Question for ask the s5 owners, from an s4 owner.... - Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Idk how many of you had the s4 before this one, but can you guys honestly say it's worth upgrading to?
Is the finger print scanner worth it? Work well?
How about the download booster that uses both the wifi and the data? What kinda speeds would one get hooked up to a good normal wifi connection, and your 4glte?
Thanks for the info
Contemplating getting the S5....

SaintCity86 said:
Idk how many of you had the s4 before this one, but can you guys honestly say it's worth upgrading to?
Is the finger print scanner worth it? Work well?
How about the download booster that uses both the wifi and the data? What kinda speeds would one get hooked up to a good normal wifi connection, and your 4glte?
Thanks for the info
Contemplating getting the S5....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the finger print scanner set to scan my thumb. I had to use all 3 spaces for my thumb and scanned my thumb going doing the scanner horizontally, angled and vertically to get it to work. I find it works brilliantly. You still have to set a password for the fingerprint scanner. The S5 will support wireless N and does offer good range but this is dependent on various factors such as your router, how thick your walls are and how quick your internet speed is. My 4g (from everything everywhere in the UK) is very fast but it again depends on your situation. I would always use a coverage checker before getting a contract with a mobile network.
The S4 is very good but all these things said I would wait for the updated version of the S5 as you may not find a massive leap between your phone and the current galaxy S5's.

SaintCity86 said:
Idk how many of you had the s4 before this one, but can you guys honestly say it's worth upgrading to?
Is the finger print scanner worth it? Work well?
How about the download booster that uses both the wifi and the data? What kinda speeds would one get hooked up to a good normal wifi connection, and your 4glte?
Thanks for the info
Contemplating getting the S5....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Fingerprint feature is good.
The download booster is relevant only if you have LTE (a very fast cellular internet connection). But Data costs money.
If you upgrade, try to get the 32 GB variant.

I went from the S4 4G+ to the S5. There are quite a few small improvements which when added together makes it ok to upgrade.
Here's a list of the small improvements AFAIK.
Lighter display which makes it better for outdoor use.
Better battery life.
Will survive rain
Bit better and louder sound during calls.
Slightly faster.
Decent fingerprint scanner especially after the recent OTA update.
Better camera.
That's a few I can recall right now.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

This is a personal question and depends what you expect. It's better than the S4 in almost every way.
Is the difference worth the money? Depends on the person. I like to have the latest phone so I love it. But honestly I could be using my old S4 and day to day I really wouldn't notice. The parts of the phone you'll use the most will feel the same.
This will happen 2-3 weeks into ownership when you stop playing with it and testing out new things.
-Airax

Personally as an ex Galaxy S4 Mini owner and current S5 owner I could say that I personally liked the futures as well as software on the S4 Mini better sure the hardware on hte S5 is impressive to say at least amazing battery life, amazing camera which shoot fantastic photos and Water resistance are great futures but the new Android 4.4.2 is really more like a step beck there are a lot of futures like voice controlled alarm clock which were dropped for god knows what reason. And frankly currently the S4 is better deal if you don`t care to have .a bit better camera and battery life but to have a great software. In most reviews you want see this thing about the missing functions mentioned best you will see is that Samsung now use less is more standard for the software but in fact the 4.4.2 Rom looks unfinished and I really hope that some of the issues will be fixed in next versions of the software.

Wait a month, seriously... You'll regret getting one now.

fender77 said:
I went from the S4 4G+ to the S5. There are quite a few small improvements which when added together makes it ok to upgrade.
Here's a list of the small improvements AFAIK.
Lighter display which makes it better for outdoor use.
Better battery life.
Will survive rain
Bit better and louder sound during calls.
Slightly faster.
Decent fingerprint scanner especially after the recent OTA update.
Better camera.
That's a few I can recall right now.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Better camera?? back camera yes. front facing camera NO.... unless a lot of us are receiving defective S5's because my front facing camera sucks!!!! event the S3 takes better pictures than the S5 (front facing) and this is my second S5 with the same problem

The fingerprint scanner sucks.

I ment the back camera. Luckily for me I do not really use the front facing cam. The fingerprint scanner was terrible. Now it's usable - not as good as the iphones, but usable.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

SaintCity86 said:
Idk how many of you had the s4 before this one, but can you guys honestly say it's worth upgrading to?
Is the finger print scanner worth it? Work well?
How about the download booster that uses both the wifi and the data? What kinda speeds would one get hooked up to a good normal wifi connection, and your 4glte?
Thanks for the info
Contemplating getting the S5....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just upgraded a week ago, so I'm just a step ahead of you. My advice : WAIT
my answers to your questions:
Fingerprint scanner: operational, not a big deal, too short the number of memories for fingers. I used too an extra position to swipe my thumb "sideways".
Download booster: depends on your coverage. To me, irrelevant in most cases.
Cons to consider when coming from an S4!!!!
KitKat itself. Looks like Google/Samsung are converging to IOS/Apple.
You will lose the ability to access your SD card from apps, for instance, Polaris will no longer open your .doc or .xls files in your SD, just read only. Crazy!!!!
Same for your TomTom apps, maps have to be on your internal memory..... and 16 Gb are not that much for it.
Forget any widget for GPS toggle or the like, they are now "system protected", NO radardroid nor tasker doing the trick of turning Apps on with one click.
If you lock the screen with the finger scanner option, then you loose the ability to wake up your screen from Apps. Once again, Radardroid for instance is prevented from visually alerting you of radar traps. Is not a big deal, but is one more limitation that will take some time to circumvent.
So, recap to my initial advice: unless you plan to immediately Root your device, wait until developers learn how to trick their Apps to avoid the obstacles Google is putting on our way to customize OUR devices....
Hope it helps.
Regards.

I would def root and boot it right away. Thanks for all the info though. I really don't like kitkat and am still running JB cuz of it. That dl booster seems awesome though. Cuz I get about anywhere from 1.5 - 3 megabytes per second dl speeds from both my 4glte and my wifi at home. Theoretically, using both could get them up to 6mbps. Which would be highly beneficial to someone like me.
I'll wait till the s6 it seems. Or just keep the S4 for good and get a newer iPhone.
Hmm.
Does anyone know if it's possible to make voice calls and send texts from strictly wifi. On a phone without any service, only connected through wifi?
I've never messed with it, but is that Google Voice? Ive thought about getting an iPhone too for the versatility of having both. But I'd be using my S4 as a wifi hotspot when needed, and connecting the iPhone to that wifi. Then if I could make unrestricted voice calls for free over the wifi, I'd be set.
I wonder if that's how google voice works, I've never had the need to try it.
Contemplating getting the S5....

I have messed around with Fongo for WiFi calls. They provide you with a local number for free and people can call that number as well since it isn't a generic 1-800 number. Text messaging is a paid add on for the app but calling is 100% free.
Call quality was surprisingly not bad, it is probably very highly dependent upon Internet connection but I was able to make calls using hotel and coffee shop WiFi networks so I was pleased.
Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

Related

Just Recieved a Galaxy S3 - First Newcommer Impressions!

