Hey tech people of STW
I accidentally dropped my Galaxy S8 getting out of the car about a month ago. It had an otterbox cover on it, but still somehow it chipped the side of the edge screen. Very annoying. Well this must have caused unknown hardware issues as the phone has been wonky in the last ten days, and the part of the screen all above the chip doesn’t respond to touch much anymore. It has almost put me off any phone with these edge screens, are they just very fragile?
I buy my phones refurbished so cost of repair is probably the same or more than what I paid.
Looking for advice on a new smartphone. Not as flimsy please. Good at taking selfies and good at taking photos of all my bikes too. A camera timer of more than 10 seconds would be awesome.
Please no iPhone suggestions, can’t work them.
Another sturdier Galaxy? Is there one? How about the note?
Or other? Google phone, etc.
Cheers!
S21? Has a plastic back and flat screen. Pricy though.
Or a S20Fe same plastic back.
I've been on Google Pixels for the last few years. Fantastic mobiles, zero bloatware, fast and first to get any updates.
I also don't like edge screen phones. I see no advantage, only disadvantages.
S10e is what I've got. I think it's a minor upgrade from s8.
I a great little thing - fast enough, good battery, takes nice images on selfie and main camera.
I don't like the whole Samsung/Bixby overlay and have removed as much as possible. I don't like the power and volume being opposite each other - I take occasional accidental screenshots.
Mine is yellow and a box open, so is dafty cheap.
Also got an S10e and one of the big reasons is to avoid an edge screen.
The Galaxy phones are great but their big downside is the edge screen. I wouldn't mind but it's also annoying so lose lose!
As above, s10e. Perfect size, flat screen and comes with a factory fitted screen protector, which is a nice touch. Waterproof, seems pretty sturdy in the official Samsung slim case, so would be well protected in an Otter or similar.
I've a Sony Xperia 1 ii, I've found Sony more durable than Samsung in the past (no idea on the newer ones). But a really good case helps - unfortunately with Sony there is less choice in this department.
The love mei cases are really good but add a hell of a lot of weight and girth to a regular smart phone.
I find with the edge phones I end up selecting things accidentally because the edge is where I hold it. This was only playing with someone else's, maybe you can make it less sensitive.
But as someone said, Pixel phones are great, I have a pixel 4, but I'd recommend the 3a or 4a - excellent value for money.
Can't fault my pixel 4a. I went for the cheaper 4g version, I just don't need to spend extra for 5g as I find 4g plenty fast enough for my uses.
Oneplus Nord or 8T
Just got a S20FE - flat screen and plastic back rather than glass. Win win. Passed my S9 to my son, but strict instructions to leave it in the flip case, he samshed his own S8+ and my old S7 Edge - no case on either (took my cse off the S7....
Anyone mind if I jump on this thread??
My Galaxy S7 (stop laughing) is about to be retired and I fancy a standard 4G Pixel 4a but have concerns with trashing it.
Main issue is that my work uniform has useless pockets so the phone gets dropped onto a hard floor once a month or so. The Galaxy is in an Otterbox Defender which is excellent however I cant get this model of case for the 4a yet,
Any suggestions for bomb proof cases welcome please.
Id be keen to hear from anyone, preferably anyone really clumsy :), with a Spigen Tough Armor
Cheers
Pixel 4a is excellent. No comment on chunky cases as I hate them - I just use a thin hard one.
Phone seems really well built though
s10e here too - as above it is a great thing, just works, is good compact size, waterproof and more.
I have mine in a Spigen case that rises up each side of the screen, and therefore there is less than a mm of gap twixt screen and case.
I have a pixel 4a in a spigen rugged armor case. I'm not particularly enamoured with the phone tbh, it's too big, but it's been dropped several times (because it's too big for me to comfortably hold in one hand!) without issues. Previous phones also had spigen cases and I've never managed to break one in one.
4a 4g and 4a 5g take different cases so remember that when purchasing
My Galaxy S7 (stop laughing)
No laughing here, I just swapped my Moto G for a Nokia 105 😉
Had an S7, S8 and now have both an S10 and an S20. Whilst they are excellent phones, with very good cameras, I've never seen the point of the curved edges (not that I've broken any). Would probably go for the flat screen if work just didn't buy standard phones.
Oh, and matt_outandabout the S20 has the on/off and volume keys back in the right place - both on the right.
I find the fingerprint reader in my s10 is aweful - probably reads my fingerprint correctly 1 time in 10 (my old phone with a physical one worked fine). I have a bunch of apps with fingerprint security (work stuff and banks) - and I won't get another S-series phone till they put a proper reader in it.
I've been through 2 s8 2 s9s and an s10, I broke the screens 4 of them the nanosecond they were out of a case, and one broke in a case in a bike crash. I never broke the screens on any of my earlier phones, it's the combination of edge screen and having a back made from the world's slippest material and the fixed battery. I must have dropped my early galaxy notes dozens of times and all that happened was the plastic back would fly off.
I've switched to iPhone 12 for other reasons but it's staying in a very solid case. I'm using my unbroken non edge S7 for running and biking.
I've got a S10 and have had it nearly 18 months with a Spigen case on it and it's been perfectly fine. The curved screen is a gimmick though, I turned off all the lights they put on it within a few days. The only issue I have with the phone is that you can only use flexible screen protectors with it bit the tempered glass ones. This is due to the fingerprint reader and the curved edges. The protectors are actually very good at preventing scratches but they mark up really easily, I'm on my third so far. The phone does take a beating though, it lives in my pocket when out on the bike and gets chucked through all weathers without an issue. Has been soaked multiple times, fallen in the bath and left in the freezer overnight (don't ask...) but just keeps on working.
If you don't want the curved edges then a S10e would fit the bill, it's nearly identical to the S10 but has a different processor so ever so slightly slower. I would have got one instead of this but they were out of stock everywhere when I was ordering and this one came up a fair bit cheaper as a customer return but unopened!
When this awful Sony is done with (next month) it's getting replaced with a Cat S62 Pro.
No more worries about damage at all and no more shite Sony glitches.
All new phones are too fragile for my liking.