should I get a new phone now or wait?

[nageov3t]

specifically, an Android phone on Verizon... I've been wanting a new phone for a couple months now, but was putting it on-hold because of a possible job switch (now, my company provides my phone... if I were to switch jobs, I would have needed to buy my own phone immediately, but the new job fell through so that's a non-factor now).

I really want an Xperia Z3, but since I'm locked into Verizon, it looks like that's not going to be an option unless I want their hybrid Z2-Z3v... my choice if I were to get a new phone today would either be a Z3v or HTC One.

but since I don't need a new phone today, would I be better off waiting a couple months? anything out there on the new horizon? March-April is probably the longest I'd consider waiting, since the battery on my phone is starting to go and I'm going to have a much longer commute come springtime when we move.

 

[A5]

HTC usually kicks off the new phone year right before MWC in March. I'd at least wait until then (March 2nd) to see what's coming if you don't need one right this minute.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Wait. All the new models hit in March-April. You buy now and you are buying 2014 tech.

 

[Strk]

The Z4 should be announced in March. Whether or not Verizon gets it is another story though.

 

[nageov3t]

The Z4 should be announced in March. Whether or not Verizon gets it is another story though.

yeah, that's a shame... idk why they insisted on the Z3v amalgamation rather than just straight up getting the regular Z3.

 

[midwestfisherman]

Save your money!

 

[paperwastage]

would I be better off waiting a couple months? anything out there on the new horizon? March-April is probably the longest I'd consider waiting, since the battery on my phone is starting to go and I'm going to have a much longer commute come springtime when we move.

nexus 6?

If you don't have a real reason to upgrade, I'd wait. Can you replace the battery on your phone, or use external batteries to hang on for a while?

Make sure you are getting the benefits of no subsidized phones ($25 discount for EDGE/no-contract plans, or don't do anything for grandfathered unlimited plans)

 

[nageov3t]

Make sure you are getting the benefits of no subsidized phones ($25 discount for EDGE/no-contract plans, or don't do anything for grandfathered unlimited plans)

I don't pay for my own phone, I just tell "my guy" at work that I want a new phone... can generally get a new one no-questions-asked every 1.5-2 years.

if I need a new one prior to that, I have to either take what they have laying around (usually whatever Verizon is giving away for free... last gen iPhone or Galaxy more often than not) or get lucky with contract shenanigans (eg: if Joe Smith was fired today and was eligible for a new phone, they could give me his upgrade and flag my phone as the one reclaimed from him)

 

[paperwastage]

I don't pay for my own phone

ok then... (some people have a stipend from the company to pay towards phone / service... thats why I said that)

You can only use the phones that Verizon offer (unless you are comfortable with unofficial LTE/VoLTE-only usage). That saying, you'd be looking forward to the usual S6/HTC M9/maybe G Flex2/G4... items, no special stuff like Yotaphone

since price isn't a thing for you... i'd just wait a bit (2-3 months) to get a better phone for 2 years...

 

[gorcorps]

Sony is updating their flagships so quickly it's probably worth waiting to see if a Verizon model is coming (if not from Verizon direct, at least a compatible model). Then you might be able to get what you want. If you try to jump on something now and a Z4 comes out on Verizon you'll kick yourself.

 

[nageov3t]

thanks for the advice!

looks like waiting it is. I can live with my current phone for now, the battery thing won't be a huge issue until I have a longer commute in the spring after we move... only other annoying bug I have to live with is that every time my car turns off, I have to re-pair the bluetooth connection which is super annoying (and definitely exclusive to my phone; tested it with my iPad and my Galaxy Tab and both performed as expected with BT)

 

[gorcorps]

thanks for the advice!

looks like waiting it is. I can live with my current phone for now, the battery thing won't be a huge issue until I have a longer commute in the spring after we move... only other annoying bug I have to live with is that every time my car turns off, I have to re-pair the bluetooth connection which is super annoying (and definitely exclusive to my phone; tested it with my iPad and my Galaxy Tab and both performed as expected with BT)

That's odd.

Is it annoying enough to try a factory reset of the phone? The only reason I suggest it is that you were looking at getting a new phone anyway, so you'd basically be starting "fresh" there anyway. Might as well try to start fresh with the current phone and see if anything changes.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Same boat. I've been eligible since July on VZW and have hated pretty much everything out. Everything is too big and too unrootable. I would have settled for an LG G3 but the over-res screen killed the battery. I really like the Z3 even though it's a bit large, but the Z3v hybrid made it so much larger and hideous. I'm luke warm on the Droid Turbo. The waiting game continues and my ancient G S3 battery is giving out quick.

 

[cronos]

Same boat. I've been eligible since July on VZW and have hated pretty much everything out. Everything is too big and too unrootable. I would have settled for an LG G3 but the over-res screen killed the battery. I really like the Z3 even though it's a bit large, but the Z3v hybrid made it so much larger and hideous. I'm luke warm on the Droid Turbo. The waiting game continues and my ancient G S3 battery is giving out quick.

Eligible since July and you haven't used your upgrade? You're leaving money on the table there D:

 

[nageov3t]

That's odd.

Is it annoying enough to try a factory reset of the phone? The only reason I suggest it is that you were looking at getting a new phone anyway, so you'd basically be starting "fresh" there anyway. Might as well try to start fresh with the current phone and see if anything changes.

in the immediate future, it's tolerable enough that I can just suck it up... my commute to work right now is putting my headphones on, walking to the subway station, and sitting on the subway car till I get to my office. not much bluetooth involved, and I only use it when I'm on drives that'll last longer than 15 minutes.

but after we move, I'm going to be driving to work and my commute is going to be more like "get in the car, drive to the coffee shop, get back in the car, drive to work, drive to the grocery store on the way home, get back in the car, finish driving home". so I'd have to re-pair my phone once when first getting into my car in the morning, a second time when getting back into my car after picking up coffee/breakfast, a third time when leaving the office, and a forth time if I run any errands on the way home.

 

[Strk]

in the immediate future, it's tolerable enough that I can just suck it up... my commute to work right now is putting my headphones on, walking to the subway station, and sitting on the subway car till I get to my office. not much bluetooth involved, and I only use it when I'm on drives that'll last longer than 15 minutes.

but after we move, I'm going to be driving to work and my commute is going to be more like "get in the car, drive to the coffee shop, get back in the car, drive to work, drive to the grocery store on the way home, get back in the car, finish driving home". so I'd have to re-pair my phone once when first getting into my car in the morning, a second time when getting back into my car after picking up coffee/breakfast, a third time when leaving the office, and a forth time if I run any errands on the way home.

I'd say wait a month and a half. You have the HTC One M9, Samsung S7 and Sony Z4 all coming out, or at least being announced, within a couple of months.

 

[IamDavid]

Definitely wait to see what Windows 10 devices are rolled out. Try it for a week, if not happy take it back.