First of all, Hi all!
I have been on the Xperia Play section of the XDA Forums have just bought a new Galaxy S3.
The phone is very aesthetically pleasing! I am very impressed by the speed of the phone and the screen clarity, they are just simply amazing to someone who was used to a LED backlit LCD screen!
The S-Voice: (Yes I know it is a little bit of a gimmick) is pretty awesome and accurate, it definitely gives Siri a good run for its money (one of the things Apple pride themselves most in)
Camera: What can I say? They are just great, both probably better than Iphone 5, especailly the front facing camera!
Gyroscope: Awesome with Streetview when you hit the "compass mode".
LTE : Will not be able to test it out yet in another few weeks unit the UK will get it. Having near like broadband speeds or sometimes better just seems really great, especially if you're stuck in an airport waiting for delayed flights and you wanna watch a movie on Netflix or Youtube.
NFC: Sounds awesome but I will probably not be using it as most stores in the UK do not use this technology. There is also the security aspect of the thing I'm slightly worried about anyway.
UI: Not the best but well put together and an intuitive way of handling apps and widgets efficiently.
GPS: Very fast and accurate, much, much faster than the Xperia Play.
Wifi: Not great, I think the proximity range to my home hub has reduced slightly compared to the Xperia Play ( a 2011 model phone)
Data: Again, the 3g is very fast thanks to its HDSPA+ technology.
Memory: I have noticed that I cannot use this to move app data to SD card, this is all fine with a 16gb internal memory but can be a problem if you are interested into the high end games. I understand there is probably a fix to this with root but have decided not to root it just so that I have time to fully see the phone is fully functional without my warranty being voided.
Body: Large but just large enough to sit comfortably in my hand, I think the Iphone body quality is better and stronger than the S3. When removed, the back plate of the S3 just really feels very plasticy and malleable. However, it all compensates when put back together makes the phone a strong, thin and robust.
So yeh......
This is my own personal insight of the magnificent phone that I received today! Hope I can contribute as much info to this section as I can!
I too came from the play and the improvement is monumental imo. Obviously I'll miss the hardware game pad but I'm using fspe and sixaxis which is awesome and something you should look into.
-JOSH-
albanezi said:
First of all, Hi all!
I have been on the Xperia Play section of the XDA Forums have just bought a new Galaxy S3.
The phone is very aesthetically pleasing! I am very impressed by the speed of the phone and the screen clarity, they are just simply amazing to someone who was used to a LED backlit LCD screen!
The S-Voice: (Yes I know it is a little bit of a gimmick) is pretty awesome and accurate, it definitely gives Siri a good run for its money (one of the things Apple pride themselves most in)
Camera: What can I say? They are just great, both probably better than Iphone 5, especailly the front facing camera!
Gyroscope: Awesome with Streetview when you hit the "compass mode".
LTE : Will not be able to test it out yet in another few weeks unit the UK will get it. Having near like broadband speeds or sometimes better just seems really great, especially if you're stuck in an airport waiting for delayed flights and you wanna watch a movie on Netflix or Youtube.
NFC: Sounds awesome but I will probably not be using it as most stores in the UK do not use this technology. There is also the security aspect of the thing I'm slightly worried about anyway.
UI: Not the best but well put together and an intuitive way of handling apps and widgets efficiently.
GPS: Very fast and accurate, much, much faster than the Xperia Play.
Wifi: Not great, I think the proximity range to my home hub has reduced slightly compared to the Xperia Play ( a 2011 model phone)
Data: Again, the 3g is very fast thanks to its HDSPA+ technology.
Memory: I have noticed that I cannot use this to move app data to SD card, this is all fine with a 16gb internal memory but can be a problem if you are interested into the high end games. I understand there is probably a fix to this with root but have decided not to root it just so that I have time to fully see the phone is fully functional without my warranty being voided.
Body: Large but just large enough to sit comfortably in my hand, I think the Iphone body quality is better and stronger than the S3. When removed, the back plate of the S3 just really feels very plasticy and malleable. However, it all compensates when put back together makes the phone a strong, thin and robust.
So yeh......
This is my own personal insight of the magnificent phone that I received today! Hope I can contribute as much info to this section as I can!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with most of your comments, but if your model number is I9300 you will not get LTE, because it doesn't have an LTE modem, HSPA+ is decent for watching video with a decent signal.
And NFC is secure, it can handle encrypted traffic, also its maximum range is less than 20cm, so people have to be very close to intercept data and you will notice someone elses hand that close to your phone.
And finally if you don't like the UI change it
I came from last 3 generations of iPhones to Galaxy S3, and even with iPhone 5 out theres no way I would go back :laugh:
I rooted my galaxy within the 1st week and its been great so far with Omega rom, even thinking about ditching my iPad
julesg73 said:
I came from last 3 generations of iPhones to Galaxy S3, and even with iPhone 5 out theres no way I would go back :laugh:
I rooted my galaxy within the 1st week and its been great so far with Omega rom, even thinking about ditching my iPad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do it, you will not be disappointed, get the newest Galaxy tab
julesg73;31846114
I rooted my galaxy within the 1st week and its been great so far with Omega rom said:
When it comes to Tablets, Android is lagging way behind iPad.
Keep the iPad, seriously.
The app support for iPad is much better.
However when it comes to phone, throw away the iPhones .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
eggman89 said:
When it comes to Tablets, Android is lagging way behind iPad.
Keep the iPad, seriously.
The app support for iPad is much better.
However when it comes to phone, throw away the iPhones .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Verstuurd van mijn GT-I9300 met Tapatalk
I also came from 3 gens of iPhone. This phone is definitely the iPhone killer xD
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
S-voice is definitely a gimmick though because I keep asking for the time in Oz and it says it's the same time their as it is here (uk) lol but other than that this phone packs a huge punch compared to other high end devices.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Congrats on your new purchase. As of now, this the most feature complete smartphone.
Just having a removable battery is ++ for me. Build materials can be improved but I guess they also want to maximize profit.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

