I downloaded the Google one. Imho it's miles better than the Samsung keyboard

After a discussion with EE I have a new S4 on the way for free on their 4G network - have more call plan minutes, more inclusive text messages and double the data plan. Also the cost has dropped by £1.50 pcm, I did decline the £10 phone insurance.

Around 2 hours demo with each phone. Why do a scientific comparison when its a real world experience that matters? The HTC was quicker to load, no lagging, sound quality was far superior due to the front mounted stereo speakers/beats software, camera startup was quicker. When trying out the S4 it didnt want to respond to commands as quick, the eye movement recognition isnt as good as its made out to be either. Granted, the HTC doesnt have expandable memory, is slightly heavier and thicker. But other than that, its a really understated phone. HTC havent been doing all that well financially but the One has really set the bar. The S4 tries to do too much all at once.  Oh, and the HTC comes with a really nice set of Beats headphones:)

Day

 

I am tempted to upgrade slightly early, have Galaxy S2 and am happy with it, fantastic phone. But was thinking S4 as first port of call. I had not looked at the HTC One until I started reading this thread and have been reading all the review places HTC One v S4 comparisons. Big 'on paper' points for me are directing me to the S4 still though.

 

S4 = removable standard battery / changable plastic cover - HTC One = higher quality rear casing but not removable or option to carry a spare battery (massive blow for me personally.

 

S4 = micro SD expandable memory - HTC One = no expandable memory option (crying shame was main reason I didn't touch iPhone with all the cattle back in the day)

 

S4 = 1.9GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600, 2GB RAM - HTC One = 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600, 2GB RAM (can't see it making the world of difference to me but 'on paper' S4 seems stronger.

 

S4 = 13mega pixel camera = HTC One = 4 mega pixel camera (HTC said to be a good camera and better in low light, but outdoors, close detail etc S4 essentially raping it and for that another big lean for S4 for me)

 

S4 = mono speaker on rear - HTC One = dual front mounted stereo speakers (HTC has to be the daddy on sound hands down, S4 should have taken notes from Galzxt Tab 2 for that IMO)

 

Benchmarks 

 

 

I am very particular about things I buy but for some reason don't do the going into the shop and trying both out thing. I bought my VRS with only having ever sat in passenger seat in an Octavia Elegance once...... First time I even saw one properly or sat in drivers seat was when I collected it. 

 

I think next phone I will just wing it and go for an S4, I do like the design of it more personally but HTC One looks to be a quality item! S4 is the best selling phone of the year. For most things that would be a good sign, but look at the apple lemmings when it truly dominated the market with a scary bulk of retards buying it and not knowing why (no dramas with folk who understand what it is and what it can do) 

I downloaded the Google one. Imho it's miles better than the Samsung keyboard

The google one doesnt want to work for me lol!

 

Day

I am tempted to upgrade slightly early, have Galaxy S2 and am happy with it, fantastic phone. But was thinking S4 as first port of call. I had not looked at the HTC One until I started reading this thread and have been reading all the review places HTC One v S4 comparisons. Big 'on paper' points for me are directing me to the S4 still though.

 

S4 = removable standard battery / changable plastic cover - HTC One = higher quality rear casing but not removable or option to carry a spare battery (massive blow for me personally.

 

S4 = micro SD expandable memory - HTC One = no expandable memory option (crying shame was main reason I didn't touch iPhone with all the cattle back in the day)

 

S4 = 1.9GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600, 2GB RAM - HTC One = 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600, 2GB RAM (can't see it making the world of difference to me but 'on paper' S4 seems stronger.

 

S4 = 13mega pixel camera = HTC One = 4 mega pixel camera (HTC said to be a good camera and better in low light, but outdoors, close detail etc S4 essentially raping it and for that another big lean for S4 for me)

 

S4 = mono speaker on rear - HTC One = dual front mounted stereo speakers (HTC has to be the daddy on sound hands down, S4 should have taken notes from Galzxt Tab 2 for that IMO)

 

Benchmarks 

 

 

I am very particular about things I buy but for some reason don't do the going into the shop and trying both out thing. I bought my VRS with only having ever sat in passenger seat in an Octavia Elegance once...... First time I even saw one properly or sat in drivers seat was when I collected it. 

 

I think next phone I will just wing it and go for an S4, I do like the design of it more personally but HTC One looks to be a quality item! S4 is the best selling phone of the year. For most things that would be a good sign, but look at the apple lemmings when it truly dominated the market with a scary bulk of retards buying it and not knowing why (no dramas with folk who understand what it is and what it can do) 

The fact the battery on the HTC isnt removable was never a worry for me. I'm never far away from a charger, plus I have a work phone as a backup.

The memory was never an issue as I constantly back upto skydrive with any pics/videos/docs etc. I had a 16gb Iphone 5 and only managed to use 4GB.

As for the processor, yes its lacking by 0.2GHz which isnt a big worry for me. I dont use the phone for gaming or any high memory apps.

As for the camera, the HTC Ultrapixel is quite interesting in its own right. Again, I have a DSLR for any serious photography.

And as for the speaker setup, big win in my eyes. Beats audio have always been fantastic, I do like my music and do use youtube alot. 

Bearing in mind I purchased my phone sim free. The price played a big part in my choice of phone. The HTC may be the underdog on paper and in a few areas, but as for sheer quality and design I cant fault it. I've had HTC before and have always been very satisfied, with Samsungs i've not been so impressed. Call it brand loyalty but I go on past experiences with phones. 

