Would you recommend the bionic?

[61scout80]

I'm in the market for a new phone. I want 4g and under $100. new egg has the Bionic for $99.99 (it was $49.99 yesterday ). So it's on my list of phones to consider.

I've read through many of the threads here and see there are some problems, but I also understand forums are usually found by people looking for solutions.


My question is would you recommend the bionic? A simple "yes" or "no" would be awesome.

Thanks!

 

[dropnbassonu]

Yep...love mine. Get the extended battery and you'll never look back

 

[briand515]

Yeah mines been pretty great, especially after I did the .901 update, my LTE reception is rock solid now. The phones always been lightning fast. Overall its a great phone.

 

[Thom]

Yes and No.

No if you need an absolutely reliable data connection for your business. Wait 2-3 more months.

Yes if you can live with random data outages and want to jump into the Aneroid universe. It is a great foundation.

... Thom

 

[WA_Bob]

It's got it's quirks, but I've found it to be a very reliable phone that serves me quite well. It's not top of the line anymore, but it will get an official ICS build down the line and I easily see it lasting you out for a 2 year contract.

 

[doogald]

Yes and No.

No if you need an absolutely reliable data connection for your business. Wait 2-3 more months.

Yes if you can live with random data outages and want to jump into the Aneroid universe. It is a great foundation.

... Thom

I voted no but I agree with this. It depends on how important a stable data connection is at this point. Some people can do fine so long as calls and text messages can always complete in an area where you get a signal. Some people (like me) really want a phone with a reliable data connection as well. So, it depends on what is absolutely necessary.

So, sorry that I can't give a simple yes or no, because it's not quite so simple. Honestly, though, I think I'd try to find the extra cash and go for the Nexus rather than try to save on the Bionic. But, that's your call.

 

[New Rising]

I voted no but I agree with this. It depends on how important a stable data connection is at this point. Some people can do fine so long as calls and text messages can always complete in an area where you get a signal. Some people (like me) really want a phone with a reliable data connection as well. So, it depends on what is absolutely necessary.

So, sorry that I can't give a simple yes or no, because it's not quite so simple. Honestly, though, I think I'd try to find the extra cash and go for the Nexus rather than try to save on the Bionic. But, that's your call.

I don't think you'd find a much better data connection with the nexus. From what I've been reading they've been having just as much troubles with data stability and getting crappy reception. I don't think shelling out another 200 bucks for a nexus is worth it if he's saying he can get a Bionic for $100. The only reason I'd see getting the nexus is for ics but we'll be getting that too anyway.

 

[doogald]

I don't think you'd find a much better data connection with the nexus. From what I've been reading they've been having just as much troubles with data stability and getting crappy reception. I don't think shelling out another 200 bucks for a nexus is worth it if he's saying he can get a Bionic for $100. The only reason I'd see getting the nexus is for ics but we'll be getting that too anyway.

The Nexus should and likely will receive updates before the Bionic will. I haven't read about nearly as many people complaining about data issues with the Nexus, but you may be right. Even if they are the same, you'll end up with a better phone with better support going forward, and there really isn't a fantastically great 3G only phone to get at this point on VZW.

 

[trophynuts]

I voted no simply because of all of the negative posts i read about the Bionic. Yeah the G Nex has issues too but i'll take the G Nex issues over the Bionic issues any day.

To be honest with you too though the ReZound is a great phone as well.

 

[New Rising]

The Nexus should and likely will receive updates before the Bionic will. I haven't read about nearly as many people complaining about data issues with the Nexus, but you may be right. Even if they are the same, you'll end up with a better phone with better support going forward, and there really isn't a fantastically great 3G only phone to get at this point on VZW.

I've personally have never really had trouble with data drops on my Bionic, besides all the vzw outages recently. There's also the possibility that the reception issues with the nexus aren't a software issue and can't be fixed with an update. Most people agree that Motorolas radios are the best out there and I've always had good reception so I'm happy with my Bionic.

 

[Thom]

OK ... stop beating up on the Bionic and data drops.

Yes you've read more about data drops with the Bionic ... the main reason is that it was around the longest. It's going to have found more problems.

Some of the problems were in the network and they were corrected before the other two were released.

The bottom line is ... if you MUST have a reliable connection to do business today ... you are deluding yourself if you get any of the three.

If you can live with the data drops ... get the one that blows your hair back.

... Thom

 

[whompus60]

I can whole heartedly recommend the bionic. I have not experienced any of the data drops, but then I would have to say around 80 to 90 % of my data is wi-fi anyway.

I gave my wife the option of razr, nexus,and bionic and she went with bionic as well. She pointed out something to me that I have not read much about on the nexus. It seemed to have a lot of jagged edges in the usage of it. I whole lot when on solid background such as white or black background when reading txt. I suspect it is to much resolution for not so much better screen. May have just been us but it was very noticeable. I love the idea of ics on it and can hardly wait for official release for bionic.

 

[x026092]

Yes.... It is not without its quirks, but for $99, go for it. There is no perfect 4G phone yet.

 

[trophynuts]

I can whole heartedly recommend the bionic. I have not experienced any of the data drops, but then I would have to say around 80 to 90 % of my data is wi-fi anyway.

I gave my wife the option of razr, nexus,and bionic and she went with bionic as well. She pointed out something to me that I have not read much about on the nexus. It seemed to have a lot of jagged edges in the usage of it. I whole lot when on solid background such as white or black background when reading txt. I suspect it is to much resolution for not so much better screen. May have just been us but it was very noticeable. I love the idea of ics on it and can hardly wait for official release for bionic.

welcome to Pentile Matrix

 

[mamawm]

yes, go for it. i love mine. don't live in a 4g area, so i keep mine set to cdma only and i don't have data drops. best phone i've ever had.