[Q] Questions about the S4 before I upgrade

I have been deciding against a S4 or an HTC One. Right now, I have an epic 4g Touch, rooted stock. While I enjoy this phone it definitely hasn't let me down, I would like NFC support, LTE, and a better camera. I have a couple questions for people that can use this day to day, versus an in-store demo model.
1) Does anyone know if this phone will or can support Tri-band LTE? It seems the HTC one is unable to do so.
2) Normal usage (Listening to music, texting, checking e-mail, facebook on the web, web browsing, youtube, etc) how long does your battery life last? If you don't mind could you also indicate whether you live in a strong signal area (consistently full bars) or a low signal area (less then three).
3) Is the phone really plasticy feeling?
4) How is the camera on the phone? From what I have read, the S4 camera excels well all around, however the HTC One is better in low-light, but has terrible photo quality due to algorithms for noise and such.
5) Is wireless charging a possibility for this phone?
6) Does this phone only support tectiles or can you get away with other NFC tags?
7) Does sprint only have a 16GB model? Is that model still plagued by the rather low internal storage issue? Note, I understand that can be resolved with a microSD card, but, I just wondered.
8) Does this phone have a sim card slot behind the battery cover? I was surprised to see the HTC One had one, but, I couldn't check with the store model since well, the back cover has the alarm stuff on it and they wouldn't let me see it.
9) Is this phone similar to rooting/flashing kernels like the Epic 4G Touch? No HTC Dev trickery and such?
10) For anyone that has used the "S" features (airview, air gesture, etc) do they actually work well or is it just bogus gimmicky crap?
ROM Specific/Other questions
1) Does anyone know of any applications that can mimic the zoe like features of the HTC one on the S4?
2) Does anyone know if the Google Experience ROM will make use of the home button so that it instantly goes to Google Now, versus going to a task manager? I don't know if there is an option to do this on the normal sprint rom, but when I was messing with the floor model, I couldn't find a way to do this.
3) Does the IR Blaster work on any of the Google Experience ROM's, or any other AOSP ROM?
Final question, to anyone that has used both phones, is there any recommendation or opinion that you can give after using both (possibly those that bought one and then switched it out half way through)
I am having a real hard time deciding one way or another for the phones, and while yes, I understand most of the people at this point say if you flash a GE Rom, the only two remaining selling points are "Removable battery and sd card" or not, it is hard to base the decision off of that, especially if you take into account the other properties of the phone.
I would really appreciate any feedback Thanks
1. No. There are no phones available in the US that support it right now, probably by the end of the year there will be some. Probably Note 3 and LG G2.
2.Battery life is great, I'm in a terrible area for service, as most of the Sprint Network is a bad area for service.
3. I like the way it feels other than the back is a little too slick, but doesn't matter with a case.
4. S4 has the best camera for a phone on the market right now and has a lot of awesome features built in. Htc One takes better low light photos but not by a huge margin and overall is a lower quality camera IMO.
5. Yes. http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones-accessories/EP-P100IJWUSTA
6. Not sure.
7. Yep 16GB is the only option for Sprint currently, but that might change soon.
8. Yes it has a SIM. But you can't use the GSM capabilities unless it is unlocked and you are out of the USA.
9. This phone is too easy to Root and flash ROMs on. I had the E4GT and remember the issues with it when flashing ROMs. All that changed with the S3 and beyond.
10. S features work great. I don't use them always but they work.
1. IDK
2. The GE ROM has different assigned apps to the buttons but I'm not sure what they are, just that they are the same as the other Google Edition phone.
3.AOSP= on one that I know of but that will change anytime. The GE ROM can.
You ask a lot of questions. You a cop? Lol. I have used both and my sister in law has the HTC One. I went back and forth contimplating which to get also and I chose the S4 and haven't regretted it at all. I like the simplicity of the HTC One and it is freaking smooth as can be with the software. But IDK I still like the S4. I don't think you will be disappointed with either one so whatever you decide enjoy.
Thanks, and yes I completely understand the differences between GSM and CDMA. I did see autoprime's post, however I do completely understand the differences.
As far as battery life goes, you said it was great, on average, how many hours is "great" cause that is huge perspective issue.
As far as the storage issue changing soon, is there any ETA or is that just rumors at this point? My upgrade is in three weeks, and I highly doubt that any change would happen this fast.
My biggest concern with the S4 is any form of laggy feeling. As I get that feeling a lot on the S2/E4GT, and it is really annoying.
Plus, since they are both super phones, it is pretty difficult choosing between the two.
GH0 said:
Thanks, and yes I completely understand the differences between GSM and CDMA. I did see autoprime's post, however I do completely understand the differences.
As far as battery life goes, you said it was great, on average, how many hours is "great" cause that is huge perspective issue.
As far as the storage issue changing soon, is there any ETA or is that just rumors at this point? My upgrade is in three weeks, and I highly doubt that any change would happen this fast.
My biggest concern with the S4 is any form of laggy feeling. As I get that feeling a lot on the S2/E4GT, and it is really annoying.
Plus, since they are both super phones, it is pretty difficult choosing between the two.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never gotten under at least 10 hours or usage. Even heavy. I get about medium to light usage at work and I have full LTE bars there. And still have anywhere from 30-60 when I go home. I've never experienced lag on this phone. But some have, but those people say the new update solved it as well. As well as added apps to sd an option. So storage won't be a thing you'll have to worry about per say.
For me, in a good signal area, I normally achieve a bit over 5 hours of screen time on autobrightness on a total time of 16 hours unplugged.
As for the feel, I like it. The phone doesn't feel cheap and it feels very solid. I don't find it slippery either. The back gently sticks on to your fingers, which prevent slippage and accidental dropping. Coming from the E4GT, I find the feel and grip better.
The camera, of course, is much better and has many cool features.
As for rooting and flashing stuff, I find doing this stuff much easier and more logical than the E4GT.
The S4 is a great phone and I think you'll be really happy with it. If you want a phone with tri-band support, you should probably wait a bit to see which new models Sprint will be announcing. There is a rumor that a new, updated S4 might be released with the Snapdragon S800 and tri-band support, although I doubt it.

