Verizon: Sony Xperia Z3V vs LG G3

[destrekor]

I think I've basically narrowed it down to these two devices. Perhaps the HTC One (M8) is still in the mix, but, unlikely.

Requirements:
SD Card
Strong reception (aka: the Not Samsung rule)

I really, really want Root... but if a lot of the phone isn't up to snuff, I might just forgo that requirement. Root seems to be mandatory to get WiFi Tethering if you have an unlimited data plan. And yes, I have found a way to keep my unlimited data: transfer upgrade, activate on other smartphone line, remove from said line, then add to my line.

I know this makes me lean toward the G3, but factors like the screen's color, power draw, and resource requirements make me very hesitant. Three of my buddies have gotten the G3 because it's cheap on Verizon on contract, and I like this factor, but... ugh.

The Z3V is not as cheap as the G3 but right now it is $100 on contract. Aside from the autofocus speed of the G3, it seems to trump it in most other categories.

Tethering definitely comes in handy, a lot, but depending on the device, I could use USB to tether. On some devices, either the USB device is not permitted to be connected (government is scared, rightfully), or there won't be any USB ports which would permit streaming. This should be quite rare, but those times might be significant. :\

I played around with both earlier today. I did stupidly forget to compare signal strength in store alongside my phone, though in a buddy's house, three G3s seemed to have the same signal strength reading as my Moto X. I find that fascinating; speed tests were similar, though when all were under 2Mbps and strength around -105dB, I'm not sure if that also suggests performance under better or worse signal - like how well a signal is held onto at the fringe.

I really want to like the G3 I think, because I can have full root and get my Xposed on. But... I dunno. As much as I love the sturdy nature of the Z3V, it is also like the earlier iPhones with glass on back. I'd get a basic TPU case for sure but don't want the bulk of a larger case. I'd get a TPU for any phone... I can be a bit clumsy.

Either way, it also seems like the Z3V should play very easily with MirrorLink in the car, whereas the G3 seems to be mostly no-go on that front... yet one report did suggest it worked, at least with AppRadio-specific models. To be fair, I am also considering switching out the Pioneer head unit I just bought for one of their Nex-series head units... as I do suspect their NEX-line (and only that line, and perhaps the AppRadio 4) will receive Android Auto, as those devices also receive Apple CarPlay. That might remove the MirrorLink-compatible requirement, as both devices will receive Android 5.0, and I believe Android Auto is an inherent feature of Lollipop.

I do wish to avoid one-off products or products otherwise very custom to Verizon, but if it's the best choice, perhaps I can manage. One-offs or models that are slightly thicker than the standard world model, seemingly typical for Verizon, makes the aftermarket potential limited, and even more importantly, limits the community base which thus limits developer support for activities like Rooting.

Ugh, I don't like this decision. Why can't one phone simply have almost all of it? And damn you Motorola, if only you'd accept the SD Card as a feature, you'd have my moneys immediately. I LOVE my Moto X, but the storage limitation is terrible, and frankly, I don't want to over-use the internal storage on local music storage and burn out the memory. A 32GB phone can only hold a small selection of music if you have a healthy collection of apps.

Also, the dialer/contact interface from both LG and Sony suck, terribly. Having grown accustomed to Google's current 4.4.4 stock dialer (and loving what I see on Lollipop, though I don't have it), I am going to miss that terribly. Hopefully Sony's UI on 5.0 is far more dialed back and more stock. The Z3V does seem to have a healthy stock feel with most of the features I'd add in the GravityBox module, and I like their entire notification and quick-settings menu and the entire notification drawer interface far, far more than LG's.

 

[ImDonly1]

Z3V is a re-branded Z2 for verizon (aka last year's phone). Makes it a no buy for me.

I vote G3 / M8 / Droid Turbo or Moto X.
Probably lean to M8 since it can run GPe (not sure about verizon, but the GSM versions can). It is the most well rounded phone I'd say.
Droid Turbo for battery.
Moto X for close to stock/form factor.
G3 for size (5.5").

