Advice on next Android...anything but a Samsung

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#2841741 2-Jan-2022 09:22

sbiddle: No VoLTE is a deal breaker for me especially with 250+ RCG sites now and 400+ RCG sites within the next year, literally 95% of which have no 3G so you'll have no voice coverage without VoLTE support.

Sadly, buying a NZ-Telco branded phone via the authorised NZ reseller is no guarantee that you'll get VoLTE support either...

Which reminds me, maybe I should go and check via the other thread again...

OldGeek

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#2841858 2-Jan-2022 13:42

Its interesting that Nokia is not mentioned by anyone to date. I have always bought low-spec models (3.4 currently) and although they are a but slow they work and with 2D I have LTE voice. Android One ismy choice of OS. I might well consider looking at other Android One phones in the future.

My Nokias came from PB Tech.

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#2841860 2-Jan-2022 13:49

@OldGeek and WiFi calling??

Starlith

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#2841861 2-Jan-2022 13:51

Not taking this lightly but I'm about to give up on Android phones and move to iPhone. I've had 2 Samsungs and 3 Sony's since 2010, prefer the Xperia but we can't get them from our telco's which means no volte. I hate the way that Android has made volte so difficult to activate across handsets, I should be able to use volte from an overseas phone. Everyone just loves Samsung and now there's not much choice.

OldGeek

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#2841865 2-Jan-2022 14:01

Linux: @OldGeek and WiFi calling??

I have never seriously looked at this as my primarily use does not involve voice. From what I have read here, WiFi calling is extremely limited by telcos in general and available only on the handsets they sell.

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MaxineN

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#2841866 2-Jan-2022 14:04

OldGeek:

Its interesting that Nokia is not mentioned by anyone to date. I have always bought low-spec models (3.4 currently) and although they are a but slow they work and with 2D I have LTE voice. Android One ismy choice of OS. I might well consider looking at other Android One phones in the future.

My Nokias came from PB Tech.

No one really buys low end phones they always look at the mid range to flagships to the ungodly price tag on this phone why would you(sorry folding phone and ultra/pro max users).

If HMD Global actually pushed out a decent mid-range/flagship killer and actually supported those devices for a lot longer, maybe you might get some attraction. Nokia is very much almost a dead brand at this point. I'm very sad that their flagship stuff got canned after the 8.3.

Starlith:

Not taking this lightly but I'm about to give up on Android phones and move to iPhone. I've had 2 Samsungs and 3 Sony's since 2010, prefer the Xperia but we can't get them from our telco's which means no volte. I hate the way that Android has made volte so difficult to activate across handsets, I should be able to use volte from an overseas phone. Everyone just loves Samsung and now there's not much choice.

Google doesn't enforce the open standard to carrier configuration which has been a thing since 5.1. Every phone vendor does this very differently which is why most times you can't use a imported handset and expect VoLTE, 5G or VoWiFi to work out of the box.

Even Apple has their own special sauce but they've had VoLTE working on every device right down to the 6s/SE 2016.

The state of the NZ phone market is quite honestly bad and it's not the carriers fault. There is very little margin so of course we only have a few big players and nothing from everyone else.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

OldGeek

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#2841868 2-Jan-2022 14:14

MaxineN:

No one really buys low end phones they always look at the mid range to flagships to the ungodly price tag on this phone why would you(sorry folding phone and ultra/pro max users).

If HMD Global actually pushed out a decent mid-range/flagship killer and actually supported those devices for a lot longer, maybe you might get some attraction. Nokia is very much almost a dead brand at this point. I'm very sad that their flagship stuff got canned after the 8.3.

How long do Nokia support their phones? I am still getting security updates years after purchase.

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#2841872 2-Jan-2022 14:18

OldGeek:

MaxineN:

No one really buys low end phones they always look at the mid range to flagships to the ungodly price tag on this phone why would you(sorry folding phone and ultra/pro max users).

If HMD Global actually pushed out a decent mid-range/flagship killer and actually supported those devices for a lot longer, maybe you might get some attraction. Nokia is very much almost a dead brand at this point. I'm very sad that their flagship stuff got canned after the 8.3.

How long do Nokia support their phones? I am still getting security updates years after purchase.

Well they killed the Nokia Pure 9 very early(and it's not getting Android 11) and I don't exactly have any experience or any knowledge except that device. I imagine that the other devices beyond the pure 9 will probably get 11 but I expect most will just get security updates and that's it.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

jalvares

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#2841942 2-Jan-2022 15:22

Nokia 9PV was an experimental phone, with limited manufactured units. Its understandable for it not get A11 due to hardware and software incompatibilities, keeping in mind, the phone was in development for nearly two years and the chip was outdated at the time of its release.

I currently have 9PV and 8.1 (not released in NZ). HMD is prompt in OS and security updates and I have received all the updates timely on both the phones (9PV being an exception). To compensate, 9PV owners have been offered 50% on their X series phones subject to market availability. I am entitled to 50% discount on the X20 5G (but it needs to be ordered from AU store and their online portal is a mess).

All their phones have two years OS updates and three years of security updates guaranteed. The new releases like X20 5G comes with three years OS and security updates, already updated to A12. XR20 (not released in NZ) comes with four years OS and security updates) which is great.

I have been closely following the NZ carrier configs in every major software releases. All phones released after Nokia 3.4 (including) have VoLTE and Vowifi configs enabled for all the three carriers (includes Skinny as well) which is a plus point.

Though Spark alone sells Nokia phones, these phones are not mentioned in 2D and voda websites.

I am not a fan of low end phones manufactured by HMD as they don't suit my usage. the mid range phones are really good and value for money. After 9PV and 8.3 (not released in NZ) they have stopped flagships and they don't seem to be planning any in the future.

Overall Nokia phones are really reliable and value for money in terms of hardware and software updates. No fancy features. No bloatware.

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#2841944 2-Jan-2022 15:37

OldGeek:
Its interesting that Nokia is not mentioned by anyone to date.

The phone I was griping about above is a Nokia. It's a pile of sh*te, to put it bluntly; and it was supposed to be at the higher end of mid-range.

It *may* possibly get Android 11; but of it does, it'll be even slower and more unreliable if experience is anything to go by; and probably won't enable VoLTE either.

I cannot recommend a Nokia to anyone.

gzt

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#2842000 2-Jan-2022 16:02

OldGeek: Its interesting that Nokia is not mentioned by anyone to date. I have always bought low-spec models (3.4 currently) and although they are a but slow they work and with 2D I have LTE voice. Android One ismy choice of OS. I might well consider looking at other Android One phones in the future.

One of my work devices is a Nokia 3.4 from PBTech. The last update was October 2021. That's kind of annoying. However - it's not as annoying as my personal Nokia 7.2 I bought from Spark that does not support VoLTE and has been in a drawer for some time now and I'm still paying for it. Other than that I'm keen on Nokia and Android One. I do wish Nokia would deliver a credible flagship and with Android One. I feel the Nokia screen quality is not up there with Samsung for some reason but no particular reason.

afe66

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#2842051 2-Jan-2022 19:46

I've decided I can't be bothered trying to get non teleco supplied phones.

I bought several android phones independently over the years starting with an HTC in 2009 and have changed to just buying a high end whatever Vodafone is selling. Ie now s21.

I don't think the hassles of compatibility is worth my time and effort anymore.

Yes I have turned into my dad. I just want my phone to just work..

KiwiSurfer

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#2842222 3-Jan-2022 01:08

I would give the S21 and the iPhone serious consideration. Both are IMHO the best in the NZ market at the moment -- taking into account carrier and manufacturer support for both devices as well.

I have the S21 and I've been quite happy with it despite not being a fan of Android. Supports VoLTE, 5G, VoWiFi, etc on NZ carriers no problems whatsoever. Battery life is excellent (I typically get 1.5+ days on a full charge). It's version of Android is better than what I've seen on other Android devices (including much older Samsung devices as well as more recent Xiaomi devices I've owned perviously). The S21 is also the only Android device I've owned to date that still receives monthly software updates. The S21 is in a class of its own IMHO in the NZ Android market.

The iPhone has been an excellent option for a long while. iPhones are what I usually recommend to people asking for advice. Everything from A to Z just works as it should. VoLTE? Check. Good battery life? Check. Good quality apps? Check. Regular software updates? Check. I can go on... Unless you have a very specific reason for sticking with Android (which is why I have an Android), I'd suggest giving the iPhone a go.

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#2842245 3-Jan-2022 07:57

I've got both the iPhone 12 pro (didn't have enough $ for the 13) for personal and the S21 for work. prefer the iPhone over the S21 even though the Samsung has improved in OneUI over the old touchwiz.

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mudguard

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#2842306 3-Jan-2022 08:54

afe66: I've decided I can't be bothered trying to get non teleco supplied phones.

I bought several android phones independently over the years starting with an HTC in 2009 and have changed to just buying a high end whatever Vodafone is selling. Ie now s21.

I don't think the hassles of compatibility is worth my time and effort anymore.

Yes I have turned into my dad. I just want my phone to just work..

I'm in the same boat. Coming off three LGs and numerous Samsungs the Android market has just shrunk. I use an iPhone for work and have no desire to use one for personal use at this stage.

But the choices are basically Samsung or bust.

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