• Hardware

  • Should I buy a new android phone or wait?

Hi,
I currently have the LG Nitro HD (released in Dec 2011), flashed with CM 11 (stock android kitkat), it's not a very smooth experience, there are some bugs, slowdowns sometimes (which can be reduced with Greenify app), but I'm ok with it because of the latest stock android version, the kind of high ppi resolution and the very good camera (8MP - better results then much newer phones).

However, I was planning to buy the Nexus 6 because I really want a stock android experience but I am really confused now because it costs 650$!! The LG G3 has very close specs and costs now around 450$ but it's not a stock android device so it may take a veeryy long time before it gets the 5.0 lollipop update and I really want the best android experience, and the nexus 5 is excellent for price/quality (350$ for 16gb - 400$ for 64gb) and it gets the latest android updates quickly while not having the top-end hardware (2gb ram vs 3gb for the others - 8MP vs 13MP - battery age).

So what should I do??
Wait for a better device next year or buy the Nexus 5 because it will be the latest stock android device with reasonable price?
am thinking of buying a Sony Z3 Compact, not sure if i should wait or not either
HTC M8 hands down, with the brand new Eye update this phone is getting even funnier
You're flashing your phones anyway, so what do you care if the G3 gets Lollipop officially or not? Flash it with Lollipop! CM doesn't wait for any company.
tt400 wroteYou're flashing your phones anyway, so what do you care if the G3 gets Lollipop officially or not? Flash it with Lollipop! CM doesn't wait for any company.
Yes I was thinking of doing this, unfortunately, cyanogenmod is still not supported on the G3 :(
Im trying to decide if i should upgrade from nexus 4 to note 4 or wait for the nexus 6 and edge.
Nexus 6 is Very sexy and full of high specs, skip the Note 4, the Nexus 6 will be here in a month max
If you can wait, project ara is coming out in january 2015.
Wait for a New Android Device

- Go with Samsung ; Reason they have an official distributor (CTC) with a good warranty support (I tried it them and by experience) - Other shops are resells with suspicious warranties policies (Class and Amhaz)
- Samsung will release the Samsung Alpha Soon - Aluminum Body which adds reliability - Skim on the Google ; my eyes are on it and the reason that I will always go with Samsung since the Lebanese Android Devices Market Purchases Trend leans toward Samsung as a reason you will have no problems in parts , accessories ; and fixing.
-Note 4 is worth considering too
Truepeace wrote
tt400 wroteYou're flashing your phones anyway, so what do you care if the G3 gets Lollipop officially or not? Flash it with Lollipop! CM doesn't wait for any company.
Yes I was thinking of doing this, unfortunately, cyanogenmod is still not supported on the G3 :(
Ah, I see. Well you already have a phone, so you aren't missing out on anything. Wait until the new phones come out.
Stick with Nexus 6 if you like latest specs and updates from Google, or M8 if you want great specs, aluminum body and great warranty from Gomobile (the wakil) the samsung Alpha specs are lower than S5 and M8 and it still ugly compared to M8.
Nexus 6 = best plain Google UI + CM based phone
HTC M8 = best addons and designed UI for Android
S5/Note 4 = Many covers a la iphone
All brands have official dealers.

If you want something that'll last long, go with a Nexus 6 (I have my doubts that it will be available here, since Class is the distributor and hasn't shipped a single Moto device since 2008 probably)

But the M8 is a SOLID phone.

In fact the M8 might be the best phone you can get for several reasons like:
- You can flash to a Google Play Edition which will run AOSP, meaning any custom ROM you'll get won't have any major bugs with the camera, Bluetooth, or anything else except the ROM itself.
- Fast updates
- Sense UI is still awesome
- It's a BEAST
- It's metal
- It's getting Lolipop very soon.

The Nexus 5 is still a very good phone as well. It's still considered to be very powerful. And frankly, it's the best bang for the buck you can get. (In Lebanon)
The M8, absolutely love that phone.

