I'm planning on doing some hiking and camping this summer, and am considering replacing my pocketphone with something strapped to my wrist - less fumbling to get at a camera, less weight, longer battery, and so on. I'm hoping that some of the fine folks here can offer advice and suggestions before I decide to plunk down my all-too-limited money for a lemon of a wrist-computer.
So far, the factors that have occurred to me as being important to consider include:
* Battery life: 24 hour standby seems a bare minimum, 48 hour seems almost as important, and the longer the better. (I do have a small solar panel with battery-stick I can hang on my backpack, for longer trips.)
* GPS. A large part of the whole point.
* SD card with enough room to hold, say, an offline copy of Wikipedia and all sorts of offline maps, with enough room for lots of pictures. 16GB? 32GB?
* Software that can apply GPS readings to said offline maps, Wikipedia, and whatever other apps seem likely - planetarium, calculator, weather, dictation, symptom checker, etc.
* Presumably wifi, to download said apps, Wikipedia, and so forth.
* Camera. Preferably a couple of megapixels.
* Phone, in case I break my leg while in range of a cell tower. GSM 850/1900 appears to be what's compatible with the carrier I have in mind.
* Moderate price. The more I spend on the phone, the less I can spend on camping food and other such things. $200 is nigh-certainly too much; $150 is pushing it, especially if I still have to buy a 32GB SD as well.
* Extra bonuses that would be nice: Waterproofing; FM radio (for weather reports); a non-silly-looking case.
From what I've been able to dig up, not counting the price, the stats advertised for the "IK" with a 1.54" touch screen, or the Zgpax S6 seem to come reasonably close to what I'm looking for - though I have no idea how to figure out if the Kiwix reader would run on either of them, nor do I know if there are better choices, or even what sites would provide the best prices for shipping to Canada.
Do you have any comments, criticism, or advice?
Unfortunately, the ZGPAX is 2G only in N. America. There's not many watch phones that offer the 3G/1900mhz capability, SD card slot, and full Android 4.1+.
Right now... the US version of the Omate TrueSmart, AI Watch and the Neptune Pine offer NA 3G frequencies. All of which are higher than your budget. However, I have seen many go on eBay for less... but you have to be really careful about whom you get one from and, for some, manufacturing date is critical.
Waterproofing is a real crap shoot. Many vendors state that their devices are water resistant/proof. However, this is has become a real issue with OEM claims and actually real world use. For example, the Omate was advertised as waterproof...but actually turned out to be more resistant to water. Many people wore their watch in the shower, and quickly became a paperweight. Plus, if you decide to open the watch and upgrade the 8GB SD with a 32GB...you just voided your warranty. Crazy, huh?
The best thing to do is research the user experiences. Not the OEM's advertised claims.
If you go to Alibaba, smart phone-watches are everywhere. However, very few will meet your needs, not to mention quality standards.
I wish you luck! Feel free to PM if you have questions about any watch you're considering. I'll do my best to help guide you through this difficult tech segment.
mghtymse007 said:
Unfortunately, the ZGPAX is 2G only in N. America.
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I don't expect to use significant amounts of data through the phone system. If it helps, the provider I'm looking at mentions the frequencies at www . speakout7eleven.ca /support/prepaid-phone-questions#gsm-phone-with-wireless .
There's not many watch phones that offer the 3G/1900mhz capability, SD card slot, and full Android 4.1+.
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Is there any reason I should focus on Android 4.1+, and rule out any watches running 4.0?
DataPacRat said:
I don't expect to use significant amounts of data through the phone system. If it helps, the provider I'm looking at mentions the frequencies at www . speakout7eleven.ca /support/prepaid-phone-questions#gsm-phone-with-wireless .
Is there any reason I should focus on Android 4.1+, and rule out any watches running 4.0?
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Click to collapse
My contacts inside the NA telecom industry have all either mentioned or heavily hinted more and more about the shut down of most 2G towers to make way for the more powerful 3G/4G/LTE towers.
This article is mainly about the US, but the same is happening across all of NA:
http://www.telogis.com/2g-sunset-ad...JBJlOVZjgbsiW2CSYY09a1iB6-NCe_7uPIaAq108P8HAQ
As you can see, this is happening now...not just in the works. Plus many GPS apps use the data channel for various purposes in addition to location.
First of all, I've personally owned and used most of the mainstream and highly rated standalone watches. A few of those are the ZGPAX S5, TrueSmart, Neptune Pine(more of a mini phone than watch), and now the Gear S.
I mention Jelly Bean or higher due to the vast improvements in areas that were made from ICS. A standalone smartwatch benefits greatly from these improvements. Here's a brief article comparing the two.
http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-android-4-0-and-vs-4-1/
With only 1.54” of screen real estate, 4.1+'s interface is more precise... an important factor with so little room to navigate. There's many other articles you can research and see why watch-phones benefit from the upgraded OS. When I got the TS, the difference between that and the S5 was substantial. From that day, the TS became my daily driver.
Also, you mentioned in your OP that you were hoping for a watch that will last 48hrs...minimum 24. Never have I gotten more than 24hrs on a single charge, regardless of the OEM's claims and recommendations. The solar charger will be a very important gadget to have on your trip.
mghtymse007 said:
First of all, I've personally owned and used most of the mainstream and highly rated standalone watches. A few of those are the ZGPAX S5, TrueSmart, Neptune Pine(more of a mini phone than watch), and now the Gear S.
I mention Jelly Bean or higher due to the vast improvements in areas that were made from ICS. A standalone smartwatch benefits greatly from these improvements. Here's a brief article comparing the two.
With only 1.54” of screen real estate, 4.1+'s interface is more precise... an important factor with so little room to navigate. There's many other articles you can research and see why watch-phones benefit from the upgraded OS. When I got the TS, the difference between that and the S5 was substantial. From that day, the TS became my daily driver.
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Click to collapse
After looking further through DX's site, I've found mention of two watches that seem to come within shouting distance of my needs, and which have at least Android 4.1: an iMacWear M7, which other discussion seems to claim is a clone of the TS; and the Zgpax S8. I'm a tad leery of the first as the price is bumping against my budget, and I think I ignored the latter the first time because its listed "standby time" was only 24 hours. Does anyone reading this thread have any thoughts on either of them, in terms of camping gear?
Also, you mentioned in your OP that you were hoping for a watch that will last 48hrs...minimum 24. Never have I gotten more than 24hrs on a single charge, regardless of the OEM's claims and recommendations. The solar charger will be a very important gadget to have on your trip.
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Click to collapse
I'll make a further note to myself, to make sure that I start out with my external battery-stick fully-charged, in case of cloudy days.
Keep in mind the iMacWear's and S8's Frequencies are 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz, 3G: WCDMA 2100MHz , which isn't enough for 3G in the US.
