Droid Incredible...A love/hate relationship

[breynolds007]

So after ordering 2 INC's preorder...I'm pretty much done with this phone. As much as I've defended it and justified the downsides, it's disappointing to feel this way, but I think it's time to move on. I am tired of having to worry about whether my phone will work or not. I'm over the whole battery issue thing and if you've followed my other post you know I had tweaked everything to get acceptable life.

Now, I run the 2150 extended battery to get through the day but am limited to having to mod cases to work and deal with the extra weight. Not a huge deal but miss the INC's normal size. My wife's phone is lucky to get her 8 hours and it sits on her counter at work all day practically unused. Now, after 2 factory resets each since the Froyo update, we're still having random restarts throughout the day. I really do love everything about the phone's design and software, but practicality is still important to me. I need a phone that can get me through the day and I know I can make a phone call when needed.

So, Verizon has our replacement INC's on the way. Who has similar experiences where you left the INC for a DroidX, Fascinate, whatever? How do you like the new device? From what I've seen, the Droid X is ranked as having the best battery life and people seem to get at least a full 1-1.5 days on a charge. Right now, the only option they gave me was replacement for the same device but I really doubt the refurb phones will work that much better. If they are having issues, I'm gonna try to get them to replace with something else.

 

[woop]

If you're having issues with the phone and are trading it in through the manufacturer warranty via VZW, you do not have the option of choosing a different phone unless it has been discontinued (in which case, the warranty probably would have already expired). You will be getting a refurb unit in your trade-in, unless for whatever reason you are still within your day 30 return period (which doesn't seem like the case) or you have insurance on the phone.

 

[breynolds007]

Yeah, I know that's the policy...but I know that there are exceptions to every rule too. The level 2 tech mentioned that sometimes managers will allow people to renew their contract and order another device at new customer pricing and just keep your old phone when they're having issues. But, they said I couldn't because I hadn't tried an INC replacement yet.

 

[Member112085]

breynolds, I recently went from an Inc to an X, and I'm very happy with the decision. I didn't have problems as major as yours, but all the stars lined up right for me - when I was on vacation, my phone got wet, started acting up, so I ordered a replacement through Asurion. At the same time, I became eligible for the annual upgrade, so I did, and sold the replacement Inc here on the forums.

The X gets much better battery life in my opinion. I'm running the exact same apps (actually a few more), same setup as on my Inc., and where I would have to bump charge every morning on my way to work, and sometimes give it another charge in the early evening just to make it to bedtime, I find myself not having to do either of those things with the X, and still have 30% or more left by 11 pm (I take my phone off charge at 5 am, but it has probably been fully charged, and thus stopped charging, since about 1 am or so). My husband, who uses his X less than I do, can get 2 days or more from his battery. He doesn't run widgets or LauncherPro or anything fancy though.

The call quality on my X is also better than my Inc. I noticed this on my husband's X before I switched, and it was one of the primary reasons I made the switch...well, besides that big screen.

In short, the switch has been a positive one for me. Don't get me wrong, I loved the Inc, but the X was just a better fit for me. Hope this helps.

 

[woop]

Yeah, I know that's the policy...but I know that there are exceptions to every rule too. The level 2 tech mentioned that sometimes managers will allow people to renew their contract and order another device at new customer pricing and just keep your old phone when they're having issues. But, they said I couldn't because I hadn't tried an INC replacement yet.

Well that would be highly dependent on how long you've been in the contract. People on here have gone through 3-4 refurb units so I can guarantee if you find that exception, it is rare if not impossible. If that were true and they were just letting everyone buy phones at the new contract price, then there wouldn't be a point in 1 or 2 year contracts. People would just constantly renew their contract and keep getting the newest phones out (hence negating 1 or 2 year contracts).

 

[breynolds007]

dawnierae, Thanks so much, this is the kind of info I'm looking for. As much as I love the INC, it sounds like the X is probably better for me.

 

[MutantCheese]

I have had an Inc since July 1st, but am currently using a Fascinate as my daily driver. Liking the Fascinate so far. I think that I'll be sticking with it.

 

[SeattleYanksFan]

There is something wrong with the battery and/or phone if it only gets 8 hours sitting unused on a counter. If I charge my Incredible before bed and unplug it, I wake up to at least around 93% battery in the morning. I have all sorts of widgets, syncs, etc. running as well, and I don't turn off 3G at night. I have a stock battery and a 1500 OEM HTC battery.