Can't go wrong with any of the 4.

 

[paperwastage]

I'd get the z3v....

it's a rebranded z2. but a z3 is only a superficial upgrade from the z2

g3 does have root though (z3v doesn't)

 

[cronos]

I would take the Z3v, no question.

The Z3v is not a rebranded Z2, it's a Z3 spec in Z2 body, which I actually like better than the Z3 body (to me, less curve = better). I agree though that the upgrade from Z2 to Z3 is very minimal, but the stuff inside the Z3v is identical with the stuff inside the Z3.

My argument against the G3 is the screen. I don't need that kind of screen on my phone, and I don't appreciate it taking even more of my battery's life because of it.

Edit: and the Z2 is not 'last year's phone' by any means. last year's phone is Z, ZL, and Z1 (and Z Ultra). Z2 and Z3 came out this year.

 

[foghorn67]

Z3V, despite being slightly older.

 

[destrekor]

I would take the Z3v, no question.

The Z3v is not a rebranded Z2, it's a Z3 spec in Z2 body, which I actually like better than the Z3 body (to me, less curve = better). I agree though that the upgrade from Z2 to Z3 is very minimal, but the stuff inside the Z3v is identical with the stuff inside the Z3.

My argument against the G3 is the screen. I don't need that kind of screen on my phone, and I don't appreciate it taking even more of my battery's life because of it.

Edit: and the Z2 is not 'last year's phone' by any means. last year's phone is Z, ZL, and Z1 (and Z Ultra). Z2 and Z3 came out this year.

Well, according to some technical reviews, it seems to be a little more Z2 than Z3. I think the internals were the same between both, so I don't know how much else was upgraded, but the reviews indicate the display and camera are both using Z2 tech. It didn't get a lens or something upgrade that the Z3 got, and it (and the Z2) actually have a better display than the Z3.

It also seems to be wholly improved than the Z3 (or equal to the Z2) in terms of underwater/dust and reliability relating to that. I guess there have been numerous reports of issues with the Z3.

The other thing: I guess the Z3V is still waiting on the update that enables VoLTE and thus simultaneous voice and data over LTE.

I am confused on that though, because people claim to be unable to get simultaneous voice/data on recent LTE phones that are unpatched (most seem to be very very recent patches, in the past two months... don't know if the iP6 or GS5/Note4 launched with it, but I don't think so.

Why am I confused? Because I thought, while Verizon cannot handle simultaneous voice/data on 3G or 4G, I thought ALL VZW voice was still happening on 1x and 3G, so if you had 4G data, you'd have data while using voice on separate radios (considering LTE is GSM-spec and EVDO and 1X are CDMA). I wonder if people were simply in 3G-only areas, or... is something else is going on that I don't understand?

 

[paperwastage]

^ the earlier-gen LTE phones had separate radio/modem/antenna pathways... you'll have one pathway for CDMA voice, another pathway for LTE data

now, phones only have one pathway. this saves on cost and battery life. iPhones always only had one pathway (they never had SvLTE/SvDO on verizon/sprint)

hopefully z3v will get that update soon.. i know the droid turbo just recently got their VoLTE update (Still waiting for lollipop)

 

[lopri]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m72ktDLOVWs

Verizon is pervert, I have to say.

 

[Dari]

Z3V, despite being slightly older.

G3 is older...

 

[destrekor]

I don't think it will enter into the equation, but apparently the 64GB Droid Turbo can be had for $125 on contract. :hmm:

If I settled on a phone with both no replaceable battery AND no expandable storage, I have concluded it would have to have a sizable battery AND significant storage. Preferably, 128GB, but alas, nobody outside of Apple is offering that. And I have considered the iPhone, but dammit, I am not buying into a whole new marketplace... I haven't reached a breaking point where I feel it is necessary.

