About to buy an LG Optimus F3 coming from the Motion 4G, should I wait for a new phone?

[koolsk8ter111]

I would keep my motion if it wasn't for the CDMA shutdown of metropcs. The only phone with similar specs and price range of the LG Motion is the F3, since the L9 has outdated hardware.

My only real problem with this phone is that it only has like less than 2gb of storage which is face palming. Now, I was saying to myself that I would just go ahead and buy a microSD, but none of the 4.0+ android phones support apps transfer to SD/external storage, so the SD card becomes useless. So what does the company expect us to do? I don't feel like rooting my phone, since I don't do any of that kind of stuff. Do they expect our cdma 4g phones to shut off and force us to migrate over to these phones with ridiculous storage amounts? I mean seriously, not even 2gb of storage is on the phone, which is outrageously stupid and we're stuck with that with a useless SD card if we were to buy one. I mean what was the point of making a phone with so little storage. You cannot even use the phone's full potential like that.


So you guys think I should try to hold on to my Motion for a longer period of time until they release a new phone? I am going to be honest, t-mobile phones seem very lackluster, metropcs gave us phones which beefy specs for a nice price, even if they were only slightly better. It might even get worse with prices and types of phones since t-mobile prepaid phones were never really that great. I really wish they could have kept CDMA on so I could keep my motion for awhile even for the next year or two.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Well first of all, CDMA has plenty of time left. The shutdown isn't happening until sometime in 2015, so as long as you're not having problems with your Motion or your current service you can keep it until then.
I personally chose to make the Motion > F3 move about a month ago, based on a combination of a few things- some CDMA dead zones in places I frequent (knowing that network isn't going to get any better), T-Mo having their LTE up and running in my area, and the Motion doing a couple of annoying things (reboots, GPS dropouts). Your situation may be totally different.
As for the lack of storage on the F3, yes it sucks but with the phone being so good otherwise it was far from a deal-breaker for me. I guess it helps in my case that I don't put games on my phones and after a year my total app storage used on my Motion was about equal to what the F3 could hold.
If the phone interests you otherwise I'd suggest you get it, then man up and root it so you can use Link2SD (and GL to SD if you have games). Rooting this phone is super-easy and you can leave it fully stock once it's rooted.
Using Link2SD, at this point with my full complement of apps installed I've got almost 2/3 of the internal storage still free with over 400MB on the linked SD partition, so there's room for plenty more.
I'll also add that you aren't going to get the fantastic battery life of the F3 on any other phone, and that isn't something you can fix as easily as the memory shortage (unless you want to have a huge "phone tumor" battery sticking out the back, assuming they have those for the F3 already).

 

[jjrx3]

i agree with the person above me. Only make the switch if its absolutely necessary. In my case my LG Connect had so many problems ( short battery life, 2.3 OS, and many more). With this phone (F3) im getting a strong signal and LTE connection inside my house. The lack of internal storage is not a problem for me since i have an "eye-pod" and a nexus 7 to play games... Im not really looking to root as i can disable/uninstall most bloatware.

 

[koolsk8ter111]

There's absolutely no way of transferring apps on SD without rooting, not even through messing with the files on the computer with USB?

I am really not into rooting my phone. Apps to SD storage should be something that can be done on stock already. My point is, people shouldn't have to hack their phones in order to take advantage of something they should already have, especially when you spend money on an microSD, you should take advantage of it.

 

[Fox Mulder]

There's absolutely no way of transferring apps on SD without rooting, not even through messing with the files on the computer with USB?

No, there isn't. As you already noted in your first post, the ability to move apps to the external SD went away beginning with ICS. Blame Google as it's a function of the OS, it's not the phone mfr's fault.
The SD card is now considered as strictly a repository for media, so it is still useful if you intend to have a lot of pics, videos or music on your phone.
As much of an issue as the actual lack of internal storage, is the fact that most casual users aren't aware of the inability to move apps to the SD until after they buy the phone and try to do so. At least those of us here on the forums who have a little knowledge are fully informed ahead of time and can plan accordingly.