Look at on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_frequencies. I would suggest looking closer at used US 3G smartwatch devices via ebay, which might push more popular brands in your price range.
Apokriphos said:
Keep in mind the iMacWear's and S8's Frequencies are 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz, 3G: WCDMA 2100MHz , which isn't enough for 3G in the US.
Look at on Cellular_frequencies. I would suggest looking closer at used US 3G smartwatch devices via ebay, which might push more popular brands in your price range.
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Going by my current provider, according to www .fido.ca /web/content/phonewarranty/configure_unlocked_device_guide , the frequencies I seem to need to watch for are:
Fido said:
Your device must be compatible with the Fido network, which uses GSM, UMTS, HSPA and HSPA+ at 850 MHz and 1900 MHz. To access LTE network, the phone must be compatible with:
700 MHz on Band 17;
1700/2100 MHz on Band 4;
2600 MHz on Band 7.
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Click to collapse
However, I know that an iPhone 4 can connect to 3G on that network, and according to Wikipedia, the frequencies it can handle are
Wikipedia said:
quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
(800, 850, 900, 1,800, 1,900 MHz)
Quad-band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA
(800, 850, 900, 1,900, 2,100 MHz) (800 MHz is not yet officially supported by Apple)
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... of which the only 3G frequency overlapping appears to be 2100 MHz. Do I really need to look for phones that can handle 700 and 2600 MHz, as well?
I'm going to definitively rule out the S8; it turns out its 8GB memory is hardwired, and it doesn't have an actual SD slot.
DataPacRat said:
... of which the only 3G frequency overlapping appears to be 2100 MHz. Do I really need to look for phones that can handle 700 and 2600 MHz, as well?
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Assuming that I only have to worry about 2100 MHz, I get an interesting assortment of smartwatches at www .dx.com /s/2100?category=529&PriceSort=up , from the S6 on the low end to the iMacWear M7's just at the extreme top of my price range (and likely beyond it, counting adding a 32 GB SD card).
Relatedly, I find myself in possession of a Bluetooth v3.0 keyboard. Does anyone have any information on whether or not any of the watches in the above link can accept external text input via Bluetooth?
Unless you live in Europe (which works with just 2100), you need either 850, 1700&2100, or 1900 to receive 3G in the US. There is a 2G 850 frequency you might be getting confused with the 3G version.
DataPacRat said:
I'm going to definitively rule out the S8; it turns out its 8GB memory is hardwired, and it doesn't have an actual SD slot.
Assuming that I only have to worry about 2100 MHz, I get an interesting assortment of smartwatches at www .dx.com /s/2100?category=529&PriceSort=up , from the S6 on the low end to the iMacWear M7's just at the extreme top of my price range (and likely beyond it, counting adding a 32 GB SD card).
Relatedly, I find myself in possession of a Bluetooth v3.0 keyboard. Does anyone have any information on whether or not any of the watches in the above link can accept external text input via Bluetooth?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apokriphos said:
Unless you live in Europe (which works with just 2100), you need either 850, 1700&2100, or 1900 to receive 3G in the US. There is a 2G 850 frequency you might be getting confused with the 3G version.
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Click to collapse
It's entirely possible I'm confused - I'm still quite new to the whole shebang.
Looking through that list at DX, only a scant few mention all the 3G frequencies in question as 3G frequencies: the Zgpax S6, the iradish i6S, and a few above CDN$200. Of those two, I'm leaning towards the S6; it's $50 cheaper, and the camera placement is better for taking pictures of things rather than my own face.
DataPacRat said:
I'm going to definitively rule out the S8; it turns out its 8GB memory is hardwired, and it doesn't have an actual SD slot.
Assuming that I only have to worry about 2100 MHz, I get an interesting assortment of smartwatches at www .dx.com /s/2100?category=529&PriceSort=up , from the S6 on the low end to the iMacWear M7's just at the extreme top of my price range (and likely beyond it, counting adding a 32 GB SD card).
Relatedly, I find myself in possession of a Bluetooth v3.0 keyboard. Does anyone have any information on whether or not any of the watches in the above link can accept external text input via Bluetooth?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Zgpax S8 will allow you to use a bluetooth keyboard and does have a removable SD card. (it is tucked under the battery and two cables...the job isn't difficult but is NOT for the non-tech savvy person) I have a Galaxy Gear 1 running NULL and decided to buy the S8 as well. (it was a close call for me...the M7 has a better design IMO plus a larger battery BUT the S8 has much more community support plus a working TWRP recovery)
Related
I am alarmed at the following article :
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/07/atandt-slowing-edge-to-force-customers-to-switch-to-3g/
I know there is still ambiguity about whether it is a hardware limitation or something that can be done in software, but if this holds true.. i may have to give up the best phone I have ever owned.
That doesn't really make sense, considering the fact that where I live, I don't get 3G coverage anyways...
I've seen no such slowing from my HD. I purchased the HD after an experiment with the US version of the Diamond last year. I had used the UK Diamond since it came out in June and then purchased the US version to get the 3G speed. I rarely saw the H or 3G indicator on my US Diamond, I received Edge service in more than 95 percent of the places I travelled during the period of my experiment. I returned the US Diamond to Best Buy and resumed using the UK version until I got my hands on the HD in late November.
The HD works fine for me without 3G. I can use Wifi when I need it.
I agree... 3G coverage is spotty at best in the States and I've had good performance with EDGE for AT&T on my HD... Admittedly I'm usually in a WIFI hotspot at work so EDGE is only for when I'm on the road but still no complaints.
taimoorhusain said:
I am alarmed at the following article :
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/07/atandt-slowing-edge-to-force-customers-to-switch-to-3g/
I know there is still ambiguity about whether it is a hardware limitation or something that can be done in software, but if this holds true.. i may have to give up the best phone I have ever owned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your worry is real. but it won't come true for a long time -- your phone will last till you switch to a new one.
reading the replies below your post, and the original article (which I also read a few days ago). there seems to be some misunderstanding, i will try to explain, and then address your worry. I will use simple terms, although may should foolish (ie. point 1)
- faster the frequency, the faster the battery drains, because the signal oscillates faster. 850 times a second verses 1900 times a second. for those not familiar with signal, just htink of your phone vibrating 850 times a second or 1900 times a second. the latter kills more battery.
- the higher the frequency the less penetration ability it has.
- frequency is freqency, antenna is antenna. an antenna tuned to 850 MHz frequency can transmit 850 MHz signals, simple enough? but the signal may be modulated differently hence the difference between a 2G and 3G 850 band. so you need different hardware to decode and demodulate the two signals, even though the frequency is the same.
