yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] bigtimejdub:
I've been eligible for an upgrade since Dec. At first I thought I'd wait until the Note Edge was released, and then I heard rumors of early S6 release so decided to wait. Now that the S6 has been announced, I have no idea which way to go. I would probably go buy a Note 4 if there was root already. I use my phone with AppRadio so root is a must. It seems as if Samsung is moving toward a more locked-down Apple type device with the battery/sd card thing on the S6. When I pay upwards of $700 for a device I feel like I should be able to do what I want with it. Maybe the 2 device thing is the way to go...just seems like something else to have to manage.

---------- Post added at 09:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:43 AM ----------

Was just reading up on Nexus 6. Looks like it may be released on Verizon this coming week (3/12). If so I will probably just go ahead pick one up.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gadget!:
I was waiting to see what the S6 would bring to the table but seeing that it has no removable battery and no SD card support is a deal breaker for me.

I've enjoyed the S4 (MDK) more than any phone I've had.

I have the 32gb model and a 64gb SD card and unless something really ground breakdown comes along I may just be keeping it for a while.

sent from a Galaxy S4 far far away.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] tkacer:
I was also somewhat disappointed that the S6 ditched the SD and removable battery (how do those fixed battery folks get around boot loops ??). The M9 seems to be a solid device, but it too has a permanent battery. The jury is also still out on its camera capabilities. Given I'll be moving on to either Sprint or T-Mobile, that leaves the LG G4 to compete. Time will tell..........
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gadget!:
Am I the only one that thinks the size of all the new phones is getting out of hand?

Granted, the bigger screens are nice when it comes to looking at things and having the extra screen size makes it great for multi-tasking especially when you open 2 windows at a time.

But to me I want a phone that is comfortable to carry easily without the bulk of a sub-tablet sized device in my pocket.

The S4 is probably the phone I have liked better than anything else I have owned, period! It is the longest I have ever kept the same phone and from the looks of what is coming out I will probably be keeping it until it flat out dies on me!

The size is perfect for me, the screen is plenty easy for me to read and do anything I need to do on a cell phone and then some.

There is still plenty of development going on for the device and plenty of different ROMs to choose from.

The direction that the carriers and manufacturers are going really has me disheartened.

Tablet sized phones

Locked bootloaders

non-removable batteries

no SD Card slots

If I wanted a phone I couldn't do anything with I would have bought a flip phone and called it good.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] skepticmisfit:
I think I'm one of the weirdos who thinks the s4 is too big, and plus I don't have an unlocked bootloader

how stupid am I for wanting a toro (vzw galaxy nexus)

sure it's old and yeah there's the nexus 6 but I want a phone not a giant man-eating monster

also toro has lollipop ROMs and I'm stuck on KitKat on the s4
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] tshelby73:
I still have my galaxy nexus. After using the s4i can't go back to the toro. It's too slow and battery is horrid. Signal is terrible also. I actually do miss the unlocked boot loader but on the other hand I have more time as I'm not flashing all the time.

Sent from S4 using the better than it was Tapatalk
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gadget!:
I am fortunate enough to have a

32gb mdk S4 or I probably wouldn't be so happy with this phone.

I came from a vzw Nexus to this phone, the Nexus is a great phone.

sent from a Galaxy S4 far far away.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] 318sugarhill:
I still have my mdk S4 but it sits on the shelf as my backup. I got the LG G3 in August before Verizon closed the upgrade loophole. I figured I'd use them from my in laws lines before I couldn't. I love the G3. Haven't looked back. Sure it's big.... But the screen is amazing. The G3 is about as big as I'll go. It's pretty thin... Still has SD card and removable battery.... And it has an unlocked bootloader with bump'd so tons of ROMs.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Eddie Hicks:
Before I purchased my S4 a year ago I felt phones that size were just too big. I had a HTC Incredible and then a HTC Rezound. I felt the Rezound was the perfect size and anything larger was too big. Well a year with the S4 I swear it has shrunk. It doesn't seem overly large anymore. In fact I feel now that it is the pefect size. It fits in my pocket easily but still has a good screen size. But no way will I go larger. I do not what a phablet.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] skepticmisfit:
for me, I have small hands. and I try to use my phone one-handed a lot. and the s4 just doesn't really do anything for me in that regard

---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------

im gonna try to go with a droid razr m, they go pretty cheap used and are a nice small but decent enough phone to run lollipop n stuff, but im gonna be stuck with my s4 for a while. thank god for the people who make ROMs for safestrap
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gadget!:
That's my experience exactly, coming from the same phones and all!

