Best Smartphone for 2014

[Patre]

The more I read about the higher end phones (specs-wise), the more I want to get one. :awe:

I've chenged my mind on getting a mid range phone and now looking to get something in the line of an LG G3 (at least power feature wise). I'd get the G3 if not for the mixed reviews on the QHD having a bit of lag/viewing angles issue. The battery life on it also isn't that great.

I'd like to be able to smoothly play games and also be able to navigate easily multitasking.

The Samsung S5 seems to be feature packed and is what I'm leaning towards, but is there something else out there that's better in actual useage and spec-wise?

I know the Sony Z3 is coming out any day now and looks very good as well......

(I"ll be using T-mobile as my carrier.)

 

[cronos]

They are all very good but yet have trade-offs. You just have to decide what things are important for you, and what things you can't have on your phone, and pick the one with the least compromise.

Note 4 isn't on your list. Too big?

 

[joe5]

iPhone 6 Plus

 

[Soccerman06]

Z3/C depending on the size you want.

 

[desura]

iphone 6 or updated Moto X.

iphone 6 is self-explanatory. Moto X I like because it uses softer materials instead of hard-edged metal and has stock android.

 

[dawheat]

It's not really fair to compare early 2014 phones with late 2014 phones (as best would imply), but right now the best bets seem to be:

- iPhone 6/6+
- Z3 and Z3 Compact - best Android 5.2" and 4.7" phone (in fairness a Q4 phone should be better than a Q1 phone)
- Note 4 - best Android phablet

 

[Patre]

I didn't look into the Note 4 (until now), and WOW!!! The specs on that look awesome!!! It's big, but isn't bigger better...lol.

The release date looks like Oct. 17th.....what's it cost?

 

[paperwastage]

note 4: $750
Z3: probably $650-$750
Z3c: probably not offered officially by t-mobile, need to buy it from Sony USA/grey imports - so no wifi calling / band 12 700mhz
iPhone 6: $650 and up
iPhone 6+: $750 and up

Sony has a USA release event, so we'll probably hear more about the Z3/Z3c then

1:30pm EDT, they have never done a USA event though, so it's good news

http://www.androidcentral.com/today-130-pm-edt-sonys-demand-great-event-liveblog

 

[amyklai]

There have been a couple of occasions where the Lumia 930 has been sold for 300€ without contract, so I nominate that for best budget phone.

 

[Patre]

note 4: $750
Z3: probably $650-$750
Z3c: probably not offered officially by t-mobile, need to buy it from Sony USA/grey imports - so no wifi calling / band 12 700mhz
iPhone 6: $650 and up
iPhone 6+: $750 and up

Sony has a USA release event, so we'll probably hear more about the Z3/Z3c then

1:30pm EDT, they have never done a USA event though, so it's good news

http://www.androidcentral.com/today-130-pm-edt-sonys-demand-great-event-liveblog

Thanks PaperW for the info.
A bit pricey tho...

I'm thinking I should get a Galaxy S5 now, and later on (few months or so) upgrade to a Note 4 (if it performs well in actual useage).

What do you think?

 

[WelshBloke]

Thanks PaperW for the info.
A bit pricey tho...

I'm thinking I should get a Galaxy S5 now, and later on (few months or so) upgrade to a Note 4 (if it performs well in actual useage).

What do you think?

If you do get the S5 get one of these....

http://www.handtec.co.uk/samsung-ga...KodWR-pXP2gzMJKh93H_za5RFk4vxXXS62BoCeiDw_wcB

I've got one on mine and IMHO it makes the phone more comfortable to hold and looks nicer (no camera bump).

Oh and you get a bit more battery life as well.

 

[openwheel]

1+ One if you are on ATT or TMobile.

 

[Patre]

1+ One if you are on ATT or TMobile.

This was also on my list but,

1) I like the fact that I don't have to buy it outright and can upgrade if I chose to

2) Not in favor of supporting anything "Made in China" let alone customer service issues that might come up


@ Welshbloke: Thanks for that link......getting a decent cover was on the top of my list (I have small children that just might play catch with the phone :biggrin

 

[WelshBloke]

@ Welshbloke: Thanks for that link......getting a decent cover was on the top of my list (I have small children that just might play catch with the phone )

That was actually an extended battery, it comes with a replacement back as it's a wee bit bigger than the original.

That said if you want to put yours in a case it's probably not for you as you'd have difficulty finding one to fit, I tend to not use one and hope for the best.

There are a huge list of cases if you do go for the S5, it's probably the best supported phone for accessories outside of Apple.

 

[shimpster]

Any will fine

 

[openwheel]

2) Not in favor of supporting anything "Made in China" let alone customer service issues that might come up

I thought almost all phones are made in China....Samsung, Apple,...etc Even Motorola cant continue their Texas plant.