- what AT&T's article is saying, is that. they are not going to add extra towers to broadcast 850 3G signals. rather, they are converting 850 2G towers to broadcast 3G 850 signal. This saves them tons of money, because they only need to, for illustration purposes, flip some switches to modulate a 3G signal, instead of purchasing and deploying the towers, since the existing towers are already tuned to 850 MHz.
so yes, when this "fliping switch" operation is done. phones without 850 3G band will only be able to operate on 1900 signals, hence battery drains faster and worse signal indoors.
but back to my first paragraph, judging from AT&T's past records, it would take them a year or two to finish this operation. so .. at least for me. by the time, i will be moving on to a new phone, and i will keep in mind my next phone will have 850 3G chip (or.. if you have learned from my posting, an 850 3G demodulater
Buggy i know you know alot about these types of things (reading your post in the 3g limitation thread) Would you have any thoughts of something and someone that would be able to help us get the 850 3G frequency working?
I am quite impressed actually at the EDGE speeds I do receive. I don't do much of YouTube and other things that require an intense of amount of data when I do use the internet. Google Maps and Live Search works just fine on EDGE. If I need to browse the internet I just use Opera Mini which works awesome on the HD I might add.
The only complaint I have about this device is that it's not 3G. If the great minds on XDA or somewhere else some how figure out to get 3G then that's even better.
I can't wait to see what new devices HTC launches this year. I hear up to 10 new devices. Heck we might even see a HTC Touch HD Pro with the necessary 3G 850/1900 frequency.
3g
I love my touch HD Edge works great 3G is a big hype
I am surprised with the edge speeds on this phone, way quicker than the Omnia, but.... Get for example an iphone 3G (not trying to make a comparison or a phone war as i am not even a fan of it just the first 3g phone that pops up) and go on to the same website and at same time and you will notice a huge difference in my opinion. The HD uses the same exact radio off of the touch diamond American version so i think it should be possible to enable it.
asdfjkl;
It honestly isn't much of an upgrade from the Atrix. Sure, the screen has magnificent deep colours, but it does have a lower resolution and makes everything look blurry to me after a while. I also heard screens like AMOLED kinda "burn out" and degrade after a while, which is worrying!
All in all, to me, it's like a more expensive version of the Atrix with a better screen. (More expensive as in it costs around £500 unlocked in the UK whereas Atrix is closer to £300 but anyway, i got the Atrix super cheap with a contract and could not be happier!)
I'm not giving up my Atrix for anything less than a Galaxy Nexus.
WiredPirate said:
I'm not giving up my Atrix for anything less than a Galaxy Nexus.
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This, or to be fair i saw the new motorola razr and it intrigued the hell out of me!
King_MSD said:
This, or to be fair i saw the new motorola razr and it intrigued the hell out of me!
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Agreed, the Razr looked badass!! But I still couldn't pick it over the GN..
WiredPirate said:
Agreed, the Razr looked badass!! But I still couldn't pick it over the GN..
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Yeah nothing beats the GN, the thing is after having the atrix i dont want to ever go back to a phone without a fingerprint scanner! Hopefully Motorola now do an amazing phone with google too!
WiredPirate said:
I'm not giving up my Atrix for anything less than a Galaxy Nexus.
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WARNING PERSONAL OPINION AHEAD!
Wait for the Galaxy? Yeah, try again. I am waiting until after CES next year for anything upgrade worthy. Same thing I did last year when the Nexus 2 (S) came out. I waited a couple months for the Olympus to hit and I snatched her up in Feb. The Nexus Galaxy is "alright", but not what I expected really. I was expecting a "GENIUSPhone" not another smart one. Yea its stock Google, it gets the updates first, its pretty and curved, but so what? As long as I get CM9 on the Atrix I am good for quite some time (not coming up for true upgrade til this time next year). And to stray even further off topic, I am not even all that interested in a quadcore phone (which the NexG is not, however CES will showcase them), only the tablets. That's the whole reason I have waited for the Kal-El's to drop, I dont want a giant phone (dual core). I was also waiting for 4.0 to debut. I will honestly prob wait for the nexus next year and consider it. I just hate they release them so late in the year. By the time they hit AT&T bands there is already better hardware flooding the market.
OT: The SII is nice but really, meh. Give it a month and it will be forgoten about when the Galaxy is officially out. Give that 2.5 months and the Galaxy will be forgotten when CES rolls around. We are on the last leg of dual core being "top of line". Just wait a few months, it will be a standard feature then and quads will be bleeding edge.
King_MSD said:
Yeah nothing beats the GN, the thing is after having the atrix i dont want to ever go back to a phone without a fingerprint scanner! Hopefully Motorola now do an amazing phone with google too!
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Click to collapse
I agree again! I LOVE my fingerprint scanner and am really sad Moto hasn't included it on more phones! Just the idea of fp scanner was cool before I ever bought the phone or knew if fp worked well, but now that I use it every day and know it works extremely well I'm gonna have a hard time "upgrading" to my next device. I wont even flash CM7 until it supports fp, and I'm a huge CM7 fan seeing the miracles it did for my Captivate. I wonder why Moto dropped the fp all together.? I kinda assumed after the Atrix we would see almost all phones with them, or at least a hand full of Motos.. I never thought it would just be discarded and maybe even because of "facial recognition". Boo.
---------- Post added at 03:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:51 PM ----------
malfuncion said:
WARNING PERSONAL OPINION AHEAD!
Wait for the Galaxy? Yeah, try again. I am waiting until after CES next year for anything upgrade worthy. Same thing I did last year when the Nexus 2 (S) came out. I waited a couple months for the Olympus to hit and I snatched her up in Feb. The Nexus Galaxy is "alright", but not what I expected really. I was expecting a "GENIUSPhone" not another smart one. Yea its stock Google, it gets the updates first, its pretty and curved, but so what? As long as I get CM9 on the Atrix I am good for quite some time (not coming up for true upgrade til this time next year). And to stray even further off topic, I am not even all that interested in a quadcore phone (which the NexG is not, however CES will showcase them), only the tablets. That's the whole reason I have waited for the Kal-El's to drop, I dont want a giant phone (dual core). I was also waiting for 4.0 to drop. I will honestly prob wait for the nexus next year and consider it. I just hate they drop them so late in the year. By the time they hit AT&T bands there is already better hardware flooding the market.
OT: The SII is nice but really, meh. Give it a month and it will be forgoten about when the Galaxy drops. Give that 2.5 months and the Galaxy will be forgotten when CES rolls around. We are on the last leg of dual core being "top of line". Just wait a few months, it will be a standard feature then and quads will be bleeding edge.
