Advice - Help me get a new Smart Phone

[smac]

Time to put some life back into this thread.

I'm looking at a top-end Android phone (I just spent a week using an iPhone and all that achieved was confirming all the reasons I don't like them). either HTC one (M8), Samsung Galaxy S5 or LG G3.

Anyone have any experiences with these phones they can share?

[gadj1976]

Smac, my mate just got a Sony Experia and reckons its the best phone he's owned. He's ex Apple and Samsung.

[Psyber]

Smac, my mate just got a Sony Experia and reckons its the best phone he's owned. He's ex Apple and Samsung.

I've had a look at them and they don't look bad.
My current personal phone is a Samsung Galaxy Y DuOS, and I have a work-provided Nokia Windows phone in my current contract job with SA Health.

[Wedgie]

I'd probably go a Sony atm. My son got the compact z1, great phone.

[Q.]

Considering either an Galaxy S5 or Experia Z2

Z2 has the aluminium and glass outer, whereas the S5 is still rocking the plastic. Z2 feels bulkier though. Both are purportedly water resistant but apparently the Z2 has a higher rating. You can't actually remove the cover of a Z2 either.

Not a lot of notable differences, though S5 has fingerprint ID, but the biggie is that the S5 camera IMO is a bit more superior.

Probably leaning to the S5 at the moment and mostly because of my familiarity with them.

[Q.]

I'm still rocking an S2. A superb piece of hardware that I've modded the OS on a couple of times. Have dropped the thing a number of times and the screen has never cracked. Camera is crap by current standards though.

The S3 was a piece of shit from all reports.

[Q.]

Not sure how I'll go fitting an S5 or Z2 in my pockets though.

[smac]

Finished up with the S5. Managed to convince Telstra to let me use the Z2 for a few hours and pinched a mates HTC for a day but the S5 felt better in my hand and runs quick as a whippet.

The only downside is having to buy a new car holder as the cover for the charging port is wider than the gap in my current car holder.

[mighty_tiger_79]

I hate the Samsungs ever since the S3.
Shame as the S2 was the best phone going around for a while.
Still rocking with my Mototorola Droid Rzr HD that has excellent battery life, a good feel about it and a smaller screen which I prefer.
I couldn't even fit a Samsung in my jeans pocket comfortably.
Haven't seen anything new from Motorola recently though hence why I'm leaning towards the Sony next.

and here we al thought you were just happy to see people

[Wedgie]

My Motorolo RZR has just about hit its 2 year life so am after a new one.
Would prefer to get something smaller than a 5 inch screen but there's not much around.
Perhaps looking at a Sony or HTC.
After good battery life, good camera, good phone (quality of calls) and preferably something smaller but realise I may have to compromise there.
Don't even bother mentioning an Iphone in a recommendation, would rather use 2 tin cans and a piece of string.

[Mr Beefy]

[Wedgie]

Don't wear a watch but if I did the Motorola version is probably the best looking except for the flat tyre effect.

[Wedgie]

OK, still need a new phone, hitting 24 months this month. Looked around but nothing really takes my eye.
Preference would be good battery, good low light camera, good phone quality, smaller than 5 inches and Android.

Also had a problem on my phone which I've had a couple of times before, I'm on Telstra, not receiving any SMS's from people on Optus, happened before for a period of about 2 weeks and then they all came through in one hit. Also one time a long time ago was getting no SMS's at Elizabeth but as soon as I hit Grand Junction Rd they all came through.
I'm suspecting its a phone fault from what I've read online.
Anyone had similar/advice?
This issue has almost cost me 2 girlfriends! lol

[Wedgie]

Got a new phone, problem fixed.
Ended up being out of Sony Z3 and a HTC One Mate and went with the HTC.

[kickinit]

Got a new phone, problem fixed.
Ended up being out of Sony Z3 and a HTC One Mate and went with the HTC.

Boss just got the S5 he's a samsung fan and his words were "it's the worse phone he has ever owned". He's had 3 replacements phones, battery life is poor (that's with turning off bluetooth, location services and dimming the screen) struggles to get 3g reception which optus say is the network (even though his other optus samsungs had no issue and other phones on optus at work have no issue) The chrome plating on the battery cover pretty much peels off as soon as you open it a couple of times and it often lags out doing simple task like unlocking the phone. They are swapping it out to the sony Z3 tomorrow for him, for me the Z3 looks interesting being IP65. I think my next work phone will probably be the Z3 as long as it's not like the S5.

[Wedgie]

Got a new phone, problem fixed.
Ended up being out of Sony Z3 and a HTC One Mate and went with the HTC.

Boss just got the S5 he's a samsung fan and his words were "it's the worse phone he has ever owned". He's had 3 replacements phones, battery life is poor (that's with turning off bluetooth, location services and dimming the screen) struggles to get 3g reception which optus say is the network (even though his other optus samsungs had no issue and other phones on optus at work have no issue) The chrome plating on the battery cover pretty much peels off as soon as you open it a couple of times and it often lags out doing simple task like unlocking the phone. They are swapping it out to the sony Z3 tomorrow for him, for me the Z3 looks interesting being IP65. I think my next work phone will probably be the Z3 as long as it's not like the S5.

IMHO Samsung had a decent phone since the Galaxy S2.
Glad I went for the HTC, awesome phone but haven't tested out the camera yet.

[Wedgie]

Seems good in decent sunlight, just took a crystal clear photo of a moving truck, I'm mainly after decent shots in low light though so will pass on my experience when I test that out.

[stan]

Got a new phone, problem fixed.
Ended up being out of Sony Z3 and a HTC One Mate and went with the HTC.

Boss just got the S5 he's a samsung fan and his words were "it's the worse phone he has ever owned". He's had 3 replacements phones, battery life is poor (that's with turning off bluetooth, location services and dimming the screen) struggles to get 3g reception which optus say is the network (even though his other optus samsungs had no issue and other phones on optus at work have no issue) The chrome plating on the battery cover pretty much peels off as soon as you open it a couple of times and it often lags out doing simple task like unlocking the phone. They are swapping it out to the sony Z3 tomorrow for him, for me the Z3 looks interesting being IP65. I think my next work phone will probably be the Z3 as long as it's not like the S5.

IMHO Samsung had a decent phone since the Galaxy S2.
Glad I went for the HTC, awesome phone but haven't tested out the camera yet.

The S2 was a rip snorter of a phone anf helped them smash into the smart phone market. However after that they have seemed to lose therr way.

[kickinit]

The new S6 has been released. No more removable battery or sd card slot. Will be interesting if they are offering the same service as Apple with the battery. Apple will replace the phone if the battery packs itself, somehow I don't think Samsung will be doing the same.

[Wedgie]

The new S6 has been released. No more removable battery or sd card slot. Will be interesting if they are offering the same service as Apple with the battery. Apple will replace the phone if the battery packs itself, somehow I don't think Samsung will be doing the same.

A lot of phones are doing that with the battery now, its a space saving thing.
Found it interesting that Samsung virtually admitted their recent phones have been crap, glad I've steered clear.
With most phones getting replaced after 2 years the battery being inbuilt shouldn't be an issue to a well made phone.