 

[paperwastage]

Thanks PaperW for the info.
A bit pricey tho...

I'm thinking I should get a Galaxy S5 now, and later on (few months or so) upgrade to a Note 4 (if it performs well in actual useage).

What do you think?

can you go to a store and look at the S5 (or Note 4)? Best Buy or even other carrier stores (verizon/att/...)

Note 4 vs GS5 difference will be the screen size /SPen. I'm not sure about the QHD display though (G3 has trouble with GPU department trying to push those extra pixels)....

I'd just buy one phone right now and stick with it instead of looking to upgrade in a few months (unless you see a really cheap phone, like the recent G2 refurbs for $230)

GS5 retail is $600 right now. You can get a Z3C imported for $480 right now(but it's a small 4.6" screen)

 

[Patre]

can you go to a store and look at the S5 (or Note 4)? Best Buy or even other carrier stores (verizon/att/...)

Note 4 vs GS5 difference will be the screen size /SPen. I'm not sure about the QHD display though (G3 has trouble with GPU department trying to push those extra pixels)....

I'd just buy one phone right now and stick with it instead of looking to upgrade in a few months (unless you see a really cheap phone, like the recent G2 refurbs for $230)

GS5 retail is $600 right now. You can get a Z3C imported for $480 right now(but it's a small 4.6" screen)

I'm actually planning on going to Costco in a few minutes (lunch break) and getting the S5, but I can always swing by Best Buy and check out the Note 4 (if Costco doesn't have it).
I like dealing with Costco as their customer service/options are better than most places. They also have $50 rebate on the S5 right now.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Z3/Z3c or iPhone 6/6+ if you're on the Apple camp.

I find it a hard time to recommend Android phones to general users right now because I'm trying to imagine myself putting up with OEM skins.

 

[s44]

Honestly 6+ months after release it makes sense to buy on Swappa rather than brand new. The people who constantly flip to the latest & greatest always keep prices moving. Prices for mint/near-mint S5 and Note 3 are very good, and you don't have to worry about battery deterioration.

That said, the Note 4 is a beast if your wallet doesn't mind. Snapdragon 805 means it will *not* have the G3's too-weak-GPU issue. However if you're a spec whore you'll want to wait until 2015's 64-bit/20nm flagships... maybe holding off with a G2 or something in the meanwhile. (G2 really isn't much behind current high-end.)

 

[WelshBloke]

Z3/Z3c or iPhone 6/6+ if you're on the Apple camp.

I find it a hard time to recommend Android phones to general users right now because I'm trying to imagine myself putting up with OEM skins.

Thats a weird reason as general users are the ones that are fine with OEM skins.

Its the forum fanatics that tend to get worked up about what their OS looks like.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Thats a weird reason as general users are the ones that are fine with OEM skins.

Its the forum fanatics that tend to get worked up about what their OS looks like.

I know what you mean. I guess what I'm saying is that its hard for me to decide because I know that I would be irritated with the skins. But with that said the G3 is pretty solid. Even the S5 isn't TOO bad in my experiences. The TouchWiz is toned down quite a bit from the S4.

 

[Crono]

My favorite phone right now is the Lumia Icon. Only issue I have is I wish battery life were a little better, but it's fine since I prefer that 5" phone size than the Lumia 1520's which I had before. But that got excellent battery life and was would be just as good if not for the big, glossy body.

On Android:
I hate TouchWiz and wouldn't get any Samsung phone except the Note 4 (worth it for the excellent camera and S-Pen). I've seen too many friends with laggy Galaxy S phones, even the new S5. Most Galaxy users don't notice the lag as being particularly bad since they are usually upgrading from an older device and not coming from a new stock Android flagship or something like the M7 or M8. Ignorance is bliss, but I suppose those flashing another ROM will have good performance.

I like the One M8 the most, though, followed by the OnePlus One. The One M8 is svelte, doesn't lag like the S5, the Sense UI is excellent, the speakers are unparalleled, the audio through headphones is fantastic, battery life is very good, the remote is useful, and the device overall is fast. The camera isn't as good as the Nokias or the new Note 4, but decent, especially for macros.

I have to read up on the Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact and check them out in person if possible, but they look to be very good. I may end up recommending them. Glad Sony stuck with 1080p and 720p, respectively - I don't care what some users here say, the difference in display quality going higher on any mobile device is negligible if discernible at all, and there is a definite performance hit from going higher.

I wish I could recommend the new Moto X, but the battery life and increase in size are a step backwards. I don't know why they would increase the size when it was the single device almost universally praised for being the exact right size for the "average person".

 

[Patre]

Well, I went against my OP and got the LG G3........the specs just won me over.

Thanks to everyone for all the great tips/recommendations. I have a couple of weeks to play with it and see if I'll like it or not, but I think this is a keeper.

 

[shimpster]

Congratz!!!!! Hope it makes u a great phone