make a purchase or get the device, make a list of important things for you, go and see the devices by hands, compare them, look for custom rom development(you may want to try diffrent interfaces/i like lineageos a lot\).
Dont forget that the phone you will get will be with you for a long time. Pick it like you are picking your soul mate ?.
I had note 8, it was satisfying me a lot, but when i had the opportunity to get s9+ i went for it. In my social areas, most of the people are using apple or samsung. From what i heard i never heard someone with a bad look to samsung phones. I have been using samsung galaxy devices for almost 2 years now.(my dad had note 3 and he had switched to note 8 1 year ago. He changed many phones and he is prefering Samsung more.) Some things may be a pain in the ass but if you are looking for a long term usage, i would say go for s9+. Mi8 is also nice but i prefer s9+ over it. So like i said go see both devices. Touch both devices, feel the phones and listen to what your heart says. (The phone you will pick will be your best friend. Remember that)
Edit, i forgot you had mi8 already, you can just look at other devices at the same prices. Or if your phone just suits you and gets the job done, no need to move. You can do another things for that money. It is like buying a car or buying a house for the same price. Also your deal is a good one. Just 150 euros for a 4 days old s9+... I traded my note 8 and gave 150-200 dollars more for 4 months old s9+. My phone was bought outside of Turkey, Samsung Turkey doesnt cover any warranty for phones outside Turkey and it has a big impact on second hand sales cause of no warranty. I made the choice before it was too late, if i waited longer my phone would lose more value over time. 2nd hand phones purchased outside Turkey prices are around 2600₺ while Samsung Turkey warranty covered devices prices are 3500₺. Got my s9+ for around 3900₺/I knew the seller and my relationship with him is good, he counted my device for 3000₺\( non used s9+ are like 4200-4300₺. )
Sent from my Galaxy S9+ using XDA Labs

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