"Google Edition" phones vs using CyanogenMod

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scathefire

Junior Member
Mar 15, 2008
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I'm trying to figure out any advantages or disadvantages that one has over the other.

I've pretty much decided that my next phone will be an HTC One, but based on what I know (which admittedly isn't much) it seems like there is no advantage to getting a "Google Edition" of this device when CyanogenMod is available for it.

Does it basically come down to picking what party is supplying me with a "pure" Android build? Or is there an advantage to getting a "Google Edition" compared to the model I can pick up on a contract from ATT?
 
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Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
136
I have a HTC One from AT&T. I think it's a better option to get than the GPe version because you can try out HTC's version (which has some unique advantages like Zoes and Highlights), and if you aren't happy with it you still have the option of unlocking and flashing stock Android or a custom ROM like CyanogenMod or any other ROM.

For what it's worth, I think Sense 5 is very nice and nearly as fast in actual use as stock, so I've decided to stick with it. But I do want to try a GPe based ROM, might do so sometime this week.
 
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Kenmitch

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,505
2,250
136
The way I see it is as follows: If your on AT&T and happy with the service, don't plan on leaving, and are eligible for a upgrade, the on contract phone is the way to go.

Currently AT&T has the HTC One(32gb) for $99 on contract when ordered online. Not sure when the promo ends tho. No activation fee on new service.

If you don't want to be on contract then you could add a line, buy phone at subsidized pricing, cancel the line, pay termination fee....Figure HTC One around $450 or so.

I'm not a fan of the pure google experience as it's too plain Jane for me. Stock rom or a debloated version works best for me as I prefer the added features, nice looking calendar, contacts, dialer, etc.
 
boomhower

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
To schools of thought. The google edition will theoretically get updates faster and more stable with no contract. OEM version is cheaper on contract and lets you try out Sense 5. Not really a wrong choice just preference.
 
RedRooster

RedRooster

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2000
6,596
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76
CM has way more ability to customize, you're limited to the stock 4.2 features with Google Edition.
 
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scathefire

Junior Member
Mar 15, 2008
8
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So it sounds like since I will be staying with my provider that the contract phone is simply the better option.

I can always flash it to Cyanogenmod later if I don't like HTC's customized interface, and from what I am reading apparently people are working on being able to turn non-google edition HTC One phones into a google-edition phone.

I see stability mentioned twice so far - are non-google releases of android really that buggy?
 
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lvrzhn

Junior Member
Jul 5, 2012
14
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Seems to me this is independent of whether you like AT&T service or not. ETF is below $400 last time I checked, so it is less expensive to get the phone through AT&T and cancel during the first month (then put any version of the OS on it you want, and chose any cell provider you want), than to buy the Google edition version...

Also, as far as I can tell the contract is the same price whether you use it in part to pay off your subsidized phone or not, so if you take the Google edition phone to AT&T you'll end up loosing about $500, compared to getting the AT&T version.

Kenmitch said:
The way I see it is as follows: If your on AT&T and happy with the service, don't plan on leaving, and are eligible for a upgrade, the on contract phone is the way to go.
Click to expand...
 
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pete6032

pete6032

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2010
8,036
3,495
136
In my opinion the HTC Sense interface on the ONE is very unobtrusive and pretty close to stock Android. I don't see any reason to install CM on it or get a Google edition phone, other than the fact that updates will come much faster.
 
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Suspicious-Teach8788

Lifer
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
I want to say its pretty easy to flash the GPe ROM on a Sense HTC One or S4, but please verify. People got excited the Optimus G would be easy to work with but it wasn't. When they cracked the AT&T version, it still didn't get much easier. If you wanted CyanogenMod, it was 100x better to grab a Nexus 4.

But the GPe and OEM versions should be pretty damn similar in this case, but please verify. Everyone always says "Oh you can flash to make it XYZ, but it's never that easy." It's just like i777 vs i9100. The real GS2 got more support in the end even if there were ways to convert ROMs over.
 
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Suspicious-Teach8788

Lifer
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Anyway, as a hardcore CM user, no one really addressed CyanogenMod. It's not stock Android, but will you be able to flash it and get the full experience on these phones compared to a Nexus? Right now there's still bugs aplenty on non-Nexus phones. I'd wait a little bit to see if the development scene is improved by having the kernel source and if any of the OEMs decide to release any useful binaries.

Personally, I didn't realize how much I depended on CM until the Nexus 4 dropped and I ran with AOSP for a few weeks. CM brings so many features that I don't think I can leave it for a while...
 
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shabby

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,782
45
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Nintendesert said:
Does CyanoMod strip out the Google spying?
Click to expand...

Cyanogenmod doesn't come with any google apps so in a way yes they strip out google's prying eye, but then you have to substitute all of their apps with others, but without having access to the play store you need to manually install the apk's.
 
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lothar

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2000
6,674
7
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Why do you have to have one or the other? Why can't you choose both?
I'm pretty sure there will be a CyanogenMod version of these "Google Edition" phones.
 
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geniekid

Junior Member
Aug 26, 2013
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FWIW, the Google edition ROM is available so you don't really have to choose. In fact it's what I'm running on my HTC One right now while I wait for Cyanogenmod to become more stable.
 
gorcorps

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
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It doesn't matter. Either one will get CM and that's worlds better than vanilla android. Actually most roms are. I know some people really like it, but vanilla android is a terrible experience... or at least it was on the Nexus 7. I would pick an older rom vs. a bleeding edge version direct from google on any device at any time. More stable? HAH! The nexus 7 was slow, clunky, and the browser would force close randomly out of the box. A different rom made it fast and stable.

And just so misinformation isn't spread, CM doesn't come with google apps but that's one of the first things people usually install. The only apk you should be installing manually is the google apps one to get the play store.
 
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dougp

Diamond Member
May 3, 2002
7,909
4
0
CM / PA and any of their offshoots aren't working 100% on the One, right now. Bluetooth issues, audio quality, and a few other things they haven't fixed yet.
 
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Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
136
I'm running the stock HTC One ROM and Google Play edition ROM, using MoDaCo.SWITCH. Both rooted and stable. I don't have a compelling reason to use CM.
 
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sjwaste

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2000
8,757
12
81
If you get the GPE, can you install the stock (rooted) ROM? I actually do like what they did with Sense on the stock HTC One, but I also prefer an unlocked phone since I'm on prepaid and will at least want to play with other ROMs.
 
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dougp

Diamond Member
May 3, 2002
7,909
4
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sjwaste said:
If you get the GPE, can you install the stock (rooted) ROM? I actually do like what they did with Sense on the stock HTC One, but I also prefer an unlocked phone since I'm on prepaid and will at least want to play with other ROMs.
Click to expand...

Yes you can but you're better off getting the Developer edition.
 
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