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Need some (phone- buying) advice

kristalsoldier

Android Enthusiast
Jul 6, 2011
367
35
Hi all...

I have been in the market for a phone - Android, of course - for sometime now. My plans were thrown off gear by Google what with their releasing of first the Nexus 4 and then the Nexus 10 tablet.

In my scheme of things, a tablet is more important so I bought the N10. But my phone - which is currently an ancient and frankly not very good Samsung Galaxy Fit (yes, I know very low end) - need urgent replacement. Initially I thought about the N4. But now I am wondering.

My phone usage is as follows: phone calls (minimal), Music (average - though I do store about 2-3 gigs worth of music in the MicroSD card), but the thing I use the phone for most is tethering. I have a data plan on the phone which helps me to opt for a tablet without a 3G capability, which is why the N10 works just fine for me.

At the end of the day, therefore, what I want is a phone that (1) does all of the above - that's easy enough; (2) the tethering (with Android not much of a problem, I'd say); and, (3) this is the most important - a stellar battery life. My current phone - as may be expected - sucks on the battery front because among other things it is around 2 years old.

Ideally, the battery with 3G on (for at least 4-6 hrs a day) should last me at least 12-15 hours. Oh...and a more updated phone (both in terms of processor and software) would be good because I am getting really tired with the lags on my current handset.

What phone would you advise me to buy? My budget -
 
Hmm, with those kind of demands, it may be hard to get the kind of battery life you desire out of any Android phone. I have been getting very good battery life on my Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Even though it has been a year since it's release, I still think it's a very capable and smooth phone. I get 24hrs per charge with about 2 hours of screen on time. The tethering I cannot answer to since I don't do it and discussing tethering without a tethering plan is frowned upon at this site.

Hopefully someone else will come along with more answers.

good luck
 
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Hmm, with those kind of demands, it may be hard to get the kind of battery life you desire out of any Android phone. I have been getting very good battery life on my Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Even though it has been a year since it's release, I still think it's a very capable and smooth phone. I get 24hrs per charge with about 2 hours of screen on time. The tethering I cannot answer to since I don't do it and discussing tethering without a tethering plan is frowned upon at this site.

Hopefully someone else will come along with more answers.

good luck

OK. Thanks. About tethering: I can do it or so I have been told by my provider. But my apologies if I crossed any line. It was purely unintentional.
 
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Hey kristal,

I have moved this thread into the Device Comparison forum so you can get some good comparisons of devices around/within your budget.

If you are more concerned about our tethering policies you can read them here: Site Rules & Guidelines

Thanks for directing me to the Site Rules and Guidelines page. I read the policy regarding tethering carefully. It was very helpful and I will do my best to respect it.
 
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I doubt any phone can stay online for more than 5hrs of tethering, and that's pushing it. My Galaxy Tab Plus can only last like 6hrs of active tethering and its got a 4000mah battery, bigger than the battery of ANY phone out there.

Oh...yeah absolutely makes sense...I should have thought about that. Ok . then forget about the tethering or let's easy very minimal tethering. Other features remain the same. Been reading about the Moto RAZR which while last gen still apparently has very good battery stats. Only thing is I wonder if I can get it brand new. Don't want a used phone.
 
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OK. Thanks. About tethering: I can do it or so I have been told by my provider. But my apologies if I crossed any line. It was purely unintentional.

If you are told by your provider that you can do tethering, that that doesn't break the rules here. Hope you weren't put off by two guides mentioning that right away. As you see we posted at the same time, so niether knew that the other was doing so.

So that aside, is there any way your devices could take advantage of USB tethering? I obviously don't know much about the N10, but I thought I'd throw that out there. I do know that with a rooted phone you can USB tether, so maybe a rooted N would to? That way, there wouldn't be quite as much battery drain on the phone? Just rambling.

good luck
 
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If you are told by your provider that you can do tethering, that that doesn't break the rules here. Hope you weren't put off by two guides mentioning that right away. As you see we posted at the same time, so niether knew that the other was doing so.

So that aside, is there any way your devices could take advantage of USB tethering? I obviously don't know much about the N10, but I thought I'd throw that out there. I do know that with a rooted phone you can USB tether, so maybe a rooted N would to? That way, there wouldn't be quite as much battery drain on the phone? Just rambling.

good luck

No...not at all. I appreciate the pointer and in this day and age, it is best to keep one's head done. I have a whole philosophy about that, but that's for another thread in another forum.

I do know about the wireless tethering (sorry that should read US tethering) - never tried it though. Have not rooted the N10 yet. Maybe I should, but it is certainly an option. I'll check it out.
 
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