Considering Note 3 for upgrade

I am coming from a Samsung Galaxy S3. I am due for an AT&T upgrade early July. I was really leaning towards the new Galaxy S5 but then I saw that I could get a Note 3 for the same price. I am really torn. The advantages I see with the Note 3 are:
---32 GB hard drive space vs 16 GB in S5
---3 GB ram vs the 2 GB that the S5 has
---larger screen
---bottom speaker (which I personally prefer to rear speakers)
The advantages I see for the Galaxy S5 are:
---a better camera (though I would love to hear just how much better)
---easier to handle with one hand
---water resistance
---apparently a screen that is brighter and slightly more accurate
I would like to hear from those who have had both and would like to elaborate or mention more advantages with either device. Thanks!
First it's about size difference. If you dislike a big phone you better don't buy a note. Everything else is a lot better on the note!!! For the same price and if the size is ok for u I would even prefer the note over the s5.
I went to an AT&T store yesterday and messed with a Note 3 for a while. The screen is humongous but the Galaxy S5 isn't too far from the same size with a much smaller screen.
I've liked everything about my Galaxy S3 except battery life (I now have a 3500 mah battery) and heating issues when doing gaming with, for example, Minecraft, even at its lowest graphical setting. I just can't game for more than 15-20 minutes on this phone without it getting extremely hot. Screen temperatures easily reach 100 within that time span.
Yesterday, I played Dead Trigger on the Note 3 for about 15 minutes. The phone did get quite warm on the screen side opposite the camera. It wasn't as bad as my S3 but it was a tad disappointing. Unfortunately the S5 next to it didn't have Dead Trigger on it and so I couldn't do a "heat" comparison.
BTW, hearing a lot about GPS issues and some suggesting not to upgrade to KitKat. Has the GPS issue been fixed without me having to run a custom ROM?
Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.
Capa1970 said:
I went to an AT&T store yesterday and messed with a Note 3 for a while. The screen is humongous but the Galaxy S5 isn't too far from the same size with a much smaller screen.
I've liked everything about my Galaxy S3 except battery life (I now have a 3500 mah battery) and heating issues when doing gaming with, for example, Minecraft, even at its lowest graphical setting. I just can't game for more than 15-20 minutes on this phone without it getting extremely hot. Screen temperatures easily reach 100 within that time span.
Yesterday, I played Dead Trigger on the Note 3 for about 15 minutes. The phone did get quite warm on the screen side opposite the camera. It wasn't as bad as my S3 but it was a tad disappointing. Unfortunately the S5 next to it didn't have Dead Trigger on it and so I couldn't do a "heat" comparison.
BTW, hearing a lot about GPS issues and some suggesting not to upgrade to KitKat. Has the GPS issue been fixed without me having to run a custom ROM?
Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't had any GPS issues on the Note 3, but I wouldn't base your decision on the GPS anyway since it's a problem which can be fixed. Like I said before it's about your preference. Try to focus on the things you really need/want to see on your device and look also for different Android phones. There are so many good devices on the market and if you can wait there will be some more beasts coming in the next couple of months!!! Me personally god used to the size and smaller devices feel like toys when I use them.
From what I heard you need a better battery life and good gaming and over all performance. Something else?(music, camera)
Thanks for the reply. Battery life, no exaggerated heat when gaming, camera, very good speakers, and removable battery are the most important things to me. I absolutely love the HTC M8 but the camera and non-removable battery kill it for me. I would really love to have front speakers, but the other candidate, Sony Z2, has bezels too big for my taste.
I am waiting on more information on the LG G3 and this Galaxy Prime that I keep on hearing about. As mentioned earlier, I am due for an upgrade in early July and so I have time to really think about things but I like doing my research months in advance instead of last second.
I mentioned to my brother that I was considering the Note 3 and he said that is has reception issues---dropped calls, weak signal, etc. I googled it and there were some threads on the subject. Any comments on this potential issue?
Weak signals and dropped calls would be a network issue not really a handset issue
I came from a s3 to a note 3 and I'll never look back anything smaller feels miniscule now initially took time to adjust to the size of the screen but now I can't see me ever using a smaller device
Battery has served me well get a full day out of it no problem
You won't find a phone that won't heat up while gaming it's impossible to cool a device operating at full power without some sort of cooling mechanics other than heatsinks
Phone will take anything you throw at it and then some
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
I own both. (I'm using my S5 as a glorified mp3 player these days, as the screen is too small for me.) Much prefer the Note 3.
The camera on the S5 is in no significant way better than that on the Note 3. I'm an actual photographer so I haven't used any of the filters, and I set everything manually, but in term of picture quality, both are rubbish in low light. In bright light they're near equal.
In terms of screen the S5 is smaller with a higher pixel density. You can only see it when you're about 2cm away from your screen. The colours are slightly more saturated on the S5. (That's a matter of preference, I prefer somewhat more normal colours. Mainly because I can't stand the ghastly Touchwiz colours on the S5.)
Each phone heats up whilst gaming. That's what happens when the plastic case serves as the heatsink without any other fan or coolant. Particularly if you're holding it. The more powerful the device, the more it heats up.
I have no issues with GPS on KitKat. It locks quickly, is stable and has no satelite loss. Call reception is also fine, any drops in signal is entirely due to the sometimes hilariously bad coverage of my provider. (I've nagged them about that. Repeatedly. In person, at their HQ, to the network manager. No luck.)
The S5 is a bit better at handling drops and bumps. The Note 3 is a bit more fragile, so if you lead an active lifestyle or you're clumsy, consider a case.
If you have the time, I would indeed suggest waiting for the S5 Prime before making your choice. http://www.sammobile.com/2014/05/09...ith-qhd-display-snapdragon-805-android-4-4-3/
ShadowLea said:
I own both. (I'm using my S5 as a glorified mp3 player these days, as the screen is too small for me.) Much prefer the Note 3.
The camera on the S5 is in no significant way better than that on the Note 3. I'm an actual photographer so I haven't used any of the filters, and I set everything manually, but in term of picture quality, both are rubbish in low light. In bright light they're near equal.
In terms of screen the S5 is smaller with a higher pixel density. You can only see it when you're about 2cm away from your screen. The colours are slightly more saturated on the S5. (That's a matter of preference, I prefer somewhat more normal colours. Mainly because I can't stand the ghastly Touchwiz colours on the S5.)