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Click to collapse
Once more I would like to agree lol, yall are just reading my mind today. I would give up my Atrix for a GN if one fell out of the sky, but I am perfectly content with the Atrix and have no plans on upgrading before contract is up. (Unless its to leave ATTs ****ty ass service for Verizon who is the only carrier in my area to have voice/data all over my county.) I also couldn't care less about a quad-core phone but wouldn't carry anything less than a dual-core after getting use to it. (The dual-core IS a standard feature for current phones imo) The atrix does any and every thing I throw at it perfectly, no lag like with the Cap.. I dont think anybody will argue the #1 reason, best reason, and maybe even the only reason to upgrade from Atrix to GN is ICS. And personally I think in time the Atrix will see ICS, but thats just my speculation, of course nobody knows at this time. Bring on CES!
Aaaaaaargh GALAXY NEXUS NOW!!!!!!!!!
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Can't seem to find if At&t uses the AWS1700 band or not....I think it is. From what I've been reading, the FCC document that has been posted online doesn't show the 2100 frequency but I've learned that the FCC doesn't test that frequency because it is the receive data frquency which they don't care about, just transmit levels. Every carrier has blocks of the 700mhz frequency but TMO has that locked down for now until the aquisition hearing is over in Feb? I think. LTE can run on 1700/2100 bands which the Galaxy Nexus has and they say LTE is optional depending on area....which we have in a few areas so far....so I consider it running HSPA+/LTE when it's released. BTW...The SCHI515 (Verizon version) hasn't made it to the FCC as of yet or hasn't been approved so the way it looks to me.....At&t and maybe T-Mo will launch before Verizon in the states, but that's just my impression from all the searching I've been doing.
Phoneguy589 said:
Can't seem to find if At&t uses the AWS1700 band or not....I think it is. From what I've been reading, the FCC document that has been posted online doesn't show the 2100 frequency but I've learned that the FCC doesn't test that frequency because it is the receive data frquency which they don't care about, just transmit levels. Every carrier has blocks of the 700mhz frequency but TMO has that locked down for now until the aquisition hearing is over in Feb? I think. LTE can run on 1700/2100 bands which the Galaxy Nexus has and they say LTE is optional depending on area....which we have in a few areas so far....so I consider it running HSPA+/LTE when it's released. BTW...The SCHI515 hasn't made it to the FCC as of yet or hasn't been approved so the way it looks to me.....At&t and maybe T-Mo will launch before Verizon in the states, but that's just my impression from all the searching I've been doing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile uses 1700/2100 for their HSPA network. 1900 is their 2G/EDGE network. AT&T uses 850 for their HSPA network and 1900 for their 2G/EDGE network. LTE is strictly limited to the 700MHz and 1700 bands in North America. 1700 MHz belongs to T-Mobile. The 700 MHz band is owned by several companies including AT&T and Verizon. Even though they share the same 700 MHz band, they are incompatable with each other. Verizon uses Blocks A and C whereas AT&T uses block B. There are 2 Galaxy Nexus phones, an HSPA+ and an LTE version. The LTE version is a Verizon exclusive in the USA. SCH-I515 is the Verizon LTE version and the GT-I9250 is most likely the AT&T version as it doesn't support the 2100 band for T-Mobile.
TMo At&t and VZN all have blocks in the 700mhz range..lower blocks are more usable which the FCC is trying to have all carriers share the entire frequency which I don't think will happen. At&t does have 1700 and 2100 bands as well...
HTC Jetstream LTE specifications:
Networks: GSM, UMTS, HSPA+, LTE
Bands: GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz, UMTS 850, 1900, 2100 MHz, LTE 700 Mhz
They are using 2100mhz as the downstream from the tower which the FCC WILL NOT test because that would require going out to the tower. the 700 is the true LTE as they can send and receive within those blocks BUT Tmobile has the land covered. BTW...We lease a major of space and supply all the carriers with fiber to their towers. TMobile is going down and trying to convince the court they have no money make their service better so we will buy them, get them on our page (whether they like it or night) and start on the next biggest thing.
Depending the area and tower availbility we could provide this:
Frequencies used on the AT&T Network 850 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G
1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G
850 MHz UMTS/HSPA 3G
1900 MHz UMTS/HSPA 3G
700 MHz LTE 4G
Phoneguy589 said:
TMo At&t and VZN all have blocks in the 700mhz range..lower blocks are more usable which the FCC is trying to have all carriers share the entire frequency which I don't think will happen. At&t does have 1700 and 2100 bands as well...
HTC Jetstream LTE specifications:
Networks: GSM, UMTS, HSPA+, LTE
Bands: GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz, UMTS 850, 1900, 2100 MHz, LTE 700 Mhz
They are using 2100mhz as the downstream from the tower which the FCC WILL NOT test because that would require going out to the tower. the 700 is the true LTE as they can send and receive within those blocks BUT Tmobile has the land covered. BTW...We lease a major of space and supply all the carriers with fiber to their towers. TMobile is going down and trying to convince the court they have no money make their service better so we will buy them, get them on our page (whether they like it or night) and start on the next biggest thing.
Depending the area and tower availbility we could provide this:
Frequencies used on the AT&T Network 850 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G
1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G
850 MHz UMTS/HSPA 3G
1900 MHz UMTS/HSPA 3G
700 MHz LTE 4G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile holds no licenses in the 700MHz spectrum. AT&T has no holdings in the 1700 or 2100 bands for UMTS. Those are strictly T-Mobile bands. T-Mobile pretty much owns all of the 1700 band for LTE.
I'm actually quite impressed with the s 2 super amoled screen is amazing not to mention the size and weight of the phone but more than anything else the reason why I want to change the atrix is because clearly the support for it is dying fast ... which is pretty ridiculous... and the few only developers working on it still all seem to be ready to jump on the nexus... which will leave us totally stranded... quite sad actually...
I would have wanted to get the nexus... but it was a pretty big disappointment when its specs are inferior to the s2 in every way apart from just the screen... and the nexus is just too damn big... fine the nexus has ics but soon enough so will the s2... and considering there are 10 million people with the s2 already there will be plenty of developement for quite a while... like the Galaxy S still has more development than the atrix...
Sent from my Motorola Atrix 4G
I get that people are always eager for the next shiny object, but until software development catches up with the hardware I don't see a need to upgrade, the hardware in the Atrix has still yet to be fully utilized. I you might get a marginally better android experience by upgrading; the difference will be almost negligible.
The Tegra 3, with 5 CPU cores and 12 GPU cores, is worth waiting for. http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/09/tegra-3-5-cores/
My Opinion
For me, Atrix is absolutely perfect because of these unique features:
- A LARGE 4" qHD screen yet a SMALL form factor
- A massive battery
- GREAT sound quality due to Wolfsen chip
- Oh, and the fingerprint scanner
No other phones have these crucial features! Phones are getting massive and I hate them because I have tiny hands!!
