What phone now?

[bagtagley]

Yeah, I’ve handled the new SE. My wife has one. It’s tempting just to keep the home button but I really prefer a small phone. Thanks

Pretty sure the SE still has a home “button” (haptic instead of an actual button).

The SE is a lot of phone for the money. I almost swapped my 11 for an SE because the 11 is effing huge, but I’m spoiled by the camera and Face ID so I’m gonna hold out for a 12 mini.

[ötzi]

$580 for your old phone? That seems high, given you can get a new SE for less than that. Did the deal require a new contract?

Honestly I was surprised it was that much but I didn't do anything special to get it. There weren't any real scratches on it was one factor I know. I didn't sign a whole new contract but it kinda works out that way since they bill you over 24 months (zero interest, it worked out to about $8/mo.) and I think there's some penalty if you bail early but it's pretty unlikely we would do that because of coverage and inertia.

[Ted Striker]

Yeah, both Verizon and ATT were pretty aggressive with their iPhone 12 launches. My wife traded an 8 for a 12pro on ATT and got somewhere in the neighborhood of $800 (technically the actual trade-in was only around $100-200, and the rest is monthly bill credits)

It's really a retention play. The penalty for bailing early is that you're on the hook for full retail minus the monthly credits that have already been used.

[tetzen]

Still rocking my iPhone 6s here, but it is hitting the end of its battery life. Barely holds a charge for the day now. Especially when I go out in cold weather, the battery gets fucked fast.

Probably not going to get a a 12 since this 6 has held out for so long. The 11 or the XR seems like a good option to me now.

Honestly, I've been looking at some of these e-ink phones with interest and there's a newer color e-ink phone that is out now with the Hisense A-7. Their screen refresh rates just don't match up with what I'm used to on regular smartphones though. I think I'll wait a few more generations before making that switch to an e-ink screen.

[mattig]

I want to know how you people were rocking phones from 2016??? Nobody in family has gotten that many years out of a phone. The battery always goes to shit. What are we doing wrong???

S8+ since 2017 still works like the day I got it.

[ticketchecker]

I’ve gotten 5+ years out of my last two iPhones. Faulty charging port was the demise of both of them. Opted for new instead of repairing them.

Oh and I don’t use a phone case


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[RShea]

I’ve gotten 5+ years out of my last two iPhones. Faulty charging port was the demise of both of them. Opted for new instead of repairing them.

Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

If they had wireless Qi charging capabilities those charging pads are really cheap anymore.

[RShea]

So, party pay just means that for each person in your party, you save $5 off your $40 bill, for as little as $25/month?

I definitely have to research this.

... Thom

The plan is regularly $30 per month. If you have a party (each gets billed separately- no family or all in the party billed together and having to split or collect from others) get a $5 discount if you have more than 4 persons in your party group. So many try and make sure they have a larger party to consistently receive the $25 (you do not even need to know everyone since it is billed separately and individually)... If you have a small party and one or 2 leave then you have to get added members or you all start paying $30 until you get 4 or more in the group.
It allows and includes Hot Spot (turn on your cell to share with 1 device like a computer or tablet.
https://www.visible.com/plan/

[riser4]

Ok, so it seems that folks put up with a lot more borked phone equipment than I do.

[frorider]

I got a ridiculous number of years out of my iPhone 6. At some point I had to replace the battery....Apple was doing that for $35 as I recall....I’m not really understanding the complaints about battery life if you can just get battery replaced or DIY with those cheap kits?

Anyway iPhone 12 mini fkna rocks.

[galibier_numero_un]

I want to know how you people were rocking phones from 2016??? Nobody in family has gotten that many years out of a phone. The battery always goes to shit. What are we doing wrong???

On the subject of batteries, I took the risk of killing my LG phone by attempting a battery replacement. I had nothing to lose, and was successful.

In the process of researching this, I happened on an Android app called Accu Battery.

My wife was having worse problems, having had a battery replacement under warranty for her Pixel 3. The replacement battery started to swell (like the first one) and the case began to split open (2-3mm space).

I convinced her to let me replace her battery, and in the 2 days while waiting for delivery of the battery, she installed Accu Battery and the swelling began to subside. Now, she sees no reason to let me replace her battery ;-)

So, I learned that running your phone between 30 and 80% charge is ideal for battery health. Doing this in practice however, is a challenge. I may reward the Accu Battery folks with the "pay" version to see if this will allow setting a % charge limit.

... Thom

[tetzen]

So, I learned that running your phone between 30 and 80% charge is ideal for battery health. Doing this in practice however, is a challenge. I may reward the Accu Battery folks with the "pay" version to see if this will allow setting a % charge limit.

... Thom

On my iPhone I've noticed that when I plug it in during the evening it won't charge it past 80%. It says that it waits to fully charge until closer to the morning. This makes so much more sense now.

[The Reverend Floater]

Verizon is offering me a free upgrade to a Samsung S20 FE in a month. I figure it'll be such a leap up from my S7 that i should jump on it. Anyone have any experience with one?