And I felt the same way, I thought the S4 was to big but now I have come to really loving this phone!

The ultimate phone to me would be the same size as the S4 but with the addition of the S-Pen and the Note features.

32gb or larger, removable battery, and SD Card slot...

And it would even be nicer if you could get it with an unlocked bootloader!!!!!!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Illogi.xbone:
I second this! But, alas, this is but a dream :( No manufacturer will ever make a phone that many people want, they want new everything and money, money, oh and some money.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] 4ktvs:
I have had my Verizon unlimited data plan for sometime and now it looks like I will be letting it go. Verizon just isn't worth the cost of service and the always slowing network in my area. Like .5mbs on weekends were AT&T gets 8+mbs.

I will be doing cricket under AT&T and end up paying $30 a month for unlimited talk+text+2.5gbs of high speed data. I don't need to use 100+GB like in the old days of Crime warner cable so I guess it's about time to let go. I will be getting a Z3 compact as it is the closest thing to what I want for the price. Yes I might want a 1080P screen a little and I would really like a removable battery, but for $380 new it's a hard phone to beat.

I chose it over the One plus one for SD card slot and being able to handle getting wet. The phone I really would like (The saygus V2) has too many things up in the air and I won't just sit around waiting for it while burning more money for Verizon service that to me now is pointless. I always said I would never pay much for a limited data plan and to me $30 a month flat rate with no chance of being charged more is a good deal to me as AT&T has always been my #1 pick. (Only went to Verizon for unlimited data with 4G LTE as my home internet sucked as in down most of the time and CRIME warner cable wouldn't fix it even for a $200 a month cable bill.)
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Illogi.xbone:
What I did and will never look back.

Sent from my SCH-I545
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] XxD34THxX:
My contract is up in... less than three months.. Planning on a HTC m8(or 9) depending on which has the least downpayment... Anything with custom ROMS and TWRP.. no moar safestrap
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Illogi.xbone:
Been looking at the m8. I usually upgrade a year after the phone is released, mainly to weed out bugs. And with the new HTC Uhoh program it looks better than before.

Sent from the gap between universes.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] dknow101:
ordered the Galaxy s6.... cant wait

I cant wait for the galaxy s6 standard non-edge. This gs4 is fun and still going strong but a lot of the new features on the gs6 made me upgrade..... just waiting for verizon to start shipping.

Come on verizon at least ship on the 10th so i have the weekend to setup and adjust the new phone.... :good:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] AliceBToklas:
I'm torn honestly. On paper the M9 looks good but appears to have some issues. The S6 without sdcard support will be a challenge (or, at least, expensive) as I have >80GB of music. Maybe the Z4 later this year? I dunno.

This isn't even getting to the root/bootloader issues.

Right now, I'm happy with the phone I have and playing with some of the latest ROMs.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] XxD34THxX:
I feel the s6 is a downgrade because of the non-removable battery and SD card.. I'm fine without the battery, but the SD card is a must for me..
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Hashbang173:
I think the S5 may be a better upgrade for many.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Illogi.xbone:
The S5 does look decent. I will probably pick an s5 or an M8 from Swappa when it comes time to replace my current phone.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] skepticmisfit:
I feel like the m8 would have a better shot at rooting and running ROMs than the s5, since the only version of that phone that's unlockable for vzw is the developer edition
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gadget!:
I've had my S4 since the day they were released and have enjoyed it more than any phone I have ever had. Thinking about upgrading, I decided to find me a used Note 3.

Since the S6 is out of the question for me with out a removable battery

or an SD Card slot.

So I bought one off of Swappa, I should have done more research first because it was upgraded to 4.4.4 so no root!

It took me all of one day to decide that I don't want a completely locked down phone.