 

[desmofan]

Coming from an OG Droid, I love the phone. It's fast, nice screen, and generally reliable. But, it reboots randomly several times/day, I still get occasional periods of no data connection (although I have not noticed this since I started leaving the WiFi on at all times), and the 500MB of ROM seems like it may be a bit limiting (phone has slowed a bit as I've added more apps). I recently rooted and froze a bunch of stuff, and like that.

So, I got this phone because I was able to buy it used (two weeks of use) for $200 with a media dock, extra battery, separate standalone charger and an Otterbox Defender, and did not have to use my upgrade and lock into a new two year contract. I think I may take this approach from here out, as committing to two years is tough with the idiosyncrasies of all the phones out lately. I would not commit to two years with this phone, but that is my personal opinion.

 

[mamawm]

Coming from an OG Droid, I love the phone. It's fast, nice screen, and generally reliable. But, it reboots randomly several times/day, I still get occasional periods of no data connection (although I have not noticed this since I started leaving the WiFi on at all times), and the 500MB of ROM seems like it may be a bit limiting (phone has slowed a bit as I've added more apps). I recently rooted and froze a bunch of stuff, and like that.

So, I got this phone because I was able to buy it used (two weeks of use) for $200 with a media dock, extra battery, separate standalone charger and an Otterbox Defender, and did not have to use my upgrade and lock into a new two year contract. I think I may take this approach from here out, as committing to two years is tough with the idiosyncrasies of all the phones out lately. I would not commit to two years with this phone, but that is my personal opinion.

not to derail the thread, but just a heads up. when i first got the bionic i installed several apps that i thought i couldn't live without. and i had quite a few of the random reboots the first few weeks. then i uninstalled several of those must have apps and the random reboots stopped. i must conclude that there are some apps that simply don't play nice with the bionic. i haven't yet been able to figure out exactly which ones were the cause.

 

[johnlgalt]

a device that randomly reboots should be evaluated - I've had mine since drop day (I was one of the very first owners) and my device has yet to randomly reboot more than once the entire time I have owned it.

 

[desmofan]

a device that randomly reboots should be evaluated - I've had mine since drop day (I was one of the very first owners) and my device has yet to randomly reboot more than once the entire time I have owned it.

That makes sense. I originally upgraded through Verizon, liked the phone but not enough to "upgrade", so returned it and bought used. I have/had the rebooting problem on both phones (fewer on my new to me/used one). I did swap out the SIM from the Verizon phone to my new one, so that could be the cause of the rebooting.

 

[Thom]

That makes sense. I originally upgraded through Verizon, liked the phone but not enough to "upgrade", so returned it and bought used. I have/had the rebooting problem on both phones (fewer on my new to me/used one). I did swap out the SIM from the Verizon phone to my new one, so that could be the cause of the rebooting.

The question I would have is how are you installing the apps in each case? Are you going back to the distribution packages and installing them from scratch or are you somehow trying to restore them?

I have a policy (based on experience a long time ago) to always install from the distributed version and not try to restore from a previous machine. As a result I never enc up installing a problem from the old machine to the new machine that was not in the original distribution.

... Thom

 

[desmofan]

The question I would have is how are you installing the apps in each case? Are you going back to the distribution packages and installing them from scratch or are you somehow trying to restore them?

I have a policy (based on experience a long time ago) to always install from the distributed version and not try to restore from a previous machine. As a result I never enc up installing a problem from the old machine to the new machine that was not in the original distribution.

... Thom

I have installed all apps directly from the Market. I think the only tie between the two Bionics is the SIM card, so I may try replacing it. The reboots are not a huge deal, as it has never happened when I've actively been using the phone.

 

[xmr405o]

Yes definitely especially if you can get a deal like that.

 

[Thom]

I have installed all apps directly from the Market. I think the only tie between the two Bionics is the SIM card, so I may try replacing it. The reboots are not a huge deal, as it has never happened when I've actively been using the phone.

A new SIM card couldn't hurt.

Making sure the SIM card and SD card are firmly and squally seated also couldn't hurt.

I, like John, have had the Bionic since minute one and it did a spontaneous re-boot once since then.

... Thom

 

[desmofan]

A new SIM card couldn't hurt.

Making sure the SIM card and SD card are firmly and squally seated also couldn't hurt.

I, like John, have had the Bionic since minute one and it did a spontaneous re-boot once since then.

... Thom

I'll try the SIM/SD seating as well, thanks!

I need too return my vehicle mount anyway, so I guess I'll have Verizon swap out the SIM while I'm there.

 

[SteveC]

The Bionic does not seem to like apps on the external SD card. I had all sorts of app issues until I put the apps on internal storage.

I personally have had zero spontaneous reboots and very few data drops. I live in a 3G area and have 4G disabled.

In most ways the Bionic is the best of the half dozen different smartphones I have had. I am however, in a bit of a quandary as to whether or not to keep the Bionic. I am getting close to my 30 day period and need to decide if I want a RAZR or Google Nexus pretty quick. The Bionic is fine for the way it works now, but the problem I see is the state (or lack thereof) of continued custom ROM development. There are comments all over about how Bionic development is dead. Most of the ROM OP's have not posted in their Bionic ROM threads for a long time. I have a dread of deciding to keep the Bionic, then finding that the next great update to fix all of the issues will see no development to support the update, and we're stuck on rooted stock.

So I suppose the question for me hinges on which of the Bionic, RAZR, or GNex will see the best, most sustainable development to last until Google's purchase of Motorola finally yields something like the Google Droid Nexus that won't have all the locked bootloader and other anti root crap we have to fight our way through. The Bionic is good enough for that now, but with ******ed development how long will that last?