Anything better than Nexus 5 for $350?

[EliteRetard]

I'm a phone novice, but it seems every phone has an 800 CPU and Adreno GPU and most go for a lot more money than the Nexus 5. The new Nexus 6 still has the same class CPU/GPU and is double the price...for what? A bigger screen? I can buy a 27" IPS monitor for $300, or a nice big tablet.

I cant seem to find anything remotely as good for $350, am I missing anything? There's a few devices with similar specs, like the G2 it was based on and the new Moto X but both are $500+.

And at $650+ for the Nexus 6 there is a ton of competition, which are the best phones there? I thought I read about a new phone that actually had the next gen CPU/GPU already...but I don't recall what it was. The Note 4 seems notably superior to the Nexus 6 for the same money, am I wrong?

I am in the market for a new phone, don't care what screen size or resolution (they're all big or huge and 1080+)...just want good performance, good battery life, and a fair price. I'm wondering if I should grab a Nexus 5 while I still can, or if a higher priced phone is the way to go. At least for the Note 4 the higher price is somewhat justified with having a nice digitizer pen and a giant battery. Though lack of front stereo speakers seems kinda lame given the size/space available to it (smaller phones have fitted them).

Is there anything else in this higher price bracket that actually has a notably better feature/function that justifies it's cost? I've heard a few of the big names, but don't really know what (if any) differences there are.

 

[cpacini]

The Nexus 5 is a great phone, especially for the price. However battery life is mediocre compared to other more expensive flagship phones, and it's camera is so so.

 

[SpacemanSpiffVT]

Oneplus One is the same price but much better specs and battery life.

 

[jacktesterson]

Oneplus One

 

[podspi]

The Nexus 5 is a great phone, especially for the price. However battery life is mediocre compared to other more expensive flagship phones, and it's camera is so so.

1+1 is probably better if you can actually manage to buy it...

but, why does everyone say the Nexus 5 camera is mediocre, and mediocre compared to WHAT?

Granted, I purchased mine semi-recently, and I've heard the software updates have improved on the camera significantly, but I can't imagine (and haven't seen any evidence) that the other flagships have a much better camera. At least for someone who isn't a photographer. As far as I can tell, the pictures my Nexus 5 produces are usually better than what I would have gotten back in the day with 35mm P&S.

 

[paperwastage]

1+1 is probably better if you can actually manage to buy it...

but, why does everyone say the Nexus 5 camera is mediocre, and mediocre compared to WHAT?

Granted, I purchased mine semi-recently, and I've heard the software updates have improved on the camera significantly, but I can't imagine (and haven't seen any evidence) that the other flagships have a much better camera. At least for someone who isn't a photographer. As far as I can tell, the pictures my Nexus 5 produces are usually better than what I would have gotten back in the day with 35mm P&S.

it's mediocre (low preview frame rate, final images not consistently as good as other flagships)

for my nexus 5, I can coax it to get good pictures some times... but low light performace (without flash) is bad.

with the Android L raw API, it looks like nexus 5 sensor can be better.. just held back by software/firmware algorithms

http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/2lojh2/test_of_raw_on_android_lollipop_using_nexus_5/

you can probably find the LG G2 (used/refurb, maybe new) below $350

 

[ImDonly1]

One Plus One, LG G2, Nexus 5.

 

[SpacemanSpiffVT]

One Plus One, LG G2, Nexus 5.

lol... forgot to read the thread?

 

[poofyhairguy]

For new price nothing beats a One Plus One. If you are willing to cruse swappa I got my mint M8 for less than $380, and Note 3's live in that range.

 

[soccerballtux]

http://slickdeals.net/f/7333682-32gb-at-t-lg-g-flex-4g-lte-smartphone-silver-200-free-shipping?v=1

you have to buy it NOW that deal will go dead soon no doubt. I've never seen anything like it

 

[blackdogdeek]

Here's the OnePlus One thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2372743&page=69

 

[Chrono]

Dude... one plus one all day. I had one and really loved it. Had the note 4 for a lil while and it's note bad but bloated like someone who had just drank and ton of beer and was all gassy... meaning slow and sluggish and nasty.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

OnePlus One, but that camera is slow as hell too.

 

[dawheat]

One caution about the OPO - even with the newest firmware, display sensitivity is STILL not on par with other phones. It's not hair-tearing bad anymore like it was at launch, but switching back and forth between my Note 4 and OPO is like a mini-revelation of "that's how a touchscreen is supposed to act". In all other ways, it's a very good phone, great for the price.

Personally I'd pick up a mint used phone on swappa - you can get the Note 3 or keep some money and get the G2. The Note 4 with a custom ROM is the best phone I've ever used yet - a Note 3 with a custom ROM (they're more mature as well) is up there.

 

[RossMAN]

http://slickdeals.net/f/7338552-lg-g-pro-2-asia-edition-unlocked-white-16gb-39-99-price-mistake?v=1

Edit: Appears to be dead now, got my order in just in time ... it will either ship or be cancelled.

