Now that it looks like Verizon is going to announce either their version of the HTC One or an HTC DNA2 next week... Anyone having second thoughts on picking up the S4? I have a Droid DNA & like the phone but feel like I need the SD Card, the removable battery being just a plus. I assume that whatever HTC device VZW introduces next week will not have either of those features and probably only be offered in 16GB format. There's a lot to like about the One but the S4 operationally is at least equal (if not a little better) though it's build quality is lower on the scale in comparison. Then there's Sense vs. Touchwiz. I've been on Motorola's since the OG up till I got the DNA in early April & though a little different I don't see why there's all this complaining about Sense. I guess you must be either a superuser or developer to run into it's shortcomings. I've also read some complaints about Touchwiz though not on the scale of Sense. I am hoping that the sound quality (music wise) in the S4 isn't a big drop off from the Beats audio built into HTC's as I do spend alot of time streaming music from my phone.
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S4 Reconsideration?
- Thread starter jtcsifl
- Start date
If you like Sense on the DNA, you'll probably love it on the HTC One. I wouldn't consider the S4 to have worse build quality - it's great build quality, it's simply plastic vs. aluminum. They both "feel great" in the hand, just in different ways - in my opinion anyway. If you love a heavy, solid, metal feel, then you'll absolutely love the One over the S4. The S4 is lighter and thinner, but still has a good feel to it.
Touchwiz, for a long time, has been MUCH smoother than Sense. But on the One they're pretty equal, and TW still lags occasionally (rare, but occasionally). In all honesty the One feels a bit snapper and a bit more responsive, but the S4 feels smoother and more "flowy" (like that word?
). And obviously both can install a custom home launcher like Nova which somewhat negates the look/feel of Sense vs. Touchwiz on the homescreen.
The ability to use a micro-sd card is nice, but just keep in mind you can't move apps to it. So if apps are your big space taker, the One might be better suited. If it's simply music, photos/videos, etc., then the flexibility of the micro-sd card will be a nice benefit.
If you're using headphones most of the time for streaming, Beats isn't that big of a deal. The S4 has some great sound tweaking ability, as well as an equalizer, that easily gets you the same sound quality (through headphones) that Beats does. Well, I say that, but I don't have high end headphones, just basic earbuds. The One has an amp built in that adds some "oomph" to any headphones you have - so if you have real high-end phones, there could be a difference. I simply can't attest to that, though.
If you stream using your external speakers... The S4 has a great external speaker. Besides the One, I would say it's one of the best out there. It's much improved over the S3, it's very loud, and has about as much depth as a speaker that size on the back of the phone can have. That said, nothing can touch the One's external speakers. If you spend a lot of time streaming from your phone, that alone could make the One worth it, in spite of any of the other differences. I don't stream much from my phones' speakers, so it's not a big deal to me. But if that was a key feature I needed, the One wins hands down.
Touchwiz, for a long time, has been MUCH smoother than Sense. But on the One they're pretty equal, and TW still lags occasionally (rare, but occasionally). In all honesty the One feels a bit snapper and a bit more responsive, but the S4 feels smoother and more "flowy" (like that word?
). And obviously both can install a custom home launcher like Nova which somewhat negates the look/feel of Sense vs. Touchwiz on the homescreen. The ability to use a micro-sd card is nice, but just keep in mind you can't move apps to it. So if apps are your big space taker, the One might be better suited. If it's simply music, photos/videos, etc., then the flexibility of the micro-sd card will be a nice benefit.
If you're using headphones most of the time for streaming, Beats isn't that big of a deal. The S4 has some great sound tweaking ability, as well as an equalizer, that easily gets you the same sound quality (through headphones) that Beats does. Well, I say that, but I don't have high end headphones, just basic earbuds. The One has an amp built in that adds some "oomph" to any headphones you have - so if you have real high-end phones, there could be a difference. I simply can't attest to that, though.
If you stream using your external speakers... The S4 has a great external speaker. Besides the One, I would say it's one of the best out there. It's much improved over the S3, it's very loud, and has about as much depth as a speaker that size on the back of the phone can have. That said, nothing can touch the One's external speakers. If you spend a lot of time streaming from your phone, that alone could make the One worth it, in spite of any of the other differences. I don't stream much from my phones' speakers, so it's not a big deal to me. But if that was a key feature I needed, the One wins hands down.
I also have to add - the S4's camera is absolutely incredible. The reviews out there pick it apart because Samsung, and the idea of more megapixels, is easy to hate on right now. But the S4 is the best camera experience I've had in a long time, including the iPhone 5 and 4S.
The One's camera does some great things, but honestly there will be times where you feel the lower megapixels, and I ran into more situations where I either had difficulty getting a decent shot or it simply didn't come out great. Though I do wish the S4 had Zoe's and highlights - those are pretty slick, especially highlights.
Don't get me wrong, the One's camera is great, but the S4's is, well, awesome.
The One's camera does some great things, but honestly there will be times where you feel the lower megapixels, and I ran into more situations where I either had difficulty getting a decent shot or it simply didn't come out great. Though I do wish the S4 had Zoe's and highlights - those are pretty slick, especially highlights.
Don't get me wrong, the One's camera is great, but the S4's is, well, awesome.
quite honestly, HTC should have found a way to promote this new VZW phone before the release date of the GS4. It's too little too late now, I have my GS4 ordered and don't feel like waiting even longer for a phone that is about the same as the one I am getting. Add to that the fiasco with the facebook phone, who knows if HTC will even be around in 2 years. I really like the wife's GS3 so I think I'll be very happy with the GS4
BLeClair12
Member
I'm not personally having second thoughts at all. If anything, I was hoping the X Phone announcement would come and wow me. The HTC One was never even really on my radar. The non removable battery and lack of removable storage placed it pretty low on my totem poll. Additionally, I just wanted a flagship device from a company with a strong history of providing timely updates and supporting their devices, something HTC and Motorola both seemingly lack.
I don't disagree with the replies. I was referring to the plastic vs. metal when I said lower quality. Both phones are great with only minor differences (SD & removable battery aside). I think/hope HTC is still in business in two years otherwise their will end up being a duopoly between Apple & Samsung. Despite the supply chain issues maybe HTC is turning a corner with the One. My music streaming is either through mid grade earphones, bluetooth in my car or garage (jbl flip). I'm going to stick with getting the S4 as I don't think the new VZW HTC device will offer anything above the One whether it be a One, DNA2 or Butterfly... Maybe a Nexus 5 late in the year will entice me to change again...
Plastic vs metal does not necessarily equate to a difference in quality. If it did, the expensive TV sets would be made out of metal instead of plastic. If having a metal back is perceived as being higher-quality for you, no problem. I think that's more a matter of perception and appearance.
the vast majority of people that will get the One will put a plastic case on it anyhow so the point would be moot with all of them. I was reading a review on another site and after 2 months the One had several nicks and scratches, he was saying that the GS3 fared better so I would assume that would mean that the GS4 would do well too