if buying today - would you buy your note 3 again

[Napalm]

so here's the deal - I have had my Moto Razr for over 2 years and it's been great.

no case, no screen sticker, solid - held up to whatever. always worked and I could go 2 days on it if I had to.

it's been awesome - I even rooted it eventually. so, today it died - the bank shot was epic, so there is that.

however I need a new device - and I'm leaning toward a few things but I keep coming back to a note 3.

so you all that own one - would you buy it again today if you had the choice to.

I'm torn between the note 3, the Galaxy 5 and the potential of the LG G3. moto is sadly dead to me

 

[logicalotus]

yes I would, but not from T-mobile.

 

[agentc13]

I would.

But I would also say your other choices should be good as well. (no experience with a g3, but the s5 is pretty nice)

 

[johnpjackson]

From what I understand, if you want the features/benefits of a tablet and stylus, get the Note. If you don't care about those things but want all the other horsepower and features, get the S. I went with the Note 3 last October and I LOVE it. I would buy it again in a second. I will be thrilled to see what the Note 4 or 5 offers when it's time for me to replace the Note 3

 

[jetguat]

Absolutely. Without question. Without doubt. Without hesitation. The Note 3 is a fabulous machine. I dont have the S5 specs in front of me (or the S4 for that matter) but I thought the N3 stock battery was larger. The N3 battery lasts a long time under heavy use IMHO. and what is beyond real, is that it recharges so quick its almost unfair to any device trying to compete. an hour on the charger and you get well over 50% I bet.

I have my N3 (verizon) rooted, and I love it even more now. Without the bloatware, and unlocked capabilities that BigRed closed down. As I paid full price so I could retain my unlimited data, I dont think I will be going to the Note 4, as I need to recoup the $700ish the phone cost me. But I would go back to the note in a heartbeat.

I dont use the stylus as often as I thought I might. But i have, and i do find it useful. There is a steep learning curve with these Samsung IMHO. Coming from a Rooted Moto Droid Bionic that I loved.

WIth the Note 4 coming out, I am sure the $$ for the Note 3 will be coming down quickly, and it will be a steal. Nothing from apple can touch the N3 or S4 or S5. Not even iPhone6. Apple has lost the battle of smartphones, they stopped innovating.

 

[johnpjackson]

Absolutely. Without question. Without doubt. Without hesitation. The Note 3 is a fabulous machine. I dont have the S5 specs in front of me (or the S4 for that matter) but I thought the N3 stock battery was larger. The N3 battery lasts a long time under heavy use IMHO. and what is beyond real, is that it recharges so quick its almost unfair to any device trying to compete. an hour on the charger and you get well over 50% I bet.

I have my N3 (verizon) rooted, and I love it even more now. Without the bloatware, and unlocked capabilities that BigRed closed down. As I paid full price so I could retain my unlimited data, I dont think I will be going to the Note 4, as I need to recoup the $700ish the phone cost me. But I would go back to the note in a heartbeat.

I dont use the stylus as often as I thought I might. But i have, and i do find it useful. There is a steep learning curve with these Samsung IMHO. Coming from a Rooted Moto Droid Bionic that I loved.

WIth the Note 4 coming out, I am sure the $$ for the Note 3 will be coming down quickly, and it will be a steal. Nothing from apple can touch the N3 or S4 or S5. Not even iPhone6. Apple has lost the battle of smartphones, they stopped innovating.

jetguat, did you stay with jellybean or go to kitkat with your Verizon N3? I'm Verizon with mine, kitkat, and I'm not rooted. I have had a small app or two that I'd need root to use, but haven't found it compelling enough to take on the uncertainty and Android versioning questions it seems like rooting might lead me to, sooner or later. Is that how you see the situation for yourself, or did you find it no big deal to go rooted, and also have the fixes/tweaks that kitkat brought? I'm still thinking in the end I'd be glad to have full root on mine..

 

[jetguat]

jetguat, did you stay with jellybean or go to kitkat with your Verizon N3? I'm Verizon with mine, kitkat, and I'm not rooted. I have had a small app or two that I'd need root to use, but haven't found it compelling enough to take on the uncertainty and Android versioning questions it seems like rooting might lead me to, sooner or later. Is that how you see the situation for yourself, or did you find it no big deal to go rooted, and also have the fixes/tweaks that kitkat brought? I'm still thinking in the end I'd be glad to have full root on mine..

I was rooted on Jellybean. I am now rooted on KitKat. Using the Hyperdrive 8 ROM. I like it. I dont tweak/hack that much. I just installed and use it. It has tons of customizations, which some might find neat, but I dont really have need. some of the sound/audio stuff is very nice. Viper4Android is a great package you need root for. I would have never guess the audio from the jack on the N3 could sound so great. in Headphones of a bluetooth speak. even the plain speaker sounds much better.