The galaxy Nexus is 136 x 68!? WTF!? It should have been the Nexus S' size but have a 4.3 - 4.5" screen with on screen buttons.
Also, the battery is only 1750mAh, pushing a 720p screen!? That is ridicules!! Also, the processor is the TI OMAP series which has the weak SGX540 - which has to push a 1280x720 screen!!
As for the SGS2, it is stupidly massive, has a WVGA screen which I personally don't like anymore after using the Atrix's qHD and TBH, I don't like the screen too much as it produces cartoonish colours. It also has a poor sound chip compared to the Atrix's Wolfsen Audio chip which is just sensational.
For me, the only phone above the Atrix is the iPhone 4S, that is genuinely a VERY GOOD all round phone. The A5 chip is absolutely BEASTLY with a dual core SGX543MP2 GPU and it is beautifully optimized with the software. I personally think the 4S is gonna be one of the most underrated phones this year. It's dual core performace will most likely trump future quad cores because of it's optimization.
Only reason I mentioned the 2100mhz was what I had seen a Verizon page comparing LTE buildouts ---> http://bookstore.ucsd.edu/images/pdf/VZW_LTE_Competitive_Comparison_Overview.pdf It shows 700/1700/2100 under At&t but a small bandwith.
Really. I got an AT&T GS2 and love it. I had an Atrix from the beginning on and it never felt fast and the sensitivity of the screen wasn't high enough for me. It's a good phone don't understand me wrong but the gs2 is so much faster, smoother and the camera is so much better. Don't even feel like rooting it because I am totally happy. I give the Atrix a 7/10 and the GS2 a 9. BTW I used cm7 on my Atrix and still wasn't happy.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
Gs2 runs a lower resolution and is hardware accelerated. It better be snappy. But galaxy nexus ftw!
I voided my warranty and your mum.
I'm not interested in GSII at all. Bigger screen and a lower resolution just doesn't interest me.
I am however, very interested in the Galaxy Nexus. It's definitely drool worthy and the no-lag camera alone may be worth it. However, as my job require me to work long hours (30+ hours), Atrix may still be the only option given the excellent battery life.
I found a android 4.1 OS phone, dual core mtk 6577 3G smartphone 4.7 inch screen
they call cubot A8809, selling only $173.49. free shipping.
This link:http://www.mcbub.com/item/CUBOT-A88...Android-4-0-GPS-3G-WIFI--8-0MP-Camera-152607/
how do you think guys?
Specs are nice, price can be found elsewhere too
I like the specs; but it can be found at the same price elsewhere (for example here)...
Until a couple of weeks ago, I was very sceptical towards buying a cheap smartphone, but I've had some good experience with the Huawei Ascend 300G...
Wemelboy said:
I like the specs; but it can be found at the same price elsewhere (for example here)...
Until a couple of weeks ago, I was very sceptical towards buying a cheap smartphone, but I've had some good experience with the Huawei Ascend 300G...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh ye the same price.
huawei_ascend_g300 is a good one and many good review but expensive than this one.
wslimk said:
oh ye the same price.
huawei_ascend_g300 is a good one and many good review but expensive than this one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh ye website you suggest GEEKBUYING.COM has updated a review and video.
I decide buy from them now
finish night work back home sleep....
i got it's fast and pretty design
real android 4.1 OS that's cool
love it
I've bought some I phone clone on early model and had bad experience, reception was horrible, I think I stick with the real thing
wslimk said:
i got it's fast and pretty design
real android 4.1 OS that's cool
love it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CAn you say how is the battery life??...is it really 2500 mah or some fake??
And how is the camera? Is it really 8mp or 5mp one?
the battery is soso, some times it can last one and half day, but you must charge it every day, when i play games or watch video from youtube, cant last one day, maybe 7-8 hours.
the camera is good as geekbuying shows, it is clear and sensitive.
Just wondering has anyone tried this phone in North America? It says it supports WCDMA 850/1900/2100 MHz so technically 3G should work in North America. Just want to confirm before ordering.
At&t 3g should work...but tmobile 3g wont
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda premium
Manan79 said:
At&t 3g should work...but tmobile 3g wont
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably depends on whether it's used in an area T-Mobile has refarmed. They have 3G on 1900 in many metro areas now.
Was going to buy but payment page is not secure
amandez said:
Was going to buy but payment page is not secure
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Click to collapse
paypal? are you serious?
Guessing you haven't heard the PayPal horror stories?
amandez said:
Guessing you haven't heard the PayPal horror stories?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hahah, and how do you pay on internet?
Using trusted sites and my bank card
amandez said:
Using trusted sites and my bank card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
500000000 people in world know that using bank card for online international payments is unsafe. You are crazy. Learn what paypal is and how it works first
Mini-Review from an AT&T user in the US:
I bought one of these for my wife (I figured it was a good trade --- Just kidding.) I don't feel like committing to AT&T for another 2 years.
I bought it from Geekbuying.com. It arrived in only a few days.
It seemed to have the best specs, and the correct frequencies for AT&T in the US. For these types of phones, the dual core MTK6577 SoC is actually not a bad chip.
I can confirm that it does report an "H" connection (HSDPA) almost everyplace an AT&T signal is available.
My Acer Iconia Smart (HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 non-US version) Rarely connects as 3G since it does not have 850 HSDPA.
She only uses the 1 SIM. I have a T-Mobile SIM/Account I use for testing, but since it is her phone, I have not tested it on T-Mobile. T-Mobile 3G may actually work, at least in some areas, since as part of the failed takeover of T-Mobile by AT&T, they have a 7 year frequency-sharing agreement. With Quad Band GSM/GPRS, Calls, and 2G data will work fine on T-Mobile.
Performance is also good. Switching Apps, scrolling on the browser, returning to home screen all happen without any irritating delays.
It is a very clean and stable version of Android 4.1.1. Google Play is present, but see below for a problem. Force closes are rare to never.
The screen is beautiful for a Chinese phone. Overall the phone also looks very nice for the price (I bought her the white one.)
Call quality, Mobile signal, and WiFi are also all excellent. -- No compromise as compared with a name-brand phone.
Battery life is also good. Runs fine for a whole day, and with some effort to do battery management, (WiFi on only when needed, BT off, Conservative Brightness and Screen time-out settings) it will go a second day if she forgets to charge it.
But I do have some complaints:
The back, and the way it attaches to the phone is very cheap. I am not sure how many times you can take the back off without it breaking.
It's not bad to hold and use, but I'm pretty sure one good drop will kill it. Of course, 1 drop can kill even a name-brand phone.
It seems to only have one microphone. Most newer "real" phones have 2 or even 3 mics for noise cancelling or for use in different orientations (like using Voice search, or using it in speaker phone mode). This would only be a problem in noisy environments.