 

[unnamedny]

I would go for the switch, I sold my Motion on ebay for $60, it had an extended battery. But also my rebate went through even that I'm not a new costumer. I love f3 for it's battery. I also have better service in most places. It's the same size as motion, but with a little bigger and better screen. If you can deal with "lack" of storage (which is not the issue for me) it's an awesome phone.

 

[jjrx3]

I would go for the switch, I sold my Motion on ebay for $60, it had an extended battery. But also my rebate went through even that I'm not a new costumer. I love f3 for it's battery. I also have better service in most places. It's the same size as motion, but with a little bigger and better screen. If you can deal with "lack" of storage (which is not the issue for me) it's an awesome phone.

how did u manage getting the rebate? I couldnt even talk the guy down to the $20 back 2 school rebate.

 

[koolsk8ter111]

I would go for the switch, I sold my Motion on ebay for $60, it had an extended battery. But also my rebate went through even that I'm not a new costumer. I love f3 for it's battery. I also have better service in most places. It's the same size as motion, but with a little bigger and better screen. If you can deal with "lack" of storage (which is not the issue for me) it's an awesome phone.

The thing is, I download a lot of apps. I really hope the optimus f3 gets 4.3 android kitkat (which I doubt it will). I heard 4.3 has the apps2sd capability. If worse comes to worst, I might have to switch carriers and say "bye metro". I am really not happy on what t-mobile is doing with metropcs. We're always left in the gutter with something on this carrier.

 

[unnamedny]

The thing is, I download a lot of apps. I really hope the optimus f3 gets 4.3 android kitkat (which I doubt it will). I heard 4.3 has the apps2sd capability. If worse comes to worst, I might have to switch carriers and say "bye metro". I am really not happy on what t-mobile is doing with metropcs. We're always left in the gutter with something on this carrier.

that could be an option. You can switch to tmobile and still be with metro. Why not buy some phone unlocked and just get metro sim. check out Optimus F6

 

[koolsk8ter111]

Hey guys. I think I made up my mind. I am probably going to go with the LG Optimus L9. The gaming performance is roughly the same as the motion/f3 i've heard, with not much lag, but the cpu is slightly slower. It has a bigger screen and slightly more storage than the F3. LG Optimus L9 | Android | No Contract | MetroPCS | MetroPCS

 

[sneaky_1]

T-Mobile's prepaid phone selection might be lackluster online, but all you really need is a sim kit and you can use any unlocked gsm phone (band dependent for hspa and or lte). Right now the nexus 4's price breaks can't be beat. With unlockable lte on tmobile too, with a little work.

Edit: saw your post, the l9 is a good phone too, for the price.

 

[Caesars]

Nexus 4! The only way a nexus wouldn't be your best option (from a price and "brand" new point of view) is if you needed full lte coverage, as the nexus 4s lte coverage is only in a few markets.

GS4/iPhone5

 

[Fox Mulder]

Hey guys. I think I made up my mind. I am probably going to go with the LG Optimus L9. The gaming performance is roughly the same as the motion/f3 i've heard, with not much lag, but the cpu is slightly slower. It has a bigger screen and slightly more storage than the F3. LG Optimus L9 | Android | No Contract | MetroPCS | MetroPCS

It's your choice, but is that bigger screen (not IPS as in the F3) and very small amount of additional storage that important to you? The L9 has an older/slower CPU, no LTE capability like the F3 does, and a smaller battery. So think it over carefully and read ALL the specs before making your decision.

 

[koolsk8ter111]

It's your choice, but is that bigger screen (not IPS as in the F3) and very small amount of additional storage that important to you? The L9 has an older/slower CPU, no LTE capability like the F3 does, and a smaller battery. So think it over carefully and read ALL the specs before making your decision.

The specs say L9 has IPS. The GPU is still gaming capable, which is what I like.