Rooting is actually much easier than you might think. There are a few ways to do it. and better still, in the rooting subgroup in this forum, plenty of people to help.

That said, I thought that if you took the stock KitKat OTA update, it might be difficult to root. Go to the all things root (version) section and check it out.

heck the unlocked mobile hotspot was worth it for me with my unlimited data plan, VzW wanted me to pay for hotspot.

 

[Digital Controller]

I mean at this point, I love my device and wouldn't of chosen anything over it if I had to choose again.

However, we're closing in on the release of the Note 4, I mean if there is any way you could just get a cheap phone for a few months and hold out, then that's what I would do.

Otherwise I would still go all in on the Note 3, it's a fantastic device, very fast and smooth, great battery life, and great features, even when rooted

 

[evohicks]

I like my Note 3 and if I were buying today I would still choose it over anything out there, but as said above, the Note 4 is due for announcement in September and release probably in October, might be worth looking at that first, however the price will be high to buy outright and contracts priced high, but this may be a good time to get a Note 3 also, if you ain't impressed with the Note 4.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Today I'd wait for the N4. If I didn't know there was a 4 coming I'd buy this phone again in a second. It's a great phone.

 

[TrueFangz]

Honestly, I like a lot about my Note 3, but I'm a former Moto Droid Razr Maxx HD user, and in my findings, that had wayyy better signal than my Note 3. I find myself at home with no signal more than 50% of the time. Sitting on the couch, I go from 1 bar to no signal back and forth which drains the battery a little, and of course I miss phone calls and get delayed text and voicemail notifications. I keep WiFi on, so I don't know how the 4G holds up. But at work (5 miles from my house) I have an excellent signal. When I'm out and about, it varies. All in all though, this kinda makes me miss my Moto.

 

[Napalm]

I've always thought that moto always had a lock down on signal quality and throughput.

since they make most of the tower equipment.

I'm also thinking about oneplus

 

[Digital Controller]

I've always thought that moto always had a lock down on signal quality and throughput.

since they make most of the tower equipment.

I'm also thinking about oneplus

Motorola always has a lock down on signal and call quality. I have always known that their devices are good for that.

They have some good built quality too, if you're interested in that as well.

 

[TrueFangz]

One main thing that made me sway away from Moto for the first time is that I had felt they were running behind on their game for a while. I started with the Razr flip phone which I had for a very long time. best non-smart phone of all time, I believe.

After that I went to a Samsung windows 5 phone which blew chunks.

My first droid was the Moto OG droid. Had that for 2 years, liked it for what it was back in the day. Moved to droid Bionic. It sucked. I'm sure you've heard the horror stories. Went to Razr Maxx HD, and that I must say was my fav phone of all time. Very solid phone all around. The only thing I wasn't happy about was only the 1 gig of Ram.

When the next line came out, they dropped the "Razr" and came with the Maxx, and the Ultra, and the "M". Those now had 2 gigs of Ram, but many other phones had 3, such as the Note 3.

I don't fully regret switching from the Razr to the Note 3, but I do miss the Razr quite often, and am thinking possibly in Oct of 2015 when It's time for my upgrade, I'll definitely be checking out whatever Moto line is available at that time before considering another Samy.

Don't get me wrong, I like Samy's interface, just wish it was more reliable when it comes to their radios. I think the physicality could slightly improve also. Their phones don't seem as solid to me. I feel like it's more delicate than the Moto's I've had.

Best of luck on whatever you choose to go with!

 

[Digital Controller]

When the next line came out, they dropped the "Razr" and came with the Maxx, and the Ultra, and the "M". Those now had 2 gigs of Ram, but many other phones had 3, such as the Note 3.

I don't fully regret switching from the Razr to the Note 3, but I do miss the Razr quite often, and am thinking possibly in Oct of 2015 when It's time for my upgrade, I'll definitely be checking out whatever Moto line is available at that time before considering another Samy.

Honestly having 3GB of RAM honestly really doesn't make that much of a difference from 2GB. The MAXX was a great device, had good battery life, not too much bloatware, and good signal/call quality.

Samsung puts so much bloatware on their devices it's almost a must to root so that you can freeze and uninstall a majority of it.

 

[clitrenta]

From what I understand, if you want the features/benefits of a tablet and stylus, get the Note. If you don't care about those things but want all the other horsepower and features, get the S. I went with the Note 3 last October and I LOVE it. I would buy it again in a second. I will be thrilled to see what the Note 4 or 5 offers when it's time for me to replace the Note 3

Totally agree. Get the Note if you want to be able to use the stylus (love it). If you don't care, then the S5 would be my next choice. Lots of nice stuff out there these days.