It's either both your phones are defective or you're experiencing user error.

 

[sail4fun201]

Try using JuiceDefender before you completely throw in the towel.

http://androidforums.com/incredible-tips-tricks/184685-juice-defender.html

I started using it last week and it works amazing, especially becuase i get awful service in the building I work in. What it does, is it turns off your 3g connection when teh screen turns off. Every 15 minutes, it will re enable it for a minute so that you can get emails and so apps can update. It also turns on when you unlock your phone and when there's more than 50kb of traffic in a 15 second interval.

I left my phone on last night because I forgot to plug it in, and I only lost 4% battery all night. This works amazing; I would definitely try it. At the end of the day (a 17-18 hour time unplugged), I still have juice left.

 

[breynolds007]

Well that would be highly dependent on how long you've been in the contract. People on here have gone through 3-4 refurb units so I can guarantee if you find that exception, it is rare if not impossible. If that were true and they were just letting everyone buy phones at the new contract price, then there wouldn't be a point in 1 or 2 year contracts. People would just constantly renew their contract and keep getting the newest phones out (hence negating 1 or 2 year contracts).

I didn't say they were letting everyone do this or even me... they just mentioned that it had happened before. Obviously anyone with common sense would realize that this isn't a good business practice and VZW would only do this in rare circumstances. I can guarantee you that I will not go through 3 or 4 defective refurb units...if these first ones aren't better, I will work something out to switch phones. It's all about who you talk to and how you deal with them.

 

[breynolds007]

There is something wrong with the battery and/or phone if it only gets 8 hours sitting unused on a counter. If I charge my Incredible before bed and unplug it, I wake up to at least around 93% battery in the morning. I have all sorts of widgets, syncs, etc. running as well, and I don't turn off 3G at night. I have a stock battery and a 1500 OEM HTC battery.


It's either both your phones are defective or you're experiencing user error.

Yeah, I know its not right, we don't run many apps or widgets at all. They're actually sending replacement phones and batteries so we'll see.

 

[SeattleYanksFan]

Yeah, I know its not right, we don't run many apps or widgets at all. They're actually sending replacement phones and batteries so we'll see.

Yeah, let's see how the replacements work. Just a few things I noticed help a lot with battery life.

1. Turn OFF auto-brightness (it's annoying anyway).
2. Under Accounts & Sync settings, completely turn off sync for apps you don't use, and for those you do use, but infrequently, lower the frequency of syncing.
3. Make sure no apps you downloaded are constantly running. Check Running Services in settings and/or download an app like SystemPanel. Often when I had faster battery drain, it was due to a new app I downloaded that decided to always be running.
4. Decrease screen timeout to 30 seconds.

Good luck.

 

[freddyttt]

Yeah, I know its not right, we don't run many apps or widgets at all. They're actually sending replacement phones and batteries so we'll see.

007 do you use widget locker.? if so thats your random re-boots. iv worked through all the problems 1 by 1.

 

[SeattleYanksFan]

007 do you use widget locker.? if so thats your random re-boots. iv worked through all the problems 1 by 1.

I've used WidgetLocker for months and never noticed it to be the cause of random reboots. They happened, albeit extremely infrequently, both before and after I started using WL.

 

[breynolds007]

No, never used widget locker.

 

[breynolds007]

Yeah, let's see how the replacements work. Just a few things I noticed help a lot with battery life.

1. Turn OFF auto-brightness (it's annoying anyway).
2. Under Accounts & Sync settings, completely turn off sync for apps you don't use, and for those you do use, but infrequently, lower the frequency of syncing.
3. Make sure no apps you downloaded are constantly running. Check Running Services in settings and/or download an app like SystemPanel. Often when I had faster battery drain, it was due to a new app I downloaded that decided to always be running.
4. Decrease screen timeout to 30 seconds.

Good luck.

I wish it were this easy, but I'm not quite a rookie lol...I've done all this from the beginning. Thanks for the advice tho.

 

[SeattleYanksFan]

I wish it were this easy, but I'm not quite a rookie lol...I've done all this from the beginning. Thanks for the advice tho.

