G+_Mike Kastellec Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 I'm going to be that guy who blunders in and asks the default question: which phone should I buy? Looking to preserve my Verizon unlimited plan--I've previously done so by buying used phones (Galaxy Nexus, then HTC One M7) off eBay. My M7 appears to be irrevocably bricked , following a brief but apocalyptic conflict between extreme power saving mode and widget unlocker (I think that was the cause, anyway.) I like the M7 except that it wasn't easily rooted/unlocked/flashed, so I had to learn to live with HTC Sense. I was running CM10.1 on the Galaxy Nexus and I definitely missed the tweakability and lack of bloatware. Requirements: 1. <$200 new or used 2. Verizon model (my understanding is that a pure unlocked model won't allow me to keep my current plan with Vz. Past upgrades were Verizon branded and worked fine with a SIM swap and activation at a store) 3. 16GB+ storage or a SD card slot (I download lots of podcasts) 4. runs vanilla 5.0 or has one-click root and is easily loaded with CM12 (I don't have the expertise for complex installs, nor the time to spend getting up to speed in this area) 4. respectable battery life Preferred but not required: good speakers not enormous nice design/build quality (the M7 was great in this regard) bright screen decent camera Thanks in advance for any recommendations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Kastellec Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 I should add, I've been doing my own research already, of course. My current top contender is a Moto X, though I guess I'd have to go 1st gen at my price point. A OnePlus is also tempting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Joe Morrison Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 the new Moto E? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Kastellec Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 Joe Morrison That one is on my radar, too. Seemed a little too budget. I prefer to get value out of a recent model used one over buying low end new. I could be persuaded, though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jeffrey Heesch Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 A Moto G should do the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Roy Delgado Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 I'm fairly certain that the OnePlus won't run properly on Verizon. It doesn't have CDMA. The new E would be nice, and a Verizon version has leaked, but I'd speculate that they'll limit it to Verizon prepaid only for a while. Not many Lollipop phones will fit your bill, unless you find a used One M8 in your range once the M9 is official. If not, now that the M7s are getting Lollipop, maybe you can get another of that, and have better clean ROMs available. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Tom Marinello Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 I was in a similar situation recently. I just grabbed a new Verizon 32gb Moto X Developer Edition for $200. Not lollipop yet, but this phone is fantastic. Don't look at specs, just performance. Still have unlimited data and didn't need to go into a Verizon store to activate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Kastellec Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 OKay, let me walk back the Lollipop requirement: KitKat is fine, as long as it's vanilla Google version and the phone is likely to get OS upgrades for the next couple years. A "Verizon 32gb Moto X Developer Edition for $200" would certainly fit the bill. I'll look at the Maxx, too Roy Delgado re: " now that the M7s are getting Lollipop," with Sense stuck on top? Or is HTC changing their approach? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Kastellec Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 Current top three contenders: http://www.phonearena.com/phones/compare/HTC-One-M8,Motorola-Moto-X,Motorola-DROID-MAXX/phones/8242,7885,7970 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Roy Delgado Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Mike Kastellec? with Sense. But the usual pattern is a Sense official ROM comes out, then people like Cyanogenmod use the kernel and radios to make better clean ROMs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Kastellec Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 okay...maybe I was just too early in the cycle, but when I tried to replace Sense with CM on my M7 a few months back, there wasn't an easy route to doing so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Tom Marinello Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Moto X is ALMOST pure Android, but Moto Assist adds features, not bloat. I should also mention the the Developer Version has an unlocked boot loader via Motorola and roots eaasily. The new $199 version is from MobilePros1 on eBay (not affiliated, just a happy customer). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Kastellec Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 That $199 Moto X is my favorite option so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_L I Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 I'd vote for the Maxx as well, but I wonder how easy it'd be to get the Dev version for under $200 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Steven Costa Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 LG G3 awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Kastellec Posted March 1, 2015 Author Share Posted March 1, 2015 G3 is out of my price range. I'm not seeing Maxx Dev Editions for sale at all, let alone under $200. Tom Marinello thanks for the MobilePros1 recommendation. I've got that pinned. Unless someone succeeds in displacing that with a more appealing option, I'll probably order one this evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Norman davenport Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Steven Costa? pop rocks the G3. After disabling the junkware.? any problem with the wifi staying on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Norman davenport Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Steven Costa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Steven Costa Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 None Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Kastellec Posted March 2, 2015 Author Share Posted March 2, 2015 Dang, the $200 mobilepros1 one is gone. Question for the experts: what should I make of listings that specify "Verizon GSM," e.g., http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorola-MOTO-X-Developer-Edition-32GB-4-2-Verizon-Unlocked-GSM-1st-Gen-/251863680262?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3aa43ec506 ? Aren't those two words mutually exclusive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mike Kastellec Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 n/m, found one on swappa. Thanks everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Troy Luchterhand Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Buy the Galaxy S 6 edge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_L I Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Troy Luchterhand for $200 off contract? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Troy Luchterhand Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Lionel D I'm sorry. I am not aware of any prices for the s 6. On or off contract. I am basing that on the build quality that I have seen so far. That is my opinion. Take it or leave it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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