DS Forums

 
 

SIII still the best Android? Any 4G?


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 05-09-2012, 08:25
technoflare
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Warrington
Posts: 2,458

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!
technoflare is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 05-09-2012, 08:49
niceguy1966
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,479
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!
niceguy1966 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 09:24
Everything Goes
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: In the future....
Posts: 11,257
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
Everything Goes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 09:47
technoflare
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Warrington
Posts: 2,458
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?
technoflare is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 11:08
CuBz90
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 3,310
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.
CuBz90 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 11:10
!!11oneone
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,807
The thing to bear in mind about LTE is that the battery life is reputed to be pretty awful
!!11oneone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 12:00
Stuart_h
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,474
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.
Stuart_h is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 12:07
Anika Hanson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 14,219
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.
Anika Hanson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 12:24
jabbamk1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London, UK
Posts: 8,759
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.
jabbamk1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 12:38
finbaar
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,921
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!
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.
finbaar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 13:05
niceguy1966
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,479
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!
niceguy1966 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 13:21
technoflare
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Warrington
Posts: 2,458
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)
technoflare is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 14:14
niceguy1966
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,479
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
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
niceguy1966 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 14:31
jabbamk1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London, UK
Posts: 8,759
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)
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.
jabbamk1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 15:22
Gary Glimmer
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 196
Nexus with Jellybean is the best til S3 gets it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoctkpaA7-8
Gary Glimmer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 15:46
technoflare
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Warrington
Posts: 2,458
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....
technoflare is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 15:59
alanwarwic
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: the wild world web
Posts: 28,132
The thing to bear in mind about LTE is that the battery life is reputed to be pretty awful
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.
alanwarwic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 20:59
Step666
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1,274
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.
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.
Step666 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2012, 21:14
jabbamk1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London, UK
Posts: 8,759
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....
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
jabbamk1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2012, 11:17
technoflare
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Warrington
Posts: 2,458
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?
technoflare is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 12:52.