New Phone Time! (S8 vs S8+Gear S3 vs iPhone 8)

John Kimble on 03/08/2017 - 22:07

Hello All,

Hoping for some advice/opinions…I am tossing up between a few options.

My 2 yr mobile contract ends this week. Currently have a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact with Telstra. 2.5GB data for $70 per month. I have no issues changing providers as long as the coverage is okay.

My max budget is $95 per month.

Are Virgin Mobile are any good (coverage wise)? If they are fine, then is the S8 + Gear S3 Bundle a good deal ($94 per month vs $79 per month for the phone only)? The watch seems to RRP for $599, and the difference is $360 (http://www.virginmobile.com.au/Shop/Rate-Plan-Details/39454/70-Phone?i_cid=pp_php_pos4_$70). Only concerns with the G8 is concerns on fragility of the screen and possibly running out of internal memory?

OR

Should I just wait for the iPhone 8 and hope it is good??? Last iPhone I had was the 4S. It was ok I guess. The main reason I am contemplating going to IOS is I am sick of running out of internal memory on my Z3 Compact and having to transfer everything to the SD card. I will miss Android NFC and swiftkey though.

Or is there a better deal/option out there for the S8? I might have missed the best deals when it first came out???

Cheers!

TL;DR - What new phone should I get? G8 or wait for iPhone 8?

Mobile

Comments

  • jerjergege on 03/08/2017 - 22:21

    Wait, IFA in berlin is at the end of the month, new phone announcements all the way through to September, if you're up for a flagship, if you don't care, i'd reccomend sony XZ Premium or pixel, they get the fastest updates.

    I would recommend buying the phone outright, and get a BYO plan, you save more money in the long run and also the BYO plans get you more data too.

    • Deebs on 04/08/2017 - 00:52
      +1

      yeah the Samsung note 8 and LG V30 are being announced (late August, sales apparently September), they're the 2 main ones I'm considering.

    • John Kimble on 04/08/2017 - 05:34

      I dunno about another Sony after my Z3 experience. Headphone jack died within warranty, so got a new phone. Recently it died again and NFC has stopped working somehow, even though diagnostics day it's working fine (Telstra said to reset to factory settings to see if that fixes it, but CBF).

      And although I have magnetic docks, my charging flap seals have gone (I know the newer ones don't require to open a flap to charge anymore though).

      Pixel is not waterproof, that's one of my requirements. I killed my Nexus 5 with rain.

      I have to go post paid for a certain reason.

  • cvas on 03/08/2017 - 23:37
    +4

    To give my opinion on this I need to know, who is your daddy and what does he do?

  • Irate Monk on 04/08/2017 - 01:19

    Why not wait and see what the Samsung Galaxy Note8, releasing on 23 August offers?
    Speculations are to the effect that this will be a behemoth of a tech marvel.
    Screen is said to be 4K 6.3 inch etc.

    Usually not much delay between unveiling to orders, on Samsung's late-in-the-year flagship offerings.

    I too am sick of having had to manage with just internal memory (to such an extend that when my only-internal-memory Note5 died two weeks ago, I replaced it with a new Note3. Yes. Downgraded for expandable memory!)
    Note8 is said to be arriving to put straight a lot of things.
    Telco bundles could be the cheap option for you to get your hands around one.

    On the Note8, read more here

    At the very least, the other phones you have your mind on, will drop in prices once the Note8 and the iPhone 8 is out.

    • John Kimble on 04/08/2017 - 05:41

      Hmmm, didn't know about the Note. Dunno if I'm a phablet kind of guy TBH? haha

      Sound like the best thing is to just wait a few weeks!

  • Gunther on 04/08/2017 - 08:54

    If you really want to Ozbargain this…. dont go onto a contracted plan.

    Buy the device outright and jump on any of the cheaper prepaid options around town.

    • John Kimble on 04/08/2017 - 09:04

      I don't pay if I go on contract :)

  • ThithLord on 04/08/2017 - 09:08

    Swiftkey is on iOS, mate; been using it for yonks now - and you can use ApplePay for purchases and stuff (not sure what else NFC on Android is used for). I definitely recommend holding out for the Apple Event announcing the next iPhone - there will likely be a few different models (a few refreshes).

    • John Kimble on 04/08/2017 - 09:12

      Oh I didn't know that, good to know!

      I check my opal balance with NFC, not sure if you can with IOS?

      I think some of my banks have just released Apple pay, so that is also a bonus.