I sold it back on Swappa and bought another that was already rooted.

The more I play with it the more I like it.

So I'll probably sell my 32gb MKD S4 and keep the Note 3 for now. Now that I know I can get used to the bigger phone, maybe when my upgrade comes up in June I'll look at the Note 4 or maybe even wait for the Note 5.

sent from a Galaxy S4 far far away.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] skepticmisfit:
does root on a note 3 allow for installation of a custom recovery or is it like the s4 where you have to use safestrap?

---------- Post added at 05:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:28 PM ----------

also [MENTION=2026779]gadget![/MENTION]

do you still have your gnex and are you considering selling it if you have it?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gadget!:
Just Safestrap but with 32 gig and I just nand the stock ROM and install on stock and you don't even notice the difference.

I sold the Nexus when I got the S4

sent from a Galaxy S4 far far away.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] skepticmisfit:
what ROM is that?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gadget!:
Remember...

I'm on a Note 3 now :D

It's Alliance ROM and it is AWESOME!

Unbelievable amount of user customization.

sent from a Galaxy S4 far far away.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] 2crazeybolt:
If your interested in a rooted Galaxy Gnex I still have one. Play around with it once in a while to check out the latest CM. PM me if your interested.:good:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gadget!:
Well after having the Note 3 for just over a month now here are my opinions...

It is an awesome phone!

Blazing fast.

The S-Pen is pretty cool.

But it is to big for my taste.

That being said, I'm back on the S4. It is about as close to perfect for me as any phone I have owned.

So today I will be putting the Note 3 up for sale on Swappa.

Sent from a Galaxy S4 far far away
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Cowbell_Guy:
Honestly, all I need is a verizon phone thats fast, rootable, and will allow for simultsneous 4g while on a call. If love to upgrade, but don't know or any other phone that can still do all that!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] scryan:
Nexus 6?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Cowbell_Guy:
No simultsneous 4g while voice as far as im aware, has volte, like gs6
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] :
Alright. I have a Galaxy Note 2. I am a flashaholic but even so, so much in fact that I always change out my ROM constantly. I end up only really falling in love with different themes. I almost switched back to an iPhone just so I wouldn't keep swapping Roms and changing them a day later because I didn't like 1 thing the ROM did.

Now I just recently ordered the gs4 32gb because Verizon gave me $400 off the full retail just to extend my plan by 3 months (just upgraded to the note 2 in may) and lose my unlimited data (I was only using 1.5gb anyway and have WiFi everywhere) should I cancel the order and stick with my n2 which I'm already bored of? Or should I go for the s4 and stick with stock (maybe root to debloat) and finally stick with a phone? I'm sure this phone has something to offer regardless of no Roms. Or if I don't end up rooting anyway, should I look into another phone? Even one of the new droids or the HTC one?

Thanks for the input
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] 1454:
I wouldn't. Not if you have to give up unlimited data. If you want the s4 then I'm sure you can find someone to trade with. Just my .02 I know you say wifi is everywhere and you don't really need unlimited data, but I wouldn't get rid of it for a s4. You never know when you might hit 5gb and get screwed paying 30 extra dollars one month for it.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] :
I appreciate it. I'm honestly not a big data user. When I say wifi everywhere I litterally mean anyplace I need to be I have wifi. I average 1-1.5 GB a month and one month I went over to 6 GB because I was in fla where I forgot there was wifi, and i tethered to my Xbox for a few movies. Those rare occasions I don't mind paying extra. I meant more in the functionality of the phone and such
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] klick37:
I have been eyeing the Nexus 5 like it was the One Ring...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rdcamero:
Hope now that the Htc One and the Moto X have had their day that the Lg G2 will gets it official launch day on Verizon.Really looking forward to seeing this phone and trying it out.Like my S4 but am ready for something different.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] chrisexv6:
Why oh why cant there be a phone that:

1. Has no hard buttons (why did Samsung put one in the middle of the S4?)

2. Has good radio performance (like Moto)

3. Has an actual removable/replaceable battery

4. Has an SD card slot

Not 1 or 2 of the above things, but ALL of them....its not impossible to make that happen, so why hasnt anyone done so.

And bootloader unlockable would be nice too but I realize thats not necessarily a function of the hardware manufacturer themselves.

Maybe the Note 3 is the answer but I worry about the sheer size of it. 2 of my 3 lines are eligible for upgrade right now, but it looks like Ill be waiting 2 or 3 more weeks to see what comes out. The G2 looks promising but fails #3 and 4. The Moto X looks decent but fails #3 and 4 as well. And on top of that, sticking with VZW means I get to pay 30.00 for the privelage of using my upgrade.

Blech. I think I just want a flip phone again!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] IamPro:
I was of the same thinking till I took a trip this month, used over 100GBs and the month isn't even over yet :laugh:

I know right

Personally I would love a Moto X 32GB+ with 1080p screen and a larger battery, screen the size of the new Note 3 that can be unlocked (I do love multi-win tho) or at min be rooted with close to stock android... thats my dream phone, hopefully Note 3 will be beast enough (please get rid of the home button damnit)

As much as I like the S4, once you use a Note device.. you cant get use to a smaller screen (and its been like few months since lol)
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] drtchocky:
The general consensus is that the HTC One -- if it had a better camera in it and could be unlocked -- would be the perfect phone, and I think I am in agreement. But I have been asking that same question but with a trifecta of build/updates/camera.... I am certain that manufacturers have met and are purposefully keeping this amalgam of features out of our hands... it's so sad.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] JaeKay:
and battery life, and a better button placement, and expandable storage and removable battery for many people.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] drtchocky:
For me, battery life is not an issue as I am usually, if not always, near a charger. 32gb is a really fair amount re:storage and the One has that going for it.

---------- Post added at 02:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:28 AM ----------

Right now I am stuck... I have my SGS3, but dropped calls all the time in my apartment. I have a tower about a block and a half away. In NYC this shouldn't be an issue and I place blame squarely on Samsung; my wife's Droid Razr Maxxx never drops ever.

I would go with the Note 2, but I think it's slightly too large for my hands, and again, I don't trust Samsung with antennae and reception.

I feel like I need to wait to see what the LG G2 looks like in hand, or the Nexus 5, or something else.....
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] RoseinAires:
Re: Lighten Up And Enjoy Life - Joyce Meyer

Make persistent efforts, come on.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] trook:
I'm just so discouraged and disgusted with verizon. I hate to admit it but I work for the shady mofos. I'm just a lowly field tech closing out tickets as they come but I think I'm done with them as a service provider. Even when we had the GNEX there was something that you werent able to do with the VZW edition because of cdma. The moto x has an unlockable bootloader on every carrier bit verizon and at&t I think so t-mob or sprint for me, I'm so sick of verizon with their dev edition's while they lock down our devices for "security" OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE a dev edition isnt going to protect the security or the network. Sick of it all, they lied about the droid 2, X, Bionic, Nexus, S3 and S4 especially. If they dont change their ways, its on.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] JaeKay:
you cant blame them tho really.

The majority of Verizon customers are NOT like us. i.e. rooting and flashing custom recoveries.

Even my dad who works in the tech industry just used stock touchwiz on his s3 until i helped him out a bit.

Even more so, a lot of the customers are business oriented, buying phones in bulk, and unlockable phones are a security loophole.

As a business, Verizon is making right decisions. But that just means its not friendly towards people like us.

---------- Post added at 01:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 PM ----------

The s4 antennae is great. never had a dropped call, btw
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] drtchocky:
See.... I don't know how it would behave in my stupid apartment. And I want to root it to put on CM10.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] trook:
I just learned that you can JTAG back to MDK from ME7? Why didn't anyone tell me?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] nicholi2789:
Hmm... I didn't know that either. But I guess it makes sense. So if somebody was really determined and wanted MDK back they could just hire somebody (those videos from mobiletechvideos comes to mind) to Jtag it back for them? Is anybody currently doing that? Seems like there is money to be made there... And I believe mobiletechvideos charges like 60$ for a Jtag repair or something around that price. Sounds like a viable option for those few determined people who stuck on ME7. Hell, I would gladly pay it myself if I was stuck on it..
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] trebb:
I have to get an iPhone for work. I'm so upset. :(

