[libra89]

That Jason Ward is very optimistic. I do wonder though how he can keep writing the same article over and over again...

[MSFTisMIA]

I won't lie, if I was still a mobile enthusiast, I'd have found a way to test drive the V20.

More importantly, I'd have found a way to own both a Key One and a G6...

[libra89]

I won't lie, if I was still a mobile enthusiast, I'd have found a way to test drive the V20.

More importantly, I'd have found a way to own both a Key One and a G6...

That would have been awesome. The KEYone seems hard to get right now. I hear that the v20 is nice. I have seen deals for it a few weeks ago.

[fatclue_98]

I won't lie, if I was still a mobile enthusiast, I'd have found a way to test drive the V20.

More importantly, I'd have found a way to own both a Key One and a G6...

I won't lie either, the V20 has been on my radar for some time now. Amazon and Best Buy are sold out on the KEYone so that's not making things any easier. I'm passing on the G6 and whatever other 2:1 phones come out.

[libra89]

(You can ignore this or reply if you want, this is me trying to decide this and get it out of my head. If I was home, I would be writing in my notebook of random musings but since I'm here, I only have notebooks for work meeting notes.)

So it looks like my options in the phone world without switching carriers are the following: Samsung Galaxy A3 2017, Sony Xperia X Compact, and the iPhone 7.

A3:
-In between the size of the other two
-No band 12 (but the other two bands are there)
-Can only buy from one seller, who charges a restocking fee
-The cheaper option of these at $250
-Really good battery life apparently
-Grace UI seems to be better but still Samsung bloat?

X Compact:
-Has band 12
-The smallest of all of these
-The camera isn't a great point and shoot
-Again, seriously? If I was, this would be the third rodeo
-It's still on the pricey side, but I can find it for $300 secondhand
-Solid battery life, better performance/processor over the A3

iPhone 7:
-Best radios though of all, similar to the Pixel
-The most expensive out of all of the phones
-The biggest one out of all of these
-It has everything that works the way it should (all of the bands, VoLTE, Wifi calling, etc)
-No headphone jack
-Weakest battery life out of all of these (so a battery pack would be needed, which is $$)

[worldspy99]

That Jason Ward is very optimistic. I do wonder though how he can keep writing the same article over and over again...

Ctrl C
Ctrl V
😂😂😂

[MSFTisMIA]

That would have been awesome. The KEYone seems hard to get right now. I hear that the v20 is nice. I have seen deals for it a few weeks ago.

T-Mobile had it at one time for $300. Even though I detest carrier phones as much as Mr. Trump detests traditional news media outlets, had I had the $ then I would have bought it to test drive.

[worldspy99]

T-Mobile had it at one time for $300. Even though I detest carrier phones as much as Mr. Trump detests traditional news media outlets, had I had the $ then I would have bought it to test drive.

$360+tax to be precise. And with a free projector to boot.
I still think the BOGO Samsung deals are better with Netflix thrown in from a strictly $$ perspective.

[libra89]

(You can ignore this or reply if you want, this is me trying to decide this and get it out of my head. If I was home, I would be writing in my notebook of random musings but since I'm here, I only have notebooks for work meeting notes.)

So it looks like my options in the phone world without switching carriers are the following: Samsung Galaxy A3 2017, Sony Xperia X Compact, and the iPhone 7.

<snip>

I snipped myself.
The point about the camera on the X Compact would disappoint me enough to return the phone or deal with selling it, so that's probably not a real consideration for me.

At the same time, I'm not sure it actually makes sense to get a iPhone 7 for a deal and then buy a battery case for $100 more. I don't know. I kind of wish there was actual truth to that LG G6 compact rumor a few months ago.

[MSFTisMIA]

$360+tax to be precise. And with a free projector to boot.
I still think the BOGO Samsung deals are better with Netflix thrown in from a strictly $$ perspective.

I think the deal I was referring to was the same one as the S7 for $300 and S7 edge for $360 for the one day only. But I'll defer to you on this one.

[MSFTisMIA]

(You can ignore this or reply if you want, this is me trying to decide this and get it out of my head. If I was home, I would be writing in my notebook of random musings but since I'm here, I only have notebooks for work meeting notes.)

So it looks like my options in the phone world without switching carriers are the following: Samsung Galaxy A3 2017, Sony Xperia X Compact, and the iPhone 7.

A3:
-In between the size of the other two
-No band 12 (but the other two bands are there)
-Can only buy from one seller, who charges a restocking fee
-The cheaper option of these at $250
-Really good battery life apparently
-Grace UI seems to be better but still Samsung bloat?

X Compact:
-Has band 12
-The smallest of all of these
-The camera isn't a great point and shoot
-Again, seriously? If I was, this would be the third rodeo
-It's still on the pricey side, but I can find it for $300 secondhand
-Solid battery life, better performance/processor over the A3

iPhone 7:
-Best radios though of all, similar to the Pixel
-The most expensive out of all of the phones
-The biggest one out of all of these
-It has everything that works the way it should (all of the bands, VoLTE, Wifi calling, etc)
-No headphone jack
-Weakest battery life out of all of these (so a battery pack would be needed, which is $$)

You know, I had penile related analogy I was going to use here, but I'm too exhausted.

So all I'll say is good luck in your search.

[MSFTisMIA]

I am so exhausted. Things are heating up on the employment front to the point where I may find myself in a real pickle soon. Housing has finally sorted itself out. I'll have my official transcript with my degree on it come tomorrow (degree is still in the mail).

[libra89]

You know, I had penile related analogy I was going to use here, but I'm too exhausted.

So all I'll say is good luck in your search.

Considering all that you're going through, it only makes sense that you will be, lol.

Thanks for the luck. I'll need it. I could just switch carriers and not have to deal with this at all. I'm debating that too. I just fear going somewhere that I had decent coverage before and then it goes south. I have one more place I need to test, and hopefully I'll be less indecisive.

Might just give that A3 a whirl anyway.

[libra89]

I am so exhausted. Things are heating up on the employment front to the point where I may find myself in a real pickle soon. Housing has finally sorted itself out. I'll have my official transcript with my degree on it come tomorrow (degree is still in the mail).

Good to hear that your housing has been set now. I wish you the best on the employment front. Yay for getting your degree and transcript though!

[worldspy99]

You know, I had penile related analogy I was going to use here, but I'm too exhausted.

So all I'll say is good luck in your search.

#covfefe

[worldspy99]

Considering all that you're going through, it only makes sense that you will be, lol.

Thanks for the luck. I'll need it. I could just switch carriers and not have to deal with this at all. I'm debating that too. I just fear going somewhere that I had decent coverage before and then it goes south. I have one more place I need to test, and hopefully I'll be less indecisive.

Might just give that A3 a whirl anyway.

You might be the exception to the rule.
Ergo,
#gobigred

[libra89]

You might be the exception to the rule.
Ergo,
#gobigred

Never Verizon. I like unlocked phones too much to go there. I mean switching from T-Mobile to cricket.

[libra89]

I feel so dumb now.

I just found out that GSM Arena has a phone finder that allows you to find phones based on whatever you want, from size to OS. It's like a whole new world. Now let's see what I can find.

Phone Finder - search for a phone by feature - GSMArena.com

Edit: The finder is great but unfortunately, it tells me what I already know.

[raycpl]

I feel so dumb now.

I just found out that GSM Arena has a phone finder that allows you to find phones based on whatever you want, from size to OS. It's like a whole new world. Now let's see what I can find.

Phone Finder - search for a phone by feature - GSMArena.com

I feel even dumber, though.
The trackpad on my Acer laptop hasnt work for days, and couldn't figure out what happened.
So I took it to the repair shop, the guy took one look and said... "It's locked"
Huh??..
Yup, I accidentally disabled it with the combo keys Fn + F8... .. duh

Walked out the shop feeling kinda embarrassed.
... !!

[libra89]

I feel even dumber, though.
The trackpad on my Acer laptop hasnt work for days, and couldn't figure out what happened.
So I took it to the repair shop, the guy took one look and said... "It's locked"
Huh??..
Yup, I accidentally disabled it with the combo keys Fn + F8... .. duh

Walked out the shop feeling kinda embarrassed.
... !!

Aw that sucks. I'm glad that it wasn't broken but I can only imagine how you felt.

[libra89]

Decided not to try the A3 after all. It just doesn't make sense to me. Additionally, the only one available is dual sim and I always have issues with MMS on dual sim phones. Not sure why.

Come to think of it, maybe I could consider trying the 6s. I think I might try that out possibly. It's the only option that doesn't seem as terrible to me. If I decide to keep it, the battery case would be necessary for sure but just trying it shouldn't be so bad and it would be way lesser but it depends on what I can find in terms of deals.

[worldspy99]

Never Verizon. I like unlocked phones too much to go there. I mean switching from T-Mobile to cricket.

Ironically all VZW branded phones are GSM unlocked but you still have bloatware even if you aren't using VZW.

[libra89]

Ironically all VZW branded phones are GSM unlocked but you still have bloatware even if you aren't using VZW.

I believe that but I'm so used to unlocked that I can't see myself choosing to buy a Verizon model unless it is something like a Pixel.

[worldspy99]

I believe that but I'm so used to unlocked that I can't see myself choosing to buy a Verizon model unless it is something like a Pixel.

The new Moto units also had really minimum bloatware when I played with them earlier this year.

[libra89]

Well, that sucks.

I lost my PayPal case. Now I have to figure out what to do with this iPhone, hopefully I can attempt to Boneyard it. Ugh.

I guess I could keep it but then that means that I can never sell it. Lame.

My hand has been forced by this. I'm done with the phone stuff for a while. It's either trusted people (like people in the MN community), retailers or Swappa for me. I'm done with eBay when it comes to the phone swindle.