My contract is up late in October so looking to replace my DHD. Looking at the specs the SIII looks good. Fed up with HTC slow OS updates. I am currently with EE though and the 4G launch looks interesting....no news on what phone will offer 4G in the UK? Will 4G offer better signal (dont get much signal at home at the mo...)

Lots of questions!

If 4G is anything like 2G, 3G and HSDPA, they will start with the hot spots. City centre locations, main roads, shopping malls, etc. If you have poor coverage at home on 3G, you're unlikely to be near the top of the roll-out priority list.

I hope I'm wrong, but I think you'll be waiting a couple of years minimum, i.e. not your next phone, but the one after that!

EE will have good 4G coverage from launch as many masts have already been upgraded. This all depends on legal action by O2 against the roll out. There is a 4G LTE 1800 Mhz version of the S3 not available in the UK yet. There is also a thread on compatible phones on this forum.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1722432

Thanks. So, assuming they get a 4G version would you say SIII is still the top phone? If 4G is on a mast will it get further than 3G signal?

The Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE (4G) will be released in the UK around the end of this month. It also have 2GB RAM unlike the 1GB in the original one.

Although I wouldn't exactly say it is better, as the battery life will be so much lower.

The thing to bear in mind about LTE is that the battery life is reputed to be pretty awful

Agreed. The Galaxy Nexus LTE version got horrible reviews for battery life.

I'm not expecting 4G to be available to me as an O2 customer for at least another year, by which point I will have about 5 months left of my current contract. I'm not thinking about 4G now. I'll think about it in a year.

Same, by the time my current contract is up 4G won't be released either, they may have 4G phones but i wouldn't get one unless i know it's in my area and that the launch is soon.

The S3 is not an Android phone. It is a Samsung TouchWiz (or Nature UX) phone that runs on Android. Just like your Desire HD was a HTC Sense phone. Now of course the S3 is a mighty fine beast but if you are worried about updates after 4.1 then you would be better of with a Nexus device. These are the only Andoid phones available and are updated directly by Google. I have a Galaxy Nexus but if you are upgrading in October then there should be some new Nexus class ANDROID phones released then.

I don't think you are helping the OP.

Just because you choose to define "Android phone" as meaning it has no additional vendor customisation, it doesn't make his definition wrong. In fact the OP is more in line with common usage.

You've set yourself a high hurdle to convince the rest of the world that Sony, HTC, Samsung, LG, etc aren't making Android phones. Good luck with that!

I understand the difference thank you finbaar. T-Mobile called me just now offering an early new contract. A Samsung SIII free, 2000mins talk, unlimitted texts and internet, 3GB of BT Openzone WIFI. Not 4G though and its 24 months....plus I guess its a branded phone...... On the subject of 4G, can you switch from 4G to 3G to save battery? (like you could with 3G to 2G)

I will be amazed if any of the networks have good 4G coverage from launch, 3G is still patchy on several!

There a lot more to do than just upgrading the mast. The basestation and the bandwidth of the back-haul network also need upgrading. This all costs money, and they will want to focus on where the most 4G handsets will be used.

Let's meet up here in 12 months (or even 24 months) and see if anyone has nationwide coverage

Yeh you can switch between 4G and 3G/2G.

And as long as that price they quote you for the deal is under £30. then go for it.

Just out of curiosity. Are you in a large city or near a landmark/built up area. If you are then you may get 4G this year/early next year. What you could do is keep the handset you have at the moment if you're happy with it and just go on a 1 month sim only which will reduce your costs until 4G handsets are released.

I don't expect EE to release 4G LTE phones until christmas period. Bear in mind coverage will be poor and there is no need for 4G speeds unless you plan on tethering all the time or streaming HD content. 3G speeds should be fine for most things so it's a case of whether you need it or not. So if you do it's also a case of how long you want to wait. Before 4G becomes nationwide (if that) we'll have to discuss this a year and half from now.

Nexus with Jellybean is the best til S3 gets it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoctkpaA7-8

The deal was £34, so not sure if its the best around. In Warrington so its more a case of having the best phone for a years time when its more rolled out. Wonder if EE will charge extra for 4G, maybe so due to the cost of the network....

A bit like those smartphones with no 2G setting.
Obviously it all depends in usage and distance from a mast.


Best is personal and my Android 2.2 phone is best for me at the moment.

Older hardware, you can't read much into it.

Newer SoCs like the Qualcomm chips with the Krait cores not only have LTE built-in, thus negating the need for a separate modem (which reduces battery consumption) but they also use smaller transistors (which also reduces power usage).
So there will be a difference between the like of the Galaxy Nexus and something like the Galaxy S3/Note or the HTC One XL.

Well Tmobile are doing it for £31pm at my local store. Same plan. There wont be p rice increases for 4g Sims or Sim only. probably the handset contracts will cost more

thanks for that. the same deal? unlimited net, 2000 mins talk, unlimited texts, 2GB BT wifi? free phone. if so thanks for heads up! not online though?