Korean Job Discussion Forums

thatkidpercy · Joined: 05 Sep 2010

Hi. I'm looking for a new phone and am hoping someone here will be able to give me a gentle prod in the right direction. I'm currently using a Samsung Galaxy K on KT (same as the Galaxy U) and it's done me well over the last 18 months, but I've decided it's time to upgrade. The fact I don't need to buy a new handset upfront now has definitely helped make the decision easier!

I love Android and want to stick with it, so please don't recommend the iPhone - it's just not for me. The problem is there are so many decent sounding choices that I can't decide which one to go for. I'm no expert (hence asking the question here), but am not a technophobe either so don't be afraid to compare specs. Oh, and I don't really care about the in-phone camera as I hardly use it.

Anyway, the choices I've narrowed it down to are:

Galaxy S2 HD LTE (my current first choice): Available now and I'm guessing a 4.0 update is forthcoming, but will I regret not waiting for the S3?

Galaxy S3: I don't mind waiting a few weeks, but is the extra processor power and RAM more desirable than an LTE connection?

LG Optimus LTE2 (current second choice): Available now with 2GB ram and Android 4.0, so the same as the Galaxy S3 but with less processor power (1.5Ghz dual core vs 1.4Ghz quad core). On paper I like the sound of the Optimus as it seems to have the best of both worlds (more RAM and LTE availability), but I don't know much about LG phones and if they're reliable.

Galaxy S3 LTE: Rumoured to be released this summer. Don't want to wait that long, but if it's really worth doing so I'd consider it.

Basically I don't know whether it's better to go for the powerful Galaxy 3 (3G), or the slightly less powerful Galaxy 2 LTE. Or, get off the Samsung boat and give LG a shot.

Help? Confused

Beeyee · Joined: 29 May 2007

thatkidpercy · Joined: 05 Sep 2010

Swampfox10mm · Joined: 24 Mar 2011

I've been looking at the big sucker, the LG Vu, I think it's called. I am trying not to buy Samsuck this time, as I have had so many issues with my Galaxy S1. I tried playing with the new Galaxy Tab, but it still seems somewhat herky-jerky to me in usage. Not really smooth.

thatkidpercy · Joined: 05 Sep 2010

I went to the KT shop last night 75% sure I'd be coming home with the Galaxy, but actually preferred the LG when I saw them side by side and had a little play. No idea why, it just felt better in my hand.

I'm amazed how much faster it is than the Galaxy K it replaced... I'd actually never thought it was slow before, but it's like night and day.

Not related to the phone itself, but I was also very impressed how easy it is to upgrade with Android. Typed in 1 password and within 3 minutes everything was set up automatically, apps included (thanks to 4G!). Switched the micro SD over and that was it. SO EASY!

I'd enjoyed not having a data cap with the 3G plan, so am a little worried about going over the limit now. 10gb a month doesn't sound like that much when it's so easy to stream video and music over LTE. We'll see how it pans out.

Swampfox10mm · Joined: 24 Mar 2011

Well, I took advantage of the current S1 to Note deal for 100,000 won, and I got the note. Kicked myself for going Samsuck again, but the Note seems far smoother and we needed for me to stick with SK to get our free home internet. I actually liked the LG better, although it's kind of on the "too big" side for even my dockers front pocket.

Liking the Note so far, but hating the cheap matte screen protector the guy at the store put on it, which fuzzes out the screen to heck. I'll be getting that replaced as soon as I have time (I prefer clear).

I really decided against the LG Vu when I looked at the published surfing times and read some translated articles about it. LG went with a smaller battery for a thinner profile to attract female buyers. It is a non-replaceable battery with 2 hours max surfing time compared to something like 2 hours 45 minutes for the Note. And the Note battery can be swapped-out for a fresh one.

LG goes out of their way to tout the new polymer battery, but seems to do so in an attempt to cover up the fact that it's rather tiny in size. One of my students who has the LG Vu says she regrets the small battery size and having to charge it a lot if she uses the internet.

I was able to get away with the Note upgrade and am paying just 3,000 won per month more to have the phone (but had to extend the contract to 24 months -- had 8 left on my S1). They had a 30 month option, but I went with 24. I chose the low 2GB download limit and appx. 240mins of talk time (might have been 200 -- can't remember). I can always move up, and for another 10,000 won or so, the data allowance jumps to 5gb.

I checked my average usage levels, and I am between 900mb and 1.4gb per month on data and about 140 mins talking. I almost never used wifi before because I had unlimited 3g. Now I'll make use of it on the subway, so my data usage shouldn't worsen much. I mostly surf text-rich sites like Dave's anyway (not a lot of streaming).

So we'll see how this goes. If you want to take advantage of the Note upgrade deal from an S1 (and a few other phones are eligible too), then you need to do it in the next day, before the promotion ends. Oddly, many phone stores don't know about the promotion. I found it at one, but mentioned it to a phone store next to my home, and after verifying it, he gave me the deal.

Swampfox10mm · Joined: 24 Mar 2011

By the way.... updated to Ice Cream Sandwich and wish I hadn't. Surfing is now buggy. I have probs typing passwords into forms and the browser locks up sometmes.

dsun1226 · Joined: 27 May 2010 Location: Seoul

Personally I would wait until the S3 (3G or LTE) is available to purchase and make your decision then. I think the S2 was a great upgrade of the S1 in just about every aspect but as you said, the phone is a year old now. If you're going to get tied down to a 2 year contract, you may as well go for the latest and greatest. However, not everyone is a techie or cares about having the latest and greatest; they'd rather get whatever is free or next to free instead.

Swampfox10mm · Joined: 24 Mar 2011

I think the note is a good choice if you want big. Otherwise the specs are not a lot different. The S3 has some bells and whistles that do not mean much to me, although I would like the multiburst camera mode. The quad core would be nice, but I feel this dual core is plenty fast and smooth, It is actually a slower clock speed on the S3. The size of the S3 will interest many.

Swampfox10mm · Joined: 24 Mar 2011

spanky1off · Joined: 21 Aug 2006

swampy im curious about a comment you made regarding sticking with sk to get free internet. i use sk and sk internet plus tv n plhone. what are the conditions for u to get free internet? would be a nice saving over a year.

spanky1off · Joined: 21 Aug 2006

swampy im curious about a comment you made regarding sticking with sk to get free internet. i use sk and sk internet plus tv n plhone. what are the conditions for u to get free internet? would be a nice saving over a year.

spanky1off · Joined: 21 Aug 2006

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