• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Metro PCS w/N5

Hunter5

Android Enthusiast
Oct 3, 2012
372
95
Orlando, FL
I'm to the point that I'm thinking of buying a new phone being that my CDMA SG3 from Metro will be no more in about a year, however I can't beat their family plan I currently have so changing carriers right now is not an option. I've been studying a Nexus 5 and it appears to be an awesome phone. My question is I can't confirm that it is compatible with Metro. There website currently states that it is not but wanted to ask if anyone out there already has service through Metro and/or knows for sure if it is compatible. Thank you in advance for your feedback!
 
There are a couple of people that have confirmed that it works with Metro's BYOP GSM program. I don't know how that works in regards to your family plan though.

Should be OK, have four phones, each with either a $40 or $60 plan they just take $5 off each line and call it a family plan. That's good to hear that there might be a chance, can't spend $549 for an S4. I'll probably hit my local store on my lunch tomorrow and ask for sure. Thank you though for the quick response.
 
Upvote 0
Should be OK, have four phones, each with either a $40 or $60 plan they just take $5 off each line and call it a family plan. That's good to hear that there might be a chance, can't spend $549 for an S4. I'll probably hit my local store on my lunch tomorrow and ask for sure. Thank you though for the quick response.
I actually came from the CDMA Galaxy S3 on MetroPCS and went with the N5.

Here's how I did it: Buy the phone first and then when you have it in hand immediately go to either an "authorized dealer" or Corporate MetroPCS location (you can find the designations on No Contract Cell Phones | Android Phones | 4G LTE | MetroPCS). Tell them you need a Micro SIM card and then give them the phone and have them register the Nexus 5 to your existing account. Remember you will not be able to swipe SIM cards between your old Galaxy S3 as it uses different band technology than the Nexus 5 does. Once done, you're good to go!

Took 15 minutes, and around 15 dollars for a new SIM card for me...

I then would recommend selling the Galaxy S3 to someone already on Metro because that particular phone's value is taking a plunge by the day.
 
Upvote 0
I actually came from the CDMA Galaxy S3 on MetroPCS and went with the N5.

Here's how I did it: Buy the phone first and then when you have it in hand immediately go to either an "authorized dealer" or Corporate MetroPCS location (you can find the designations on No Contract Cell Phones | Android Phones | 4G LTE | MetroPCS). Tell them you need a Micro SIM card and then give them the phone and have them register the Nexus 5 to your existing account. Remember you will not be able to swipe SIM cards between your old Galaxy S3 as it uses different band technology than the Nexus 5 does. Once done, you're good to go!

Took 15 minutes, and around 15 dollars for a new SIM card for me...

I then would recommend selling the Galaxy S3 to someone already on Metro because that particular phone's value is taking a plunge by the day.

Awesome, that was the answer I was looking for. Done deal, I will definitely buy the Nexus 5, just didn't want to spend the money for the phone if it was going to work with Metro. Thanks again!!
 
Upvote 0
^^ I'm sorry to hear about the defective unit (pixels and battery life).

I charged mine fully the night of the 4th when I got it, set it all up and then couldn't get it activated so I put it on Wifi until I activated the phone on Metro last night (the 5th) around 7pm. I used the phone actively, texting, reading, websites, feedly, setting up light flow, taking a bunch of pics etc until about 1am last night. Here I am after my commute to work about 35 total hours since I last charged the device and it's running at 52% battery left. I'm really pleased even though it's unique usage because of the delayed activation.

One thing I did do from the beginning is go into Settings, Location and turn the mode onto "battery saving" which doesn't use GPS as much. (I think this is new for kitkat. Anyways, I have client meetings all over the city today so I'll report back with how GPS fairs on this setting.

Excuse please.. I am new with this info.. Are you saying you got it running with Metropcs and if so how would I do the same?
 
Upvote 0
Excuse please.. I am new with this info.. Are you saying you got it running with Metropcs and if so how would I do the same?

I currently own a SGS3 CDMA from Metro and know that I will need to change phones soon. I went to my local MPCS dealer and they state that as long as the phone is unlocked and it's an Andriod, there is no problem with connecting with their service.
 
Upvote 0
Excuse please.. I am new with this info.. Are you saying you got it running with Metropcs and if so how would I do the same?