Each phone heats up whilst gaming. That's what happens when the plastic case serves as the heatsink without any other fan or coolant. Particularly if you're holding it. The more powerful the device, the more it heats up.
I have no issues with GPS on KitKat. It locks quickly, is stable and has no satelite loss. Call reception is also fine, any drops in signal is entirely due to the sometimes hilariously bad coverage of my provider. (I've nagged them about that. Repeatedly. In person, at their HQ, to the network manager. No luck.)
The S5 is a bit better at handling drops and bumps. The Note 3 is a bit more fragile, so if you lead an active lifestyle or you're clumsy, consider a case.
If you have the time, I would indeed suggest waiting for the S5 Prime before making your choice. http://www.sammobile.com/2014/05/09...ith-qhd-display-snapdragon-805-android-4-4-3/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is exactly how I compare the two devices just a lot more detailed lol.
In September/October should be the note 4 release and if I wouldn't have the note 3 now I would definitely wait. (I will probably still upgrade cause of my cell phone interest/addiction)
Guys, thanks for the replies and, Shadow Lea, thanks for the detailed comparison! I'm sure that it is close, but which one would you say has better battery life?
Capa1970 said:
Guys, thanks for the replies and, Shadow Lea, thanks for the detailed comparison! I'm sure that it is close, but which one would you say has better battery life?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I myself have always found the note series vs the s series that the note had way better battery life and camera wise your photos will about the same but since you due in July wait for note 4 or the s5 prime
Sent from my SM-N900W8 using XDA Free mobile app
Capa1970 said:
Guys, thanks for the replies and, Shadow Lea, thanks for the detailed comparison! I'm sure that it is close, but which one would you say has better battery life?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say they're fairly even matched. The S5 is smaller, but has a smaller battery. I do feel my Note 3 lasts a bit longer, but maybe because I put more effort into extending the batterylife.
I am seeking some clarity. Exactly which Snapdragon 800 chipset is in the AT&T Galaxy Note 3? This article assumes that it is the variant with ram clocked at 933 MHz and the GPU at 550 MHz:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/snapdragon-801-performance-xperia-z2,3777-3.html
However, I've seen articles that have the ram at 800 MHz and the GPU at 450 MHz. Which is correct?
Don't buy the current S5 as Samsung is going to release a better version of it with a better chipset and more RAM and Quad HD display. The Note 3 is just as good for photos, has the S-Pen, speakers at the bottom as stated before, 128 GB Micro SD slot, same screen resolution, more RAM, and almost the same processor speed. W/ the S5, you're just getting features the Note 3 will get sometime later in the year, waterproofing (case can solve that w/ good research), and an easier device to carry around. People joke about my Note 3 a bit saying it's too big, but I honestly don't care because most people use that crappy iPhone 4S or something miniscule.
IMO just wait for the Note 4 right now.
First off - prefer the Note 3 because of the larger screen, however one thing that the others haven't mentioned is that the S5 comes with Kitkat which has restricted access to the SD card. The note 3 might still come with android 4.3 (if you are lucky) which allowed full access to the SD card. Obviously if you don't use the SD card than this is of no interest however if you do then, to me, this is a really important issue. Fortunately I jusy got my phone on a two year contract so I have at least 19 months before I have to worry! (as long as I don't press the firmware upgrade button by mistake!) Hope Google put something better in place in android 4.5 or android 5 or reverse this stupid decision.
What restriction r u talking about? I'm on kk.
@op if you get the chance compare it hands on. I heard a lot of people disliking the size of a note!!! It is most important that u like your phone and feel comfortable or else u regret spending money on it and start threats about strange issues u have in the forum Good luck with your decision. And as I said before at least wait for the note 4 if the screen size isn't a problem.
Google kitkat sd card issues tons of complaints. Someone has even started a petition. Although you can save your photos and music to the sd card all apps must save to a single app specific directory and are not allowed to write to other directories. E.g.take a photo with your phone them try and edit it with another programme. Because you aren't allowed to save it to the original directory you will end up with two copies in different locations. Also when you uninstall an app any data on the sd card will be deleted! Right pain in the ...neck!
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
Barneyabz said:
Google kitkat sd card issues tons of complaints. Someone has even started a petition. Although you can save your photos and music to the sd card all apps must save to a single app specific directory and are not allowed to write to other directories. E.g.take a photo with your phone them try and edit it with another programme. Because you aren't allowed to save it to the original directory you will end up with two copies in different locations. Also when you uninstall an app any data on the sd card will be deleted! Right pain in the ...neck!
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously the SD card issue isn't a big deal. The only problem is for old apps. But if you're using a new device, you should download apps that are optimized for your OS instead of running old apps anyways.
If the developer didn't bother with an update for a big permission change then obviously it's a sign that you should find a new app because If the app was like a banking app or something related to work, and they didn't update to 4.4 permissions, then how would you rely on them when a huge exploit for the app is released which leaked all your passwords and vital information?
Rooting allows for you to bypass this, but in all honesty, the play store is filled with new apps that always get updated weekly (especially File sharing apps) and you should use those instead. I understand not everyone can do this, but by choosing to buy a 4.4 device (even if you did an update you should have read up about changes), you automatically assume 4.4 features to be what you will live with.
It's ok. I bought a 4.3 device and read about the changes in 4.4 so I haven't updated. Personally I wanted my phone and next tablet to replace a Windows PC. Android 4.4 won't work for me. So I'll stay on 4.3 until warranty is up then upgrade and root. Next tablet will be a windows 8 not android.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
Barneyabz said:
It's ok. I bought a 4.3 device and read about the changes in 4.4 so I haven't updated. Personally I wanted my phone and next tablet to replace a Windows PC. Android 4.4 won't work for me. So I'll stay on 4.3 until warranty is up then upgrade and root. Next tablet will be a windows 8 not android.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would definitely wait with win 8 tablets. The most r crap and the good ones r waaaay 2 overpriced. Know the win cycle one software good one bad... Windows 7 was good Vista bad XP good... Think about it

Concerns? Dislikes? Buyer's Remorse?

Anyone disappointed in a few things like I am?
1. Regardless of how you feel, Verizon removing things and adding even more bloatware is beyond nasty. It's low.
2. The battery life is average at best.
3. There is lags. It's there. Apps open slow, typical Samsung UI stuff. It'll never change.
4. I just don't like the edge. It offers nothing and makes hitting a button close to it awkward. Not to mention cases are just bleh due to trying to fit around it.
5. The S-pen has a smaller tip, but I find it less responsive than it used to be.
6. New theme store is meh. Themes I purchased on my s6 aren't there. I think this feature will improve though.
I like the phone, but it definitely doesn't wow me like the Note 3 and Note 4.
Sent from my SM-N930V using XDA-Developers mobile app
I am having way better battery life on the Note 7 than my Galaxy 7. I haven't noticed any lag. I agree, the "edge" is a gimmick.
Biggest issue: No AdBlock. Jesus, how do people use the internet without adblock
Hunt4m3x said:
I am having way better battery life on the Note 7 than my Galaxy 7. I haven't noticed any lag. I agree, the "edge" is a gimmick.
Biggest issue: No AdBlock. Jesus, how do people use the internet without adblock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should use Samsung's browser and use the adblock extension. It is amazing.
Hunt4m3x said:
I am having way better battery life on the Note 7 than my Galaxy 7. I haven't noticed any lag. I agree, the "edge" is a gimmick.
Biggest issue: No AdBlock. Jesus, how do people use the internet without adblock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might have to get rid of it for that. Hope it gets root, dont care about the bootloader. Can't live with the endless ads in apps
thewagdy said:
You should use Samsung's browser and use the adblock extension. It is amazing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have but other apps have ads etc.
Hunt4m3x said:
I have but other apps have ads etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Adgaurd on my note 5. Plan on using it on the Note 7 if i go for it. Works great. On the web and on apps.
Bsober said:
I use Adgaurd on my note 5. Plan on using it on the Note 7 if i go for it. Works great. On the web and on apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Adguard on occasion as it sometimes bogs down the phone. Love/hate relationship with it.
Well, I get way better battery life than any phone I've ever owned. I end almost every day at 50% and I used to charge by 6pm. Apps open faster than any phone I've ever had and have no lag so far. I love the edge for quick weather and sports scores. I don't love finding a screen protector and case that play nice together. The s-pen seems WAY better to me. I don't use the theme store so I can't comment there. So far, I adore this phone.
Sent from my SM-N930V using XDA-Developers mobile app
Apparently you guys have never had a Nexus. This phone is good, but it does have lag issues that it just shouldn't have in 2016.
And when I say edge, I dont mean edges apps. You don't need to have an edge screen to use the apps you mentioned. They would work just fine if not better on a flat screen like the quick tools Samsung used to use
Not being a jerk, but every phone that gets released, people make wild claims like " 8 day battery life, fastest phone in the world" blah blah. To be fair, there is always someone who makes a thread like this as well. I'm that someone this time.
I like the phone, but it really isn't the holy grail it was made out to be... I feel like it needs an update to clean some stuff up
Sent from my SM-N930V using XDA-Developers mobile app
I like the phone but I don't think it's a huge upgrade over my s7e. I think I'm going to return it and just keep my s7e. Kind of sick of Verizon for removing helpful features from this phone that were meant to be there.
Rippley05 said:
Apparently you guys have never had a Nexus. This phone is good, but it does have lag issues that it just shouldn't have in 2016.
And when I say edge, I dont mean edges apps. You don't need to have an edge screen to use the apps you mentioned. They would work just fine if not better on a flat screen like the quick tools Samsung used to use
Not being a jerk, but every phone that gets released, people make wild claims like " 8 day battery life, fastest phone in the world" blah blah. To be fair, there is always someone who makes a thread like this as well. I'm that someone this time.
I like the phone, but it really isn't the holy grail it was made out to be... I feel like it needs an update to clean some stuff up
Sent from my SM-N930V using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had a Nexus 6. This blows the doors off of it speed wise. I can actually open the camera and take a picture, answer a phone call, and not have the unlock screen take about 15 seconds to actually unlock.
Makes me wonder if I had a bad device all along. It wasn't like that at first though. Somewhere after 6.0 it slowed down and never recovered regardless of factory resetting.
---------- Post added at 07:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 PM ----------
Concerns:
Future updates, but I knew what I was getting into.
The durability of GG5, but the whole issue may be overblown...time will tell.
Dislikes:
The screen protector I bought. There is already dust under it. Not to mention it must have lifted off the center, as I miss keys all the time. I will sit tight for a while on it and see what else comes out over the next month or so.
Samsung Keyboard - I like Google Keyboard for typing, Samsung S-Pen input for writing, and Google Voice Keyboard. No way to get this combo easily.
Price was steep for this phone, but you get what you pay for. I wanted premium, and got premium.
Buyer's Remorse
Nope. None.
I miss the Ascending Ringtone Volume setting. I can't find it in VZN Note 7. All the good basic ring tones are gone, too.
Someone PLEASE unlock the boot loader on this phone.
Really wasn't expecting to see the different ui was actually looking forward to the new one as this phone was supposed to have the grace ui , so very disappointed in that as it was a feature that was a factor in my buying it its more or less the s7 rebuilt as a note with edge panels, so Im annoyed there. I also don't like the fact that I had to make a custom shortcut for the Samsung cloud service when that was also a feature which was a deciding factor for getting this phone , all in all don't get me wrong the phone is beautiful it runs like a dream its screen is fantastic etc. but I really disagree with the feature removal , the device maintenance app , and the difference in ui these are things that were supposed to make this phone unique and there not there , I mean I really like it but im annoyed at the same time if that makes sense lol. What really sucks is I gave my s7 to my wife and shes ecstatic about it so I cant really return it now cause shes now one with the s7. That and i traded in her old phone.
I agree DBCAB. I don't know what is different in the UI aside from a slightly different settings menu. Is there more?
I am also sick of Verizon. There is just no other carrier with a signal here. They're the reason I went Nexus and tried an iPhone. You never know what features they're going to remove or bloat they're going to force when it comes the all other Android phones.
Sent from my SM-N930V using XDA-Developers mobile app
I'm not thrilled about Verizon, the way they tamper with what is already a somewhat compromised ROM is vile. Their latest security update had crapware in it. What more can you say?
The phone is amazing, imo. It absolutely kills the Note 4 which I had, it's not even comparable. I'm using a Nexus 6P, I swore on all that is holy I would never use a locked up Samsung phone again and I can barely put this down. It looks better than any phone I've ever seen, the software is actually...dare I say it, useful? Even the damn iris scanner works well. It's not laggy (yet), and I'm getting better battery than my Nexus. I missed the stylus. I don't know if I can bear a locked down phone, but this is the only one I've tried that makes me think about it A LOT.
My only dislike is how gdamn hard I have to work against Verizon and Samsung to get the most out of it. Sneaking to get Samsung Cloud, downloading an older, superior version of SNote with full capability (wtf is that about?!). Otherwise, wow, quite a phone and I was prepared to hate it loudly.
PsiPhiDan said:
Well, I get way better battery life than any phone I've ever owned. I end almost every day at 50% and I used to charge by 6pm. Apps open faster than any phone I've ever had and have no lag so far. I love the edge for quick weather and sports scores. I don't love finding a screen protector and case that play nice together. The s-pen seems WAY better to me. I don't use the theme store so I can't comment there. So far, I adore this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you using for sports scores?
taz1458 said:
What are you using for sports scores?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just the standard yahoo sports one. When you click on the little gear symbol to customize the edge screens you want, Yahoo is literally the first one I can select. It's pretty basic but I like it for my baseball scores at a glance.
Sent from my SM-N930V using XDA-Developers mobile app
The $900 price tag got to me along with the edge screen so I returned mine for a Galaxy J3 lol. Seriously the Note 7 is nice but between what Verizon dose and the limited choice of screen protectors that stick and cases that do not peal them off made me return the device. I'm looking to ditch Verizon all together so I opted for the cheapest smartphone they had in stock to fulfill my device payment agreement. Surprisingly the J3 isn't all that bad for what I do on the phone.
Misterxtc said:
The $900 price tag got to me along with the edge screen so I returned mine for a Galaxy J3 lol. Seriously the Note 7 is nice but between what Verizon dose and the limited choice of screen protectors that stick and cases that do not peal them off made me return the device. I'm looking to ditch Verizon all together so I opted for the cheapest smartphone they had in stock to fulfill my device payment agreement. Surprisingly the J3 isn't all that bad for what I do on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't expect early cases and screen protectors to be perfect til people got a chance to beat on them. I still ordered them though and just got them in today, at least get some protection.
jjayzx said:
I wouldn't expect early cases and screen protectors to be perfect til people got a chance to beat on them. I still ordered them though and just got them in today, at least get some protection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's going to be the same as the S7 Edge I just traded in. Not too many choices.