Edit: I had previously written something about filesystem corruption. That gave an incorrect perception of a minor problem.
My wife had a problem installing a paid app from Google Play. I believe I could fix the problem, but that would require a factory reset or user data wipe, or rooting. The problem seems limited to the installation of that one app. Other apps install fine.
--
Linuxslate said:
Mini-Review from an AT&T user in the US:
I bought one of these for my wife (I figured it was a good trade --- Just kidding.) I don't feel like committing to AT&T for another 2 years.
I bought it from Geekbuying.com. It arrived in only a few days.
It seemed to have the best specs, and the correct frequencies for AT&T in the US. For these types of phones, the dual core MTK6577 SoC is actually not a bad chip.
I can confirm that it does report an "H" connection (HSDPA) almost everyplace an AT&T signal is available.
My Acer Iconia Smart (HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 non-US version) Rarely connects as 3G since it does not have 850 HSDPA.
She only uses the 1 SIM. I have a T-Mobile SIM/Account I use for testing, but since it is her phone, I have not tested it on T-Mobile. T-Mobile 3G may actually work, at least in some areas, since as part of the failed takeover of T-Mobile by AT&T, they have a 7 year frequency-sharing agreement. With Quad Band GSM/GPRS, Calls, and 2G data will work fine on T-Mobile.
Performance is also good. Switching Apps, scrolling on the browser, returning to home screen all happen without any irritating delays.
It is a very clean and stable version of Android 4.1.1. Google Play is present, but see below for a problem. Force closes are rare to never.
The screen is beautiful for a Chinese phone. Overall the phone also looks very nice for the price (I bought her the white one.)
Call quality, Mobile signal, and WiFi are also all excellent. -- No compromise as compared with a name-brand phone.
Battery life is also good. Runs fine for a whole day, and with some effort to do battery management, (WiFi on only when needed, BT off, Conservative Brightness and Screen time-out settings) it will go a second day if she forgets to charge it.
But I do have some complaints:
The back, and the way it attaches to the phone is very cheap. I am not sure how many times you can take the back off without it breaking.
It's not bad to hold and use, but I'm pretty sure one good drop will kill it. Of course, 1 drop can kill even a name-brand phone.
It seems to only have one microphone. Most newer "real" phones have 2 or even 3 mics for noise cancelling or for use in different orientations (like using Voice search, or using it in speaker phone mode). This would only be a problem in noisy environments.
Edit: I had previously written something about filesystem corruption. That gave an incorrect perception of a minor problem.
My wife had a problem installing a paid app from Google Play. I believe I could fix the problem, but that would require a factory reset or user data wipe, or rooting. The problem seems limited to the installation of that one app. Other apps install fine.
--
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This phone will not work on T-Mobile it only has 3G 850/2100 like all the other China mtk6577 devices do not buy if you're expecting it to work on T-Mobile 3G! The specs are false saying it supports 3G bands 850/1900/2100!
That's what I'd say too. The specs are good and price is ok for the specs but not exactly a deal.
wslimk said:
I found a android 4.1 OS phone, dual core mtk 6577 3G smartphone 4.7 inch screen
they call cubot A8809, selling only $173.49. free shipping.
This link:http://www.mcbub.com/item/CUBOT-A88...Android-4-0-GPS-3G-WIFI--8-0MP-Camera-152607/
how do you think guys?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wemelboy said:
I like the specs; but it can be found at the same price elsewhere (for example here)...
Until a couple of weeks ago, I was very sceptical towards buying a cheap smartphone, but I've had some good experience with the Huawei Ascend 300G...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I was almost ready to buy the Gear S AT&T (refurb) for $145 off e-bay, then decided to check out XDA and been looking at different watches for the past few hours and am kinda lost.
I'm looking for a watch that has a fairly large face (6 feet tall, & like bigger watches) 2G/3G capable, Bluetooth, long battery life, easy to buy charging cradle separately, waterproof (not gonna shower with it or anything, but needs to be able to wear it when washing hands & in the rain & stuff), I'd need an app to push missed calls & SMS's to my android devices & preferably Chrome extension somehow for notification under windows 10 ( I currently use pushbullet & LOVE it).
I currently live in the USA, I have 2 sim cards, metro pcs + international sim that roams on AT&T towers (no data, just use it for calls & SMS). I'll be using the international sim in the watch for the occasional call + sms, instead of finding the right phone that supports dual sim + mSD card (F u samsung S7 edge, but I read there's a hack; oh well).
Thank you.
Via PM
zolo111 said:
I've been doing nothing but reading tons of forum posts, but can't seem to find what I'm looking for; could you please read my thread and help me out?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/smartwatch/other-smartwatches/help-picking-3g-watch-please-t3329759
Every smart watch I read about doesn't seem to support 3G 1900Mhz for AT&T.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Proper 1900mhz 3G support is rare. Most smartwatch makers don't even bother to support it. Reading your requirements in your thread limits your choice to something like a 3 year old Omate TrueSmart U.S. version and not much else as you want features that would require it run Android.
Thank for the info, I have to have 2 sim cards (international sim that roams on AT&T towers+ metro pcs), so I thought I could buy a 3G sim capable watch, this way I can buy a single sim phone. I guess I'll continue researching for a proper dual sim phone.
I'm on my 2nd cheap Chinese watch, and still looking.
I want a phonewatch, it doesn't have to be smart, just able to do phone calls, notifications, and stream audio, without being tethered to a smartphone. Apparently that's asking too much, because all I can find that meet those needs, are Chinese watches. They look ok on paper: providing maximum flexibility by running full Android. The problem is poor execution.
My first watch stopped working when water splashed on it when I was washing my hands. Learning my lesson, I replaced it with one that claimed water resistance. It has wcdma 850/2100 so its missing 1900 which means data is very slow in my area. When streaming audio, it overheats. And it cannot get through the whole day the way I use it: as a standalone device, handling all phone calls and messages.
The only Chinese watch I've found so far with all the 3G frequencies used on AT&T (I haven't found any with T-Mobile's 1700+2100) is the Doogee S1. Its just been released and I haven't found any reviews online that weren't from the manufacturer.
The Gear S and S2 are not quite standalone devices, but they are the closest to it that any major manufacturer designing for US networks, has come thus far. I think the Omate TrueSmart has wcdma 1900 or 2100 but lacks 850. The LG Urbane 2 seemed promising, but was pulled from the market. I've seen write-ups on soon to be released watches, so maybe 2016 will be the year...
afblangley said:
.....The LG Urbane 2 seemed promising, but was pulled from the market. I've seen write-ups on soon to be released watches, so maybe 2016 will be the year...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you haven't already seen, the LG Urbane 2 is taking pre-orders from AT&T and Verizon and will hit the market next week. Full price is $360 on AT&T and $499 on Verizon.
Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using XDA Free mobile app
mward1995 said:
If you haven't already seen, the LG Urbane 2 is taking pre-orders from AT&T and Verizon and will hit the market next week. Full price is $360 on AT&T and $499 on Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm waiting to hear reports on it. The first edition of the 2nd Edition had a major flaw: bluetooth headsets didn't work with phone calls. I hope they've fixed that. If so, it (or the Doogee S1) may be my next watch.
afblangley said:
I'm waiting to hear reports on it. The first edition of the 2nd Edition had a major flaw: bluetooth headsets didn't work with phone calls. I hope they've fixed that. If so, it (or the Doogee S1) may be my next watch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the original release and you are correct, I can't make calls through the headset. However, I believe this is an Android Wear 1.4 issue and not a watch issue. https://support.google.com/androidwear/answer/6321349?hl=en
I know 1.4 has been released for other watches now. Has anyone confirmed use of a headset to make calls? I know "calls over bluetooth" posts can get confused because the watch is paired over bluetooth but I haven't specifically seen anyone mention calls using a headset.
Bluetooth does work great for music and I use the audio feedback option in the settings to have texts dictated to me when I'm running.
mward1995 said:
I know 1.4 has been released for other watches now. Has anyone confirmed use of a headset to make calls?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nobody wants to be limited to speakerphone only. If it's an OS issue, Google needs to fix it ASAP. There are no other Android Wear watches to test this. The U2 is the only one that uses a SIM, so it has a phone number to make/receive calls from. All the other watches are bluetooth tethered to a smartphone.
Yeah I agree. I'm hoping they do fix it soon. I would definitely be more inclined to make calls with it if I could use the headset. For now, I can still use it as an emergency phone when I leave the phone behind. Maybe the new release will have an updated AW version, hopefully.
Hey mward, besides calls and texts, what other functions of the LG can be operated standalone (ie. with smartphone off)? For example, can it stream audio (ie. Pandora, podcasts)?
afblangley said:
Hey mward, besides calls and texts, what other functions of the LG can be operated standalone (ie. with smartphone off)? For example, can it stream audio (ie. Pandora, podcasts)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't found an app that installs on AW that will allow streaming in standalone. I haven't searched too hard though. I used Wear Media to transfer 1 GB of music to the watch so I'm usually listening to my music or transferred podcasts through Wear Media when I'm running and the phone is in the car. My phone is always on though so I am always paired through cell data to receive notifications/texts from my phone. My main use when away from the phone is tracking runs with GPS, listening to music through BT, responding to texts paired through cell. It's also my emergency phone, but I don't make too many calls with it. I have 'web browser for Android Wear' installed so I can browse the web in standalone if needed.
Thanks!
I'm trying to move some activities currently handled by my smartphone to a smartwatch. Ideally, all phone calls, notifications, and audio streaming. Basically, I want the watch to be my primary phone, with capabilities comparable to a feature phone. Then my smartphone becomes a secondary phone and doesn't always have to be with me.
Thanks for tips, but I ended up ordering the Contixo Smart Watch W3 from amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Contixo-W3-An...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00
It's advertised as HSPA 850/1900/2100 capable, but turned out it's just a K8 watch. I figured that Amazon won't let me down if I wanted to return it. This watch supports 850/2100 3G only, no 1900 (based on K8 specs).
fun to play with (my first watch). I changed the settings so it connects to HSPA only, and it seems to work fine under 850Mhz ( I live in S. Jersey). Don't need DATA, just voice calls a few times a week.
But I'd prefer a larger screen though, +2" would be better.
The Doogee S1 screen has less resolution (240X240), but supports 850/1900, would I really need 1900 for voice calls only? Can't seem to find any detailed map that shows AT&T 3G coverage, which area covered by which band, or are all towers have both 850 & 1900?
The LG urbane 2 LTE has even a smaller screen.
Why does it have to be so hard!
1G (GSM) = Plain old voice and texting
2G and 3G (EDGE and HPSA)= Data (can be as fast as 7-15Mbps on HSPA)
So if I only want to use my sim card for phone calls/ SMS only, what bands/ tech do I need on AT&T network (Roaming)?
What you're saying is that I shouldn't be worried about 2G networks shutting down by the end of the year?
zolo111 said:
So if I only want to use my sim card for phone calls/ SMS only, what bands/ tech do I need on AT&T network (Roaming)?
What you're saying is that I shouldn't be worried about 2G networks shutting down by the end of the year?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T would have a better idea about the voice text bands, but you should be good.
As long as you have 850 and 1900 support on the watch, the 2G shut down shouldn't be an issue. That will give you voice/text and data when you need it.
Yep, it's a K8, albeit overpriced. I have one, which I referred to in post #5.
No one has confirmed that the Doggee S1 has UMTS 1900 band. This is needed for voice or data on T-Mobile's network and in some places for AT&T. The only map delineated by band that I could find was last updated in 2008:
http://www.cellularmaps.com/att_850_1900.shtml
Your described usage is not very demanding, the LG U2 is capable of handling those tasks, and should deliver a quality user experience. The only question is whether that's worth $360 to you. The Samsung Gear S (older but still sold by AT&T) would also work and is $200. Another option is to stick with a cheap watch for now and look for a replacement later this year.
Based on my disappointing experience with cheap Chinese watches and the belief that better watches coming out in the next few months, I wouldn't pay more than $100 for any off brand watch at this time.
Thanks fo the info, I ended up returning the watch to the amazon seller; seeing that the LG U2 has a smaller screen, I don't think I'll like that + the high price, agh.
I guess I'll wait and see what will be released in the next few months.
Didn't know if it had the necessary Hardware and might be possible with a new SIM card.
No.
Lol
Thought I read somewhere that the V20 won't be exactly compatible with 5G, but will get a slight speed boost when in 5G markets. Thoughts?
baldybill said:
Thought I read somewhere that the V20 won't be exactly compatible with 5G, but will get a slight speed boost when in 5G markets. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way if you are still using v20 when 5g fully rolls out is when majority of lte users move onto 5g. Thereby freeing up bandwidth space for the now legacy lte for you to use so it will be faster.
joaovictorsouza said:
Lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fantastic contribution
darkknight200 said:
The only way if you are still using v20 when 5g fully rolls out is when majority of lte users move onto 5g. Thereby freeing up bandwidth space for the now legacy lte for you to use so it will be faster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most insightful comment I have read in a while.
That is exactly what happened when they rolled out LTE. I stayed on HSPA+ and got great speeds because everyone else was jumping on the LTE bandwagon.