I hear ya. You'd just be surprised how many people complain of battery issues and then you find out they have apps keeping their phones awake the entire time.

Hopefully the replacements work out for you. If not, the Droid X is supposed to be a fantastic phone as well.

 

[kdarling]

A lot also depends on the tower reception around you. There's one shelf in my house that gets very little signal, so phones kill their battery overnight if left on it. A few feet away and the same phones lose almost no battery.

 

[Terabethia]

Well that would be highly dependent on how long you've been in the contract. People on here have gone through 3-4 refurb units so I can guarantee if you find that exception, it is rare if not impossible. If that were true and they were just letting everyone buy phones at the new contract price, then there wouldn't be a point in 1 or 2 year contracts. People would just constantly renew their contract and keep getting the newest phones out (hence negating 1 or 2 year contracts).

Actually... I know quite a few people (both in real life and on this very board) + myself who were allowed to switch to a different phone after a 3rd refurb not working out for them.

The people who get that far tend to be the people that really do like/want the phone and want to keep giving it another shot. Then finally, after 3 or 4 tries, they just give up.

Several years ago I got this little LG slider phone (I don't even remember the model). I loved the phone but I just kept getting bad ones. After the 3rd failure I went back in to the store and spoke to the manager. I politely but firmly told him that I was extremely unsatisfied with this phone and that if they were not willing to replace it with an equivalent priced phone, I would be canceling my service and going elsewhere, as I would not deal with a subpar phone for the next two years. They allowed me to exchange it for the LG Chocolate (which was actually $30 more expensive at the time) for free, with no contract renewal.

Verizon is pretty reasonable in my experience. They generally do whatever reasonably possible to keep their customers, expecially knowing that they can get similar (if not equal) phones on AT&T or Sprint, and probably for cheaper monthly plans.

 

[Big20x]

Well my wife had a Blackberry...that she got free from her NE2 just 5 months ago. She had it replaced 1 time. She developed an issue tech couldn't figure it out they offered to send her another phone. When they put her on hold I told her to ask when was the absolute earliest she could upgrade she did and it was like a year. The guy asked her what she wanted and she said that she was tired of the battery pulls etc. and would like a new phone. Well when all was said and done they sent her a Droid 2 (she wanted a keyboard). It was a refurb but she got a WAAAAYYYYY better phone than the free BB and there was no extra cost,and her up grade date stayed the same. So they do work with customers.

 

[Member112085]

I agree, Verizon is reasonable with customers who make reasonable requests.

 

[breynolds007]

I agree, Verizon is reasonable with customers who make reasonable requests.

That's right! Reasonable being the key word. I'm not trying to just get a new phone because I want a new phone, and VZW could still sell my INC. I really prefer HTC over Moto in general and love the INC.

Sometimes wonder if it would be better to just revert back to a regular old phone just for phone calls. Pocket size, 3 day battery life, never shuts off or requires any updates. I say this but in reality I would probably go into complete shock right away from smart phone withdrawal . But, I know Android and smartphones are still in their early years and eventually a lot of these issues will be worked out.

When I was in the store yesterday, the manager showed me a chart he said was internal that they keep to show customers avg battery time on each smart phone they offer when people come into complain about short battery life. It was sad to see. The INC was the lowest with a 4 hr 33 min avg, then the Fascinate was almost as bad around 4:40 and the best was the X at almost 8 hrs. I told him that it's not Verizon's fault but 4:33 is just pathetic. He said its ok with a car charger lol.

 

[breynolds007]

Well, my issues with the Incredible are finally over. 2 Droid X's are on the way and sending back my INC's. They didn't want to switch for another phone, but after numerous issues reported, many factory resets and both refurbs acting up after only a couple days Verizon did it. I know I'll miss Sense and some things about the INC, but to me it's not worth it if it doesn't work right. Feel sorry for anyone else being plagued with similar issues..it's a real pain to "need" to factory reset and redo all your settings every time something is wrong. That's just not a solution. Hope I can get used to the huge new phone.

 

[Member112085]

Congrats! You'll enjoy the X. And, if you install LauncherPro & Beautiful Widgets, you probably won't miss Sense as much as you think. I actually like the larger screen on the X...it works well with my aging eyes and fat fingers. LOL

 

[breynolds007]

Thanks again for the info dawn, I'll download these and looking forward to checking these new phones out.