I currently own a SGS3 CDMA from Metro and know that I will need to change phones soon. I went to my local MPCS dealer and they state that as long as the phone is unlocked and it's an Andriod, there is no problem with connecting with their service.

I'm going to insert a quote from a post I made in the Metro PCS w/N5 thread in this forum:

I actually came from the CDMA Galaxy S3 on MetroPCS and went with the N5.

Here's how I did it: Buy the phone first and then when you have it in hand immediately go to either an "authorized dealer" or Corporate MetroPCS location (you can find the designations on No Contract Cell Phones | Android Phones | 4G LTE | MetroPCS). Tell them you need a Micro SIM card and then give them the phone and have them register the Nexus 5 to your existing account. Remember you will not be able to swipe SIM cards between your old Galaxy S3 as it uses different band technology than the Nexus 5 does. Once done, you're good to go!

Took 15 minutes, and around 15 dollars for a new SIM card for me...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4ubest
Upvote 0
I'm going to insert a quote from a post I made in the Metro PCS w/N5 thread in this forum:

Rhray thank you. I currently have metro service but I guess now I need to find a corporate store in my area. The stores near me are less than friendly so..but it is good to know...

Perhaps OT .. would you get the Nexus 5 on Metro if cash was no object for the short term and you could get an S4 ?
 
Upvote 0
Rhray thank you. I currently have metro service but I guess now I need to find a corporate store in my area. The stores near me are less than friendly so..but it is good to know...

Perhaps OT .. would you get the Nexus 5 on Metro if cash was no object for the short term and you could get an S4 ?

In most areas, the Nexus 5 is superior to the s4 in terms of hardware. Personally, I wouldn't pick anything over a nexus phone, but that's just me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: D-U-R-X and ocnbrze
Upvote 0
I actually came from the CDMA Galaxy S3 on MetroPCS and went with the N5.

Here's how I did it: Buy the phone first and then when you have it in hand immediately go to either an "authorized dealer" or Corporate MetroPCS location (you can find the designations on No Contract Cell Phones | Android Phones | 4G LTE | MetroPCS). Tell them you need a Micro SIM card and then give them the phone and have them register the Nexus 5 to your existing account. Remember you will not be able to swipe SIM cards between your old Galaxy S3 as it uses different band technology than the Nexus 5 does. Once done, you're good to go!

Took 15 minutes, and around 15 dollars for a new SIM card for me...

I then would recommend selling the Galaxy S3 to someone already on Metro because that particular phone's value is taking a plunge by the day.

I am concerned that I will lose my contacts and text messages on my non rooted lg motion. Is there a way to save them or transfer them to the nexus 5? What I need a faster phone is for the text messaging as it is too slow and lags with the motion..would the nexus 5 be much better at texting in addition to web browsing on Metropcs?
 
Upvote 0
^^^

Make sure all of your contacts are Google contacts synced with your google account. When you add contacts, never add them to the "phone" choice, always the "google account" one. If you don't have any google contacts, there are ways to switch them all to google if you like but that will keep them backed up and yes, you can do it on the Motion 4G.

With texts, best backup program from my experience is SMS Backup and Restore, download it from the play store and save the file somewhere on your phone where you can copy it to a computer and then load it on to the nexus when you get it.

However...

A recommendation: Part of why the Motion may have been laggy is because you simply have way too many texts on your phone. If you don't absolutely need specific texts, just start fresh with a clean slate. Live life on the edge! Test the limits of your comfort zone! Just say f-you to backing up that late night sext session you had on August 3rd, 2011. Live a little!

I'm kidding but you get my drift, if you don't need it, don't worry. I have gmails i archived in 2007 that I'm never going to read again. Text messages are even less important.
 
Upvote 0
^^^

Make sure all of your contacts are Google contacts synced with your google account. When you add contacts, never add them to the "phone" choice, always the "google account" one. If you don't have any google contacts, there are ways to switch them all to google if you like but that will keep them backed up and yes, you can do it on the Motion 4G.

With texts, best backup program from my experience is SMS Backup and Restore, download it from the play store and save the file somewhere on your phone where you can copy it to a computer and then load it on to the nexus when you get it.

.

