Smartphone Thunderdome (Samsung vs. Apple vs. Google etc.)

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That's true but they have started to lose ground in China and India and four straight quarters of declines is hard to draw positive. I feel that Apple will start to settle back down as well as they are reaping the success of introducing the larger screen iphones but that won't last either and I feel that you are not going to see the anticipation for new phones that we have seen in the last decade as the improvements in latest phones have all been very minor and the market in general is becoming stagnant and saturated. Heck this thread dying kind of shows where people are right now with phones as there's just nothing really to compare or argue about.

Certainly there won't be the kind of anticipation since the market is basically saturated.
On a semi related note Canada is in a unique position with the double cohort as you've got people who signed their respective 2 and 3 year deals all expiring this and next year. A lot of people will be out to upgrade before it returns back to normal.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I think Apple also benefited from a year in which most of the major Android manufacturers didn't make any colossal changes to their flagship phones. The S6 Edge is kind of nifty looking but functionally it's not a huge upgrade on the S5. Neither are LG G4 or the HTC One M9.

Agree with the G4 and the M9, but I think this comment is way off base with the S6 and S6 Edge. Both phones are radically different than the S5 and a big move forward for Samsung. No other Android device has been so close to being an iPhone, hardware wise and the camera along with processing power in the S6 and S6 Edge are a big leap forward. Both no longer have a removable battery, are steel and no micro SD. Basically the Android version of an iPhone.

As more and more people have a look at this phone and the new Note 5 (which will be built almost the same according to the rumours out there, albeit with a 5.7" screen), Samsung will begin to eat up some of that iPhone market.

I personally don't like the S6. I like removable batteries and micro SD support, but more and more people are buying them now.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Igster

Agree with the G4 and the M9, but I think this comment is way off base with the S6 and S6 Edge. Both phones are radically different than the S5 and a big move forward for Samsung. No other Android device has been so close to being an iPhone, hardware wise and the camera along with processing power in the S6 and S6 Edge are a big leap forward. Both no longer have a removable battery, are steel and no micro SD. Basically the Android version of an iPhone.

Uhhh HTC has been running with two out of three of those for three years now.

[pseudoreality]

Originally Posted by Igster

Agree with the G4 and the M9, but I think this comment is way off base with the S6 and S6 Edge. Both phones are radically different than the S5 and a big move forward for Samsung. No other Android device has been so close to being an iPhone, hardware wise and the camera along with processing power in the S6 and S6 Edge are a big leap forward. Both no longer have a removable battery, are steel and no micro SD. Basically the Android version of an iPhone.

Sounds horrible. What's next? No USB plug and play, forcing you to download iTunes to download/upload to your phone, or some stupid special Mac connector?

[Igster]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Uhhh HTC has been running with two out of three of those for three years now.

But HTC's marketing department sucks. Nobody knows about it.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Igster

Agree with the G4 and the M9, but I think this comment is way off base with the S6 and S6 Edge. Both phones are radically different than the S5 and a big move forward for Samsung. No other Android device has been so close to being an iPhone, hardware wise and the camera along with processing power in the S6 and S6 Edge are a big leap forward. Both no longer have a removable battery, are steel and no micro SD. Basically the Android version of an iPhone.

Originally Posted by Igster

But HTC's marketing department sucks. Nobody knows about it.

And that, kids, is called "moving the goalposts."

[Igster]

Originally Posted by rubecube

And that, kids, is called "moving the goalposts."

Meh.

The HTC M9 is an OK phone. Nice build, but the camera is not great and the processing power of the S6 is much better. I personally don't like either phone, but reading reviews out there, other than build, the M9 is just an "OK" phone. And again, their marketing sucks compared to what Samsung is pushing out there. Nobody (average consumer that is) knows about the M9.

[Galakanokis]

The M9 was pretty much a dud. They failed to upgrade anything significant and it looked a lot like the 7, pretty much no point in upgrading.

Samsung is releasing the Note 5 and 6 Edge + here in a few weeks to help sales. Both are just bigger versions of the S6 and S6 Edge. Again, I see no real reason to upgrade to those. Apple is getting by on older phone users updating their tiny ass phones, that will slow as I don't really see people upgrading the 6/6+ next go round.

I think cell phones in general have just stalled out, nothing new.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Galakanokis

I think cell phones in general have just stalled out, nothing new.

Operating systems are seemingly improving their performance on lower end phones, limiting the need to upgrade frequently compared to before. My 2013 Moto X runs everything I use regularly as smooth as the day I bought it. I see no need to upgrade to a new phone as long as this continues.

On a side note, I'd love a better battery and camera, but quick charging nullifies most of the battery problem and I don't take enough pictures for it to be a deal breaker either.

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Operating systems are seemingly improving their performance on lower end phones, limiting the need to upgrade frequently compared to before. My 2013 Moto X runs everything I use regularly as smooth as the day I bought it. I see no need to upgrade to a new phone as long as this continues.

On a side note, I'd love a better battery and camera, but quick charging nullifies most of the battery problem and I don't take enough pictures for it to be a deal breaker either.

That's a really good point. I still mess around with Galaxy S3 running a version of 5.1.1 and I am impressed with how well it runs. The battery is not the greatest but easily gets through a day.

I want a slightly bigger screen but other than that I am more than happy with my N5.