 

[koolsk8ter111]

After I receive any phone, I am going to try this: How to install Android Apps on SD CARD by default without rooting - YouTube

 

[Anroid-Newbie]

The Optimus F6 has the same amount of internal storage of the F3, Just a bigger screen. I dont get what LG was trying to do here. Its quite frustrating. They make these phones with great potential, but this low amount of internal storage is a LOW BLOW!

 

[koolsk8ter111]

The Optimus F6 has the same amount of internal storage of the F3, Just a bigger screen. I dont get what LG was trying to do here. Its quite frustrating. They make these phones with great potential, but this low amount of internal storage is a LOW BLOW!

Yeah it is! That's my whole point. That was a poor idea to make only 1.2gb of storage, especially on a phone like this which needs more.

 

[unnamedny]

The specs say L9 has IPS. The GPU is still gaming capable, which is what I like.

I own both phones, screens are the same(density and colors), battery on f3 lasts much longer, probably because of a smaller screen. You said F3 has troubled storage, L9 is just slightly better, not by much. Last time I checked L9 was a pain to root. Yes its going to run games, but if you fail to install apps to sd card you are stuck with almost same phone as F3

 

[unnamedny]

Yeah it is! That's my whole point. That was a poor idea to make only 1.2gb of storage, especially on a phone like this which needs more.

F6 has 4gb of storage. here is the spec list http://www.phonearena.com/phones/LG-Optimus-F6_id8049

 

[Fox Mulder]

F6 has 4gb of storage. here is the spec list LG Optimus F6 specs

That number may include non-user-accessible memory so the actual usable storage may be less. I've seen the same number listed for the F3.

 

[unnamedny]

That number may include non-user-accessible memory so the actual usable storage may be less. I've seen the same number listed for the F3.

well you are right, need to look at more info on that.
edit: it seems 1.2 gb of available user storage it is. that sucks then.

 

[Sinner67]

Before I buy any new Android phone, I always go to the corresponding forum on here and read up on what current users of the phone are saying.

 

[koolsk8ter111]

I am deciding between the F3 and the L9. The thing is, I really want the L9, but the F3 has more advantages.

Here's why:


*It has the faster snapdragon S4 (which my motion already has)

*LTE (and from all speed tests people did of the hspa network on L9, it seems slower and more unreliable compared to LTE)

*Slightly better GPU

*Better battery life (according to people and the specs)

*Slightly bigger screen than motion)


The L9 has a huge screen, which I really want. I am really attracted to the L9's display and design, since big screens are relaxing for my eyes, especially with my eye problems and I like a screen easy to text on. The only bad thing is that there is no LTE and the processor seems outdated, and I am not sure how good/bad games perform on the GPU since I haven't owned it yet.

I am coming off of the Motion as I am mentioned in my previous threads/posts.

Since owning the Motion, how much of a downgrade do you think the L9 and F3 would be compared to it? I mean for pete sake the motion scored a 1533mhz or 1555mhz processor I believe (one or the other), and the F3 has a 1188mhz as I've seen on youtube, so it's not exactly 1.2ghz. The L9 has 1008mhz as seen on youtube benchmarks. As far as gaming performance and overall phone experience if I was to get an L9 over the F3, would I be disappointed coming off of the motion? I mean, including the F3 too since that one is 1.2ghz (almost) compared to 1.5ghz in the Motion.


Am I in for a disappointment? I really want the L9, but the F3 seems like the most comparable to the Motion as it has the snapdragon S4 inside and same GPU I believe.


The L9 has a really beneficial screen size for gaming and big screens seem to be relaxing on my eyes better than smaller screens.

 

[unnamedny]

both phones are really similar. I did not go with big screen because I carry phone on my belt bag and really prefer it not too big. Its also easier to navigate F3. Battery life is a huge factor for me, I used to have Lg Motion with an extended battery.
I can not really tell you by how much battery is better on F3 vs L9 but I would roughly say 20%. Other than that and a screen size phones are almost Identical. Just go with one you like, both are nice phones.

 

[sneaky_1]

I thought the motion has a 1.2ghz msm8960 lite CPU? At least that's what I'm finding online.

FYI, the F3 has a snapdragon 400 CPU.