Android Phone Recommendation?

[Faterson]

Yes, pure black sounds enticing, because I use night-mode very frequently in Moon+ Reader Pro... However, what about the alleged "burn-out" of OLED screens? I'd certainly hate to see such a disfiguration on my phone's screen after a couple of years or so... I might wish to use the phone longer than that.

[Faterson]

If I could get the Nexus 5 for the US price of $349, I would buy it immediately. Right now. This minute. But, the Nexus 5 is sold in Europe for $550 or even higher, which makes it just another expensive phone in an array of other expensive phones. The Nexus 5 is priced here the same as Samsung Galaxy S4 or LG G2, annihilating its main perceived advantage: an enticing price-point. It's not that far off, in price, from a veritable phablet like Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

An additional difficulty in purchasing an Android phone, at least in my country, is that it's impossible, difficult or expensive to share your existing data plan between 2 phones. If I could just take turns in using two phones -- using an Android phone on odd days, and using iPhone on even days -- that would be great. Swapping the SIM card itself on a daily basis would be too much hassle. And I'm not quite ready to ditch the iOS ecosystem (mainly due to top-quality 3rd-party apps like Marvin and Mailbox, not available on Android). Again, if the Nexus 5 cost $349 here, I might give it a try. But it being overpriced, along with all these additional difficulties, makes me postpone a purchase for the time being. (Also, rumours about a 5.7-inch "iPhablet" are starting to swirl; that would be something! Though, no doubt, even more heinously overpriced.)

[dura]

Originally Posted by Faterson

Yes, pure black sounds enticing, because I use night-mode very frequently in Moon+ Reader Pro... However, what about the alleged "burn-out" of OLED screens? I'd certainly hate to see such a disfiguration on my phone's screen after a couple of years or so... I might wish to use the phone longer than that.

Sorry, can't help you there, my Note had a defect last year in the screenmemory, and the whole screen was replaced (under warrant). The screen I use now is only 1 year old (I do have it on all settings maximal, so that I have the 'headroom'in light situations needed to read. No defect pixels or retention or diminished brightness as far as I can see, but only time will tell how it will hold the coming years (I feel no need at all to replace it atm).

I also prefer Moon+ reader in nightmode, background completely black, letters set to max white minus very slight green en slightly less blue. Can use it for hours, even though I'm in my mid-fifties and do not use reading glasses.

[Dopedangel]

Originally Posted by dura

Sorry, can't help you there, my Note had a defect last year in the screenmemory, and the whole screen was replaced (under warrant). The screen I use now is only 1 year old (I do have it on all settings maximal, so that I have the 'headroom'in light situations needed to read. No defect pixels or retention or diminished brightness as far as I can see, but only time will tell how it will hold the coming years (I feel no need at all to replace it atm).

I also prefer Moon+ reader in nightmode, background completely black, letters set to max white minus very slight green en slightly less blue. Can use it for hours, even though I'm in my mid-fifties and do not use reading glasses.

I passed my Galaxy S on to my sister but after 4 years of use I haven't seen any burn in the screen yet. So if a 4 year old oled screen phone didn't spoil with all the updates to the OLED technology in the last few years they should be even better.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

I passed my Galaxy S on to my sister but after 4 years of use I haven't seen any burn in the screen yet. So if a 4 year old oled screen phone didn't spoil with all the updates to the OLED technology in the last few years they should be even better.

Agreed. I still have my Nexus One which also doesn't show any burn in issues.

[Teknikal]

I'm on my second super amoled phone and have seen no burn in, in my opinion it's overhyped either that or some people are leaving their screens on when charging or something silly.

[Faterson]

The YouTube tech gal Erica Griffin has an extensive clip on the LCD vs. OLED controversy:



http://youtu.be/DChnGXLErrI

[Rizla]

I'd get a Samsung or Nexus.

[tubemonkey]

Get a flip-phone and use your Nexus 7.

I use a flip-phone. Then for a net device, I take one of the three tablets I own: Nexus 7.2 - Fire HD 1 - Nexus 4. Lots of versatility with this arrangement.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Get a flip-phone and use your Nexus 7.

