Recommendations for new phone (looking for opinions on different brands too!)

[triface]

My Z2 just died last night, so I'm looking to buy a phone off-contract. Just wanted to see what the general consensus is on the different big brands.

Budget is about $500-$800 as I'm looking to buy at least a flagship from previous generation, like the G3 which is about ~$500, so I don't end up with an obsolete phone next year.

I don't need a lot of gaming power as I don't do a lot of serious gaming on my phone, but it's nice to have the additional power. Most taxing game I play regularly would be Hearthstone.

I need a UI that has good features but stays out of the way. I'm currently using a Xiaomi as my spare and I don't really like MIUI because it's too intrusive. Some apps that interact with the system (like Tasker) also don't work correctly with MIUI.

Good camera is a plus, but doesn't have to be super amazing.

I would prefer something that is at least water-resistant as I'm working in SCDF, but I'm very open to using a water-proof cover if the phone has no such feature.

No preference for build, but would like something from a brand that generally builds durable phones and can take abuse. I usually keep my phone in pristine condition but I frequently work with very heavy equipment and in very warm environments (fires, fire jackets, having to crawl around, etc). I don't need something specifically meant targeted at sporty people, though.

My contract is expiring in a few months, so I guess if I really had to, I can wait for a few months and use the subsidy to get the new phone. Otherwise I'd most likely just recontract the latest phone at that time and sell it.

Hope people can chime in. Thanks!

 

[caterham7]

can take a look at asus padfone s [drop & water resistant] or htc butterfly 2 [water resistant]

 

[twisti]

Samsung Galaxy S5 4G+. Water resistant and support LTE-A network. Think the model is SM-G901F. Latest price is around $590

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Wait for S6 Active? Or just hoot a S5 Plus?

 

[fighting]

S6 only $760 now.

 

[tekster]

Forget ABT ASUS, their hardware won't last.

 

[alienjeffman]

You should check out http://www.ruggear.com.sg

Sent from Sony D6563 using GAGT

 

[triface]

I've decided I'm probably just going to get a current gen flagship and hope the value still holds when I sell my phone a year later (my new modus operandi is to cash them in before they die on me ).

I'm pretty torn between G4, S6 and M9. Would love some opinions on these 3 brands.

I used the S3 and S4 before my Sony, but TouchWiz doesn't even seem to have changed since then. On the other hand, they have the whole fingerprint recognition thing, and it's now in a metal casing.

Haven't used G4 or M9 yet. Heard LG's phone price drops very fast, and HTC's software is not very good even though their hardware is good.

Probably not going near a Sony phone anytime soon.

 

[SINple]

HTC desire eye is also water proof.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

I've decided I'm probably just going to get a current gen flagship and hope the value still holds when I sell my phone a year later (my new modus operandi is to cash them in before they die on me ).

I'm pretty torn between G4, S6 and M9. Would love some opinions on these 3 brands.

I used the S3 and S4 before my Sony, but TouchWiz doesn't even seem to have changed since then. On the other hand, they have the whole fingerprint recognition thing, and it's now in a metal casing.

Haven't used G4 or M9 yet. Heard LG's phone price drops very fast, and HTC's software is not very good even though their hardware is good.

Probably not going near a Sony phone anytime soon.

Sold my S6 weeks ago. Have to say price drop super fast for the past week. $80 drop over the month already for my 64GB.

I personally feel that plastic normal G4 will be more withstanding to drops and knocks compared to metal & glass S6 and M9...

 

[triface]

Sold my S6 weeks ago. Have to say price drop super fast for the past week. $80 drop over the month already for my 64GB.

I personally feel that plastic normal G4 will be more withstanding to drops and knocks compared to metal & glass S6 and M9...

Wow. Any reason why you sold it?

The S6's design looks pretty nice, but I prefer a plastic build as well. It's a shame the G4 doesn't seem to be as good as the S6. When Techradar's review repeatedly uses variations of the phrase "unbecoming of a next-gen flagship", it really runs home the message.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Wow. Any reason why you sold it?

The S6's design looks pretty nice, but I prefer a plastic build as well. It's a shame the G4 doesn't seem to be as good as the S6. When Techradar's review repeatedly uses variations of the phrase "unbecoming of a next-gen flagship", it really runs home the message.

It's my mum's . She doesn't want it cos there's no microSD slot to put her beloved 64GB card with all her favourite shows.

I am waiting for S6 mini with possibility of a microSD slot.

Anyway, M9 is known to get overheated by SD 810, and performance gets throttled fast. Just take note of that.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Galaxy S5 Plus 16GB LTE (not regular S5) for just $575 at MobSq and J2Mob. With SD805 over S5's SD801.

 

[triface]

It's my mum's . She doesn't want it cos there's no microSD slot to put her beloved 64GB card with all her favourite shows.

I am waiting for S6 mini with possibility of a microSD slot.

Anyway, M9 is known to get overheated by SD 810, and performance gets throttled fast. Just take note of that.

Yeah, the SD card is really making this decision a hard one. If it had one I would get it without hesitation. Now I'm forced to buy the 64GB version which is almost the price of an iPhone. Doesn't help that I'm in between contracts at the moment.



Anyone with knowledge of the different brands' life cycles and the accompanying price drops? Would it make more sense to just wait for a few months and get the phone after a (supposed) massive price drop?

Also, thanks for all the recommendations. Really appreciate it. I think I'm pretty set on the S6 now. The fingerprint recognition looks like a real feature and not just a novelty now.

 

[amazingone]

I've decided I'm probably just going to get a current gen flagship and hope the value still holds when I sell my phone a year later (my new modus operandi is to cash them in before they die on me ).

I'm pretty torn between G4, S6 and M9. Would love some opinions on these 3 brands.

I used the S3 and S4 before my Sony, but TouchWiz doesn't even seem to have changed since then. On the other hand, they have the whole fingerprint recognition thing, and it's now in a metal casing.

Haven't used G4 or M9 yet. Heard LG's phone price drops very fast, and HTC's software is not very good even though their hardware is good.

Probably not going near a Sony phone anytime soon.

Android phones' value usually drop at at faster pace than iPhone, since iPhone only have two models each year while Android OEM usually spam models all year round.

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI 1s using GAGT

 

[triface]

Android phones' value usually drop at at faster pace than iPhone, since iPhone only have two models each year while Android OEM usually spam models all year round.

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI 1s using GAGT

Makes sense, but is there a cross-brand correlation? For example, if a new Samsung comes out, will the other brands' phones be expected to drop as well by virtue of the new phone containing new tech, etc?

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Makes sense, but is there a cross-brand correlation? For example, if a new Samsung comes out, will the other brands' phones be expected to drop as well by virtue of the new phone containing new tech, etc?

Usually iPhone slowest, followed by Samsung top-end series. Sony, LG, etc. brand price all drop pretty fast.

I only see the prices correlated to their own time of release, rather than competitior's product release timings.

 

[triface]

Usually iPhone slowest, followed by Samsung top-end series. Sony, LG, etc. brand price all drop pretty fast.

I only see the prices correlated to their own time of release, rather than competitior's product release timings.

Nice, good to know that. Thanks for the info!

 

[haoKRR]

HTC
FTW

 

[graciouscleo]

Need a dual sim card phone with at least 8 inch specs, more for work when travelling. any recommendations or I wonder if there's one out in the market?