[Mass_nerder]

I'm planning on upgrading from my htc one m7.
I really loved this phone, so I'm seriously considering the m9.
It seems like the biggest concerns are the "ok" battery life, and the camera. I'm not super concerned about slightly better or worse cameras (every review I've read makes it seem like the difference is pretty minimal). My problem is if not HTC, I'm essentially left with Samsung, which has always felt cheap (I know the s6 is now metal casing), and has never really impressed me.

Anyone around here have the m9? Thoughts?

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

My problem is if not HTC, I'm essentially left with Samsung

Why are you left with Samsung? Have you looked at the Moto X Play, OnePlus 2, Nexus 6, or any of the other current flagship phones? The M9 sounds like a bit of a dud, so you should be looking at all the options out there. Also, all signs point to the S6 being a good phone.

[psicodude]

IMO, the M9 isn't getting great reviews because it isn't much of an upgrade over the M8. I mean, it basically looks identical. If you love the M7, however, my bet is that you will love the M9 that much more. It is a fairly significant jump in specs from the 7 to the 9.

That being said, don't discount the S6 so quickly as Samsung did a great job of addressing your "cheap feel" concerns.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Why are you left with Samsung? Have you looked at the Moto X Play, OnePlus 2, Nexus 6, or any of the other current flagship phones? The M9 sounds like a bit of a dud, so you should be looking at all the options out there. Also, all signs point to the S6 being a good phone.

I'm kind of stuck with whatever providers are selling though. I don't think I've seen any of those offered with contracts.
I'm a student so anything more than say $200 is tough, and buying a phone outright is off the table.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

I'm kind of stuck with whatever providers are selling though. I don't think I've seen any of those offered with contracts.
I'm a student so anything more than say $200 is tough, and buying a phone outright is off the table.

The Moto X Play is $50 on a 2-year term from Bell and Telus, and $0 on Tab Plus from Koodo. I'd say take a good look at it!

[Galakanokis]

I need to look again but I swear I saw the 32G gold S6 for $199. Telus I believe. That's not bad.

As a student, definitely have a long look at LG or Moto, they are really good phones and very reasonable rates.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Igster

Agree with the G4 and the M9, but I think this comment is way off base with the S6 and S6 Edge. Both phones are radically different than the S5 and a big move forward for Samsung. No other Android device has been so close to being an iPhone, hardware wise and the camera along with processing power in the S6 and S6 Edge are a big leap forward. Both no longer have a removable battery, are steel and no micro SD. Basically the Android version of an iPhone.

As more and more people have a look at this phone and the new Note 5 (which will be built almost the same according to the rumours out there, albeit with a 5.7" screen), Samsung will begin to eat up some of that iPhone market.

I personally don't like the S6. I like removable batteries and micro SD support, but more and more people are buying them now.

You just described why my S5 will be my last Samsung Was fun while it lasted

[Mark]

My wife and I are ready to get our first smart phones (mostly due to our 6 and 12 year old phones are starting to glitch out). We don't care much for apps and I strongly dislike iPhones with their lack of o/s flexibility. So many people I know really don't like their iPhone. Which leads me to Android. The most common complaint I hear is bloatware. My wife wants a good camera and I just want something reliable and durable (I realize I probably won't be getting 12 years out of a phone anymore).

A co-worker has 3 Windows phones and loves them. Everyone I talk to that has them (very few and far between) loves them. The phone companies are barely selling them as I think the Lumia's are in the middle of ending the current lineup and introducing the new lineup. We're thinking about the Lumia 830. Does anybody have extended experience with that model? I'm just curious how it holds up and your thoughts about it since there aren't many out there.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Mark

My wife and I are ready to get our first smart phones (mostly due to our 6 and 12 year old phones are starting to glitch out). We don't care much for apps and I strongly dislike iPhones with their lack of o/s flexibility. So many people I know really don't like their iPhone. Which leads me to Android. The most common complaint I hear is bloatware. My wife wants a good camera and I just want something reliable and durable (I realize I probably won't be getting 12 years out of a phone anymore).

A co-worker has 3 Windows phones and loves them. Everyone I talk to that has them (very few and far between) loves them. The phone companies are barely selling them as I think the Lumia's are in the middle of ending the current lineup and introducing the new lineup. We're thinking about the Lumia 830. Does anybody have extended experience with that model? I'm just curious how it holds up and your thoughts about it since there aren't many out there.

I've had a BB Z10 since it first came out and I must say I am happy with it. I'm a heavy phone user for work and my battery will last me through the work day if I keep it on lowest screen brightness.

Text, email, calling are the main things I use it for, and it's reliable. I have the TSN app and FB and that's all. The browser I find works very well too.

It might not be the coolest phone the kids are using these days, but I think my next phone will be a BB again. (Besides, they are Canadian. Where's the nationalism here folks?)

EDIT: I don't use a phone case and the phone has taken a beating with no damage.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Mark

A co-worker has 3 Windows phones and loves them. Everyone I talk to that has them (very few and far between) loves them. The phone companies are barely selling them as I think the Lumia's are in the middle of ending the current lineup and introducing the new lineup. We're thinking about the Lumia 830.

If you want a selection of Windows phones, check out the Microsoft Store at Chinook. Lower level close to Nordstrom's.