Day

I downloaded the Google one. Imho it's miles better than the Samsung keyboard

Try the 30 day SwiftKey demo. You'll be very impressed

Try the 30 day SwiftKey demo. You'll be very impressed

I don't pay for anything on my phone though, so if it is good, I would then feel sad as I wouldn't be able to have it :( The Nexus keyboard is pretty god though and I use swype an awful lot (think that's what it's called?). Anyhoo it is a lot betterereerr than the standard Samsung one

Well my S4 in White has just arrived, oddly though when connected to Kies on the Laptop the first thing it wants to do is a Firmware update, I'd expect a new one to come with the latest firmware loaded.

Well my S4 in White has just arrived, oddly though when connected to Kies on the Laptop the first thing it wants to do is a Firmware update, I'd expect a new one to come with the latest firmware loaded.

There was an OS upgrade released only a few weeks ago on EE (If your phone is on EE?). Your phone might just have missed it when it left the factory?

Guess that was the case.

 

All nicely upgraded now though and have transferred everything that I required from the S2 via Kies.

S4 = removable standard battery / changable plastic cover - HTC One = higher quality rear casing but not removable or option to carry a spare battery (massive blow for me personally.

This alone puts the HTC one out of the running for me, SWMBO's phone is a nightmare with it's non removable battery, whereas I spent £15 for two uprated batteries from Amazon when mine died.

Not tried any other phone but have to say on experience the S4 has not let me down since I upgraded to it from an S2 6 weeks ago.

 

I ruled out a lot of the other phones for the reasons above (no micro SD slot, no removable battery).

 

Ok I might not actually change the battery atm but should circumstances change I can (have had to do so in the past with other phones).

 

The micro SD  slot for me was a potential deal breaker. I like to have a lot of photos and music on the phone and I don't want the internal memory getting filled by it. Got a 16Gb in it atm and plenty of space available.

That's my reason for resisting buying a phone with fixed on board memory.

Manufacturers think we like this Apple model of phone design.

Like others I've got gbs of photos, media and music. Yes it could be cut down, but not enough to fit a 16gb device like a Nexus 4.

I love my S4 but find EEs coverage since they 'Optimised' their network to be rubbish :(

the main reason i want a phone with a removable battery is not to be able to change it in case of issues with the battery, but to be able to remove the battery to switch the phone off if it freezes.

That's my reason for resisting buying a phone with fixed on board memory.

Manufacturers think we like this Apple model of phone design.

Like others I've got gbs of photos, media and music. Yes it could be cut down, but not enough to fit a 16gb device like a Nexus 4.

Funny I had this discussion with my Mate with an IPhone - he said that he just keeps his media on the phone and on Apple's Cloud - that is fine I countered but of no use when roaming abroad - unless you want to pay for roaming data.

 

He couldn't really counter that argument.

 

So having 32GB of extra storage for my media swung it for me.

 

Having now found how to cache offline Maps again in the new version of Google Maps, I can again cache these for when we sail to Norway in a couple of weeks.

 

 

Having now found how to cache offline Maps again in the new version of Google Maps, I can again cache these for when we sail to Norway in a couple of weeks.

Ooh that would be good to know. I can't find it since the last update of Google Maps 

ditto, how do you do that?

 

interested in this thread as my Galaxy S2 is due an upgrade in the next 2 weeks. The handset is actually a replacement and is only a month old but Vodafone insist I am due an upgrade. It's my work phone and I already have an S3 as my own phone. I'm tempted having read this to just keep the S2 for now and see what comes next as I am actually quite happy with the S2.

I've had an S2 since Jan 2012, and it's another 5 months before my contract is up. But it's interesting to know what's good *now* seeing as it might be a bit cheaper to get a hold of *then*

have been very happy with my S2, until recently when I updated it to JellyBean.

Since then I've been tracking down which apps have been sucking out the battery power and busying the processor / trying to find a wifi or 3g signal causing it to overheat whenever it's in my pocket and I'm out and about, which never happened before.

So when the time comes, I may well look for something else.

Ooh that would be good to know. I can't find it since the last update of Google Maps 

You scroll down from the search dialogue box and you can then see Make this map available offline.

You scroll down from the search dialogue box and you can then see Make this map available offline.

Ah ha!!! I didn't look down there. Brilliant . thanks

Ah ha!!! I didn't look down there. Brilliant . thanks

You are welcome  :sun:

ditto!

I've had an S2 since Jan 2012, and it's another 5 months before my contract is up. But it's interesting to know what's good *now* seeing as it might be a bit cheaper to get a hold of *then*

have been very happy with my S2, until recently when I updated it to JellyBean.

Since then I've been tracking down which apps have been sucking out the battery power and busying the processor / trying to find a wifi or 3g signal causing it to overheat whenever it's in my pocket and I'm out and about, which never happened before.

So when the time comes, I may well look for something else.

 

We are phone twins, got mine same time as you to the month and due an upgrade in 5 months ish. Am tempted to just change mine to the cheapest tarriff known to man and then pay it off early. I want an S4 now. Mine has been spot on with new jelly bean but there was an additional OTA update after it was first released, was a small one I assume to address some issues, did you get it too (didn't change the version of android)? I found that if I turn GPS off my batter drain stopped instantly. If I need it (never tbh) I can just turn it back on or any app requiring it will prompt me to do so automatically anyway. 

I got mine in Nov 2011, it's my work phone. I have an s3 for my own phone. To be honest the s2 has a lot of advantages. For some reason on the s3 you can't store apps on the sd card but you can on the s2. The s3 (and I assume the s4) aren't really leaps and bounds ahead of the 2. Most of the new features which the s3 added I very rarely use. I'm betting the 4 will be much the same. Lovely design but nothing ground breakingly new. As we say in Edinburgh, "fur coat and nae knickers"