I think I understand how to save the files to the phone SD card and then take the card out and put in an SD adaptor and then the computer, but the nexus 5 does not have an SD so how would I get the saved files from my computer to the nexus 5?

Also and this is a thought.. I do not need to sell the LG Motion so if
I keep its battery charged can I access my texts and contact list and simply not be able to phone or send a text. I have important material that was texted to me regarding funeral preparations that I need to be able to access in the near future that was sent to me via text ? Apps that were not purchased via google play store will be lost or can they be retrieved and installed on Nexus 5 ?
 
Upvote 0
I think I understand how to save the files to the phone SD card and then take the card out and put in an SD adaptor and then the computer, but the nexus 5 does not have an SD so how would I get the saved files from my computer to the nexus 5?

Also and this is a thought.. I do not need to sell the LG Motion so if
I keep its battery charged can I access my texts and contact list and simply not be able to phone or send a text. I have important material that was texted to me regarding funeral preparations that I need to be able to access in the near future that was sent to me via text ? Apps that were not purchased via google play store will be lost or can they be retrieved and installed on Nexus 5 ?
Well crap! Now I feel like an arse. Texts like that are important so save them using SMS Backup and Restore. Make sure to go into the preferences and set the backup location to somewhere you can remember on your phone.

Here's the key to the whole to SD card or not to SD card: You just plug your phone into your computer and you can use windows to actually look at the files on your phone. So, in the case of recovering your SMS backup file, use windows explorer to find and copy to the harddrive of your computer. It's pretty easy, I think the app will default to backing them up to a folder called SMS backup and restore on your phone. If you can't connect your phone and see it through your computer, google "viewing android internal storage in Windows".

Apps not purchased or installed through the Play Store is a whole other deal, depends on where you got them and how you installed them. I can't really help you there but if it was like Amazon App Store, just re download the amazon app for your phone and you should be able to reinstall the previous paid for apps.

Now apps that were installed via the play store are going to be saved under your google account. Under backup and reset option in your settings, make sure that you check mark back up my data and automatic restore in the section. This will mean you won't have to do anything but let your phone restore all the apps you were using before. You will never lose your previously paid or previously installed apps on Android that were installed from the play store, unless of course, you do something quite silly like go buy a blackberry.

Start doing some reading on your own about what your google account does for you behind the scenes with contacts and apps, etc. It makes life a lot easier and once you understand what happens at the core level, the anxiety about switching phones and whether your data will disappear into thin air or not will subside.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4ubest
Upvote 0
Well crap! Now I feel like an arse. Texts like that are important so save them using SMS Backup and Restore. Make sure to go into the preferences and set the backup location to somewhere you can remember on your phone.

Here's the key to the whole to SD card or not to SD card: You just plug your phone into your computer and you can use windows to actually look at the files on your phone. So, in the case of recovering your SMS backup file, use windows explorer to find and copy to the harddrive of your computer. It's pretty easy, I think the app will default to backing them up to a folder called SMS backup and restore on your phone. If you can't connect your phone and see it through your computer, google "viewing android internal storage in Windows".

Apps not purchased or installed through the Play Store is a whole other deal, depends on where you got them and how you installed them. I can't really help you there but if it was like Amazon App Store, just re download the amazon app for your phone and you should be able to reinstall the previous paid for apps.

Now apps that were installed via the play store are going to be saved under your google account. Under backup and reset option in your settings, make sure that you check mark back up my data and automatic restore in the section. This will mean you won't have to do anything but let your phone restore all the apps you were using before. You will never lose your previously paid or previously installed apps on Android that were installed from the play store, unless of course, you do something quite silly like go buy a blackberry.

Start doing some reading on your own about what your google account does for you behind the scenes with contacts and apps, etc. It makes life a lot easier and once you understand what happens at the core level, the anxiety about switching phones and whether your data will disappear into thin air or not will subside.

Wow thank you so much.. I did not know you could attach phone directly to the computer.. I have copied all of my internal contents and SMS.xml files...to my computer. (I wonder if I can copy to Nexus 10/7 ??)
 
Upvote 0
Did you guys get your metro sim card on the metro pcs website? Are there options to pick what kind of sim card?

Haven't got my sim card yet, probably just gonna go to my local store, there's one next to my work. Also not sure about options but I would think there is only one but I really don't know.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MotoTriumphant
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones