I've currently got a Note 3 and I'm fancying a change. I'm struggling though as it seems the phablet releases have stalled. I just need a biggish screen as I use it a lot for email, internet etc. I dont use the S Pen as it seems a bit pointless and by the time you have got it out you could have done what you needed anyway!

I'm on Three and like the network, its reliable and I get decent texts/minutes/data.

Had an iPhone 6 plus but didn't like it. Thought about a note 4 but nothing obvious in terms of upgrade to my 3.

Any thoughts?

Hi

 

Really you have to prioritise what you want in a phone and work out which compromise works best for you as nothing will perfect.

 

I use the Note 4 because I really value the replaceable battery and the micro SD expansion.  It's battery lasts well but I don't want to ever activate power saving unless I'm desperate.  If I'm paying for one of the latest smartphones I want it all all of the time so the ability to swap out a battery is important to me.  The excellent screen and better build quality are a plus and I use the S-Pen.  

 

But you may prefer the even bigger screen, quicker software upgrades and vanilla android experience of the Nexus 6 but no replaceable battery or micro SD expansion here.  

 

The LG G4 is a lovely thing too - my wife has the G3 and really likes it and after trying it with her in the shop she's decided not to upgrade yet - I must admit I was impressed though.

 

If brushed aluminium and super build quality floats your boat with the sense skin on top of android then HTC M9 is the way to go.  The latest big Sony Z3 is a nice thing with glass front and back, an excellent battery and waterproof too. 

 

You really can't go far wrong with any of them, it's just finding the best fit for your phone use.  

 

good luck and enjoy the hunt

Edited 31 May, 201511 yr by hooter

I used to be one of the people who preferred the changeable battery but recently bought a rechargeable power-pack which should have enough charge for 2 full recharges for less than £20 so the battery thing is now a moot point.

 

EE (if you are a customer) will be doing power-packs free once they have restocked (later in the month IIRC).

 

Not sure how I will find the no SD card slot but getting a new S6 (64GB) delivered tomorrow so will have to get used to it!

Personally I would stick with the Note 3 for now.

 

Nothing quite matches it or excels it enough to upgrade at the moment.

 

If you haven't done already then you can install Android 5.0 Lollipop on it which might just freshen it up for you and make it feel like a newer phone.

 

I like that it has a removable battery and SD card slot.

 

I've just ordered a wireless charger receiver and pad for mine.

 

Phil

Edited 1 June, 201511 yr by Phil-E

I'm not sure how to do the lollipop update as it hasn't officially come to the UK yet?

I downloaded the rom file and flashed it with the Samsung tool Odin.

 

If you've no idea what any of that means then I'd suggest you wait for it to come as an OTA update on the phone. Lol.

 

Phil

I'm not sure how to do the lollipop update as it hasn't officially come to the UK yet?

 

Lollipop update is definitely available in the UK as my brother has had it on his Note 3 for at least a couple of months, that was on a Vodafone supplied Note 3 and they're usually one of the worst for updates.

 

I had a Sony Z Ultra last year after upgrading from a Galaxy Note 1, loved most of the phone aside from the appalling camera and non-replaceable battery.  I spent a while looking at options as I wanted both a removable battery and microSD card (I find a removable battery more useful than it's ever been and really missed it) but came back to the Note 4 which I bought and been pleased with.  For now I think it's worth sticking with the Note 3 unless there's a particular aspect you want to improve, such as the camera.

 

Also if you're not using a custom launcher, I'd highly recommend Nova launcher - I have to use a custom launcher due to running a custom DPI which breaks all the Samsung software and I really like it, you don't need to root the device and it gives you so much choice over how the launcher looks and behaves.

 

John

I have the Samsung tab 4s and I can't fault it. Does everything I ask from it. Light, great screen with lots of ram and storage.

Avoid Sony. I had a z1 for 6 months until it suffered the well known Sony problem of the self shattering screen. Sony didn't want anything to do with it

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

Samsung are moving from removable batteries and sd slots, so expect the Note 5 to be missing both.

The phablet market appears to slowed because the majority of consumers are moving back to 5" devices.

Avoid Sony. I had a z1 for 6 months until it suffered the well known Sony problem of the self shattering screen. Sony didn't want anything to do with it

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

I had the original z, or more to the point, I had about 8 of them due the the **** battery making the case for removable batteries.

I've now got an m2, and it's a completely dependable tool that I pretty much run a business off. Sony don't do top end phones at all well.

The only thing I'd think about replacing this with is one a note.

I'll never totally trust a smartphone again though, my work phone with my number on is now a £7 Samsung with an O2 payg simply in.

Edited 1 June, 201511 yr by StevesTruck

My Xperia Z has been shocking.

 

It's currently away with Sony with them refusing to fix it again.

 

Same problems as previous. Back glass coming unglued and earpiece speaker not working.

 

I think I will get them to send it back to me, I'll fix it myself and sell it on quickly!

 

Phil

Didn't watchdog have a report on this happening Phil?

Just googled that. It was in relation to the screen cracking randomly (also an issue that the Z has had but not one I have experienced).

 

Once I've had it back in my hand I will be writing a letter and taking it further.

 

Phil

I think phablets have just become mainstream phone models now.

 

You've got thinks like the Lumia 640XL which is quite cheap and comes with Office 365 (or Lumia 1350/1520 for more money).