 

[drexappeal]

so here's the deal - I have had my Moto Razr for over 2 years and it's been great.

no case, no screen sticker, solid - held up to whatever. always worked and I could go 2 days on it if I had to.

it's been awesome - I even rooted it eventually. so, today it died - the bank shot was epic, so there is that.

however I need a new device - and I'm leaning toward a few things but I keep coming back to a note 3.

so you all that own one - would you buy it again today if you had the choice to.

I'm torn between the note 3, the Galaxy 5 and the potential of the LG G3. moto is sadly dead to me

With the G3 about to release and just around the corner, I'd actually have considered the G3 over the Note 3, simply due to the overall form factor (smaller physically w/ same screen size as the Note 2). I can't say that I wouldn't miss the S-pen and all that it helps me accomplish. Quite honestly, the only thing that holds me back from considering other lines is the S-pen.

Now, if S-pen isn't a factor for you and I were in your position (phone died), I'd purchase a backup phone to suffer with for 2-3 months, wait for the Note 4 to be released, and then choose between the Note 4 and G3 at that time. Those are the only 2 devices that I'd personally consider right now.

For the reason you're experiencing right now, I always have a backup beater phone. Older Android phone, so that I won't be completely deprived, but didn't cost me an arm and a leg to purchase off ebay. If you can find someone's Verizon phone to use temporarily, 1sale.com or dailysteals.com typically has had phone blowout sales (off contract phones) that at times, include Verizon and Sprint variants. Right now, Daily Steals actually has the Note 2 variant for Sprint at a much cheaper off contract price than you'll find anywhere else. At one point, I saw the Droid Bionic for $79 (off contract) and Droid Maxx for $79 (off contract). Those are the types of deals to jump on, especially for a backup phone, just for those "rainy day" situations.

 

[Methos1979]

Like everyone else, I would also definitely go with the Note 3 again. My last phone was the RAZR MAXX HD and it ruined me forever with regard to battery life - I cannot have a phone that does not have great battery life. I really liked my RMHD, it had great call quality and signal but it was also very laggy compared to the N3.

The Note 3 has good call quality but the radios definitely are not as strong and the signal strength weaker - a consideration if you are in an area(s) that don't have the best signal. But on every other function the Note 3 kicks butt in my opinion. I did root my RMHD but chose not to with the Note 3.

I use the S-Pen a lot more than I thought I would, but not a ton. I almost never use the multi-screen and thought I would. I'm looking forward to what the Note 4 has to offer but I don't see upgrading anytime soon unless there is something that's just over the top better.

 

[ScandaLeX]

If this question were asked of me a few months ago my answer would've been no. Previous phone being the Note 2, I don't see a *huge* difference between that & the Note 3.

Moving forward if I were in your position I'd just buy something cheap & usable just to carry me over to the Note 4 release.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

I'd buy the Note 3 again. I'm really enjoying the large screen and power for watching videos. Actually I'm leaning towards an HTC One (M8) at the moment though. I really want to find out what stereo speakeks bring to the Android experience and screen wise while not as large as a Note 3 5 inches isn't exactly what I'd call small.

 

[Simon_Gardner]

if buying today - would you buy your note 3 again

Yes and I'd pay a lot less for it.

Or wait to September/October if you can?

 

[Simon_Gardner]

I started with the Razr flip phone which I had for a very long time. best non-smart phone of all time, I believe.

No. That was the Nokia 6310i.

 

[Digital Controller]

Yes and I'd pay a lot less for it.

Or wait to September/October if you can?

Yeah at this point I would definitely try and wait until the release of the N4.

It will be an upgrade, although it isn't looking like it's going to be a massive one from the N3.

 

[clitrenta]

Yeah at this point I would definitely try and wait until the release of the N4.

It will be an upgrade, although it isn't looking like it's going to be a massive one from the N3.

I guess its all relative based on what you find important and "must have". I may not update for a faster processor but I would seriously consider it for a better display, battery or memory. So, while some crazy fools will be camping out in lines waiting on those new iPhone 6's with the lousy batteries, I'll be quietly plotting my acquisition of the Note 4 because an improvement to the Note 3 is just going to be better.

 

[Digital Controller]

I guess its all relative based on what you find important and "must have". I may not update for a faster processor but I would seriously consider it for a better display, battery or memory. So, while some crazy fools will be camping out in lines waiting on those new iPhone 6's with the lousy batteries, I'll be quietly plotting my acquisition of the Note 4 because an improvement to the Note 3 is just going to be better.

Yeah I mean, I love my Note 3 don't get me wrong, just as a tech freak I really enjoy moving around devices. I really don't know what I want yet, however, the big display and really good battery life I have gotten from the N3 is going to be a hard one to beat .

I would actually be extremely interested in a phablet from Motorola.