Have a G1 on T-Mobile, thinking about Galaxy S/Vibrant

[MonkeyManiac2010]

I am a little more than one year into my two year contract on T-Mobile with my aging G1. T-Mobile says I can get the Vibrant (Galaxy S) for $265 ("plus upgrade fee").

I desperately want a faster CPU and a true Android 2.x phone, but I don't know. I almost feel like paying the early termination fee and going for an EVO with Sprint.

Seems every option has downsides...

* I've heard Samsung build quality is not the best, and the Galaxy S looks a bit too much like an old iPhone
* The EVO is supposed to not have great battery life
* AT&T cripples their Android devices
* Verizon has the highest monthly fees

Decisions, decisions...

Any thoughts?

 

[iTyler]

Hey! Welcome to the site, land of Droid amazingness.

Between the SGS and the Evo, I'd go Evo.

Now that's just my opinion, but I really dislike the Samsung's look, the plastic isn't that great, and I'd prefer Sense UI over Touchwiz.

By the way, do you live in a 4G area? That'd be a pro for the Evo for sure...

 

[MonkeyManiac2010]

Yeah, I live in a major metro (Portland, OR), which I bet is covered by 4G.

I gotta figure out exactly how much my early termination fee is and whether it'd be cost effective to eat that and switch to Sprint.

Oh, and I'm seeing news reports today of the HTC EVO selling out.

And checked Verizon's site... looks like minimum for an unlimited data plan + cheapest voice plan = $90/mo. I'm paying $75/mo with T-mob right now, although I bet Verizon's network is faster/more reliable.

 

[nickdog670]

If you have a G1, I would wait until the Samsung Epic releases. It's a Galaxy S with a keyboard, front facing camera, LED flash, and 4G service on sprint.

 

[2FR35H]

I am a little more than one year into my two year contract on T-Mobile with my aging G1. T-Mobile says I can get the Vibrant (Galaxy S) for $265 ("plus upgrade fee").

I desperately want a faster CPU and a true Android 2.x phone, but I don't know. I almost feel like paying the early termination fee and going for an EVO with Sprint.

Seems every option has downsides...

* I've heard Samsung build quality is not the best, and the Galaxy S looks a bit too much like an old iPhone
* The EVO is supposed to not have great battery life
* AT&T cripples their Android devices
* Verizon has the highest monthly fees

Decisions, decisions...

Any thoughts?

Some facts. T-Mobile and AT&T are GSM Networks meaning you can take your sim card out at anytime and switch it much easier if you want a new device.

Sprint's 4G is NOT true 4G and Sprint makes you pay extra for 4G and nothing currently is 4G because nothing out currently gets 100mbps download. However, T-Mobile is currently the fastest with their upgraded HSPA+ network at about 10-12mbps average download right now.

AT&T does cripple their androids disallowing 3rd party apps.

T-Mobile is the cheapest out of them all even sprint.

T-Mobile has more varieties of android devices than Sprint and AT&T.

Verizon IS the most expensive but its a good network with the highest end devices. If your pockets are flowing with money go with them.

The Samsung Galaxy S aka Vibrant however is BETTER than the evo 4g spec wise.

Samsung's processor out performs snapdragon by double fps. 55fps compared to 22fps nexus and desire.

Better Screen, Super Amoled. Better Network, T-Mobile. Better Battery Life, a said 84hours on moderate usage. Much more storage than evo, 48Gb's total if you add in a 32gb MicroSD card and it already has a built in 16gb storage.

Only thing evo has over it is .3 inches( some consider too big), the 8mp camera with flash, and the front facing camera of which might I mind you is very useless right now. Practically no one has a FFC so the only people you could call are people with iPhone 4's and Evo 4G oh yeah that's real useful not to mention iPhone 4 can only currently do it well over wifi. There are apps for use on 3G with iPhone 4 but it looks nasty.

Only devices that compete with Samsung technology is Motorola.

I wish you the best with whatever you choose but don't be stupid and give in to the Evo 4G thinking its much better because its not better than SGS aka Vibrant. Somewhat close but no not.

Verizon or T-mobile is the only question you should really be asking.

 

[MonkeyManiac2010]

Thanks for putting things in perspective, 2FR35H!

 

[spiz]

Amen 2FR35H!

I also considered the road of paying to leave TMobile and join Sprint for the Evo. The Evo is a nice phone, but the Galaxy S is better. I've been doing plenty of research, pros and cons of my decisions, pricing, etc.... and TMobile still comes out on top. With the Vibrant, the MyTouch Slide, and this upcoming "Project Emerald," Tmobile is showing that they want back in the game. Now would be a bad time to leave them in my opinion.

Verizon is the only other company I'd even consider, but keep in mind that they can't do data and voice simultaneously, if that's important to you. Otherwise, they are infinitely better than Sprint.

Don't even consider AT&T. Worst. Carrier. Ever. Terrible coverage and very, very limited capped data plans.

 

[03machme]

+1 on 2FR35H

i was in the same boat not too long ago and decided to stick with tmo for the vibrant. i cant wait to pick mine up!!!

 

[bdt612003]

Don't leave T-Mobile. Tmobile HSPA+ is faster then Sprints 4G. I have a Behold 2 and my co-worker has a HTC Evo and we both went to mobilespeedtest.com and i was pulling about 2110kbps and the HTC Evo was about 500kbps. We work at Union Station which is Downtown Chicago.