Folks in other countries don't get nickle and dimed on phone plans like folks in North America tend to be. Went on vacation in Asia and the prepaid plans were very reasonable. The cost of wireless service was the same regardless of whether you're using a basic phone, smartphone, tablet, 3G USB modem, or wi-fi hotspot. I spent $27 total for a month's service for 4 smartphones and $23 for unlimited LTE on my Nexus 7.2 (used ~20GB since we were using it to tether ). The situation is likely quite similar in Europe.

On another note, found an interesting fineprint on Verizon prepaid smartphone service.

• $70 Plan includes Unlimited domestic calls only, Unlimited Texting* to anyone on any network in the U.S. and participating carriers in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico and 4GB of Data.
• $60 Plan includes Unlimited domestic calls only, Unlimited Texting* to anyone on any network in the U.S. and participating carriers in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico and 2GB of Data.
• If you have a sufficient balance for your monthly access on the Prepaid $70 Plan or Prepaid $60 Plan, enjoy the benefits of your calling plan. If you don't have enough funds to cover your monthly access fee, you will be charged 25¢ per minute, 20¢ per text, 25¢ per picture or video messaging and 5¢ per MB.

Been planning on grabbing a $20 Verizon flip phone for emergency use but I think I might get the $100 Moto G instead and try it on Verizon Pay As You Go. Should be fine as long as I disable data.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

...but I think I might get the $100 Moto G instead and try it on Verizon Pay As You Go. Should be fine as long as I disable data.

So if you disable data, never text, and never make calls, will you be able to use the Moto G as a WiFi only tablet and never have to pay Verizon a penny (outside of the initial phone purchase)?

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

So if you disable data, never text, and never make calls, will you be able to use the Moto G as a WiFi only tablet and never have to pay Verizon a penny (outside of the initial phone purchase)?

Well, I do actually need it for calls and text in case of emergency but a $25 reload every 3 months should be more than enough for that. No idea if it's possible to activate without setting up service first. I think it should but since this came from Verizon, I won't really know until I get it. So far, all my Androids have been factory unlocked GSM models. Apart from the initial load which may or may not be required, I don't really see any reason why you won't be able to use it as a wifi-only device. I reckon the Moto G should work quite nicely as an Android equivalent to the iPod Touch. I do think this would be a nice upgrade over the Galaxy Nexus and low-end/mid-range Xperias I have right now.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Well, I do actually need it for calls and text in case of emergency but a $25 reload every 3 months should be more than enough for that. No idea if it's possible to activate without setting up service first. I think it should but since this came from Verizon, I won't really know until I get it. So far, all my Androids have been factory unlocked GSM models. Apart from the initial load which may or may not be required, I don't really see any reason why you won't be able to use it as a wifi-only device. I reckon the Moto G should work quite nicely as an Android equivalent to the iPod Touch. I do think this would be a nice upgrade over the Galaxy Nexus and low-end/mid-range Xperias I have right now.

Unfortunately, 5GB is not enough storage for me; and this sale is only for the 8GB model. Getting the next bump up (16GB) would double the price. Not worth it. 8GB would be doable IF it had a mSD card slot; but it doesn't.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Unfortunately, 5GB is not enough storage for me; and this sale is only for the 8GB model. Getting the next bump up (16GB) would double the price. Not worth it. 8GB would be doable IF it had a mSD card slot; but it doesn't.

Hmm, yeah, that can be a problem. For me, it's just a backup device so lack of storage isn't an issue. 5GB is plenty of space for text-only ebooks. Sides, it's already a major upgrade to the Samsung flip phone I had originally been planning on.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Hmm, yeah, that can be a problem. For me, it's just a backup device so lack of storage isn't an issue. 5GB is plenty of space for text-only ebooks. Sides, it's already a major upgrade to the Samsung flip phone I had originally been planning on.

I'm quite happy with my Samsung flip-phone (Convoy 2) and Nexus 4 16GB combo. If the Moto X 16GB Moto G 16GB was available for $120 (the additional $20 between models), then it would be tempting (for a gift).