ericdabbs

I am balancing between 3 phones currently, the LG G2, HTC One Max and Nexus 5. I am really intrigued with the LG G2 because its got a nice big screen, huge battery in 3000 maH for a screen that size, optical image stabilization, IPS HD display, etc. But I am concerned about the software support for the LG G2. I would expect the software support to be better on the LG G2 than on the LG Optimus G since its going to be launched on all carriers. The Nexus 5 looks ok to me but my only concerns with the Nexus 5 is that it only has a 2300 maH battery according to FCC docs and just the overall quality of the Nexus phone. The Galaxy Nexus wasn't that great on Sprint but I realized that it was released much later in 2012 than the Verizon variant and by the the specs were just meh. The HTC One Max is intriguing but I am concerned a bit about the screen size not just because its 5.99 inches but the stereo speakers adds additional height on top of the already tall screen. When the HTC One is taller than the GS4 by 1 mm even though the HTC One is 4.7 inch screen vs. GS4 5.0 inch screen its a bit depressing. Also the uncertainty of a stylus type feature on the HTC One Max is also a concern of mine.

Ahhhh gotcha. Are you interested in getting the LG G2?

Wait why did you go back to GS3 again? Is it the lack of support? I know the LG Optimus G was only available on Sprint and AT&T last year but I am hoping that since the LG G2 is going to be available on all 4 major carriers that the software support will be better this time than the original LG Optimus G.

Thank goodness that Dish has at least for the time being lost interest in purchasing Tmobile. I wouldn't recommend any wireless carrier being bought by Charlie. In terms of the proposed deal that you presented for buying the 2000-2020 MHz spectrum for supplemental downlink in exchange for some EBS leases, I think it should be something to consider at some point but not now. We don't know what Son has in mind of how much of the 2500 MHz spectrum he wants to keep for the Sprint network and not to mention future network equipment support (RRUs and antennas) to incorporate the 2000-2020 MHz frequencies. No other wireless carrier is using that band and that will cost a lot of money. There are still many hurdles that need to happen before this becomes even a reality. Dish still needs to get FCC approval to use the Lightsquared L-band spectrum for uplink operations and Sprint is still tied up with Network Vision and needs to focus on other spectrum auctions like the PCS H and 600 MHz auctions.

All I can say is that you should probably put that hope that another Note 3 FCC doc will come out with triband LTE support to bed because its not going to happen. It was thought to be that the sprint variant would be the model SM-N900S but this was debunked when it was revealed that the "S" model was for SK Telekom in Korea. Instead we are just left with the SM-N900P which may be the Sprint variant. About the battery thing, I wouldn't look into it that much because its clear as day that the FCC filing is for the Note 3. Besides if you get the phone, you can easily verify the battery capacity which should be 3200 maH since its got a removable cover.

Well the Note 3 Sprint's version is only going to be single band LTE while Verizon's version is going to be dual band LTE. If you are just talking about the Note 3 then you should go with Verizon. However in general if you are asking if Sprint tri band vs. Verizon dual band is overall better in the long run, it is no question that Sprint triband network is better for the long haul over Verizon. Since Sprint has a ton of 2500 MHz spectrum for massive capacity offload which will provide high speeds outdoors while keeping capacity off of 1900 MHz so that those with single band LTE phones won't see a huge drop in speeds. Then when you add the 800 MHz spectrum for LTE which is very comparable to Verizon's 700 MHz LTE in terms of coverage it gives us Sprint customers the building penetration and coverage that will help compete with Verizon and ATT.

The Verizon version of the Note 3 is dual band LTE and supports BC4 (AWS) and BC13 (700 MHz) and it supports SVLTE. There is no excuse not to include BC4 since Tmobile uses BC4 for their LTE. FCC link to SM-N900V (Verizon variant) https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=608888&fcc_id=A3LSMN900V Also if Sprint did add dual band LTE with B25 and B26 support, I would still give up SVLTE because as I said before coverage is more important to me than having the ability to surf and talk at the same time.

Agreed. If the Note 3 was at least dual band as in B25 and B26 LTE support, I would have been more at ease and would still pick it up.

I think Sprint said that all LTE devices beginning in 2014 and beyond will have triband LTE support. We will know if that is true if the GS5 and the HTC One 2 are triband LTE devices in Spring 2014.

I think its just depressing to know that the GS4 mini was somehow able to get triband LTE while the Note 3 wasn't able to especially since the Note 3 is going to outdo sales than a GS4 mini would. The GS4 mini shows that Samsung has the components that are capable of supporting B26 and B41. I think if the GS4 mini did not get triband LTE capability, then I would say its much easier for all of us to blame Samsung for not wanting to support B26 and B41 this year. Because the GS4 mini was announced earlier this year in June, we would have expected that any Samsung phones past June 2013 would for sure be triband LTE based on those FCC docs. At this point its just "water under the bridge" and Samsung is dead to me.... since they failed twice with the GS4 and Note 3 being single band LTE. Looks like I'll most likely take my business to their rival LG with the LG G2 but its possible the HTC One Max or Nexus 5 can win my heart.