One week with the Redmi Note 4

Received my RN4 last week, and after spending a week with it I am definitely impressed.
Observations
1. Battery life is the phone's strongest suit. Can definitely get even better SOT if I was more careful using this thing, but fact is this is the first phone I've owned that I only need to charge once a day. (See attachment for SOT)
2. Build quality is solid as well, but definitely not top notch. Seams can still felt, and SIM tray is a bit hard to push in.
3. Display is great. Nothing out of the ordinary.
4. Helio X20 is a solid chip, but Javascript performance is underwhelming. Does not appear to have many benefits over the SD650.
5. Camera is underwhelming, quality is around the level of the Moto X 2014, but PD focus is quick and accurate, unlike the CDAF on the X14.
6. MIUI is not as intrusive as most Western media will have you believe, but I do not like the aggressiveness with which it kills background processes. GSam Battery monitor doesnt work reliably as it always gets kicked.
7. One handed usage is poor. The next model could definitely use smaller bezels on the X axis.
8. I got an update last week for "bug fixes", but was strangely 1.3GB big and took over an hour to download and install.
Overall, for $200, I'm definitely impressed. Can't say I feel a noticeable performance difference with my last phone, the Galaxy S7. Only place I can feel I got what I paired for is the camera.
AB__CD said:
Received my RN4 last week, and after spending a week with it I am definitely impressed.
Observations
1. Battery life is the phone's strongest suit. Can definitely get even better SOT if I was more careful using this thing, but fact is this is the first phone I've owned that I only need to charge once a day. (See attachment for SOT)
2. Build quality is solid as well, but definitely not top notch. Seams can still felt, and SIM tray is a bit hard to push in.
3. Display is great. Nothing out of the ordinary.
4. Helio X20 is a solid chip, but Javascript performance is underwhelming. Does not appear to have many benefits over the SD650.
5. Camera is underwhelming, quality is around the level of the Moto X 2014, but PD focus is quick and accurate, unlike the CDAF on the X14.
6. MIUI is not as intrusive as most Western media will have you believe, but I do not like the aggressiveness with which it kills background processes. GSam Battery monitor doesnt work reliably as it always gets kicked.
7. One handed usage is poor. The next model could definitely use smaller bezels on the X axis.
8. I got an update last week for "bug fixes", but was strangely 1.3GB big and took over an hour to download and install.
Overall, for $200, I'm definitely impressed. Can't say I feel a noticeable performance difference with my last phone, the Galaxy S7. Only place I can feel I got what I paired for is the camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the feedback, I also have an S7 and on the verge of selling to buy either the note 4 or the redmi pro. I know it will generally be a downgrade especially in terms of camera as nothing can touch the S7. But it seems a great device and would let me free up some cash. The redmi pro seems to have a better camera than the RN4 although a bit gimmicky with its dual cams, but both pack nice builds and big batteries. Although I think the RN4's finger print scanner looks better and is in a better location, I'm not really that impressed with the S7's as it still needs to be pushed and isn't that accurate. How do you find audio quality over say a pair of headphones compared to the S7?
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
gsmyth said:
Thanks for the feedback, I also have an S7 and on the verge of selling to buy either the note 4 or the redmi pro. I know it will generally be a downgrade especially in terms of camera as nothing can touch the S7. But it seems a great device and would let me free up some cash. The redmi pro seems to have a better camera than the RN4 although a bit gimmicky with its dual cams, but both pack nice builds and big batteries. Although I think the RN4's finger print scanner looks better and is in a better location, I'm not really that impressed with the S7's as it still needs to be pushed and isn't that accurate. How do you find audio quality over say a pair of headphones compared to the S7?
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very loud, and decently clean and crisp too. There seems to be some decent audio equipment on this thing, both speakers and headphone, and I suspect there may be a discrete DAC on this, impressive for a $200 device. I went for the RN4 over the Pro for one reason and one reason only: there is an official global ROM out for this phone, while the Pro would require me to install GP package through a third-party solution.
I can definitely say that the FPS is way better on the back. Very accurate, and as long as I don't give it some super-weird angle it authenticates me without fail, quicker and more accurately than the S7.
AB__CD said:
Very loud, and decently clean and crisp too. There seems to be some decent audio equipment on this thing, both speakers and headphone, and I suspect there may be a discrete DAC on this, impressive for a $200 device. I went for the RN4 over the Pro for one reason and one reason only: there is an official global ROM out for this phone, while the Pro would require me to install GP package through a third-party solution.
I can definitely say that the FPS is way better on the back. Very accurate, and as long as I don't give it some super-weird angle it authenticates me without fail, quicker and more accurately than the S7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great that's good to hear, I assumed there was a global rom for the pro but must have been something else I seen. I had a feeling the finger print scanner was better, I do find the S7's quite fussy and a lot of times I exceed the try limit and have to wait 30 secs[emoji34].
I really do appreciate the camera on the S7, although from the reviews I've watched the RN4 seems to have very quick auto focus and capture speeds. It obviously seems to suffer in low light but no phone is immune from this really only to lesser extents. I generally take most photos outside in good conditions anyway and usually of the kids where a quick shutter is needed. The camera app also seems fast to launch as well which again is an important to be able to snap photos quickly.
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Wich rom are you using? Do you root it?
gsmyth said:
Great that's good to hear, I assumed there was a global rom for the pro but must have been something else I seen. I had a feeling the finger print scanner was better, I do find the S7's quite fussy and a lot of times I exceed the try limit and have to wait 30 secs[emoji34].
I really do appreciate the camera on the S7, although from the reviews I've watched the RN4 seems to have very quick auto focus and capture speeds. It obviously seems to suffer in low light but no phone is immune from this really only to lesser extents. I generally take most photos outside in good conditions anyway and usually of the kids where a quick shutter is needed. The camera app also seems fast to launch as well which again is an important to be able to snap photos quickly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fingerprint scanner really is great. Worlds better than the S7. Location isn't always ideal for when the phone is on a table top, but it is great when pulling the phone out of the pocket. I suspect that the only way to solve this is give people two Fingerprint scanners
Camera launches quickly and focus is reliable. Better than my 2014 Moto X ever was. Shutter is not as fast as the reviews make it out to be, but that may be because I have HDR on Auto, and HDR photos do take a while to process. Outside photos are reasonably crisp, inside the noise starts to become uncontrollable. Remember to go to Settings and select image quality "High" and enable "Enhance lowlight pictures automatically" when you get this phone. Hugely important, as the default Medium setting is too aggressive in compressing.
AB__CD said:
Received my RN4 last week, and after spending a week with it I am definitely impressed.
Observations
1. Battery life is the phone's strongest suit. Can definitely get even better SOT if I was more careful using this thing, but fact is this is the first phone I've owned that I only need to charge once a day. (See attachment for SOT)
2. Build quality is solid as well, but definitely not top notch. Seams can still felt, and SIM tray is a bit hard to push in.
3. Display is great. Nothing out of the ordinary.
4. Helio X20 is a solid chip, but Javascript performance is underwhelming. Does not appear to have many benefits over the SD650.
5. Camera is underwhelming, quality is around the level of the Moto X 2014, but PD focus is quick and accurate, unlike the CDAF on the X14.
6. MIUI is not as intrusive as most Western media will have you believe, but I do not like the aggressiveness with which it kills background processes. GSam Battery monitor doesnt work reliably as it always gets kicked.
7. One handed usage is poor. The next model could definitely use smaller bezels on the X axis.
8. I got an update last week for "bug fixes", but was strangely 1.3GB big and took over an hour to download and install.
Overall, for $200, I'm definitely impressed. Can't say I feel a noticeable performance difference with my last phone, the Galaxy S7. Only place I can feel I got what I paired for is the camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been using RN4 for 2 weeks. And I do agree most of the views.
1. Battery: it seems not that good if you care about the numbers. But the overall performance is pretty good. Playing some 3d games with performance for an hour costs less than 10%.
2. CPU: I don't think this is a big leap as I can't from Nexus 5. The performance is not overkill. And I don't feel anything is super smooth. I guess the reason is that 10 cores are still to much for an Android system to operate with. I doubt the kernel fully utilizes the CPU.