I had a quick feel of the Turbo, and I must say, it feels great in hand, as did the new Moto X. Motorola has had that, the hand comfort and design, down pat. Sadly, the Turbo is not quite beautiful, not compared to the Moto X, and that chin. D: I dislike the actual capacitive buttons, oddly enough, I have grown fond of the stand Android navigation bar on the display itself. I can tolerate no replaceable battery on the Z3V... extended batteries require ugly cases or ugly humps, and replacing the battery means entirely shutting down the down. Plugging in a battery pack for quick charging or continued use is actually something I've gotten entirely used to these days and frankly, I'm fine with.

I just don't think I am prepared to still limit myself to internal storage, even at 64GB, because after apps and useful data and photos and whatnot, that's still realistically about 32GB of actual music. I was frustrated with the storage of my 32GB Zune. I don't always know what I feel like listening to, and I vastly prefer simply being able to listen to something on a whim, or queue up a request from passengers.

One of few annoying traits of the Z3V: the digitizer is apparently visibly reflected in some viewing scenarios. I'm not sure if it'll ever be visible for ME during any scenarios where I am actively viewing it myself, but I did notice it (actively looked for it, stupid me!) at certain angles under the store lighting with dark screens. A sparkly grid of sorts. Perhaps in regular use it will be noticed far less (I'd hope so), but knowing it's there, reminds me of the Pentile displays of a few past phones, like the Droid Bionic. Once seen, it could not be unseen.

 

[foghorn67]

OT: I'm actually starting to love how wordy you are. I used to rib you on it, but I'm noticing it's kind of cool.

 

[nsafreak]

I'm curious, if you have unlimited data then why does the amount of storage matter quite so much? I can understand having it for when you don't have network access or if the network is slow but personally I really don't worry too much about how much storage I have on my phone for the most part. My music library (along with pretty much anything else I want) is available to me in full fidelity via my home cloud setup so the built in storage (or SD card storage) is really only needed on occasions when I don't have network access which really isn't that often.

 

[destrekor]

OT: I'm actually starting to love how wordy you are. I used to rib you on it, but I'm noticing it's kind of cool.

Go on... :biggrin:

But honestly, how so? I always feel like I need to parse and cut back some, but I just type and type and it feels like I have a more thorough message. All out in one post instead of reply after reply after reply trying to clarify. At least, that's my goal.

 

[destrekor]

I'm curious, if you have unlimited data then why does the amount of storage matter quite so much? I can understand having it for when you don't have network access or if the network is slow but personally I really don't worry too much about how much storage I have on my phone for the most part. My music library (along with pretty much anything else I want) is available to me in full fidelity via my home cloud setup so the built in storage (or SD card storage) is really only needed on occasions when I don't have network access which really isn't that often.

Well, this effort is really about getting myself weened off of unlimited streaming. Plus, the sound quality is never guaranteed with streaming, so while I may have 320kbps MP3s and 256kbps M4As, if the signal is weaker, Google Play may not stream as often.

And don't get me wrong - I am not giving up streaming. My music collection is currently only around 7000 tracks - I went a long, long while utilizing subscription services like Zune/Xbox Music and Spotify, and before those Rhapsody, as well as All Access. So I'll still be streaming to get new music I don't have and don't care to purchase (yet, or ever), and explore for new music.

It would be nice to have a dedicated high-quality library always available, wherever I am at, on tap at the file quality I have. And if I do upgrade my head unit to get Android Auto, the unit I will get will be FLAC, and I'll be working on converting my physical discs into FLAC, and from here on out sticking to FLAC rips, at least on the local disc. Cloud matching or uploading will get converted, and I may not put FLAC for every disc on my phone, some artists it may not be worthwhile when considering storage space limitations.

When I get back to the gym, it will be a major boon to have what I want on tap regardless of cloud availability, and when I am away at training, at places almost always without much signal, I can have it all to enjoy with my headphones as well.