Once LTE was fully deployed, and you couldn't buy a phone anymore without LTE support, things were much better -- 120mbits average for the area I am in.
Once T-Mobile fully deploys band 71 (600Mhz) with 5g, then I will bite the bullet and buy the least sucky flagship phone that is available and supports it (I think I will have my V20s for many years yet )
-- Brian
runningnak3d said:
Most insightful comment I have read in a while.
That is exactly what happened when they rolled out LTE. I stayed on HSPA+ and got great speeds because everyone else was jumping on the LTE bandwagon.
Once LTE was fully deployed, and you couldn't buy a phone anymore without LTE support, things were much better -- 120mbits average for the area I am in.
Once T-Mobile fully deploys band 71 (600Mhz) with 5g, then I will bite the bullet and buy the least sucky flagship phone that is available and supports it (I think I will have my V20s for many years yet )
-- Brian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like to hear that! . Still Loving my v20 also. Guess I am a little bit old school and like the Legacy device
runningnak3d said:
Once T-Mobile fully deploys band 71 (600Mhz) with 5g, then I will bite the bullet and buy the least sucky flagship phone that is available and supports it (I think I will have my V20s for many years yet )
-- Brian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is mainly what I'm waiting on for a new phone. My next phone I would definitely want that band to have as future proofing but since I'm in a rather low populated part, I don't think I will be seeing this band on a tower in my area for quite a few years at least.
Thanks for the replies and information everybody. Hope you're all having an awesome weekend. Or soon-to-be weekend that is
It is not possible as the radio inside the phone would need to be changed. So 5g compatibility is something on the hardware level that needs to be available not something able to be turned on with software.
Unfortunately the v20 seems as if it will be the last phone to have removable battery everyone has since moved to the glass laminate design apple uses.
mirrin said:
It is not possible as the radio inside the phone would need to be changed. So 5g compatibility is something on the hardware level that needs to be available not something able to be turned on with software.
Unfortunately the v20 seems as if it will be the last phone to have removable battery everyone has since moved to the glass laminate design apple uses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am hoping that when 5G fully rolls out that a manufacturer releases one more smartphone with a removable battery. As long as the specs are ok, and by ok I mean a minimum of 4 GB of RAM and a 4K (or greater) display resolution and of course Micro SD card support then it would be up for my consideration.
I recently purchased a brand new LG V20 H918 (the Unlocked T-Mobile variant) phone. The very first purchase that I did was getting the PowerBear extended battery on Amazon, with the 2 day prime shipping that's what I got much sooner than the actual phone since the phone I also got it brand new but on Ebay since there it was significantly cheaper ($150) compared to any price I was seeing for a new phone for any variant on Amazon, you could only get a "renewed" (another way of Amazon saying "refurbished" I guess) for the same price I got my new phone on Ebay. (I guess the price inflation could be another way of Amazon getting back their 5% cash back they pay their Amazon Chase Visa card holders).
The V20 replaces my Samsung Galaxy S5 that also had an extended battery (the iPossible battery) and then it dropped onto a hard porcelain floor facing down, and while the screen didn't crack, it started zooming and unzooming erratically at random times and it would only reset back to normal if I power off the screen and turn it back on. Faced with having to purchase a new LCD screen and having to do the repair something that I know how to do since I have done it many times to other users I took the opportunity to search for a newer phone with a removable battery since I didn't have the time to dedicate to perform this repair with my super busy schedule, replacing an LCD screen off any smartphone is a tedious task, I just didn't wanted to bother this time. So after 3 days of hard research I finally discovered that the LG V20 is the latest smartphone to actually support a removable battery and then my next research turned on to determine what variant should I exactly go for: I had many options, I could have gone with Sprint's variant (the LS995) the Verizon's variant (VS995) or the T-Mobile's variant (H918). The Sprint's unlocked variant seemed very promising, being compatible with most networks here in the USA, except that it didn't support one of T-Mobile newer LTE Band 66 but other than that it supported every LTE band the Galaxy S5 supported and I guess it could have been a great compromise giving me the future option to go with Sprint or any of their MVNO's, except that when I checked if that phone was rootable I was dissapointed to hear that if my phone came with a certain firmware version or greater then it was unrootable and there has been more than 1 year without a method being discovered yet, um I need to be able to root, certain producttivity apps that I use depends on rooting, including the use of Titanium backup that allows me to import all of my Google Authenticator keys that aren't backed up in any other ways. Next to my list: the verizon's variant: it was a good choice except it didn't support all of Sprint's LTE bands which would mean a spotty Sprint coverage shall I go with Sprint in the future, and no Band 12 support for T-mobile either, that automatically was a no-go. At the end, I just went with the T-Mobile's unlocked variant and T-Mobile is my actual carrier too. In my area I used to get 25 Mbps speed test on my old Galaxy S5 phone that lacked Band 66 support, on this new phone with B66 support I got 100 Mbps. I got surprised when I saw that speed and I was only able to get that speed after I changed the Access Point Name from the default IPv6 only configuration into IPv4 only, under IPv6 I only got 35 Mbps don't exactly know why IPv4 outperformed IPv6 by a factor greater than 3 but those were my results here in the city of New York.
Overall, I am very happy with this phone. Its a super fast performing phone for a phone that was introduced in 2016 and by the looks of it, this phone can continue being relevant for many years to come.
Once again, I really hope to see another phone with removable battery being introduced somewhere in the future that actually supports 5G.
kaluna00 said:
Didn't know if it had the necessary Hardware and might be possible with a new SIM card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is a fuzzy answer and not one many would tackle due to the efforts gained. the V20 series can NOT handle the data (think volume) rates of 5G , BUT...
i have no doubts the physical device would work on a 5G network. 5G is a VERY short wave, but the V20 is unique because the antennas are easy access with room to spare. ( top/bottom cases)
so with time , a 30,000.00$ -S2-test set- network analyzer, YES its quite simple. but no matter what is done, the core of the device is only capable of the original design for MAX 4G speeds (100-300megs/sec?) PLUS i cant say how the device would hold up to the MAX rates 100% of the time. would be a cool experiment, but this is far out for a 2016 spec phone. T-mobile network would be the best bet for easy tune, but again, how will hardware handle
i wouldn't know where to start for the software side, but tuning an antenna isn't too bad.
Speeds are often be more down to what your network provider is capable of giving you rather than your fones capability.
3G working at full speed as advertised can be absolutely fine for streaming video.
4G+ is more than good enough for me, not all the time but most of the time. Don't care less I don't have 5g on my V20, my fave fone ever.
kaluna00 said:
Didn't know if it had the necessary Hardware and might be possible with a new SIM card.
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No, as that would require changes on the SoC level and I don't think any of us have the hardware or qualifications to do stuff like that.