Never again: OEM android phones

[omnius]

I'm about due for a new phone and there's only one Android phone I'm considering, and it's the Nexus 4. I won't even look at let alone consider OEM androids any more.
You have LTE? Not good enough.
Better camera? Still not good enough.
Better battery? display? Expandable storage?

Even all of those combined don't compete with what the Nexus 4 has that Samsung/HTC/Moto/don't have:

Because you can't put a price tag on being free from *&^%##@ carrier interference and OEM heel-dragging. Being able to enjoy Android 6.0 as soon as it goes live rather than 6-12 months after the fact is worth more alone than anything an OEM can offer.

PS: Before I get the "root / ROM" argument thrown at me, show me one ROM that's as stable on an OEM branded phone as stock OS is on Nexus 4, and will stay that way keeping the pace with all future official versions of Android.

 

[Mostly Harmless]

I definitely agree with you, when it comes to Android the Nexus lines rock. But you really can't say LTE is not good enough. Currently at work I am getting 25mb down and 10mb up. That's faster then most peoples wifi. Plus I have seen up to 50mb down on LTE.

 

[mikedt]

I'm probably feeding a troll here..but anyway...

I'm about due for a new phone and there's only one Android phone I'm considering, and it's the Nexus 4. I won't even look at let alone consider OEM androids any more.
You have LTE? Not good enough.

Not good enough? I thought LTE was the fastest type of mobile data there is.

Better camera? Still not good enough.

Still not good enough.....compared to what? A real camera?

Better battery? display? Expandable storage?

More details are required for this one.

 

[Hadron]

I think that omnius means that an OEM phone may have all of these things better than the Nexus 4 but he considers the OS updates and lack of carrierware more important.

 

[breadnatty08]

I have a Gnex on Verizon. Currently it's at least 2 updates behind. Even the Nexus S is more up to date.
Mine is on a 4.2.1 based ROM because I don't want to be tied to the carrier's decision. I think this will be the last time Verizon will carry a Nexus device. It's great to have for hacking and modification along with the latest OS. Wish you luck on whatever you choose.

 

[Adauth]

Had to start two threads on basically the same thing I see?
If you think the iphone is superior like you hinted at in your other thread then go get an iphone.
Sure have been a lot of iphone "praise" threads lately for an android forum...
:what:

 

[Crashdamage]

Moving on...nothing new to see here...

 

[dan330]

ok... so... you want us to tell you .. that you should get a nexus phone?

you should get a nexus phone!!!
glad android gives us choices.



i want faster data speeds
better cameras..
sdcard support
battery options

we both win!

 

[fdbryant3]

Congratulations of figuring out why you want particular phone above all other choices, I'm sure you'll be as happy with it as I am with my choice of a Galaxy S3.

Everyone wins except Apple and isn't that what life is about.

 

[Thats]

The best part is that everyone can find the PERFECT PHONE for them! I personally LOVE my Nexus 4, and I am betting that you will be someone who loves his/hers just as much as I do. Enjoy your new phone.

Now then: Goodluck purchasing one

 

[Chaser94]

ok... so... you want us to tell you .. that you should get a nexus phone?

you should get a nexus phone!!!
glad android gives us choices.



i want faster data speeds
better cameras..
sdcard support
battery options

we both win!

Exactly! We can all have our own ideas of what's better but in the end we all still run android. Right now I have a DECENT (not the best) kyocera rise with a somewhat sub/par processor (snapdragon s2 single core) underpowered 3.2 mp camera, lackluster display, and only half a gig of ram. And to top it all off, it still runs on ICS. but I love the phone and it performed the way I want it to (most of the time) and that's all I need for now. Its a fantastic budget smart phone.

 

[pool_shark]

I guess I don't understand the argument.
One of the main reasons people buy a Nexus device is for the dev support of custom ROMs.

I ran several ROMs on my Galaxy Nexus, and have run 3 on my Note 2. They're all equally stable.

 

[Crashdamage]

One of the main reasons people buy a Nexus device is for the dev support of custom ROMs.

One of the main reasons I ordered Nexus 4 was because I did *not* need to root it or run custom ROMs.

 

[bigdrew]

One of the main reasons I ordered Nexus 4 was because I did *not* need to root it or run custom ROMs.

Custom ROMs became a necessity for me, rather than something I really enjoyed doing. I have better things to do with my time than reconfiguring my phone after every new flash. Although some were considered "stable", there were always paroxysmal bugs or broken features (like HDCP and MHL, commonly). There's too much custom hardware and closed source firmware, and too little documentation to get everything working 100%. I'm still grateful for the work of the community, but that's been my past experience.

I am also enjoying the N4. It's mine outright. There's no non-removable bloatware taking up storage, no Carrier IQ, and no blocked apps. I control it. That's important to me personally, and others like me. People feel differently about what's most important to them, and I understand that.

 

[Crashdamage]

Well, if you don't need to root or run custom ROMs, then you never need to reflash and reconfigure. Probem solved. I can't think of a reason I'd ever need to root a Nexus 4.

 

[omnius]

I think that omnius means that an OEM phone may have all of these things better than the Nexus 4 but he considers the OS updates and lack of carrierware more important.

Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying. Cameras that are a little better, sd cards, and LTE would all not make me a satisfied customer if I had to wait 6 or more months for the newest OS, deal with carrierware, and OEMware

 

[lightsleeper23]

Im with you omnius. I hope to be getting a nexus 4 in the next few months. Im tired of the oem crap. Ive paid $300 for phones that were already a year+ behind, and would NEVER be updated. Ive rooted, flashed, and all that nonsense. And what did i get? Nothing but problems, bricked phones. At best, roms that mostly worked but had little bugs that annoyed on almost a daily basis. Im over it. Ill be glad to pay $350 for a device that is light years better than what ive had before, and will stay that way for quite some time. All without being tied to a contract and being at the mercy of carriers and there astronomical monthly bills.