Samsung Epic now? or wait

[ghost recon88]

My Touch Pro2 is gonna crap out any week so I'm looking for a new phone. Just upgraded my old SERO 500 plan to the SERO 500 Premium, so now I can get Android phones. I've decided to go big or go home, so I'm looking at the Samsung Epic. Currently for me since I have an upgrade credit, it would be $150. For Sprint 4G, there is an extra $10 a month charge, bringing my whole bill up to $50 a month. Is there any phones that are comparable to the Epic, but are 3G? From what I've been reading 4G sucks the battery pretty quick, and isn't exactly worth the price premium speed wise. Also, I could get the HTC Evo, or the HTC variant of the Epic (Android, slide out keyboard) but after having 3 HTC phones die in me in the last 2 years, I'm ready to try something else. Is there any new Android phones coming out in the next month, or should I go for the the Epic now?

 

[zerocool84]

Nexus S 4G should be coming out this or next month and Evo 3D probably in June.

 

[boomhower]

Sprints on a 4G kick so all of their top end phones are going to have. Good thing is unlike Verizon you can turn it off, though you are still paying for it. I know you have had issues with HTC but their Android phones are very nice. Samsung, not so much. Their phones have major issues and they take forever to even attempt to fix them.

Though the Nexus S 4G does look tempting especially with it getting fast updates to new OS's.

 

[ghost recon88]

OK, I will wait it out until the Nexus S 4G launches. I'm somewhat bias towards a keyboard though, not just a touchscreen.

 

[Bateluer]

Sprints on a 4G kick so all of their top end phones are going to have. Good thing is unlike Verizon you can turn it off, though you are still paying for it. I know you have had issues with HTC but their Android phones are very nice. Samsung, not so much. Their phones have major issues and they take forever to even attempt to fix them.
.

You can turn off the 4G on Verizon phones as well.

 

[ghost recon88]

Looks like the Nexus S 4G is pretty much the same as the current Nexus S if you don't want to use that google voice feature. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/tec...tegrate-mobile-service-with-google-voice.html. I really want to get a new phone before the middle of May though, so we'll see what comes out. If I want a keyboard based phone though, would you go with the Epic or Evo Shift 4G?

 

[boomhower]

You can turn off the 4G on Verizon phones as well.

I was just going off the Engadget review of the Thunderbolt that says you can't. Heaven knows they've been wrong before.

 

[s44]

If you want a keyboard, get it. That feature is getting more rare and isn't on any of the stuff on the immediate horizon. Meanwhile, the software for the Epic is finally mature...

If you aren't particularly into the keyboard, wait.

 

[you2]

As s44 sez unless you really want a keyboard; I would wait. The nexus S 4g I would also skip; it is basically a galaxy s (epic without the keyboard) without an sd slot.
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The evo3d might be interesting; also the galaxy s ii looks promising (rumor is some us carrier will have it by late may/early june - Europe gets it May 1st; my personal guess is sprint might be late getting this one since they were so late with the nexus s but t-mobile or verizon might get it earlier (if you're not loyal to sprint)).

Anyways the major thing that the new phones seem to offer are more processing power; higher resolution and more attention to battery life (the evo3d is rumored to do much better than the evo which was anemic).

 

[ghost recon88]

Turns out my area doesn't even have 4G... only place in Michigan that does is Grand Rapids.... Seeing if Sprint will let me buy a 4G phone without 4G service.

 

[you2]

You can buy a 4G phone; it will run @ 3G; cost of service is the same regardless if your area has 4G or not. Does verizon have LTE or t-mobile HPwhatever++ ?

Turns out my area doesn't even have 4G... only place in Michigan that does is Grand Rapids.... Seeing if Sprint will let me buy a 4G phone without 4G service.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Turns out my area doesn't even have 4G... only place in Michigan that does is Grand Rapids.... Seeing if Sprint will let me buy a 4G phone without 4G service.

Save yourself the trouble, they won't. Officially, they don't charge extra for 4G, they just happen to tack on an extra $10/mo for "advanced devices" because supposedly the users of those devices use more data. It's horseshit but that's how things work with the big mobile companies these days; you won't get anything better from VZW or AT&T.

 

[Dulanic]

Save yourself the trouble, they won't. Officially, they don't charge extra for 4G, they just happen to tack on an extra $10/mo for "advanced devices" because supposedly the users of those devices use more data. It's horseshit but that's how things work with the big mobile companies these days; you won't get anything better from VZW or AT&T.

