Just tried out Nexus 4 for a week - but sticking with iPhone 5

[TroyBoy30]

Originally Posted by Newjackboy

Its a no brainer to check out the new nexus 4

not without LTE support it's not

[mattopotamus]

Originally Posted by TroyBoy30

not without LTE support it's not

I feel like this is made out to be a much bigger deal than it really is. 90% of the time I am on wifi, and when I am not 5mbps down on 3G is plenty fast. The only real difference I notice is when I am downloading apps...LTE is much faster. Browsing wise I feel like it is a very small difference.

[gottan]

Originally Posted by Prime85

I agree, I left my 3Gs and have had 3 different androids the latest being the S3 and out of all of them I think the iPhone has the best keyboard! So happy to be back with the iPhone 5!

For me the best keyboard is Swiftkey 3 and thats one of the biggest advantages of Android you can change the keyboard and not only use the default one...

[CoMoMacUser]

Originally Posted by TroyBoy30

not without LTE support it's not

The Nexus 4 supports LTE band 4. It's not activated out of the box. It's up to Google and individual carriers whether to turn it on.

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Originally Posted by mattopotamus

I feel like this is made out to be a much bigger deal than it really is.

Agreed. I bought the Nexus 4 knowing that HSPA+ -- especially DC on TMO -- will be plenty fast for my needs. If LTE is turned on, great. If not, HSPA+ DC is more than sufficient.

[NewAnger]

I'm trying to decide on getting a SG2 for free or a Nexus 4 for $49 at T-mobile.

I don't ever plan on being without an iPhone until Apple stops making them, I'm just looking to have some fun with an Android as well.

I'll probably end going for the Nexus since everything I read says it will be the first phone to get all new updates.

[daneoni]

Originally Posted by NewAnger

I'm trying to decide on getting a SG2 for free or a Nexus 4 for $49 at T-mobile.

I don't ever plan on being without an iPhone until Apple stops making them, I'm just looking to have some fun with an Android as well.

I'll probably end going for the Nexus since everything I read says it will be the first phone to get all new updates.

Nexus all day everyday.

[NewAnger]

Originally Posted by daneoni

Nexus all day everyday.

Done and ordered. $49 phone, free activation, free over night shipping. That was an offer I could not refuse. I would be insane.

After rebate, phone is free.

[QCassidy352]

Originally Posted by mattopotamus

I feel like this is made out to be a much bigger deal than it really is. 90% of the time I am on wifi, and when I am not 5mbps down on 3G is plenty fast. The only real difference I notice is when I am downloading apps...LTE is much faster. Browsing wise I feel like it is a very small difference.

I can see your point for anyone who is, in fact, on wifi 90% of the time. Many of us are not. And on AT&T, getting 5mb on 3G (or fauxG) is wildly optimistic. For me, lte has changed the mobile experience entirely.

[mattopotamus]

Originally Posted by QCassidy352

I can see your point for anyone who is, in fact, on wifi 90% of the time. Many of us are not. And on AT&T, getting 5mb on 3G (or fauxG) is wildly optimistic. For me, lte has changed the mobile experience entirely.

It definitely depends on where you live. I get 5-7 down on ATT, and my brother-in-law gets 35 down on t-mobile HSPA+ (or whatever their step below LTE is).....that is better than my ATT LTE speeds.

[TroyBoy30]

Originally Posted by mattopotamus

It definitely depends on where you live. I get 5-7 down on ATT, and my brother-in-law gets 35 down on t-mobile HSPA+ (or whatever their step below LTE is).....that is better than my ATT LTE speeds.

here is mine on att's lte

[mattopotamus]

Originally Posted by TroyBoy30

here is mine on att's lte


Image

damn. I just ran one and got 29 and that is in atlanta =/

[Peanut207]

Originally Posted by MarcBook

We are of course dealing with personal opinions, but absolutely love the iPhone keyboard and have found it to be the best. It's hard for me to describe why, but I've tried multiple smartphones with physical and on-screen keyboards and none have felt as 'right' as the iPhone's.