Or the Apple iPhone 6 Plus

 

I know quite a few guys using the Note 4 as well.

 

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/124518-best-phablets-2014-the-best-big-phones-available-to-buy-today

Samsung are moving from removable batteries and sd slots, so expect the Note 5 to be missing both.

The phablet market appears to slowed because the majority of consumers are moving back to 5" devices.

 

They've done so on the Galaxy S6 but it's hoped they won't on the Note series to separate them further plus the S6 has been a poor seller as actual figures (not the ones Samsung are claiming show the S6 as a success).  It's actually the other way round, 5in devices have been slowing progressively and large phone sales have been increased (it's been a huge growth market for Apple particularly) - the original S2 vastly outsold the Note 1 but the Note 4 has been much closer to the S5 as the S series have been progressively dropping while the Note series have been increasing.  Hence the drastic change in the S6 design while I hope they leave the Note line alone.

 

With regards to Sony, they've pulled out of this market entirely after the enormous Z Ultra - mine never had any issues but I disliked the use of glass, the back ended up looking a right mess even though I'd been careful with it plus it would slide on any slide incline which I quickly found when it kept falling off arms of chairs.  Samsung are frequently slated for their plastic build but I find it works well in practice, my Note 1 was used for a couple of years daily and it looks good as new.  I also didn't like the weather sealing, it meant the USB port was covered (although I think it isn't on the newest model) and the battery was sealed in and difficult to replace.  Sony didn't really seem to stand by their weather sealing either so I never wanted to risk deliberately letting the phone get wet.

 

John

Edited 3 June, 201511 yr by JohnMcL7

Am i the only person thats never had an issue with Sony phones?? my Z Ultra hasn't missed a beat and far outperforms my colleauges Samsungs and Apple phones. I did look at an upgrade (only because i'm a Jackdaw and like shiney things) after looking at all the others I felt stay with the Z was  worth it, mainly because I'm lazy, have always has Sony (with a hiccup into Nokia Windows) and can't get to grips with another phone. Having said all this all my stidents rave about their Nots and S6's.

Am i the only person thats never had an issue with Sony phones?? my Z Ultra hasn't missed a beat and far outperforms my colleauges Samsungs and Apple phones. I did look at an upgrade (only because i'm a Jackdaw and like shiney things) after looking at all the others I felt stay with the Z was  worth it, mainly because I'm lazy, have always has Sony (with a hiccup into Nokia Windows) and can't get to grips with another phone. Having said all this all my stidents rave about their Nots and S6's.

 

My Z Ultra is still working fine as well, I carried it without a case in my trouser pocket daily but no cracks on the screen or bends on the chassis.  It doesn't outperform comparable Samsungs but then I wouldn't expect it to either as it's using the same platform, I do like their largely vanilla interface though and the fact they use a tablet-DPI setting rather than a phone one as Samsung and Google both do.  If the Z Ultra had a usable camera, LED and removable battery I'd still be happily using it.

 

John

I've had a lot of sonys, Sony Ericssons, and Ericssons, and never had a problem with any except the z.

Avoid Sony. I had a z1 for 6 months until it suffered the well known Sony problem of the self shattering screen. Sony didn't want anything to do with it

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

 

 

Mine did that. Twice. Second time was 2 weeks after the getting it back from the first time......  Sony fixed it both times pretty swiftly. 

Great phone, put me off upgrading to anything with Z in the name. ( I believe the whole range still suffers from it )

Edited 3 June, 201511 yr by biomulv

Yup. I have had four Sony Ericsson phones and the z1 was a fabulous phone. But the screen shattered while I was sitting on the sofa. Sony refused to fix it because they said I'd dropped it. I got a full refund from my credit card company.

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

I'm going to hold off for a bit. Looks like Samsung might be about to unveil a 5.7" S6 Edge Plus as well as a Note 5. I like the S6 but its too small.

I wish they would make a replacement Galaxy Mega with a better screen as that was perfect for me

I've currently got a Note 3 and I'm fancying a change. I'm struggling though as it seems the phablet releases have stalled. I just need a biggish screen as I use it a lot for email, internet etc. I dont use the S Pen as it seems a bit pointless and by the time you have got it out you could have done what you needed anyway!

I'm on Three and like the network, its reliable and I get decent texts/minutes/data.

Had an iPhone 6 plus but didn't like it. Thought about a note 4 but nothing obvious in terms of upgrade to my 3.

Any thoughts?

I went from Galaxy Note to Nexus 6. Stunning phone, really liking it, best screen I've ever seen on a phone and averages 2 days per charge. Latest Android as soon as it launches is sweet too.

I'm just finishing rebuilding my note 3 after upgrading it to lollipop via Odin. Seems to look nicer but it's a pain to have to reinstall everything and put everything back in their folders etc.

I'm just finishing rebuilding my note 3 after upgrading it to lollipop via Odin. Seems to look nicer but it's a pain to have to reinstall everything and put everything back in their folders etc.

 

Yeah I got myself into trouble with that one. It was my other half's phone at the time and I stupidly didn't realise it wiped the phone... all the photos gone! In the bad books... then we realised the other day that google had very kindly being automatically backing them up to drive. Phew!

 

It's definitely a big improvement over KitKat though.

 

Phil