Especially that I bought the DotView cover for it, making it even neater! I also recommend it for developing, produces less internal android errors on your logcat than Samsung phones.
what do you guys think of Sony Xperia Z3 Compact? It seem to kick the ass of all the mentioned phone or is it just me?
Ahem. Sorry to bump in, but a very underrated flagship series is the Xperia Z series. Currently with the Z3 out there, it has some very solid specs, an advertised 2 day battery life on regular use (I think more as I am getting 2 days on my Z2 already), and that awesome waterproof sexy glass body. The camera is just phenomenal, and if you have a PS4, you can even use it as a screen, and attach the PS4 controller to it. In my point of view, the Z series never occurred to me before I took a risk and purchased the Z2, which is honestly the best decision I've taken with a smartphone yet.
PS. It also has dual front facing stereo speakers which, compared to the M8, are the second best out there.
TrollFatGuy wroteAhem. Sorry to bump in, but a very underrated flagship series is the Xperia Z series. Currently with the Z3 out there, it has some very solid specs, an advertised 2 day battery life on regular use (I think more as I am getting 2 days on my Z2 already), and that awesome waterproof sexy glass body. The camera is just phenomenal, and if you have a PS4, you can even use it as a screen, and attach the PS4 controller to it. In my point of view, the Z series never occurred to me before I took a risk and purchased the Z2, which is honestly the best decision I've taken with a smartphone yet.
PS. It also has dual front facing stereo speakers which, compared to the M8, are the second best out there.
I have the Xperia Z and I can say it's an awesome device for the price, with the last 4.4.4 update it's even smoother and the battery last longer. Also it's receiving the lollipop update which means it's staying with me for a while longer !
@TrollFatGuy and @aliessayli2, there you go! I have been reading about sony z3 compact and it seems to be the best smart phone by far. It has a 2 day battery and its specs are top notch. Its water resistant, you can take picture under the water! and you can use it with your PS4. All other mentioned phone are far inferior, at least that is what I think. Specially that battery life is what is most important for me.
aliessayli2 wrote
TrollFatGuy wroteAhem. Sorry to bump in, but a very underrated flagship series is the Xperia Z series. Currently with the Z3 out there, it has some very solid specs, an advertised 2 day battery life on regular use (I think more as I am getting 2 days on my Z2 already), and that awesome waterproof sexy glass body. The camera is just phenomenal, and if you have a PS4, you can even use it as a screen, and attach the PS4 controller to it. In my point of view, the Z series never occurred to me before I took a risk and purchased the Z2, which is honestly the best decision I've taken with a smartphone yet.
PS. It also has dual front facing stereo speakers which, compared to the M8, are the second best out there.
I have the Xperia Z and I can say it's an awesome device for the price, with the last 4.4.4 update it's even smoother and the battery last longer. Also it's receiving the lollipop update which means it's staying with me for a while longer !
I also have the Z, it's still a beast, it also have a great community for custom ROMs and stuff, and good ol' Sony updated the sources recently meaning awesome bugless ROMs here we come!
AvoK95 wrote I also have the Z, it's still a beast, it also have a great community for custom ROMs and stuff, and good ol' Sony updated the sources recently meaning awesome bugless ROMs here we come!
I tried many ROMs , they all have the sound bug where the speaker can make an awful buzz sound for 1 second every now and then when playing an audio (even with earphones).
The Sony ROMs are simply awesome.
aliessayli2 wrote
AvoK95 wrote I also have the Z, it's still a beast, it also have a great community for custom ROMs and stuff, and good ol' Sony updated the sources recently meaning awesome bugless ROMs here we come!
I tried many ROMs , they all have the sound bug where the speaker can make an awful buzz sound for 1 second every now and then when playing an audio (even with earphones).
The Sony ROMs are simply awesome.
I didn't have this problem on SlimKAT. I like Sony ROMs, but I can't seem to find a slimmed downed version.