Just my opinion.

I agree 100%. I messed around with the SG3 keyboard and even tried out an HTC OneX+ for about 2 weeks and missed the iPhone keyboard tremendously and it's such a big part in using a smartphone. It's 1 of the reasons I came back to the iPhone.

[Opstech]

I'm a Nexus 4 and iPhone 5 user. I love both phones, but I'm having issues with my Nexus 4. I would use my iPhone 5's sim which is a AT&T LTE SIM card in my Nexus 4. Right out of the box I had to change the APN settings to get the data and MMS working properly. Once I got text and data to work, I wasn't able to send or receive a text with a picture. It would just say sending. While I was going to make the exception, the bars would go grey. It show'd full bars but I couldn't get data. Calls only. Like the radio was disabled. I knew if I was to go to AT&T and let them know, they would most likely want to change my data or switch to a non-iPhone data plan. I'm very frustrated and want to use my Nexus 4, but I guess I'm having to go back to my iPhone 5 for now. I had the galaxy nexus and switched my sim from my iPhone 4S to the GNex all the time and had no problem. I don't know the deal. If anyone has the same issue, I would like you to chime in.

[tl01]

I think the iphone keyboard rocks!! There's no way it is the worst! The Note and the S3 have far more terrible keyboards. I had an S3 for about a week and it would take me 3 minutes for a one sentence text. The phone couldn't predict what I was saying and it never registered what I wanted it to registered. Based on solely that.. I couldn't continue with it. I love my iphone keyboard!!!

[Number29]

I'd definitely agree that the iPhone has by far the best keyboard. I've tried a whole range of different keyboards on my Nexus 4 and not one of them comes even close to the speed and accuracy you can achieve on the iPhone. The Nexus 4 will leave some really bizarre (and obvious) misspellings untouched instead of auto-correcting them. It's a very frustrating experience.

[blackhand1001]

Originally Posted by Newjackboy

I got hold of a Nexus 4 - first time I've had a proper go at android.

Immediately impressed with the size and feel of the device. Other pro's include:

a) much much better keyboard. It could be argued that iphone currently has the worst keyboard of any flagship phone. It need a big upgrade.

b) App switcher is great. Got used to it quickly

c) Like the widgets. Some are really useful, especially the twitter and email snapshop ones

d) Love being able to quickly install XBMC (can now do that with a JB iphone)

e) The android yahoo mail app allows multiple accounts. Wonder why the ios version does not?


Overall, I am still keeping my iphone 5. Syncs well with my pad and atv. Apps of a much higher quality and design. Better resale value. Feels safer in terms of security.


Next ios version just needs better widgets,toggles,keyboard.

Next hardware redesign should be widened slightly- even to 4.2 or 4.3" would make the world of difference

Install the 4.2.2 update that rolled out earlier today. It improves battery and touch sensitivity on the nexus 4 drastically. Tons of stability fixes as well.

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Originally Posted by NewAnger

I'm trying to decide on getting a SG2 for free or a Nexus 4 for $49 at T-mobile.

I don't ever plan on being without an iPhone until Apple stops making them, I'm just looking to have some fun with an Android as well.

I'll probably end going for the Nexus since everything I read says it will be the first phone to get all new updates.

Nexus. The cpu and gpu are much faster on the nexus and the resolution is 1280x768 vs 800x480. Big difference.

[BrandonZ]

Originally Posted by jimbo1mcm

Took me 3 months to get my refund for the Nexus 7 from the Playstore. Never again.

I returned a nexus 4 and it also took me three months with numerous phone calls and emails that where never responded too. Horrible customer service on googles side.

[ggmissmolly]

Originally Posted by mattopotamus

I feel like this is made out to be a much bigger deal than it really is. 90% of the time I am on wifi, and when I am not 5mbps down on 3G is plenty fast. The only real difference I notice is when I am downloading apps...LTE is much faster. Browsing wise I feel like it is a very small difference.

