This years midrange vs last years high end

[khon]

I need a new phone, and I am trying to decide what to buy. It has to be an Android phone with large screen (5.3-5.7 inches) and SD card compatibility. I like the new S7/G5, but I don't think they're worth the asking price. Would prefer something more like ~400$.

So the question is this, would you rather buy a high-end phones from last year ? (for example LG G4), or a mid-range phones from this year (for example HTC X9). Both can be had for around the same price.

Right now I'm leaning more towards last years high-end, since the spec and build seems to be better. The only downside I can see so far is older Android version, but that should be possible to update.

 

[Crono]

I'd rather get the most affordable Snapdragon 820 phone that I can, now that phones are starting to be available with it. The Xiaomi Mi5 is what I would get, if you can get it after release.

EDIT: oops, it doesn't have microSD

If it has to have microSD, I'd probably go with the G4.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Eeeeeeee, this is hard.

Normally last year's highend is the better deal. But the Qualcomm 810 sucked SO bad.

So what I will say is: I would rather have last year's Nexus 6P (or even the Galaxy S6) over any midrange phone on the market. The S6 can be had for around $400.

 

[Raduque]

I would not pick a Galaxy S6 over anything unless you like carrying battery packs or being tethered to the wall. Maybe the Edge+ or Note5, but I don't think those are cheap yet.

Get yourself a Moto X Pure, Nexus 6p (if you can live without a SD slot), Droid Turbo 2(Verizon only) or LG G4. All G4s should be running MM; My mom's G4 just pulled the update on Verizon last week and it's doing just fine, no issues.

 

[JeffMD]

G4 prices keep coming down.

 

[Jeffro2700]

The snapdragon 652 is going to be a powerful processor. We may get many affordable great performing devices this year. Of course, software updates for these devices probably won't be as good as last year's flagships.

 

[beginner99]

I'd rather get the most affordable Snapdragon 820 phone that I can, now that phones are starting to be available with it. The Xiaomi Mi5 is what I would get, if you can get it after release.

EDIT: oops, it doesn't have microSD

If it has to have microSD, I'd probably go with the G4.

Agree Mi5 if OP can live without SD card. It come sin 32, 64 and 128 GB options. At least 128 GB should be enough?

 

[soulcougher73]

I would not pick a Galaxy S6 over anything unless you like carrying battery packs or being tethered to the wall. Maybe the Edge+ or Note5, but I don't think those are cheap yet.

Get yourself a Moto X Pure, Nexus 6p (if you can live without a SD slot), Droid Turbo 2(Verizon only) or LG G4. All G4s should be running MM; My mom's G4 just pulled the update on Verizon last week and it's doing just fine, no issues.

I have no battery issues with my S6. Not a power user. Average user id say and end each day over 50%. Sometimes as high as 70% left. 6:30am-9:00pm is when its off the charger usually.

 

[khon]

Agree Mi5 if OP can live without SD card. It come sin 32, 64 and 128 GB options. At least 128 GB should be enough?

The mi5 looks a nice, though it's smaller than I would prefer. Also, I haven't been able to find a release date, anyone know when it will be available ?

 

[foghorn67]

Wish I kept my Sony Z3. Its old Snapdragon 801 would tear apart whatever is in my Nexus 5X.

 

[Insomniator]

I'd go for a G4 hovering around 300 lately or even a G3 at this point for 200. Its... 100% not worth spending $700 on the newest gen.

 

[Raduque]

I have no battery issues with my S6. Not a power user. Average user id say and end each day over 50%. Sometimes as high as 70% left. 6:30am-9:00pm is when its off the charger usually.

I'd go into my 8-hour shift at work with 80+ battery and be at 20 or less 6 hours later playing local music with the screen off.

Also had tons of BT issues.

None of this started till AT&T pushed a software update that was well outside my 14 day return period. It was good till then.

 

[RossMAN]

Moto X Pure

 

[Cakefish]

Wish I kept my Sony Z3. Its old Snapdragon 801 would tear apart whatever is in my Nexus 5X.

Unfortunately my Nexus 5 with its Snapdragon 800 beats even my Sony Z5 Compact with its Snapdragon 810 in simple things like app launching.

 

[shabby]

I'd rather get the most affordable Snapdragon 820 phone that I can, now that phones are starting to be available with it. The Xiaomi Mi5 is what I would get, if you can get it after release.

It only supports a few 3g bands, not all those lte bands that are posted everywhere.

 

[Artdeco]

I'd rather get the most affordable Snapdragon 820 phone that I can, now that phones are starting to be available with it. The Xiaomi Mi5 is what I would get, if you can get it after release.

EDIT: oops, it doesn't have microSD

If it has to have microSD, I'd probably go with the G4.

Second the 820, seems like they have a winner...

 

[Bman123]

Moto x pure for sure. I just got one on Amazon, a black 16gb in very good condition that showed up looking brand new, not a single scratch on it. I only paid $294 for it.

I had a Nexus 6 before the moto x and I like this way better then the Nexus,the camera is leaps and bounds better. For $300 you can't beat the moto x pure.

The LG g4 is a nice phone but I'll never buy a carrier branded phone again. I don't like the bloatware, and waiting for updates is the worst.

Everyone is always preaching about the SD820 but until it's in a few phones and see how hot it is I wouldn't even worry about it, not to mention everything with the sd820 in it will probably be pricey

 

[Dannar26]

Even though I'm not a fan of a soldered in battery, the galaxy 7 has my attention.

I'm on the LG V 10 right now, and I have gigantic amounts of local storage (64 on board, 200 SD card...actual amounts are less of course), but performance is a bit lackluster. The SD 808 was a compromise SoC...but compared to the 810 it was the better option.

If the 820 is a good SoC...this is the year to buy a phone. Screw 2015.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Everyone is always preaching about the SD820

For a good reason. It is a huge leap in SoCs.

Buying a 810 or a 808 right now is like buying a Pentium D computer right before Core 2 Duos went on the market. You are buying something that is both hot AND obsolete.

By fall we will have reasonably priced 820 phones. Someone like OnePlus will do it.