 

[Chidori602]

go with the Evo

 

[2FR35H]

Thanks for putting things in perspective, 2FR35H!

No problem always glad to help.

 

[drizzl]

I have a G1 now too and am debating the next upgrade. Is the Vibrant really better than the Epic or the Droid 2?

 

[phantom phenom]

I have a G1 now too and am debating the next upgrade. Is the Vibrant really better than the Epic or the Droid 2?

no, epic have FFC and 4G/wimax with keyboard.


r

 

[DKYang]

I have a G1 now too and am debating the next upgrade. Is the Vibrant really better than the Epic or the Droid 2?

Vibrant and Epic is the same thing, but the Epic has qwerty, front camera, and flash. If you care about those 3 things, then go for the Epic. I don't consider 4g a deciding factor at all. As for the Droid 2, I don't know since the specs haven't been officially announced.

 

[RxR]

Just picked up the Vibrant today...coming from the G1.
I don't regret it one bit.
Phone is FAST!!!
With Swype and larger and more responsive onscreen keyboard I don't need a hard keyboard.

Coming from the G1..Every aspect is of the phone is a massive step forward.

 

[2FR35H]

I have a G1 now too and am debating the next upgrade. Is the Vibrant really better than the Epic or the Droid 2?

Well I would say the Epic is better in regards to having a keyboard and flash camera but you don't get as much memory as the vibrant and captivate.

As far as better than Droid 2 there was a benchmark test by I think engadget where the captivate processor beat the droid x performance wise in all tests except for 1 and if droid 2 has the same processor as droid x then its very much a good competitor.

If the Droid 2 specs from CNET are right its basically the same as the Evo except by motorola and possibly no FFC. Of which the Galaxy S out performs that so it may be better than Droid 2.

Galaxy S is a very good competitor right now surprisingly. I would have expected droid to out do it with their processors but nothing is beating samsung's hummingbird processor.

It may take that Dual Core HTC to outperform it or a 2ghz processor and who knows if Samsung has one of those just waiting to be released right now. The Galaxy S2 is supposed to be a beast but who knows when that will be released? and who will get it? hopefully everyone does because they did it well with this.

 

[2FR35H]

Here is what the Galaxy S2 is claiming to rock

2Ghz Processor, 1Gb of RAM 4GB of ROM, 32Gb of internal storage and 32Gb's on the MicroSD, 4.3inches of screen with 1280 by 720 resolution with it SuperAmoled, 8mp Camera(hopefully with flash), 720p or 1080p video recording, bluetooth 3.0, android 3.0, and Wi-fi11n that will be able to run practically anything you throw at it.

 

[mikeeh]

Here is what the Galaxy S2 is claiming to rock

2Ghz Processor, 1Gb of RAM 4GB of ROM, 32Gb of internal storage and 32Gb's on the MicroSD, 4.3inches of screen with 1280 by 720 resolution with it SuperAmoled, 8mp Camera(hopefully with flash), 720p or 1080p video recording, bluetooth 3.0, android 3.0, and Wi-fi11n that will be able to run practically anything you throw at it.

Wow!

 

[mikeeh]

I have a G1 myself and feel soo outdated. And the fact the it's really chugging slow the last 6 months.... Been feeling the Vibrant as well and a co-worker just bought the Captivate

 

[dissident75]

I just switched from the G1 to the Vibrant and it is worth the switch. Huge speed increase, amazing camera, its a straight up great phone.

Now given I had issues too with the iphone esque ness of its looks but I got over it. I didn't like the touchwiz either. A quick download of LauncherPro fixed that right up.

If you look at the specs and bench marks for the phone its one of the top if not the top performer for android. I'd skip the ETF and get the Vibrant.

Also, if the SGS2 really is gonna have those specs (which sound more in line with a fanboys wet dream than reality) I may have to consider that when it comes out in a year or so.

 

[noonehereyet]

I just switched from the G1 to the Vibrant and it is worth the switch. Huge speed increase, amazing camera, its a straight up great phone.

Now given I had issues too with the iphone esque ness of its looks but I got over it. I didn't like the touchwiz either. A quick download of LauncherPro fixed that right up.

If you look at the specs and bench marks for the phone its one of the top if not the top performer for android. I'd skip the ETF and get the Vibrant.

Also, if the SGS2 really is gonna have those specs (which sound more in line with a fanboys wet dream than reality) I may have to consider that when it comes out in a year or so.

just a heads up but ADW is better than launcherpro should give it a try

 

[2FR35H]

Unfortunately a dream is all the Galaxy S2 would be apparently I hear its a fluke as in not happening oh if only they put it in production. Oh this is the announcement of the new stingray corvette concept all over again sigh... oh well.

 

[dissident75]

just a heads up but ADW is better than launcherpro should give it a try

I used ADW on my G1 and it is great. I just went with LauncherPro because I like the 3d app menu. Yeah its pointless eye candy but I like it.

 

[rifter]

I bought a vibrant on Day 1, and switched from a G1. I love it. Here is the thing, there is not another phone out there, that can compete with a Vibrant. Even the iPhone 4, has slightly lower specs (VERY slightly, to be a non-issue, from what I have read). IF you really want to switch, I would wait for the Galaxy S model that is going to Sprint, if I were you.

The hardest part for me, going from the G1 to the vibrant, is the lack of keyboard. I love hardware keyboards, and am not really 100% happy with the onscreen keyboard. I am getting used to it, finally, but I really miss the hardware keyboard.