GMG Classical Music Forum

The Back Room => The Diner => Topic started by: Mandryka on September 06, 2017, 11:23:10 PM

Title: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Mandryka on September 06, 2017, 11:23:10 PM
It's so confusing, so many to choose from.

I just need a big screen and processing fast enough to make it possible to surf the web. I don't play games, I don't listen to music, I don't take serious photos. I do use apps, mostly for translation from French, and I do use the web. I use it to listen to the radio while driving, it connects with blue-tooth to the car sound system. I'd like to be able to use it to read books on the tube, but that may be asking too much.

Oh and I'd like a decent battery.

Right now I have and HTC1 M8, but it's starting to randomly lose the bluetooth connection while I'm driving.

People want me to buy a Samsung S8 or note -- but I fear it's overkill.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Todd on September 07, 2017, 04:50:44 AM
ZTE ZMax Pro.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Karl Henning on September 07, 2017, 05:08:14 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on September 06, 2017, 11:23:10 PM
Oh and I'd like a decent battery.

Right now I have and HTC1 M8, but it's starting to randomly lose the bluetooth connection while I'm driving.

People want me to buy a Samsung S8 or note -- but I fear it's overkill.

I have the Samsung Galaxy S7.  Battery is excellent.  Is it overkill?  I think it's like speakers:  you want something with more power than you may ever require.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Mandryka on September 07, 2017, 06:25:56 AM
Quote from: Todd on September 07, 2017, 04:50:44 AM
ZTE ZMax Pro.

Not in the Uk I'm afraid.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Mandryka on September 07, 2017, 06:27:01 AM
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on September 07, 2017, 05:08:14 AM
I have the Samsung Galaxy S7.  Battery is excellent.  Is it overkill?  I think it's like speakers:  you want something with more power than you may ever require.

Hmmm yes well you're not the first to have said that to me,
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Parsifal on September 07, 2017, 07:32:50 AM
I have an iPhone and have never had a reason to consider anything else.

My advice for any phone purchase, whether that is iOS, Android or whatever, is get the most capable device available. That will maximize how long you can use it before it reaches a point where it can't cope with the latest software (which inevitably gets more and more demanding) and you have to replace it.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Mandryka on September 07, 2017, 08:37:14 AM
Quote from: Scarpia on September 07, 2017, 07:32:50 AM
I have an iPhone and have never had a reason to consider anything else.

My advice for any phone purchase, whether that is iOS, Android or whatever, is get the most capable device available. That will maximize how long you can use it before it reaches a point where it can't cope with the latest software (which inevitably gets more and more demanding) and you have to replace it.

I think this is sensible advice.

With your iphone, does it have a small screen or is it a 6 plus or a 7 plus? If it has a small screen, are you OK reading web pages with it?
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Parsifal on September 07, 2017, 09:29:35 AM
Quote from: Mandryka on September 07, 2017, 08:37:14 AM
I think this is sensible advice.

With your iphone, does it have a small screen or is it a 6 plus or a 7 plus? If it has a small screen, are you OK reading web pages with it?

I have a 6S, (which is a faster version of the 6). This phone is bigger than the original iPhone (up to the iPhone 5) but not as big as the "plus." I'm not an incessant upgrader so I feel no temptation to upgrade to the 7, or whatever they are about to release in September (rumored to be the 7S and some sort of 10th anniversary phone).

I find the size of the 6 is just about right. Big enough that web browsing and reading with the kindle app is comfortable to use, but not too clumsy to carry around. The main limitation is that web sites will divert you to a special mobile site if they detect you are using a phone, and that mobile site typically doesn't have the full functionality of the real web site.

A good camera is a big plus. You may be underestimating how much you'd take advantage of and enjoy taking photos with a really good camera.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Ken B on September 07, 2017, 10:15:18 AM
Huawei Honor 8

I bought a new phone a few months ago. My desiderata were:
- Android
- decent size but not quite large screen. I downsized slightly from a 5" screen, which is too big for comfort in a pocket.
- power
- battery life
- price point

I don't play games so don't need an amoled screen, but this has a very good, very bright screen.

I have been very happy.

I will mention about Samsung amoleds. The older demos at the store had screen burn in! I didn't think that happened with led/lcd. But it does.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Turner on September 07, 2017, 12:10:47 PM
My earlier phone was a Huawei and it was very durable, effective, plus cheaper than average.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Spineur on September 07, 2017, 12:24:48 PM
If you get an android phone, the more recent OS (Nougat, Oreo) are much better than the old ones.  I have the latest S8.  Two plus: 1) the camera or more exactely the software behind it.  For general outdoors photos, it is as good as my fancy multi lens gear. 2) the sound chip.  A slight digital feel, but still very very good.  runs flac 16 & 24 bits files.
For all the other features it doesnt beat any cheap phone with a recent android OS.
If you plan to use it to listen to music you will need a 256 Go microSD which are still on the pricey side.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Holden on September 07, 2017, 02:06:10 PM
Switched to Apple about 7 years ago and would never move back.

As far as reading webpages goes it's only a problem on those  sites that haven't been optimised for mobile devices. I think this will be an issue regardless of whether you are using iOS or Android.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: mc ukrneal on September 07, 2017, 03:36:23 PM
The adventure begins. It's zero hour....
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Mandryka on September 07, 2017, 08:41:30 PM
Quote from: Spineur on September 07, 2017, 12:24:48 PM
If you get an android phone, the more recent OS (Nougat, Oreo) are much better than the old ones.  I have the latest S8.  Two plus: 1) the camera or more exactely the software behind it.  For general outdoors photos, it is as good as my fancy multi lens gear. 2) the sound chip.  A slight digital feel, but still very very good.  runs flac 16 & 24 bits files.
For all the other features it doesnt beat any cheap phone with a recent android OS.
If you plan to use it to listen to music you will need a 256 Go microSD which are still on the pricey side.

Thanks. I can see the logic of what you're saying. As far as I know no phone comes with Oreo out of the box, and there aren't many phones with Nougat. The look and feel of the S8 is really attractive to me, more attractive than any other phone I've held with my hands, iPhone or android. It is pricey though,  but hell, there are no pockets in shrouds, as my grandfather used to say.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Mirror Image on September 07, 2017, 08:51:14 PM
Buy a Samsung --- you'll love it.
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: LKB on November 09, 2017, 01:03:30 PM
I've been mostly happy with my S2 ( yes, l really am using an S2, l even wrote the Blumine essay with it ), but I'm now looking to upgrade to either an S7 or S8.

Pretty much everything I've read concerning features and functionality of the S8 has been positive, but I'm a bit leery of a glass phone. Also, it doesn't seem to be a huge advance over the S7, which would be a few hundred dollars cheaper.

So, opinions please: S7 or S8 ?

Wondering,

LKB
Title: Re: Recommend me a mobile phone please.
Post by: Spineur on November 09, 2017, 06:31:48 PM
Although the S7 has nearly the same camera hardware, the S8 has significantly better post treatment software which happens to make a big difference, if you haven uneven lighting etc.  Also as I mentionned the S8 sound chip plays flac hires files and is almost as good as the best Cowon player.
A glass phone is very pleasant I find.
The only bad part is the placement of the fingerprint reader for unlocking the phone.  It is next to the camera lens and hard to reach.