      • Caped Baldy on 04/08/2017 - 09:27

        Swiftkey is indeed on iOS but it is a vastly different experience than on android. For example when putting in passwords on Android the number row gets added to the top. Not the case with iOS unless they've updated it recently.

        • John Kimble on 04/08/2017 - 09:37

          Yeah, so annoying with the numbers missing on IOS!

        • Caped Baldy on 04/08/2017 - 09:44

          @John Kimble: I'm dual wielding a note4 and a 6s (after having a iphone4 years ago) so similar to you in a way. Going back to ios feels like a step back in many ways. Settings aren't where I expected them to be, no app drawer and no back button (wtf!)

          I'm used to it now, and one thing the iphone over the old GN4 has going for it is that apps seem to run a lot smoother. I need to clean out the junk or do a wipe to be sure.

  • Lando on 04/08/2017 - 09:53

    The fact that you can switch between Android and iphone means you don't really know much about phones and that you don't need a new flagship for your needs.
    Since you want the newest craze and unknowingly keep people like me in a job, then I shall help. Forget about the iphone.
    Why do you want a phone that is still using outdated technology? Even if the iphone 8 gets an OLED display, it still won't be as good as Samsung's AMOLED display.

    1. There is no comparison between a shitty Sony phone and Samsung's flagship phone. The experience is totally different.
    2. If you want storage, then just buy a 256 GB (512 GB is coming soon) and chuck it into the Samsung Galaxy S8 or Note 8.
    3. Samsung Pay is superior to all other mobile payment platforms. I use it with my AMEX and Citi credit cards.
    4. Most Apple users don't even know what NFC is, because Apple dictates what they can use it for. For me, NFC is the most important part of my Android phone.
    5. Get a Samsung Note 8. It is the most anticipated phone in history imo.
    6. Line up to buy the Note 8, and not with hipsters and 12 year old girls with their parents at the Apple store.
    • John Kimble on 04/08/2017 - 10:09

      I just have no allegiance to either. I find they both have pros and cons.

      I don't really care about the newest craze; my previous few phones have been a Nexus 5, a Galaxy Ace (won in an RSL skill tester) and a Nokia 6120!

      Edit: Used my dad's old iPhone 4S between this Sony and Nexus 5 for a few months.

      I feel iPhone is just probably safe/less hassle and almost everyone I know has them so just makes things easier.

      On point 2, don't you still need to transfer apps to SD every time you update them? I think one can root it to get around that, but that's not something I could be bothered doing.

      On point 4, yes it is very annoying that Apple restrict it. But I only really use it the check my opal balance… I didn't realise my NFC broke on my Sony for a long time!

      On point 6, haha, I'm not lining up for anything! I'm happy to wait till things die down.

    • ThithLord on 04/08/2017 - 13:05

      lol I love your comments, Noey. So much bitterness. You really don't like Apple's success, huh?

      Get a Samsung Note 8. It is the most anticipated phone in history imo.

      Hahahahahahaha. Holy crap. How did you manage to actually post this? I'm impressed.

      Line up to buy the Note 8, and not with hipsters and 12 year old girls with their parents at the Apple store.

      Jesus Christ. You're unstoppable!

      • Lando on 07/08/2017 - 15:03

        You really don't like Apple's success, huh?

        Apple's success keeps me in a job. Doesn't mean I like their products.

        We design stuff for Apple. Believe it or not, some of the embedded hardware for the Apple watches is designed here in Australia.

        They pay us well, but they don't treat their suppliers with respect. I suppose the world is your punching bag when you're worth half a trillion.

        • ThithLord on 07/08/2017 - 15:16

          I suppose the world is your punching bag when you're worth half a trillion.

          lol, that much is true - I work with their consumer product in a corporate environment - Apple are not fun to deal with.

  • John Kimble on 04/08/2017 - 10:20

    Was actually contemplating the new Motorola's, but you can't seem to get them on a plan…

  • aman00024 on 26/08/2017 - 21:06
    -1

    Iphone❤️❤️❤️❤️💕💕💕

  • auna on 27/08/2017 - 13:21

    I really doubt you can get the iPhone 8 for $95 a month on contract….

    • John Kimble on 29/08/2017 - 17:24

      You are probably right :(

  • John Kimble on 09/10/2017 - 14:48

    I'm thinking Note 8 or Pixel XL now! Both probably over my budget :(

  • John Kimble on 10/10/2017 - 16:50

    OK, so Note 8, Pixel 2 XL or LG V30+ it seems.

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