We will have to see about the HTC One Max but HTC better step their game up and make some sort of announcement soon. I don't know what they are waiting for. For me the HTC One Max must have a stylus or its a deal breaker for me and of course triband LTE. I don't need such a large screen if I am not able to write on it. I would much rather take the LG G2 which has a smaller screen if there is no stylus feature.

OMG yes!!!! I think Samsung should have at least made the Note 3 dual band LTE support with B25 and B26 support. If Samsung made the Note 3 dual band 800/1900 LTE support, I still would have strongly considered the Note 3 because what I care more about is being able to use LTE indoors. While losing B41 would still suck because of the potential fast speeds that TD-LTE can bring, I would have been willing to deal with it because the Note 3 is just that sexy. Because the Note 3 is going to be single band LTE only now, it really drives me away from not being able to offload onto the LTE 800 band which I think for the most part people really care about to compete with Verizon and ATT in terms of LTE coverage indoors. As for the LG G2, I am strongly considering that phone now since its still got a large screen in 5.2 inches and its got triband LTE with Qualcomm S800 chip. My only concerns with LG G2 is the software support, user interface and RF performance. I think I can get used to the back panel buttons but I will have to play with it to see for myself at ATT and Verizon.

I am about to move on from the Note 3 to the LG G2. After taking a deeper look into it, I think its probably my best alternative to the Note 3. I am going to play with the LG G2 at ATT and Verizon this weekend. I still have some hope for the HTC One Max and Nexus 5 but right now I am kinda intrigued with the LG G2.

The more I look at the G2, the more I am now interested in the phone. Verizon and ATT are both selling the 32 GB model for $199 with 2 year contract starting this weekend. If Sprint sells the 32 GB model for $199 with 2 year contract, I might consider getting the LG G2 given that its a triband phone. I was really disappointed in hearing the Note 3 will be single band LTE so I am now considering the LG G2 as an alternative.

So does this mean you are switching carriers?

Why did you just use it for only 1 week? What was your experience with the LG OG? How was the RF performance?

Exactly what AJ said. It was rumored from 2 months ago and believed to be that the Sprint model would be the SM-N900S but my link shows that the "S" model is for SK Telekom which disproves that theory. Thus we are to believe that the Sprint model is instead going to be the SM-N900P which from the FCC docs show from a few pages back that it is single band LTE only. Tim here is the FCC link to the Sprint model https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=134996&fcc_id=A3LSMN900P

How is the RF performance on this phone? I am considering getting the LG G2 but I don't know how the original model panned out. Can someone share their experience with this phone, the good and the bad. How is the Android software support on this phone?

Does the HTC One have major RF issues?

What is there to hang on to? A "S" variant. I already made a post #387 with a link to show that the "S" variant is for SK Telekom which means that we won't be seeing a "S" variant hitting the FCC. Isn't this clear enough? http://techkiddy.blogspot.com/2013/08/samsung-galaxy-note-iiism-n900ssm.html# Yeah this is a huge bummer on my decision as well. I am going to look for alternatives now.

that is what I said. Its hard to understand what Samsung is doing. If the HTC One Max is triband LTE I really have to question Samsung and Sprint's thinking in making a single band LTE device like this at this point. I highly doubt its because Sprint thought users of the Note 3 would prefer SVLTE over triband LTE. I wish the mass amount of Sprint customers understood what triband LTE meant and how much of a bummer it is of the lack of support for it. Why the GS4 mini got triband and not the Note 3 we will never know.

I am eh.. I am just raiding all the threads giving my 2 cents!!!! Hehe.. but yes I am livid about it because the Note 3 had everything i wanted in a smartphone.

Cmon HTC, you are my last hope for getting a phablet smartphone with triband LTE support. I just want a removable battery and SD card slot with triband LTE support

Well I am sure Sprint provides input to the OEMs on what types of freq bands and such must be supported on the phone and in some cases the specs of the phone as well (e.g. For the SGS2, the Sprint model used a 4.5 inch screen vs. 4.3 inch screen for international and ATT models). If no input was provided then the OEMs won't know about needing to support CDMA 800 (BC 10) or triband LTE (BC 25, 26 and 41). I don't think the freq bands are entirely up to the OEM.

I doubt Sprint would just present out any FCC docs as placeholder while they continue to do some more evaluation and resubmit more docs later. The field testing should be done by now if it were to be released by early Oct like the rest of the other carriers. I really hope the HTC One Max brings something that will make me consider that phone or else its off to maybe LG G2 or Nexus 5. I just hate having to wait longer to upgrade my phone now.