I agree it's crappy but I guess it's better than them just raising all plans by $10 no matter what phone you have. They are still a lot cheaper than the rest of them so I don't see myself switching anytime soon. Not to mention now Sprint actually has pretty decent customer services compared to before so service as good as other for cheaper. If you don't have a signal for some reason and verizon does no biggie since it's free roaming.

As for the question about the epic.... I am happy with my epic now that most issues are resolved. The upside is the epic is also getting gingerbread at some point also and Sprint already has their hands on it from Samsung.

If you love the keyboard, that is nice too I guess. Tho I don't find myself using it very much anymore.

 

[Deeko]

HTC Arrive?

 

[swanysto]

As an Epic owner I would strongly suggest not buying Samsung phones. Nothing but problems.

 

[Dulanic]

As an Epic owner I would strongly suggest not buying Samsung phones. Nothing but problems.

Like? I'm curious as a Epic owner with no problems besides a small wifi hiccup every few days.

 

[ghost recon88]

Turns out, the lady says its an extra $10 a month data fee for anyone activating a smartphone after 1/31/11, whether it's a 4G device or not. So even if I activated a new 3G phone, I would still get a $10/month charge. If I keep using my current 3G phone though, I won't get the charge. Screw that, whether I get a new 3G phone, or use my old 3G phone, 3G data usage will be the same.

Some guys on another forum were saying I could get 4G coverage in Lansing, through http://www.clear.com/coverage. I guess that would be roaming, if I can roam and pick up another providers 4G service. http://forums.clear.com/clearcom/topics/4g_in_lansing_mi

As an Epic owner I would strongly suggest not buying Samsung phones. Nothing but problems.

Care to elaborate? After talking to some friends last night, and seeing the new onscreen keyboards, I'm not sure I wouldn't use the keyboard a lot either, but the only Android 4G that Sprint offers without a keyboard is the Evo 4G, and I'm pretty sure I don't want that.

 

[Dulanic]

Care to elaborate? After talking to some friends last night, and seeing the new onscreen keyboards, I'm not sure I would use the keyboard a lot either, but the only Android 4G that Sprint offers without a keyboard is the Evo 4G, and I'm pretty sure I don't want that.

I wouldn't rule out the Evo unless you have a reason on your own. Both the Evo and Epic are good phones IMO. The Evo has a bigger dev community which is nice but I am not a fan of the faded larger screen.

 

[ghost recon88]

I wouldn't rule out the Evo unless you have a reason on your own. Both the Evo and Epic are good phones IMO. The Evo has a bigger dev community which is nice but I am not a fan of the faded larger screen.

Mainly just from comparisons I've read between the Epic and the Evo. Better battery life with the Epic, better cameras, although I hear the screen on the Evo is better (probably resulting in worse battery life). On the other hand, people have said the build quality of the Evo feels better than the Epic. Epic comes with a 16GB internal card, and also runs me $149 vs. $199 (that the Evo does). I guess what I would be worried about, is if the Evo is going to be replaced anytime soon since it's been out for for a year.

 

[Dulanic]

Mainly just from comparisons I've read between the Epic and the Evo. Better battery life with the Epic, better cameras, although I hear the screen on the Evo is better (probably resulting in worse battery life). On the other hand, people have said the build quality of the Evo feels better than the Epic. Epic comes with a 16GB internal card, and also runs me $149 vs. $199 (that the Evo does). I guess what I would be worried about, is if the Evo is going to be replaced anytime soon since it's been out for for a year.

Then you have your reasons and I don't disagree with them myself. While I disagree that the evo screen is "better" it is just bigger. I much prefer the AMOLED screen on the epic. With sprint changes comes slow and I don't see anything besides the Nexus S coming out that will replace it. And yes the epic camera is deffinately better at taking pictures. I know the EVO has a higher MP but the quality is... meh.

As for the build quality... that is a "feels" thing. I disagree myself, but some people think it "feels" cheaper due to it being so light. I think it being light is a benefit and I have dropped my epic many times with no damage. Yes.... Im clumsy.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I prefer my Epic's screen over my wife's Evo. It's brighter and sharper.

I hardly ever use the slide-out keyboard because I like Swype, which is preinstalled on the Epic as well as the Evo. But it's nice to have on occasion, and the Evo is actually bigger and heavier despite having no keyboard.

Battery life seems about equal but I don't know her usage habits that well.

The only problems I've had with the Epic are the 4G occasionally not wanting to connect even when I am in an area where I know I can get a signal and the compass not working AT ALL. Overall I'm happy with it. Sucks that Samsung is so slow to push out updates but I think a lot of the complainers think that "not releasing an update in a timely fashion" is the same as "nothing but problems, AVOID!"