I have an iPad and a Mac, so my things will interface nicely, but I'm going to miss rooting and ROMing, etc. Hopefully I don't get too bored...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] heisenberg1:
Anyone switching to the Htc One? Seriously thinking about it:confused:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] golfinglenn:
Somehow I ended up on ME7 so like everyone else I am stuck!! I was having all kinds of issues with custom roms thinking I was on MDK so I kept going to my backup 4S. Wasn't as painful as I thought it was going to be. Two things I hated about IOS was no google nav and swiftkey keyboard. Google nav has been fixed and was okay texting on stock keyboard.

If no flash relief in sight for ME7 when the 5S drops I might have to try that. I use to mod the hell out of my iphone with jailbreak and messing with custom icons and such. At least it fulfilled my need to screw with my device lol.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Rebel908:
Has anyone considered getting the G2?

I had been hoping the Note 3 was going to wow me, but it hasn't and in all honesty with how the bootloader situation on the S4 I am not wildly excited for the Note 3.

The HTC One is also an option, but the lack of HTC Dev is pretty chappy. I'm thinking Moto X because of stock android, or even trying to trade my S4 to get a Note 2.

Wish Verizon wasn't so ****ty
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] AFront85:
I just wanted to post saying goodbye. The s4 was a nice phone, but I couldn't bear it on Verizon.

Upgraded to the Nexus 6 with edge and got a boost in my data plan for the same cost as S4.

Unlocked, rooted, twrp'd, and off to the races in about 30 minutes of reading and flashing.

Never looking back. I suggest you do the same.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jcwilliams:
I'm currently on the unlimited data plan and am looking to add home internet through Verizon. Any chance of keeping unlimited data and adding a line for the WiFi at home device?

They want 60/mo for 10gb. Talk about killing the little man. I think my kids will use 10gb a month just on their iPods...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] PrevailNow:
Nexus 5 (2015)

I am waiting for the Nexus 5 (2015). Unlike the Nexus 6, I hope it has a removable battery and SDcard. The performance appears to be quite spectacular. (For comparison, the next highest score was by the Galaxy S6 which scored 15,000 points lower on AnTuTu.)
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] aleggsue:
I'm waiting for that too. My upgrade is in December so it's perfect timing

Sent from my Eclipse'd S4
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gadget!:
I got lucky and was able to snag one of the 32gb S4's when they first came out and I still love this phone (I'm still on MDK bootloader).

I must not be the only one because there is still a quite a bit of development going on for this phone.

That being said, I decided to refurbish my S4 by myself.

I bought a new OEM digitizer assembly for 92.00 from etradesupply.com and an outer frame for 6.00, watched a couple of YouTube videos on how to do it yourself and now I basically have a brand new 32gb S4!

I'm sticking with it for a while longer.

sent from a Galaxy far far away.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] syintiphic:
I'm still rocking my S4 as well. MDK bootloader with unlimited data on Verizon. I just don't see the need to upgrade to a new phone. Rooted, TWRP recovery, replaceable battery and 128gb SD card. These features all contribute to great functionality if you ask me. I will be keeping this phone as long as I can. It runs like a champ
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] AliceBToklas:
Agreed. The new Moto X Pure Edition will get my attention when it comes out but not sure I can cope with the form factor. Otherwise I'll be sticking with my S4 until it dies or something else appears. Sadly, I think accepting external storage may be the way of the future but I'm holding out as long as I can.

Going camping in the Rockies soon and having a couple replacement batteries is a a very good thing to keep the music going. At least as long as the BT speaker holds out anyway.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] s44:
Get a MiFi unit (no contract) and swap your unlimited SIM into it, while getting a regular line for your phone... or AOL someone else's unlimited line. Apparently you can still AOL unlimited if you already have an unlimited line on your account.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jcwilliams:
So say I take my wife's Sim card ( unlimited) and put it in a mifi unit that should give us unlimited WiFi in the house correct?

If so then what do I do to get her a phone line? Add a line and she'll have to get a new number?

Thanks for the input

James