Thetownend.com

Ok, I know there's been a thread about this somewhere before, but I can't be fucked to trawl through.

My upgrade is due at the beginning of June, so I'm starting to look around at what's out there...

I've always had an iPhone, I have an iMac and an iPad, so needless to say, I'm quite a fan of Apple.

Now, I quite fancy a change, and I've heard that Samsung's are very good?

Anyone care to give me their opinion on the Galaxy range? Also the HTC and Sony phones... Performance, battery life, quality of apps, usability etc....

Again, I'm not overly fussed by staying with the iPhone (currently iPhone 5) as I have the iPad and iMac for when I'm around the house anyway.

I've just recently changed from a Nexus 4 to a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact.

In terms of usability, I find them mostly the same. You're not going to notice performance differences on top end phones, apps are the same regardless of hardware (unless you like the manufacturer bloatware) however the battery life on the Sony is amazing. I can easily go two days without a charge.

I like the dedicated camera button on the Sony too. Makes it easy to launch the camera from the lock screen when you want to take a quick photo.

Funnily enough, the guy in Carphone Warehouse said that the Z3 was a helluva phone.

I always fail to see the hype of Iphones. Spec wise they are no better than most android offerings these days and Android is a much better operating system if you are not a tech novice.

I must admit though I'm out of the loop a bit on phones these days as I don't bother with contracts anymore. Got a Moto G on the cheap last year and its a decent little phone for the money. Saves me paying out 40 quid a month and being tied down to a crap network for 2 years.

I've got a Samsung Note 3 Neo. It's quite big, and spec wise is just between the S4 and the S5. Got it for £257 off Amazon - £200 cheaper than the S5.

I love it.

Looks like I got it at the right time because it's over £300 now :)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IBD7JZC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

My HTC One M8 is the best phone I've ever owned by a mile. Fast, responsive, looks good, excellent battery life.

I have this phone too and agree. It's a cracking phone but I am not at all techy so have no idea how it compares with other phones.

not exactly upgrade material, but for a child/wife asda have the moto E for £30. its very limited in storage, and the camera is rubbish/no flash/front facing camera, but £30... I can't get over its only £30.

nothing to do with the original question but....

Haha, thanks anyway  ;)

I have an xperia Z1. Decent phone with a superb camera.

I switched to an Android Sony Xperia, which for price is superb.

However every now and then it slows down and lags but using the Clean Master app its usually an app that is slowly down and frequently restarting which one removed it solves the problem.

Just get the iPhone 6. 64gb. £29 a month from apple, £15 a month unlimited data sim-only contract from Three. Job done. You won't find better for £44 pcm with no upfront cost.

Although obvs depends what you want to do.

Samsung S5, outstanding smartphone & camera

Had several iPhones on the bounce then had a Samsung Galaxy S4. Was disappointed and switched back to the Apple gang as soon as contract was up.

I've still got my HTC Desire. I think it's about old enough to be considered 'retro' as smartphones go.

Got Samsung S5 - great phone - until the recent lolipop upgrade

Mobile World Congress begining of march all the new phones will be on display to show what is being released - other than Apple

Samsung to show off S6 has already been leaked

I hear the S6 is going to be great... apparently the gulf between the S4 & S5 wasn't that much, but the S5-S6 is supposed to be quite substantial.

The whispers of the Galaxy S6 do make it sound great!

Oh... I thought 'fuck it' and upgraded early...

I went for the LG G3... it's fantastic! (So far)...

I really like the Android side of things so far.

My only 'issue' is that I am struggling to connect to me works WiFi... it's connecting ok then coming up with the prompt that it can't connect to the internet... I checked my iPad and the WiFi isn't down... some whispers online suggest hard resets, soft resets, clearing cache... using the WiFi analyzer app etc.... Not a fucking clue..

Just got this phone today. Have you got a case for it (which you could recommend?)

I don't use a case. I have a tempered glass screen protector (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Genuine-Tempered-Glass-Film-Screen-Protector-for-Sony-Xperia-Z3-Compact-/281662477736?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item41946455a8) on the front and a Dbrand skin (https://dbrand.com/shop/xperia-z3-compact) on the back.

The screen protector has saved my phone once already and the skin on the back stops the rear glass from getting scratched.

When I upgraded to an S5 recently I got a tempered glass screen protector and didn't think I'd really need it. Holy fuck am I glad I did get it - dropped the phone screen-down on the corner of my dumbells and saw a tiny deep impact point so went 'FUCK' thinking I'd need a new screen. Nope! My phone is still good as new. Amazed. For £2.50 I am buying another one and would advise everyone to.

Got a tempered glass protector and a cheap case for now. I use a magnetic phone holder so need a case or I have to stick the plate to my phone


EDIT: Here's the case I now have, much better. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cruzerlite-Bugdroid-Circuit-Xperia-Compact/dp/B00NX8CG4E/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1433850964&sr=1-1&keywords=bugdroid+z3+compact+smoke

It completely covers the Micro SD door though so for charging I'm using a magnetic charge cable at home and the dock at work. Though I'm not having to charge at home during the week as the battery life is so good :)