Obviously you don't use your phone as a hotspot. LTE is a major factor if you do.

[TroyBoy30]

Originally Posted by CoMoMacUser

The Nexus 4 supports LTE band 4. It's not activated out of the box. It's up to Google and individual carriers whether to turn it on.

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Agreed. I bought the Nexus 4 knowing that HSPA+ -- especially DC on TMO -- will be plenty fast for my needs. If LTE is turned on, great. If not, HSPA+ DC is more than sufficient.

not anymore! lol

Update: As Brian Klug over at AnandTech notes, Google both giveth and taketh away -- that very, very unofficial LTE access disappears with the update. When 4G only worked in limited areas, and was never going to get official support, we won't cry too much.

[AutoUnion39]

I had a Nexus 4. Really terrible phone. I prefer my Note much more. Samsung makes a better product than LG

[chiefpavvy]

Originally Posted by ggmissmolly

Obviously you don't use your phone as a hotspot. LTE is a major factor if you do.

At $10+ per GB I hope you have an old grandfathered unlimited plan

LTE is fine and dandy but it's not even close to everywhere (even on Big Red) and the price premium is ridiculous in my book. Just my two cents.

The data keeps getting cheaper and cheaper but they keep charging us more and more. Great for shareholders but not so much for the working stiff.

[cardinalryan]

I have had every iPhone that has been produced. When it all started, it was simply a brilliant device. Sadly, it has evolved into a toy compared to the Nexus 4 or Note 2. My kids love their iPhones, but my personal opinion is that it is too weak to be used as a "power user" device.

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Originally Posted by AutoUnion39

I had a Nexus 4. Really terrible phone. I prefer my Note much more. Samsung makes a better product than LG

I agree with the statement regarding Samsung. The Note 2 is simply the best phone available right now and nothing really comes close.

[CoMoMacUser]

Originally Posted by TroyBoy30

not anymore! lol

Update: As Brian Klug over at AnandTech notes, Google both giveth and taketh away -- that very, very unofficial LTE access disappears with the update. When 4G only worked in limited areas, and was never going to get official support, we won't cry too much.

All that the update did was restrict unofficial access. It didn't -- because it can't -- change the transceiver.

I work in telecom. Adding LTE to a device is expensive. So Google and LG didn't put in there just for the heck of it. It's there so it can be activated at some point by a carrier or Google. It's future-proofing for them and us.

[cardinalryan]

Originally Posted by tl01

I think the iphone keyboard rocks!! There's no way it is the worst! The Note and the S3 have far more terrible keyboards. I had an S3 for about a week and it would take me 3 minutes for a one sentence text. The phone couldn't predict what I was saying and it never registered what I wanted it to registered. Based on solely that.. I couldn't continue with it. I love my iphone keyboard!!!

Huh?

Have you used SwiftKey Flow or Swype keyboard? I know that everyone has an opinion, but it's pretty difficult for me to believe that somebody used the afore mentioned keyboards and thinks the iPhone keyboard is better. The options on an S3 or Note 2 (or really any high end Android device) are so numerous, it's almost impossible for Apple to have anything better on the iPhone simply because of the sheer number of developers creating for Android...it's truly stunning.

[NewAnger]

I've had my Nexus 4 for a full day now. I can't say how impressed I am with this phone. I think it's a very solid phone, well made and the OS has been running absolutely flawless.

I've also downloaded most of the apps that I had running on my iPhone and have only been disappointed in one of them.

When I look at my 4S now, I can't believe how small the screen is.

I did get my Nexus 4 for free, $49/$49 rebate with T-Mobile. Like phones purchased through Google, it is unlocked as well. I had my iPhone sim in my Nexus and it automatically configured itself to work with it after rebooting.
Only problem is, is that data is very slow in the day time just as it is on my 4S in the day time. Using my T-Mobile sim in the phone, I get average 20Mbps downloads.

Call quality is also excellent.