There's no such thing as perfect Android phone

[Commodus]

I was waiting for an attempt to shoehorn anti-Apple rhetoric into a conversation where it wasn't necessary.

I don't think most iPhone owners, even huge fans, would say their device is perfect. It's disingenuous to suggest otherwise. However, it's equally disingenuous to pretend that choice dramatically increases the chances of finding that perfect device that does it all. Most likely, it's going to be a question of what you're willing to compromise.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I don't think most iPhone owners, even huge fans, would say their device is perfect.

This thread reminded me of a article I saw yesterday on CNET that basically said the auther was sick of Apple holding back on the iPhone, and that the Galaxy S7 is perfect except it doesn't run iOS:

http://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s7-would-be-my-perfect-iphone/

As someone who prefers Android I have to say I really like the Galaxy S7. Held one in the store and the non-ege model is the perfect size and the screen reminded of what I missed without a SAMOLED. Touchwiz or not I might have to get one.

 

[Anubis]

There's no such thing as perfect phone

I fixed that for you

 

[Commodus]

This thread reminded me of a article I saw yesterday on CNET that basically said the auther was sick of Apple holding back on the iPhone, and that the Galaxy S7 is perfect except it doesn't run iOS:

http://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s7-would-be-my-perfect-iphone/

As someone who prefers Android I have to say I really like the Galaxy S7. Held one in the store and the non-ege model is the perfect size and the screen reminded of what I missed without a SAMOLED. Touchwiz or not I might have to get one.

Yeah, I saw that and was annoyed by it as well... and that's coming from someone who uses an iPhone 6 as a daily driver.

For me, the ideal Android phone would basically be a Google Play Edition of the S7 -- powerful, slick-looking hardware with stock Android and updates coming directly from Google. I'm just glad the Nexus 6P is good enough that its biggest quirks are the size and having the fingerprint reader on the back.

 

[Strk]

Yeah, I saw that and was annoyed by it as well... and that's coming from someone who uses an iPhone 6 as a daily driver.

For me, the ideal Android phone would basically be a Google Play Edition of the S7 -- powerful, slick-looking hardware with stock Android and updates coming directly from Google. I'm just glad the Nexus 6P is good enough that its biggest quirks are the size and having the fingerprint reader on the back.

I'd agree for the most part. I mean, the only feature stock Android is missing that I want is multi-window support and that is coming in Android N. Then again, going with the "no phone is perfect," the S7 doesn't have dual front-facing speakers

I'm surprised Apple and Samsung haven't done that yet, especially the former with their gigantic bezels.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Yeah, I saw that and was annoyed by it as well... and that's coming from someone who uses an iPhone 6 as a daily driver.

I get it, some people get very invested in a eco system and then it's hard to switch. That is one reason why I was so happy my wife got off iOS, because when the only thing you will use is iOS your options greatly narrow.

For me, the ideal Android phone would basically be a Google Play Edition of the S7 -- powerful, slick-looking hardware with stock Android and updates coming directly from Google.

I would agree with you, with the caveat that I have been on stock for years and it isn't all rainbows and unicorns. Google has never really cared about photos so Samsung's photo app is way better, and honestly in Android N it looks like Google is going to kinda copy how Samsung does quicktoggles. In fact so much of the "Nexus Experience" is now available by separate apps in the Play Store that there has never been a better time to not have stock Android. Load up the Google Launcher, the Google Keyboard,

The fast updates are the main thing that makes me hesitate, Samsung took WAY too long getting Android 6.0 on the S6. That was kinda a exception for them- normally they are pretty good- and I wonder if it was due to the Exynos SoC.

 

[Dulanic]

The fast updates are the main thing that makes me hesitate, Samsung took WAY too long getting Android 6.0 on the S6. That was kinda a exception for them- normally they are pretty good- and I wonder if it was due to the Exynos SoC.

Long updates are the norm for Samsung. My note 4 still doesn't have 6.0. Every samsung I've had had slow updates.

My next phone may not be a Samsung for once, we'll see.

 

[Commodus]

I get it, some people get very invested in a eco system and then it's hard to switch. That is one reason why I was so happy my wife got off iOS, because when the only thing you will use is iOS your options greatly narrow.

I see it as trade-offs. With iPhones, you know you're generally going to get a good experience, but you don't have much recourse if Apple does something you don't like. Android gives you more choice, but companies tend to vary wildly, even from year to year (just ask the fans who were upset when the S6 ditched microSD and removable batteries).

I would agree with you, with the caveat that I have been on stock for years and it isn't all rainbows and unicorns. Google has never really cared about photos so Samsung's photo app is way better, and honestly in Android N it looks like Google is going to kinda copy how Samsung does quicktoggles. In fact so much of the "Nexus Experience" is now available by separate apps in the Play Store that there has never been a better time to not have stock Android. Load up the Google Launcher, the Google Keyboard,

The fast updates are the main thing that makes me hesitate, Samsung took WAY too long getting Android 6.0 on the S6. That was kinda a exception for them- normally they are pretty good- and I wonder if it was due to the Exynos SoC.

Oh, I know! I've had stock Android devices for years. I think it's easier to recommend the Nexus line now between camera quality and getting just enough updates to make its app worth using... sometimes, anyway.

Me, I think part of my stock Android preference is that I come from the iPhone world. I want every manufacturer to always release OS updates as quickly as possible. Waiting months is... weird.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Long updates are the norm for Samsung. My note 4 still doesn't have 6.0. Every samsung I've had had slow updates.