I have a 20Note. It's been great. Super fast and I can't ever remember having to restart it.

[riser4]

Ok. So folks here do have the same battery issues. I feel better. I'll have to look at accubattery.

[old_newguy]

I have the new iPhone SE, which is way more phone than I can ever imagine needing.

On another topic, has anyone had any luck with a “budget” provider other than Mint? I jumped on Mints 3 month trial plan and have had a ton of issues with their network not handling text messages from all of my contacts. I am only getting texts from other iPhone users, so presumably these are getting to me some way other than Mints network. They told me 2 months ago that this is some sort of hardware issue in my area that is being worked on but so far no luck getting it fixed.

I have very little need right now for 1st tier service for data as most of my access is via my home WiFi.

I am in the PDX area. Verizon has historically been very good for rural access which is why I have kept paying the premium, but finding I need that less and less. (IE - I don’t care if you can’t get ahold of me for a few days if I am out camping in a no coverage area)

Caveat: I don’t want to use GoogleFI until I understand their data harvesting policies. Does anyone know what data collection they are doing and reselling via Fi? Have been slowly moving away from their services for the past year.

[carlh]

Verizon prepaid is $40/month + tax not strings, 3gb rollover data. It is occasionally slow in high traffic areas but that could be my old phone (iphone se gen 1) to.

I eventually want to move to a new SE or 12 mini, maybe prices will drop when the new phones drop in september

[ötzi]

Went for a drive yesterday with the new phone on the wireless car charger. On the way back I was in a sketchy area using google maps directions when all of sudden the map disappeared and the directions stopped. I was all wtf mate and took the phone from the console and it was smoking hot, shut down, with a overtemp warning on the screen. So I had to find my way through the Baltimore hood on my own. Fortunately, just staying on the same road was all I had to do or I woulda been one lost white boy.

Turns out overheating problems are an issue with iphone 12. https://piunikaweb.com/2021/04/13/ap...s-workarounds/

The wireless charger coulda contributed to the issue, I didn't know the phone is supposed to be centered on the pad. Not quite sure how I'm gonna keep a small phone centered on a big pad going forward.

[k2skier112]

I have the new iPhone SE, which is way more phone than I can ever imagine needing.

On another topic, has anyone had any luck with a “budget” provider other than Mint? I jumped on Mints 3 month trial plan and have had a ton of issues with their network not handling text messages from all of my contacts. I am only getting texts from other iPhone users, so presumably these are getting to me some way other than Mints network. They told me 2 months ago that this is some sort of hardware issue in my area that is being worked on but so far no luck getting it fixed.

I have very little need right now for 1st tier service for data as most of my access is via my home WiFi.

I am in the PDX area. Verizon has historically been very good for rural access which is why I have kept paying the premium, but finding I need that less and less. (IE - I don’t care if you can’t get ahold of me for a few days if I am out camping in a no coverage area)

Caveat: I don’t want to use GoogleFI until I understand their data harvesting policies. Does anyone know what data collection they are doing and reselling via Fi? Have been slowly moving away from their services for the past year.

Comcast.

With their internet service, you can get their cell plan on Verizons network

$10 per gig. We never use more than 1 or 2 gigs. Average bill for 3 lines $18

Unlimited data $45 per month per line

[old_newguy]

Comcast.

With their internet service, you can get their cell plan on Verizons network

$10 per gig. We never use more than 1 or 2 gigs. Average bill for 3 lines $18

Unlimited data $45 per month per line

The idea of Comcast being a good option is sort of mind blowing considering their reputation.

[Danno]

The idea of Comcast being a good option is sort of mind blowing considering their reputation.

Could be worse. He could be suggesting CenturyLink.

[Dantheman]

The idea of Comcast being a good option is sort of mind blowing considering their reputation.

Hah, seriously. But, I've been on their mobile service for almost 2 years now and it's great. Stupid cheap if you're a low-volume data user. Crazy to think about how much voice minutes used to cost, and now Comcast literally gives voice/text away for free.

[riser4]

Hah, seriously. But, I've been on their mobile service for almost 2 years now and it's great. Stupid cheap if you're a low-volume data user. Crazy to think about how much voice minutes used to cost, and now Comcast literally gives voice/text away for free.

It's like getting a kiss after they do ya dry from behind.

[ötzi]

I'll take your word for it.

[stealurface831]

I want to know how you people were rocking phones from 2016??? Nobody in family has gotten that many years out of a phone. The battery always goes to shit. What are we doing wrong???

i'm still rockin the iphone 7 i think. battery is in fact shit. but i use it almost exclusively as a pager/nav device. portable charger has been a good investment.

[k2skier112]

Could be worse. He could be suggesting CenturyLink.

CL is right up there with Frontier Fios, now Ziply and Direct TV, which we dumped
I never thought I'd ever go back to Comcast
My hatred for AT&T far outweighs that of Comcast
We had Verizon, Direct TV and Frontier internet, paying $320 a month. Now we have faster internet, more channels and the same cell service for $205 a month