3. Camera: don't expect much on it even though they claimed it's 16MP. The quality is quite glitchy in my opinion. If you really care about the quality of the camera on your phone, consider carefully. Despite the quality, the speed is fine as the focus, HDR and burst mode work perfectly fine.
4. MIUI: I just want a CM. That's it.
5. Price: this is the most pulling reason for me to buy this. You can just switch to a new one if this breaks somehow. :laugh:
Hello.
My name is Gabriel, from Romania.
I have a redminote 4 since 25 october 2016.
Since yesterday it doesn't display, in the upper right corner, the icon for mobile data - you know, the H, or H+, or 4G or 3G, next to mobile network signal icon.
The mobile data connection is working good, but the fact that the phone is connected to mobile data is not displayed any more.
Is there any setting for this?
Thanks.
Gabriel Sbircea said:
Hello.
My name is Gabriel, from Romania.
I have a redminote 4 since 25 october 2016.
Since yesterday it doesn't display, in the upper right corner, the icon for mobile data - you know, the H, or H+, or 4G or 3G, next to mobile network signal icon.
The mobile data connection is working good, but the fact that the phone is connected to mobile data is not displayed any more.
Is there any setting for this?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you solve this? Are you on the global rom?
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
No.
I had the intention to perform a factory reset during this weekend, but I didn't, I was too busy with other things.
And yes, is the Global ROM - I have Romanian language (not only...)
Thanks.
Gabriel Sbircea said:
No.
I had the intention to perform a factory reset during this weekend, but I didn't, I was too busy with other things.
And yes, is the Global ROM - I have Romanian language (not only...)
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A factory reset is probably the best option take first although it is a pain having to backup/ set everything up again.
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 video review
Originalas said:
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 video review
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks will watch this later.
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
gsmyth said:
Did you solve this? Are you on the global rom?
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello
I have black screen with my Redmi Note 4 but led of charge work have you some ideas how can i solve this issue?
Thanks
2 weeks here...
I bought the Redmi Note 4 - S625 32 GB version as a replacement for another phone from another vendor, my old phone had the same hardware configuration, but was greatly lagging on performance, battery life and customization.
I have long decided on the Redmi, and have gone through several resources and reviews online, and was so far satisfied with what I read.
I was able to buy it at a discounted price in Egypt (USD 160), this is of course not a bargain for the global price, yet locally it was good compared to other similar devices.
I'll go through every aspect of my experience with the phone and provide you with my conclusion in the end.
The phone comes in a small box compared to other phones of the same size, the phone fits in exactly, with the charger and the charging cable, the extra space could've been better used to add earphones to the bundle, something Xiaomi should consider in the future, is to throw in one of their premium earphones.
The phone size is slim and nice to hold, something that counts for it, considering the huge 4100mA battery, I was unfortunate to buy the black edition, which is very prone to fingerprints and you can never keep it clean, let alone it also seemed scratch prone, I didn't want to risk it therefore the first thing I had to do was to go for a silicon cover.
Also the screen glass is clear with smooth edges, and gives the phone a very elegant look, yet I read it's not gorilla glass, so I had to go for a glass screen protector.
The screen is large enough with some bevel edges that could be improved in the future.
The dual SIM slot is an amazing idea, yet with a bit of better design I guess we can squeeze in a place for a memory card.
The camera and fingerprint sensor are very well placed and nice to use, having the camera non-protruding is a good design point, protecting the camera cover from scratches.
I don't mind the camera being 13MP, it has a clear quality, works well with the camera app, and is quiet responsive, I've seen cameras with higher resolution, but were a pain to operate, so good job Xiaomi.
The screen is clear and pleasant to use, I have even use it to watch movies using a VR box with no problems, it is also quiet visible in the sun with bright colors.
One thing I really liked about this phone, is its battery life, I guess Xiaomi went to great effort to squeeze much power into the battery space, and to optimize the power use by applications, clearly there is a power optimization software layer added to the OS to perform this well, I am a heavy user, having the phone in hand all day with the screen on, reading, watching videos, and streaming internet videos and music in the car all day, using maps and GPS applications, and acting as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Still at night, before sleeping, I plug the charger while the phone is at 40%, keeping me assured that even if I forget to charge the phone, it will remain there for another day of moderate use. BATTERY LIFE ON THIS PHONE IS AMAZING.
I have seen people complain that it doesn’t have a fast charging capability, yet it's no problem with a phone that can withhold its charge for two days.
The good thing about this phone is that it has all connectivity features of other similar phones, except for the NFC, which is becoming a defacto nowadays, though the FM radio is good and launches without any headphone connected, however the lack of RDS is a bit annoying, in addition to the fact that the radio interface is boring and non-themeable, I have posted this suggestion in the MIUI forum.
Software performance on this phone is amazing, and the dual app capability is extra nice, it is better than having the second space activated, specially with the availability of individual app locking capability, I can have my work and personal applications in the same space, while giving my work applications the necessary security level required. This beats all other phones offering second space while hogging the memory and system resources, and affecting the performance.
Also Xiaomi's keeping to its promise of a very responsive MIUI, even with an alternative launcher (I'll come to that later), I'm getting a very good performance, no launch delays, no botchy performance, etc... Which shows that enough effort has been put into OS optimization.
I haven't tried installing a custom OS yet, and this is mainly due to the fact that the factory OS is very well performing and doesn't need further optimization, till now!!
I had to resort to installing a third party launcher (Nova Launcher), since I didn't really like the way MIUI launcher treats the applications, without an application drawer, desktops can become really cluttered, specially that I always test new apps and remove them regularly. This may be convenient for iPhone users, but a no no in our Android world, Xiaomi should reconsider.
A nice addition to the UI is the floating ball, it comes with useful shortcuts, but to change them you have to dig deep into the settings, certainly there should be a better way to do this, still it is a good addition.
The screenshot shortcut saves a shot of the current screen and can later send you to the editing part if you need to crop and edit your shot, it would be better if a crop control can appear when a screenshot is requested, so that we can directly choose which part of the screen we want to capture and share directly.
The phone came with android marshmallow, but as soon as I started using it, a new update with nougat was pushed, I also guess and Oreo version in in the pipeline, still you can have the Oreo taste from any custom rom available for this phone, which are really numerous in comparison to phones from other vendors, I guess Xiaomi should capitalize on this as being one of the most custom ROM friendly phones.
The phone, contacts, and messaging native aps are quiet usable, and so far I haven't faced any problem with them, in comparison to other phones that sometimes struggled with my 1500 entry contact list, the Xiaomi is fully capable of handling such a contact list dispersed among two contact providers (google contact and exchange server), and fully capable of flawlessly handling them.
One small glitch with the messaging app is the inability to delete the newly received SMS from the notification area, something that is usually needed nowadays.
Coming to the notification area, I've seen it better implemented in other phones or ROM versions, where you can get full access to the complete message, and be able control it (delete or reply) from the notification area, I know that in MIUI there is the capability to expand the notification for more details by a two finger swipe, but this is impossible with one handed operation.
The phone also comes with nice extra applications, the security app is quiet useful, and hopefully it does what it promises in the background.
The remote app is also a great addition, making you able to control a vast list of IR enabled devices; yet it should be a good addition to be able to add and customize new non-listed devices, such as for example non-standard android tv boxes.
In conclusion:
I really love this phone and don't regret the investment I put in it, Xiaomi is on a very good track, it should soon reach and surpass market leaders if it keeps building such impressive devices with affordable prices, also having that MIUI forum and its community is a good addition of keeping the users close to the vendor.
My recommendation is to work on the software enhancements requested by the users.
My recommendations to the new buyers, is to install good screen and body protection, stay away from the black version, and invest in a good quality headphones to enjoy your Xiaomi.

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