 

[blairharrington]

I'm a phone novice, but it seems every phone has an 800 CPU and Adreno GPU and most go for a lot more money than the Nexus 5. The new Nexus 6 still has the same class CPU/GPU and is double the price...for what? A bigger screen? I can buy a 27" IPS monitor for $300, or a nice big tablet.

I cant seem to find anything remotely as good for $350, am I missing anything? There's a few devices with similar specs, like the G2 it was based on and the new Moto X but both are $500+.

And at $650+ for the Nexus 6 there is a ton of competition, which are the best phones there? I thought I read about a new phone that actually had the next gen CPU/GPU already...but I don't recall what it was. The Note 4 seems notably superior to the Nexus 6 for the same money, am I wrong?

I am in the market for a new phone, don't care what screen size or resolution (they're all big or huge and 1080+)...just want good performance, good battery life, and a fair price. I'm wondering if I should grab a Nexus 5 while I still can, or if a higher priced phone is the way to go. At least for the Note 4 the higher price is somewhat justified with having a nice digitizer pen and a giant battery. Though lack of front stereo speakers seems kinda lame given the size/space available to it (smaller phones have fitted them).

Is there anything else in this higher price bracket that actually has a notably better feature/function that justifies it's cost? I've heard a few of the big names, but don't really know what (if any) differences there are.

What carrier will you be using?

The Nexus 5 has a mediocre battery. The price point is attractive but there are better options with respect to battery.

 

[EliteRetard]

Well thanks for all the info, the one plus is interesting, but spec wise doesn't seem much better than a Nexus 5 and seems very difficult to get. That swappa website looks like a good solution...but paypal only? See if I can find a legitimate way to pay.

 

[EliteRetard]

What carrier will you be using?

The Nexus 5 has a mediocre battery. The price point is attractive but there are better options with respect to battery.

I'm 95% sure T-Mobile. Can get "unlimited" everything for $24/month (3GB@4G).

 

[Ravynmagi]

I wouldn't buy an One Plus One. The company sounds like it's run by jerks, they don't seem to treat their customers very well, support their product very poorly and may not honor their warranty. And this is one of the most poorly launched products. And it does sound like it's had a number of issues. I wouldn't touch this with a 10 foot poll.

I'd go with the Nexus 5. Yes, the battery life and camera on mediocre. But I find the Qi charger to be great and it kinda offsets that battery issue in my head. The camera I find to be good with decent lighting. And not everyone wants a phablet, so the 5 inch size is a bonus for those folks.

 

[blairharrington]

I'm 95% sure T-Mobile. Can get "unlimited" everything for $24/month (3GB@4G).

Can you explain your plan? Unlimited talk text LTE for $24 with T-Mobile? How?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I wouldn't buy an One Plus One. The company sounds like it's run by jerks, they don't seem to treat their customers very well, support their product very poorly and may not honor their warranty. And this is one of the most poorly launched products. And it does sound like it's had a number of issues. I wouldn't touch this with a 10 foot poll.

I'd go with the Nexus 5. Yes, the battery life and camera on mediocre. But I find the Qi charger to be great and it kinda offsets that battery issue in my head. The camera I find to be good with decent lighting. And not everyone wants a phablet, so the 5 inch size is a bonus for those folks.

Shrug. Most N5 => OPO owners tell you its night and day difference between the phones in the sense that they would keep their OPO.

I personally would stick with the OnePlus One. I broke one and bought a second one.

 

[cpacini]

Can you explain your plan? Unlimited talk text LTE for $24 with T-Mobile? How?

Most likely adding an additional line (5th or more) to a family plan, and only 3 GB data not true unlimited. Although probably only 2.5gb as tmo doesn't offer a 3gb plan currently that could get to that price point.

Edit: tmo ended their 2.5 gb per line promo so data comes in either 1, 3, or 5 gb per line again. Not sure how you get to 3 for $24 though.

 

[avinyc]

Not sure where you can buy it and if it will work on your carrier, but the Xiaomi phones look decent to me. The Xiaomi Mi3 is around $350 and has comparable specs.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Shrug. Most N5 => OPO owners tell you its night and day difference between the phones in the sense that they would keep their OPO.

I personally would stick with the OnePlus One. I broke one and bought a second one.

I bet. Bigger battery, better camera. It is an upgrade.

Interesting to know you bought a second. To me the One Plus One is just big enough I can't one hand it at all in which case I might as well have a Note 4 or Nexus 6. But it is the value phone of 2014. Kinda shaking up the game.

 

[EliteRetard]

Most likely adding an additional line (5th or more) to a family plan, and only 3 GB data not true unlimited. Although probably only 2.5gb as tmo doesn't offer a 3gb plan currently that could get to that price point.

Edit: tmo ended their 2.5 gb per line promo so data comes in either 1, 3, or 5 gb per line again. Not sure how you get to 3 for $24 though.

All I can say is it's not a customer plan.

Finally found a decent review of the OnePlus, seems nearly on par with the Nexus 5 in benchmarks but does have nearly 2 hours more battery on wifi browsing (no other battery tests found yet). The review criticized the camera, stating how much worse it was than the Nexus 5. After looking at side by side pictures I agree. Washed out or dark. Still, it's not a bad phone and if I can easily get one for the same price as a Nexus it is a consideration.