If the phone isn't the recent model Samsung does take a while. Then you have to add the carrier delay on top.

If your phone is older than two years you are screwed.

 

[postmortemIA]

The iPhone is perfect. Am I right?

iPhone was purposely omitted to not derail conversation even further. Either way, perfection is not achievable...

Closest to perfection (or as-good-as-it-gets) as many have agreed would be Samsung hardware with Nexus software. I still don't get how Samsung year-after-year is unable to make good software in general. Their UI design is even worse. That issue is not limited to their phones ....

 

[gorcorps]

Yeah, I saw that and was annoyed by it as well... and that's coming from someone who uses an iPhone 6 as a daily driver.

For me, the ideal Android phone would basically be a Google Play Edition of the S7 -- powerful, slick-looking hardware with stock Android and updates coming directly from Google. I'm just glad the Nexus 6P is good enough that its biggest quirks are the size and having the fingerprint reader on the back.

I actually like the reader on the back. On the previous Samsungs I owned, I never used the thumbprint reader because it was so close to the bottom that any case interfered with it. The location of the 6p IMO feels more natural and easy to reach, and cases are able to design a proper cutout for your finger. I really hate where the volume and power buttons are on the 6p though. They need to be moved up where Samsung has theirs.

 

[mrochester]

The iPhone is perfect. Am I right?

Not perfect, but definitely the nearest.

 

[sporkster]

my gs4 works perfectly fine for my needs so far!

 

[Raduque]

There is no perfect phone, period.

But, I really like my Turbo 2. I'd consider it a flagship. SD 810, 3gb ram, 1440 AMOLED, wireless charging, uSD slot, 32 and 64gb available, solid build with premium materials (I have the champagne and black leather), unlocked for GSM use and shatterproof screen.

But it is not without flaws. It'll never get any sort of third-part rom development. Verizon. Front facing speaker is weak. Slow updates. Hard to see screen in very bright sunlight.

 

[openwheel]

Not perfect, but definitely the nearest.

oh Mr. you crack me up.

 

[s44]

honestly in Android N it looks like Google is going to kinda copy how Samsung does quicktoggles

Yep. N is the "fuck it, Samsung was right" release. (Multiwindow too.)

Google should just have admitted it years ago.

 

[sweenish]

Right in theory, maybe.

Samsung's implementation, at least of multi-window, left a lot to be desired.

For all we know, this is just part of the big agreement they made a couple years ago.

 

[QueBert]

Not perfect, but definitely the nearest.

I would agree *IF* it's Jailbroken, but 9.1+ isn't JB'able yet, so I recently had to ditch iOS to go back to Android so I could get a new piece of hardware that only works on iOS 9.1+ working. Stock I hate both, in very different ways though. And both stock are so far from perfect it's not even funny. I'm using a stock Android device now which has a locked bootloader so I can't even load PAC-Rom on it, which fff'ing blows big time. A huge plus was I got a not even 1 year old Android phone which was a flagship when it came out for free. Same age iPhone would have cost me $150.

 

[thesmokingman]

my gs4 works perfectly fine for my needs so far!

Dude. I was holding onto my S4 as I watched the S5 go by, then the S6 go by. I couldn't hold out any longer with tmobile's bogo owning ATT's bogo.

 

[sweenish]

I'm using a stock Android device now which has a locked bootloader

Then it's not a stock device. It might be close, but it's not stock.

Only Nexus is a "stock" Android device, and all their bootloaders are unlocked.

 

[swilli89]

Current flagships:
iPhone - ios none-removable
iPhone - battery and/or camera sucks
iPhone - No AMOLED, limited storage, awful black level, bad contrast
iPhone - No SD card expansion
iPhone - Not Waterproof
iPhone - 2012 level of pixels

Did I cover them all?

Yeah well done.

 

[jhansman]

With iPhones, you know you're generally going to get a good experience, but you don't have much recourse if Apple does something you don't like.

Yes, but those living in Apple's walled garden aren't looking for the gate. FWIW, even at two generations back, my S5 still does everything I need handily. That I can get to the SD card and battery are just gravy. And, I'm on T-Mobile, so I'm not loaded up with provider bloat. Life is good.

 

[LPCTech]

I am still using a GS3 4+ years old and still working well. But I am looking for something new. Was mostly considering the Moto X Pure and the Nexus 6P. But not super into either. I dont like the GS7. So Im basically waiting for my phone to die and see whats out at the time.

 

[vbuggy]

I was waiting for an attempt to shoehorn anti-Apple rhetoric into a conversation where it wasn't necessary.

I don't think most iPhone owners, even huge fans, would say their device is perfect. It's disingenuous to suggest otherwise. However, it's equally disingenuous to pretend that choice dramatically increases the chances of finding that perfect device that does it all. Most likely, it's going to be a question of what you're willing to compromise.

*looks at comment history*

You have to love it when fans belieber they're being subtle and fair.

My solution to the 'no phone is perfect' problem: Buy/update most of the more interesting Android flagships, and update an iPhone every two years for... well, whenever I need to check out something on iOS for some reason or really get the burning desire to arrange icons.

It also probably helps I don't consider the camera in a phone key, since I carry a camera.

Windows Phone used to be in there but right now it's dead to me for obvious reasons

 

[openwheel]

Amen vbuggy, Amen!